Plant Them Deep (18 page)
Authors: Aimee & David Thurlo
Then the brothers met Hunger. The monster explained
that if they killed him, the people would lose their appetites and there would
be no more pleasure in feasting and eating. So the heroes let him live as well.
that if they killed him, the people would lose their appetites and there would
be no more pleasure in feasting and eating. So the heroes let him live as well.
Poverty was an old man dressed in dirty rags. He urged them to kill him and put him out of his misery. But he also warned that if he died, old clothes would never wear out and people would never make new ones. Everyone would be dirty and
ragged like he was. The heroes knew that they had to let him live.
ragged like he was. The heroes knew that they had to let him live.
Finally they met Death. She was old and bent and frightening to behold, so the heroes were certain that they should kill her. But she warned them to think hard before they did because if she ceased to be, the old people would not die and give up their places to the young. She told them that as long as she existed, the young men
could marry and have children. She assured them that she was their friend, though they didn’t know it yet. The hero twins allowed her to live, and that is why we still have death.
could marry and have children. She assured them that she was their friend, though they didn’t know it yet. The hero twins allowed her to live, and that is why we still have death.
As Rose opened her eyes, her mother’s voice and face faded once again to the back of her memory. The story comforted her now. Even in dying there was balance and harmony.
After she arrived in front of her son’s
stacked eight-sided log medicine hogan, Rose parked and then remained seated, waiting for her son to appear. Before long, Clifford came to the entrance of the hogan and invited her in by cocking his head.
stacked eight-sided log medicine hogan, Rose parked and then remained seated, waiting for her son to appear. Before long, Clifford came to the entrance of the hogan and invited her in by cocking his head.
Rose walked over to meet him. “Good afternoon, son. My old friend from Teec Nos Pos is being buried today. I wanted to know if you had a special medicine bundle I could use.”
“You’re going
to the grave site?” he asked, surprised.
to the grave site?” he asked, surprised.
“No, but I’ll be close by. I need to see this through. It’s a duty … .”
“There’s no relative?”
She shook her head. “None that can be found. I’ve accepted the responsibility.”
Clifford gathered substances from several pottery bowls,
then placed several pieces of flint into the small medicine pouch. “Take this. It will give you protection,” he said. “Let
me know if you need to talk or if there’s anything else I can do to help you.”
then placed several pieces of flint into the small medicine pouch. “Take this. It will give you protection,” he said. “Let
me know if you need to talk or if there’s anything else I can do to help you.”
“Thank you, son.”
As she walked back to her truck, she couldn’t help but notice that it was a beautiful day—the kind that Charlie had loved. He’d lived a full life, and done his service to his country, and to the
Dineh,
the Navajo people.
Dineh,
the Navajo people.
Remembering Charlie’s letter and instructions, she once again began to wonder
about his unusual request. That location hadn’t been one of his plant collection sites, nor was there anything particularly noteworthy about the area except that it was once a gathering place for Navajos who’d come to trade and purchase off-reservation goods.
about his unusual request. That location hadn’t been one of his plant collection sites, nor was there anything particularly noteworthy about the area except that it was once a gathering place for Navajos who’d come to trade and purchase off-reservation goods.
The Hogback trading post was located just at the eastern edge of the Navajo Nation, and wasn’t close to where Charlie had lived most of
his life. Most puzzling of all, Charlie had never been the kind to do things without purpose. Sadly, his reasons would probably remain a mystery to her forever now.
his life. Most puzzling of all, Charlie had never been the kind to do things without purpose. Sadly, his reasons would probably remain a mystery to her forever now.
An hour later, she arrived at the old, dilapidated half-adobe building, which butted up against the nearly vertical sedimentary rock walls of the Hogback. Though the painted signs still remained advertising Navajo rugs, the store
had been abandoned for some time. Fifty yards to the north, at a spot halfway between two large boulders and not far from the base of the tall Hogback ridge, the man with the Laverys—Carolyn and her husband Michael, was digging the grave. The ground was soft, and it wasn’t long before he was waist-deep into the earth.
had been abandoned for some time. Fifty yards to the north, at a spot halfway between two large boulders and not far from the base of the tall Hogback ridge, the man with the Laverys—Carolyn and her husband Michael, was digging the grave. The ground was soft, and it wasn’t long before he was waist-deep into the earth.
Suddenly the man yelled and jumped back out to the surface where the Laverys
stood. Rose saw him gesturing down, agitated. Carolyn and Michael stepped forward and peered into the hole.
stood. Rose saw him gesturing down, agitated. Carolyn and Michael stepped forward and peered into the hole.
