Corona Magic

Corona Magic

Two Apache boys were born on the same holy day. One announced the dawn of this special cosmic time with his first cry. The drummers pounded out a rapid beat. The tribal shaman danced, twirled, and sang to the spirits. Ingested peyote revealed to Walks-with-Gods the infant's future. Throwing his arms wide, the medicine man pointed his hand toward the child's tepee. "His name is Fighting Wolf."

The other boy born that day was Fighting Wolf's cousin. A twilight developed during the solar eclipse. The baby's wail was heard at the eclipse's totality. As before, drummers played and the shaman danced and sang. He threw his arms wide and felt terror turn him to stone. The daylight was returning. People turned to look at him. What was wrong? He forced his hand to point at the second child's tepee. "His name is Scales-Like-Blood. The magic of the solar eclipse has bestowed special magic upon him at his birth.”

"Shaman," said the newborn's father, "What does your prophesy mean?"

"I don't know, but when the next solar eclipse comes, he must hide in the cliffs in the rock cave until Fighting Wolf calls to him."

The next eclipse was two decades later. Scales-Like-Blood did as he was told. For a while. A nap helped some. His stomach growled. The eclipse must be over. Perhaps he could peek out of the entrance. If it was still dark, he'd stay in the cave.

When the eclipse was over, Fighting Wolf went to the rock cave and called, but his cousin did not answer. He searched, but the cave was empty.

"Come," the shaman told the tribe. "Let's search the river for a man-sized fish with blood-red scales." They found him in the lake above the canyon stream.

WC: 294