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ADVANCED PREVIEW
OF
SHADOW & FLAME
Copyright
2011, Frank Holes, Jr.
All
Rights Reserved
From Book 1, Chapter 1:
“Your Vision Quest is
about to begin, young one,” Okasek, his father, said within the
darkness of the council lodge. The
only light came from the flicker of the embers which cast deep shadows
along the hide-skin walls.
A dozen elders and leaders of the village sat around the fire.
Even indoors, they all dressed warmly, for the chill of the night
air worked its way like a splinter into the bones of the elderly.
In the deepest of winter, the inside walls of the lodges would be
insulated with another layer of thick skins, and their exteriors would
be nearly covered over with a thick blanker of snow.
But the snow was gone for at least a few months, and in late
spring those extra skins on the inside of the walls were taken down to
improve the air flow.
It was a small group that celebrated Kaiyoo’s departure from
childhood. Parents were
permitted to attend, but since Kaiyoo’s mother had died giving birth
to him, it was just he and his father and the village council.
The boy was nervous standing before the aged men and women.
But he took comfort knowing his father stood alongside him, for
his father was part of the council too.
In fact, other than Wa-Kama, the village matriarch, Okasek held the
highest position any man could in their community.
He was their Guardian, the protector of the village and its way
of life. It was a role both
physical and spiritual, though they’d lived in relative peace for
many, many summers.
Wa-Kama, grim of face, began the ceremony.
“Brother Okasek, descendent of the Great Guardians and father
of this boy, what do you seek from us?”
Answering in the proper manner, Okasek said, “I bring my only son
before you, brothers and sisters. Ten
summers has he now played among children.
He is ready to undertake the journey to manhood.”
The men and women of the council looked the boy over carefully, as if
seeing him for the first time. Kaiyoo
could feel the weight of their stares.
A nervousness crept up inside of him.
What if they said no?
What if they told him to wait another year?
What would his father say? What
would his friends think of him?
“Has he learned and practiced in the ways his Omeena ancestors?”
Wa-Kama asked.
Proudly, Okasek proclaimed, “My son is ready.”
One of the elders to Wa-Kama’s left asked, “Has the boy been
prepared for his journey?”
Okasek replied, “I ask your permission now to complete his
instructions.”
“Leave of the council is granted, my brother,” Wa-Kama said.
“You may proceed.”
Okasek turned to face Kaiyoo directly.
His dark eyes, like black pebbles sparkling in a stream bed,
stared unblinking at the boy. The
older man waved his muscular right arm slowly to indicate the wide world
around them. “You will
experience much, my son, and these experiences will tell you who you
are. When a boy seeks to
discover who he is, he finds his spiritual family, his brothers.
And he finds his place in the universe around him.
“Your role is to observe
and learn. You will see
much. You will feel much.
Both here,” and the father lightly touched Kaiyoo’s forehead,
“and here.” At that, the
older man pressed the flat of his brown hand lightly against the boy’s
heart.
Kaiyoo looked up into his father’s stoic face.
“Will I find fear, father?
Do I need to take any weapons with me?”
The tribal council looked on, many hiding amused grins.
It was very typical of the young men to pose such questions.
“You will find only what you take with you,” Okasek said slowly.
“Be of open heart, my son.
Be of open mind. Be
of open spirit.”
From Book 1, Chapter 2:
... “Tommakee?
Would you tell me about the Nagual?” he asked after chewing the
sweet meats from a handful of nuts he’d found and roasted over the
coals.
The wayfarer stared long into the camp fire and then exhaled slowly.
When he looked up at the boy, his eyes sparkled, reflecting the
glowing embers.
“Well, that’s quite a story, you know.
Of course, the trick of it all is where to start.”
He thought for a few moments, then took a deep breath and began.
“I’m sure Wa-Kama of your village has already taught you about the
creation of the world.”
“Yes,” Kaiyoo said eagerly. “We
learn that tale when we are young. Besides
the story of ‘Fox and Hare’, that’s the first story I can ever
remember.”
Tommakee smiled. “Good.
Then you know that the Great Spirit first created the huehue
ichcapixqui, gods commonly
known as the ‘Ancient Shepherds’ back in the first age.”
“Yes, the Shepherds created all of nature,” Kaiyoo interrupted.
