The Night the Sky Fell (13 page)

 
“I didn’t until now. Roger, drive Peyton home. I want to speak to Banks alone.”
 

 
“Chief, may I have another piece of bread before I leave?”

Banks sensed the Chief’s withheld rage was about to explode. He didn’t want to be alone with his uncle. He became anxious as Peyton and Roger left the apartment:
 

The Chief roared, “Banks, do you understand what you’ve done?” Do you understand the consequences of your infidelity?”
 

Banks waved his hands if to block the verbal assault. The Chief continued, “It all fits. You made a bargain. A white man’s home for eye drops. It’s an affront to the Great Spirit.”
 

Banks rested his arms on the table and looked directly into Uncle’s eyes, “To hell with the Great Spirit!”
 

The Chief bent over and slapped Banks across the face.

“I didn’t raise you by myself for this kind of abuse. The new children of these lost souls will be the Great Spirit’s wrath against this town…because of what you did. Now since you started this, you and you alone must end it.”
 

Banks stood up, “That’s crap!” Banks stomped to the door.
 

Dan followed him carrying the
Indian Legends
book, “Read your grandfather’s book!” As they walked out, the sky shimmered indigo. Marilyn and the others looked up at the sky. “Banks, your father ignored me too. Don’t make the same mistake.”

Banks backpedaled and turned to his uncle, “What about my father? He and my mother died in an automobile accident. Right? Right?”
 

The Chief shook his head, “Banks, your parents were killed for breaking a pact with the Great Spirit.”
 

Banks’ anger turned to shock, “What?”
 

The Chief added, “You were born completely blind and your parents made a pact. Your father’s promise was to return to Juneau…to leave South Dakota…to leave the Sioux. He didn’t.”
 

Banks said as he shook, “Uncle, you’re driving me crazy with all this superstition.”
 

Banks walked to the staircase to his apartment as his Dan approached, “The bloodline…you and I…are all that remain. The Old Soul is here. The Old Soul wants satisfaction. It wants our bloodline…eradicated and thus cleansed forever.”
 

Banks ran up the stairs to his apartment. After removing the padlocks, he took vials of eye drops and replaced the padlocks. He ran downstairs to his truck.

Banks peeled out of the Compound. When the dust cleared, the Chief looked above at the shimmering indigo. He opened his father’s book. He knelt and chanted in Tlingit. Marilyn White Owl and other women bellowed an eerie sound while the Chief chanted as if to drown out the Chief’s chants. It became a contest of chanting noises versus the bellowings. Finally, the Chief chants were drowned out.

As Banks drove back to the Powers’ house, he felt his face where Dan slapped him. The pain and sorrow of his present state far surpassed the slap. He thought about his Uncle’s words…words of an old man that had no appreciation for the white man’s world. He thought of Dan’s kindness to Peyton. Then it hit Banks. When Dan told Peyton he had the soul of an Indian, perhaps he was telling Banks that Banks lost his Indian soul. Maybe Dan was right. Banks knew that at the moment he gave Julie the eye drops last November that he had given her his soul. Then he thought that that was nonsense. It was always easy to deny the disliked information from his beliefs with, “That’s nonsense.”
 

Immediately following the action of giving Julie the eye drops, Banks had a solid month of his dreams coming true. There was that beautiful house, a sense of purpose working with Peyton, and of course there was Ann, his one and only girlfriend.

Banks thought that the eye drops had no effect on Peyton. After all, this whole thing with women started with eye drops according to Dan. Julie religiously gave Peyton the drops when he moved in. Peyton always complained. Maybe, Peyton would sneak to the bathroom and wash the drops out. Banks would have to talk to Peyton about that. Banks rationalized that if Peyton’s vision did not improve, then Banks didn’t breach his pact. Banks took a deep breath as he drove and felt less guilt. Yes, denial can be soothing.

