Kesh by Ralph L Wahlstrom Read Free Book Online Page A

spider smiled gently again. “I suppose that was quite a shock.”
    â€œOf course, it was a shock. My parents are probably dead.” There was more than small hint of whimpering in Kesh’s voice.
    â€œDead? Oh, you poor child. Are you certain of this?”
    â€œWhat do you mean? Are you teasing me? What else could have happened to them? I know what I saw, and I’m absolutely certain.” As he spoke, he realized he actually didn’t know what had happened to his parents.
    Giggles arose briefly from the animals looking on. The spider whispered a quiet “Shhh” and the creatures fell silent. “Tell me what you saw.” Kesh told her about his discovery and his panicked flight from Ontario Drive. Grandmother Spider continued. “My boy, let us assume this is not a dream, and you truly did see a snake and big cat in your family’s home.” Kesh nodded. “Is it possible there is another explanation?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    Â â€œHave you ever seen other animals in odd places?”
    Suddenly, Kesh remembered he had seen what he thought was an iguana slipping into the locker room at school. The Great Lakes didn’t have big lizards, and he convinced himself he hadn’t seen it after all. But now he wondered. “I’m not sure.”
    â€œYou will be soon enough. For now, try not to jump to such dire conclusions. Be patient, boy, and have faith.”
    â€œAll I know is that I saw a python and a panther in that room, and my mother and father were gone. What am I supposed to believe? Besides, this whole stupid thing is a dream. It’s just a lousy nightmare, and I’m going to wake up any second now.”
    The wind blew with a little more urgency now, and the spider spoke. “It is not important that you believe just now. You will come to believe me soon enough.”
    â€œBut this isn’t real; it’s just not possible.”
    â€œPossible? Humans know very little about the possible. You say it cannot be possible that you are a coyote, that you run with a muskrat, and that you speak to a spider? You know precious little about what is possible, but you will find out in due time.”
    Kesh looked around at the muzzles, snouts, and teeth peering into the hut. Then he glanced at Muskrat and the spider and, finally, took one more sidelong look at the mirror. “Okay. I suppose this is a dream, and in my dream world, it make sense that wild animals were hanging out in my living room. It’s still incredibly hard to understand.”
    The wind smiled. “You do not have to understand much, at least not yet. Just, know this. Everything you are experiencing will become clear to you shortly. For now this reality is blurred and obscured by the world, by the factories. You see, Kesh, nobody is what he or she appears to be, at least not entirely. Humans are many things. They are selfish, foolish, and blind to the world around them, but in spite of their faults, they are special. Your species is infinitely more powerful than any of you are willing to imagine. Humans have the power to save this world…and to destroy it.”
    The wind had fallen almost silent for a moment, leaving only the sound of a sigh. Then Anna continued. “Don’t you see, Kesh? You are one of the gifted, the chosen ones. You are the coyote. You have the power to tear away the masks.”
    â€œOkay, let’s say that this is real, that you’re really talking and I’m a coyote. I don’t believe it, but I’ll play along. Are there really others, you know, the ones you said are like me?”
    â€œAh yes, my young coyote,” whispered the wind.” More and more remarkable coyotes, muskrats, badgers, and even spiders are discovering who they are, and we are finding them before the world can muffle their true natures. This is a time of great change…if we are quick enough.
    â€œBut why me? I’m a runt. Why