Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Continued from last week.

So they brought her down to the surface of the water. And as they were flying past the animals that were on the water there, they asked that maybe they could find some place that they could set this woman down on , as she was beginning to get heavy for the geese. So the animals gathered them selves together in a council. And they asked for volunteers. Maybe somebody can float up on tip of the water, and this woman could stand on their back. So, they say, right away they had a volunteer. He put up his hand, it was the beaver. And they say the beaver is kind of an arrogant water being, but he thinks he’s the best suited for this job. He’s bug and he’s strong and he has this big powerful tail, so he’s pretty sure he’s the one for this job. So they all agree, they’ll let the beaver try this.

So he floats up on the water. And the goose some by with the woman on their backs and they go as slow as they can. And the woman, she steps off and onto the back of the beaver. And then all of the animals go about their business. They think everything’s okay. And they start doing all of their work again. Pretty soon they look over and they see the beaver’s having a real hard time staying afloat. He’s kind of going up and own in the water, trying to stay up on top. But he won’t ask for help, they say, that’s how stubborn he is. So they kinda let him go a little bit, and struggle along, before they go over and ask him if he would like to be relieved. And of course, right way he says that yeah, well maybe he should take a little bit of a rest.

So again the animals gather and they have their council and they ask about somebody else to take over for the beaver. And they say that the turtle was on his way over and that maybe they would ask him when he gets there, because he doesn’t really seem to go very far, or do too much. And they would ask him if he would like to do that job. So they all agree, they’ll wait until the turtle gets there and they’ll ask him. SO the beaver’s still struggling away, trying to keep the woman afloat. And when the turtle gets there, they asked him. And he agrees. He says he would very much like to do this job; it would be an honor for him. So he floats up beside the beaver, and the woman steps from the beaver over onto the back of the turtle. And the beaver slaps the water with his tail and down he goes, he’s gone.

And everybody, again all of the animals, go back to their business and doing all of the things they have to do. And after a while they notice, they look over at the woman, and the turtle is staying afloat, he’s having no problem, but the woman’s very uncomfortable. She’s pregnant. And she’s very uncomfortable from that. Also, she’s on the back of this turtle. And it’s very hard, and cold, and she can’t get comfortable on it. So again, the animals get together.

And they have their council to see what they can do to try and help this woman feel more comfortable. So they remember a story that was padded on by their elders about some brown stuff that was on the bottom of the ocean. And, they say, it’s supposed to be soft.

So they thought they would ask for volunteers and have somebody dive down to the bottom and get some of this brown stuff. So maybe the woman could sit on it and be more comfortable. So again they ask for volunteers. And, they say, “Guess who’s back?” And of course, right away puts up his hand; it’s the beaver again, he thinks he’s the best one for this job. He’s very strong. He’s a big animal and has a big powerful flat tail. So again they all kind of look at each other, and then they agree, okay, he’ll be the first one to try this dive.

Continued next week.