Read Walker of Time for Free Online Page B

bahana.
    Tag’s breath was coming in short gulps. He stopped next to Walker. “Are you sure this is going to work?” he whispered in between breaths.
    â€œThink good thoughts, happy thoughts; Taawa will guide you,” answered Walker. “Move very slowly and quietly. Try to stay just behind me.”
    With the paho in his outstretched right hand, Walker stepped toward the coiled snake. The snake’s threatening rattle thundered in the air as he moved closer.
    Walker’s mind raced, trying to recall every detail of how the teasers moved and twisted the snake whip to makethe feathers flutter and dance. In all the years he had watched the sacred ritual, had he ever seen a priest bitten by a snake?
    He now could see the beady eyes in the snake’s black-masked face. Its coiled, olive-yellow body was covered with leopardlike black designs. Six rattles shook on its black-tipped tail.
    â€œGreat Taawa, forgive your son for using the holy paho to kill my brother the snake,” prayed Walker, moving closer. “Guide my hand . . . and the friendly bahana’s, too.”
    The girl’s humming seemed to echo Walker’s silent prayer. Her eyes were still closed tight. She seemed unaware of him.
    Walker could hear Tag moving right behind him. Holding the paho out before him, he crouched down, almost kneeling forward. He started to move the prayer stick back and forth. Its eagle feathers fluttered gently in the hot air. With each cautious step, Walker twisted, turned, and swayed the paho. An age-old song rose within him. In deep, throaty tones, he sang the sacred words that had been sung for hundreds of years by the Hopi Snake Priests as they sought rain for their crops.
    Walker’s eyes focused on the coils just a foot or so before him. The snake’s masked head bolted around to face him, its blind eyes seared toward him. The snake’s forked tongue darted in and out, licking the scents in the air. The eagle feathers danced. The snake’s eyes jerked from Walker’s face to the paho. Its head followed the dancing movement of its enemy’s feathers as it came closer and closer, inch by inch.

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    Walker’s heart hammered against his chest. Only the sacred words of the ancient prayer song that he sang prevented total fear from invading his body and soul. As he twisted and turned the paho in his shaking hand, the eagle feathers danced with a simple grace, luring the rattlesnake’s complete attention.
    Walker felt Tag’s quick movement beside him. The football-sized rock came smashing down toward the snake. The ancient song died in Walker’s throat as the snake’s head was crushed.
    â€œTaawa, thank you,” Walker prayed silently. He looked up at the girl. Staring down at the dead snake, her almond-shaped, black eyes were wide with astonished confusion.
    She was about Walker’s age. Her beautiful oval face was thin with full lips and high cheek bones. Straight bangs hung just above her dark, expressive eyebrows. Her waist-length, blue-black hair glistened in the bright sunshine. She wore a short shirt of yellow handwoven cloth. Draped overher right shoulder was a loose-fitting yellow mantle that came down to the top of her skirt. She wore a thin, white shell bracelet around her left wrist. A strand of very small turquoise beads hung around her graceful neck.
    Watching the girl’s lovely but terrified face staring down at the snake, Walker stood upright. The girl’s eyes flashed up from the snake into his eyes. The haunting feeling washed over Walker in a huge wave. His head felt dizzy, out of focus. There seemed to be no air in his lungs.
    The girl’s eyes filled with a new type of fear. She bolted down the trail. Walker gulped for air and started after her before she could get far.
    â€œSewa—little sister,” Walker said in Hopi, reaching out touching her shoulder. “We come in peace.”
    The girl stopped. She