| The Kids
The setting sun paints the desert sky crimson as the expanding fiery sphere dips below the horizon.
This memorable day demands the best colors to highlight the creation’s remark:
Sa'a naghái bik'e hózhó
Many moons later the white man would interpret it as: “Let there be life.”
The faint outline of the moon, now clearer over the beauty of the desert, takes over the job of showing the path, their first on the surface, as The Dine, the mighty Navajo Nation, emerge from middle earth led by heroic Yeis, the Holy People, whose epic act would be honored forever.
Today earth witnesses the beginning of life.
As the Dine ride in traditional attire on horseback from a mountain cave, the Yeis celebrate the completion of their most important mission.
Sa'a naghái refers to Father Sun, the male creator of the Navajo world, while bik'e hózhó is Mother Earth, source of all life.
Father Sun; Mother Earth, see our children.
The Kids is prequel to The Calling
Recently assigned to the Dayton Aerospace Medical Lab, Colonel Victor Bou, comes face-to-face for the first time with the DWS (Discerning Weapons System) and its developers, a dozen very bright young people.
David, a kid who does not seem a day over twelve, wears a neatly knotted silk tie that looks out of place over a rumpled plaid shirt. He approaches Victor with a confident grin, extending his arm. His handshake is firm. Victor notices his surprisingly large, strong hands, disproportioned to his frail body.
“Welcome, Colonel Bou,” David says in a raspy voice. “It is a privilege to show you our area of work and to demonstrate our project,” he says, with a penetrating gaze. “I’m the project leader and principal investigator. I’d like to take a few minutes to introduce our team.”
Victor turns to Jack and pulls him to the side. “Are these kids of legal age to work here?”
“Trust me,” Jack replies curtly.
David leads Victor to each of the twelve kids introducing each one by their first name, describing their area of competence, and their role in the project in fine detail, without notes or hesitation. David’s speech is fast, clear, concise and elegant. The pride with which he refers to the others belies his age, and especially his appearance.
David never referred to anyone’s last name. It was simply David, Ross, Lance, Spike, Shield, Shell, Colt, Elk, Trace, Hunter, and Jim. They all appear to be of the same age—too young to be taken seriously, as billed.
"The Kids" also transports you to the drama in one Navajo family and the tragedy that befell those who witnessed an unusual transgression, as forces to restore harmony are mobilized.
Front Cover art by Steve Doyle, courtesy of the U.S. Air Force
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