Cahuilla Country

By "Mark Paul" Sebar

The 11th title in The Sheriff Wyler Scott series finds a young Mohany Rodriguez growing up in an ancient Cahuilla Indian (ka-Wee-yuh) Village under the shadows of the high San Jacinto Mountains of Palm Springs California. As we go along, we find that not everything is rosy in Telmekish. Mohany along with the rest of the tribe face many challenges. The weather and the harsh environment, flash floods, disease, an evil witch, and finally the ancient evil Cahuilla God, Tahquitz, whose demonic powers threaten all. As things build to a head and Mohany grows up, he must come to eventually face Tahquitz awesome powers of evil and defeat him if he wants the tribe to survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: "Mark Paul" Sebar
• Release date: May 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781930246638

"Mark Paul" Sebar

My most important love is story telling of fictional tales, far away places, memorable characters, great beginnings and surprise endings. I can author work across many genres comfortably. If I can connect with you my reader, then I did my job and we are hopefully, both happy.II don't try to author woke, politically correct content, but rather entertainment value work. I like to think of my stories as having a 'Movie in your mind' and if I connect with a reader that way, I have done my job.From my "Sheriff Wyler Scott" franchise to the "CalHouse" Technological terror tales of the 21st century, to a diabolical Veep at Weasle Mortgage and Loa in "$$$Amount Due$$$" to a dying man kidnapped in place of a woman by grey aliens on a disc in "Captura" ... I like my readers to be able to visit all types of places. Even in time, take "Skyway Arizona" where a 747 makes an emergency landing in the year 1885. Or a future detective "Turbadia" a detective from hell for the bad guys who seems unstoppable, to a religious scifi confrontation in the future "Thunder Dead" God versus the Devil and grey alien.It is that imagination, the travels with the characters, the places they have been, a hopeless situation turned around, this is what is important, an escape from the real world for several hours to go on those adventures and meet new characters.That is my world and I hope it 'Rocks your mind' for several hours. Humbly yours, American Author, Poet, Filmwriter and Songwriter, "Mark Paul" Sebar.

Book preview

Cahuilla Country

Wyler Scott # 11

By Mark Paul Sebar

Copyright © 2019 All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Before you consider reading this story. It is the number eleven story in the Sheriff Wyler Scott Series. There are character tie-ins from previous Wyler Scott stories that if you have not read them already, will make a great deal more sense. This story ties in with the first Wyler Scott novel Contact of the Forestry Kin, #2 Idyllwild, #3 The Trail to East Mohave, #4 Broken Canyon as each previous story pulls in characters that are in this novel. Likewise, this story has a very close tie-in with Wyler Scott # 5 The Chocolate Mountain Murders, Wyler Scott Novel # 6 Tahquitz, and the # 7 Wyler Scott Novel The June Lake Incident. Wyler Scott Novels #8 Cuffed, The Tale Of Two Berdoos #9, Ciera" # 10 So for a better experience, if you have not already read the older titles, please read the previous Wyler Scott novels first. Thanks!

Sebar Publishing

First Printing 2019

ISBN 978-1-930246-63-8 TXu2-146-354

Copyright all text and illustrations in this story © 2019 All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress, United States of America

http://www.sebar.com

Index

Chapter 01

Chapter 02

Chapter 03

Chapter 04

Chapter 05

Chapter 06

Chapter 07

Chapter 08

Chapter 09

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Other Stories

Chapter 01

The fused pyramid of ash drifted amongst the remnant clouds of hot gas and dust in the former SOL solar system that once was once home to Earth. It rotated slowly in the bright hues both near and distant, and inside it, were the remains of a former Cahuilla Indian, named Mohany Rodriguez. It contained his spirit and essence of what was a small part of humanity, when humans lived in this part of the galaxy. Nevertheless, all of that was gone. What humans that did remain, were 58,000 light years away in another solar system, perhaps an alternate universe. However, there were no more humans here, just ghosts and spirits of a once proud flourishing past that had been extinguished by the greed and misdeeds of others.

The light shot through the area until it found the pyramid of ash and then pushed towards it.

