The Day the Sky Shattered Read online

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  THE DAY THE SKY SHATTERED

  First edition. September 1, 2017.

  Copyright © 2017 Stephen G. Levy.

  ISBN: 978-1386334903

  Written by Stephen G. Levy.

  For Mom

  The Day the Sky Shattered

  By

  Stephen G. Levy

  For Mom

  Table of Contents

  The Best of Times

  PART I, “SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES”

  PART II, “DOUBLE, DOUBLE, TOIL AND TROUBLE”

  PART III, “WHAT IS DONE CANNOT BE UNDONE”

  Author

  The Best of Times

  THE MONARCH RAVEN SOARED over the shimmering evergreens of a glorious Juneau day. This was the happiest day of his long life. In his beak, he carried the final twig that he gathered from his favorite tree. His creation was now nearing completion. He was in a state of exhilaration.

  As he glided by the docked cruise ships, he noted that the passengers dwindled in numbers. Early September marked the end of the season for tourists and the beginning of school for Alaskans. Normally the raven would be with Banks Blackhorse on this special day. But today was an exception. Banks would understand.

  The raven circled the Tlingit compound. He saw the shaman, Roger Rainwater, who was dressed in traditional garb for presiding over a wedding. Talking to the Shaman was Johnny Angelo who took pride in his new friendship with Roger. Johnny peered nervously around at the crowd hoping he would not find Tricia Powers...he was in luck.

  Close by were Dassi Abrams and her husband Dr. Murray Abrams. The doctor wore a sling to aid his healing arm where he was stabbed several weeks earlier. The Abrams chatted with their next door friends, the Powers. Stan Powers was only half listening to Dassi. He was aware that his wife Julie was in need of a drink. Julie joined Alcoholics Anonymous earlier in the week and Stan initiated a breathing lesson that Julie adopted as a daily practice. She was in need of the lesson now and hoped the addictive craving would soon pass. Murray picked up on it. Dassi looked at her husband’s sling and immediately switched her attention to seeking out her daughter Ann.

  Ann Abrams dressed fashionably. She had earlier consulted her neighbor Tricia on what to wear. Tricia made it simple and uncharacteristically lent Ann an outfit for the wedding. Then, Ann’s eyes met the seeking eyes of her mother Dassi. They smiled at one another. Ann’s mood changed abruptly: There was a girl walking—no, swaying—in the direction of Ann and Banks. Ann noted Banks’ sense of apprehension. Banks glanced away from the approaching girl and led Ann towards her parents. He maneuvered the group that resulted in his forming a circle that would create a barrier. Ann knew that this was out of character; she wasn’t jealous of the girl, but rather protective and allied with Banks to keep her out. Ann took Banks’ hand in hope of assuaging his angst. She would definitely ask Banks about this in the future.

  The raven glanced down at the circle. He cawed a song of glee to Banks. Banks looked up and waved at his animal guide. Ann followed suit. And the Powers and the Abrams, somewhat confused, waved at the raven too.

  “This was the best of times,” thought the raven. He soared to Skyline Boulevard. He glanced at Tricia’s new car. Then he found his landing spot near the chimney of the Powers’ house. He added the celebratory twig which was the final touch of the nest. The nest for his loved one’s child to be.

  The White Raven hopped down from the chimney top. She nuzzled into her Monarch and cooed a loving song. She then sat upon her new throne to give life to another.

  The ecstatic Monarch Raven closed in. Centuries past—no millennia past—and finally he had a mate to share life. He had purpose as Banks’ animal guide and he had companionship and love with his mate. Then, his happiness came to a halt. There was a slight shift in the rotation of the earth. There was a swing in electromagnetism. And then there was a flash of a sprite. He hopped up to the chimney and listened below: A quarrel between siblings had begun. Something was happening to Peyton Powers. Perhaps Tricia Powers was in danger.

  Suddenly, the raven knew that the ‘best of times’ was coming to an end. And something wicked was on its way.

  PART I,

  “SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES”

  Peyton’s Journey

  “YOU’RE UNACCEPTABLE to the human race. A truly disgusting example of humanity!” shrilled Tricia Powers to Peyton.

