Apache Moon (17 page)

“I saw light at the top of the mountain and thought it was you building a fire. I climbed the mountain, but when I came to the top, I saw a beautiful Apache woman. She was dressed in white buckskin and had white powder on her cheeks. Light seemed to radiate out of her body.”

Cucharo appeared to be having a tumultuous inner experience, and Duane wondered if something was wrong with the
di-yin.
Then the old man spoke. “Did she say something?”

“She motioned for me to come closer and then she hugged me. I fell asleep after that, but I remember her guarding me.”

Cucharo appeared agitated as he paced back and forth, spat, and kicked a dead branch angrily. Then he turned abruptly toward Duane and hollered, “I have been a
di-yin
all my life, and I have never seen White Painted Woman in a dream! She has shown you special favor, but I do not know why!” Cucharo shook his head in frustration. “It is hard to understand the way of Yusn, for he is beyond us. But keep going—did you have any more dreams?”

“I slept for a long time, and when I woke up, I
was attacked by an Apache warrior whom I'd never seen before. He took me completely by surprise, and we went at it for a long time. Finally I thought I had him, but he just moved to the side. I fell down the mountain and nearly killed myself but ended in a cave with a gold wall, where I found these Apache clothes that you left behind.”

The
di-yin
slapped Duane's face hard, and Duane was stunned by the severity of the blow.

“You are so ignorant,” Cucharo hissed. “Your grandfather gives you valuable things, but you do not appreciate them. Open your heart, fool. Then you will understand.”

Duane was bewildered. “I'm trying, but I still don't know. Why'd my grandfather try to stab me?”

“He was showing his power to you.”

“But he almost killed me!”

“Your grandfather would never kill you. How could that be? He gave himself, body to body, so you could see your holy ancestry. You have been a White Eyes long enough. But stop asking so many questions. Then what happened?”

“I fell asleep again, and when I woke up, I was a lion. I'm not joking, that's just the way I looked. Instead of speaking English, I made lion sounds, and I felt very strong. Just as I was getting used to the idea, all of a sudden I was attacked by a bear. He nearly squeezed me to death, but finally I chewed through his gizzard and killed the son of a bitch. I was covered
with his blood and mine, but then it rained and washed me clean. After that, I fell asleep again, and when I woke up, you were here.”

Cucharo nodded thoughtfully as he closed his eyes to slits. They sat in silence atop the mountain as breezes whistled past. Then, after a long time, Cucharo spoke. “Everything comes from Yusn,” he began. “If I explained Yusn to you, we would be here for a long time. I am not sure that I have the patience, but Yusn has sent you to me and I must try. It will be difficult for you to understand because White Eyes medicine is pitiful. But try to see.” Cucharo paused to gather his wits for the ordeal that lay ahead. Then he spread out his arms and intoned: “A long time ago, Yusn made the world. Nobody knows why, and maybe he should not have done it, but he did.”

Duane held up his hand. “Wait a minute! Who made Yusn?”

“Yusn always was, and Yusn always will be. No one knows where he came from, because he was always here. After he made the world, he made White Painted Woman, and don't ask me why, because no one can know these things. Anyway, he sent her forth from heaven into the world, and she made her home in a cave in the Sierra Madre Mountains. She had with her a boy named Killer of Enemies, who was her brother.”

“Who made him?”

“I told you that Yusn makes everything, and
everything returns to Yusn in the end. How can I explain if you keep interrupting me? Where was I? White Painted Woman was in her cave, and she was getting very lonely. One day when she was praying, Yusn said to her, ‘When it rains, lie down and spread your legs.' Then it rained and she did as Yusn told her. The water flowed between her legs, and lightning hit her three times. This made her pregnant, don't ask me how. Then Child of Water was born, and when he grew up, he killed all the monsters in the world. That is a big story all in itself, and maybe I will tell it some other time, but the monsters were very dangerous and killed many People. Then one day Yusn called Killer of Enemies and Child of Water to him and laid a gun and a bow and arrow on the ground. Yusn told them to choose, and Killer of Enemies took the gun. That left the bow and arrow for Child of Water. Killer of Enemies became the leader of the White Eyes, and Child of Water became the leader of the People. Too bad Child of Water didn't pick up the gun, but it's too late now. Then Yusn sent the thunder spirits to hunt and gather food for the People, and the People didn't have to do any more work. Everybody was happy, so Yusn decided to bring White Painted Woman and Child of Water into the sky with him. Before they left, they taught the People to be good, brave, and generous.

