The Coming and the Going

His disturbing thoughts were interrupted when Epakutip woke up and said many things that he could not understand. Juan Valera did not care, and grinned, because he did understand the smiles and the laughter that went with his words. He had the impression that the jovial native was speaking about a dream he just had, making vague gestures and emphasizing certain words. Epakutip did not seem to care that he was not understood, and gave the impression that his oration was more for his own benefit in helping him to remember and understand his dream.

Juan Valera just smiled back and laughed along with him as if he understood what he was saying. Both men soon came to realize that they were talking and laughing and not at all understanding what the other was saying. This realization provoked further laughter, as they laughed at themselves, and every little thing became funny. Their silliness continued even as Epakutip began to occupy himself in repairing his fiber net bag he used for carrying things. Each, would in turn, say something that the other could not understand. They would point at each other, make silly gestures, and then laugh. Juan Valera had not laughed so much in a long time, and he didn’t even know what he was laughing about.

Epakutip soon became more engrossed in his work and kept pointing to afar, as if to indicate that his work on the bag was necessary for making a journey. As Juan Valera sat watching him repair his net bag, he couldn’t help but feel for him. He was really so innocent and naive to the world, and had no idea of what had taken place across the gulf in recent history and would soon take place here. This land was all there was to him. He was content in his small world, and lived each moment finding joy and meaning in each day, and caring nothing of tomorrow.

How much longer would he and his people be allowed to exist as they are?, thought Juan Valera. In the thirty-three years that the Jesuit missions have been here, some tribes are already gone. When Epakutip looked up from his work and grinned with excitement because he had succeeded in tying a difficult knot in his net bag, Juan Valera’s heart went out to him. Perhaps it was because he was such a brave and powerful looking man, who in the accomplishment of a simple task, displayed an innocent and childlike glee that made him so endearing. He felt both a love and a sadness for him when he thought of how Epakutip’s whole world was slowly but surely changing. It was a sad thing to realize that he, and his people, his gods, and his way of life may soon come to an end.

As it was already toward evening, the two men went out to forage for something to eat. In their excursion they managed to find some strange plant foods that Juan Valera would never have thought edible. On their way back, Epakutip stopped in a rocky place and began moving rocks and searching in crevices. It was not long before a crisp rattling was heard. Juan Valera kept his distance and watched his native friend dispatch a large four foot snake by crushing it with heavy stones. Carrying the snake by the tail, it’s mashed head dripping blood, Epakutip would shake the rattled tail toward Juan Valera who would flinch and back away. This caused Epakutip the greatest amusement.

When they came to a place of high ground they stopped to survey the area. Epakutip pointed to some large mountains in the far south, and explained as best he could that his rancheria was there, and it was a three day journey. He implied that he would be leaving for his home the next morning. Juan Valera pointed to the great southern cape which formed the Bay of San Raphael and drew a picture of a ship in the dirt. The native understood and said that he too had seen a ship going in that direction. When he indicated that there was a landing place and fresh water on the tip of the cape, Juan Valera thought that perhaps the ship he saw might be stopping there. It could very well be there now. He asked how long it would take to go there. Even though Epakutip said it was a hard two day walk over rough terrain, he asked if he would guide him there. Since it was only slightly out of his way, Epakutip gladly consented, and they both had the understanding that they would be leaving in the morning.

Before returning to their encampment they went to the small hidden spring and filled their water bags in preparation for their coming journey. It was starting to get dark by the time they arrived back at their camp. When they got there, Epakutip threw the snake to the ground and they watched the headless torso instinctively coil up as if it were alive. Even without a head, the rattlesnake struck fear as it drew into a striking posture. Juan Valera found it fascinating.

Throughout the day, Juan Valera had not been concerned that he had been going about naked. Nor did it make any difference to Epakutip, as nakedness was the custom of the land. But as the coolness of the evening became more pronounced, he felt a chill and looked over to the clump of shrubs and cactus where he had thrown his tattered Jesuit robe. He did not dare make an attempt to retrieve it. When he began to shiver and pace with his arms folded, Epakutip went to his bag and pulled out a rabbit skin cloak and gave it to him. He also furnished a deer skin blanket for himself which he drew over his shoulders.

When they sat down on the ground together, Epakutip produced a rounded stick and another flattened piece of wood with a rounded depression in it. He placed the rounded stick in the hole along with some dried tinder and began twisting the stick back and forth with the palms of his hands trying to ignite the tinder. He seemed to go on forever twisting the stick until finally some smoke appeared in the hole. He carefully fed in some more tinder, and by blowing on it, produced a small flame. This he dumped on the ground and slowly fed in some small sticks, nurturing the small flame into a stable fire. He then sat back and rested from this laborious effort as Juan Valera went to search for more sticks and pieces of cactus skeletons to keep the fire going.

When he returned shortly with bits of wood, Epakutip was cleaning the snake with his stone knife. He had already skinned it and was cutting it into sections that could be placed on a skewer and held over the fire. Sitting down close to the small fire, Juan Valera enjoyed it’s warmth, and then began to contemplate on the unappetizing hunks of raw snake he would soon be eating. But when they started to roast the snake over the fire, his aversion soon changed to hunger as the sizzling meat gave off a delicious aroma, and particularly so, for a man who hadn’t eaten any cooked meat in so very long.

As they sat by the fire roasting their snake meat, neither man spoke as they became entranced by the bright yellow flames which illumined their faces in the dark night. There was only an occasional crackle as the small flames and smoke rose straight up in the windless night.