  Peyton Powers, Tricia’s eight year old brother, had hiccupped his soda on the hall carpet. His guide dog, Plato, came to the rescue and lapped up the residue. The Labrador in turned spewed the soda making an even worse mess.

  Since their parents drove the Abrams to the wedding, they asked Tricia to take Peyton and Plato. She had consented since she felt at least a week or two more of goodness was proper payback. After all, her father Stan had bought her a new car. She detested doing this but considered it act of duty. She thought, “It is my sense of noblesse oblige.” She had no idea what she was thinking except she liked the sound of it in French.

  Additionally, Tricia wanted to go to Europe after her senior year at high school to check out the boys since the object of her affection, Johnny Angelo, was avoiding her. He was avoiding her ever since she beat the crap out of him last Valentine’s Day and then treated him like dirt. Johnny was the only boy that she slept with and found the experience amazing even if she ‘wasn’t all there.’ She didn’t tell her father her motive for the European trip was to re-experience sex, but rather to learn different cultures and to put her French to good use. She was also attempting to get Ann into the trip and that way Tricia’s parents would approve. After all, she was daddy’s little girl.

  But all of Tricia’s kind considerations for driving Peyton and Plato were gone when Peyton hiccupped soda again: “That’s it, I’m going without you. I’m not taking you and your disgusting animal in my new car. You sicken me. You’ve been acting stranger.”

  Peyton excused, “That’s because I have been hearing voices.”

  “Voices! Besides being blind, you are schizophrenic, psychotic! You are sick, sick, sick!”

  “You had better watch the way you talk to me, girl.”

  “What are you going to do to me, mucus boy? I’m leaving without you. Text mom or Uber it. And I’m not cleaning up your mess.”

  “Yes you will. I can make you do it.”

  Tricia laughed hysterically, grabbed her keys. Meanwhile, Peyton went into a trance to turn her into stone...temporarily. The Spirit allowed Peyton the right to take care of Banks on a permanent basis. But something was happening to Peyton...none of his powers was working. It was as if the Old Soul were fading. And then...came the voice. And the voice gave urgent and explicit instructions. And Peyton Powers knew that he must obey. Meanwhile, his sister was mocking him on her way out of the house.

  The Monarch Raven watched Tricia head towards her car as Mrs. Kadet, the neighbor, brought her garbage to the curb.

  “Hello Tricia, nice to see you,” yelled Mrs. Kadet from across the street.

  Tricia waved and wanted to get away from her. Mrs. Kadet’s eye patch brought back some unwanted memories since during Delivery Day, she saw Mrs. Kadet attacked by creatures and noticed her eyeball hanging from its socket.

  Mrs. Kadet was going to receive a glass eye from Seattle any day now. But she would only wear it while in the house with her husband. She had made this decision not to hide the fact that she only had one eye. She remembered that when she was ten, she auditioned for the play “The Pirates of Penzance.” They were short on boys for the play and Mrs. Kadet was to play a male pirate with an eyepatch. She practiced
wearing the patch while attending her classes. Never did she receive so much attention. Today, she was invisible amongst other Juneauites and decided to nurse her disability as much as she could. So her new motto that she told her husband was, “Glass eye inside, eyepatch outside.”

  As Tricia drove onto the street, Mrs. Kadet eyed the new car with appreciation: “What kind of car is it, Tricia?”

  And Tricia in a hurry responded, “Red.”

  As Tricia sped down the street, Mrs. Kadet greeted Peyton who was guided by Plato. But Peyton ignored her. After several greetings, Peyton marched down the boulevard. Mrs. Kadet gave up after a while and told her husband. They found it strange that the family would leave him alone and decided that they should follow him.

  At the Wedding

  The girl was circling the group like a shark closing in on prey.

