THE SECRET OF TEN MILE MOUNTAIN

"Wh.. wh.. Who's there?" Tommy stuttered. HOOO was the reply, as he saw the wings of a big owl flutter. The tree the owl was sitting on looked strange in the dark. It looked like it had pants on! Tommy tried to make out the figure, but couldn't. There was still a strange sound coming from somewhere, ahead of him on the trail. He walked a little farther, and saw a clearing ahead. There was a large fire, in the middle of it, and there were people sitting around it. Suddenly one of the men turned to him and said; "Welcome, come and sit with us friend."

"What should I do?" He thought to himself, hesitating for a minute, and then walked into the circle. There were eight men sitting in the circle. One was dressed differently, like an... Indian! As Tommy's eyes adjusted to the light of the fire, he could see they were all Indians. "Uh, hello... my name is Tommy Taylor. We just moved here today."

"My name is Soaring Eagle," said the old man at the head of the fire. "These are my braves, Grey Hawk, Little Bear, White Wolf, Running Deer, Grazing Buffalo, Silver Fox and Black Rabbit." As each of them was introduced, they stood and held one hand up, greeting him. Tommy said; "Nice to meet you all."

"We were told by the great spirits that you would come here tonight!" Soaring Eagle said. "I have been told you are about to become a man, when the new moon rises again, 8 Suns from now. You will have a new beginning in your life on that day!" "How do you know about my birthday?" Tommy asked nervously. "The great spirits give us knowledge of many things. They have guided us through life from the time of my greatest ancestors, and have always let us know who would be our dearest friends, and our task is to help them on the great life journey set before them."

Tommy noticed something in Soaring Eagle's hand. It looked like a softball. As he held it up, Tommy saw that it was blue and green in the firelight. ..Soaring eagle said, "This is the great gift our mother made for us. No hand has shaped it or given it the great secret that unlocks the world. We are grateful to her for this."

"In time gone by, we gave our braves great quests to accomplish. This is how the great chiefs of our people were chosen, including me. My quest was to heal the sitting eagle. In my youth, I did not know how great this task was. The eagle lay hidden for fifteen generations in the wild, and no one knew its location... or secrets! My journey was long and hard, but I completed it. In return the great mother gave me the gift of the turquoise world and its secrets. No other can possess the secret when one holds it for his generation. In my time, I have led my people to their betterment with it."

Tommy suddenly found himself back at the fire, listening to Soaring Eagle finish his story. "And that is why we come here, to remember our past, and to learn from our ancestors. We have brought you here to tell you that your quest will begin soon. The great spirits have seen into your heart, and know that you are good. You have been chosen to learn the way of travel, so that you may journey to many places and adventures that the spirits will lead you to."

"What do you mean by places and adventures?" Asked Tommy. "All I can tell you is the adventure lies in your hands. I have had many adventures of my own, and have seen many things." Said Soaring Eagle. "The path that you lead will not be the ones I took. There are still many things that you too shall learn. And when the time comes, we will treat with you again."