The Mystery of the Lost Village (6 page)

“But he has an excuse. He's working for the developer,” Henry said.

“But there's no reason for him to be there in the middle of the night,” Jessie pointed out. “I think Michael isn't what he seems.”

“Do you think we should tell your parents about any of this?” Henry asked Joe.

“Not yet.” Joe shook his head. “Mom and Dad are really involved with the Pow-Wow, and I'd hate to worry them.”

“You're right,” Amy agreed. “I think the best thing for us to do is keep our eyes open and work as hard as we can at the dig.”

It was nearly eight o'clock that evening when Kinowok visited the Lightfeathers. “I've brought something special,” he said, and handed Jessie a silver-and-turquoise necklace. “This belonged to my mother, and I would like you to wear it at the Pow-Wow.”

“It's beautiful.” Jessie ran her fingers over the bright bluish-green stones.

“It's a squash-blossom necklace,” Amy told her. “And look at all the symbols carved in it.”

“Do you know what each one means?” Kinowok asked.

Amy studied the necklace. “The coyote is respected for his wisdom, and the pipe stands for peace …”

“Look at that bird,” Violet said. “It's just like the one on my bowl, and it even has a snake next to it.”

“You found a dish with a thunderbird and a serpent?” Kinowok asked, his dark eyes alert.

“At the dig,” Violet said. “It's the best thing we found.”

“May I see it?” the old man asked.

“It was stolen.” Violet's voice quivered a little.

Kinowok was silent. “This is very serious,” he said softly.

“There's been a lot of really scary stuff going on!” Benny blurted out. “Someone's been sneaking around the forest at night, and we've heard funny noises.”

“Do you think it is a man or a woman who is bothering you?” Kinowok sat down slowly and rested his chin on his hand.

“We followed a man through the forest one night,” Henry told him.

“But one day we saw a woman's heel prints in the dirt,” Amy offered. Everyone was silent for a moment, and Kinowok looked thoughtful.

“I think they want us to stop working on the dig,” Joe said. “Sometimes they fill in the holes we've made, and other times they make them deeper. Maybe they're trying to find something, too.”

“What do you think it means, Kinowok?” Amy asked.

“I think that you and your friends may have found something priceless,” Kinowok told her.

“Like buried treasure?” Benny's eyes lit up.

“Better than treasure,” Kinowok said. “You may have found the lost village.”

CHAPTER 7

A Surprise Visit

“T
his doesn't look good,” Mr. Lightfeather said the following morning. The whole family was gathered at the breakfast table, as he read a letter from the tribal council. “The developer has gotten his permit approved. He's going to start digging up the forest next week.”

“Oh, no.” Mrs. Lightfeather sat down slowly. She looked very upset. “I was afraid this would happen.”

“Cheer up, Mom.” Amy reached across the table to pat her mother's arm. “There's still time for us to save the forest.” She looked at the Aldens encouragingly.

“We need to find something important at the dig,” Henry said thoughtfully. “Something that will prove that it's an historic site. Then the real archaeologists can take over.”

“I wish I still had my bowl,” Violet said glumly. “At least that was a start.”

“What about the arrowheads I found?” Benny asked.

“I'm afraid they're not enough, Benny,” Mr. Lightfeather told him. “They prove that people hunted there once, but we need to show that they
lived
there.”

The Aldens finished their breakfast quickly, eager to get to the dig. “Maybe we'll be lucky today,” Violet said to Amy as they cleared the table.

“I hope so,” Amy answered. She glanced out the kitchen window at the forest. It was hard to believe that in a short time it might be gone forever!

A half hour later, the Aldens were working at the dig with Amy and Joe when Rita Neville appeared.

She stomped angrily over to Henry, and thrust a paper in his face. “I got your note,” she said coldly.

“A note? What are you talking about?”

Rita gave a harsh laugh. “The one you kids slid under my door at the motel. If you think you're going to scare me off, you're wrong!”

“Ms. Neville, what are you talking about?” Amy asked.

“Read it for yourself!” Ms. Neville retorted. “Maybe you didn't write it, but one of your little friends did!”

Amy glanced at the paper Henry was holding.
“Stay away from the forest. There is danger in the shadows,”
she read aloud. “Ms. Neville, we didn't write this!”

“Do you expect me to believe that?” Rita Neville stared at the group that was assembled around her. “I'll give you a little warning. The next time you bother me, you'll be the ones who are in danger!” She snatched the paper away from Henry, tore it into shreds, and threw it on the ground. Then, without another word, she turned and left.

“Wow,” Benny said when she was out of sight. “She was really mad!”

“I wonder who wrote that note?” Jessie asked.

“I can't imagine,” Joe said. “If none of us did it, who did?”

“Well, we're not going to figure it out by standing here,” Henry reminded them. “Let's get back to work.”

“Do you think we should look for that glowing rock we saw the other night?” Benny asked. “It was really creepy!”

“We can't take the time,” Henry told him. “It's more important to look for artifacts.”

Jessie picked up her shovel. “It probably only glows at night, Benny. We wouldn't have much chance of spotting it in the daylight.

It was mid-afternoon when Violet found a flat stone that was hollowed out on one side. “Is this anything important?” she asked Joe was working a few feet away.

“It looks like a baking stone,” he said, pleased.

“The Navajos used to bake stones?” Benny was puzzled.

Amy laughed. “No, they used stones to bake bread.” She held the stone up so Benny could see it. “They used to build a fire here, under the rounded part. Then when the stone got hot underneath, the bread would cook on top.”

“Maybe you should keep digging in the same area, Violet,” Henry said. “In fact, I'll help you. It seems like you have the best square.”

