Black Eagle Dream

Black Eagle Dream

April 23rd, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 41

It was about one thirty am when the two weary men arrived back into town. They put away the last of their camping gear, and drained all the water out of the over sized cooler. Dwayne had left a message on Nadia’s answering machine to let her know they got back okay. Dwayne headed to his room for a hot shower.

Sonny Ray rummaged through the refrigerator looking for something marginally edible to eat. In the morning they would need to go do a grocery run. Before long Dwayne appeared in the kitchen. Sonny Ray had nodded off in the kitchen chair. Sonny Ray’s face twitched as he slept.

Dwayne lightly shook his shoulder. Sonny Ray opened his eyes, and looked around, trying to orient himself. Sonny Ray finally stood up and headed down the hallway for a much needed shower. Later, after saying goodnight Sonny Ray left out the back door to the hogan. After Sonny Ray laid out his bedroll he started a fire.

He looked over at a bench and noticed an old pillow. It didn’t have a pillow case, but Sonny Ray was not in a position to be so choosy. It was left there by Cyrus prior to going to Shiprock Mountain.

It was grey with the dark blue stripes. It was an old style goose feather pillow.

Sonny Ray hadn’t seen one like this in years. It was a warm night so Sonny Ray dispensed with his clothes. After laying down he tossed and turned for a bit, as his ribs were causing him some discomfort.

He fluffed up the pillow, and closed his eyes. After a few minutes he felt something tickling his nose. He reached up and located a small goose feather on the bridge of his nose. After fluffing his pillow once again Sonny Ray drifted off into a long and sleep deprived slumber.

Later that night Sonny Ray felt a cool breeze blowing across his face and chest. He reached for his blanket, and immediately felt another damn goose feather on his forehead. He reached for it in the dark, but could not seem to locate it. Sonny Ray opened his eyes. He looked around slowly as a feeling of queasiness came over him. He then realized he was longer in the hogan.

As a matter of fact he wasn’t even on solid ground. Sonny Ray slowly started to smile. He didn’t know how Dwayne had pulled this off, but he had to admit this was a good gag. “Okay Dwayne, come on out, you got me good cuz. You are the man!” Sonny Ray roared. He waited. He slowly looked around, as it dawned on him something was not right. Sonny Ray looked down. His mouth gaped wide in shock, as he realized this was no joke. He was not the victim of his new friends prank.
Sonny Ray sat akwardly upon huge plumes of black and white feathers.

He felt himself slipping to one side. Without warning the black eagle dream turned its head, exposing its frisbee sized eye.

The black eagle looked right through Sonny Ray. He was naked and he was hungry.

He grabbed on tightly to the feathers of the eagle as the large predator banked gradually, heading west. Sonny Ray looked down as the San Francisco Peaks seemed to fade quickly from his sight. A cool breeze blew through his long hair.

Sonny Ray wished he had his clothes. He lay curled up in a ball, finally getting under the plumes of black and white feathers. The giant black eagle flapped his wings in a powerful rhythm. The black eagle continued to fly relentlessly for hours.

Sonny Ray could now see the Las Vegas strip.

He wondered if the black eagle would let him off so he could talk to his family.

He made a weak attempt to steer the eagle but to no avail, as Las Vegas began to fade away into the darkness. In time they approached the city of Los Angeles.

It was incipient to Sonny Ray that the black eagle had a plan, a destination.

It continued to flap its mighty black wings. Sonny Ray could see the coastline end, and the Pacific Ocean begin. It was a cloudy night, which caused the moon to play hide and seek with the apprehensive Sonny Ray.

The stars shined bright as the black eagle continued on over this ocean highway. They flew into the night as Sonny Ray pretended not to be afraid. Looking down, he could see the tails of giant blue whales. They soon distanced themselves from these gentle giants of the sea. The black eagle began to slowly drop in altitude. Sonny Ray’s eyes were heavy with sleep. He gently leaned forward, and soon fell fast asleep on the black eagle.

He dreamed of his family, his dad, and of Cyrus.

He dreamed of Altair Ali.

His life was in review or so it seemed as he sat upon the shoulders of the black eagle dream. He contemplated things that had slipped through his hands, like time. Like his life. The black eagle cried out, jolting Sonny Ray into an attentive state. Sonny Ray sat up straight, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The sun was shining, causing him to squint. The large black eagle made an unannounced dive, which caused a funny feeling in his stomach. As they continued to drop in altitude, a warm, knowing smile came across his face.

He was home.

The outline of the Hawaiian islands stood majestically in the middle of the sea.

The black eagle dream began to circle the big island. It began to dawn on Sonny Ray that something was amiss with this.

For one, it was less inhabited. There was no Parker Ranch shopping mall. There was no Sure Save grocery store. The new gas station on the corner stood alone in this small ranching community. However, it was the vehicles that really arrested his attention. He wondered if they were filming a period type film, or perhaps a classic car show was in Waimea town.

There was nothing but classic cars on the road.

The black eagle made slow sweeping turns, seemingly to give him the opportunity to observe the activity below. As he continued to watch, the black eagle dropped lower from the sky. Then he saw it. It was his grandparents house. The ranch provided all employees a home.
His grandma’s house looked relatively new. He saw brown skinned men on horseback, moving cattle from one paddock to another. The black eagle flew over the ranch house again. Sonny Ray saw a commotion near the back porch, near to the fudo house. The eagle circled once more, and gently landed. Sonny Ray didn’t understand how the tree could support the weight of the giant eagle. It had landed on a large banyan tree, not too far from the river that flowed from the mountains, to the sea. He had a birds eye view of his grandparents home.

