[Desert Roses 03] - Beneath A Harvest Sky (28 page)

Jennetta nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, exactly!

That’s what I’m speaking of. You cannot discredit the strong influence of writers.”

Duncan nodded. “Well, I should get back to what I originally came for. The truth is, I’ve seen your interest in Indian artifacts and I wondered if you would be interested in purchasing some pieces that will not be offered to the general public.”

Jennetta moved closer, her eyes widening, while Phillip sat down and took a long drag on the cigarette.

“What kind of pieces?” she asked.

Duncan felt his heart begin to race. He described the three pieces and their value and meaning. He hinted at the fact that they were museum-owned and were soon to be changed out from their exhibit and put into storage.

“They probably won’t be missed for years,” he added.

Neither Jennetta nor Phillip acted in any way distressed by the idea of Duncan selling stolen merchandise. Their reaction, or lack of it, gave Duncan hope that he was definitely on the right trail. “I could have the pieces right away.”

“I’m particularly interested in the squash blossom necklace,” Jennetta said, her eyes gleaming. “I don’t suppose you have set a price?”

Duncan shook his head and shrugged. “I know what the pieces are worth from working with them; however, given the circumstances, we both know that negotiating the price will benefit us both.”

Jennetta stared him down like a hunter going in for the kill. “I think we could probably come to some arrangement. You’ll have to wait until I get back from our trip, however. I positively cannot do any business until I consult . . . the spirits.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

R
ainy was uncertain as to how she’d deal with Phillip Vance when she saw him, but when the dudes showed up with Jennetta, Phillip was strangely absent. Jennetta offered no explanation, and she seemed rather moody and silent. Her friends chided her for her misery and teased that no doubt great poems would be born out of such bleak moments.

Still Jennetta said little.

The trip was to be different than most. The route was customized, starting with an early morning departure from Santa Fe and no stops, except for food and gasoline, until they stopped for the night in Gallup. The dudes in this tour had already seen the little side ventures and were more focused on making it in time for the annual Hopi Snake Dance.

Rainy endured the first twenty-four hours with as much grace and consideration as she could. Chester made a nuisance of himself, commenting that he’d heard Rainy was resigning at the end of the month and wondering about the reason for the sudden departure. Rainy ignored him as much as she could, but as they arrived at the Hopi reservation, he seemed to be in prime form.

“I don’t suppose the fact that you’re leaving for Scotland has anything to do with the missing artifacts, would it?” he asked, coming up from behind Rainy.

She turned around to face him with a grimace.

“Chester, you have continued to annoy me on this trip. Why not give us both a rest? I have no interest in hearing anything you have to say, and frankly, although my resignation was going to be turned in at the end of this month, I wouldn’t hesitate to up the date and quit early if it meant I would be free of listening to you.”

“But you must admit it seems strange.”

“Why should it seem strange? The university has asked my father to take an early retirement. The economy of the country is failing fast and hard. My father owns property in Scotland, we have family there, and it seems the logical place to go. I have no reason to remain behind.”

“I thought you and Vance had some sort of understanding.”

“Well, you thought wrong,” Rainy replied and turned back to her paper work.

“Look, you’re always misunderstanding my motives,” Chester whispered as he leaned close to her ear.

Rainy moved away. “I don’t believe I’ve misunderstood anything you’ve said or done. When I was falsely accused of stealing the artifacts at the university, I knew you had the information I needed to clear my name.”

Chester looked rather shocked. His face paled.

“I . . . had nothing of the kind.”

“Your words are far from convincing. I asked you one night prior to the university’s final decision why you didn’t go in there and fight for me. You said it would result in your own dismissal. Why was that, Chester, if not for the fact that you had more information than you were allowing anyone to know?

Wasn’t it you who took the artifacts and placed them in my office? After all, you had a key.”

Chester seemed to regain his composure. “You can’t pin this on me. My family is well respected.”

“So was mine until you and yours did us wrong.”

Noting the time, Rainy gathered her things. “We leave for the snake dance in ten minutes. I suggest you be ready unless you plan to miss it, which is just as fine by me.” She could barely contain her anger. She knew by the look on his face that she’d hit pay dirt with her suspicions, but Chester wasn’t about to jeopardize everything by admitting his participation.

Lord, help me in this. I know he holds the key to the past
.

To Rainy’s disappointment, ten minutes later Chester was present, along with his wife. Bethel and Jen-netta looked positively miserable and Rainy could only suppose it was due to the heat. Someone told her it might well reach one hundred degrees. She didn’t mind the warmth, but these poor creatures of luxury and ease seemed unable to endure the sun’s intensity for long.

Hiding behind her huge straw hat, Jennetta dabbed herself with a cloth and remained silent while Rainy ushered her clients into the car so that they could drive to the mesa where the dance would be held.

Rainy gave the same speech she gave every year.

“You need to understand how very important this ritual is to the Hopi. The government once tried to put an end to the celebration back in 1923. They said time could be better used by working instead of celebrating. They wanted the Hopi to move the event to the winter, not understanding that the snakes would be hibernating then.

“The dance has its basis in the myths and legends of the Hopi people. It’s said that Ti-yo, a hero god who is often seen in Hopi legends, wanted to follow the river at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and see where it would take him. His father helped him build a boat and made gifts for the people he would meet along the way.

“The first place he came to was a small hole in the ground where he knew Spider Woman lived. Spider Woman welcomed him and because of his gift, she offered to go along with him and advise him as he made his journey. She took along magic potions that would calm the snakes and other wild animals so that Ti-yo would not be harmed.

