The Night the Sky Fell (20 page)

Hung in Banks’ room was his uncle’s deer hooved necklace. It was there in plain sight so that Banks could stare at it when he was awakened. No discussions were made about Banks’ becoming Chief. This would be a decision based on his vision quest. Banks knew that if he wanted to become Chief, it had to be his own dream.
 

Marilyn would exchange quips with Banks. Her favorite was that there was never a virgin Chief and that even a great vision quest would not catapult him to manhood. She loved Banks like a brother and when she would stare at the necklace, she would shed tears of guilt that she was the one behind the death of the Chief whom she loved like a father. Carol would console her who loved Marilyn like a spouse.

School would begin soon and decisions needed to be made. Banks arose from his Uncle’s bed and showered. His thoughts returned to the Powers’ household. He had promised them that he would return in a few days and he knew that that he had to face the family. He also wanted to face Ann. If and when he left the Powers’ house, he would see Ann on a regular basis. And it was Peyton Powers who wanted to face Banks Blackhorse.

Banks dressed. The fact that he had not used his eye drops for a week or so was beginning to take its toll. He thanked Carol for all her help, then he surprised Marilyn with a hug and a kiss. When he told Marilyn that he did not blame her for the death of his uncle, she knew that he completed his rite of passage, even though he still was a virgin which she kept to herself. Banks looked at the deer hooved necklace. He wrapped it around his neck.

As he walked out of his Uncle’s apartment, members of the tribe clapped and whooped kudos for his recovery. They shouted in Tlingit something similar to ‘God Save the King.’ As Banks took off to the Powers’ house, so did The Monarch Raven.

Julie Powers had a secret. Two years before the ‘nap out,’ she went through the arduous process of applying for a guide dog for Peyton. She had flown to San Francisco to sign papers and furnished the necessary documents on Peyton’s behalf. She was on the waiting list for some time. During the reign of disinformation and lack of information coming in to Juneau, Julie had been promised a guide dog for Peyton but it was only yesterday that she got the official notification. Julie knew the eye drops were a failure and it was time that she would let go of the notion that Peyton would ever see. She wanted to toast this news but felt that popping a bottle of mineral water would do just fine.

Unknown to Julie Powers was the realization of who Peyton really was. The Great Spirit would have to deal with Peyton’s family members in its own way. For millennia, the Great Spirit had his Old Soul but found that their power made them disloyal at time. The Great Spirit always used a seeing Indian as his soldier. It was time to try a white boy who would never see. This meant to the Great Spirit that the temptations of the world his soldier would perceive would be erased by the very fact that he could not see. He would have to perceive life through his mind’s eye and that was something that the Great Spirit would control. What the Great Spirit did not know, despite his perfections, was that the mind’s eye of Peyton Powers had the power to externalize Peyton’s world.
 

As Banks drove to Skyline Boulevard, he thought about the past few days. During the time that he was recovering, Roger Raintree went over some of the rules that he knew about the Spirit above His Head. He told Banks that The Great Spirit entered many bargains with Indians through their shamans. A breach of the bargain would lead to the eradication of the person’s bloodline. The primary purpose of the Old Soul was always to carry out the ending of the bloodline. The Great Spirit felt that Banks Blackhorse was the very last of the bloodline. Roger also was in contact with The Monarch Raven. He learned that occasionally the Great Spirit pardoned the execution. Roger and Banks chanted for a pardon several times a day. There was no sign of a pardon. Banks thought about the fox when he was on his vision quest. Somehow, Banks would have to incorporate some of the wiliness of that fox. If he could not bargain with the Great Spirit, he would have to bargain with the Old Soul.

When Banks reached the boulevard, he saw many of the neighbors walking hand in hand. He thought, “The men have their women back.” The families seemed to be in harmony. Stan and Julie stood on the boulevard without holding hands. They were gossiping with neighbors. Murray and Dassi walked in the opposite direction hand in hand. Peyton and Ann sat in front of the Powers’ house.

