Plant Them Deep (22 page)
Authors: Aimee & David Thurlo
As she crouched by the shattered pot, she noted the vivid blue-violet flowers and remembered Charlie telling her about his search for a blue dye. But he’d mentioned having ten plants, and there was only one damaged specimen
here.
here.
“I’m going to take this little plant back with me. But there should be some others in here as well. Help me look,” Rose said, finding an empty pot on a shelf and carefully transferring the damaged plant into it.
They searched both ends of the trailer, including the bedroom, but there were no more blue flowering plants. Stepping outside, she looked at the native plants Charlie had growing
in his garden, but there were none of the endangered ones on her list. “Those plants will continue to flourish here, tended or untended,” Rose said, then went back inside Charlie’s home.
in his garden, but there were none of the endangered ones on her list. “Those plants will continue to flourish here, tended or untended,” Rose said, then went back inside Charlie’s home.
While Sadie finished repotting the damaged plant with additional soil taken from outside and added water to it from the tap in the sink, Rose went to Charlie’s desk. It was actually a large shelf that was attached
to the wall by a piano hinge and held level by two small chains. Rose searched through the few papers there and found some bills, including one for the trailer, but nothing of a more personal nature.
to the wall by a piano hinge and held level by two small chains. Rose searched through the few papers there and found some bills, including one for the trailer, but nothing of a more personal nature.
As Rose moved from one end to the other, she searched the drawers throughout the mobile home. The one thing that struck her was the absence of photos or anything that might reveal a bit about him.
It was almost as if Charlie had never had a past. But then again, maybe he hadn’t—at least not his own.
It was almost as if Charlie had never had a past. But then again, maybe he hadn’t—at least not his own.
Then, at the back of a drawer in the kitchen containing eating utensils, she found a single dog tag. It was old and scratched up, but it looked identical to the one found on the makeshift casket unearthed at Hogback. Its presence here confirmed the link between Charlie and that long-dead Marine.
It seemed too important to leave behind, but it was such a personal item that it didn’t seem wise to take it either.
It seemed too important to leave behind, but it was such a personal item that it didn’t seem wise to take it either.
Sadie came up behind her. “What do you have there?”
Rose showed the tag to her. “One identical to this was on
the body found when my friend was about to be buried. I think it may be evidence of something, but I don’t know if it is too dangerous to carry around. It was very personal
to my friend at one time, and now he’s dead.”
the body found when my friend was about to be buried. I think it may be evidence of something, but I don’t know if it is too dangerous to carry around. It was very personal
to my friend at one time, and now he’s dead.”
Sadie nodded. “My tribe has different beliefs about the dead and their property. I don’t mind keeping it for you, just in case it’s needed later on by the police or lawyers. If we leave it here, it’s only going to get thrown away and lost,” Sadie said.
“Thank you. It sounds like a good idea.” Rose handed her the dog tag, and Sadie placed it in her
pocket.
pocket.
Two hours later, after a fruitless search for anything that might reveal more about Charlie’s true identity, Rose walked to the door. Except for the Charlie Dodge dog tag, the only things of significance were the pink slip on his truck and the loan papers for the trailer, which he’d purchased less than a year ago after making a down payment of five thousand dollars. She stood there for
a moment, taking one last look at her friend’s home, then continued to Sadie’s SUV. She would never return to this site.
a moment, taking one last look at her friend’s home, then continued to Sadie’s SUV. She would never return to this site.
As they drove back to Shiprock, Rose glanced at Sadie. “I have to go to the high school next and attend to some business, but I should go in alone, and it may take a while. Would you prefer it if we went back and I got my truck?”
“The high school is on the way, so it makes
sense to stop there next. I’ll be happy to wait for you outside. I have a book in my purse. I never get to read books for pleasure anymore and I’ve got a great romance I’ve been wanting to read.”
sense to stop there next. I’ll be happy to wait for you outside. I have a book in my purse. I never get to read books for pleasure anymore and I’ve got a great romance I’ve been wanting to read.”
“You read
those
?” Rose asked, grimacing. She’d never approved of the white world’s emphasis on romance. She understood the necessity of pairing, but in her mind the right pairing had very little to do
with romance.
those
?” Rose asked, grimacing. She’d never approved of the white world’s emphasis on romance. She understood the necessity of pairing, but in her mind the right pairing had very little to do
with romance.
“Believe it or not, it’s got a Navajo hero, so it sounded interesting,” she said, and smiled when Rose grimaced.
“Well, since you don’t mind, let’s stop there when we get into town,” Rose said.
When they arrived at Shiprock, they turned and drove into the parking lot of the high school, just south of the road they were on, Highway 64.
Rose opened the door, then glanced back
at Sadie. “If it gets too hot, just come into the front lobby and sit on one of the benches,” she said, “or wait in the principal’s office.”
at Sadie. “If it gets too hot, just come into the front lobby and sit on one of the benches,” she said, “or wait in the principal’s office.”
“I’ve always tried to stay away from places like that,” Sadie said with a smile. “Don’t worry about me at all. I’ll be fine.”