Sonny Ray then saw a dark thickset man with wavy black hair stumbling around in the back yard. He was yelling, but Sonny Ray could not make out what he was saying. The blood drained from his face as he realized this man, the dark skinned hawaiian man, was his grandfather. It was then that Sonny Ray understood where he really was.

The Black Eagle Dream had returned him to the past. To his mother’s time.

Sonny Ray had chicken skin, as he watched an old family story come to life before his very eyes.

Sonny Ray was in Hawai’i during the 1940’s.

His grandmother, stood quietly praying. Sonny Ray began to discern that the small children were in fact, his aunties and uncles. He then recognized his mother. She was small, and petite. She stood there frozen in sheer terror. All of them did. Their father, after a long day of working on the ranch had went and got pissy drunk.

His association with alcohol was in its infancy phase. Much like a child who had been given sugar for the first time. Sonny Ray’s grandfather was a hard working hawaiian man whose reputation with training horses was legendary in the small tight knit ranching community of his era, and beyond.

However, when he drank, he was just hard, and mean. The drunken man stumbled up the two stepped porch, nearly falling into the small wooden screen door. Sonny Ray saw his mother. She was the baby of this large hawaiian family, and she now stood clinging to her mother. She was sobbing uncontrollably.

Sweety, as she was known then was terrified of her father when he had been drinking.

Sonny Ray saw his uncle Walter. He too was afraid, but was not going to let it show. He was young, but he was brave. Sonny Ray sat helpless atop the black eagle. His grandfather had emerged from the house, stumbling down the steps once again.

He had an old action lever rifle in his hand. He used it to hunt, and to put a horse down on occasion. Today however, he informed his family that he wanted to do some target practice; and they would be the targets. He had made them line up side by side in the grassy opening near the large hand stacked lava rock wall. They all stood quietly, as the drunken man continued to stumble around the yard speaking an unintelligible combination of both hawaiian and pidgin english.

The man searched several pockets before locating some shells to load the rifle with. Sonny Ray was horrified. He saw his child mother. Sonny Ray wanted to climb off the shoulders of the large black eagle so that he could stop his grandfather. His legs though betrayed him.

They were frozen in fear, and would not obey. He was helpless. Sonny Ray began to yell. No one could hear him though, or so he thought. He continued to yell, when finally his child mother looked in his direction. She continued to look in his direction until their eyes finally met. “Mom run!!” Sonny Ray screamed. He continued to yell, urging all of them to get out of there.

The little girl stood there in a calm, and dignified manner. She was not afraid anymore. Sonny Ray’s grandfather raised his rifle. He aimed first at his wife. The drunken paniolo then went down the line, one by one, pointing the rifle at each one of them. He then returned the barrel of the rifle to his wife. He stopped when he got to his daughter, Sweety.

She looked at her father, and then at Sonny Ray. She closed her eyes. “Mom please run, please don’t die.” Sonny Ray spoke gently now, like a man who did not have the heart to fight anymore, with no room to hold a grudge anymore.

Now he understood things clearly. Sweety opened her eyes as she heard the sound of a cartridge being chambered in her father’s rifle. His mom looked at Sonny Ray once more. It seemed as though he could read her thoughts. “Sonny Ray perhaps it should end this way, look at all the pain I have caused you.”

His child mother had tears in her eyes. “Mom, it’s okay, I forgive you mom, I forgive you, forgive yourself mom!

Forgive yourself. I didn’t know. Mom please don’t die.”

The report of the rifle roared deafeningly through the years. “No!!” Sonny Ray screamed. He hurriedly tried to rise, but lost his balance as he stumbled around inside the hogan. He was beginning to hyperventilate. His muscular frame glistened in sweat.

Sonny Ray slowly allowed time to catch up, as he realized where he was.

He was in a stage of confusion in his mind, but he refused to panic. However, the sound of another rifle shot sent him over the edge. He threw the door of the hogan open, running out into the clearing behind Dwayne’s house. Dwayne too came flying out of the back door of the house. He ran after Sonny Ray who was looking around, trying to figure out where the direction of the gunfire was coming from.

“Sonny Ray what the hell is going on?” “Not sure bro, let’s go check it out.” “This way,” Dwayne said, taking off at a jog. Sonny Ray followed Dwayne as they continued into the woods running on a small game trail. The report of the rifle guided the two men to a lone poacher in camouflage. He was pointing his rifle up toward the tree tops. Sonny Ray followed the hunters line of sight only to see the the large black eagle sitting at the top of a ponderosa pine. It did not move or display any signs of fear.

The man was intent on shooting the black eagle, and had not noticed the two men as they began a careful approach, using the trees and brush as cover. The hunter had reloaded his rifle, and was preparing to fire again when Sonny Ray tapped him on the shoulder.

The man turned with an incredulous look of surprise on his face, as Sonny Ray smashed a perfectly timed left hook to the right side of the man’s face. He fell to his knees, and then fell face down to the ground, unconscious now. Sonny Ray unloaded the poachers weapon, and then proceeded to smash it against a tree stump. Dwayne stood near the prone poacher as Sonny Ray continued his rampage on the man’s rifle. Sonny Ray eventually threw the rifle on the ground, and walked over to where his friend was standing. Dwayne had a slight grin on his face as Sonny Ray stood with his hands on his hips, breathing heavily. “What?” Sonny Ray stated, smiling now.

