Benny woke up after everyone else the next morning, and the aroma of sizzling bacon lured him downstairs. Mrs. Lightfeather smiled when she saw his rumpled hair and motioned him to a seat at the breakfast table.
“Don’t worry, Benny,” she assured him. “We saved plenty of hotcakes for you.”
“But eat fast,” Joe said, draining his glass of orange juice. “Dad’s already loading the artifacts into the truck. The council meeting starts in half an hour.”
The phone rang, and Mrs. Lightfeather hurried to answer it. After a brief conversation, she looked very happy and took Violet’s hand in hers. “I have a wonderful surprise for you, Violet. The police found your bowl. It’s going to be part of the evidence this morning.”
“They found my bowl?” Violet was thrilled. She knew she couldn’t keep it, but she was glad it would help prove their case.
“Rita Neville had it stashed away in her motel room. It’s in perfect condition, and one of the elders says it looks like it was made a long time ago. It’s priceless.”
“Are they going to look at my arrowheads?” Benny asked.
“Sure they are,” Joe told him. “And they may even let you keep one, right, Mom?”
“Maybe,” Mrs. Lightfeather answered. “That’s for the elders to decide.”
“Is this going to be like a real trial?” Violet asked. She felt a little nervous and wondered if she would have to tell her story in front of a room full of people.
“No, it’s more like a hearing. All the elders will be there, and they’ve invited a local judge to attend. He’s the only one who can order the developer to stop.”
“The site will be preserved,” said Amy.
“If he agrees it’s worth saving,” Henry said.
“Everybody ready?” Mr. Lightfeather suddenly appeared in the doorway.
“We’re on our way!” Benny grabbed a piece of bacon and scooted off his chair. He hoped he could show off his arrowheads.
The council meeting was held in the main lodge. Dozens of people were already seated in the large, airy hall when the Aldens trooped in with the Lightfeathers.
Mr. Lightfeather and the others carefully placed the artifacts on a long wooden table in the front of the room. As soon as they were finished, Kinowok rapped his gavel and called the meeting to order. Joe noticed that a gray-haired woman in a dark suit was standing next to Kinowok at the podium.
“Please be seated,” he said, pointing to a row of folding chairs. “I’d like the Aldens and the Lightfeathers to sit up front, so they can testify, if need be.”
Kinowok waited until everyone had sat down, and then introduced his guest. “This is Judge Tompkins, from Superior Court,” he said. There was a low murmur of approval from the crowd when the gray-haired woman nodded. “I think most of you know her, and know that she is a fair woman. She is here today to hear our story, to see our evidence, and to decide the fate of our forest.” Kinowok paused. I turn this meeting over to the judge.” He handed the gavel to Judge Tompkins and took his seat with the tribal elders.
“What happens now?” Benny whispered to Amy.
“I guess we’ll have a chance to tell her about the artifacts — ” she began, when a noise at the back of the room distracted her.
“Look who’s here!” Violet said in a low voice. She watched in surprise as Michael Running Deer walked swiftly up the center aisle and took a seat in the front row. “I wonder why he showed up?”
“Probably to hurt our case,” Amy said glumly. “Don’t forget, he works for the developer.”
“I’d like to start by examining the evidence,” Judge Tompkins said. She motioned to Mr. Lightfeather. “Please hold up the items one at a time.” She smiled at the six children in the front row. “I understand that you found all of these items in the forest that borders the reservation?”
“We sure did!” Benny blurted out. “We dug up every single one of them. I found the arrowheads,” he added proudly, and a ripple of laughter went through the room.
“Kinowok tells me that this is strong evidence that a village once existed on the site,” the judge said. “It’s very fortunate that you found these objects.”
After all the artifacts had been described and examined, the tribal elders met privately with the judge in a small anteroom.
“What do you think they’ll decide?” Henry asked Mr. Lightfeather.
“I think Judge Tompkins was impressed, but you never know how these things will go,” Mr. Lightfeather told him. “After all, the developer will tell his side of the story. If he builds homes on the site, it will bring a lot of new jobs into the area.”
“Sssh, they’re coming back,” said Mrs. Lightfeather.