“As Wa-Kama taught us, every rock, every tree, every flower.”
“And every creature and beast, as well as man,” Tommakee added.
“And after that work was done, those ‘Ancient Shepherds’
created the Guardians to protect the world and keep the peace.”
“But then Wa-Kama said the god of the underworld became jealous,”
Kaiyoo stated. “He wanted
to take control of the world.”
“You are correct. Xoloctal,
the lord of darkness, corrupted the hearts of men and turned them to
evil deeds. It was through
this evil that Xoloctal was able to escape Mictlan,
the realm of darkness in the far northlands, and enter our world of
light.
“His escape was preceded by the advancing glaciers which had been
creeping south for hundreds of years.
This age of ice was the embodiment of his malice, his hatred for
the other gods and the warmth and light of creation.
The glaciers enabled Xoloctal’s spirit to slip between worlds.
But he couldn’t quite take a physical form.”
Kaiyoo interrupted with a question.
“Wa-Kama told us that the god of the underworld did not arrive
in human form. Then what did
he look like?”
Tommakee nodded at the inquisitiveness of the boy.
“In the first age, Xoloctal first appeared as a monstrous,
ghostly wolf that walked upright like a man.
In stature, he stood as tall as our own Guardians, and he would
soon have become equally as powerful.
Alone, he would have been easily defeated by the strength of the
many united Guardians.
“But Xoloctal was not alone.
“He had been amassing an army in secret.
His spirit, slipping through the thin fabric of the worlds,
touched the minds and hearts of many men.
Many bad men, whose hearts here already shaded by lust, greed,
and violence heard the call of the lord of darkness.”
“The men whom he corrupted,” whispered Kaiyoo.
“Yes,” Tommakee nodded. “They
were promised power and eternal life if they joined him.
They were given gold and precious jewels, and unlike the Good
People, Xoloctal’s servants coveted these.
Their lust for blood and destruction was fed by Xoloctal’s
greed.
“And Xoloctal imbued them with his evil powers, transforming them all
into the Nagual warriors, the dogs who walked as men.
Made in the image of their master, they formed a formidable army,
and many villages fell before their might.
From Book 1, Chapter 5:
...They two boys were roused
from their rest by the sound of many horns bellowing at the far eastern
end of Atolaco.
“What’s that?” Kaiyoo asked, interested in whatever was causing
such a commotion.
Below them the mob of people stopped their milling about and looked
toward to the east. The boys
could see nothing yet because of the leafy canopy below them which
shielded much beyond the crossroads they were watching.
Before long, the crowd began to press itself away from the center
of the wide trails, the people pointing at something coming their way.
Far above, the two boys still
couldn’t see through the thick greenery, so the crawled right up to
the edge of the cliff. Laying
on their bellies, they could see a little better, and that was just
enough for them to see the parade.
“Woa!” exclaimed Wayotel,
pointing down the trail. There
were really no words to describe what they saw.
Lumbering down the path was a
parade of Guardians! In the
very front strutted a herald of sorts, periodically blowing a long,
curved horn that produced the deep blasts they’d all heard earlier.
This man was dressed much like a Tonal with the feathered
headband and his body decorated in ornate, colorful stripes and
patterns.
The first mighty Nihuatl,
proudly strolling on all fours, was easily the size of Nahma, its
shoulder at twice the height of a man.
His fur was pure black, and his eyes and teeth, shown wide in a
smile, glistened white in sharp contrast.
His head slightly bounced from side to side, showing off a little
to the crowd that was now pressed well back out of the Guardian’s way.
Kaiyoo had no doubt this
first Nihuatl was the leader of these Guardians, as the next ones
followed him in suit. A
shaggy tan bear was second, followed by a dark brown one, and two with
identical brownish-tan hides, and then a pair of salt and pepper gray
and black fur. Following
these was a wide-bodied, chunky bear with gray almost-bluish fur.
All of them had the short snout and wide face to match Nahma’s.
Their ears twitched, and every once in a while one would give a
mighty snort which brought a cheer up from the assembled people.
The final four Guardians appeared younger and a little smaller
than their brethren who’d come first.
These were more lean, with bodies that seemed longer than the
bigger Nihuatl. They
didn’t look about, but only stared straight ahead, either oblivious to
the crowd or in disdain.
