The Night the Sky Fell (18 page)

Peyton triumphantly said, “I found it, Banks!”

Banks ordered, “Your Braille is better than mine, Sport. Tell me what to do.”
 

“You have to chant to the Great Spirit, Banks. You must chant! It must be a true Indian. It must be the Chief of the Tlingits.” Peyton extended the book and the deer-hooved necklace to Banks. “Read and chant, Chief!”

Banks felt his way through the chant, “It says…call to the spirits of my ancestors.”

Peyton demanded, “Banks. Call to them. The sky is calling. Chant now!” A creature hovered over them. It screeched to the other creatures. A flock flew towards Banks and Peyton. Banks chanted as the flock circled over them. Banks stopped chanting and feared for the impending attack.
 

Peyton yelled, “Feel the spirit of the deer around your neck. Sense the gallop of the black horse—your family name!” Banks continued the chant as Peyton screamed, “Feel the spirit of your dead grandfather. Understand what he knows…see what he sees.” Banks rocked in a trance and the pace of chants quickened.
 

Peyton continued, “Go back. Go back to your great blind ancestor who discovered the Night the Sky Fell. Be with him. Be him. Be an Indian and the sky will fall!”

A group of circling creatures locked claws and swooped down on Peyton. Slowly Peyton rose. “Banks! Believe in yourself! Believe in your ancestors. Connect to the Spirit Above Your Head! And for God’s sake, please…hurry!”

As Peyton was raised higher and higher, the pace of Banks’ chants accelerated. The screeching sounds above Peyton’s head increased with a maddening frenzy as if the creatures had found their prize in Peyton Powers.

The Monarch Raven flew high in the Juneau sky. It startled when it recognized the indigo mist floating above the clouds. The raven could capture the essence of a human or another animal and shape shift, it could not capture the essence of the Old Soul. The indigo mist above was indeed the essence of the Old Soul. The Monarch Raven cawed as it noted the silent lightning above. The raven sensed that the Old Soul was in communication with another. The raven assumed that the pattern of the lightning above was a conveyance of anger. The raven was correct in its assumptions. In an instant a sprite appeared. The sprite flickered and the indigo mist dissipated. The sprite flashed and sent electrical forces upwards. The raven knew that these charges sped above the ionosphere into space. What he did not know, was that these charges flew into the asteroid belt where thousands of meteorites revolved. The sprite heard the calls of Banks Blackhorse and…made the sky fall.

Banks Blackhorse chanted faster. Peyton Powers rose faster. Pea-size meteorites fall from the sky. They headed directly towards the creatures. They smacked into creatures since the honey within the creatures acted as magnets just as they did to Banks’ refrigerator some nine months ago. But despite thousands of small meteorites attacking, Peyton still ascended. Banks continued to chant and trance. He was oblivious to Peyton’s peril since he required complete concentration on his chants. The falling meteorites grew in size to the size of golf balls. They slammed into several creatures that carried Peyton. Peyton began a descent towards the camp. One creature fell directly into the campfire below. Banks took no notice as he continued chanting. Then another creature fell and another.
 

The sky showered Juneau with baseball-size meteorites that decapitated the creatures. Peyton landed slowly back to the campfire. Peyton screamed orders, “More, Banks. More! Be with the Great Spirit. Connect!”
 

Creatures flocked to the glacier. The sky felled watermelon size meteorites that squashed the creatures and unhinged the glacier that blocked the channel. Blocks of ice floated to the sea. Parts of creatures became dinner for salmon and halibut. And then there was a welcomed silence.

When Banks Blackhorse took a deep breath, he exhaled the state of his trance. He returned to his conscious self and Banks took Peyton’s hand. They walked a few paces and stopped. Banks looked over the town. Banks realized that this was the town that he destroyed and that this was the town that he rescued. He looked up to the heavens in silence.
 

Peyton interrupted Banks’ moment, “Banks, there’s no noise. You killed them, Banks. You saved us all. You’re a wonderful Indian, Banks. Now let’s go home. You relax, I’ll drive.”

