The Chameleon Soldier: NOW AS AN ALIEN BLUE HE CANNOT DIE. (32 page)

He leaned back in his seat as if exhausted by telling her what had passed in his life over the past one hundred years. Doli didn’t say anything for over a minute, and then took his hand in hers.

“Killian, we were close to one another when you became a Blue. I was a young girl in a Navajo village near Canyon de Chelly and Fort Defiance. My father, Chief Bidziil, was known, in name, to the soldiers at Fort Defiance as, ‘He is Strong’; he welcomed the Sky People and their Star Warriors. When you and your friend saw the metal bird landing in our village, it was the beginning of the ceremony the Star Warriors preformed to make me, and others, a Blue. I was twelve years old and known as Princess Doli. Back then, the Star Warriors were our teachers. They taught us many things about life and the future.”

“A princess?” asked Killian.

Doli smiled. “Not here, but back at the Navajo reservation, I am.”

They sat in companionable silence for a few moments.

“Do the Star Warriors still come to your village?”

“They came a few times after you saw them, but in 1864, when I was sixteen, the beligaana led by a Colonel ‘Kit’ Carson began a campaign against the Navajo nation in the sacred Canyon de Chelly and surrounding area.”

“‘Beligaana’ meaning white men?” asked Killian.

“Yes.”

“The United States was wrong to do that, Doli.”

“It was horrible, Killian. I can remember it like it was yesterday. The troopers stormed our village. They rousted the people out and burned everything, including our food. They slaughtered all of our animals. Lupan and a small band of our people found a freshwater spring, in the canyon behind Navajo Mountain, and were able to escape. The rest of our nation, including Chief Manuelito and others of our winemas,” she hesitated, “I mean, chiefs, were imprisoned, and forced on a grueling three-hundred mile march across New Mexico. When we arrived, the men were forced to mold adobes and build Fort Summer. It became a military fort, which was used for the internment of my people. We weren’t given any wood for fires; the water was bitter and foul tasting; and the soil wasn’t any good for growing corn. We were starving. Many people became ill and many died.”

“I heard the story while fighting the Confederates in the South. I was saddened by what I heard.”

For a few moments Doli sat looking out the window. She sighed heavily before continuing. “I was taken from my family, and put into a boarding school run by missionaries and matrons.” Again she looked out the small airplane window, deep in thought.

“Did you spend many years in the boarding school?”

Doli turned back to him. “No. On the third day the headmaster, who was an older missionary, took me into his office. I thought he just wanted to talk to me. However, he had something else on his mind. He told me to sit on the old brown leather couch and take off my clothes. I stared at him; I couldn’t believe what he was ordering me to do. Again, he told me to disrobe. I shook my head ‘no’. He slapped me hard across the face, and yelled for me to get naked. I refused. He fell on top of me and began ripping off my clothes. Then I did two things I had never done before. I transformed into one of the big, heavy-set matrons. He was shocked, sat up, and fell off the couch. I had become enraged and grabbed him by the throat. I choked him. As he struggled, I could see his eyes staring at me, but I continued to tighten my grip. He slumped to the floor, dead. My whole body was shaking, I began to cry. I stood up and walked around the office. I didn’t know what to do. I looked at him lying on the floor, his open eyes staring toward the ceiling. I left the office. No one paid any attention to the stout matron, who hurried down the dimly lit hallway and out the front door.”

Killian nodded. He noticed the tension in her body and voice.

Doli continued her story. “Then I went back to our adobe, in the compound, to live with my parents and older brother. The military and school officials came looking for me, but each time they came to our adobe, I’d transform into an old lady. Other times, over the next few months, I would transform into a matron again, and help children escape from the boarding school.”

Killian reached over and patted her hands.

“One day,” she continued, “when I came home I found that my father and brother had been killed, and my mother had been badly beaten. She was being cared for by an older Navajo woman.”

“Was it he military?”

“No. They had been stabbed to death by Lupan and the other Blue Warriors who traveled with him.”

“Why?” asked Killian. “Why would they do that?”

“They were forcing Blues and others to join them in the killing of the beligaanas. As chief of his people, my father had resisted Lupan.”

“Lupan is evil. He himself needs to die, and I promise you, Doli, I will kill him.”

Doli nodded in agreement. “I stayed with my mother until she recovered, and then I went looking for Lupan and his followers.”

“Did you ever catch up with him?”

