Chapter 16

"What?" Patrick shouted upon learning the nature of the elusive quarry that they were hunting. He was wearing a brand new hunting outfit that he had talked his father into buying for him. The camouflage coverall, the camouflage hat, the orange vest, and hiking boots that had been a source of immense pride had become a source of embarrassment. Unable to believe what he had heard, he said, "We're going rock hunting!"

William and Dale were having a hard time controlling their laughter. The look on the young man's face had been priceless. Dale said, "That's right."

"You said that you were going to teach me how to hunt," Patrick said.

"We are," William said. "I'll admit that we kind of mislead you as to what we were going to hunt."

"But, I look stupid," Patrick said.

Getting serious, Dale said, "We didn't expect you to go out and buy clothes, but actually you'll be pretty warm in that outfit. I wouldn't worry about looking stupid."

"You're just saying that," Patrick said. He looked from Spirit of Desert Rock to Talks with Animals thinking that the two most important men in the tribe had made him look like a fool. His feelings were hurt.

Dale gestured to the area around him and then patted the young man on the back. He said, "We are out here in the middle of William's place and there are only the three of us. It is cool out here and your clothes are warm. You aren't the first to come out here wearing a coverall to keep comfortable."

William said, "Don't forget that you are out here to learn. We aren't kidding about that."

Dale nodded his head and said, "That's right. We are here to teach you something."

Feeling a little mollified, Patrick said, "Okay."

Dale looked at William for a second and asked, "Are we near the place marked on the map?"

"Yes," William answered. His brother had marked several places on a map where they could expect to find some nice mineral samples. This particular area was supposed to have some quartz that was collectable.

"Get down on your knees," Dale said to Patrick. He sank to his knees and watched the younger man get down on his knees. He leaned forward and placed the palms of his hands flat on the ground. In a soft voice, he said, "Touch the ground in front of you like I am doing."

"Okay," Patrick said wondering what Dale was doing. This seemed to be a rather strange way to hunt rocks and he watched waiting for them to pull another joke on him.

Kneeling beside Patrick, William said, "Spirit of Desert Rock is well named. Watch as he sends his spirit out into the rocks around us. Notice how his breathing has slowed and his eyes have closed. He's communing with the land. Patrick, why don't you try it?"

Patrick had watched Dale touch the ground. His joining with the land was almost visible. He would have sworn that if he had tried to pull Dale's hand from the ground that the ground would have come up as well. It was time to trust the two most powerful men in the tribe. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

Once Patrick had closed his eyes, William said, "Feel the Earth beneath your hands. Reach down into the Earth and feel the power that resides within it. Let your mind go and follow that power to the source."

Patrick could feel the Earth beneath his hands. It wasn't a great well of power, but he felt something. It was as if it was alive, but living in slow motion. A shiver went up his spine. There was a small shove on his back that broke his concentration. Looking up, he noticed that the sun had moved a considerable distance across the sky.

Dale and William were smiling at him. Patting the young man on the back, Dale said, "Very good, Patrick. You were in touch with the Earth Mother for almost an hour."

"That was amazing," Patrick said. He wondered how so much time had passed without him being aware of it.

"I remember my first time to touch the Earth Mother," Dale said with a soft smile on his face. Shaking his head to break out of his memories, he asked, "Did you happen to notice where any Quartz crystals are located?"

"I didn't think to look," Patrick answered feeling like he had let them down.

William laughed and said, "Don't worry about it."

Patrick looked over at William and asked, "How was it your first time?"

Shaking his head, William said, "That is an experience that is denied me. Not all can touch the Earth Mother like that. Dale is one of the few people who I know that can do it. I guess we can add you to that number now."

"Oh, I didn't realize," Patrick said wondering if he had hurt William's feelings.

"Don't worry about it. I am too thankful for the gifts that I have been given to wish for more," William said. He turned to Dale and asked, "So where are the rocks?"

"They are by the little indent in the rock wall over there. Why don't you show Patrick how to collect a sample while I watch?" Dale suggested.

"Sure thing."

