Wrapping Up The Hohokam

[madwriter]

PROGRESS REPORT FOR 12/9/11

New Words: 3100 on Chapter 1 ("Those Who Came Before") Part 3 ("The Canal Builders") of Arizona. I led three characters into a maze and only one out of it. From here the book will jump ahead about 350 years into the world of the Anasazi, Chaco Canyon, and the building of the pueblos.

Total Words: 48700.

Reason For Stopping: Finished the chapter.

Book Year(s): 777 (and up).

Mammalian Assistance: None, as they were all lounging on the bed. Vegas was snuggled up with his sister Velvet, too cute for me to call away.

Exercise: Walking Tucker around the neighborhood.

Stimulants: Dr. Pepper.

Today's Opening Passage: Tohbi had watched over her people for twenty years, and trained the warriors who guarded them. Unlike Judumi, she made no raids into other territories, but she made certain that her warriors were strong and fierce at need. Because they were, there had been little need; returning traders reported that the Hohokam now had a reputation for being generous in peace and ferocious in war. Hohokam land had the reputation of being the safest place for hundreds of miles in any direction, and Tohbi knew for a fact this was so.

Darling Du Jour: His brother fell silent. Kwewu realized they both were lying on the ground, leaning their heads into the stone walls. He was drifting off to sleep, but that was fine. Even now, partly awake, he dreamed of walking through the shadows into a sun-lit tunnel that wound away into forever. In his sleep Kwewu became the Man in the Maze, seeking his way towards the center, where Elder Brother would always be waiting for him.

In the distance I’itoi’s voice encouraged him along his way:

You have taken my sacred water
for a gift to my children,
as I meant it to be.

It will let my children drink,
it will feed your plants
when the dry land becomes a burning land,
as I meant the canals to save you.

Come seek me in my maze, Hohokam.

Non-Research / Review Books In Progress: McCrumb; Baxter; Parsons.