Kesh by Ralph L Wahlstrom Read Free Book Online

movement in reverse. “Now turn your head the other way. Kesh did, and as he opened his eyes wide in amazement, the coyote’s, eyes opened wide.
    Then, almost breathless, he whispered, “Oh my God!” The coyote uttered, a low quiet growl. “I’m a coyote?”
    A murmur ran through the small hut.
    Kesh repeated, “I don’t want to be a coyote.” The animal in the mirror backed away.
    The wind stirred now, a restless shift in the small universe inside the shack, like the air in the moments just before a thunderstorm, and Kesh thought he might have said the wrong thing. Then the feeling of a coming storm lifted, and he sensed that the spider smiled. Gently, the wind spoke. “You are very young, Kesh, and you have very much to learn, but, whether you approve or not, you are also a coyote. And trust me boy, this is not a small thing. The coyote spirit is powerful. The coyote is intelligent and brave. The coyote can be a foolish creature as well, but there is no stronger spirit. In the old stories, he is the laughing one, good son, good father, truth teller, and life giver. You will come to know that the sacred earth power is everywhere and it exists in everything.”
    The coyote’s head sank and Kesh said quietly, “I don’t have any power. I can’t do this.”
    â€œYou are the coyote, shaped-shifter, bringer of rain, eternal child, brother of the stars and, most of all, you are a teacher. Kesh, you will come to understand that only you, the coyote, have the power to set right the wrongs that have begun to spread like a cancer across this sickened world. The prophecies tell us the coyote and only the coyote can bring the old spirit back. Only the coyote can help the world learn to see past the masks to the source of all things. This world needs you more than you could possibly imagine.”
    Kesh stooped low, his ears set back, and the mirror image whimpered. He said, “No, really, I’m just a kid. I can’t even throw a football. How am I expected to do anything like that?”
    The muskrat snuffled over to the coyote boy. “First, you’re not a kid. You’re a wee bit small for your age, I know, but you are every bit a young man, every bit a coyote. And let me assure you that you are not alone. The world has a lot of coyotes like you, and many, many Annas too. She is just one spider. There are countless others, and together they are Grandmother Spider, the mother of creation, weaver of life, and it is their time—and yours. Trust me, lad, you are not in the first to have made this discovery, not even here in this world. And, Kesh, don’t ever forget that you have us.” He gestured toward the open door and windows and there, in absolute respectful silence, were row upon row of animals.
    The wind spoke. “So, you see, Kesh. This is the time of change, the time to begin to tear down the great illusions. We have one more chance to change, to wipe away the great factories of this world. If we don’t, we will all disappear.”
    â€œThis is the rag man’s story, isn’t it?”
    The spider smiled. “This is everyone’s story, Kesh. This is your story.”
    Kesh thought for a moment. “What do you mean, we will all disappear? Are the animals going to disappear?”
    â€œThat depends. Yes, if we fail, the animals will disappear, but you need to understand, Kesh, that we are all animals. Like you, every person has an animal spirit inside.”
    â€œSo, everyone will disappear?”
    â€œNothing is certain. You see, Kesh, it depends on us. Our job is to teach our world how to find the source of our true nature, how to destroy the masks, and to illuminate the spirit of the wolf, the laughing raccoon, the magical dragonfly, the mighty bear, and all the rest to this world. This is the time.”
    â€œAnd the panther…” Kesh hesitated. “The cat and the snake too?”
    The wind