Rose had a feeling that they’d just discovered the reason
why Charlie had been so adamant about being buried at this spot exactly halfway between the boulders. Tightly grasping the
jish
that her son had made for her, she approached slowly, torn between curiosity and the need to stay away.
why Charlie had been so adamant about being buried at this spot exactly halfway between the boulders. Tightly grasping the
jish
that her son had made for her, she approached slowly, torn between curiosity and the need to stay away.
Rose came within ten feet of the grave site, then stopped and peered down into the hole. Holding her breath and saying a prayer, she took another step forward. Even at this distance, she could see what had disturbed them. There appeared to be an old wooden box, the length of a coffin, already there. It was falling apart, with large gaps between the boards. Fortunately, she couldn’t see inside.
“Did your friend ever tell you why he’d chosen this exact spot?” Carolyn asked.
Rose shook her head. “Who among the Navajo talks about graves and burials?”
Carolyn took a deep breath. “That box looks like two packing crates nailed together. I want to make sure that it holds a body, not something else. It might just be something that came from the old trading post.”
Carolyn looked at the Anglo
man who’d dug the grave. He had remained beside the hole, still looking at the large box. “The thing is falling apart, Jerry,” Carolyn told him. “Pry back one of the boards so we can see inside.”
man who’d dug the grave. He had remained beside the hole, still looking at the large box. “The thing is falling apart, Jerry,” Carolyn told him. “Pry back one of the boards so we can see inside.”
As she heard Carolyn’s instructions, Rose’s legs nearly buckled. When the workman pried back a loose board with the shovel and she heard the creak of the wood, she shut her eyes tightly. A heartbeat
later, the board broke loose with a thud—it was too rotten to really snap—then nothing.
later, the board broke loose with a thud—it was too rotten to really snap—then nothing.
No one said a word. Unable to stand the sudden, total silence, she opened her eyes and saw Carolyn and Michael crouched down beside the pine box. Rose stepped back, horrified, as Carolyn reached for something inside the container and pulled it out.
“This person was buried in what I think is a World War II
Marine uniform,” Carolyn said thoughtfully. “And this dog tag,” she said, glancing down at what she was holding, “identifies the body as that of your Plant Watcher friend—the man we came here to bury today.”
Marine uniform,” Carolyn said thoughtfully. “And this dog tag,” she said, glancing down at what she was holding, “identifies the body as that of your Plant Watcher friend—the man we came here to bury today.”
Stunned, Rose stared at Carolyn as she handed the metal tag to her husband. “But that’s impossible.” She looked back at the inexpensive pine casket that contained Charlie’s body. “What in
the world is going on here?” Rose looked at Carolyn, then Michael, and finally the Anglo man who’d uncovered the old grave, but no one had any answers.
the world is going on here?” Rose looked at Carolyn, then Michael, and finally the Anglo man who’d uncovered the old grave, but no one had any answers.
M
ichael Lavery stood by his wife, still looking at the dog tag, a small rectangular piece of aluminum, which had a slender piece of frayed cord attached. “Soldiers usually wear two dog tags. Where the other one?”
ichael Lavery stood by his wife, still looking at the dog tag, a small rectangular piece of aluminum, which had a slender piece of frayed cord attached. “Soldiers usually wear two dog tags. Where the other one?”
Carolyn glanced inside the box again. “There’s only that one tag.”
“I know that in the military, at least the way it used to be, one tag was taken off by the burial detail
for recordkeeping and the other was left on the body. Since this was no military burial, I would have expected both to still be there. One thing’s for sure, another Navajo would have never kept one of the dog tags as a memento.”
for recordkeeping and the other was left on the body. Since this was no military burial, I would have expected both to still be there. One thing’s for sure, another Navajo would have never kept one of the dog tags as a memento.”
“I’ve known my friend for thirty years or more. How did the man buried in this grave get
his
dog tag?”
his
dog tag?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to have to call the police,” Carolyn
said. “By several feet at least, we’re still on tribal land, so that means Shiprock and tribal jurisdiction.”
said. “By several feet at least, we’re still on tribal land, so that means Shiprock and tribal jurisdiction.”
Rose sat on a sandstone rock in the shade of Hogback, well away from the grave, as they waited. Charlie had wanted them to dig here. Finding the body had not been an accident. But she still had no idea what it all meant.
Carolyn cleared her throat and walked over to Rose. “There’s
a
patrolman being dispatched and he’ll be here shortly. Because I would have been called to this scene anyway, my husband and I are going to save time and take a closer look at the skeleton. We want to try to figure out if there’s any evidence concerning how he died. You might want to go for a small walk.”
a
patrolman being dispatched and he’ll be here shortly. Because I would have been called to this scene anyway, my husband and I are going to save time and take a closer look at the skeleton. We want to try to figure out if there’s any evidence concerning how he died. You might want to go for a small walk.”