“Yes. It was while he was attacking and killing Indian boarding school Christian missionaries, matrons, priests and nuns in the Dakotas. I hated Lupan, but I agreed with what he and his men were doing. So I joined them.”

Again she fell silent and looked out the window.

“And?” prompted Killian.

“And I traveled with them until they went to a school in New Mexico, run by strict Presbyterians, the same one you mentioned. At that time, Killian, you and I were close to one another.” She looked at him. “Then I left the group for two reasons. The first was that I received word my mother was ill. The second was Lupan’s insistence that I sleep with him.”

She clenched her fists. Killian could see the whiteness of her knuckles; he started to reach over to her, but stopped himself.

“I gave serious thought about going to bed with him,” Doli confessed. “I had a white phosphorus grenade. My plan was to pull the pin while we lay together. I knew we’d both die a fiery death. However, I couldn’t go through with it. I hated the thought of his touching me. I needed to go home to my ailing mother, and I didn’t want to die.”

She started to cry. Killian put his arm around her. They sat quietly until she looked up at him.

“During my travels I heard about you, and I tried to find you, Killian. I knew we had a similar goal.” She wiped the tears from her eyes. “I didn’t realize it would take me over a hundred years, Taglito Silaada.”

“I wish you had found me earlier,” said Killian. He leaned over and kissed her.

Doli rested her head on his shoulder. They were both absorbed in their thoughts of the past.

After the airplane landed at National Airport, and they entered the terminal, Doli went into the restroom. When she came out she was Dolly Blue no longer, but Doli.

Killian grinned. “Hello, princess.”

She smiled and kissed him.

Killian had called Kip before he knew Doli would be joining him on his return to the States. He had asked his friend to meet him at the luggage pickup area. When he and Doli came down the escalator, Killian spotted Kip and Maggie looking up toward him. They waved. He returned the wave and purposely put his arm around Doli’s shoulders. He grinned as he saw the expression on their faces. Doli and Killian stepped off the escalator and walked over to Kip and Maggie, who were both smiling. Killian knew they must be surprised to see him with this beautiful stranger.

“Maggie, Kip, I’d like you to meet Doli.”

They both said hello and shook Doli’s hand. Killian then embraced his two friends.

Maggie smiled at Doli. “Your name is Dolly?”

“It’s Doli. D-O-L-I,” she answered.

“Doli is the Navajo word for bluebird,” Killian explained. “She is Princess Doli to the Navajos.”

“Well, it’s nice to know you, Doli,” Maggie told her. “I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting a princess before.”

Somewhat embarrassed, Doli softly tapped Killian on the shoulder. “Please just call me Doli, he’s fascinated by it, but I’m not a princess here.”

“Welcome, Doli,” said Kip. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Killian grinned. “I have another surprise for you.”

“You’re married,” blurted Kip.

Doli and Killian laughed.

“No, we’re not married, we’re friends.” Killian’s eyes were smiling as he looked at them. “Doli is a Blue.”

Kip and Maggie’s mouths fell open.

“Really?” said Maggie.

Doli nodded.

“Doli was a young girl in the Navajo camp the day Tom Mulligan and I saw the shiny metal object, and the short greys,” explained Killian.

“My God,” said Kip. “Over a hundred years ago.”

“How in the world did you two ever meet?” asked Maggie.

“First, let’s get our bags. Doli and I will tell you all about it on the way back to the ranch.”

Kip and Killian picked up the luggage, and they all walked out to the parking lot, and drove to Zack’s ranch.

That evening, they had dinner at Kip’s parents’ home. For Jesse, Arthur and Zack’s benefit, Killian related a short version of how he and Doli met. He omitted the part about Doli being a Blue. After they’d walked back to Zack’s ranch house, Maggie and Doli went up to their respective bedrooms. Kip went to the bar, poured three glasses of Grand Marnier, and handed one to Zack, and one to Killian.

“Zack,” he said to his grandfather, “we’ve always kept you informed as to what Killian has been doing. However, tonight at Jesse and Arthur’s, Killian left out one bit of information we’d like you to know.” He glanced at Killian, leaving it to him to continue.

“Zack, it’s true that Doli is a Navajo princess. In addition, like me, she is a Blue.”

Zack stared at Killian and then at Kip, who nodded in confirmation. Zack drank half of the two-ounce cordial.

“Well, I’ll be God damned! That’s something, a female Blue.”

