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儿童英语读物 The Mystery of the Lost Village CHAPTER 9 The Pow-Wow

时间:2017-08-01 06:31来源:互联网 提供网友:qing   字体: [ ]
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“I hope you made plenty of fried bread,” Joe said to his mother a few hours later. The family had gathered in the kitchen for a quick breakfast before the Pow-Wow.

“We made five baskets to bring with us,” Violet said, “and we saved some just for you.” She pointed1 to the heavy cast-iron skillet where squares of bread dough3 were sizzling to a rich golden brown.

“May I try some?” Benny asked. With tongs4, Violet carefully lifted a square of bread out of the pan. Then she dipped it in powdered sugar and handed it to him on a napkin.

“Maybe you’d better take it with you, son,” Mr. Lightfeather said, glancing at his watch. “It’s getting late, and we don’t want to miss the opening ceremony.”

They quickly loaded the van, and Benny made a dash upstairs for his belt. He wanted to display it at the Pow-Wow, but he knew he’d never sell it. It meant too much to him.

When everyone was finally settled in the van, Benny realized that Jessie and Amy were wearing their buckskin dresses. “Wow, you’ve got real Navajo costumes,” he said admiringly.

“We call it regalia,” Amy corrected him gently. “Jessie and I will be dancing right after the Grand Entry.”

The area chosen for the Pow-Wow was in a clearing at the edge of the forest. Joe had explained to the Aldens that one special area was roped off in a circle. It was holy ground and had been blessed by the elders of the tribe. All the dancing and ceremonial rites5 would be held there.

Mr. Lightfeather parked the van in a field, and the children jumped out excitedly. “Look how many cars there are,” Amy said to Joe. “It looks like the whole town has turned out for the Pow-Wow.”

The Aldens helped the Lightfeathers set up a folding table and arrange the trays of traditional Navajo dishes — corn bread, chili6 fritters, and stuffed sweet peppers.

“We’d better hurry,” Mrs. Lightfeather said. “It’s almost time for the Grand Entry.” After making a final check of the table, everyone headed for the roped-off area, passing dozens of booths filled with Navajo jewelry7 and pottery8.

“Look, there’s Kinowok,” Henry pointed out. He spotted9 the elderly leader in full regalia, leading a group of men and women toward the circle.

“He’ll say the opening blessing10,” Joe explained. “Then we’ll have the inter-tribal dances.”

Jessie felt a little nervous when she heard the drumbeat, but Amy squeezed her hand reassuringly11. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “We’re the last ones on the schedule.”

“That gives me more time to worry,” Jessie whispered back.

Amy laughed. “Just enjoy watching the dancers. And when it’s our turn, forget the crowd and pretend you’re back in my room.”

The people bowed their heads for the blessing, and then four spirited young men performed the Snake Dance in the center of the ring. The drumbeat became faster as they advanced and retreated to the edge of the ropes.

“The Snake Dance is my favorite part of the Pow-Wow,” Joe confided12 to Henry.

“Why would anyone want to dance like a snake?” Benny asked.

“The snake is very important to us because he lives close to the ground,” Amy told him. “Whenever the soil is dry and parched13, he can send a message to the gods.” She smiled. “At least, that’s what our ancestors thought.”

The Aldens watched the dancing for over an hour, and then Jessie heard the Swan Dance being announced over a loudspeaker.

“That’s us,” Amy said, tugging14 at her arm. “Don’t forget your shawl,” she added as she ducked under the rope and into the ring.

She and Jessie stood perfectly15 still, waiting until the drum began beating a familiar rhythm. Then, right on cue, both girls swayed back and forth16, the fringe on their outfits17 floating on the crisp breeze. Jessie moved through the steps easily, and was so caught up in the music, she forgot to be nervous. When the song was over, she was startled by the burst of applause.

“You were great!” Amy whispered, as they rejoined the family.

“What’s next?” Benny said. He liked watching the dances, especially the ones with spears and shields, but he was hungry.

“How about an early lunch?” Mrs. Lightfeather suggested.

“C’mon,” Joe offered. “I’ll take you on a tour of the food booths.”

“Can we start over there? Whatever he’s making sure smells good.” Benny pointed to a man cooking over an open fire.

Joe looked over his shoulder and nodded. “That’s Bobbie Redbird from the Ute tribe. And you’ll never guess what he’s cooking — tortillas!”

“Let’s go!” Benny yelled, scampering18 away.

“Mom, would you like to walk around with Dad for a while?” Amy offered. She glanced at her friends. “Jessie and Violet and I can take care of our booth.”