“Yes, thank you.” Rose stood and walked away. Behind her, she could hear the men shoveling
away the remaining dirt from around the box. With a shudder, she headed farther south toward the old trading post to wait.
away the remaining dirt from around the box. With a shudder, she headed farther south toward the old trading post to wait.
Sometime later Carolyn came to meet her with the police officer who’d responded to the call, a man Rose recognized as Sergeant Joseph Neskahi. Rose stood up as they approached and braced herself.
“My husband and I checked the skeleton, but there’s no physical evidence
to indicate he was murdered. The police chief has decided not to move the body from the grave it obviously has been in for decades, and a local judge concurred after a quick phone call. The general consensus is that we’ve found an unmarked grave dating back to the forties, and we should leave it alone.”
to indicate he was murdered. The police chief has decided not to move the body from the grave it obviously has been in for decades, and a local judge concurred after a quick phone call. The general consensus is that we’ve found an unmarked grave dating back to the forties, and we should leave it alone.”
Rose nodded. “Put my friend’s coffin beside that one, then. This is where he asked to be buried,
and I think we should respect that.”
and I think we should respect that.”
Carolyn glanced at the man she’d hired for the burial and gave him a nod.
“But will you do one thing for me first?” Rose asked Carolyn. Without waiting, she added, “Fingerprint the man we came to bury, and send his prints to the FBI in Washington so they can compare them to his military records. I’d like to confirm who he really was, now that there is apparently
some doubt.”
some doubt.”
“I agree, otherwise we may have to dig the body up later
anyway,” Neskahi said. Then, looking at Carolyn, he added, “Doctor, what do you say?”
anyway,” Neskahi said. Then, looking at Carolyn, he added, “Doctor, what do you say?”
Carolyn nodded. “Consider it done.”
Rose stood way back as Carolyn opened Charlie’s coffin, with the help of her husband, and completed the task. When the coffin was finally interred, alongside the decomposed body already there, Rose felt
an undeniable sense of relief. It was now time to leave.
an undeniable sense of relief. It was now time to leave.
Thanking everyone for their help, Rose returned to her pickup and drove away. She would never return here again.
Rose decided to stop by her son’s hogan before she went home, though she had to pass by her house on the way. Even with the
jish,
she felt she needed something more to protect her now.
jish,
she felt she needed something more to protect her now.
When Rose explained the circumstances
to him, Clifford winced. “You were right to come back here first.”
to him, Clifford winced. “You were right to come back here first.”
Clifford sang a Song of Blessing over her, and as he did her worries lifted. She felt clean again. Had she been near the body of an enemy, Rose would have had a proper Sing, one that would have lasted over a week. But this and the
jish
would be enough for now.
jish
would be enough for now.
Once she got home, Rose showered and changed. After having a light
snack, she sat out on the porch to watch her granddaughter playing under the shade of an arbor made of tree branches.
snack, she sat out on the porch to watch her granddaughter playing under the shade of an arbor made of tree branches.
The heat soon became uncomfortable, and Rose went back into the house. She’d just poured herself some iced tea when the phone rang.
It was the councilman who’d hired her. “This is John Begay. We’ve received a complaint concerning your survey work that we need to look into. We
need to see what you’ve done so far.”
need to see what you’ve done so far.”
She knew that Curtis Largo had done as he’d said, telling
Begay and other officials that her report wouldn’t meet their requirements. “I’ll have a preliminary draft ready for you tomorrow by ten in the morning.”
Begay and other officials that her report wouldn’t meet their requirements. “I’ll have a preliminary draft ready for you tomorrow by ten in the morning.”
“That’ll will be fine. We’ll see you then.”
Rose immediately called Willie, first thanking him for speaking on her behalf at the chapter house
meeting, then getting to the point. “I really need your help, Professor,” she explained. “If I could give them grids or coordinates that will specify a general area in the scientific terms they so love, I believe that would still satisfy them. Also, I’m going to need to indicate the scientific names for the plants, and more details, in scientific terms, about the soil conditions and terrain.”
meeting, then getting to the point. “I really need your help, Professor,” she explained. “If I could give them grids or coordinates that will specify a general area in the scientific terms they so love, I believe that would still satisfy them. Also, I’m going to need to indicate the scientific names for the plants, and more details, in scientific terms, about the soil conditions and terrain.”
“Come on over to my house right now. Bring everything, including any computer files you may have saved on floppy disks. We’ll get that report in tip-top shape in no time.”
