Ancient Ones

Innermost Cave

Meredith emerged from the sipapu into a warm dry cave, lighter than the previous one, yet still enclosed within dark cave walls. She smelled sulfur. The warmth felt good after the dampness of the previous world. She rubbed her arms. The shaman appeared beside her and led her through the cave to another cave and thence to another. As they approached the innermost cave, she smelled wood smoke and corn roasting.

World of Fire

A fire burned brightly in the center of the cave, casting flickering light across its walls, and disclosing haunting shapes that vanished before they could be realized.

Several people were clustered about the fire, some seated, some standing. They wore rust-colored robes of an unusual shape, wide at the shoulders, tapering to the feet like shields, beaded in intricate patterns of zigzags and stripes.

They were playing drums and chanting a low haunting refrain, swaying in time with the music. No one noticed the two travelers.

"This is the Third World, the World of Fire," said the shaman.

His People

"These are my people," the shaman said. "Come and meet them. They have been waiting for you." He led her to the fire.

Meredith followed cautiously. As she drew near, she saw that the people of the cave were old, quite old. They had long gray hair, braided or tied with colored thongs, and wrinkled faces. Long robes hung loosely over fragile or bent bodies.

They stood in two groups, male and female, on either side of the fire. The male figures on the far side were tall and angular. The women on the near side had rounder, shorter bodies, though there was a very tall figure among them, her robe decorated with small shields. Her back was turned toward Meredith.

Voluminous Hug

The shaman touched the tall woman on the shoulder. The music suddenly ceased. The woman turned around, revealing a thin old face and deeply lined cheeks.

She appeared to recognize the shaman, then looked at Meredith. Her wrinkled face broke into a radiant smile and her eyes filled with delight. She quickly enveloped Meredith in a voluminous hug, at the same time displaying her splendid robe. The others followed suit, embracing and welcoming her, even shedding tears of gladness.

Meredith was pleased though puzzled by this joyful welcome.

Her Coming

"She has come at last," cried one of the men. Meredith was amazed that she could understand his words. The others joined in with cries of welcome.

"Why are they so happy to see me? I've never seen them before," Meredith whispered to the shaman.

"Let them tell you in their way," he replied.

"Meanwhile, I will introduce you."

Intersecting Visions

"Expecting me? How?"

"We have seen you in our visions and sent the shaman to find you."

"Oh, yes," said Meredith, suddenly excited, "the place where our visions joined each other."

The shaman explained to the others, "We told each other of our visions. We met and joined each other's story as we were destined to do, as our lore has prepared us. She was looking for me while I was looking for her. Her medicine is strong, like that of her father and mother."

"We would hear more, but first you must eat," said Gray Dawn.

Gray Dawn

"This is Gray Dawn, our headwoman," he said, leading Meredith to the woman who had hugged her first. Gray Dawn took the young woman's hand and squeezed it.

"Welcome," she said warmly, and kissed her again on the cheek.

"Thank you. I am happy to be here. My name is Meredith." She found herself speaking their language effortlessly, as if she had always spoken it.

"We know. We've been expecting you for a very long time."

Markings in the Bowl

"I recognize the markings in the bowl. I carved them myself."

"But when?"

"Before your last visit. Perhaps you don't remember visiting us?"

"No, I don't."

Corn Cakes

They all sat in a circle around the fire. A plump woman named Wild Fire brought corn cakes on a large platter decorated with gray geometric designs. She handed them brightly colored beakers filled with a steaming mixture that smelled of mint. Meredith sipped and sighed. She wished that her mother and father were here to enjoy it with her.

After she had eaten and drunk, she sat back and rested in the warmth of the fire.

Chanuga

After a while, Gray Dawn said, "Have you brought the chanuga?"

"Yes, here it is," said Meredith, holding up the sacred bundle, no longer surprised that the Anasazi woman knew about it.

Gray Dawn helped Meredith unwind the wrapping and remove the sacred pipe and beaded pouch. "It is a long time since I have seen this magical chanuga," said Gray Dawn.

"How could you have seen it before?" asked Meredith.