“That would be nice,” Mrs. Lightfeather said, linking her arm through her husband’s. “We only get to see some of our friends once a year at the Pow-Wow.”

After lunch, all the children visited a craft booth, and Henry picked up a strange-looking object. It was a round wooden hoop19 with gauzy threads woven back and forth through the center. “What’s this?” he asked, puzzled.

“Oh, that’s a dream catcher,” Joe said. “We always kept one in our bedrooms when we were little.”

“But what’s it for?”

Joe grinned. “It lets the good dreams in and keeps the bad ones out.”

“I think I’ll buy one,” Benny said. “Then I’ll never get nightmares again.”

“Let’s all buy one,” Jessie suggested. She was looking over the selection when Kinowok and Michael Running Deer approached them. Jessie noticed that Michael was wearing a beaded necklace with his denim20 shirt.

“That was very fine dancing,” Kinowok said to Jessie. His brown eyes were twinkling as he solemnly shook hands with her. “I think you should become an honorary member of our tribe.”

“I told her she dances like a Navajo,” Amy said proudly.

“And you, Benny, are you enjoying the Pow-Wow?” Kinowok rested his hand on the young boy’s shoulder.

“I sure am!” Benny whirled around in a circle waving his dream catcher in the air. “Did you hear what happened last night?” he blurted21 out. “We had police cars and everything at the house. It was scary!”

“What happened?” Kinowok’s voice was serious, and Michael Running Deer stepped closer.

Henry briefly22 told them what had happened, and finished with a description of Ted2 Clark and Rita Neville being arrested.

“It’s just as I suspected,” Kinowok said. He leaned on his walking stick, and looked sad. “In their greed, they thought of the artifacts as treasure. They didn’t understand the real importance of them. They tried to steal a part of our history.”

“Then you think we’ve really discovered the ancient village?” Joe asked.

Kinowok nodded. “I feel very certain of it. I suspected Rita Neville was not trustworthy so when I knew you were getting close, I urged her to leave the reservation. If she had heeded23 my warning, she and Ted Clark both would be free now.”

“You warned her?” Amy asked.

“Of course — the note!” Violet said, suddenly understanding. “You must have written that note to Rita. She accused us of putting it under her door at the motel.”

Kinowok tapped his chest with his palm. “I did it. I wanted to give them one last chance to leave us alone.” He shrugged24. “But they ignored my plea, and now they must pay the price.”

“At least it’s all over now,” Henry said.

“That’s right,” Joe offered. “Tomorrow Mom and Dad are going to bring all the artifacts to the town council. Once the judge sees what we’ve found, he’ll protect the forest. Then someone can start a real excavation25 and find the lost village.”

“Unless the developer tries to fight it,” Amy said.

“I don’t think he will,” Henry said. “Not if he realizes what’s at stake.”

Kinowok looked at Michael Running Deer. “Is that true, my friend? You work for the developer. Will he leave quietly once he learns about the ancient village?”

Michael looked directly into the old man’s eyes. “I don’t know what will happen,” he said softly. “It’s not up to me.”

“I understand.” Kinowok patted him on the shoulder. “Some things are out of your hands.” He smiled at the children. “Tomorrow will be here soon enough. Let’s enjoy the rest of the Pow-Wow.”

The day passed quickly for the Aldens. Mrs. Lightfeather sold all of the baked goods she brought, and Joe sold half a dozen beaded belts. Both Benny and Henry had decided26 to keep the belts they had made.

It was late afternoon when the men performed the Spear and Shield Dance to close the Pow-Wow. Benny sat cross-legged on the ground and watched as two warriors27 in full regalia pretended to do battle in the center of the ring. At the end, one of them waved his spear and moved into a fast war dance as the drumbeats reached a climax28.

Then everyone held hands as they joined in a closing song, watching as the huge bonfire turned to embers.

“I’ll always remember this, won’t you?” Violet whispered to Jessie.

Jessie nodded, swaying to the music. She knew that she would never forget her Navajo friends and everything they had taught her.
 