Each Guardian barely fit down
the path which was plenty wide for the humans but snug for a gigantic
bear. There were only a few
feet of space between their parade and the Good People who couldn’t
shrink much more against the lodges or the great tree trunks that
sprouted along the thoroughfare. But
the Good People stared in awe at the passing Nihuatl, some even waving
or cheering and hoisting the littlest children up onto their shoulders
to see better.
Wayotel and Kaiyoo’s eyes
were already wide in amazement, and every few seconds they’d look at
each other in understanding, though with no words spoken between them.
Behind the last of the
Guardians walked their Tonals, tall, proud, stern men who were as
decorated as the herald out front. Like
the last four Nihutal, these men stared straight forward, ignoring the
crowd.
“They’re putting on quite
a display,” Kaiyoo whispered, indicating the Tonals at the end.
“Yes, that’s
interesting,” Wayotel answered. “I
haven’t learned everything about the Tonals yet, but those here in the
Great Lodge, those who train me, they’re so friendly, so open to the
needs of anybody who asks for anything.
These Tonals, they’re…”
“They’re distant,”
finished Kaiyoo.
“Yes, that’s the word I
was thinking of. It’s like
they don’t belong with the commoners.
Like they’re above them or better than the Good People.”
“The Tonals you train with
aren’t like that, are they?”
“Oh no, not at all.
They talk to everyone, and they give small treats to the
children, and even though they appear stern, they smile all the time.
There’s something else different too.”
“What’s that?”
“They’ve taught me that
the Tonals often ride on the backs of their Guardians.
It is more a sign of fidelity and never disrespect.”
From Book 2, Chapter 1:
...“So
Agent Brock,” the Professor now turned his attention to the young man
riding shotgun. “How long have you been with the NSA?”
“Two months sir,” Brock replied turning his head back to face the
Professor. Travis might have his reasons for avoiding conversation with
the old man, but Brock had been taught from an early age to show
respect. That meant eye contact when conversing. He couldn’t help but
give a polite smile.
Professor Charles returned a kind, grandfatherly smile of his own.
“And I trust you are learning a lot from agent Travis?”
Agent Travis only stared ahead through the rain soaked windshield. He
wasn’t going to get into this.
“Oh, yes sir,” Brock answered. “I’m very fortunate to have such
a veteran partner.”
The old man nodded in agreement. “Yes indeed. And have you uncovered
any evidence yet?”
“Well, no, not exactly,” Brock stammered. Agent Travis had shot him
a sideways glance to let him know he was heading into dangerous waters.
No matter what level of clearance the Professor had with the agency, the
field agents were still sworn to secrecy about their research and
missions unless directed to answer by a superior.
“Agent Travis I am disappointed. I would have thought the kid might
have seen some action by now.”
Agent Brock squared his shoulders back to the front. Now he could feel
the weight of the conversation pressing him back into the seat. He had
to tread carefully here.
“Has agent Travis shared any stories with you yet?”
Brock answered concisely, “A few, sir.”
“Did he tell you that we worked together during his first encounter
with the Nagual?”
Agent Brock looked over at his partner, but Travis only continued to
stare out the window.
“Yes, it’s true,” the Professor said reminiscing, staring down at
his hands. “The year was
1967. Spring time – the
Mushroom Festival, as I recall. It
was a little west of Cadillac, though I can't quite remember the name of
the town.”
“It was called Hoxeyville,” agent Travis finally said after a long
pause.
“Ah, yes that was the name,” continued Professor Charles. “And we
were joined by that local. Let’s
see, what was his name? It was Wild Bill, right? Boy, we were both young
and naïve back then, weren’t we Agent?”
No answer from the driver’s seat. The only noises were the pounding of
the heavy raindrops and the slight squeak from the wipers.
Professor Charles went on, “And
unfortunately the Nagual was allowed to escape.” This comment finally
did draw a long stare in the rearview mirror from Agent Travis, though
his jaw remained locked. Agent Brock could tell a nerve had been hit.
“But we all learned a lot from that first
encounter,” the Professor smiled, “and now many years later so many
pieces of the puzzle are fitting together.”