  Ann Abrams held Banks’ hand. As the girl revolved, Banks gripped Ann’s hand tighter. The conversations amongst Ann’s parents, Julie & Stan Powers and Ann & Banks were unimportant as one by one each member became aware of the circling girl. The girl with hips that were ‘swivelly and swervey.’ The girl with long brownish hair that swayed with metronomic motion. The girl that wore a garland of gardenias that permeated the outdoor air with sensual delights. The girl with perfect posture and poise. And for an instant, the girl caught the eye of Banks Blackhorse who thought that this nineteen year old girl had only one deficit: She was an Indian.

  At the instant that she caught Banks’ eyes, her eyes smoldered. Her current mission was accomplished and she headed towards the shaman who was her cousin and mentor. The wedding guests watched her. One could not look away from poetry in motion.

  And the thoughts of most women were:

  “Absolutely exquisite. I wonder who she is.”

  “Fantastic garland around her neck, Indians are so...natural.”

  “I wish I had her body and looks.”

  “What a slut. Look at the way she sashays, just begging for it.”

  And the men:

  “Striking!”

  “She could be a movie star.”

  “I’m in love, or is it lust?”

  “Sway Garland, I’ve been in love with you since fifth grade.”

  “Looking good, Sway.”

  “I’d like to have that piece of ass.”

  Yes the girl Sway Garland seemed to have it all. All except for Banks Blackhorse.

  Julie Powers didn’t pay attention to Sway Garland. Her mind was on Peyton. “Why wasn’t he here? Where was Tricia? They were supposed to come together.” She grabbed her phone and texted Peyton...no answer. Then tried Tricia...no answer. Julie Powers needed a drink real bad. Her immediate thirst was interrupted by the sounds from the booming microphone.

  Standing on a make-shift stage behind the podium was Shaman Roger Rainwater. Speaking into the mic: “Testing, testing, I always wanted to say that. Ladies. Gentleman. And white people.” The crowd laughed. The Native Alaskans laughed the loudest. He continued, “I always wanted to say that too. On a more celebratory note, I wanted to say a word about two-spirited people.”

  The crowd went silent as the shaman took a more dignified tone, “Native Americans in the past centuries have always concentrated on the gifts of two-spirited people rather than their sexuality. People are a reflection of their spirit. Since everything that exists comes from the spirit world, those with two-spirits are doubly blessed. These selected few from the Spirit Above Our Heads have both the spirit of a man and a woman. Thus they are honored for having two spirits and are seen as more spiritually gifted. Native Americans migrated from Siberia over 20,000 years ago and reports of these gifted people have been noted and respected for centuries. The emphasis of Native Americans is not to force every person into one box, but to allow for the reality of diversity in gender and sexual identity. So it is with great honor that we create the first two-spirited union of our tribe. The marriage for my niece Carol Rainwater and her highly significant other Marilyn White Owl. These two-spirited people become a union totaling four spirits. And this will be our tribe’s first such union.”

  The shaman gestured to Carol and Marilyn to enter the middle of the stage. He placed one large necklace over their heads. He chanted in Tlingit as drums sounded offstage. Following the chant Banks Blackhorse ascended the stage, kissed each woman, stood in between them, clasped their hands and raised them high in the air. There was a long pause. Shaman came to the podium: “You can clap now. Let the party begin.”

  And as the dozens of guest left the stage for the banquet table, Banks hugged Marilyn and kissed her again. Marilyn: “I know you’re still a virgin.”

  “Stop it, Marilyn,” retorted Banks.

  “But Sway wants to rectify that problem. Look at her looking at you. Those eyes are determined to get what she wants. She wants you. Your white girl seems nice. But nice is not spice.”

  Banks forced a smile and simply said, “Love you, big girl and you too Carol.” He turned and clasped Ann’s hand as he stepped off the stage. Shaman and Johnny Angelo were engaged in conversation but welcomed the couple.

  “So Roger, the Hmongs, your ancestors, believed that each person has twelve souls?” Johnny asked.

  Shaman Roger Rainwater responded, “Sounds like you’re looking to be tutored in spirituality now that you have graduated and found a job. We can talk more about this at another time. Right now my advice to you is to level with your ex-girlfriend. Don’t duck her, confront her.” And as his finger pointed to Tricia, Banks, Ann and Johnny turned to see Tricia’s parents, Julie and Stan, in a heated argument.