“The journey continued and Ti-yo went even deeper into the canyon, where he met other beings.

He offered his gifts and was given gifts in return.

When he reached the Woman of Hard Substance, he found she lived in a kiva of turquoise and coral. As they sat talking, the Sun came in and landed on the kiva roof. Ti-yo gave him gifts, and the Sun told Ti-yo to take hold of his girdle and Sun would take him around the earth.

“When Ti-yo’s journey ended, he spent time in the Snake House and learned what songs to sing and how to paint his body so that the rain would come. He was then given two maidens. One to be his own wife and one for his brother. Spider Woman made a special basket for him and the women to bring back to his home. Later, Ti-yo and his brother married the women.

“After this, the village had trouble with snakes coming in to eat their corn. The legend says the maidens reverted to snakelike beings that bore small snakes that attacked and killed the children of the village.

The mothers of these children forced their men to migrate, and in migrating they taught the snake ritual to their Hopi brothers and sisters as they traveled.”

“What a marvelous story,” Bethel declared. “I love Indian lore.”

Others quickly agreed with her. Rainy let them chatter a bit more while Sonny drove on. Finally she interrupted. “We will not be allowed to see the entire ceremony of the snake dance. Prior to our arrival there is a gathering of rattlesnakes by the priests. The snakes are then brought into the kiva and dumped on the floor. The priests will take their choice of snakes, although it is said the snakes actually choose their men. Each priest takes his snakes home and washes them in cold water and yellow root medicine. Then the priest throws away his clothing and washes himself. He must then fast a day and dance all night. He will feed the rattlesnakes before even feeding himself, and when the time for the dance comes, he will gather his snakes, one in his mouth and one in each hand.”

“Oh, that sounds absolutely vile,” Jennetta said, actually looking a bit green.

“You will see for yourself that the actual dance has its vile moments,” Rainy declared. “There have been times when the snakes have bitten the men and yet still they dance and pay little attention to their wounds.

They appear to suffer no harm from the venom.”

“How does that work?” one man questioned. “Have they pulled the fangs out of the little beasts first?”

Rainy shook her head. “No, you can clearly see the rattlesnakes still maintain their fangs. No one is really certain why the Hopi survive unaffected. During the dance you’ll see the men tickle the head, neck, and mouth of the snakes with a ceremonial wand. This seems to stupefy the snake. Some observers claim that the wand must have some sort of potion or herb that sedates the animal, but I cannot say this is true.”

They finally arrived at the mesa, where a great many other tourists had gathered as well. The Hopi Snake Dance was not to be missed.

Rainy positioned her people and reminded them to remain silent and do nothing to interfere with the dance. As the ceremony played itself out, she couldn’t help but think of how this would be the last time she’d see the snake dance. The thought saddened her, but no more so than the thought of leaving Duncan.

Now that he’s kissed me, perhaps I should delay my plans.

Maybe things will come together for us,
she thought. Rainy glanced to the skies overhead. There were clouds in the west. The dance was said to bring rain and often the dancers finished in the midst of a downpour. Rainy couldn’t help but wonder if it would be that way today.

The dancers went through their routine, and at the conclusion the priests offered a prayer and the snake dancers took up bundles of snakes and ran back to level ground below the mesa. Here they let the snakes go in four different directions. This was so that the snakes could deliver their prayers to the underworld and the rain gods would hear and answer.

A purification ritual took place afterward and ended with the Hopi men taking an emetic and vomiting over the side of the mesa. At this point, Jennetta and Bethel both blanched and moved back to the car. Other dudes were not so fortunate and soon joined in the purging ritual without intending to.

Rainy smiled to herself and made her way to the touring car with her stunned dudes. Sonny helped everyone load up and they headed back to their lodging in near silence. It generally went this way, so Rainy didn’t offer much chatter. She told them they would remain at the reservation for an extra day before heading to Flagstaff and that the Hopi had agreed to share more information about their culture and beliefs. If anyone wanted to talk to them, Rainy could arrange a private meeting. No one took her up on the offer, much to her surprise.

That evening Rainy went to have dinner with her friends Istaqa and Una. When they first met, both had welcomed Rainy with open arms when she had demonstrated her desire to understand and know them better. In turn, Rainy had shared her faith in God, and Istaqa and Una had accepted Jesus as their Savior.

“We’re so glad you could eat with us,” Una said, embracing Rainy. “Where is your brother?”

“He was having some trouble with the car and needed to check on it. He said to give you his apologies.”

Una nodded. “He will be missed.”

They gathered and prayed, and Rainy didn’t know when she’d enjoyed herself more. For a time she actually stopped worrying about Chester and the artifacts.

She chose instead to listen to Una talk about their boys and how well they were doing in school.

“I don’t think I’ll have a chance to see you again anytime soon,” Rainy explained as dinner concluded and they sat sipping coffee. “I’m resigning my job at the end of the month and will probably move to Scotland with my parents.”

Una and Istaqa exchanged a strange look, and Rainy couldn’t help but ask them what was wrong.

Istaqa looked at his cup, refusing to meet Rainy’s eyes.

She studied the man and his blunt features. His hair was cut in Hopi fashion, straight and just below the ear. He wore a band around his head as many of his people did. He generally was very straightforward with Rainy, but now he suddenly seemed uncomfortable.

“What is it? Have I done something to offend you?”

Una reached out and patted Rainy’s hand. “It is not you. There have been problems and Istaqa worries.”

Rainy thought of the thefts. “Yes, I know about the problems.”