23
THE BLUE FEATHER
The three Negreté children had formed a very close-knitted
family with their parents. They were always together doing
interesting projects, like their camping trip, while learning about
marine animals and plants. Yet, Bardala now had her problems
with trying to help her younger brother, Jonathan, and her
younger sister, Viviana, keep up the pace that their abductor
pushed them to cover on this harsh land. Before they reached
the ranch where they took horses, Bardala tried to carry Viviana
part of the way. Her back still hurt from that long ordeal.
Bardala had tried to talk Pancho into letting Jonathan and
Viviana, go back to their parents. Pancho looked into Jonathan
and Viviana’s eyes and flatly said they also would be needed.
“Needed for what?” Bardala asked.
“They are important, just as you are. The time for the old
ceremony is very soon. The priests say everyone called must be
present,” Pancho told Bardala. “I was only told where to find
you, and to bring you to Tulúm,” he said.
“Why did you not just ask my father for all of us to go, if it
was so important?” Bardala wanted to know.
“All I can tell you is that you may be gone for one thousand
years. Do you think your father would agree to that long of a trip
for you and your brother and sister? You have agreed, and been
chosen,” Pancho told her.
“I have agreed on nothing. Are you crazy? I cannot live for
one thousand years. No one can,” Bardala told him in a
knowingly firm tone.
“Look at me carefully. How old do you think I am?” asked
Pancho.
“Thirty...thirty years old,” Bardala answered.