“Instead the People became lazy, drunk, and full of fighting. It got so bad that the thunder spirits were sickened and returned to the sky. Pretty soon
the People were starving, and they prayed to Yusn for help. Finally he forgave them and sent the mountain spirits to teach them how to hunt and gather food themselves. And that is how the world has come to be.”

There was silence as Duane let the myth sink in. It made no rational sense, yet he felt deeply moved. “How did you get to be a
di-yin}
” he asked.

“It cost me five horses,” Cucharo explained. “At the time I was not a good hunter, and I had no woman. So I went to another
di-yin
who had the power of the North Star. I promised him five horses if he would teach me what he knew, and he did.”

“What's the power of the North Star?” Duane asked.

“The power of warfare. I became a great warrior and led many good raids.” He leaned toward Duane and winked. “I still do, but who is a greater warrior than Lion, who has given you
his
power. You have been greatly blessed, White Eyes.”

The
di-yin
placed his hand on Duane's head, and Duane closed his eyes as he received the benediction. He'd been a student of theology for most of his life, and his mind made the connection between the virgin births of Jesus and Child of Water, whereas White Painted Woman was similar to holy Mary, mother of God. The pagan Apache religion didn't seem so pagan, and they had their own strict moral code, too.

“Who was the bear?” Duane asked.

Cucharo opened his eyes wide. “The Bear Monster is worst of all, but you have defeated him, and he will be jealous of you. If you ever see a bear, or even bear tracks, run out of that place right away. But if you see a lion, that is your grandfather. Now you are of the People, and your name is Lion.”

Duane felt cat sinews in his muscles. He looked up and saw stars like white dots in the clear blue sky. Something had changed.

The
di-yin
stood before him. “You must never use your power for evil, otherwise it will be taken from you. You must always revere the mountain spirits, for they have taught the People how to live. Now let us hunt an antelope, and we shall eat. I will tell you the story of how Child of Water killed the monsters and then we will return to the camp.”

It was night, and a bonfire blazed in the midst of the wickiups as the People danced turbulently to the beat of drums and the pluck of Apache lutes. It was the Property Dance celebrating the influx of new wealth into the tribe, and Phyllis sat with the women at Delgado's fire, trying to make sense of what was happening.

Huera had told her that the Property Dance was a sacred celebration when married and unmarried warriors were permitted to sleep with widows and divorcees without men. But the warriors' wives didn't
appear to resent it, and Phyllis couldn't understand their generosity. Perhaps the wives felt sorry for their unmarried sisters, who could enjoy a man on these special occasions and receive presents and favors in addition, while warriors returning from battle could have a hot time.

Phyllis was semirepelled and impossibly excited by the events occurring around her. Conventional Apache prudery was tossed aside as the unmarried women, called
bi-zahn,
danced lewdly, threw their clothes off, and let firelight flash on their bare breasts. Phyllis saw flames of desire in the warriors' eyes as they watched lasciviously, wearing war paint and recently acquired blue army shirts with gold stripes and insignia. The women made suggestive pelvic motions that Phyllis found shocking. She watched in astonishment and horror as a brawny warrior dragged a skinny
bi-zahn
woman into a wickiup. Phyllis heard cries of love as drums pounded incessantly and seminude dancers cavorted everywhere.
Tizwin
flowed freely, with no sheriff to maintain law and order. Phyllis felt frightened, vulnerable, and exposed. But no
bi-zahn
was taken against her will, and indeed all seemed most anxious to fornicate with strange warriors.

Delgado emerged from the desert, accompanied by a middle-aged heavy-breasted
bi-zahn,
the third he'd dragged off so far, and the Property Dance had only just begun. Meanwhile, his four wives were inebriated, fingering pots and pans stolen from the
cavalry and chattering about delicacies they intended to cook.