“I guess this rules out any possibility of dialogue eh?” Sonny Ray looked at Dwayne. “No I’m afraid not,” Sonny Ray said trying to act serious. After a slight pause, both men broke out laughing. “So Dwayne, do you know this guy or what?” “I don’t.

By the way I wanted to say that you fight pretty good for a naked guy.”

Sonny Ray looked down at himself. “Oh shit, sorry bruh.” Sonny Ray shrugged his shoulders, smiling broader now. After locating the poachers vehicle, they dragged him by the ankles and left him sleeping in it. The hunter came to in a few minutes, and after regaining his senses left the area. The black eagle had disappeared.

The two men navigated through the woods side by side.

“Hey Dwayne have I ever told you the story about an indo european land grabber named Captain Cook? No?

Yeah man this guy was a piece of work.

First he tried to call us Indians, then he attempted to name our home after his homeboy Earl Sandwich.”

Dwayne began to shake his head. “Is this in the same vein as the Charlie puka in the shirt story?” Dwayne asked, wary now.

“No, no, no, this too is a true story Dwayne, I swear.”

Dwayne, without warning took off in a sprint, well sort of.

“Hey Dwayne wait up man, I have to tell you the moral of the story. Dwayne get back here man,” the naked Sonny Ray said laughing, as he began a slow trot after his friend.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 22nd, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 42

Sonny Ray had spent the last hour talking to his wife Nikko, and his daughter little Raye. He assured them he would be home in the next day or two. But now; it was go time. Dwayne had called earlier from Nadia’s office to ask him to bring some 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 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 property. He saw an immense ponderosa pine jutting upward over all the other trees in the surrounding area.

Dark intermittent rocks bulged out of the westerly side of this mountain ravine, creating elongated shapes of shadow. Sonny Ray continued to search into the fading light, when he finally saw the transcendant black eagle.

The outline of this Watcher of souls was unmistakable.

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

The hair at the nape of his neck stood on end as

Sonny Ray, and the black eagle dream continued to perceive one another as

unsheltered souls.

The stately black eagle leapt from the massive boulder. It began circling over the prominent ponderosa pine, until it was directly above it. Where Sonny Ray stood, it appeared that this imposing black eagle was hovering, but with very little wing movement. How was this possible? The young man stood observing this whole scene play out with the wonder of a ten year old. Without forewarning a bolt of lightning struck the large ponderosa tree.

The thunder-stroke was deafening, and 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 within inches above the flaming tree.
The under belly of this winged creature appeared to be afire; but as the Black Eagle Dream continued to remain suspended above the burning ponderosa; it became apparent that it was unaffected by the elements of the natural world.

Sonny Ray stood in stunned silence observing this spectacular display. The black eagle then ceased to flap it’s pinions, as it pulled it’s wings close to it’s body, diving downward, taking with it an intermittent trail of orange and blue vapor. The black eagle appeared to vanish, fading into the blackness of night. Sonny Ray looked up, then down. “What the hell just happened?” Sonny Ray could feel his heart pounding in his neck.
In the twilight, he lost sight of his winged companion. The night however was of no consequence to the black eagle dream.

It traveled above and around the ancient statuesque pines with swift precision. It began to fly alongside the main road, just above the tree line. Sonny Ray strained his eyes in an attempt to locate it; when he inexplicably began to only see a trail of orange and blue vapor just above the trees.

Every other form of light was unseen, blacked out if you will. He couldn’t comprehend if he had seen this orange and blue vapor trail with his eyes or had completely lost his mind.

He made his way down to the truck, and after loading the gear Sonny Ray began searching the night sky before he headed out. The black eagle had seemingly dematerialized into thin air. 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, and then he closed his eyes. For several moments he saw nothing. He continued to sit quietly with his eyes closed, as his breathing slowly began to stabilize. Then a slight glint of something. There. An orange and blue vapor, and then another.

He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his face buried between his clenched fists. His face was dampened in sweat. With his eyes closed still, he could now see the orange and blue 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. A cool mountain breeze blew, offering him a moment of solace.

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 in this short spasm of time.

His breathing slowed, and gradually returned to normal. 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.

After activating the car alarm he stood looking out into the starry black lit night. 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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Black Eagle Dream

April 18th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 43

As in many battles, the element
of surprise is often the sine qua non to victory.

George Armstrong Custer knew this, as he had slaughtered many native inhabitants of these lands in their sleep. The media of his time dubbed him an indian fighter, but in truth he preyed primarily upon old men, women, and small children in his brief,
self serving existence upon the planet.

Nadia,
unlike Custer,
understood the value of teamwork, and did not fight this battle for personal glory.
Nadia and Natalia were the young, and educated, merging their respective cultures for a common cause; to be treated fairly as human beings walking on the same earth.
As a team, they manned their computers, phones, laptops, and
fax machines, interacting with various media outlets, and sucking down their Starbucks with the best of them.

Moreover, they also waged a cultural war against the long standing ignorance, and the continued brutalization of indigenous people with little to no consequence to law enforcement for doing so. These two women had worked all night editing, and once the editing was complete Nadia would soon notify Wes to begin printing the second story post haste.

Sonny Ray would be front and center of this second article of their exposé.

They had met Wes Studi over in neighboring Williams a few years ago at a pow wow, and had learned he was a retired publisher, and editor. Wes had been owner operator of his own homegrown newspaper back in his hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico. He too had burning the midnight oil. It gave Wes the feeling of having something positive to contribute to his community.

