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Short stories: Native American

by Francis Jock

How Crab defeated Sky Swimmer and Two-Leggs Made Crab into Soup.

Having been washed up on the beach and defeating the Big Brown One in battle, Crab thought it would be nice to see what else could be found. Picking up the sharpest stick he could find to ward off evil and hungry sky swimmers, he set out.

Before long Crab noticed that the sun was blinking on and off above him. This didn't seem quite right to him as the sun never went off and on whenever he was in the water. He scurried under a large log, holding his sharp stick close to his body.

Eagle, the one that looks for the sky spirits, had noticed the ruckus between the Big Brown one and a swimmer on the beach. Spreading his great wings, he glided over to see what was going on, but by the time he got there it was over. The Big Brown One had returned to the forests to gorge some more on berries, leaving a featherless sky swimmer feathers to fend for himself.

From his spy spot beneath the log, Crab watched Eagle come and go. "Now is the time to go forward, the enemy is retreating and I shall pursue him to the ends of creation, or at least as far as the mountains over there."

No sooner than he had stepped forth from his spy spot beneath the log, Eagle swooped down and caught Crab in his mighty talon.

"I see you have fallen into my trap, O Lord of Sky Swimmers." Crab stated flatly. "Will you admit defeat now, or shall I strike you down with my magic?"

"I see I have met my match." Eagle replied. "You are surely a great warrior, and not one I would like to give coup to. Therefore, I shall deliver you to the land of the Two-Leggs, and they will decide who the victor is indeed.'

Having won another battle, Crab agreed and Eagle flew over the mountain to the village of the Two-Leggs.

"Look below." Eagle said. 'Two-Leggs are preparing a feast in honor of their great warriors. Surely, they will be glad to have you join them."

Crab, sensing a trap, promptly struck Eagle on the top of his head, turning his feathers white. Falling from the sky endover-end, Eagle released his grip on Crab, letting out a piercing cry.

"You are indeed a mighty warrior!' Eagle screamed.

Crab suddenly that he had fallen into a pot of boiling water. Looking around, he saw that there were all sorts of good things to eat, and so he began to help himself to the meat and plants that the Two-Leggs had placed there for him.

"This is a fine place to be." Crab said. "The Two-Leggs are giving a feast in my honor, and I am a great warrior."

And that is how Crab became a great Warrior and the Two-Leggs came to add him to the soup pots on very special days.

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