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The cousins wandered over the bald crown of the hill, imagining they were walking
on a giant's skull. Etseh and Etsi waved them back for the rest of the story.
"Look. You can see a big crack here. Today, whenever people come to this place
they kneel here."
John looked down at the rock beside the crack. It had been rubbed smooth by many
people kneeling on it.
"People say a prayer here and leave tobacco or matches for the old grandfather,"
said Etsi. "Then they drop a stone down the crack. If they can hear it drop to
the bottom, it means they will live a long time. If they don't hear a sound, that
means they won't have a long life."
John and Nora looked at each other as they both bent down to pick up a stone.
"Can we try?" they asked their grandparents.
"He?e," said Etseh. "First we need to leave tobacco for the old
man and say a prayer." Etseh reached into a small pouch and placed a pinch
of tobacco in a tiny crack. Quietly he said a prayer. The rest of the group did
the same. Nora and John leaned over the large crack.
"You go first Ts'ekoa," urged John.
She dropped her stone into the crack and listened carefully.
"It worked!" she said. "I heard it hit the water!"
John went next. He too heard
that lucky sound from down below. "I guess we'll see those grey hairs!"
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