Speedily the fathers of the people recognized their lost K‘yäk´lu (led
and prompted as they were of the Twain), and preciously they housed
him, as we preciously and secretly receive with the cigarette of
relationship a returning relative, and purify him and ourselves ere he
speak, that he may not bring evil or we receive it, perchance, with the
breath of his strange words.
Thus the fathers of the people did to K‘yäk´lu and the ancient ones,
receiving them into secret council. And as one who returns famished
is not given to eat save sparingly at first of the flour of drink
(_ók‘yäslu_), so with this only was K‘yäk´lu regaled; but his bearers
were laden speedily with gifts of food and garments which, forsooth,
they would not wear save in disorderly ways. Then K‘yäk´lu spake a
message of comfort to the mourners, telling them how, below the waters
into which their little ones had sunken, they were dwelling in peace
amongst the gods, and how all men and mothers would follow them thither
in other part in the fulness of each one's time.
And then, holding in his hand the Duck, the guide to his blindness,
he spake in measured motion and tone, to the sound of the shells
on the neck of the Duck, the words of creation, _K‘yäk´lu Mósonan
Chïm´mik‘yanak‘ya pénane_, and of his wanderings, and the speeches of
gods and beings as they had been told him, and the directions of the
sacred customs, all did he tell ceaselessly as is still his wont from
mid-day to mid-day to each one of the six councils, that no part be
forgotten.
Thus did our people first learn of their lost messengers, all save
two of them, Ánahoho áchi, and of their lost children in the City of
Ghosts; yea, of the spirit beings and man, animal, and of the souls of
ancient men dead beforetime; yea, and yet more learned they--that all
would gather there even those who had fled away in fear of the waters,
in the fulness of time.
THE ENJOINING OF THE K‘YÄK´LU ÁMOSI, AND THE DEPARTURE OF K‘YÄK´LU AND
THE OLD-ONES.
And when K‘yäk´lu had done speaking, he and the ancient ones breathed
into the nostrils of those who had listened, and into the mouths of
four chosen from amongst them (small of stature like as he was) he
spat, that their tongues might speak unfailingly the words he had
uttered. And these became the K‘yäk´lu Ámosi, whose office we still
keep amongst us. Then the ancient ones lifted him upon the litter, and
loudly joking about their gifts and bidding men call them ever with the
Kâ´kâ that they might receive more _háha_, they sang of how the young
women and maidens would wait for them as for lovers, bringing them the
water of guests to drink, and amid laughter they bore K‘yäk´lu back
whence they had come, to the mountain and city of the Kâ´kâ (Kâ´‘hluai
yálane).