Spirits of Sacred Mountain: The Spirit of Two, the Power of One

By Diann Shaddox

Spirits of Sacred Mountain

“The Spirit of Two, the Power of One”

Spirits of Sacred Mountain is a story about a young Native American boy who discovers a magical world hidden deep in a mysterious mountain.

 

Cody Tanner looks like a normal eleven year old, except he can blur/disap

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eagle Quill Publishing
• Release date: May 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9780997611113

Diann Shaddox

Diann Shaddox, originally from Nashville, Arkansas, is an author, speaker, and a Native American, a member of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma. She is best known for her released books; A Faded Cottage, Whispering Fog, Miranda, Spirits of Sacred Mountain, The Gatekeeper, and now her Southern Dreams Series. Diann was diagnosed with Essential Tremor in her early twenties. She has since become an advocate for awareness and research toward finding a cure for ET and started the Diann Shaddox Foundation for Essential Tremor. www.diannshaddoxfoundation.org

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Thunder God

There is a mountain that soars high into the clouds and is covered with a white snowcap on its tippy top, a majestic mountain that contains folklores and fairytales that is called Sacred Mountain. It’s a mountain that no one has ever climbed, or if they have, they’ve never told their tale. It’s a mountain that doesn’t show up on maps, one that is able to disappear just as the spirits that live there. Since the beginning of time, Sacred Mountain has sat on hallowed land for centuries undisturbed, but one night the mountain came to life.

High upon the mountain, a glittering star’s light shown down on a snowy-furred wolf as his massive head rose up to the heavens. The shape of an enormous, gray wolf appeared in the sky. Heno, the great and almighty, century-old wolf known as the Thunder God, looked down upon the snow-white wolf.

Mingan my son, Heno’s deep, thundering voice erupted from the sky. The time is upon us. The Great Counsel has spoken. The stars are aligned, and the two power spheres will be descending from the Upper World.

Two power spheres? Mingan questioned as he gazed with his deep blue eyes up at the colossal wolf hovering in the sky. Heno, it can’t be.

Yes, my son, the thunderous voice roared echoing throughout the universe, The Spirit of Two, the Power of One.

The spirit of two is no more. There is only one, young spirit born from the mountain, Mingan’s eyes moistened, his head dipped to the ground, Not two. Have you forgotten what happened eleven years ago?

No! Heno’s voice boomed from the sky as colorful flashes of light spurted out from behind the magnificent, gray wolf. We can’t change what is written!

Heno, I have sensed Evil’s presence growing stronger each day, an evil I haven’t felt in centuries.

My son of sons, Evil has risen. Hatidehsoh, the most powerful of the vile spirits, has returned.

HATIDEHSOH! Mingan’s strong voice resounded in the quiet night. His stout body rose from the ground; his broad shoulders squared. Hatidehsoh was killed hundreds of years ago!

Mingan, things are not as they’re perceived. Hatidehsoh’s spirit is alive, and the Great Counsel has sensed his power.

The massive, white wolf paced around the snowcapped mountain. His voice trembled, Why now has Hatidehsoh’s spirit appeared?

The evil spirit has prepared for this one night for many, many years. It was written in the stars that the two, young spirits would receive their powers combining an unimaginable power. Heno’s voice became sharp as the ground quaked. Hatidehsoh is waiting for the right moment to take their powers.

No one will harm the spirit of the mountain! Heno, I won’t fail, Mingan said in a sad voice. Then, he lowered his head with shame, …like I did before.

"Mingan, you have never failed the Great Counsel. The spirit of two, the power of one will come to pass. It does exist."

How can it be? The snow-white wolf’s head rose, the sparkling lights from the sky flashed in his damp eyes. Are you saying the other young spirit…could be alive?

Some things I cannot tell, the deep voice of Heno growled. The voice thundered from the sky, May the spirits of our ancestors be with you on your new journey. Goodbye, my brave grandson.

The night became quiet.

Chapter 2

Mr. Hockersmith

Nothing strange ever happens on Abner Street. Yeah right! blurted out Billy gripping the windowsill tightly as he peered in the living room window of Mr. Hockersmith’s house.

Shush, he’s gonna hear you! whispered Cody, wiping the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his shirt. Get down from that window. We’re here to get my soccer ball, not to be Peeping Toms.

Cody inched closer to Billy as he crawled through the rosebushes in stealth-like movement. I told you it wasn’t a good idea to play soccer in my front yard. You and your big ideas! I’m gonna get grounded, probably for a month or a year, maybe for the rest of my life. He stopped for a second catching his breath. My mom warned me not to get into any more trouble.

