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.

Copyright 2003 All Rights Reserved #blackeagledream

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.

Copyright 2003 All Rights Reserved #blackeagledream

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.

Copyright 2003 All Rights Reserved #blackeagledream