As some of his guilt dwindled, horror crept in. Just what did his Uncle mean when he said that they were the last of the bloodline? Did this thing, this Old Soul want Banks and his uncle dead? If it wanted them dead, why didn’t they just kill them? If his dead parents made a pact with the Great Spirit and his parents defaulted, the consequence was death. He wondered if this could happen to him. Was Banks Blackhorse to become a target of this Old Soul? These thoughts led Banks to more thoughts, which led to more questions, which led nowhere. Then he thought the most important thought: “How can I stop the madness in Juneau?”

As Banks drove to his ‘special place’ to think, the Monarch Raven flew between the Abrams and Powers’ household. On the second floor of the houses, Ann and Tricia stared at one another through their respective windows. They appeared to be in ‘sending’ mode. There was a knock at Ann’s door which she ignored. Murray and Dassi walked in.
 

Dassi apologized, “Sorry to disturb you, Ann. Dad has spoken to the medical board.”
 

Murray continued, “Kitten, a shipment came in of medical equipment so that we can administer sonograms to all the pregnant women. We will begin in alphabetical order. You’re first.”
 

Murray placed a hand on Ann’s shoulder. She ordered, “No checkups.”
 

Murray backed away as Dassi approached Ann, “It’s for your own good.”
 

Ann spat in her mother’s face. Dassi slapped Ann. Ann socked Dassi in the face. As Dassi fell backwards, Murray was quick to break the fall.
 

Ann raised her arms above, “I will tell you once and only once. Any person that tries to give any exam to the women of Juneau will die. Spread the word to the public as I spread the word to the women. Now get out!”

Banks sat next to his unlit campfire area in the Juneau wilderness where he spoke with the ‘essence’ of Ann. He thought about Ann then shifted to the thoughts of how and where he spent his eighteenth birthday with his uncle. Banks texted Stan telling him that he would be back late and for the family to eat dinner without him.
 

Banks lay back and scrutinized the beauty of nature. He pined for the company and conversation of Ann. She was so substantial. He wanted her to be free with conversation and not dumb herself down. There was a mutual respect and mutual hope for love and more. If she were here, he would tell her about his argument with his uncle. He thought that she could give him some advice.

Banks thought about his uncle. Dan was his only true family that was always there for him. He thought about what his uncle said. It was clear in his uncle’s mind that Banks was responsible for all this. Was this an exaggeration or true? Roger never said anything like that to him. Yes, Banks Blackhorse has much thinking to do. Somehow at this very instant, he thought that the location where he spent his eighteenth birthday, that place where he got his eye drops would be where the solution might lay. What Banks Blackhorse thought…was absolutely correct.

At the Powers’ dinner table, Peyton scooped up the last of his mashed potatoes. “Dad, Dad, the Chief said I have the soul of an Indian.”
 

Stan eyed Tricia and Julie’s ‘sending’ as he responded, “I think he is right, Peyton.”
 

“Mom, may I have more mashed potatoes?”
 

Stan grabbed the bowl and warned, “Mom and Tricia are busy.”
 

Peyton ignored him with, “Mom, does the baby kick?”
 

Tricia stood up. She pointed to the door as Julie smiled nodding.
 

Stan tried, “Tricia, do you pick up messages far away?” His question was ignored. One more time, “Don’t I get a kiss, Sweet pea?” Tricia left out the front door as Stan poured himself another glass of wine.

In the living room, Stan finished the bottle of wine while watching TV. Upstairs, Julie tested the bath water as Peyton undressed. Julie turned off the faucet and grabbed the eye drops. She yanked Peyton’s head back.
 

Peyton growled, “That stuff is so sticky! What makes you think I want to see what you see?” Undaunted, Julie picked Peyton up and placed him in the tub, “Mom. It’s too hot!” She pushed him down in a sitting position. “Hot. Hot. Hot. Can we use that shampoo that smells like strawberries?” Peyton splashed in the tub. Unknown to Peyton, Julie got wet but worse, she had become irritated. She ceased shampooing his hair and seethed as Peyton continued to splash.