Ah, you worry too much. Hurry up and come over here, Billy said, You’ve gotta check this out.

Billy, Cody declared, I mean it; get down from that window. Mr. Hockersmith will see you.

Stop worrying, Cody. Hurry! Billy urged. You won’t believe this. Billy hiccupped. Sorry, Cody, I kinda got the hiccups.

Cody crept up next to Billy. His hands reached up to the windowsill and slowly he pulled himself up from the ground to peer through the window. Holy smoke! What the! he said too loudly.

Billy’s crooked smile spread across his face. See, I told ya. Take a gander at that. How many people in Edenville keep a birdcage that a man could fit inside of in their living room? I wonder what could be under that dark cover.

We’re not sticking around to find out! Cody exclaimed trying desperately to hold onto the window seal. Let’s get the soccer ball and get the heck out of here.

Oh, Billy hiccupped again, just a little peek; it won’t take a…

Yikes, Cody snapped interrupting Billy, don’t move and be quiet! Mr. Hockersmith’s coming.

Mr. Hockersmith, a crabby, old man with a long, pointed nose, beady, yellowish brown eyes, and a tuff of reddish-brown hair sticking out on top of his head, lived directly across the street from Cody’s house. The short, round man wearing a long, reddish-brown, feathered coat waddled into the living room and stopped next to the huge birdcage.

Ah fiddlesticks, moaned Cody sliding his body down the side of the house. Mr. Hockersmith had warned Cody, if that soccer ball lands in my yard one more time, I’ll keep it. This was Cody’s new soccer ball, the one his dad had bought him a couple of weeks before, and there was no way Mr. Hockersmith was keeping it.

Cody sat down on the ground. His eyes remained glued on Billy’s chubby body shifting back and forth standing on a small stump as he scrunched his nose against the window. Now what do I do? asked Cody. I can’t get my soccer ball ‘cause Mr. Hockersmith will see me for sure.

Cody, Billy’s face paled, you’ve gotta see this. He’s raising the cloth on the birdcage. Ugh ̶ yuck!

Would you stop making strange noises; he’ll hear you, Cody whispered. He pulled himself back up to the window. His mouth dropped open. Gross! he whispered.

Billy dropped to the ground. Did ya see? he mumbled. Mr. Hockersmith ate a big, wiggly, green caterpillar!

No, he didn’t, snapped Cody. He was feeding that bizarre, jumbo hawk in the cage. He looked over at Billy. And how would you know what he ate since his back was to you?

I’m telling you. Mr. Hockersmith’s mouth moved, and he swallowed. Billy climbed back up to the window. Hey, Cody, Billy whispered, Mr. Hockersmith is talking to the hawk, and his face is scrunching up in a frown.

People talk to birds all the time. So what’s the big deal?

Shush, Billy said. Uh-oh, the bird is looking my way and his wing is pointing at me and... That darn bird is tattle-tailing on us. It said I was peeping in the window. Dang, Mr. Hockersmith is headed to the window.

Yikes, Cody snapped, get down and hide. Now what do we do? He’ll see us if we run, and he’ll find us if we stay.

Let’s get the soccer ball and get out of here, Billy said leaping down to the ground from the stump. I’d rather him see us than catch us. He’s weird!

I agree; he gives me the creeps. Cody said as he began to crawl along the side of the house, but Billy grabbed his arm jerking him back behind the rosebushes before he made it to the front of the house. Cody flinched when a rosebush thorn dug into his arm, but he stayed quiet.

Walking up to Mr. Hockersmith’s front porch was Mr. Crabtree, another neighbor.

Great, that hurt! sighed Cody when his head thumped against the porch as he wiped the blood from his scratch on his jeans. Now what? We have two nosy neighbors and no way to escape. We’re done in.

Shh, muttered Billy peering around the corner of the porch. They’ll hear you, and Mr. Hockersmith will turn us into birds.

Cody’s fists tightened and his eyes squinted as he glared at a small stick next to a rosebush. Flames sparked from the stick. Holy fiddlesticks! he said way too loudly.

Hush, Billy whispered as he turned toward Cody and jerked forward. What? Put the fire out!

Cody leaned over and threw dirt on the burning stick.

How did that fire start? Billy asked as he threw his hands on his head gripping it as if it were going to fall off.

Don’t know. Maybe the sun, Cody answered shrugging his shoulders as he tried to blow the smoke away.

Sure, the sun! Let’s just add starting a fire to this mess, whispered Billy staring at the burned stick and then back at Cody. Do ya think, he gulped, Mr. Hockersmith knows my name?

