“Good girl.”
Justine watched him for a few seconds longer as he stared into the large crowd. She wondered if he was fearful that his brother’s dance would end in tragedy, as his did. Then she thought for a moment. Derrick has danced many times before. What would make Darrius nervous about this all of a sudden? Discarding the idea as a figment of her imagination, she, too, stared out at the crowd.
The lights flickered off and on and Darrius took her hand. “Ready to see my brother do what he does best?”
“More than ready.”
The announcer stood in the middle of the arena dressed as the Crow Mother kachina. Justine listened carefully as he explained the ceremony, what would be happening and who would be represented. In the background, she saw some of the arena.
Darrius whispered in her ear. “What you see now is considered the Guard Kachinas.”
“I know. Remember, I told you I’ve done some reading about kachinas?”
“Oh?
“Darrius, I know you remember me telling you that.”
“Just kidding. Wanted to test your knowledge. Then since you’re so smart, tell me who you see.”
“I see the Broad-Faced kachina—”
“What does he do?”
Why was he questioning her? To test her?
She took a deep breath. “Well, if you insist on my telling you. He has something to do with being on all mesas during the bean dance, and he’s a guard. He keeps a close eye on the Palolokong dances.”
“That’s some of it.”
“Any more questions?”
“Yeah, who are the others in the center now?”
Barely able to take her eyes from him due to his rapid-fire questions, she stared into the circle and pointed. “Well, I think I see Warrior Woman.”
“Right. H’e-e’-e, is the native name. Who else?”
“Can’t I just watch the ceremony?”
“Sure, but name two more for me and I’ll leave you alone.”
“I don’t want to be left alone, Darrius. I just want to enjoy the ceremony, maybe have you tell me a few things I don’t know. I see Toho, Ahote and Ewiro. Hey, doesn’t Ewiro guard the clowns?”
“You’re right. You do know a lot about my customs and beliefs.”
“Comes from growing up with native children. I’ve seen their kachina dolls before, but when I was a child, I never could fully understand the lessons the doll represented, no matter how much the native children explained them to me. Can I watch the ceremony now? They’re really getting into it.”
“I suppose.”
“Good. Wrap your arms around me and tell me everything.”
He did as asked, but he held her loosely, as if he had left his feelings for her inside Derrick’s teepee. No matter how she tried getting closer to him, he kept his distance. It almost brought her to tears. This from a man who talked of marriage only an hour or two before. This from a man she made love to on a horse, of all things.
During a break in the kachina dances, she caught a glimpse of frantic antics from another kachina. Darrius whispered in her ear, “Here’s your boy.”
Her eyes lit as the Koshari pranced into the arena, immediately followed by Ewiro. “Wow, it really is him!”
Koshari danced his way into the arena sporting the rhythmic style and agility of an African tribal dancer and the ease and depth of a ribbon dancer. Justine stood there in Darrius’s arms, amazed that she was actually seeing her favorite kachina perform. She had no idea Derrick had so much soul in his movements. He was fascinating to watch as he chased several of the guard kachinas around the area. “I…I had no idea he could move like that. He’s awesome.”
“He’s incredible at what he does; the best dancer I’ve ever seen.”
Only the Koshari could rid her mind of Darrius and his sudden distance. Koshari was a feast to the eyes, something she had always wanted to see since seeing her first Koshari clown as a child. Now she was witness to him, seeing him in the flesh, dancing like a wild man—an erotic wild man. His moves were so smooth, almost sexual, that she nearly felt ashamed to watch him in the company of Darrius—almost. He was lyrical in movement. The man painted in white and black stripes with tassel hat mesmerized her beyond reason.
Koshari was on the other side of the arena in front of a group of fans who were egging him on. Apparently, they knew his antics and wanted him to display the actions of a very un-Hopi-like individual. He brought a lesson, that of being the last person to be like, and thus avoid being shunned from the group. He was a glutton, an antagonist, a…clown who exemplified all rude behavior; the lesson was exaggerated in dance. He did it so well.
Justine watched him as he doused the guards and onlookers with buckets of water. His fruit tossing made a slimy mess of many people, and Justine was amused enough to actually want to be part of the action. He was the most amazing character she’d ever seen.
The way his body moved heightened his physical strength, and from as far away as the opposite side of the arena she could see his muscles. His bulging thigh muscles under the breechcloth excited her. His nude, striped torso rippled with each heavy bucket of water he tossed. The way he ran, stretching his long, lean, well-toned legs almost made her own legs weak. If only she could see Darrius like that. Being a twin to this fabulous dancer and witness to his sexual strength, she knew he could dance just as provocative and be just as stimulating.
Darrius was clearly enthralled by his brother’s dance. His expression said he was itching to do the same. She held his hand tighter, kissing it. The kiss made him antsy for some reason, and he continued to avoid her.
Justine returned her attention to the amazing dancer. Koshari had proceeded to paw at the audience, traipsing around the left side of the arena in a frantic search for a victim. He stopped in front of a young woman, pulled her into the crowd and dowsed her with the remaining bucket of water. The poor young woman just stood there, not knowing what to do with her wet clothing as Koshari danced around her, tossing more fruit, making a mess of his unwilling participant. Suddenly, Koshari decided to show his true prowess by lifting the young woman above his head, stunning the audience. The crowd oohed and aahed, and at the same time Darrius’s hand gripped hers tighter, nervous. Apparently, once Derrick hoisted the woman it brought on visions of what had happened that night eight years back. Justine looked up at Darrius; his eyes were fixed on the action.
“Are you thinking about what happened when you did that?” Apparently, the accident was very much on his mind, and she wanted to make him feel at ease. It didn’t work. His jaw tightened, his muscles clenched and his eyes stayed fixed on the field.
“Darrius? Are you okay?”
“I’m…yeah. He hasn’t done that in years.”