From a bird’s eye view or to be exact from the eyes of the flying Monarch Raven, the many inhabitants of this street could be seen. And in all of its watching, it became fond of these people. The biggest puzzlement that nagged at The Monarch Raven was what did these people wish for that November night over nine months ago when the Leonids fell from the sky?
 

The bird sent thoughts to Julie, “Make a wish.” And Julie thought, “I want him to have eyesight or if not, a guide dog.”

The Monarch Raven said to Stan, “Make a wish.” And Stan responded by taking Julie’s hand and smiling at her. She smiled back.

When Banks parked his truck, Ann ran over as Peyton was left alone. She stopped and looked at his deer hooved necklace. “Make a wish, Ann.” And then she ran to him and kissed him.

Murray and Dassi sauntered over as Banks and Ann were in full embrace. Murray interrupted the moments with a hand shake. He said looking at the necklace, “Congratulations, Chief?”

Banks said, “Not a Chief…yet”

The Monarch Raven thought, “Make a wish, Murray and Dassi.”

Murray said, “Okay, son.” Dassi hugged Banks.

She whispered in his ear, “We’re so proud of you, son.”

Peyton localized his way towards Banks and Ann as Murray and Dassi left for their house. The Monarch Raven took its ‘seat’ on top of the Powers’ house.

Peyton interrupted their moment, “I need just one more.”
 

Banks asked, “One more what?”
 

Peyton replied, “Indigo. What’s the color of indigo?”
 

Banks thought, “I don’t know, Sport. Ann do you know?”
 

Ann hesitated, then, “I think indigo is a sort of a bluish violet. Does that help?” Peyton smiled and announced, “Thanks, Ann. That completes it.”
 

Banks inquired, “Completes what?”
 

Peyton responded, “You’ll see…Sport.”

As Peyton guided himself with his cane back to his house, Ann took Banks’ hand and they sauntered in the opposite direction of Julie and Stan. Ann blurted out while pointing at his new necklace, “You have been on adventure!”

Banks smiled, “Yes! A vision quest.” Ann hungered to know all about it and when Banks got to the portion of the grizzly bear at the salmon run, Ann stopped him. She spoke:

“Salmon run. I always thought that was the metaphor for life. That we were born in shallow waters and grew there until our rite of passage was complete. Then we would go out to the ocean to embark on a great adventure. Once we completed our adventure, we were spiritually guided to go back to where we came. Back to our native waters. We would spawn. Then…we die. You see, Banks, we have reached our rite of passage. Soon, we can go out to ocean for our great adventure!”

And it at that instant Banks knew he had a lifelong companion in whatever shape it took. He continued to tell her about the beauty of it all. She wanted to know about the sorrow and he was perplexed by her wanting him to share in that sorrow.

Ann insisted, “Banks, sorrow and pain are the proof of life. We must share not only in just the high points but also in the low points. That is the true meaning of friendship. Not to share the pain would be selfish and unfriendly.”

And Banks thought about friendship. He began to change his definition about it. He compared the friendship of the grizzly to the drooling wolves. How the bear left dead salmon carcass for the pack. Yes, that was a kind of friendship. Sure friends could use one another. But Ann’s interpretation expanded its meaning. Banks continued with the whole story. He did skip the part about Peyton. At that very instant, Banks and Ann looked up at the sky. All the people on the boulevard looked up. They wowed at what they saw.

It was a bright animated rainbow that covered the sky of Juneau. It was filled with the brilliance of red, orange, yellow, green, brown, indigo and violet. Yes, indigo too just as Ann described it to Peyton. This was a sign to Banks. It was a call to confront the Old Soul.
 

Banks took Ann by the arm and turned her around. “I need you to go back to your house, Ann.”

She found his tone urgent and followed his instructions, “Are you going to be okay, Banks?”

He responded, “Yes. And when it is finished, I will explain if everything turns out all right.”

Ann ensured, “Everything will turn out right for you. I believe in you Banks Blackhorse.

And as Ann marched towards her home, she saw Banks outstretch his arm. The Monarch Raven flew down from his perch landing on Banks’ arm. She stood and watched. The Monarch Raven and Banks looked at the indigo light that flickered from within the Powers’ living room. Banks headed to the house with sense of confidence to his stride. He opened the door and walked in.