Cody shrugged his shoulders.

My mom ain’t gonna be happy if you get me in trouble, and she will have a fit if I disappear.

Mr. Hockersmith stepped outside onto the porch not letting Mr. Crabtree get near the front door. His long, feathered coat flapped as he waddled to the side of the porch. He came to a halt inches from the bushes where Cody and Billy were hiding. He leaned over and searched with his eyes down the side of the house.

Cody cowered and waited for the odd man to look down. He held his breath and frowned looking over at Billy whose body was gyrating from the hiccups.

Mr. Hockersmith stood by the edge of the porch for a few seconds and then he spat into the bushes. Billy held his hand over his mouth gagging. At least his hiccups had stopped.

Mr. Hockersmith, there’s been some strange things going on the last few nights around Edenville, said Mr. Crabtree in an exasperated sigh as he stepped up on the porch.

Mr. Hockersmith grunted and turned toward Mr. Crabtree. Cody finally took a breath. They were saved for the moment.

I’ve been warning you, Mr. Hockersmith answered. Ya better be careful. Like I’ve said before, Harrison Tanner’s a part of Sacred Mountain ‘n there’s fixing ta be trouble.

Billy poked Cody in his side when Mr. Hockersmith said Cody’s dad’s name, Harrison Tanner.

Harrison is such a calm man, and he stays to himself, replied, Mr. Crabtree, but I agree he’s a different sort, unlike the other men on Abner Street. He has those black, penetrating eyes.

Magical eyes, Mr. Hockersmith declared interrupting Mr. Crabtree. Mark my words, if ya confront Harrison, then you’ll be the next person ta disappear. Mr. Hockersmith conversed on, but his voice was so low that the boys couldn’t hear what he was saying.

Oh my, I don’t like the sound of any of this, Mr. Crabtree mumbled shaking his head back and forth worriedly, not one bit.

Mr. Hockersmith groaned. It’s gonna happen soon; maybe tonight. Not sure of the time, but it ain’t gonna be good.

What’s gonna happen, questioned Mr. Crabtree?

You’ll see. The Spirits, they’re a’ coming, replied Mr. Hockersmith.

Spirits? questioned Mr. Crabtree. My daddy told me stories about some evil spirits and what they did years ago. But, how do you know about this?

Mr. Hockersmith slightly grinned not letting Mr. Crabtree see. I’ve heard stories too, and the time of the Wicapi Holy Star is upon us. It is written that Sacred Mountain is coming alive.

Well, I don’t understand much about these local legends, but there have been absolutely too many strange incidents going on lately. Mr. Crabtree shook his head and shivered as he turned and walked off the porch.

Mr. Hockersmith seemed momentarily amused at Mr. Crabtree’s uneasiness, but then he hurriedly turned and went inside closing the front door behind him.

A strange ear-splitting shriek came from inside the home. Then, the side window flew open allowing a huge bird to soar into the sky toward Sacred Mountain.

C-Cody, Billy voice quivered. Did ya see?

Yep! Cody snapped his head to the side. Let’s get outta here. I’ve had enough.

Cody dashed to the front porch and scooped the soccer ball up in his arms, but before he made it across the street, Mr. Hockersmith rushed out the front door and started yelling, Cody Tanner, ya come back here. I warned ya about that ball. I’m telling ya mom.

Ignoring Mr. Hockersmith, Billy raced after Cody, and they didn’t stop until they slid down on the Tanner’s cool garage floor.

Rubbing the scratch on his arm, Cody tried to catch his breath. He peeped out of the garage. The weird man was pacing back and forth on his porch. At one point, the man stopped pacing, and his odd eyes glared straight at Cody.

Did ya see? Cody said gasping for air. That man was staring right at me. Geez, I’m in trouble now. He’s gonna tell my mom.

That was creepy. Did ya see how huge that bird was? It was as tall as I am.

Duh, Cody moaned, I think it was a hawk, but I didn’t know they got that big.

Me neither. I’m sure glad it didn’t see us. Why did it fly to Sacred Mountain?

Don’t know.

Whatever, but I know Mr. Hockersmith’s a nut, and I still think he’s a witchdoctor or something, Billy said. We need to stay away from him, but I’d like to find out what was in those jars he had sitting on the table. I betcha he uses them to make potions. You know, it’s weird, hearing that bird talk, he gulped, in sentences.

Would you stop with your imagination and the gossip? You’re as bad as Mr. Hockersmith, interrupted Cody. And hawks can’t talk. Who cares anyway? I’m gonna get grounded for life.

