THE BLUE FEATHER
377
“Tital, your ring, look at how bright it is glowing. It looks like
it could burn you,” Kuó observed. Two Mexican men were
changing a flat tire, and another Mexican man was drinking a
Coke, watching Tital and Bardala drive and park nearby.
“Brilloso,” Tital loudly called out after opening his door,
“Search!”
From under the old Ford truck came a voice, “Ricárdo, that
sounds like Tital calling his dog. Am I dreaming again?”
Ricárdo Almanza turned around to look, and saw his now
older nephew, looking down into the grass, searching for
something.
“Tital...is that you? What are you doing in the United States?
Fernándo, it is Tital! Get out here; it’s your son, for sure!”
Fernándo crawled out from underneath the old Ford truck, got
up, and ran over to his son.
“Tital, you can’t be...here. You’re so tall, now,” Fernándo
gave Tital a big hug in front of the crew, and a kiss on his cheek.
“How did you find us? We only stopped because of this old tire
went flat.”
“Father, I’m very glad to see you! Mother finally told me…you
were...dead.” Tital stammered, stunned, but elated to see his
very much alive father.
“No, no…there was a mine accident, but I’m okay...now. I
was in a coma for many months. But, you can’t kill an Almanza.
Who are you traveling with here in New Mexico?”
“My crew, that’s Bardala, Jonathan, and Viviana, they’re
brother and sisters. Then there’s Ronú, Lena, and Kuó. The two
other special friends are Moka, and Eegh.”