Naked to the point of even discarding his flashlight, Johnny Three Spirits pushes back the buffalo hide flaps to the traditional sweat lodge and steps on through.
Even more forcefully than usual, a wall of heat hits him like a battle ax and leaves him momentarily breathless.
He shuts his eyes and hopes they will adjust to the darkness. When he opens them, he still can’t see.
It’s only because he knows the space around him that he’s able to find his assigned place and sit in it.
Across from him, there’s a loud hiss. Frightening him, why? He knows it’s only his grandfather, Jimmy Who Knows, ladling water onto hot stones. As proof, another wave of heat brushes over and around him. His sweating pores sweat all the more.
“Is it done, then?” Jimmy Who Knows asks his grandson.
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“And were there more problems?”
“It was a continuing struggle but, this time, I kept wolf dominant.”
“Did Trish at any time see?”
“Only for a moment. Wolf made her faint.”
Johnny senses, more than sees, his grandfather’s disappointed head shake.
“From concealment at a distance, I did watch her recover,” Johnny adds.
“That much at least is reason for encouragement.”
“I am sorry, Grandfather,” Johnny apologizes. “It was all so strange, the way I was unable to control the shifts. It was like in the very beginning. All four of me battled for control. As I’ve said, I hadn’t a clue that I fetched Trish for you and not Melissa."
“You say you bit her just outside Dry Wash Gulch?”
“Yes, Grandfather. I couldn’t help myself. As I said, it was as if all of your teachings hadn’t been taught.”
“You say it was done as serpent, but you’re still not sure you delivered venom?”
“I tried not, but I may have failed. I wrestled so hard for my conversion back to speedier wolf that I was admittedly distracted.”
“We must monitor her very carefully. Should she become one of us as a result, she will need help with her transition. It will be your responsibility, if you should end up her initiator, to help her find her way as a shape-shifter; as I have been your guide.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“And now, let’s better try to analyze our situation.” “I’ve tried on my own without success.” “I suspect we are on the verge of events so long prophesied that we’ve denied they’ll ever come.”
“The battle after the flood, you mean?”
“All signs would seem to say so. I might know better if we’d accessed the right girl — even briefly. Unfortunately, Trish already verges on too old; as I am already way too old. If the time is near, it will be you, and young ones like you and Melissa, who must bear the responsibility for saving yourselves as well as the rest of us.”
“Is there some other way besides Melissa to confirm?”
“We can risk a chant-to-see-the-future. As you know, there is great danger in that. Even then, it may not work.”
“We need to know — I need to know — if just to prepare.”
“Then, we will chant — together — here — now.”
Jimmy Who Knows ladles yet more water onto hot stones.
Johnny Three Spirits hears the hiss, feels the heat. Without willing it, and unable to control it, his body becomes serpent, swiftly glides the floor to enwrap and entrap his grandfather in a suffocating embrace.
Copyright 2009 W. MALTESE
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