“Can you tell us how this was all possible?” This question came from Lou. Anyone who knew her well would know what a hard time she was having being still.
“I can and I will.” He took a sip of beer. “Just don’t rush me.”
Journey felt odd. Clearly, Kota was not the man she’d thought him to be. He was more. Much more. She felt a little intimidated in his presence.
When he began to speak, his voice seemed fuller. The words seemed to echo from the beams and rafters above them. “The power lies in the mountain; it’s always been here. Mankind has the mistaken belief that they are the epitome of creation, the greatest example of what being alive could be. What we forget is that the earth is much older than we are. This mountain has existed since the earth was born. The very stones of the ground are the original inhabitants. They have survived and thrived since time came to be. One day, our race will rediscover a great truth. The rocks, the crystals – they are alive. They thrive. They reproduce. They take in energy and they expel energy. They are a source of power. This power can be utilized, but the rocks and crystals cannot be programmed – they must be petitioned.”
“Fascinating.” Lou scribbled down every word he uttered. “Oh.” She jumped a bit, then pulled the single page of the article out of her purse to wave around. “You’re quoted in this article.” She held it up to read the sentence. “This is cut off in mid-sentence, but you say something about…oh here it is! I will tell you the mystery of the man who vanished on Enchanted Rock…”
Kota nodded sagely. “There are many legends concerning the granite mountain. Many of them are true. The one I was referring to in that interview is the tale of a Spanish priest who fled through the canyons and boulder fields to escape a Tonkawa war party on his trail. As he ran for his life, hiding near the great granite walls of the dome – one of those rocks opened up and swallowed him whole.”
Journey and Lou visibly shivered.
“I guess that’s what happened to me,” Reno whispered. “The rock opened up and swallowed me.”
“Yes, but you were spit out on the other side and in the right place,” Kota observed dryly.
Leaning forward, Lou spoke in near reverence. “Tell us how it happened. Exactly how it happened.”
Kota looked a bit disgusted. “Divulging tribal secrets is unwise.” Squaring his shoulders, he gritted his teeth. “Nevertheless, I will do this to fulfil the Journeyman prophecy.” Apparently coming to peace with his decision, the old man began to speak. The three who were listening sat at the edge of their seats.
“As I said, the power has always been here in the mountain. The great rock itself is the source. The very ground vibrates with energy.”
“Ley lines. Portals. Vortices.” Lou whispered with bated breath. “How do you activate the energy?”
He pooched out his lips in a thoughtful manner. “The energy is always present, but the zenith is reached by the light of the full moon.”
“Of course.” Lou slapped the arm of her chair so hard the old man jumped. “Obvious!”
“Easy, girl. Easy.” His frown turned his face into a topographical map of his existence. “We are all very familiar with the power of the moon. The ebb and flow of the great waters is evidence of its strength. Yet, we foolishly assume the tides are the only place where the draw of the moon can be felt.
“So, the power of the granite mountain was activated by the moon.” Reno was trying to follow. “I still don’t see how it all worked as it did.”
Kota took his time, but he began to tell a story. “It’s odd, I know more about Ela’s powers and beliefs than I know about her as a person.”
His confession made Reno feel lucky. “I knew Ela well.”
“Well, you don’t know this. Now, listen to my words.” He folded his hands and begin to speak. “Ela could foresee it all. Today, in our culture, she would be said to multiverse. She can exist spiritually in more than one place. You see, Ela knew the tricksters, the imposters, would attack the Stanton children. She also knew you would lead them away. Ela foresaw how the tricksters would reveal themselves to you so you would know they were the ones responsible for the atrocities being blamed on our people. Ela could see the path into the canyon you were foreordained to take. Ela saw it all.” He held up one finger to get their attention. “If she hadn’t intervened, you would have taken that same path, the rock would’ve opened – but where or when you would have emerged is unknown.”
The three guests sat still, trying to absorb what they were being told.
“Ela could see beyond the veil. She knew the various paths that lay open before you. What she did was place her finger on the scale to direct your path to a place of hope.”
“How did she ensure which path I would take?” This soft question came from Reno as he relived in his mind those moments he had spent with Ela. “I remember her saying some cryptic things that day, but I don’t think that’s what did it.” He locked eyes with Kota. “It was the rawhide bag, wasn’t it? She put something powerful in the bag she gave to me.”
Kota dawdled his head back and forth. “That wasn’t all she did, but the medicine bag contained some items to keep you grounded. She sought to guide your path, to lend strength to your lodestone so the portal would open to this same