The first article of the exposé involving Officer Bob and his victim, Jesse Coyote had seemingly been successfully dismissed by the smooth talking Chief of Police. But now with more allegations being presented against officer Bob, Nadia felt the chances of this story being revisited were going to fall in their favor.

Nadia knew this second article of her exposé would be in every market and select businesses around town. College coffee shops, restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, would be abuzz. The media would be everywhere, like a swarm of locusts. Tomorrow after the second story began to be circulated throughout the community, this little sleepy town would awaken to a firestorm of their own making.

The foursome now sat eating, as all were in a festive mood. After a few minutes though, the real conversation began. Nadia, and many of the surrounding native communities had a vested interest in seeing these two corrupt cops out of their country. Nadia knew once the second article of their exposé of officer Bob and his assault of Sonny Ray was was released to the public, all hell was going to break loose. Officer Bob’s bracelet would connect him directly to the assault of Sonny Ray under the color of office.

In addition to him losing his job, Nadia hoped the prosecutor would push for some jail time. However she was realistic. Nadia knew more often than not bad cops often walked with little to no jail time.
But in the end, getting that brute out of Antelope Springs would be a victory to both native and non native alike. Dwayne and Sonny Ray had left Nadia’s office to go home and get showered up, and catch a few hours of sleep.

Natalia was knocked out on the couch. She woke up shortly after Nadia had gotten into her small office shower. Natalia left a sticky note on Nadia’s computer. She was running to her apartment for a hot shower, and a quick nap too.

Nadia sat at her desk now with a towel turban that encapsulated her long black hair.
She had set the house alarm, and now sat on the cozy couch sipping some hot chai.

After staying up over twenty four hours the hot chai was like a warm blanket on a cold night.

She ended up falling asleep on the couch, and did not wake up until early the following morning.

Nadia’s eyes began to reluctantly flutter.

The sound of her office phone, and cell phone ringing at the same time,

jolted her into a semi attentive state.

The tide had now
turned
in favor
of
the home team.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 17th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 44

Officer Bob placed his cruiser in park and exited his vehicle. Bob had followed the older truck for about a mile. The ‘Frybread Power’ sticker had caught his attention while sitting at the red light. Officer Bob grunted as he adjusted his black patent leather utility belt. His swollen belly lead the way, as he approached his next potential scalp.

“Let me see your driver’s license and vehicle registration jackass,” officer Bob said, not bothering to even look at the driver.

Without a word, the driver handed Officer Bob his credentials. After running his plates he approached the drivers side of the vehicle. Officer Bob had yet to make eye contact with the driver.

The portly officer flipped open his mobile minority ticket dispenser, and began writing. As Bob stood there, pen blazing, exacting the letter of the law; a medium size black feather slipped out of the driver’s window, and began a short descent, floating gently to the ground. It landed right in front of officer Bob’s boots. The officer glanced down at the feather. He slowly raised his head up and turned his attention to the driver for the first time.
The large predator using it’s aquiline beak, knocked the ticket book from officer Bob’s hands. The immense head of the black eagle screeched a mandate; snapping furiously at the startled police officer.

A look of confusion crossed the officers face. The black eagle head sat upon the body of a man who held the steering wheel tightly in his grasp.

The black eagle man continued to screech retribution with its mandible.

Using it’s dark eyes, the black eagle man pierced the spirit of the startled officer, causing the contempt that Bob held inside himself to bleed out of his eyes, and ears, like tears of blood.

Officer Bob opened his mouth but no words would come forth from his stricken mind.
He sat up in his bed slowly, like a second rate vampire in the old sixties daytime drama, Dark Shadows. He began to scream; like he did at the age of sixteen, when he accidentally ran over and crippled his cousin Bubba with a tractor, in a cornfield, somewhere in America.
“Bob honey, it’s okay you just had a bad dream, that’s all. It’s fine,”
Shane said, rubbing his shoulder.
Bob was trying to gather himself, he was sweating profusely, his face flush. After brushing Shane’s hand away, he swung his tubby legs out of the bed. He rose quickly and walked into the master bedroom bathroom.
He turned on the cold water, splashing his face and neck. He returned to the bedroom and laid back down.

After only a short time, Bob fell fast asleep. Shane sat up, putting his pillow against the headboard. He wondered what could have frightened Bob. Shane poured a glass of water and took his blood pressure medication.

He turned off his lamp, and decided to lay back down for a bit. With his head on his pillow for a scant thirty seconds or so; the phone began to ring.

The day of wine and roses was over.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 16th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 45

Sonny Ray’s image dominated the front page. Standing somber he stood tall with his muscular torso, as he held his faded Wrangler blue jean shirt open; exposing the side of his rib cage which was swollen, with an area of large purple and black bruising.

He also had received a gash on his left eyebrow. The recovery of the silver bracelet was key, and particularly because Sonny Ray was cognizant enough to ask an emergency room nurse to take a few pictures of him holding the bloody bracelet as he lie on a gurney in blood soaked clothing.

Nadia knew that this second story would be more than enough to convince these two police officers that a career change was in order.

As the morning wore on, the second exposé had gained momentum, and continued to filter out to the shell shocked community of Antelope Springs. Once it hit the wire, the story would go nationwide. The executioners axe was reluctantly ordered to be sharpened. The Mayor, and the City Council had met in a special early morning session. This was generally only done during an emergency session, as it pertained to deciding upon the route for an evacuation plan during fire season.

