One Day in a Small-Town Desert, chapter 18, page 1

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Chapter 18: Possessed, Obsessed



Vata Kılímí sensed the police swarming the desert around her house, faintly recognizing their animal spirits. None of them approached the house directly, and yet the animals of her menagerie in the back yard felt agitated. Between missing their morning feeding and the unusual activities of last night and at that moment, their agitation was completely understandable. It pained Vata to think she could do nothing to ease them. The police obviously did not want to arrest her yet, but they might get other ideas if she wandered around in the back yard for a half hour, feeding the animals, practically daring them to arrest her.

She had to do something to rescue Pí‘oro, and soon. But what? Zhíno had betrayed their help. It was the logical conclusion. It was the only answer that explained everything. During the healing, the young man had taken over Pí‘oro’s body as means to escape. Why else would Pí‘oro agree so readily to go traipsing across the desert with Fírí? Zhíno must have possessed Pí‘oro’s body.

But what could Vata do about it? She couldn’t call Éhara or any of the rest of the group for help. Even if the Union agents weren’t listening to her telephone line as Éhara suspected, there wasn’t much her old friend could do from outside. She wasn’t as powerful as Vata; she would need the chapel to focus Névazhíno’s strength.

A helicopter flew over the house, shaking the walls of the chapel. On the shelves, the ceremonial knives and matchboxes and other assorted items rattled around.

She had to call upon her god. The Love of the Universe would surely be able to help her--and be willing to help her, His faithful servant and priestess.

Vata stepped toward the circle of flaming braziers, the dirt floor cold and gritty on her bare feet.

The only way to surefirely attract Névazhíno’s attention was to sacrifice an animal spirit to Him. Vata wrung her hands together. It had to be a large animal, to garner His goodwill. With the horses gone, stolen by Zhíno and Fírí, that left the cows. Vata would have to sacrifice a cow.

She began shuffling her way towards the back door.

What if the police break in during the ceremony? A grim smile passed briefly across her face. I’ll have to pray to Névazhíno that doesn’t happen.

Leading a cow through the hidden exterior door would surely draw their attention, however.

Vata stopped, halfway down the hallway. She needed a distraction.

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