Patrick used the rock hammer to free the sample under the guidance of William. While he worked, Dale said, "There was a time when our people walked with bare feet upon the ground. We slept on the ground. We were at one with our surroundings. It helped tie us to the Earth Mother.

"We could feel her and gather strength from her. That has been lost. Patrick, you and I are of the few who can even feel the Earth Mother any more. Our people aren't the only ones who are suffering. Everybody lives in air conditioned houses. It has separated them from the physical world. They don't even feel the passing of the seasons anymore. They can't smell the air and sense the approach of a storm," Dale said with a sigh.

William looked over at Dale and said, "There are young braves to teach. The old ways won't be lost. Patrick isn't the only one who can touch Mother Earth and feel the beat of her heart. There will be others."

"I know," Dale said. He watched Patrick wipe his forehead and hold up the small Quartz crystal that he had just liberated from the ground. Smiling, he said, "That's a nice little sample."

"Thanks," Patrick said feeling pride at having found the crystal. He examined it carefully and asked, "What do I do with it?"

William handed him a box and said, "Put it in here."

Patrick took the box and put the crystal in it. Shaking his head at the thought of trying to explain to his father that he had gotten a trophy rock rather than a trophy deer, he said, "It isn't a deer."

"No, it isn't," William said with a laugh. He looked at Patrick for a minute and asked, "Would you like to see a deer?"

"Sure," Patrick answered thinking that they were going to have to go somewhere and wait for some deer to walk past.

William turned to face the land and shouted, "I am Talks with Animals. I promise to leave some cracked corn for any deer that chooses to talk with me."

Patrick turned to Dale and asked, "Why is he speaking that language?"

"It is the language of the First People. It is the language that all animals know," Dale answered.

"Do you know it?"

"Yes," Dale said watching the area where William had called out. He had the ability to talk with animals, but it was nowhere as good as William's talent. He wasn't surprised to see a dozen deer come out of the brush along the creek. He whispered, "Be quiet while William talks with them."

Patrick watched in amazement while William talked to the deer. They talked about the state of food and water in the area. They talked about how the bucks were in fine form the previous rut. They talked about how all of the construction at the house had disturbed them, but that they were adjusting to the changes. Dale gave a running commentary about what was being said.

When the deer left, William rejoined his companions. Dale said, "That was interesting."

"Yes, it was."

Patrick stared at the two men with him in awe. To believe that William could talk with animals was one thing, but to watch him do it was another. He asked, "What was so interesting?"

"It seems that our construction disturbed the deer, but it also drove off a number of the predators in the area. They feel the herd is growing too large. All in all, they are happy with the changes around here," William said.

"The hunting will be good," Dale said while nodding his head.

"Hunting? How can you hunt them after talking with them?" Patrick asked appalled at the suggestion of hunting the deer. He felt that it would be like shooting a friend.

"The herd has to be culled. They even mentioned that the herd was getting too large. If the natural predators aren't doing the job, then it falls upon us to do it," William answered turning to look at Patrick.

"If the herd isn't culled, it will grow beyond the ability of the land to support them and they will all suffer. Many will die a long slow painful death from starvation. It is nature's way of ensuring balance," Dale added. He looked over at Patrick and saw that the young man didn't understand. He explained, "It is an example of the land's limited capacity to support life in its most brutal manner. The deer will consume all of the supply of food while increasing their numbers until there is not enough food left for the herd. In their fight over what is left, many of the weaker animals will starve and die until the demand lessens and the food supply recovers."

Nodding his head, William said, "Each individual strives to be the one to survive, but the group as a whole knows when it needs to be culled. In the wild, it is the weak and infirm that fall victim to the predator. That is the job of the predator. When the predator is gone, then humans need to fill that role."

"Unfortunately, man as predator wants to take only the strongest and fittest individuals from the herd. We want the deer with the ten point rack. That is not necessarily the best thing for the herd. When I hunt, I take the oldest animal of the herd. That has the best impact on the herd," Dale said. He gestured in the direction of the herd and said, "It is our custom to thank the deer for its life when we hunt."