Rose hurried up the front steps and went inside quickly, headed straight for the main office. Asking the first adult she saw for
assistance, she was guided to Sheila Jim’s desk. Sheila, after the last government boarding school on the mesa had closed down for good years ago, had started as a records secretary here, a position similar to her old job.
assistance, she was guided to Sheila Jim’s desk. Sheila, after the last government boarding school on the mesa had closed down for good years ago, had started as a records secretary here, a position similar to her old job.
Sheila looked up and, seeing Rose, smiled. “Well, hello. This is a surprise. Sit down.”
Rose took the seat she offered. “I’ve come to ask you a favor,” she said, and explained
that she was looking for anything to do with Charlie’s past. Although forced to use his name here, she didn’t feel threatened by the
chindi
because she doubted Charlie had ever been here.
that she was looking for anything to do with Charlie’s past. Although forced to use his name here, she didn’t feel threatened by the
chindi
because she doubted Charlie had ever been here.
“I’m not sure I can help you. The records you want date back to the Great Depression. Back then, things weren’t as organized as they are now, and there were only a few staff members at the boarding school, which
was in the valley then. I worked at the last one here, up on the mesa across town, of course, and those records ended up at tribal headquarters in Window Rock. But the real old records—I have no idea where they might be.”
was in the valley then. I worked at the last one here, up on the mesa across town, of course, and those records ended up at tribal headquarters in Window Rock. But the real old records—I have no idea where they might be.”
“Who might know about his or his brother’s childhood? Can you think of anyone?”
Sheila considered it for a while. “There is one person that might, but I’m not even sure he’s
still alive. My mother would visit him at least once a month when I was in high school, and he’d always take time to talk to me about plants and the old ways. He lived out by Rattlesnake.”
still alive. My mother would visit him at least once a month when I was in high school, and he’d always take time to talk to me about plants and the old ways. He lived out by Rattlesnake.”
“Can you tell me anything more about him?”
“His name was Ha … Ha something.” She shook her head. “He was a traditionalist, so he never used his real name. He wanted to protect his Navajo name, and he’d never
had an Anglo name because he never went to school.”
had an Anglo name because he never went to school.”
“Could it have been
Ha’asídí?”
Ha’asídí?”
“Yes, that was it! I remember now.”
Rose knew the man, but she too wasn’t sure if he was still alive. He had to be over eighty if he was, but some of their people were strong and lived long lives.
“Thanks. I appreciate the help you gave me.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more,” Sheila said.
Rose walked outside
to where Sadie’s SUV was parked. She was still sitting behind the wheel, engrossed in the paperback novel. As Rose slipped into the seat, Sadie dogeared the page she was reading, set the book down beside her, and started the engine.
to where Sadie’s SUV was parked. She was still sitting behind the wheel, engrossed in the paperback novel. As Rose slipped into the seat, Sadie dogeared the page she was reading, set the book down beside her, and started the engine.
“Where to?”
“Let’s stop at my house to put this plant in a safe place then I want to track someone down. He used to live in a hogan out by Rattlesnake. I remember
him walking all the way into Shiprock once a week, then sometimes carrying back a load of groceries if he couldn’t find a ride home.”
him walking all the way into Shiprock once a week, then sometimes carrying back a load of groceries if he couldn’t find a ride home.”
Sadie looked at her thoughtfully as they were heading south of Shiprock. “I met an old man wandering around in that area not long ago over by Shiprock Wash. In spite of this four-wheel drive monster, which should be capable of going almost anywhere, I managed to
get myself stuck in the soft
sand of an arroyo, and he came out of nowhere. Scared me half silly, but he knew that area like the back of his hand. He was very old, but he had more energy than I did, and his thinking was as clear as springwater. He helped me dig out and showed me how to stuff brush in front and around the tires to get enough traction to pull free. If it’s the same person, he was
very much alive just a few months ago.”
get myself stuck in the soft
sand of an arroyo, and he came out of nowhere. Scared me half silly, but he knew that area like the back of his hand. He was very old, but he had more energy than I did, and his thinking was as clear as springwater. He helped me dig out and showed me how to stuff brush in front and around the tires to get enough traction to pull free. If it’s the same person, he was
very much alive just a few months ago.”
“He sounds like the man I’m looking for.”
“You might ask him about ‘white at night’ if we find him,” Sadie added after a moment. “I remember that he was out collecting plants when he found me stuck in that sandy arroyo.”
“You’re right. There was a time when ‘white at night’ could be collected around the sides of the arroyos flowing away from Ship Rock
all the way to Rattlesnake. Of course, that was a long time ago.”
all the way to Rattlesnake. Of course, that was a long time ago.”
After leaving the plant in Rose’s kitchen to recover under the light, they traveled north again, then west. At long last, after wandering around for nearly a half hour looking for the right dirt road, they arrived at a hogan near a small oil field. Rose asked Sadie to stop fifty feet away within view of the east-side entrance,
which had a door in place of the traditional blanket-covered entry.
which had a door in place of the traditional blanket-covered entry.
“If he’s inside, he’ll come out,” Rose said.
“That’s assuming he knows we’re here. What if he’s hard-of-hearing?”
