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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
“I hope you made plenty of fried bread,” Joe said to his mother a few hours later. The family had gathered in the kitchen for a quick breakfast before the Pow-Wow.
“We made five baskets to bring with us,” Violet said, “and we saved some just for you.” She pointed1 to the heavy cast-iron skillet where squares of bread dough3 were sizzling to a rich golden brown.
“May I try some?” Benny asked. With tongs4, Violet carefully lifted a square of bread out of the pan. Then she dipped it in powdered sugar and handed it to him on a napkin.
“Maybe you’d better take it with you, son,” Mr. Lightfeather said, glancing at his watch. “It’s getting late, and we don’t want to miss the opening ceremony.”
They quickly loaded the van, and Benny made a dash upstairs for his belt. He wanted to display it at the Pow-Wow, but he knew he’d never sell it. It meant too much to him.
When everyone was finally settled in the van, Benny realized that Jessie and Amy were wearing their buckskin dresses. “Wow, you’ve got real Navajo costumes,” he said admiringly.
“We call it regalia,” Amy corrected him gently. “Jessie and I will be dancing right after the Grand Entry.”
The area chosen for the Pow-Wow was in a clearing at the edge of the forest. Joe had explained to the Aldens that one special area was roped off in a circle. It was holy ground and had been blessed by the elders of the tribe. All the dancing and ceremonial rites5 would be held there.
Mr. Lightfeather parked the van in a field, and the children jumped out excitedly. “Look how many cars there are,” Amy said to Joe. “It looks like the whole town has turned out for the Pow-Wow.”
The Aldens helped the Lightfeathers set up a folding table and arrange the trays of traditional Navajo dishes — corn bread, chili6 fritters, and stuffed sweet peppers.
“We’d better hurry,” Mrs. Lightfeather said. “It’s almost time for the Grand Entry.” After making a final check of the table, everyone headed for the roped-off area, passing dozens of booths filled with Navajo jewelry7 and pottery8.
“Look, there’s Kinowok,” Henry pointed out. He spotted9 the elderly leader in full regalia, leading a group of men and women toward the circle.
“He’ll say the opening blessing10,” Joe explained. “Then we’ll have the inter-tribal dances.”
Jessie felt a little nervous when she heard the drumbeat, but Amy squeezed her hand reassuringly11. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “We’re the last ones on the schedule.”
“That gives me more time to worry,” Jessie whispered back.
Amy laughed. “Just enjoy watching the dancers. And when it’s our turn, forget the crowd and pretend you’re back in my room.”
The people bowed their heads for the blessing, and then four spirited young men performed the Snake Dance in the center of the ring. The drumbeat became faster as they advanced and retreated to the edge of the ropes.
“The Snake Dance is my favorite part of the Pow-Wow,” Joe confided12 to Henry.
“Why would anyone want to dance like a snake?” Benny asked.
“The snake is very important to us because he lives close to the ground,” Amy told him. “Whenever the soil is dry and parched13, he can send a message to the gods.” She smiled. “At least, that’s what our ancestors thought.”
The Aldens watched the dancing for over an hour, and then Jessie heard the Swan Dance being announced over a loudspeaker.
“That’s us,” Amy said, tugging14 at her arm. “Don’t forget your shawl,” she added as she ducked under the rope and into the ring.
She and Jessie stood perfectly15 still, waiting until the drum began beating a familiar rhythm. Then, right on cue, both girls swayed back and forth16, the fringe on their outfits17 floating on the crisp breeze. Jessie moved through the steps easily, and was so caught up in the music, she forgot to be nervous. When the song was over, she was startled by the burst of applause.
“You were great!” Amy whispered, as they rejoined the family.
“What’s next?” Benny said. He liked watching the dances, especially the ones with spears and shields, but he was hungry.
“How about an early lunch?” Mrs. Lightfeather suggested.
“C’mon,” Joe offered. “I’ll take you on a tour of the food booths.”
“Can we start over there? Whatever he’s making sure smells good.” Benny pointed to a man cooking over an open fire.
Joe looked over his shoulder and nodded. “That’s Bobbie Redbird from the Ute tribe. And you’ll never guess what he’s cooking — tortillas!”
“Let’s go!” Benny yelled, scampering18 away.
“Mom, would you like to walk around with Dad for a while?” Amy offered. She glanced at her friends. “Jessie and Violet and I can take care of our booth.”
“That would be nice,” Mrs. Lightfeather said, linking her arm through her husband’s. “We only get to see some of our friends once a year at the Pow-Wow.”