Mohany and his father Black Claw were with other tribal hunters in the desert. They hunted hares in the mild sunny warmth within the open expanse of the Coachella Valley. With them were two other hunters from the tribe, Dyami and Koi. They all had bows and arrows and Mohany carried a bag made of netting from vines that they had assembled. Inside were dead hares they caught earlier.

We shall soon head back to the tribe, Black Claw informed them.

I will clean the hares in the other bags, Koi told them. He turned to the hunter Dyami. You and Black Claw, finish up, I shall take his son back with me to clean the hares and then bring this last bag with you."

Dyami nodded and turned to Mohany. Your father, he practices magic and he hunts with us. He made a fist and slammed it on his chest in gesture to the young kid (ekikmal) Mohany Rodriguez. Your father, he smiled at Black Claw. Much wisdom, much knowledge and much skills.

Black Claw broke a great big grin and smiled with a nod of approval at the compliments that Dyami made to him.

Koi glanced down at Mohany and took notice of the son’s pride in his father Black Claw, a full Pu’ul (poo oool) within the tribe.

You are too kind Dyami, Black Claw replied, and I am honored to be in the company of two great hunters and a grand soul such as my son, he gleaned at Mohany. Okay, the tribe waits for us to finish and we have two days walk back to it.

In the distant background, far away were the San Jacinto Mountains that were at the foot of where their tribe was located. They were etched against a light blue afternoon sky, and flying high overhead, they spotted an eagle. It circled a moment and then continued east across the desert.

Mohany’s girlfriend, a young little lady named Aponi with dark almond eyes and a long black ponytail, tied with vine, approached the home of Mohany and Black Claw. She waited a moment by the large opening, and Mohany’s mother emerged. She was a tall woman with a bright smile and her name was Katherine Rodriguez. Oh how sweet, she complimented Aponi. He will be returning in two days time to the village, Katherine informed her. This time was told to us by the Pu’ul Kuruk. He is always right, never wrong.

I miss him, Aponi replied and Katherine could see her eyes almost welting in tears.

I know, Katherine smiled and extended a hand. Just then, Aponi’s father Uzumati approached.

Your mother said you were coming here, he told Aponi in an almost scolding tone of anger. Uzumati did not approve of such relationships between young boys and the girls as this went against the norms that the Cahuilla’s practiced. And you, he turned to Katherine. How can you engage in this behavior?

This is my home, Katherine smiled modestly, while politely pointing at it. I live here and I did not go to your home. She came here…on her own. She asked when my son and his father would return. Kuruk predicted they would in two more days.

I have never believed in Pulvalism, Uzumati stepped forward. Your husband believes, practices it, and teaches this to your son. It is not acceptable.

And who provides us the safety, food, the rain that falls so we can drink water? It is our Gods that do this and the Pu’ul who talk to them, bring their spirits to us—to aid us, Katherine stepped right in his face. The tribe recognizes the Pu’ul as an elevated status amongst its many members.

He pulled Aponi back by the shoulders. Not right, he said one last time to Katherine who glanced down at the child one last moment.

Perhaps, but fate may have a different path to travel, maybe you are jealous of my husband’s status, she replied.

No more, Uzumati again protested pulling Aponi by the hand back toward their home.

No sooner had Aponi been removed by her angry father Uzumati than Mohany’s friend whom often got Mohany into trouble, Garyson arrived. Hello Misses Rodriguez, he broadened a Cheshire grin that denoted the young kid would somehow get himself and others into more trouble than a wildcat. Unlike Aponi and her family that were of the Coyote clan, Garyson’s family was of the wildcat clan.

Are you staying out of trouble? Katherine grinned a moment.

Yes, Garyson glanced down at the ground with a shrug. Is Mohany here?

No, she replied. He is with his dad hunting for food. Kuruk said they would return absolutely in two days time.

I see, Garyson continued staring at the ground.

What is bothering you? Katherine asked.

Uh, nothing, Garyson glanced up at her and she read him like a book. Then something slipped. She spotted his eyes wander for a moment and she immediately turned around, glimpsing Garyson’s friend, Akando, who stole the family’s grinder bowl. He escaped as another adult from the village, Sitala, the woman who taught school to the kids ran to the scene, Akando hurriedly running past her.