“We can wait outside by the vehicle, but we shouldn’t approach because he’s a traditionalist. It would be considered rude.” Seeing the empty sheep pen constructed of cottonwood branches, Rose studied the area, noting
the globe willow tree that shaded the pine-log hogan.
Ha’asídí
had made another concession or two to modern times. His hogan had a tarpaper roof and a metal chimney, which meant a woodstove had taken the place of a fire pit, and the joints between the logs had been
sealed with some kind of stucco or plaster instead of mud.
the globe willow tree that shaded the pine-log hogan.
Ha’asídí
had made another concession or two to modern times. His hogan had a tarpaper roof and a metal chimney, which meant a woodstove had taken the place of a fire pit, and the joints between the logs had been
sealed with some kind of stucco or plaster instead of mud.
“The tracks over there by the sheep pen look fresh. My guess is that during
the day he probably takes his livestock along the arroyos where it’s cooler, and they feed on the grass that grows in damper soil.”
the day he probably takes his livestock along the arroyos where it’s cooler, and they feed on the grass that grows in damper soil.”
“I got stuck in one of those arroyos near here. Do you want me to try and take you to that same spot—emphasis on
try?
I’m not sure I can find it again.”
try?
I’m not sure I can find it again.”
Rose smiled. “I lose track of distances around here sometimes too, and end up going down the wrong road. But
as long as I can see the mountains to the west, or Ute Mountain over there to the northwest, I can always reorient myself at least on directions.”
as long as I can see the mountains to the west, or Ute Mountain over there to the northwest, I can always reorient myself at least on directions.”
“I’ll try to remember that,” Sadie said, “but if you get down into the arroyos, you sometimes get turned around and have to get to higher ground to see landmarks.”
Sadie continued west, with the pinnacle of Ship Rock on her left. A low, wide, and
currently dry arroyo with the equivalent of sandbars in the center appeared before them, running in a southerly direction. They reached a hard spot down on the arroyo where the seasonal flow of rainwater had created a gravel deposit near the center of the channel, and Sadie stopped the vehicle. As they climbed out, they could hear someone whistling farther down the arroyo, but they couldn’t see anyone.
currently dry arroyo with the equivalent of sandbars in the center appeared before them, running in a southerly direction. They reached a hard spot down on the arroyo where the seasonal flow of rainwater had created a gravel deposit near the center of the channel, and Sadie stopped the vehicle. As they climbed out, they could hear someone whistling farther down the arroyo, but they couldn’t see anyone.
“I think it’s coming from around the next bend,” Sadie said. “But it’s hard to say for sure because of the way the wind carries sounds out here.”
“Wind is said to hide or uncover secrets at will,” Rose whispered. Then she stood perfectly still for several moments. “Over there,” she said at last, gesturing.
As they walked around a curve in the arroyo, they saw an old Navajo man bent over, picking
some plants growing near the edge of a smaller channel. Several sheep were grazing on
the grasses atop a high spot in the wash where the sun shone most of the day. A few goats were farther downstream, and she could hear a bell as one of the animals moved.
some plants growing near the edge of a smaller channel. Several sheep were grazing on
the grasses atop a high spot in the wash where the sun shone most of the day. A few goats were farther downstream, and she could hear a bell as one of the animals moved.
“Yáat’ééh,” Ha’asídí
greeted in Navajo, standing up as Rose and Sadie approached.
greeted in Navajo, standing up as Rose and Sadie approached.
“Aqalani,”
Rose answered, using the word for greetings.
Rose answered, using the word for greetings.
“I remember you, young lady,” he said, chuckling as he glanced at Sadie. “Are you lost again?”
Sadie laughed. “No, this time I came on purpose.”
He shifted his gaze to Rose. “I know you, of course, and your children. Are you in search of plants?”
“Yes, I am. And information too.”
“Maybe I can help with both.”
She told him about Charlie Dodge, not mentioning his name specifically, but she knew
from his expression that he’d already heard.
from his expression that he’d already heard.
“My daughter told me about his passing. I was sad to hear the news. I saw him just a few days before his death when he came here to the New Mexico side searching for plants. He said that he was working with you to locate some of the Plant People who had moved away.”
“That is so,” Rose answered. His English was surprisingly good. The elderly didn’t
always speak the language of the Anglos.
always speak the language of the Anglos.
“But there’s no ‘salt thin’ or ‘frog tobacco’ here,” he told her. “Is that what you’re looking for?”
“Right now I need to find ‘white at night.’ I believe it used to grow in these parts.”
He nodded. “It does still—or it did until someone came and dug up most of the plants I knew about.”
“Did you happen to find strange shovel marks on the ground?”
He nodded. “You mean the holes made by a little pointed
digging tool?” Seeing her nod, he continued. “I recognized the pattern it made on the ground because I used a GI shovel back during my days in the Marines. It seemed like all we did was dig foxholes and trenches,” he recalled.
digging tool?” Seeing her nod, he continued. “I recognized the pattern it made on the ground because I used a GI shovel back during my days in the Marines. It seemed like all we did was dig foxholes and trenches,” he recalled.
“Did he take all the ‘white at night’ plants?”
“No, there are still some young plants left, and a few old, weak
ones.”
ones.”
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