Banks studied Peyton. He was not amused with Peyton’s comment. He was angry. He led Peyton to the car and then forced Peyton to the passenger seat. He strapped Peyton’s seat belt with no gentleness.
 

Peyton crossed his arms and pouted, “I’m a kick-ass driver.” Now it was Banks turn to apply the grill and drill.

As Banks drove he ignored the remnants of creatures on the road. “Peyton, nine months ago you made a wish.”
 

Peyton turned and defiantly responded, “Nine months ago I was a mere child. I’m eight now!”
 

Banks grilled, “What did you wish for, Peyton, what did you wish during that night in your backyard when the Leonids fell from the sky?”
 

Peyton smirked, “I wanted a brother…a brother that looked like a cupid, you know. It was you that told me about the Valentine cupids. You get a baby brother from the ‘maculate misconception.’”
 

“Was that your wish, Sport?”
 

“I thought about it. But that baby at our school bit me, remember? It had one tooth, remember? Also, I thought about reading people’s minds.”
 

“Peyton, tell me what you wished for.” The car pulled up to Skyline Boulevard. Peyton tried to get out but Banks pulled him back, “What did you wish for the night of the Leonids, the night the sky fell?”
 

“Oh, Banks. I can’t tell you that. You told all of us that night not to reveal the wish.”

“Tell me, Peyton right now!”

 
It was an Indian wish. I wished… I wished that people here could see…what I see.”

The Powers’ house was a mess. Dead creatures, smoldering meteorites and green ooze covered the home. Tricia emerged holding her nose. She smirked at Ann, “Where is Mr. Clean when you need him?” Banks and Peyton entered the front door.
 

Tricia yelled while cracking gum, “Mom, the Indian and the spazz are here.”
 

Ann ran over and hugged Banks. Julie ran down the stairs. Stan scurried from the pantry. Murray and Dassi stood from the sofa. All cried for joy. Everyone except Tricia.

Tricia walked out the door. She eyed her devastated car. A dead creature fell from the house roof and landed on Tricia’s head. Tricia screamed at it, “Look at what you did to my car!” Tricia jumped up and down on the dead creature. Her jumping caused her to be sprayed with green ooze. This was the perfect time for Tricia to use her knowledge of French, “Merde!”
 

The surviving neighbors of Skyline Boulevard met in the street. Joy once again was restored to Skyline Boulevard.

They all looked at the beautiful August Juneau sky. There was not a single flying creature. Wrong. The Monarch Raven landed on the roof of the Powers’ house. It was time for The Monarch Raven to get involved.

Vision Quest

About two centuries ago, white explorers came to New Zealand and killed many of the indigenous people. About the same time, the Chatham ravens died off. These black ravens eventually became extinct on the Chatham Islands which was a part of New Zealand.

The Monarch Raven was used to living amongst indigenous peoples and once they were killed, the raven wanted to find new indigenous peoples to watch. This immortal raven chose North America as its home. The Monarch Raven was urged from the Spirit Above not to get involved with Indian matters. The Monarch Raven was merely to be revered by tribes through their shamans. All it had to do was to observe and enjoy. The Spirit above His Head gave this request to the raven when he chose North America as its home.

There was some dispute amongst American Indians that accepted the raven as a spiritual leader and those that did not. Some believed that the raven created the universe and that the Spirit doled out the rules and regulations. Some believed the opposite. There was always an undercurrent with The Monarch Raven when taking orders from the Spirit, so it delighted the raven to get involved with the goings on in Juneau to prove that the Spirit was mistaken about certain things. Because of this fact and the fact that the raven was a bit egotistical, it decided that now was the time for him to get involved and no longer simply be an observer.

The Old Soul did not think about matters this way. He was simply an enforcer who was a soldier that took its orders from the Spirit. The Old Soul’s latest orders were to kill Banks Blackhorse.

Due to the exhausting preceding days, the inhabitants of the Powers’ house rejoiced quietly. There were tears of joy, hugs/kisses, and as the fear was released from members of the families, tiredness swept over each person.