I did hear it talk, Bill snapped back. Hmm, he’s not crossing the street, so maybe he won’t tell on us.

Nope, he won’t come over here when my dad’s home.

Then, you’re saved.

Duh, he can talk to my mom tomorrow when Dad’s at work.

I forgot about that. Anyway, I wonder what Mr. Hockersmith is talking about that’s gonna happen soon? Maybe he’s gonna make some potions and make more people disappear like Mr. Jackson down the street. Ya know he just vanished, poof, and hasn’t been found.

Aw, nothing’s gonna happen, Cody looked over at Billy. What was Mr. Hockersmith saying about my dad and Sacred Mountain?

Don’t know. But, I’ve heard stories too about spirits with magical powers living on Sacred Mountain. They say on nights with a full moon the spirits come down from the mountain, kidnap people, and take them back to the mountain.

That’s bologna!

Maybe Mr. Hockersmith is really an evil spirit, and he kidnapped ol’ Mr. Jackson.

I keep telling you that you’ve got too much imagination, Cody answered. Mr. Hockersmith is just a weird, old man.

Believe what you want, but I’ve heard people talking about strange stuff happening on that mountain, Billy claimed, and then he continued, I don’t understand what Wicapi or a Holy Star is. Do you?

There’s no such thing as a Wicapi, and Sacred Mountain is just a normal mountain. It doesn’t have spirits living on it, and it doesn’t have anything to do with my dad, Cody snapped back.

Yikes, not sure, but according to the calendar, there’s a full moon tonight, said Billy looking toward Sacred Mountain, so I’m gonna be on guard.

Cody frowned and kicked the soccer ball to Billy a little harder than he meant to.

Watch what you’re doing. That hurt, Billy shouted rubbing his leg. I didn’t mean anything about your dad.

Sorry, Billy.

Billy turned around. Um, that was strange, um, the way that stick caught fire, wasn’t it?

Yep, it was, Cody added not saying anything else. He sat there remembering the same thing had happened to him a few weeks before when he lost his soccer ball in the woods behind his house. That day wasn’t even sunny.

Billy looked down at his watch. Aw, it’s getting late. I’ve gotta get home. See ya tomorrow at school and stop worrying about that old coot and what he said about your dad. Hey, don’t forget to study for the science test, he yelled hopping on his bike.

Cody watched Billy, his best friend since kindergarten, as he raced his bike down Abner Street. When Billy turned the corner disappearing, Cody’s eyes swung to Mr. Hockersmith’s house. He picked up his soccer ball letting it spin in his hands. "Why would Mr. Hockersmith gossip about his dad?" He shook his head. Billy’s a nut. Hawks can’t talk. Mr. Hockersmith isn’t a witchdoctor, and he can’t make people disappear.

Cody Tanner had lived on Abner Street his entire life in a small, green painted home in the town of Edenville in the valley next to Sacred Mountain. He was considered an average, eleven-year- old boy, a little on the short side with thin lanky legs and arms, very agile, or as Grandfather Jerry always said wiry, which helped him out on the soccer field. His life was as close to normal as it possibly could be – boring. The only thing that ever happened in his life was that trouble seemed to follow him.

The rest of the day did finally end, and he stayed out of trouble. He was grateful that Mr. Hockersmith avoided his dad. At one point, Cody did think about telling his dad what Mr. Hockersmith had said about him and Sacred Mountain, and about the huge hawk that had flown out the window. But, then he’d had to explain why he and Billy were in Mr. Hockersmith’s yard listening to his conversation, which would’ve brought up more questions, so he let it go.

That night, Cody practiced soccer with his dad in the backyard, and then ate Rocky’s pizza: peperoni, sausage, black olives, and mushrooms – yes mushrooms. He watched TV, already forgetting to study for his science test, and fell asleep still believing nothing strange ever happened on Abner Street. But how wrong he would be!

Chapter 3

The Unexplainable Night

On the night of May 12th, Abner Street was dark and perfectly still, except for an enormous creature inconspicuously swaying with each step down the center of the street. The creature held his massive head high, his pointed, white, furry ears stood erect, and his big, oval eyes glowed in the darkness. His snow-white fur shimmered in the light of the brilliant, blue moon, an awesome sight. But, no one noticed the huge wolf named Mingan. He was invisible to all who lived on Abner Street. Or was he?

The mystic wolf silently passed home after home stopping in front of Cody Tanner’s house. The agile wolf lay below Cody’s bedroom window and guarded the house just as he had for the last eleven years. Cody, who was asleep in his bed, was unaware of the huge creature lying outside of his window.