Naturally people in the community began to gather at City Hall, wanting answers. Someone in City Hall had leaked to the media of the special morning session, so the media began setting up, jostling with their competition for the best spot to film, and hopefully be noticed for a question or two.

Though an official announcement would be given the following day, no one wanted to be caught slipping, so the vigil was on.

“Cheers to you Dwayne and to you Sonny Ray, thank you, for everything,” Nadia said quietly, clinking plastic cups with the two men. Before Dwayne could respond Nadia stepped forward, and slowly gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Oh, thank you,” Dwayne said stammering. Natalia and Sonny Ray stood smiling at their friends.
Nadia and Dwayne became involved in a hush of a conversation, so naturally Sonny Ray slipped out the back door to partake of some herbal refreshment.

In less than three minutes Dwayne sat on the porch with Sonny Ray.

The two men sat quietly practicing the long standing intertribal tradition of puff, puff, pass.

“Hell of a day my friend,” Dwayne said finally. Sonny Ray blew out a really long stream of smoky colored cream, and then passed it to Dwayne. “Yeah it was kind of cool right, but it ain’t over bruh, we gotta be careful.” Dwayne passed the dwindling dub back.

“So are we still on for tonight?” Sonny Ray asked in an undertone. Dwayne nodded in the affirmative, saying nothing. “Okay good. I am going to head back to your house and pick up that equipment you had mentioned earlier, and then I’ll swing back and pick you up.”

Sonny Ray passed the cannabis back to Dwayne.

Dwayne inhaled a little more than usual, and broke out into an impromptu cough fest. Sonny Ray stood up, preparing to leave and glanced down at Dwayne. “Dwayne, I haven’t known you very long but I do know one thing; you my friend are in love,” Sonny Ray said quietly as he turned the door knob to go inside. “Sonny Ray where are you going?” Sonny Ray looked back at him, smiled and said, “Bro, I’m kind of hungry.” Dwayne gave Sonny Ray an incredulous look. He was about to cap on his friend when Sonny Ray quickly closed the door, and gave him a two handed hook ’em horns, along with a complimentary Māori tongue display through the French door windows.

Dwayne smiled as he inhaled slowly, and sat quietly for a few moments. He knew it was true, he was falling in love. But his mind had not as of yet been able to fully process this exhilarating feeling.

He stood up and headed inside, anxious to see Nadia for some reason.

Unbeknownst to them, the black eagle sat stationed on high; observing the four humans.

As complicated, and challenging as life was for mankind as a whole, the Black Eagle Dream instinctually knew its assignment.

It had rested for millennia upon the arm of a mighty spirit messenger in heavenly places.

As a long tenured emissary as a Watcher, its newest assignment would now be to remain as constant companion to Sonny Ray.

For it was to him to be disclosed, a new decree; a message to be imparted

through the eyes of the Black Eagle Dream.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 16th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 46

“Ladies, that was Sonny Ray, he is on his way so I am going to wait out here until he arrives.” “Okay Dwayne,” Nadia and Natalia said in a sassy sing song way. “Be careful Dwayne,” Nadia said suddenly solemn. Dwayne smiled and waved as he shut the front door. He placed his two tripods and other gear on the porch. He sat at the top of the steps and waited.

Lights began to shine in his direction from off the freeway. He stood up from the porch as Sonny Ray rolled into the driveway. Both men exchanged broad smiles.

“Look at you Sonny Ray. Clear glasses, hair slicked back, you got the black t-shirt on,” Dwayne said enthusiastically. Dwayne was all red road, and psyched to go as well. He quickly loaded up the equipment and started to walk to the door of the truck. “Okay, I guess that means we have no time for some cold pizza eh?” Sonny Ray asked pointing in the direction of the house, disappointed. Dwayne laughed.

“No my friend, I have something much better to offer you than that. The girls hooked us up with some frybread, with the works, plus my grandmother made us some mutton stew, and yes Sonny Ray she made some extra frybread for you.” “Small kine chee hoo, I don’t want to frighten the neighbors,” Sonny Ray said playfully. “Sonny Ray I got you,” Dwayne said lifting up a big lunchbox. “Whew, that’s what’s up, because I’m starving bruh,” Sonny Ray said. “Sonny Ray you say that about every forty five minutes, you know that right?” Dwayne said smiling, eyebrows extended upward.

“Big engines require more fuel Dwayne, why you wanna harsh my flow bro?” Sonny Ray asked, feigning to be offended. Dwayne jumped in, and they were off. They made the short drive across Antelope Springs. As they neared the border of the Trailer Nation, Dwayne pointed out the fire break, and Sonny Ray slowed, turning off his head lights. Sonny Ray drove a fair distance on the firebreak so the truck would be not be detected from either direction of the highway.

The two men quietly closed the truck doors. Without a word the two men donned their backpacks, and headed down the darkened fire break. Soon they could hear the incidental stir of people in the small trailer park.

The two men slipped into the woods, walking cautiously for a hundred and fifty yards or so. They walked up the short farmers dike, and surveilled the park. The field of alfalfa had been recently harvested, so it would offer no challenge in crossing it.

However, it didn’t offer much in the way of cover. It was the logical approach though, with the minimal risk of being detected. The two men decided Sonny Ray would make the incursion when the time was right.

Dwayne had brought along two radios that he had borrowed from his twelve year old nephews,

Victor and Thomas.