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
2 ted 9gazhs     
vt.翻晒,撒,撒开
参考例句:
  • The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
  • She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。
3 dough hkbzg     
n.生面团;钱,现款
参考例句:
  • She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
  • The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。
4 tongs ugmzMt     
n.钳;夹子
参考例句:
  • She used tongs to put some more coal on the fire.她用火钳再夹一些煤放进炉子里。
  • He picked up the hot metal with a pair of tongs.他用一把钳子夹起这块热金属。
5 rites 5026f3cfef698ee535d713fec44bcf27     
仪式,典礼( rite的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • to administer the last rites to sb 给某人举行临终圣事
  • He is interested in mystic rites and ceremonies. 他对神秘的仪式感兴趣。
6 chili JOlzm     
n.辣椒
参考例句:
  • He helped himself to another two small spoonfuls of chili oil.他自己下手又加了两小勺辣椒油。
  • It has chocolate,chili,and other spices.有巧克力粉,辣椒,和其他的调味品。
7 jewelry 0auz1     
n.(jewllery)(总称)珠宝
参考例句:
  • The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
  • Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。
8 pottery OPFxi     
n.陶器,陶器场
参考例句:
  • My sister likes to learn art pottery in her spare time.我妹妹喜欢在空余时间学习陶艺。
  • The pottery was left to bake in the hot sun.陶器放在外面让炎热的太阳烘晒焙干。
9 spotted 7FEyj     
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
参考例句:
  • The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
  • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
10 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿
参考例句:
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
11 reassuringly YTqxW     
ad.安心,可靠
参考例句:
  • He patted her knee reassuringly. 他轻拍她的膝盖让她放心。
  • The doctor smiled reassuringly. 医生笑了笑,让人心里很踏实。
12 confided 724f3f12e93e38bec4dda1e47c06c3b1     
v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的过去式和过去分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等)
参考例句:
  • She confided all her secrets to her best friend. 她向她最要好的朋友倾吐了自己所有的秘密。
  • He confided to me that he had spent five years in prison. 他私下向我透露,他蹲过五年监狱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 parched 2mbzMK     
adj.焦干的;极渴的;v.(使)焦干
参考例句:
  • Hot winds parched the crops.热风使庄稼干透了。
  • The land in this region is rather dry and parched.这片土地十分干燥。
14 tugging 1b03c4e07db34ec7462f2931af418753     
n.牵引感v.用力拉,使劲拉,猛扯( tug的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • Tom was tugging at a button-hole and looking sheepish. 汤姆捏住一个钮扣眼使劲地拉,样子显得很害羞。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
  • She kicked him, tugging his thick hair. 她一边踢他,一边扯着他那浓密的头发。 来自辞典例句
15 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
16 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
17 outfits ed01b85fb10ede2eb7d337e0ea2d0bb3     
n.全套装备( outfit的名词复数 );一套服装;集体;组织v.装备,配置设备,供给服装( outfit的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • He jobbed out the contract to a number of small outfits. 他把承包工程分包给许多小单位。 来自辞典例句
  • Some cyclists carry repair outfits because they may have a puncture. 有些骑自行车的人带修理工具,因为他们车胎可能小孔。 来自辞典例句
18 scampering 5c15380619b12657635e8413f54db650     
v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑,惊惶奔跑( scamper的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • A cat miaowed, then was heard scampering away. 马上起了猫叫,接着又听见猫逃走的声音。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
  • A grey squirrel is scampering from limb to limb. 一只灰色的松鼠在树枝间跳来跳去。 来自辞典例句
19 hoop wcFx9     
n.(篮球)篮圈,篮
参考例句:
  • The child was rolling a hoop.那个孩子在滚铁环。
  • The wooden tub is fitted with the iron hoop.木盆都用铁箍箍紧。
20 denim o9Lya     
n.斜纹棉布;斜纹棉布裤,牛仔裤
参考例句:
  • She wore pale blue denim shorts and a white denim work shirt.她穿着一条淡蓝色的斜纹粗棉布短裤,一件白粗布工作服上衣。
  • Dennis was dressed in denim jeans.丹尼斯穿了一条牛仔裤。
21 blurted fa8352b3313c0b88e537aab1fcd30988     
v.突然说出,脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我还没来得及制止,她已脱口而出。
  • He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎说出了真相,说是他犯了那个罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
22 briefly 9Styo     
adv.简单地,简短地
参考例句:
  • I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
  • He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
23 heeded 718cd60e0e96997caf544d951e35597a     
v.听某人的劝告,听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 );变平,使(某物)变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She countered that her advice had not been heeded. 她反驳说她的建议未被重视。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I heeded my doctor's advice and stopped smoking. 我听从医生的劝告,把烟戒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
25 excavation RiKzY     
n.挖掘,发掘;被挖掘之地
参考例句:
  • The bad weather has hung up the work of excavation.天气不好耽误了挖掘工作。
  • The excavation exposed some ancient ruins.这次挖掘暴露出一些古遗迹。
26 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
27 warriors 3116036b00d464eee673b3a18dfe1155     
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
  • The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。
28 climax yqyzc     
n.顶点;高潮;v.(使)达到顶点
参考例句:
  • The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。
  • His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。
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