Nonetheless, tonight on Abner Street, the white wolf wasn’t the only one awake. The bright moonlight revealed the shadowy figure of a fat, squatty man sitting next to his living room window, Mr. Hockersmith.

Bong, bong began the antique, grandfather clock in the Tanner’s living room. At the precise second of the twelfth bong, the sky over Abner Street ignited with incredible brightness. Two, gleaming spheres grew brighter and larger as they soared across the night sky. One of the immense power spheres exploded upon Sacred Mountain sending a fireball of glittering lights up into the sky. The other identical power sphere flew directly into Cody’s bedroom sending down colored sprinkles of purple, red, blue, green, orange, and yellow.

Cody jerked awake. His eyes blinked seeing the dazzling lights burst into sparks and dance straight toward him. His fingers rubbed his eyes, and he quickly kicked the covers off his legs. A prickling feeling grew over his entire body with each warm, penetrating touch of the colorful lights.

He leaped out of bed. Shi! Fiddlesticks! he cried, spinning in circles and stretching his arms out wide as the multicolored kaleidoscopic lights rained down on him.

Hearing hissing and crackling sounds outside, Cody raced to the window, jerked the curtains open, and felt the cool, night air on his face. He watched in amazement as the night sky exploded with colors. Oodles of twinkling stars hung over the tiny house on Abner Street. Shooting stars popped like fireworks leaving glittering trails across the midnight sky. Then, as quickly as the night had become bright, the sky became ordinary again.

Cody didn’t move and just stared out the window. He shivered. Abner Street had become silent. The only sound came from the cooing of a pure white dove that was sitting on a tree limb next to his window. It was an unusual, snow-white bird and had peculiar black lines that circled its beady, blue eyes. It seemed to be looking directly at him. Apart from the blue eyes of the dove, nothing moved, not even one leaf swayed on the old tree. His eyes scanned the sky and his heart raced. He remembered the prickly sensation he had felt earlier.

Mingan, the huge wolf lying beneath Cody’s bedroom window, peered up at the snow-white dove in the tree above him. Mrs. Waterboro, it is wonderful that you’re so excited tonight, but you do need to calm down, said Mingan.

Yes, answered Mrs. Waterboro earnestly wiggling her white wings. Her bright blue eyes twinkled in the light of the full moon. I quite understand. Nonetheless, I’ve waited centuries for this night of the Wicapi.

My dear Mrs. Waterboro, you do need to remember a white dove doesn’t coo after dark, and you shouldn’t be looking at the young boy. Your eyes are very different. He might suspect something. It isn’t time for him to learn about you or me.

Yes, yes, but the young boy will be fine. Besides, there isn’t anything to worry about, since the evil hawks are gone, Mrs. Waterboro cooed. Mingan, you’re very lucky to be invisible to everyone.

My cloak of invisibility won’t last past the morning sun rising, said the huge white wolf. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is evil around. The Great Counsel has warned us.

You mean, a series of coos in a louder voice came from Mrs. Waterboro, that old hawker Mr. Hockersmith who lives across the street? She wiggled her tiny head craning it as she looked over to Mr. Hockersmith’s house seeing the shadow of the plump man sitting by his living room window. I can take him out even with my small powers.

My dear Mrs. Waterboro, no, not Mr. Hockersmith, Hatidehsoh is back.

Mrs. Waterboro’s wings began to flap uncontrollably. Oh, the poor boy! No, no, this can’t be, she screeched. Nightwalker killed that evil spirit years ago.

I’m afraid it’s true. Hatidehsoh lives, Mingan’s voice rumbled in the quiet night. Be that as it may, Mrs. Waterboro, please control yourself and don’t stay long.

Yes, Mrs. Waterboro puffed her body as large as she could. I’ll be going soon. I just want to stay a few more minutes to watch out for the boy.

Do as you wish. However, please be quiet. Don’t underestimate Mr. Hockersmith and keep a watch out for anything different happening around you.

Mrs. Waterboro fluffed her feathers. Her tiny head swung back to search the night sky. She saw a lone, tiny star swishing across the heavens. There goes Torty. He’s always late, but he was one of my best students, a good boy.

Mingan became quiet and his head lowered, but his ears stayed rigid listening to what was around him.

Cody didn’t hear the conversation outside of his window between the huge wolf and snow-white dove. He just sat by the window and rubbed his arm. Was he dreaming? He hadn’t read about any meteor shower happening, and his teacher Mrs. Jones hadn’t informed the class of anything to do with science.

He cinched up his mouth and peered across the street at Mr. Hockersmith’s house.