The Night the Sky Fell (6 page)

 
Banks also had secret plans that would lead to a shunning. He knew that once he was discovered for distancing himself from the tribe he would be socially excommunicated. He thought about how much his eyesight improved and knew it wasn’t just the honey. He could not come up with any rational idea of how is uncle was able to attract the meteorites directly into the vat. He rubbed his arm where the white stick man tattoo was. He did this every time he weakened and needed direction back to his goal. He took out several vials of eye drops from the refrigerator. He inserted few drops into his eyes and placed the unopened vials into his suit pants. He straightened his tie and buttoned the middle button of his suit jacket. Then he adorned himself with Julie’s necklace. He thought, “I’m so white.”
 

Banks stepped out of his apartment carrying his new Bible. Dan met Banks at the stairs. After the Chief scrutinized Banks from necklace to polished black shoes, “You’ve betrayed us!”
 

“That’s nonsense,” replied Banks.
 

Dan continued to study Banks, “You’re chasing an illusion…false dreams.”
 

 
“And what dreams are here for me, Uncle?” As Banks drove off, Marilyn walked over to the Chief. She spat chewing tobacco at the same time the Chief did.

 
In the Juneau Catholic Church sat the Powers’ family. The adults thought of past sins and the kids thought about future sins. Tricia could explore her sexuality with Johnny but only after she got her birthday gift. Peyton plotted and planned how he can get a guide dog. Yes, the church was full of people thinking about sin. Adults felt guilt and the kids felt glee.

 
But the wandering thoughts of the congregation came to a grinding halt when the Pastor boomed, “I have come to set a man at variance with his father, and a daughter with her mother…and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. That’s St. Matthew, Chapter, 10, 34.” As all responded, “Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ,” Tricia broke the rhythm of cracking gum. Stan looked upon his family as a potential threat. He thought they could only be a threat if they found out about Evelyn Sands. He made mental pact again: “No more Evelyn Sands.”

 
Banks Blackhorse took a seat directly behind Julie Powers. Peyton sensed his nearness; he smiled. At that instant Peyton turned to Banks and a rainbow of light emerged from the window nearby. Julie turned around. She had a look of hope that her wish would be granted by Banks Blackhorse. Banks handed Julie three vials of eye drops.
 

 
She whispered, “Praise to you, Banks Blackhorse.” And at that instant as if the Spirit commanded it, the rainbow morphed to one color…indigo…where the Old Soul resided. Only Peyton could hear the cawing of The Monarch Raven from the Church roof.

 
Julie placed the vials in her purse. She was oblivious to everything around her except Banks. She took a deep breath and exhaled her anxiety with a sense of relief. She wanted Banks to join them for Sunday brunch. Banks could only respond, “Are you sure?” And Julie said the words that Banks longed for, “You’re family now.”
 

 
The Monarch Raven knew that there was a difference between the intention of committing an act and the actual carrying out of the act. When the Julie received the eye drops from Banks, the bargain they entered into was complete. At the same time that Banks gave Julie the eye drops, the breach of his bargain was complete. The Monarch Raven knew that the wrath of the Spirit Above his Head had begun. The raven’s caws turned into screams.

 
As the Chief chanted in Tlingit in his apartment, Marilyn cooked breakfast. She handed the Chief a plate of fried bread. He continued to chant as Marilyn whispered something odd, “It’s time to sleep.” When the Chief turned to thank Marilyn, he was shocked to find her lying on the floor motionless.
 

Carol Rainwater told five lies during her twenty eight years. Outside the door of the Chief she spoke to three inquisitive married tribal women. They wanted to know where Carol was going and if they could join her. Carol had rehearsed this moment ever since she agreed to meet up with Marilyn White Owl. “I’m going to do a version of the Christian labyrinth…sort of a vision quest.” This was code to her three friends that she wanted to be alone on her Sunday. The three women began a drill and grill but were interrupted by the Chief, “Quick, get the Shaman.”

 
As the foursome turned to the Chief, they stated simultaneously, “It’s time to sleep.”

The four Tlingit women dropped to the ground. They lay on the pavement with their eyes shut.
 

Chief Dan Blackhorse looked up to the sky in horror, “It begins.”
 