Murray wanted to sleep but first he would check on the current situation of Mrs. Kadet’s eye. Dassi grabbed his bag and decided to follow him across the street. Ann knew she had a lot to do. She had received texts from the department of communications and was needed to reconnect Juneau to the outside world. Government officials discovered their ‘sent messages’ and wanted them to be corrected. Ann knew the women who aided her in creating Juneau’s disinformation which led to the city’s isolation. She needed to undo this with the women that aided her. But first, she wanted to speak to Banks.

Banks sat on his chair by the window. He was exhausted as all the survivors of Juneau were. Banks wanted to just sleep for days. But he perked up when Ann came by and knocked on his bedroom door. There was so much Ann wanted to say to him, but she knew his state and thought ‘less was more.’

As Ann stood in his doorway, she was ready to explain that she would be occupied for the next few days with restoring Juneau’s communications. But it was Banks who spoke first:

“Ann, you’re back. I can barely think from my recent ordeal but I have just enough energy to come over and give you a kiss.”

Ann opened welcomed arms and embraced him. She whispered, “You are the quintessence of breathless charm. Now rest and sleep Banks. I just wanted you to know that I owe you a Senior Prom date. And I promise you that the after party will be for just us and it will be a party we will never forget.” She kissed him again.

Somewhere deep down in the exhausted body of Banks Blackhorse reemerged the sensation of swoon. He accepted the Prom date and as swoon began to take over his consciousness, it was released when Ann left and Tricia appeared at his door. She eyeballed him and raised her hand stereotypically in Indian greeting, “How! I have always been a great admirer of your people.” She cracked her gum for effect.

Banks sat down in his chair and nodded to Tricia. Tricia scrutinized the room and told Banks, “You know, I could use this room for my upcoming senior projects. And winning back Johnny is one of my projects.” Tricia twerked and donned a seductive pose. Banks turned his head with a grimace. Attacking his disdainful disinterest, Tricia said, “So, just when are you returning to you teepee? Think about it.”

Banks didn’t want to think about anything. He didn’t want to comment about Tricia’s winning Johnny back. As if! He couldn’t wait to rip off his clothes, take a shower and jump into his bed. Peyton appeared and Banks knew that he wouldn’t take his shower until Peyton had his bath. Julie and Stan were visiting all the neighbors and helping the older ones. He was in charge of Peyton.

“Sport, now is the time for a bath.”

Peyton responded with, “I concur.”

Banks thought, “He concurs!” Banks was amazed how much Peyton had learned so much during the past year when he was ‘just a mere child.’ He thought he might bring it up while Peyton was bathing. After running the bath water, Peyton got in. Peyton was tired too and dispensed with his usual drill and grill.

Banks shampooed Peyton’s hair, “So, Sport, we really did it. And as you know, we couldn’t have done it without you.”

Peyton smarted, “I know. I was more than adequate, wasn’t I?”

Banks reassured him that he was the best and bravest. “So, Peyton, what part of our adventure did you enjoy the most?

“Driving, Banks. Driving.”

Banks wanted to quickly change the subject since driving was not in the cards for Peyton, “Oh, and yes. Well I have some good news for you and some bad news for your mother. We don’t have any more eye drops and I don’t know how to make more.”

Peyton responded maturely, “Isn’t life grand?”

When Peyton finished his bath he told Banks that this was the last bath that he would give him. He assured Banks that his help was no longer necessary. It appeared that Peyton no longer needed Banks for anything. Peyton simply wanted to go to his room alone. Additionally it also appeared that since there were no more drops left, that Julie would conclude that their bargain was null and void.
 

Peyton went to his room and closed the door. Just as Banks was thinking about his shower, Stan flew up the stairs and told Banks that a Roger Raintree was outside in his car and needed Banks for the next few days.

Banks asked Stan, “Is that okay with you? I really don’t know what he wants but I’m sure it has something do with the tribe members at the compound.” Stan told Banks that he was released from duty with Peyton. He also remarked that Peyton was to resume school in a few weeks. Banks deciphered this code to mean that his services were no longer required. A quick thought ran through his mind, “Thank you for saving the world, now go away.” But this thought did not bring him down. After all, he had an official date with Ann in nine months.