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There at last lay the camp of the Kachinas. Coyote and Eagle
hid and watched. Eagle stared at the Kachinas’ sacred dances.
But Coyote stared only at a strange, dark box. When one
of the Kachinas opened it a crack, golden light poured out.
When one of the Kachinas opened it halfway, silver light
poured out.
“That’s what we want,” Coyote whispered. “We must steal
that box!”
“All you think about is theft!” Eagle whispered back.
“I will go and ask the Kachinas if they will let us borrow
their box of light.”
Coyote watched as Eagle approached the Kachinas and
demanded the box of light. He watched as the angry Kachinas
threw stones to chase Eagle, bruised and squawking, back into
the sky. But while all the Kachinas were chasing Eagle, Coyote
the sly slid silently into their camp, caught up the box of
light in his jaws, and scurried away. But the box was heavy. Coyote’s jaws were getting tired.
Eagle swooped down to join him. “Here, give me the box. I
can carry it more easily in my talons.”
He snatched it up and flew away. Coyote ran after him,
panting. “Hey, Eagle Chief! Let me carry the box
again.”
“No, no, you will spoil everything.”
“You only want to see what’s inside.”
Coyote yelled up at Eagle, “Whose sides ache from the
Kachina’s blows? Not mine! Who stole away the box with never
a bruise? Not you! Now, let me have the box.”
The box was heavy. Eagle swooped down again.
“Take it. But don’t open it!”
But as Eagle soared up into the sky once more, Coyote
studied the box. And curiosity began to burn and burn within
him. Could the sun and the moon really be inside? Surely
there could be no harm in opening the box just a bit….
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