Banks shut the front door. The Monarch Raven was silent, never flitting. Peyton sat in his favorite living room spot surrounded by an indigo mist.

Peyton quizzed, “Do you like my rainbow, Banks?”
 

“Banks responded, “It is mesmerizing. It’s fairly accurate to seeing people. But Peyton, I thought you were finished with externalizing you mind’s eye. I’m sure the Spirit above Our Heads asked you to stop. You are interfering with his realm of nature.”

Peyton countered, “Banks, your services are no longer needed. I’ve traded you in for a dog.”

“Can your dog guide you in certain affairs that will lead you to your rite of passage?”

Peyton responded, “That passage has already been completed. You know who I have become and you know what I must do.”

Banks argued, “Peyton, if you can externalize despite the Spirit’s wishes, you can pardon my…execution.”

Peyton thought a moment, “Nice try, Banks. But you bloodline must be eradicated. Nasty business, but that is my purpose.”

Banks tried, “I’m here with my animal guardian. It rests on my arm.” The Monarch Raven cawed.

Peyton chuckled, “Your guardian is a bird. How fanciful!” Peyton raised his hands and pointed it in the direction of The Monarch Raven. “Leave this house immediately.” The Monarch Raven flitted to the floor and metamorphosed into Chief Dan.

The essence of Chief Dan apologized, “So sorry, Banks. The Old Soul speaks for the Spirit and I must not interfere.

Peyton perked up, “You are the Chief! You are a shape shifter. You must be the Monarch Raven. Nice to meet you, now leave.” The indigo mist moved menacingly in the direction of the Chief.
 

Walking backwards towards the front door, the Chief urged, “Banks, remember the fox.” Opening the door, the Chief walked out, closed the door, and metamorphosed back to The Monarch Raven as Ann stood near her front door and watched in astonishment.
 

Peyton smiled, “Remember the fox. No doubt some sort of metaphor for your rite of passage. Are you going to be wily, Banks?”

Banks was stumped. As he thought what to do next, Peyton stood. The mist lifted him to Banks’ height. Then, Peyton stood above Banks’ head on the mist. Peyton’s hands appeared to grow.
 

Peyton’s voice deepened, “I’m a traditionalist, Banks. Let’s do this in the same fashion that ended the life of your parents. Think of it as bookend of bloodline fatalities. Don’t you find that poetic?” Peyton wrapped his two big hands around Banks’ head.

Banks yelled, “The bloodline is matrilineal, not patrilineal. Don’t you see, the Spirit made a mistake. The Blackhorse bloodline ended with my uncle and my father. I am a Sioux! I’m a descendant of my mother’s bloodline. That is Indian law. This execution is illegal.” Peyton released his grip. He lowered Banks back down and Peyton went to his seat. Peyton entered a trance. A few moments later, he rose with the mist to be face to face with Banks.

Peyton whispered, “The Spirit doesn’t care. The Spirit, I think, is embarrassed and left it up to me.

Banks panted, “Then you will pardon me.”

“On the contrary, Sport. It’s time to finish this business once and for all.”

Peyton rose above Banks’ head and lifted him to his height with his big arms. Banks’ feet dangled below as the grip around his head tightened as it did with his father.
 

Banks yelled out, “I now make this Indian pledge to you Peyton Powers. I will give you something that no one else can offer. I pledge this to you for all time.”

What could Banks offer him that no one else could? Peyton released his grip and lowered himself down to Banks’ level. “This better be good, Sport.” And Banks Blackhorse whispered into Peyton’s ear. And after a moment, Peyton Powers giggled, “It’s a deal!”
 

The mist of indigo dissipated and Banks sat next to Peyton as Ann Abrams walked in and said, “Is everything alright, Banks?”

Banks replied, “Everything is fine, just fine.” And Peyton giggled uncontrollably. Outside, the rainbow on Skyline Boulevard disappeared as quickly as it came. Speeding along Skyline Boulevard was a shiny new red sport’s car.