The people stayed a long time in the town on the sunrise slope of the mountain of Ká'hluelawan, and even though the earth in time began to groan warningly, they did not want to leave thc place of the Kâ'kâ and the lake of their dead. But the rumbling grew louder and at last the Twin Beloved called, and asked the people to arise, and all together—now that their multitudes were in part diminished—follow them eastward, seeking once more the place of thc Middle. Not without murmuring among themselves did the people obey; but after they had travelled forward a certain distance they came to an attractive place of such great promise, indeed, that it was said, "Let us stay awhile in this favored spot, for perhaps it may be the place of the Middle."

   And so they built for themselves there greater houses than ever they had built before, and more perfect, for they were still great and strong in numbers and more clever than of old, even though they were still unperfected as men; and the place wherein they built was Hán'hlipink'ya, "The Place of Sacred Stealing," so named in after time for reasons we all know.

   The people lived there a long time, prosperously; but with becoming ever wiser and stronger their condition changed, so that our wonderful, magical, yet rude, ugly fathers became ill-suited to their tails and beast clothing. Being beast-like, they were very inconvenienced both at home and abroad, in the chase or at war; for now and again they still in their wanderings met older nations of men and man-beings, with whom they must strive, or so they thought, thereby gaining nothing except great danger with increase of anger and stubbornness. Thus, not any longer in fear only of the gods and great monsters, but in fear now of the wars they themselves provoked, contending the world with their own kind and with man-beings, they were not otherwise changed. The gods, therefore, called a council off the elders of all their folk-kins.





©1996, Richard Hooker

For information contact: Richard Hines
Updated 6-6-1999