Dwayne set up his tripod, and began the surveillance on officer Bob. Sonny Ray decided to hold off on the frybread until he got back. He was pumped now, ready to go. Dwayne could see into Bob’s trailer. The tv was on, and at least one lamp as well. Dwayne went to one knee, and placed an old towel on the ground. He then opened his backpack, and pulled out a slender but long box.

As he removed the top of the box Sonny Ray took a knee. “That’s the real deal yeah?” Sonny Ray exclaimed. Dwayne nodded as he worked the pistol out of its styrofoam packaging. “It looks and feels exactly like the one officer Bob has over in his rat hole over there;

Dwayne said as he pursed his lips in the direction of the trailer park.

Sonny Ray smiled as Dwayne handed him the new pistol. Sonny Ray took a lightly oiled rag and wrapped the pistol in it. He placed it in a small plastic grocery bag, and finally into his backpack. The two men stood quietly in the dark. Waiting, and watching.
“You ready?” Sonny Ray nodded casually, nonchalant. “Okay, be ready because I believe officer Bob is preparing to head out for the evening,” Dwayne said excitedly as he continued looking through his camera lens. Sonny Ray hooked a radio onto his belt.

The two men could hear the slamming of the trailer door, and stood side by side as the red tail lights of the old car faded from sight. After exchanging some fist dap Sonny Ray walked cautiously down the short dike. He could feel his adrenaline flowing but he was focused, under control.

A light left on by Bob would help make for a quick assessment of the trailer layout. Sonny Ray approached the back of the trailer. He was looking into a window that Bob had left unsecured. The smell of stale beer wafed out the tiny window. It reminded him of his father’s apartment. Pushing that thought from his mind, he eased around the side of the trailer. He looked in both directions of the dirt road leading in and out of the park. He could hear a couple of older men laughing, but nothing close by caused him any alarm.

He rounded the side of the trailer, and was about to approach the front door when a pair of headlights flashed up near the trailer. Sonny Ray turned quickly making a short sprint back to the back of Bob’s abode. He was now in horse mode.

In the next ten seconds, depending on what he heard, or didn’t hear; he would go into his fight or flight response. “Shit,” Sonny Ray thought. The brakes squeaked loudly as the car abruptly stopped. It was officer Bob. The portly policeman slammed the door of his car. He left the car running, so evidently he had not planned on staying very long. Sonny Ray hunched down and waited.

He could hear Bob grumbling as he slammed a drawer. Sonny Ray concentrated on controlling his breathing as he waited. The tiny aluminum door of the trailer flung open, only to be slammed shut. Sonny Ray stood up slowly, and as he did, he accidentally keyed the button of his radio. Bob, who had his hand on his car door handle quickly turned back, drawing his small pistol.

Sonny Ray had heard the sound of the pistol clearing the leather holster, which was immediately followed by the sound of the metallic click of a hammer being cocked. Officer Bob was sweating profusely as he advanced slowly around to the side of the trailer. “Who’s there damnit?” Officer Bob called out.

The sound of crickets could be heard conversing in some over grown grass near the skirting of the trailer. Sonny Ray heard them chirping, and hoped they were cheering for him.

The unannounced howling of a coyote passing through the alfalfa field behind them, startled both men. “Damn varmints,” Bob said as he uncocked his pistol. After nervously returning his pistol to its holster, he turned back toward his vehicle. After slamming the car door, he was gone.

The primal sounds of a coyote celebrating its kill began to fade in the early twlight of the evening.

Sonny Ray took a deep breath. Sweat poured off his forehead. He returned his knife to its sheath. Sonny Ray quickly glanced around and then slid quietly into the small trailer. He closed the door, and stood quiet. He could hear a tv blaring, and a small dog barking. Other than that he was good to go. He walked down the small hallway and entered the bedroom. He quickly pulled open the two drawers of a chincy white oak night stand. Finding nothing but an old phone book and a dusty box of condoms, Sonny Ray closed them carefully. He opened the sliding closet door.

He bent down and slid the olive drab foot locker out. He placed his backpack on the floor, and opened the Army footlocker. Lifting out the wooden compartment that was used for underwear, and socks, he placed it on the small unmade bed. Peering into the bottom of the footlocker he found the large pistol wrapped in a rag. He took a picture of the pistol, and carefully removed it realizing in all likelihood it was loaded. Sonny Ray unwrapped Bob’s pistol, so he could use his oily rag.

After wrapping the new replacement pistol in Bob’s oily rag, Sonny Ray checked his phone to get a view of the positioning of the pistol. He carefully placed the replacement weapon in the footlocker. Sonny Ray unloaded officer Bob’s cannon, putting the rounds in his pocket.

He placed Bob’s pistol into his backpack. He closed the top of the olive green footlocker, and slid it back in the closet. He closed the pine closet door, and scanned the room one last time. He was satisfied that everything looked right. He quickly walked to the front door, and slowly opened it, and left with the minimal amount of noise.

After turning the corner of the trailer Sonny Ray began a slow steady jog in the direction he had last seen Dwayne. “Hey Sonny Ray over here,” Dwayne called out.

Sonny Ray honed in on his voice, and soon stood next to Dwayne, bent over trying to catch his breath. After gathering their gear they headed down the fire break. “Hey uh,” Sonny Ray offered. “Let me guess your hungry,” Dwayne said laughing.

Sonny Ray smiled, but then said, “Hey by the way how did you know I was in trouble? That was perfect timing with the coyote calls, because when he started to turn that corner I thought I was in some serious trouble, so mahalo for that Dwayne.”

“What are you talking about?” Dwayne asked, mildly confused.

