Walker of Time Read Online Free PDF Page B

sneakers.
    â€œNáat, did your old hands make these moccasins for me to walk time in?” whispered Walker. His hand reached up and touched the eagle pendant hanging on his bare chest. A warm, peaceful feeling began to fill him. “I will do what must be done,” he vowed, looking at the holy shrine.
    Walker packed his shoes and clothes into the backpack. His eyes searched the floor of the cave until he saw his flashlight. He reached down and picked it up. Its beam still shone. Clicking it off, Walker placed it in the backpack next to his shoes. He slipped off his wrist watch and lookedat it. It also had stopped at twelve o’clock. He slid it into the pack’s small side pocket. He put the bag of cornmeal and the paho on top of his clothes. Then he closed and buckled the backpack. He picked it up, took one last cold drink from the pool and left the cave.
    Sitting down next to Tag on the ledge, Walker felt Tag’s eyes staring at his leggings and moccasins. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tag run his hands through his curly hair, shaking his head. Letting his hands fall to his side, Tag gazed down into the unknown canyon.
    The minutes passed. A raven’s mocking caw filled the hot, dry air.
    â€œOkay, Walker Talayesva. You had better explain everything. Start with how and why you came to the cave,” said Tag. His face was serious, but he looked ready to accept what seemed to be reality.
    Walker explained that having no living parents, he had been raised by his uncle at Mishongnovi. Tears blurred his vision when he repeated his uncle’s dying words. Watching Walker’s face, Tag listened intently.
    â€œSo yesterday, I hitched a ride from Hopi to Flagstaff. I slept in the forest at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks last night. I caught another ride here this morning. I was just returning the prayer stick to the shrine when the lightning hit, and you rolled into the cave.”
    Tag swung his legs slowly in the air. His eyes scrutinized the canyon below him. After about five minutes of silence, he turned to face Walker. “Well, Walker, you’ve walked time and I’ve just tagged along.” The giant grin spread across his freckled face. “At least we are living up to our names. Boy, would my Dad be envious. I sure hope I get to see him again to tell him all about it.”
    â€œI hope you do, too, but I’m not sure what we’re going to find down there. I have a feeling it’s going to be dangerous. Maybe you should stay in the cave until I . . .”
    â€œNo way, buddy,” Tag said, standing up and brushing the dust off his blue jeans. “I’ll just keep tagging along with you. Excuse the pun.”
    Walker laughed and stood up. “Well, whatever we find down there, one thing is for sure; the ancient ones won’t have pizza on every fire pit.”
    â€œWell, I guess it’s up to us to teach them how to make it.”
    Walker answered, “I wish it were going to be that easy.”

5
    Walker’s palms started to sweat as he watched Tag climb down the sheer face of the cliff. Tag was awkwardly balancing his long body as he lowered his right foot, trying to locate the next toehold. The tip of his left sneaker was wedged into a small crevice. His fingers clung to mere cracks in the limestone.
    â€œIt sure was easier climbing up to the cave than this climbing down,” Tag shouted to Walker, who was standing a good seven feet below him on the trail. “It seemed like the toe and finger grooves were dee—” Tag’s left shoe slipped out of its narrow footing. As he slid downward, his left knee scraped along the rugged rocks. His fingers fought to maintain their hold. His feet frantically felt for support. The toe of his right sneaker slid into a narrow crack, stopping his fall. He pressed his thin body into the cliff’s face.
    â€œWere deeper,” Tag finished his sentence into the rock. Taking a