“That depends on you, my friend,” Edwardo winked.
“Thank you again, Jonea. I will try to do be worthy of the eagle totem.
Kris wandered over to the fire to see how the feast was coming. “What can I do to help?”
“Relax and put your feet up. You are now the guest of honor,” Edwardo told him.
Kris wasn’t comfortable watching other people work while he sat idle. As the hours passed, they ate and sang loudly at the fire. Kris danced with the children and showed them to follow the leader. He made whole-body gestures, raising one foot high in the air while doing jazz hands above his head. He stood tall and began to shimmy, teaching the children to do the same. They tried and laughed.
That night, Kris slept more soundly than he had in years, as if he’d arrived home after a long trip. A feeling of familiarity seeped in through his pillow and bed.
Chapter 4
“We must go, Kris. Something is wrong. I can feel it in my bones. I’m glad we came here first … Ready to meet some new friends?”
“Of course,” Kris said. Sammy and Jonea brought him his packed bag. “Thank you so much,” Kris said.
“I look forward to hearing your tales next time we cross paths,” Jonea said.
“Of course,” Kris said, tipping his hat.
He climbed into Edwardo’s Jeep, and the two were off across the desert, leaving behind days of food and a feint trail of tire tracks.
“It is ancient, where we’re going,” Edwardo said. “An incredibly old village. Part of it is so old it is ruins.”
They arrived at the village made of earth and stone. Kris saw a central courtyard and interesting stone paths.
“I must go,” Edwardo said. “Have a look around. There is a restaurant in the square. I must speak with the leader.”
The two men got out of the Jeep. Kris grabbed his bag, and Edwardo went down the hill to a neighborhood.
Kris walked into the town square. The courtyard was empty. He examined the geometric design accented in a shimmery mica inlay. It flashed brightly in his eyes and a woman faced him. She had large green eyes and long brown hair. He smiled at her and stood.
“I have waited for you, Kris Campbell,” she said. He turned and saw her green eyes flash in the light.
“For me? Are you a friend of Edwardo’s?”
She sang in a low tone. Kris immediately felt transported by the song.
“Time travelers from another world must prepare to reset the land. To realign the present with the past,” she sang. “You have known this in your past.”
As she sang, her voice felt as light as a feather, as if it were stroking Kris’s cheeks.
Her energy was both unfamiliar and as comfortable as last night’s rest.
“Please come with me,” she said.
She gestured to follow her, and he nodded in a trance, aware of nothing but her presence.
She led him down a long staircase that wended through the village. The stairs were covered in geometric patterns. At the bottom, she led him out of the village altogether. They crossed the cobblestone road past the outer gate of the village and across to a large grassy knoll. At the top, she turned and faced Kris.
In a high-pitched voice, she once again sang. “The time travelers must become prepared.” Then she looked Kris directly in the eye and took his hand. “Please protect the ancient people,” she said. Kris nodded although he felt certain he could do no such thing.
She took him by the hand and led him to the old city, an ancient ruin. He recognized signs of an archaeological site before him. As he entered the space, he could see that part of the village was still buried, but rooms were excavated and livable. He saw a large circular carving on the wall. Line drawings showed people doing things like shooting arrows and hunting game. Other symbols looked like a written language.
He looked to the woman for guidance. Her deep-green eyes flashed again. Then she reached into the pocket of her flowing gown and placed her hand into Kris’s, leaving a small ancient figure carved from bone. It was a toy any child would love. He bowed to show his appreciation.
She held her finger to her lips, then walked across to the large circular design carved into the cliff. She gestured again and Kris tipped his hat. She pointed to the circular carving in the wall. The mural told the story of villagers in different times. As he met her eyes, she raised a small crystal in her hand. Kris saw a bright flash, and the woman with the deep-green eyes vanished.
Kris stared in disbelief and suddenly came out of the trance he had been in. Didn’t I have a conversation with a woman? He looked around and wasn’t sure where he was.
Wait, Kris thought. He pulled the small toy out of his pocket to examine it once again. Kris ran across the site to take a closer look and see if there were footprints. He turned around in dismay, certain he’d lost his mind. In the far corner, near the entrance, he saw a man hidden in the shadows, working at a makeshift desk. Kris, desperate to understand what was happening, walked across to the man.
“Hello,” Kris said as he walked up to the man writing.
“I’m Jim. Glad you made it out here. Very few people do. This mystery can be solved, I’m certain.”
“What mystery?”
“The people who lived here were so advanced, but the tools they had were so simple. It’s hard to understand how they were able to do so much … I’m sorry … I do that when I haven’t spoken to anyone for a long time—go on and on about whatever is on my mind.”
“No. Please. I’d love to hear what you have learned. I came with a friend. He was in a hurry to see someone. I met a woman in the square, with big green eyes and dark