During breakfast, Zack couldn’t take his eyes off Doli. He even followed Doli, Maggie, Killian and Kip out to the barn. They had all dressed warmly as it was a cool, somewhat breezy day. Zack stood and watched while they saddled Blaze and three of his horses. He continued to watch them as they rode away.

“I’ll be damned,” he muttered to himself, “A real princess and a female Blue.”

After the four friends had ridden for over two hours they stopped by the small lake, where they dismounted, removed their jackets, and unpacked a basket lunch onto the weathered picnic table. While eating, they enjoyed the now warm sun shining in the clear blue sky.

“Killian,” said Kip, “we’ve talked about everything under the sun. You’ve filled us in on your interesting life over the past months, and we’ve told you about our boring old lives.”

Maggie punched Kip’s arm. “Our lives are not boring.”

They all laughed.

“No, but compared to Doli and Killian’s, well… Anyway, what I was getting to is, what’s next? What are yours and Doli’s plans now, Killian?”

“For the time being, we’re going to stay here and enjoy Zack’s hospitality. I want to show Doli Washington, D.C., New York City, and other points of interest in the area.”

“Great,” Maggie responded. “I’m glad you’re staying here for a while. It’ll give us time to get to know Doli and enjoy your company.”

“After our stay here we plan on going to Fort Defiance, Arizona, where everything began. Back in 1860, it was the open territory of New Mexico. We hope to meet with the Navajos in the area, and possibly talk to one of the older medicine men.”

“For any particular reason, Killian?’ asked Kip.

“Basically, we have a lot of questions we need answers to. We’d like to know more about the Sky People and the Star Warriors. In addition, how many Blues are there, and why some are good while others are evil and full of hate?”

“That has to be interesting,” said Maggie. “I hope you succeed in finding the answers.”

“We’re sure we’ll be able to locate some Navajo medicine men that’ll be able to shed light on our questions,” Doli told her.

“Maybe one of the medicine men will be a Blue,” suggested Kip.

“No,” said Doli firmly, “I remember, as a child, they weren’t allowed to become Blues.”

They packed up the remaining food, and rode back to the ranch.

For the next month, Killian and Doli became tourists. They traveled and took in all the interesting sights and activities of Washington, D.C. and New York City.

Since meeting in Vietnam, Killian and Doli had become more than good friends. One night, while having dinner in a fine New York restaurant, Killian proposed and Doli accepted.

After their whirlwind travels they returned to the ranch, and spent time with Maggie, Kip and Zack, who couldn’t get over the fact he had two Blues staying at his ranch. The night before they were ready to leave, Kip held an engagement party for them at the country club. Everyone was there, including Jesse, Arthur and Whelan.

In the morning, Kip drove them to the airport, and they boarded a plane for Albuquerque, New Mexico. Once there, Killian rented a car and they drove the one hundred and seventy miles to Fort Defiance. They arrived late, and checked into a motel, which had a green neon cactus blinking on the rooftop. They rose early and walked to a nearby café to have breakfast. Their waitress was a young Navajo who told them most of her people lived in or near the town. But, there was a small group that preferred to live by the old ways, and they had a camp outside of town. She told them where it was located. Doli took a deep breath when she realized it was where she had lived as a child. The waitress said they’d need to rent a horse if they intended on going to the camp, and pointed to a stable across an open field.

Killian and Doli left the café and set off across the field. Then Killian stopped. He stood looking around for a long moment, deep in thought. Doli looked at him. She knew what he was thinking. “This is where you and Lupan fought.”

Killian heard her voice, but it seemed far away. He was remembering the battle between the 1st Cavalry, and the Navajo Indians led by Chief Manuelito. He was picturing the fight he had with Lupan.

“You fought here with Lupan?”

Killian replied without looking at her. “Yes Doli, A hundred years ago.”

They continued walking toward the stable, where they rented two Palomino Indian ponies, and rode out to the Navajo camp. When they were close, Doli reined back her horse and sat looking at the site where she was born. Her face betrayed a mixture of emotions. It was here where she’d first seen the Sky People, the Star Warriors, and had herself become a Blue. It was from here that she and her family had been driven out to go on a three-hundred mile march across New Mexico. The camp looked much the same, little more than a cluster of eight-sided hogans made of wood and plastered in mud. The front door of all of the hogans faced east, to welcome the morning sun.