She began to lather his hair with fury. Harder and harder as he protested, “You’re hurting me, Mom.” He slid down to avoid her grip on his head. Julie got into the tub. She pushed his head underwater!

 
Downstairs, Stan finished his wine. His eyes closed. He snored.

 
Upstairs, Peyton came up for air and released her grip. He tried to catch his breath. His arms flailed at her as he poked her in the eye. Julie fell backwards as Peyton stepped out of the tub and ran for the door. “Dad! Dad! Help!” Peyton turned the door handle, he opened door but Julie slammed the door shut and locked it. She picked Peyton up by the waist and carried him back to the tub as he kicked and screamed. Julie forced Peyton’s head face down in the tub. She stepped on his head. Peyton managed to bite her foot. He raised his head inhaling for air and exhaling with screams. She pushed him down again. Knock-knock at the door.
 

Julie released Peyton’s head as if she were triggered into a trance, “Knock-knock? Who’s there?”
 

“Banks.”
 

Julie continued, “Banks who?”
 

 
Peyton screamed, “Mom is trying to kill me!” Banks yelled to open the door as Stan arrived. Stan grabbed a key from atop the door’s ledge. He opened the door. As Banks dodged to a breathless Peyton, Stan walked in.
 

Stan said softly, “It’s okay, Peyton. Dad and Banks are here.” As Julie watched Banks wrapping Peyton in towels she slugged him in the face. Banks got his wind back and exited slowly with Peyton.

Stan cautioned, “Take Peyton to your room, Banks. Lock it…and barricade the door.” Banks ran to his room carrying Peyton.

 
Julie stepped a few paces toward Stan as he backpedaled into the hall. Stan heard the noise of Banks’ creating a barricade against his door.

Julie cocked her head and raised her eyebrows. Eerily she stated, “Peyton hasn’t finished his bath, Stan.” Slowly, Stan backpedaled to the master bedroom. Julie entered and locked the door.
 

They stood still starring one another down.
 

Julie: “Knock-knock.”
 

Stan: “Who’s there?”
 

“Julie.”
 

“Julie who?”
 

“Julie’s going to kick the crap out of you!”

She kicked Stan in the groin. He doubled over in pain. After he fell to the floor, Julie got on top of him and wrapped her hands around Stan’s neck. She wrung his neck as he turned purple. He flung his body as Julie lost her grip. He crawled away gasping for air. He stood as she charged him. They rolled around the floor with her going for his neck and his fighting off the impending strangulation.

Stan screamed, “Julie, stop!” For a moment she does stop. At that instant he punched her in the face. They both stood. She charged again as he managed a killing blow to her stomach.
 

She hunched over and knelt down in pain, “How could you sock a pregnant woman?” She then pulled off her pants as she watched Stan’s bewildered reaction. She ran to the bathroom, sat on the toilet. Stan came in.
 

“Stan, I’m losing it. I’m losing it.” She looked up to him as tears rolled down her face. “Gin and tonic, please.” Stan obeyed gleefully as if her last utterance meant that the old Julie was back.

Julie stood up from the toilet and examined the toilet bowl. She grabbed a white towel and yanked out the apparent fetus. She covered it with towel and then unwrapped it to get a better look. The white towel oozed green. She threw it on the floor. As she staggered to the bed, Stan walked in carrying two large drinks. She guzzled one down and extended her hand for the other. Stan ran over to Banks’ room and knocked and announced, “It’s Stan. I’m okay and Julie is fine. No more fighting. You okay, Peyton?”
 

 
“We’re fine. I’m beating Banks at gin.”
 

“Good, stay in there and don’t open the door until I come back. Love you.”
 

 
Banks added, “I can see Tricia in Ann’s room across the street.”
 

 
“Thanks, Banks. Knock on your wall three times if she leaves the Abrams house. Or text me if you can.”
 

Peyton giggled, “I like secret codes.”

Later, Peyton whispered, “Gin.” Banks congratulated him as he eyed his bedroom window and caught a glimpse of Ann and Tricia.