“River in Wind”

A Short Story

By Mike Ramsey

Walks Far was named by his father, a Comanche wise man. When he was a small boy, his father often took him to places far away, and let him walk all the way home himself.

Walks Far had many brothers who guided him on his walks. Brother Great Heron flew with the spirit of his wise forefathers, showing the direction to walk. Brother Hawk circled overhead, helping to see where it was good to camp and hunt. Brother Coyote recognized danger, and Walks Far followed closely behind. Brother Coyote also sang to Walks Far at night, reassuring that all is good.

One day, Walks Far had a son. Walks Far needed to find a good name for his son, and began to walk with him. “I will call upon my Spirit Brothers to help me in choosing a good name for my son.”

As the sun rose in the morning, Brother Great Heron flew across the path Walks Far and his son were traveling. “Brother Great Heron tells us to walk this way.” The father, carrying his son, walked in the direction that Brother Great Heron flew. Walks Far followed until he could no longer see Brother Great Heron, and stopped.

The piercing cry of Brother Hawk came from above. Walks Far looked up at the blue sky to see Brother Hawk circling overhead. “That is what I will name you. Eyes of Sky. Thank you, Brother Hawk. It is a good name.”

As the sun began to set for the day, Walks Far worried that he would not find a good place to camp for the night. “Brother Coyote, help me find a safe place for my son and I to camp for the night.” Brother Coyote walked alongside Walks Far and Eyes of Sky, making large circles around them as they traveled.

As the Summer wind began to blow, Walks Far heard what sounded like a stream of water nearby. “There are no streams near, I wonder where the sound is coming from.” They continued to walk in the direction Brother Coyote was leading, and the sound of running water grew ever stronger.

Brother Coyote’s circles began to grow smaller, and he walked closer to Walks Far and Eyes of Sky. “Brother Coyote, are we near our safe camp?” Brother Coyote walked underneath a large tree on the top of a small hill, in a gentle valley, and lay down underneath it.

The wind blowing the leaves of the cottonwood tree, made the sound of a rushing stream, a river in the wind. Walks Far closed his eyes and imagined a river running next to the tree, how cool it would be.

“This is where we will come. We will come to where there is a river in the wind. From this time forward, Eyes of Sky will always know to follow Brother Great Heron, Brother Hawk, and Brother Coyote, to find a safe place to camp.

They will show us the river in the wind.”