She detected his confidence and enthusiasm, and knew that he would enjoy the challenge. “I really appreciate this, Willie.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Rose gathered the few photos, her many sketches, notes, and the maps she’d drawn,
and a copy on diskette of her text files from Ella’s computer, then set out for Farmington.
and a copy on diskette of her text files from Ella’s computer, then set out for Farmington.
When she arrived, the front door to his home was open, and hearing her truck, Kenmore pushed the screen door open and ran toward her, tail wagging. The mastiff’s powerful body looked too big to make a quick stop and Rose braced herself, her back against the truck. But Kenmore came to a dead stop just inches
before her, and sat down, his tail wagging furiously. She didn’t have to lean down to pat his head, something that never failed to impress her. It was a very good thing that Kenmore was an agreeable dog.
before her, and sat down, his tail wagging furiously. She didn’t have to lean down to pat his head, something that never failed to impress her. It was a very good thing that Kenmore was an agreeable dog.
Willie came out the door a moment later and laughed at the sight of her and the dog. “Don’t just stand there, come on in!” he greeted.
Willie led her into his den, and together at a large desk,
they began to compile her notes and sketches into a formal presentation. Willie scanned her sketches onto his computer, then printed them out.
they began to compile her notes and sketches into a formal presentation. Willie scanned her sketches onto his computer, then printed them out.
The final draft looked very professional, and Willie added a final touch by binding the approximately eighty pages in a special folder.
“I don’t know how to thank you for this, Professor. It looks wonderful, and gives them what they asked for without
forcing me to violate any confidential information.”
forcing me to violate any confidential information.”
“It should impress them—and shut them up, at least for a while,” Willie said with a smile. “Now we should celebrate. Why don’t you stay and have dinner with me? I have some steaks we can put on the grill, and some fresh corn on the cob.”
She couldn’t say no, not after he’d spent most of his afternoon helping her. “Let me call home and tell
them not to expect me, then I’ll be happy to join you.” Rose asked to use his phone, and was shown back into his den.
them not to expect me, then I’ll be happy to join you.” Rose asked to use his phone, and was shown back into his den.
“I’ll be outside getting the grill started,” Willie yelled as he walked back into the kitchen.
Rose sat down at his desk, and as she spoke to Jennifer, the phone cord brushed against a paperback novel Willie was reading and knocked the book to the floor. As she discussed Dawn’s
dinner, Rose picked it up, but a photo that had been tucked inside the book fell out. Rose reached for it next and saw that it was a Polaroid taken of Willie and Maria at a party.
dinner, Rose picked it up, but a photo that had been tucked inside the book fell out. Rose reached for it next and saw that it was a Polaroid taken of Willie and Maria at a party.
She’d hung up and was studying the photo when Willie came in.
Seeing the photo in her hand, he asked, “Did that photo drop out of the book? I’ve been using it as a bookmark to remind myself to get a frame for it. It
was taken at a birthday party a friend of mine threw for me a few months ago.”
was taken at a birthday party a friend of mine threw for me a few months ago.”
“I know the woman,” Rose said.
“Ah, and you saw her with me at the chapter house meeting. Your tone suggests you don’t like her. Is that it?” he asked.
“It’s not a matter of liking or disliking, but there is tension between us because of our different philosophies.”
He nodded slowly. “Maria is a very bright young
woman, though a bit too idealistic—a common ailment a lot of young people share. In time I think she’ll be a great asset to your tribe. Don’t underestimate her ability, or her intentions. All she needs is a few more years of experience and maturity.”
woman, though a bit too idealistic—a common ailment a lot of young people share. In time I think she’ll be a great asset to your tribe. Don’t underestimate her ability, or her intentions. All she needs is a few more years of experience and maturity.”
He placed the photo back in the inside flap of the book. “I came to ask you if you’d like your corn broiled over the coals or boiled.”
“Whichever
way you prefer is fine,” Rose answered. There had been a strong undercurrent of emotion laced through his words when he’d spoken of Maria. Despite his clear, logical answer, she had a feeling that there was more going on between them than he was saying.
way you prefer is fine,” Rose answered. There had been a strong undercurrent of emotion laced through his words when he’d spoken of Maria. Despite his clear, logical answer, she had a feeling that there was more going on between them than he was saying.
Rose joined Willie in the kitchen, and proceeded to make herself useful husking the corn while he marinated the steaks. Once the coals were ready
in the barbecue, they went outside to the patio in the back. As they prepared dinner, Willie was uncharacteristically quiet. It was clear that something serious was weighing on him.
in the barbecue, they went outside to the patio in the back. As they prepared dinner, Willie was uncharacteristically quiet. It was clear that something serious was weighing on him.