PART II, THE WRATH

Brunch Postponed

In the Abrams’ kitchen, Dassi and Ann wrapped the last of the Brunch food trays. It was easier to have Sunday brunch at the Powers’ house since Peyton knew the territory. As Dassi and Ann carried the trays to the Abrams’ door they waved to Murray and Stan who wanted to finish there football game. Julie greeted Dassi and Ann at the Powers’ door and the trays were placed in the fridge. The threesome exchanged niceties. Peyton swayed to the music while sitting on the living room sofa wearing a headset totally immersed in his mind’s eye creation.
 

Ann brushed against Peyton and he lifted the headset. “How was church, Peyton?”
 

Peyton answered, “A guy could get nightmares.”
 

“That bad! Is Tricia—”

Peyton pointed upstairs and Ann scampered to the second floor.
 

As Peyton reinserted his headset, Julie came over with eye drops. “Open wide, sweetheart.” As she inserted drops into each eye Peyton whined, “This is gooey and different, Mom. I don’t like it.” Julie continued with the drops despite Peyton’s complaint.

Upstairs, Ann knocked on Tricia’s ajar door. Tricia, who was on the phone, gestured to Ann to sit. Tricia continued by ending her phone conversation with, “…so come over for Thanksgiving, Johnny.” Ann smiled as she locked eyes with Tricia.

Ann truly hoped that Tricia and Johnny would be a thing. This of course should end any meddling from Tricia when Ann would make future plans with Banks. Ann thought Johnny was a good fit for Tricia. They were so egotistical. “Friends of Narcissus,” Ann thought.
 

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Julie confided to Dassi, “I graduated law school but I’m not a lawyer, never took the bar. Peyton was born and I well…you know.” A swig of gin punctuated the ending of the story as Julie asked, “Don’t you and Murray want another child?” Dassi teared. Julie wanted to ask Dassi this question for a long time. Dassi was totally speechless as Julie put down her glass.

Upstairs, Ann sat next to Tricia to hopefully soothe the antagonism of last night’s arguments. “It must be wonderful…you and Johnny.”
 

Tricia responded after a moment, “He enhances my popularity standings. The Indian likes you…he’s coming over, you know. He crept into church today.”
 

“Really! That’s interesting. Ann, was I really slutty last night?”
 

Tricia responded, “More like tartish, oh wait, the French say coquette. Yes that’s it–coquettish.” The girls were quiet. Quite rare for these two. Simultaneously, they raised their eyes to the ceiling. Tricia’s gum rolled out of her mouth and fell to the floor. Their pupils rolled upwards. And together eerily they said, “It’s time to sleep.” They fell back on Tricia’s bed.

And downstairs, Julie removed a boiling tea kettle and placed it down safely. “I’m thinking of having Banks move in…it would be so great. It would free me up. Dassi, it’s time to sleep.” Julie dropped safely to the floor. Dassi bent down in state of shock, “Julie! Julie! She glanced at Peyton’ obliviousness to the situation and flung the front door open.
 

Pandemonium erupted on Skyline Boulevard. Dassi screamed all the way to her house.

 
As Banks’ truck approached Skyline Boulevard, he slowed and watched a woman pull over. She gave her baby a bottle of milk, reclined her driver’s seat and turned off the ignition then began to sleep. Another car pulled over as the woman’s husband began to scream. He yanked out his cell and dialed 911. A recording began and he slammed the cell on the pavement. An oncoming car pulled to the right. A middle-aged mother flagged Banks down. The woman claimed that she could not get her daughter to wake up. She asked Banks to get an ambulance or a doctor since no one answered her call for help. Banks told her that he would talk to Dr. Abrams.

As Banks reached the top of Skyline Boulevard he noted that two seaplanes landed in the water and that a commercial airline landed at the airstrip at about the same time. His attention turned across the street of Abrams’ house where all neighbors gathered. They held cell phones and pointed to a women lying on the sidewalk and others who reclined in a sleeping fashion in their stationary cars. A woman holding an infant walked over to one of the screaming neighbors and handed the baby to an elderly lady. The mother of the baby simply stated, “It’s time to sleep.” She fell to the grassy yard in front of the group.