Henry and Violet worked side by side. They dug for a while. Henry uncovered part of a tomahawk. The handle was broken off, but the blade portion was in good condition.

“I can't believe it!” Amy said excitedly. “That's two finds in one day. Maybe we should all join Violet!”

“That's not a bad idea,” Joe agreed. “She seems to be digging in the right spot, and she's dug down the deepest.” Everyone started digging in the square next to Violet's and, half an hour later, Benny let out a whoop.

“Look what I found!” he said, holding up a handful of dazzling stones. They gleamed like jewels in the bright sunlight.

“What are they?” Violet asked.

“They're called butterfly stones,” Amy explained. “We use them for jewelry.” She turned one over. “You see how smooth the surface is? Someone polished them to bring out their true colors.”

“Put them in the box, so they don't get chipped,” Henry suggested.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly, and Jessie found a stick that was beautifully carved and decorated with beads. “Oh, this is pretty,” she said, brushing away clumps of dirt. “What is it?”

“It looks like a magic wand,” Benny offered.

“That's close, Benny,” Joe told him. “It's called a baton. It's a special wand that only the chiefs and the elders carry.”

Jessie examined the beads that hung from threads. “These are beautiful,” she said, admiring the little balls of quartz and copper. Suddenly she noticed some pointed white beads at the end of the string. “Wait a minute. These don't look like beads, they look like … teeth!”

Amy nodded. “I think they're probably from a wolf,” she explained. “Our ancestors often used teeth for decoration.” She smiled when Jessie made a face. “They thought that teeth were just as beautiful as beads.”

“I think I have something!” Joe shouted. He threw down his trowel and began digging with his bare hands.

“What is it?” Amy said excitedly.

“It's some kind of a basket …” He lifted out a coiled basket that was lopsided. “It's heavy,” he said, setting it down next to him.

“How come it's all black inside?” Benny asked, rushing over to take a look at it.

“That's pitch,” Joe explained. “This is a cooking basket, right, Amy?”

Amy knelt down to examine it. “Yes, it is.” She ran her hand around the smooth black interior. “This is the nicest one I've seen.”

“How can you cook anything in a basket?” Violet asked.

“It's not an ordinary basket,” Amy said. “The pitch makes the basket watertight. All you have to do is fill the basket with water and drop a heated stone in it. Once the water gets hot, you add the food.”

After everyone had a look at the basket, Joe stood up and stretched. The sun was setting and a cool breeze had sprung up. “I think we should call it a day,” he said. “It's almost dinnertime, and everybody's tired.”

“And hungry!” Benny added, rubbing his legs. He felt cramped from squatting in one position so long.

Later that evening, Mr. and Mrs. Lightfeather gathered in the dining room to admire the treasures.

“Do you think we have enough to convince people that there really is an ancient village?” Joe asked his mother.

“I think we have a good chance.” She smiled and gave him a hug. “I still can't believe how much you children found today.”

“What's going to happen next?” Violet asked.

“I think it's time to talk to the council,” Mr. Lightfeather said. “In fact, we should call an emergency meeting.”

“I'll speak to Kinowok soon,” Mrs. Lightfeather offered. “Probably the best time to do it will be after the Pow-Wow.”

“The Pow-Wow!” Benny said excitedly. “I almost forgot!”

“It's tomorrow,” Joe reminded him. “Are you finished with your belt?”

“Almost,” Benny said. “I just have three more rows of beads to do.”

“We need to practice for the dance,” Amy reminded Jessie. She glanced at her watch. “Do you want to work on it right now?”

“Yes, let's get started.” Amy had promised her that the steps were simple, but Jessie still felt a little nervous about dancing in front of a lot of people.

“You'll see a lot of complicated dances at the Pow-Wow,” Amy said a few minutes later. “But I've chosen an easy one for us to do.” They were in Amy's bedroom, and a drumbeat was playing on a cassette deck.

“What do I do?” Jessie asked. She was standing self-consciously in the center of the room.

“Just close your eyes for a minute and listen to the rhythm,” Amy told her.

Jessie shut her eyes and listened. The drum beat was interesting and unusual. THUMP … thump, thump, thump. There seemed to be four beats and the first one was the loudest. She was surprised to find herself swaying to the music.

“Good,” Amy said approvingly. “Now I'll show you how to do the Swan Dance.” She opened her dresser drawer and pulled out two bright orange shawls. She handed one to Jessie. “Step side to side, and raise and lower the shawl. Do it really slowly so the shawl drifts in the air for a moment.”

Amy and Jessie stood side by side, moving to the music. Jessie was so interested she forgot to be nervous. “Bow your head a little when the shawl comes down,” Amy added. Jessie followed her movements and, when the song ended, Amy applauded. “You dance just like a Navajo girl,” she said happily.

It was almost nine o'clock when Mr. Lightfeather summoned Joe and Henry. “How about a hand with these boxes?” he asked. “I've packed all the artifacts you found at the dig. I think we should put everything in the basement for safekeeping.”

“I'll help!” Benny offered.

“I think you need to finish your belt,” Joe said gently. “You still have one more row of beads to do.”

“I guess you're right.” Benny wanted to take a last look at the tomahawk, but he knew it was more important to finish his belt.

Joe and Henry carried six sturdy cardboard boxes downstairs, and Mr. Lightfeather unlocked a green metal storage container. After they arranged the boxes on the shelves, Mr. Lightfeather closed the sliding door and snapped the padlock shut. The noise echoed in the dimly lit cellar. “At least we know they'll be safe in here,” Joe said.

“That's right, son,” his father agreed. “And as soon as the Pow-Wow is over, we'll present them to the tribal council. Once they see the artifacts, the council will stop the developers in their tracks!”