“The elders are smiling,” Joe said. “Do you think that’s good news?”
“I hope so,” his mother answered.
Judge Tompkins returned to the podium and looked over the crowd. “I’ve seen some very convincing evidence this morning, and there isn’t much doubt that the forest is an important site. Is it worth preserving, worth protecting? According to my young friends” — she gestured to the six children— “the answer is yes. But I must be fair. I must consider all sides of the issue.”
Judge Tompkins adjusted her glasses and looked over a document in front of her on the podium. “And so in the interest of fairness, I had to ask myself a very important question: Is it important for the Navajo people to know how their ancestors lived? How they hunted, and gathered food, and played with their children?” She paused, and then folded her hands. “The answer is yes. It is very important that this knowledge not be lost for all time. The ancient village — if it really exists — could answer many of these questions. The village must be saved!”
A gasp went up from the audience, and Benny was so excited he almost jumped out of his chair. Judge Tompkins rapped the gavel to restore order. “I am hereby declaring the forest an historic site. It is protected by law from development, and you may continue your excavations.” She turned over the gavel to Kinowok. “Good luck,” she said to the old man. “Let me know when you find the village and I will celebrate with you.”
Kinowok took his place in front of the podium. “I thank all of you for coming today,” he said, his voice strong. “And I thank our new friends, the Aldens, for their help. You have added much to our lives, and you have our friendship. The council meeting is over.”
“Is that it?” Violet asked. The elders left the lodge first, and then everyone began filing down the center aisle.
“Not quite,” Joe said. “Michael Running Deer is heading straight for us!”
“I wonder what he wants?” Amy said.
The Lightfeathers and the Aldens had just reached the door when Michael Running Deer intercepted them. He stood in front of them, barring their way. “Wait a minute, please,” he said. “I need to talk to you.”
“If you want to ruin the forest, it’s too late,” Joe said. “We won. You’ll have to build your vacation homes someplace else.”
Michael looked embarrassed. “No, that’s not what I want to say at all. I don’t work for the developer anymore.”
“You don’t? What happened?” Mrs. Light-feather looked surprised.
He shrugged. “I’m a full-blooded Navajo, just like you, and I suddenly realized that I couldn’t hurt my own people.” He looked at the children. “When I saw all of you working at the dig, it reminded me of a dream I had. I wanted to be an archaeologist once. I even studied archaeology in college, but then I got sidetracked.” He held open the front door, and they all stepped out into the bright sunlight. “Now I see that I can still go after my dream. I’m going to help with the dig.”
“Michael’s decision was certainly a surprise,” Mrs. Lightfeather said later when they were in their truck, heading home.
“A nice one!” Amy said with a laugh.
“What happens now?” Henry asked.
Mrs. Lightfeather glanced at her watch. “We just have time to have a quick lunch at home before your grandfather comes to pick you up.”
Grandfather! Violet thought. She was looking forward so much to seeing him, but she knew she would miss the Lightfeathers. Amy and Joe promised to write and tell her what was happening at the dig, but it wouldn’t be the same as being there.
It was early afternoon when a taxi pulled into the Lightfeathers’ driveway and Grandfather got out.
“Grandfather’s here!” Violet cried, running to meet him.
“It’s been a long two weeks without you, children,” he said, hugging each of the Aldens in turn.
“We missed you, too, Grandfather,” Jessie said. “But so much has happened!”
“You’ll have to tell me all about it on the plane,” Grandfather said. “We just have time to get to the airport.”
Violet and Amy looked at each other. “How can we say good-bye?” Violet said, giving her a hug.
“We’ll keep in touch. We’ll write lots of letters,” Amy promised.
“Thanks for taking care of the children,” Grandfather said to the Lightfeathers. “I know it was a wonderful experience for them.”
“It was quite an experience for us!” Mrs. Lightfeather said, smiling. “In fact, I’d say it was absolutely amazing.”
“Really?” Grandfather looked puzzled. “Did something interesting happen here?”
The Aldens and the Lightfeathers laughed. “Interesting? Just wait until you hear the whole story!” Benny said. |