Banks parked his truck as Stan, Murray and Dassi ran out of the Abrams’ house and bee lined to the Powers’ home. They motioned to Banks to follow. Murray grabbed his stethoscope out of his medical bag as all entered. They surrounded Julie and Murray listened for a heartbeat, “Incredibly slow. Otherwise she seems to be alright.” He attempted to open Julie’s eyelids but they would not budge. “How unusual. I think it’s alright to move her to the bedroom.” Banks, Stan, Dassi and Murray each took a limb. Julie was dead weight and unmovable. Murray shook his head, “That’s a first.” Peyton swayed to the music ignorant of the ensuing pandemonium. Meanwhile, the foursome headed up the stairs as Stan caught Peyton’s eye and waved.

Tricia and Ann lay apparently asleep; Murray could not open their eyelids either. He announced that all three women seem to be in a state similar to hibernation. His twelve years of medical school was useless. Stan looked to Murray, “What do we do?”
 

Murray raised an eyelid, “Do? We wait.”
 

Banks joined Peyton holding a deck of cards. “Let’s play gin, Sport.” Peyton appeared happy to see Banks and was excited to play cards with him as he ripped off his headset. Peyton appeared to be totally oblivious to the recent events. Banks wisely did not want to add additional panic to Peyton’s state of bliss. But perhaps most of all, Banks was not in the mood to subject himself to Peyton’s drill and grill which Banks could not possibly answer.

Upstairs, Stan covered the two girls with a blanket. He went to the hall closet and gathered a blanket and pillow. He donned a smiling face as he past Banks and Peyton and covered Julie with the blanket. Julie’s head was on its side against the tile. He attempted to lift her head to place the pillow underneath but this proved to be a fruitless effort. He dropped the pillow. He whispered, “What the fuck is happening?”

 
Murray opened the front door. The neighbors across the street motioned to him to come over. Murray eyed the bodies of lifeless women up and down Skyline Boulevard. He and Dassi crossed the street to a hysterical group.
 

The elderly Mrs. Bundy, the very pregnant Lydia and the righteous Mrs. McGruder vied for speaking time:
 

“My daughter won’t wake up,” sobbed Lydia and she held her stomach to notify all of her pregnant condition.
 

Mrs. Bundy who listened to cable news all day long reported, “The news said that 25,000 meteorites per hour hit the city. Although they were only the size of peas; they could have emitted some alien gas. Maybe that has something do with all this. That was the biggest storm on record. What do you think Mrs. McGruder?”
 

Finally, Mrs. McGruder vocalized her opinion: “I know what it is.” The buzz softened as all approached her, “It’s the rapture! They have all gone to Jerusalem. They have been…swooped away!” She continued hysterically, “They took my daughter. I’m a better Christian than my daughter. I don’t understand it. Why didn’t they take me instead? We’re all going to die…all of us. Armageddon!”
 

I long pause crept over the group. Then as if all members had something to say simultaneously, there was a cacophony of sobs, screams and exclamations. To add to the mayhem, The Monarch Raven added loud caws to the mix. It leapt from the roof of the Powers’ house and flew directly over the group.

Once airborne, The Monarch Raven took for the clouds and ascended above the clouds. The raven saw a colorful upward form of lightning known as a sprite. The sprite resembled a reddish violet jellyfish. An indigo mist outlined the sprite’s form. It flashed. As the sprite sent out colorful electrical charges to the ionosphere above, the mist flashed below. The raven was the only witness to this event. Humans could not possibly have interpreted these happenings. It happened in milliseconds. Perhaps Banks’ grandfather might have seen and understood, because Banks’s grandfather could take the point of view of the raven. And even though at this point in the sky there was little or no oxygen his senses could interpret what was happening. That was why his tribe called him Flies with Raven. He would assume that these two entities were communicating. The sprite could be the Spirit Above Our Heads…the Great Spirit. And the indigo mist could be the soldier of the Spirit. That soldier who took orders. The soldier who carried out the wrath that the Great Spirit ordered…like breaking promises. For every great breach to the Spirit there were consequences. The soldier was known as the Old Soul. And the Old Soul continued its mission in the inaccessible city of Juneau, Alaska. If it were not completely inaccessible today, it soon would be.