The follow on book to "Grandfather's Song"
"A New Dawn" is the follow on book to "Grandfather's Song" It was released in October 2006.
It takes place in the Old World that Native People left behind 40,000 years ago. Talking Coyote's vision quest led the Native People of the world back to the old days The lived as they did 40,000 years ago. It was paradise until they realized the Creator left them with Free Will. Those who wished harm could do so and it was a shock to the people.
It is they joy, and heartbrake. Their life as it was long ago, before pollution. Man can speak with the animals and spiritual Keepers help them adjust.
It has been described as the Native American version of Left Behind. It fits...
Excerpt
Sparks erupted from the bark when the log was thrown into the fire pit. Flames crept up the sides, blackening it and forcing the bark to crack and split due to the heat. Sizzling gasses steamed from the new cracks in the wood. Fully engulfed now, the log lit the faces of the men seated around the campfire.
“Ni (I) was summoned to meet a man during his vision quest. Grandfather said he has passed the test of the ancients and it was time we talked to him. This Ni did last night,” said the Keeper-of-the-Deer.
The fire reflected off his face and coat giving the impression of one, who was half man and half beast. The face although covered in facial hair was no doubt human, as was the man’s body. His coat is what set him apart. It looked as if it were made of bearskin and if removed a human would be standing naked in front of you. Only his coat did not come off, he was neither human, nor an animal. He was a Keeper, one of many in the Old World.
The dancing light flickered in the eyes of other Keepers. Some had bark instead of fur, while others had scales. They all had one thing in common. They were the keepers and protectors of the Great Spirit’s animals, forests and streams. This they have done. Animals flourished, fish and those that crawl were in abundance; the skies were full of winged creatures, all thriving until the past year or two. The Keeper-of-all-things-that-Crawl spoke. “You look troubled my Brother. Speak, about what is bothering you.”
The Keeper-of-the-Forest asked, “There are so many animals, my forests and meadows are being destroyed. Trees stripped of their bark, left to die. The animals eat the grasses down to the ground and the grass dies. When rain comes it cannot hold the soil and it runs off into the streams, affecting our brothers and sisters, all things that crawl and live in the sea. The stream waters are becoming muddy and fish are dying. All will start to starve this winter if the herd, flocks and schools cannot be reduced. What we are sworn to protect, with our lives, will die slow deaths, as their bodies melt away. Can he help?”
The Keeper-of-the-Deer nodded his assent. “The Great Spirit said he is the first of the hunter societies to have passed the test of the ancients. Many men died when they were shown the universe and had it reside inside their bodies. They decided to become one with the universe and stay with their ancestors instead of returning to their people. He has returned to his people to tell them of our plight, to see if he can guide the remaining followers of the Great Spirit to come to us, to help reduce the numbers of animals, birds and fish.”
Thoughtful nods of the Keepers around the fire indicated their agreement. “You have not been summoned to meet with your society for over a hundred years. Now a man from the Deer Society has passed the test. Ni do not understand,” croaked the Keeper-of-all-things-that-Crawl. Murmurs of agreement were spoken around the fire.
“The pipe (hopoakan ), used to summon me was broken in a war almost a hundred and fifty seasons ago. But the keepers of the hopoakan did not despair. They continued with the traditions of the society even if they could not summon me. That is why the Great Spirit tested the man who would be the next keeper of the hopoakan, for the Deer Society. Men from the other hunting societies did not pass the test, even when they could speak to you, when they smoked the hopoakan we gave to them over a thousand years ago. It was the Lenape man, Talking Coyote, from the Turtle Clan, that passed the test. He will talk to the members of his hunting society in five days time. Ni will meet with all of them, at which time, Ni will tell them of our plight and that we must all meet before winter to get the believers to return to the Old World in order to help keep balance or this world like the Above World will fail.”
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