After lunch, all the children visited a craft booth, and Henry picked up a strange-looking object. It was a round wooden hoop19 with gauzy threads woven back and forth through the center. “What’s this?” he asked, puzzled.
“Oh, that’s a dream catcher,” Joe said. “We always kept one in our bedrooms when we were little.”
“But what’s it for?”
Joe grinned. “It lets the good dreams in and keeps the bad ones out.”
“I think I’ll buy one,” Benny said. “Then I’ll never get nightmares again.”
“Let’s all buy one,” Jessie suggested. She was looking over the selection when Kinowok and Michael Running Deer approached them. Jessie noticed that Michael was wearing a beaded necklace with his denim20 shirt.
“That was very fine dancing,” Kinowok said to Jessie. His brown eyes were twinkling as he solemnly shook hands with her. “I think you should become an honorary member of our tribe.”
“I told her she dances like a Navajo,” Amy said proudly.
“And you, Benny, are you enjoying the Pow-Wow?” Kinowok rested his hand on the young boy’s shoulder.
“I sure am!” Benny whirled around in a circle waving his dream catcher in the air. “Did you hear what happened last night?” he blurted21 out. “We had police cars and everything at the house. It was scary!”
“What happened?” Kinowok’s voice was serious, and Michael Running Deer stepped closer.
Henry briefly22 told them what had happened, and finished with a description of Ted2 Clark and Rita Neville being arrested.
“It’s just as I suspected,” Kinowok said. He leaned on his walking stick, and looked sad. “In their greed, they thought of the artifacts as treasure. They didn’t understand the real importance of them. They tried to steal a part of our history.”
“Then you think we’ve really discovered the ancient village?” Joe asked.
Kinowok nodded. “I feel very certain of it. I suspected Rita Neville was not trustworthy so when I knew you were getting close, I urged her to leave the reservation. If she had heeded23 my warning, she and Ted Clark both would be free now.”
“You warned her?” Amy asked.
“Of course — the note!” Violet said, suddenly understanding. “You must have written that note to Rita. She accused us of putting it under her door at the motel.”
Kinowok tapped his chest with his palm. “I did it. I wanted to give them one last chance to leave us alone.” He shrugged24. “But they ignored my plea, and now they must pay the price.”
“At least it’s all over now,” Henry said.
“That’s right,” Joe offered. “Tomorrow Mom and Dad are going to bring all the artifacts to the town council. Once the judge sees what we’ve found, he’ll protect the forest. Then someone can start a real excavation25 and find the lost village.”
“Unless the developer tries to fight it,” Amy said.
“I don’t think he will,” Henry said. “Not if he realizes what’s at stake.”
Kinowok looked at Michael Running Deer. “Is that true, my friend? You work for the developer. Will he leave quietly once he learns about the ancient village?”
Michael looked directly into the old man’s eyes. “I don’t know what will happen,” he said softly. “It’s not up to me.”
“I understand.” Kinowok patted him on the shoulder. “Some things are out of your hands.” He smiled at the children. “Tomorrow will be here soon enough. Let’s enjoy the rest of the Pow-Wow.”
The day passed quickly for the Aldens. Mrs. Lightfeather sold all of the baked goods she brought, and Joe sold half a dozen beaded belts. Both Benny and Henry had decided26 to keep the belts they had made.
It was late afternoon when the men performed the Spear and Shield Dance to close the Pow-Wow. Benny sat cross-legged on the ground and watched as two warriors27 in full regalia pretended to do battle in the center of the ring. At the end, one of them waved his spear and moved into a fast war dance as the drumbeats reached a climax28.
Then everyone held hands as they joined in a closing song, watching as the huge bonfire turned to embers.
“I’ll always remember this, won’t you?” Violet whispered to Jessie.
Jessie nodded, swaying to the music. She knew that she would never forget her Navajo friends and everything they had taught her.
收听单词发音 |
1
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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tongs
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| n.钳；夹子 | |
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rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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chili
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| n.辣椒 | |
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jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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pottery
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| n.陶器，陶器场 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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10
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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11
reassuringly
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| ad.安心，可靠 | |
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12
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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13
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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14
tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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15
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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16
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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17
outfits
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| n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 )；一套服装；集体；组织v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 ) | |
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scampering
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 ) | |
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19
hoop
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| n.（篮球）篮圈，篮 | |
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denim
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| n.斜纹棉布；斜纹棉布裤，牛仔裤 | |
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21
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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23
heeded
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 )；变平，使（某物）变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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25
excavation
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| n.挖掘，发掘；被挖掘之地 | |
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26
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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27
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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28
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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