15
THE BLUE FEATHER
Tital and Mahucutah had traveled only about an hour when
they came to a small stone ranch house with several very old
horses in a stone corral. Outside the door an old man was sitting
on the ground. He was hurt.
“We mean you no harm,” Tital spoke to the old man on the
ground when he saw fear in his eyes, “Are you hurt?”
“Yes, I was hit by a man yesterday.” The old man said, as he
still looked fearful at the sight of the golden skinned Mahucutah.
“Mahucutah, can you heal this man?” Tital asked his
guardian.
“Yes,” was the only word Mahucutah said as he put his hand
on the old man’s head. The old man’s hair changed from white
to black.
“I feel...strong!” the old man exclaimed.
“Tell me what happened,” Tital said.
“It was mid-afternoon when a man, walking with three
others, came up to my ranch. I offered them water, and the man
wanted my horses. I told him the price and he gave me a gold
stone. I wanted cash, paper money. He got mad and took my
best horses. He pushed me to the ground. I thought I might die,
since yesterday I could not move. Today, when I saw the golden
creature with you I thought I might be dead, but he healed me.
Come, I can give you cool, fresh water.”
“Mmmm. Your water must come from one of the old
cenotes, a well the Mayans used to get water from,” Tital said as
he slowly drank the cool, clear water.
“Yes, my family has lived here for many generations. I have
many sheep and goats in the hills around here. This is their only
source of water for many kilometers,” the old man told Tital.