Phyllis felt two eyes burning into her head. She turned toward Delgado sitting nearby, gazing at her with unmistakable silent insinuations. What if he comes over here? she asked herself. Phyllis was no longer a virgin and felt certain womanly needs. She closed her eyes and imagined Delgado ripping her clothes off. My God, what's happening to me! The
tizwin
made her giggle as the Apache lifeway caught her in its sway. Would Duane cut off my nose?

Where is he? she wondered as she gazed at Delgado. He sipped
tizwin
as drums pounded in Phyllis's ears. She felt like dancing naked in the moonlight but knew that she was a Christian, and Christians didn't do these things, as far as she knew. But why not? She saw herself groping naked in Delgado's arms, and her cheeks flushed with emotion. Oh, God, help me before I do something I'll never live down!

Somebody shouted, the drumming stopped suddenly, and the warriors reached for their weapons as a guard burst into the assembly, babbling Apache. Phyllis wasn't fluent in the lingo but gathered that someone important was coming. Warriors moved toward the edge of the camp, and Phyllis joined them with the rest of the wives, while the children scooted down the crevice path, to greet the newcomers.

Cucharo and a tall, lean Apache materialized out of the night, carrying leather pouches. Phyllis looked at
the younger Apache, who bore a certain resemblance to Duane but was more muscular, tense, and exotic. My God—it's him! she realized at last.

Cucharo handed the chief a leather bag full of sacred pollen, then bowed to the chief's wife. The
di-yin
folded his arms on his chest and delivered a major oration. Phyllis couldn't decipher every word, but it appeared that Duane had accomplished something important. He appeared alien in his breechcloth and moccasins, the red muslin rag wrapped around his head and paint on his nose and cheeks, as he tossed a pouch to Delgado. Delgado appeared deeply moved, and Phyllis was more confused than ever. What's happened to Duane? she wondered. Everybody's so respectful of him.

The chief, Cucharo, Duane, and Delgado entered the chief's wickiup, and there was silence for a few moments. Then the music resumed, and dancers re-formed their circle around the fire as tongues of flame licked the sky. Phyllis rose, brushed off her jeans, and strode toward Huera and the other women. “What's going on?”

They peered at her with new interest. “Your man had a great vision,” Huera said reverently. “Now he is a
di-yin.
He has been given the power of the Lion, he has killed the Bear Monster, and White Painted Woman has held him in her arms. Cucharo said that his grandfather was from the People.
Enjuh.
It is so.”

Phyllis's skepticism butted against Huera's rock-solid
faith. The Apaches saw something in Duane, and even Delgado, who detested White Eyes, had treated him with consideration. Drums pounded,
bi-zahn
women undulated their bodies, and Phyllis was mystified by the latest turn of events. Duane's no
di-yin,
she reassured herself. He's got all these Apaches fooled, probably because he's fooled himself.

The door flap wavered at the chief's wickiup, then Cucharo appeared, followed by Delgado, Duane, and the old chief. In the darkness, Duane had the same high cheekbones as they, his eyes almost Oriental. The men embraced each other, then the chief returned to his wickiup while the others headed in separate directions.

Duane walked directly toward her, and she noticed his lithe Apache gait. Firelight glistened on his long, corded legs, flat stomach, and powerful arms. He appeared more lethal, while war paint heightened his menacing aspect. He came to a stop a few feet in front of her and gazed silently into her eyes. “Come with me.”

He grabbed her arm, pulled her to her feet, and their faces were inches apart. She smelled ponderosa pines in his hair, while his eyes struck sparks off hers. Without another word, he lifted her off the ground and carried her toward their wickiup. Drums hammered in their ears, maidens chanted, she touched her lips to his chest, and he lowered her toward the entrance. She crawled inside, but before she could roll onto her back,
he was on top of her, tearing at her blouse, his face contorted with desire, and he appeared almost cruel as he stripped her in rough methodical movements.

But somehow it was pleasing, as she lay on the antelope skin, gazing at him in the dimness. He removed his breechcloth and moccasins, then grasped her shoulders and inserted his tongue into her mouth. His hands were strong on her body as maidens chanted love songs around the bonfire and coyotes howled mournfully in far-off caves.