Twenty minutes later, when they sat down to eat, Rose realized that he’d cooked a small steak for Kenmore as well, a reward for the monstrous dog, who had rested on the grass the entire time, watching but not nosing
the food. The dog seemed very happy.
the food. The dog seemed very happy.
“Kenmore’s reward isn’t entirely altruistic,” Willie explained, seeing her watching him as he placed the steak down inside a dog dish the size of a Dutch oven. “When he watches us eat, he’ll start to drool. Soon afterwards, he’ll shake—and after that, I guarantee, our appetites will be ruined. On the other
hand, if he gets a steak now, he’ll eat and then lie
down for a nap.”
hand, if he gets a steak now, he’ll eat and then lie
down for a nap.”
“You certainly know your animal,” Rose said with a laugh.
Willie smiled. “I spoil him, but he’s my family, and he’s great company. I lived alone for many years after my wife died. Then I got Kenmore. These days I can’t imagine not having him around. A man couldn’t have a better buddy.”
“A pet can make a lot of difference. After my husband died, there was a period of time when
I lived completely alone. My daughter came home several months later after she resigned from the FBI, but the days before she arrived were long ones for me. I’d never lived completely alone until then—not ever. Dog showed up at my door one dark night, and after that was my constant companion. Of course, Dog was a lot smaller than your Kenmore.”
I lived completely alone. My daughter came home several months later after she resigned from the FBI, but the days before she arrived were long ones for me. I’d never lived completely alone until then—not ever. Dog showed up at my door one dark night, and after that was my constant companion. Of course, Dog was a lot smaller than your Kenmore.”
They chatted amicably through dinner. Then, as they
gathered up their plates and took them back inside, Willie’s mood grew somber.
gathered up their plates and took them back inside, Willie’s mood grew somber.
“Recently I learned that the Plant Watcher who died just inside Arizona was a friend of yours,” he said.
She looked at Willie in surprise, wondering how he’d known and if he’d been a friend of Charlie’s. She nodded. “He was a dear friend.”
“At first I was told that the police had ruled what happened to him as an
accidental death. Later, a friend of mine who does contract work for the tribe transporting bodies told me that an autopsy had been done. Do you know why?”
accidental death. Later, a friend of mine who does contract work for the tribe transporting bodies told me that an autopsy had been done. Do you know why?”
“It was necessary.”
“Why?” he pressed.
“Because I knew he’d been murdered,” she said, deciding to be completely honest. He deserved that from her after all the help he’d given her. “Now, thanks to the autopsy, we all know that the fall didn’t
kill him—it was a heart attack, which
may have been caused by the fall itself, or by being forced to the edge of the cliff where the ground was unstable.” She paused, then slowly added, “I’ve also managed to learn that an Anglo man was seen with him the day he died.”
kill him—it was a heart attack, which
may have been caused by the fall itself, or by being forced to the edge of the cliff where the ground was unstable.” She paused, then slowly added, “I’ve also managed to learn that an Anglo man was seen with him the day he died.”
Willie took a deep breath. “That Anglo could have been me. I went to see him to learn more about Navajo herbal medicine. I wanted
to include the information in a book I’m writing. But I wasn’t the only one who came to see him that day. After I left, just as I got onto the main road, I saw a gas company truck heading out to his camp.”
to include the information in a book I’m writing. But I wasn’t the only one who came to see him that day. After I left, just as I got onto the main road, I saw a gas company truck heading out to his camp.”
“When you talked to him, did our friend mention that he was expecting company?”
“No, it was just the opposite, in fact. At one point I asked him what he planned to do that day and he said
that he was going to stay out a bit longer and see if he could find some herbs he was looking for. He said that whenever he went out into the desert by himself, he was always at peace because he could almost feel the interconnectedness of everything. I remember him saying that in particular, because I mentioned the Global Consciousness Project being conducted by Princeton University and we got sidetracked
discussing that for nearly another hour.”
that he was going to stay out a bit longer and see if he could find some herbs he was looking for. He said that whenever he went out into the desert by himself, he was always at peace because he could almost feel the interconnectedness of everything. I remember him saying that in particular, because I mentioned the Global Consciousness Project being conducted by Princeton University and we got sidetracked
discussing that for nearly another hour.”
“The what?”
He smiled. “It’s an experiment that’s found a way of measuring the concept that one mind interacts and combines with another and then another until there’s what they’ve called a global consciousness.” Willie paused and smiled. “It’s a fancy way of saying that all things are interconnected. Isn’t it funny how we’re all just beginning to discover
what the Navajos have known since the beginning?”
what the Navajos have known since the beginning?”
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