What is happening here? Sitala watched, as Katherine demanded possession of the stolen grinder bowl that belonged to the Rodriguez.

Tell her, Katherine gently nudged Garyson.

It’s not my fault, Garyson replied, while glancing away from them. Meanwhile Akando was long gone with the stolen property.

You watched what was to be behind my back, Katherine replied to the child. Then she glanced into Sitala’s eyes. These young men stole my family’s grinder bowl.

Is this true? Sitala questioned Garyson.

Not exactly, Garyson began to lie and Katherine was becoming angered as she placed her hands on her hips.

Then what was happening? Sitala demanded. "Or your parents and NET (Chief) Maska will be informed of this. He will be very unhappy."

It was Akando’s idea, Garyson started to break down in tears. He planned this.

Planned what? Sitala asked, her tone hardening.

Stealing from my family, Katherine grew angry.

Is that what was happening? Sitala asked Garyson as he started crying.

Yes, he replied, wiping tears away. Akando was going to beat me up if I did not help watch as a lookout for him.

Go home, Sitala, demanded of Garyson. She turned to Katherine. You will get your property returned after the NET learns of this. Let this end here.

Katherine took a deep breath and paused a moment in her wisdom. I should say something to the NET personally, but I shall stay quiet. I only hope that Akando’s family is made aware of what he did, for as he grows older, his ways of wickedness shall grow with him.

I will talk with his family on my way back home and then the NET, Sitala replied.

Night had fallen as Dakush flew overhead in the heavens. It was a meteor that brought the Cahuilla’s to the desert expanse and the tall San Jacinto Mountains. They had lived here for eons and the tales from the tribe of the past were no exception.

Dad, Mohany asked. You once mentioned to me that I can tell evil by a Wexily song that I whistle.

It is true, Koi took a seat next to Mohany at the fire pit that had two large branches, and elevated above it were skewers with rabbits cooking. A smile dawned upon the hunter’s face. There was a slight warm breeze with a sudden chill to it, and then the breeze died down. A song, Koi continued, of passion and righteousness, can bring strength from good, and betray evil.

Not always, Black Claw replied as he weighed in on the conversation.

But earlier father, you said it was true, Mohany chimed in. Ashes rose from the dancing and crackling flames, and in the distant a coyote howl could be heard.

Things are what they are, but there are many forms of deception, Black Claw commented.

A wife that cheats, Dyami slipped that in and they all laughed.

Hopefully not that, Black Claw raised a cheerful brow.

How would a wife cheat? Mohany asked and the laughter died down, where only the crackle of the flames remained.

I do not think your father wants to explain, Koi replied with a slight grin.

The bond between a man and woman in our culture are sacred. They are a partnership, a mutual respect, and they represent a lifetime of commitment, honesty and truth. When someone, a man or woman breaks that bond, it is because the bond of their being together has broken. One of them cheats.

Usually women, Dyami remarked and again there was some laughter mainly from Koi. However, Black Claw’s expression as he glanced down at Mohany was not a smile.

Not always a woman, Black Claw replied. Many men cheat too.

I understand, father, Mohany replied.

Black Claw took a stick with a rabbit on it that had cooked over the flames and pulled a piece of it off, handing it to his son. Enjoy, he smiled.

Mohany relished the cooked meat from the animal and he also took some berries with it that they had collected. Thank you dad, he replied.

The other hunters took their rabbits and pulled parts off, eating as they sat there. Long ago, Black Claw started telling them. This desert was lonely. Our people came here to live and so we have a very long time. Our village has seen the elders change, all the way back to the founding God’s. It is said, we dwell here now, live simpler times that we may continue and to grow from what has been. Then we die and are reborn here again until time itself comes to an end.

Yes, Koi smiled staring at Black Claw. Your father speaks of our people, our history, a greatness that we are humble for. But not all of our history has been bright, Koi added. There were different times.

Different times? the young Mohany asked.

Times of darkness, Black Claw informed them in the conversation. "There were times when evil descended upon our people and