  Ann’s concern about her friend Tricia, her protective feelings toward Banks and the mysterious girl and the wedding itself diminished for a moment. She stole a moment scrutinizing Johnny Angelo: She liked the way his thumb was planted behind his belt buckle. She found the cleft in his chin manly. His bent arms displayed his muscular biceps. And yes, he had a great ass. Her heart rate raced. She turned quickly when Johnny noted her gaze. She gripped Banks’ hand—this time for her protection. She thought that Johnny had a genuine desire for learning from the shaman. Perhaps these feelings were always slightly there. But she brushed them aside...hid them out of respect to her friend Tricia and her friendship to Banks. She had a perfect reputation of decency. Her father Murray always commented on it in the proudest fashion. But soon, Tricia and Johnny would separate. The shaman portended it. Therefore it was written. She knew that Johnny would follow the shaman’s advice. Ann was taking it all in.

  Simultaneously, Banks eyed Sway’s movements towards the banquet table. They were more than movements. She had the grace of gazelle. He rubbed his tattoo of the white stickman. He wanted a white woman for access to a white world. That was the plan. That was always the plan. He must avoid Sway. She would spoil everything. Erase her from memory. Get her out of your system. He must never give in to....temptation. He gripped Ann’s hand tighter. She gripped back. They looked at each other for an instant and simultaneously released their hands.

  Suddenly, all the birds in Juneau took flight. There was a swooshing noise. Something was wrong. The Monarch Raven flew over Banks. Banks knew it had a message. He needed to be alone so that the raven could change shape to human form.

  After a quick jog to the back of the compound apartments, the raven shifted shape into Banks’ deceased uncle Dan.

  “Listen, Banks. It begins. There is a transition of the Old Soul from Peyton to another. Another person we know.”

  Peyton’s Journey, Continued

  Peyton had walked over two miles. His neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Kadet followed in their car. The Kadets had made several attempts to ask him if he and Plato would like a ride. The Kadets were treated as if they didn’t exist; from Peyton’s point of view they did not exist. All that was relevant was the voice and he must follow its directions to the exclusion of everything else.

  Peyton walked into the Juneau Memorial Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Kadet thought that perhaps something was wro
ng with him, but they reasoned that the hike from Skyline Boulevard to the hospital was over two miles and Peyton never faltered nor got confused. Mr. Kadet found a parking space and the couple discussed whether or not it was time to contact Stan and Julie.

  Peyton entered the hospital elevator. His fingers found the third-floor button. After exiting, the boy and dog opened the door of room 303. They entered and shut the door behind them. If Peyton could see, he would discover that in the bed was a person wrapped in bandages. The gender of the person was a mystery.

  The person in the bed did not speak, but rather ‘sent’ its thoughts to Peyton much like the women did last Thanksgiving until their delivery last month: “Welcome, Peyton and Plato. You followed my directions perfectly. I know Peyton that your powers are fading, but there is good news on the horizon. You will slowly be given your eyesight...no need of sticky gooey drops...but rather a gift from Spirit. You did much good on your earlier mission some nineteen years ago. You relieved Banks of his mother and father. Then with your externalization of your world—your mind’s eye—you were able to create a scenario which resulted in the relieving of Banks’ Uncle Dan. But you allowed Banks Blackhorse to live instead of relieving him. Yes, I understand the Spirit left it up to you and you see—that was a test and you failed it. So I will take you to the home of the Spirit and the Spirit will decide your future. There is a vacant car outside with a key in it. It belongs to your neighbor. All will become clear once we meet with the Spirit. Let’s go.”

  The Kadets were told that a blind boy was on the third floor. Peyton, Plato and the bandaged patient walked down the stairway. They exited the hospital, found the Kadet’s car with keys in the ignition and rode off.

  Sway I

  (Begin Sway Garland’s Narration)

  I want you to think back. Think back to your first memory. No. Go beyond kindergarten. Farther back. Better. Remember the first sounds. The first smells. The first time you were held.