A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 27

Sonny Ray sat at the little dinette table trying to make sense of the last week or so. The thought of being a marlin flashed through his mind, hooked but still fighting to get away. Sonny Ray dove deeply into the ocean of his memory, shaking left, then right trying his best to arrange, rearrange, analyze and recall the entirety of his life, or the way he thought it was, up until about a week ago.

Like the marlin, every so often he would come up out of the water trying desperately, instinctively, to shake loose the one thing that reeled him ever closer to the boat. For Sonny Ray, the boat symbolized the terror filled memories of his childhood.

The sound of the screen door opening broke the line, and for the time being Sonny Ray was free.

Dwayne pulled the screen door shut, and walked into the kitchen. “Morning,” Sonny Ray offered. Dwayne nodded, somber as he poured some coffee. “So where is Cyrus?” Sonny Ray asked, trying to sound casual like he had known the old man his whole life. “Cyrus is not doing too well today,” Dwayne replied. “What do you mean?” Dwayne paused. He was about to say out loud what he had attempted to push from his thoughts for the last two months.

“Sonny Ray, Cyrus is dying.”

Sonny Ray heard the words but his mind was sufficiently obligated. “I didn’t want to drop this on you until you and Cyrus talked first, but, he’s looking pretty rough today.” Sonny Ray sat staring at his coffee swirling in his cup. He put down his spoon, and looked up at Dwayne. “So what does he want from me?” Sonny Ray asked plainly.

“He wants you to claim responsibility for the black eagle,” Dwayne said straight away.

“Did I miss something? Black eagle? Oh I get it. Are you talking about that gigantic black whatever it was that was sitting on the windowsill the other day?” Dwayne nodded, knowing how it must have sounded. “Does he want me to feed it or something? Well if that’s the favor, sure why not.”

Sonny Ray was rambling. He was beginning to feel like a retread on a tractor trailer tire that had just blown out. He was disintegrating, leaving shards of his brittle and rubber like emotions; up and down the highway of his mind.

Sonny Ray sat alone, quietly drinking another cup of coffee. Dwayne had walked out back to the hogan to give the old man some coffee, and a piece of toast so he could take his medication.
As little Raye lay sleeping, Nikko slipped out of bed. After putting on her robe and slippers she found her way to the kitchen. “Hey,” she offered. “Morning sweetie, how’d you sleep?” “Really good Sonny Ray, and you?”

“So, so.”

After pouring a cup of coffee Nikko sat down across from Sonny Ray at the little table. “I think it would be best if Raye and I flew back to Vegas. I have to be back to work not to mention my American Literature final is on Friday.” Sonny Ray did not immediately respond.
“I just think you should stay and give Dwayne a hand with Cyrus.” Sonny Ray leaned over the table and kissed his wife slowly on the lips. After breakfast Nikko would book a flight. Sonny Ray would talk to Dwayne about getting his family to the Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. Nikko and Sonny Ray talked for a bit.

Nikko related her walk with Cyrus, and how she first saw the black eagle. She also related to her husband about seeing the large eagle when she and little Raye had left the Tucson Mall, the day before the funeral.

What really freaked her out was the dream that Cyrus had related to them; the details about their trip to the mall before they had even met him.

Lastly, she related Cyrus’ last wish to have his ashes spread near Shiprock Mountain, New Mexico. Even though Nikko had some reservations about the situation as a whole, considering everything that had transpired, she felt it was important that her husband should help Dwayne get Cyrus where he needed to go.

It was going to be a busy day. Dwayne cleared the breakfast dishes from the table before heading out to pick up a few things for the trip.

Cyrus stood up from the table. He motioned to Sonny Ray with his eyes. Cyrus lead them down a narrow trail that opened into a small field that had an ample supply of wild grass that the deer would come to feed upon.

He had Sonny Ray stand in the widest section of the field. as Cyrus walked another fifty feet further into the clearing facing his son. Cyrus placed his large falconry glove onto his left hand. Cyrus began to call to his companion. Cyrus made a variety of sounds. Sonny Ray stood keenly watching the old man, while scanning the tree line.

The black eagle had heard Cyrus calling, and glided silently over the whispering ponderosa pines. After locating Cyrus the large predator began its descent. Sonny Ray had to smile. The black eagle landed without fanfare, as this was old hat to Cyrus and his winged companion. As it feasted on elk meat Cyrus stroked the eagle gently, speaking to it in low inaudible sounds.

Without warning Cyrus pushed the black eagle upward, causing it to instinctively take to flight. Cyrus took off his falconry glove, perhaps for the last time. He motioned Sonny Ray over. “Put this on.” Sonny Ray complied. Cyrus turned the young man in the direction he should stand. “You stand still. I will call to it from behind you. Keep your hand up, it will come.”

The old man spoke with a reassuring tone. Sonny Ray nodded. The young man tried to pretend he was relaxed, but he wasn’t. Sonny Ray spotted the large eagle perched in a tree. Sonny Ray half way hoped it wouldn’t come. Cyrus began to call.

For what seemed like an eternity, the black eagle sat, unmoved by the familial calls. It’s attention was divided.

Initially to the old man who called but did not wear the aged glove. The black eagle shifted its attention to the young man who now wore the falconry glove. Cyrus called out again. The large bird leapt from its perch, and began a slow circular observation of the two men.

As it originated from a higher realm above mankind; it had ascertained that their blood flowed from the same stream.

Sonny Ray admired the smooth fluid motion of this silent predator. It flew in the direction of Cyrus, preparing to land. As the black eagle prepared to land, it could not see the familiar glove.

For the first time ever, Cyrus waved off his old friend.

The black eagle turned and circled back again, screeching loudly in confused response.

This scene was repeated several times. Finally, it circled once more, and began its descent in the direction of Sonny Ray.

It was at eye level now, bearing down on Sonny Ray. He held his gloved hand chest high. The black eagle dropped its landing gear. The large yellow claws seemed hungry for the weathered glove. It was twenty feet away and closing fast. Sonny Ray tried not to, but began to squint just a little.

The large black eagle appeared to defy gravity, as it landed swiftly but firmly onto the gloved hand of this young Hawaiian. The transference of kinetic energy that was exchanged between these two beings surged back and forth as it successfully paired their two worlds as one.

Sonny Ray was not sure what just had occurred, his face felt frozen in amazement. He could feel the strength of the black eagle; from the tip of its claws to the aquiline point of its beak. Sonny Ray slowly made eye contact with the unmoving but curious black eagle.

The large eyes of the eagle were watching, searching. The old man walked up to Sonny Ray slowly. Cyrus began to chuckle. “Scared yeah?” Sonny Ray nodded sheepishly.

“In time you will be more afraid without him than you are right now with him.”

Sonny Ray was all over the board now emotionally, and didn’t have the courage to ask the old man what he meant.

Cyrus stood quietly looking at this heavenly creature sitting on the hand of his son. Sonny Ray thought he detected hurt in the old man’s eyes.

“This eagle will always belong to you,” Sonny Ray said, at a loss for words.

The old man smiled slightly, shaking his head.

“No my son, you are mistaken. The Black Eagle Dream belongs to the Creator.

Now today, you have been properly introduced. You must be sensitive to its leading, for it is to you that it will come now, all the days that you walk upon the earth.”

The two men walked back slowly to the house. Dwayne continued to load the truck with various supplies, as the three men would soon depart for Shiprock Mountain, on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.

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