Sonny Ray went on to relate to him when he accidentally keyed the radio, and then Bob pulling his weapon. “Sonny Ray I saw his shadow coming towards the side of the trailer that you were on, but as far as a coyote, that wasn’t me man. “That coyote, scared the crap out of me bro,” Sonny Ray said sheepishly. “Hey let’s go eat,” Dwayne said smirking.

“Whatever man, okay let’s go then cause I’m hungry for real,” Sonny Ray said smiling back.

The two men drove a short distance on the fire break, and, once reaching the hardtop they headed back to Nadia’s office.
The black eagle sat atop a centuries old ponderosa pine, looking down on the two young men as they drove by;

both unaware of the watchful eye of this celestial creature upon them.

The two men had no idea that the black eagle and the coyote were old friends.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 10th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 47

It was just a few ticks past midnight. Bob had spent the afternoon drinking, and had put a real dent in this newest bottle of whiskey. Empty beer cans, and a shot glass were his only companions.
Bob had thrown his army footlocker, and a few medium sized boxes into the trunk of his car earlier in the day. Bob now sat at the little dinette table engaged in a full on pity party. He had placed his service revolver on the table next to his badge. He had put his big hog in its holster and placed it on the front seat.

Bob sat lamenting the one constant in this equation, and that was the fact that he should have listened.
Shane had warned him many times about wearing the bracelet on duty. More importantly Shane had pleaded with him to leave the indigenous community alone. Right now though, Bob could give a shit about that. He flipped his cigarette butt out the wide open door of the travel trailer. He drank another shot. The whiskey burned as it went down, causing what little reasonableness he possessed, to flee the scene.
The local police had dialed down the search. To a man they all knew where he was. They had no intention of arresting him, but they played the role to pacify their community constituents, and to remain committed to the continuous nationwide facade of transparency. Bob would only be apprehended if he stayed in town much longer. He knew he had to make a move. He had to sober up and get his mind right. This was war.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 9th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 48

Shane had taken down his remaining awards from the paneled walls of his spacious office. The dusty shadows left by the many framed certificates reminded him of Hiroshima, Japan for some reason.

He recalled having seen a book filled with the images of destruction that had been thrust upon the civilian population of Japan during World War II.

The blast delivered was so powerful that it captured the shadows of inanimate objects, and cast them upon the ground for the world to see.

Shane felt downcast himself.

An atomic bomb had landed on his world, and his life, and career had been laid bare for the entire country to see.

He finished packing his boxes, and began to load them up in his vehicle. Shane locked his car and was returning to his office when Bob stepped out of the shadows of the now quiet parking lot. “Shane, it’s me Bob.” Shane stood at the rear of his vehicle waiting for Bob. Shane initially was startled, but as Bob came closer Shane could feel his blood pressure rising.

Shane could smell the whiskey on his breath as Bob stood in the parking lot.

“Shane, I, I fucked up, I can’t believe this is happening to us.” Bob was at a loss for words. Shane looked down, shaking his head slowly. “Bob I have been telling you for sometime now to leave the natives alone, but hell now your own want your head on a platter, and I don’t blame them,” Shane said bitterly. Bob nodded, silently acknowledging the rightfulness of his words.

An awkward pause ensued. “So where are you headed?” Bob finally asked. “I have a sister in Oregon, and she has a spare room so I think I’ll go there for awhile until I get things straightened out,” Shane said, his words trailing away. “So what about you Bob, what are your plans?” Sadness was laced in his voice.

“I don’t rightly know at the moment. I hear Virginia or Missouri are always looking for experienced cops, but I haven’t made up my mind,” Bob said.

“Well whatever you decide I would appreciate that you not cause anymore problems for me. I agreed with Mayor Meekham, and the City council to first resign immediately, and accept their plea agreement in exchange for a more lenient outcome, so don’t fuck this up for me Bob,” Shane said bluntly.

Bob was sobering up to the moment.

“Well, by god if that’s how you feel, I’ll just head home, and be on my way first thing in the morning. Before I go though I want to give you something.” Bob pulled out his service revolver.

Shane turned two shades whiter than he already was.

Bob saw the fear in his eyes. “Relax Shane. ”

Bob handed him the pistol. Bob fumbled in his jacket pocket. He pulled out his badge and handed it to Shane. “Oh, before I forget, I have some of your things from the house.” Shane opened the passenger door of his vehicle. He produced a medium size box and handed it to Bob.

“Well I guess this is it then,” Bob said, holding the box.

“I guess so,” Shane said curtly.

Bob turned without a word, walking away into the darkness,

leaving Shane to stand there alone in the cool evening of night.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 8th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 49

Sonny Ray was headed home tomorrow.
It would of course be a short drive from Antelope Springs to Las Vegas, especially the way
Sonny Ray was known for driving.
Their house in Las Vegas began to reflect a small family in full on moving mode. Nikko had been a busy lady. Sonny Ray was excited to get home. Sonny Ray had taken a shower, and was relaxing in the guest room.

Dwayne had left earlier to deliver some firewood to his grandmother. Dwayne returned a few hours later and headed for the shower. Sonny Ray had taken a nap, and he woke up to hear Dwayne singing loudly in the shower. He was happy for Dwayne. You could see it in the way he carried himself when Nadia was around.

The following morning the two men sat drinking coffee at the kitchen table when they heard a knock at the door. It was rare for anyone to come to Dwayne’s home this early in the morning. “Hello in there,” a familiar voice called out. Dwayne walked toward the back door. “Oh hey, what are, uh, oh come in, come in,” Dwayne said, completely surprised. He held open the screen door, as Nadia and Natalia walked in, each with a bag of groceries in tow.

