A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 42

Sonny Ray had spent the last hour talking to his wife and his daughter. He assured them he would be home in the next day or two. Dwayne had called earlier from Nadia’s office to ask him to bring some additional items he had forgotten. After securing the front door, Sonny Ray walked out back to gather the remaining gear they would need for tonight. Sonny Ray looked upward into the clear evening sky as the stars shone brightly upon the San Fransico Peaks of Antelope Springs.

Sonny Ray scanned the other side of the ravine that was adjacent to Dwayne’s home. He noticed an immense ponderosa pine jutting upward over all the other trees in the surrounding area.

Sonny Ray continued to search into the fading light, when he finally saw the transcendant black eagle.

The outline of this otherworldly emissary was unmistakable.

It sat perched on a rock formation quietly observing Sonny Ray from veiled shadow.

The stately black eagle leapt from the massive boulder. It began circling over the prominent ponderosa pine, as it slowly descended ever closer to the tree. Where Sonny Ray stood, it appeared that this imposing black eagle was hovering, but with very little wing movement. How was this possible? Without forewarning a deafening bolt of lightning struck the large ponderosa tree.

The thunder-stroke was resonant, which caused Sonny Ray to involuntarily turn away.
With ears ringing, he turned back toward the ravine. The orange and yellow flames at the top of the tree burned brightly, and could be seen for miles.

The black eagle continued to effortlessly turn its wings; hovering now within inches above the flaming tree.
The under belly of this winged creature appeared to be afire; but as the black eagle continued to remain suspended above the burning ponderosa, it became apparent that it was unaffected by the elements of the natural world. The black eagle then ceased to flap its pinions, as it tucked its wings, and dove downward. An intermittent trail of incandescent vapor appeared briefly as the black eagle seemingly dematerialized into thin air. After gathering himself, Sonny Ray slowly walked to the truck, pausing to search the darkened skies.

Sonny Ray had drove a few miles down the road when he decided he would test out his theory. He pulled over to the shoulder of the two lane highway. He looked out his side mirrors, then he looked into the rear view mirror. He stared at himself for a few moments, his breathing labored now. He closed his eyes. He continued to sit quietly as his breathing slowly began to stabilize. Then a slight glint of something. He gripped the steering wheel, his face buried between his hands. His face was dampened in sweat. With his eyes closed still, he could now see the incandescent vapor trail of the Black Eagle Dream in his mind. Sonny Ray slowly brought his head up from the steering wheel, and reluctantly opened his eyes. He looked around, finally sticking his head out of the drivers side window.

Sonny Ray began to understand that he was not having a mental breakdown, or was imagining anything. He felt a sense of relief, and perhaps a small measure of acceptance of the things he had heard and observed.

He now began to grasp some of the things Cyrus had related to him before his death. Sonny Ray was shaking with excitement. Sonny Ray had made the connection with the Black Eagle Dream. Cyrus had told him that this would happen. There was no going back to the life he had once led.

No, not ever.

There was a knock on the front door. Dwayne stood quickly. Nadia and Natalia followed him with their eyes. Dwayne looked through the mini blinds. “It’s FedEx,” Dwayne said, relieved. Both young women relaxed, as they continued to field and make several phone calls.

Dwayne signed for the packages. After thanking Monico, his usual delivery guy, he closed the door and bolted it. “Hey Dwayne, what did you buy now?” Natalia asked with a lilt of humor in her voice. Dwayne who was headed to the back door to put the two packages in the backseat of his vehicle; turned and said, “Oh this is some guy stuff you know,” Dwayne said, shrugging his shoulders. “Whatever Dwayne,” the two women said in unison. They all laughed.

He stood looking out into the star filled skies. He was feeling exuberant, yet he had to stifle his emotions. Dwayne could not open his packages here, in the presence of his two friends. It would have to wait.

After all, what would they think if they discovered he had purchased a handgun, a weapon that would be used to shoot Sonny Ray with?

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