The Sunshine Trilogy

Chapter 1: Prologue

"The day that man allows true love to appear, those things which are well made will fall into confusion and will overturn everything we believe to be right and true."

-Dante Alighieri- "The Divine Comedy"

Guadalupe Ria awoke to the sounds of dogs barking outside her lodge on the First People's land that paralleled the river. The c**k didn't crow, and the chickens didn't cluck. She found it unusual that the chickens were quiet, considering such a raucous clamor. She exited her straw-cot to investigate the commotion. Pulling a worn hemp shift over her head, she walked outside into the morning fog. She followed the small stream that fed the First People's water basin and came upon a strange sight. Among the pinyon pines, in clear view, was a massive red wolf. It towered over two meters in height. A mix of copper, white and light gray fur colored its coat. It was like no other wolf she had seen before. Three village hounds cornered the wolf against a shear stone wall. The dogs were entrenched and showed no signs of backing off. With trepidation Guadalupe approached. Suddenly and without warning, the wolf spoke to her, in her native tongue.

"Daughter! Call off your dogs. I mean them no harm, but I will kill at least two, before they tear the flesh from my bones," said the wolf.

"Why are you here red wolf? Your grey brothers and sisters hunt our land! Your kind has vanished long ago into the deep forests of the north. Why come now to this land, when elk and deer are barely enough for your grey brothers? My people or your kind will kill you, if the dogs do not."

"This was once my home. I hunted these woods for many moons and the First People were kind to me. But now the people with blank faces hunt me for my coat, break my bones for sport, and drive me from my hunting lands. They killed many of my red brothers and sisters and will not stop until we are spirits without bodies."

"Are you hungry, is that why you are here?" asked Guadalupe.

"Yes daughter, it has been a long cold winter and my belly is empty. Spare me two chickens and I will leave the First People's land and return north where the sun greets the mountains and the blank faces do not tread!"

"Why should I give you two chickens when I could easily call out to my people, and they will come with sharp knives and spears to kill you?"

"Yes, you could, but I can offer something to you, no other can. First you must call off your dogs and then I will tell you!"

Guadalupe called to the dogs. A bleached white b***h stayed vigilant by her side, while the others returned to the village.

"My daughter, your belly will never know the gift of life. You are the last of your kind, as am I. Your people are dying, and you will become ghosts. If you do as I ask, I will deliver to you two daughters."

"Daughters? How can they increase my people?"

"Guadalupe," said the wolf. "The daughters of the First People are begot from wolf's blood. Long ago when your people stopped having children, the elders blamed the wolves for their misfortune. We wolves bargained with the elders to spare our pups. Our female pups mated with the men of your tribe, but only daughters were born. That is why you are named Guadalupe; daughter of the river wolf. Do you not know this?"

Guadalupe thought for a moment and remembered the stories the elders told of the First people women becoming sterile. She was told this was true of her also. So, she agreed to the wolf's terms. The wolf followed her closely, but when she turned to point the way he was gone. She ran to tell her people of this great red wolf, but when she reached her village everyone was gone.

"Guadalupe! Guadalupe! Wake up lazy girl!" said her mother. "Go help your father! The chickens are cackling, and the dogs have run off!"

Guadalupe awoke, finding her feet moist with morning dew and pine needles in her hair.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to historical events, real people, living or dead is purely coincidental. Real places, events and characters are fabrication of the authors imagination and are not to be construed as real.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without the permission from the publisher, except as permitted by US copyright law.

THE SUNSHINE MACHINE

Copyright 2019 by Marc M. Minnick.

"All rights reserved"

Book cover photo and design. David Cahn.