“Good morning boys,” Natalia said with a smile. After putting the bags on the kitchen counter Nadia made an announcement. “We wanted to express our appreciation for you two in helping us to remove these individuals from our community, besides neither one of you cook very well so,” The four friends looked at each other smiling, and with the help of Sonny Ray, and a couple of well timed chee hoos, the crowd turned raucous and the celebration was on. The ladies cooked up some omelets, turkey bacon, toast, orange juice, hashbrowns, and freshly cut fruit. Soon they all sat stuffed, and satisfied. Dwayne and Nadia poured another cup of coffee, and decided to go out on the back deck to talk. Natalia looked at Sonny Ray.

First on one side of his head, and then on the other.

“What, what’s wrong, what you got to say smarty pants?”

Sonny Ray fired off the first volley. Natalia smiled slowly.

“You know you’re going to be on tv today right?” Natalia asked, preparing to cap on Sonny Ray. “Yeah I know, and?” He was playfully goading her now.
“Bro you need to do something with them hawaiian curls of yours cause right now you look a hot mess, for real,” Natalia concluded.

“Oh is that right?” Sonny Ray asked, defiant now.

Natalia nodded in the affirmative, smiling sweetly. Sonny Ray took off his bandana.

“What you like do?” he asked with some thick hawaiian pidgin.

“Siéntate,” she commanded. Natalia walked to the bathroom to get a brush and some light hair oil. Natalia brushed his hair into a thick ponytail. They had a few hours before the press conference would begin.
After they cleaned up the kitchen, it was decided that they would go hang out at Nadia’s office before going to City hall. Wes had called Nadia earlier from nearby Williams to tell her that someone had fire bombed his barn last night.

He lost a horse, and several other farm animals, Wes was concerned for them. Nadia assured him that they were prepared for whatever and that passivity was no longer an option. The tide had finally begun to turn in favor of the home team.

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Black Eagle Dream

April 7th, 2022
A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 50

Bob stood staring at himself in the bathroom mirror. He had not shaved in several days. His eyes were beyond bloodshot. Bob had perhaps three hours of sleep in the last day and a half. A cigarette hung from his mouth. He had to close one eye as smoke was stinging the other one shut. He grabbed it from his mouth, and tossed it in the toilet.

He stumbled down the diminutive hallway and now sat at his shabby dinette table. He poured another shot of whiskey but did not drink it. His whole world had collapsed, taken down and away, just like that.
He reached for the shot of whisky and threw it back nonchalantly. However, as he sat in his tiny travel trailer his anger had continued to toss and roll.

Like a man atop an over turned boat riding giant waves in a dark storm, Bob remained captive to his foamy seething; a servant to his unrelenting animosity.

He had no intention of attending the press conference. Moreover, Bob had told Shane he would not. He had promised
Shane he would leave town, but this feeling;

this desperate feeling of being powerless, overwhelmed him.

Between Notah, and that Sonny Ray what’s his name, he simply could not accept the fact that he had been done in by a couple of minorities.

It was a feeling he was neither familiar with, nor comfortable to have to acknowledge to himself.

After all, he was an American, this was his country, there was an order of things; a predetermined course that had been plotted out centuries ago by his forefathers.

This was a way of life designed for men like him. To thrive, to succeed. And by god, this was as far as it was going to go.

He had been pushed around long enough.

Bob was going to that damn press conference.

He was going to shoot that big harwaiian, and that damn Notah too. And if he could kill that Apache trouble maker Nadia, and her smart ass Puerto Rican friend, he’d get them too.
As he slammed the door of his trailer palace for the last time,
Bob vowed never
to watch
another seventies
rerun of
Harwaii 5-0,
as long as he lived.

The Mayor sat at his desk reading over his speech for the impending press conference. However, like any good politician worth his salt, he would have to get some mirror time. He had a luxurious private bathroom to practice for the next fifteen minutes or so. The media had finished setting up their cameras.

More of the local citizenry began to work their way into the growing crowd. In a half hour the Mayor would deliver perhaps one of the most crucial speeches of his political career.
The Mayor wanted this controversy to go away as quickly as possible. Mayor Meekham was peeved when he got wind that local enforcement had loosed the net on their former colleague. He knew many of his cops liked Bob, but Bob was now officially a fugitive. The Mayor, promoted the long tenured Captain William Logan, to be the new Chief of Police of Antelope Springs. The Mayor was understanding about the whole thin blue line thing, but he wanted extra uniforms at the press conference in the event Bob was ignorant enough to show his face. Truthfully the Mayor didn’t believe Bob would show, but he wanted a show of force for all the media to see.
He anticipated many of the respected members of the various indigenous nations of this region to be present. He knew that these tribal nations all had members who had been brutalized by former officer, Bob Fritz.

Mayor Meekham was concerned that things could get ugly.

He thought it prudent to ask the various tribal nations to send members of their respective police force, to assist with crowd control, and to provide a show of force.

It also gave the citizenry of Arizona the illusion that he cared.

It was almost time for the press conference. The Mayor looked down at his cell phone. He tossed his phone on his desk. A buzz came from his secretary. “Yes?”
“Chief Edwards is here Mr. Mayor,” his secretary replied.

“Send him in Rachel,” Mayor Meekham replied.

It was the last time he would be called Chief of anything

in the small town of Antelope Springs, Arizona.
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