From Book 2, Chapter 2:
...“I’m
assuming this was your second major discovery here?”
“Yes. Having the
opportunity to start matching up the glyphs we’ve unearthed in the
last 6 months to those already in existence in
North America
, the more exciting part is the connections we’re making between the
Mayans and the indigenous peoples north of the border.
“Look at this photograph,”
Bryan
then said, pulling an 11x14 glossy picture from a manila envelope and
pointing at several symbols. The
two visitors both leaned in closer over the table.
“These hieroglyphics here, here, and here.
The three come from a stone tablet we uncovered just a few weeks
ago.”
“I can’t quite make them out,” said the professor, squinting.
Bryan
explained, “They represent the three spiritual levels of creation.
These are mentioned in glyphs all over Meso-America. The first is
roughly translated as ‘great spirit’ or something to that extent.
Like God, it is the alpha, the omega, the big daddy, the one that
started it all. This second
one is a lesser god, a child of the ‘great spirit.’ These are like
the Algonquin concept of Manitou, you know, nature spirits.”
Professor Charles and Agent Travis looked blankly at the archaeologist,
waiting for more explanation.
“The Manitou are creation spirits of everything in nature, keeping
order and balance between rocks, trees, rivers, you name it.”
“Even people?”
Bryan
nodded enthusiastically. “Especially people.
There are many stories of these creation spirits keeping peace
between groups of people. They
are often credited with the spirit totems that indigenous peoples wore.
They were also the origin of the many brotherhoods of spirit
animals that young men joined following their vision quest.
That, by the way, is one connection the Mayans share with
cultures all over
North America
.”
“And this third glyph?” asked Agent Travis.
“These are the Guardians. They
are a god-like spirit that has come to the world in physical form.”
“1-2-3. Just like that?”
“Yes. We’ve see this
similar combination of glyphs all over, from South America up into the
southwestern
U.S.
Sure, they do change
slightly from area to area, from culture to culture.
But they are always the same.
1-2-3. There are even some of the glyphs, they’re in a whole
separate class you see, that denote specific characters or deities,”
Doctor Saussure said, flipping forward a few pages in the binder.
The two visitors just looked on in
anticipation.
“This one here,” the archaeologist said, tapping an image on the
page. Both Agent Travis and
Professor Charles were shocked to have recognized it immediately.
It was a carving of a canine that walked on
its hind legs.
“I was able to compare this glyph to
similar ones from the Aztec outside
Mexico City
and from the Michigamea Band of the Illinois Tribe that migrated from
the Great Lakes area to what is now
Arkansas
. They each have an image in
their writing that is eerily similar to this Mayan glyph.”
“Do you know what this symbol means, Doctor?” Professor Charles
asked cautiously.
“Well, not exactly. Not in
the ancient Mayan, anyway. And
there is no direct translation from the Illinois Indians.
But the Aztec do have a translation.
It was found on a temple in
Teotihuacan
. In Spanish, it is called
the ‘El Lobo Diablo,’ or the Devil Wolf.
I believe it is some sort of guardian spirit, though it doesn’t
appear in any of the older myths and legends we’ve translated.”
Bryan
pointed to several other images on the page.
“We’ve seen the great bear, the jaguar, the eagle.
They are all prominent in mythology.
But this wolf, especially walking like a man, I’ve never seen
him before. Or at least
he’s never been a part of the folklore in
Central America
. Maybe
North America
, at least that’s my theory.”
Agent Travis looked the younger man in the eyes.
“So you believe, through these glyphs, you’re currently
looking at remnant of a common ancestor of all these cultures?
You believe these new findings show the Maya are a direct
descendent of the culture that spawned all other indigenous cultures in
the
Americas
?”
The archaeologist was getting excited again.
“Maybe even all cultures throughout the world.
You see…”
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I hope you have enjoyed this
sneak preview of Shadow and Flame. Look for it in
bookstores and online this July.
It is the perfect gift for those who enjoy a good, scary campfire
story that has just the littlest bit of truth to it.
You can also find more
information, as well as updates on the Dogman legend and novels, on our
website. There are reports
of sightings and encounters, as well as a place for the kids to submit
their own fictional Dogman stories.
And we offer educational discounts for teachers and schools.
Check us out at:
http://www.dogman07.com
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