Bailey and the Santa Fe Secret by Linda McQuinn Carlblom Page B

school let out. They tell him he’s not a man.”
    Halona’s mouth gaped, and tears filled her eyes. She nodded at Aiyana and hugged her. “It’s okay. You did the right thing to tell me.”
    Bailey spoke up. “He told Beth and me about the ancient rite of passage and acted like climbing the cliffs wouldn’t be hard to do. We told him we were glad the tribe dropped that tradition so he wouldn’t have to do it.”
    “We even told him we thought he easily qualified as a man since he helps you so much and already has a job,” Elizabeth added. “But I guess we didn’t convince him.”
    “No one should have to tell him,” Halona said. “He should know inside himself.”
    “Elan, come down!” Tears pooled in Aiyana’s eyes. “We need you to help take care of us!”
    “Hang on, Elan! Help is coming!” Bailey called. Even as she spoke, Elan took another step higher.
    “He’s not giving up,” Elizabeth said. “He’s determined to do this.”
    More boys from town had apparently heard about the daredevil rock climbing attempt and gathered at the foot of the cliff to watch. A slight breeze moved the dry, hot air.
    “Boy, word sure travels fast,” Bailey said to Elizabeth. “Dorko and his pals must have called all their friends.”
    Elizabeth didn’t seem to hear. She was busy looking at the area around them. “Bales, look at this place.”
    “Yeah, so what? It’s the same place we saw yesterday when we came with Elan.”
    “But think about the pictures Kate sent us,” Beth said. “It looks just like this!”
    Bailey viewed the landscape with fresh eyes, imagining it without all the trees and bushes. “You’re right! This could be the site shown in the sunset painting on the ancient pot!”
    The girls’ conversation was interrupted when a white pickup truck pulled up. A man in a uniform jumped out. Gazing up at the cliff, he gave Halona a quick hug. “I see he’s gone quite a ways up already.”
    “Yes, he has. Thank you for coming, Chief Maska.” Halona wrung her hands as she watched Elan go still higher. “I don’t know what to do.”
    “He’s proving his manhood,” Chief Maska said. “We can only wait and pray.”
    “Don’t you think we should try to talk him out of it?” Bailey asked.
    “Has anyone tried that yet?” the chief asked.
    “Yeah, we tried, but he wouldn’t listen!” Aiyana wailed.
    “Then that is your answer.” Chief Maska’s eyes stayed on Elan. “We’ll let him finish. He’s climbed too high to come down safely now.”
    “But he could fall! Or even die!” Halona’s voice rose.
    The chief placed his strong hands on Halona’s shoulders to calm her and looked into her eyes. “The Great Spirit will show him the way.”
    Elizabeth spoke up. “I don’t know about the Great Spirit, but I know my God was strong enough to protect Daniel in the lion’s den, and He opened up the Red Sea like a book to protect the Israelites from the Egyptians who were chasing them. I know He can hold Elan against that cliff and keep him from falling, too.”
    Bailey’s mom put her arm around Elizabeth and squeezed her shoulder.
    Bailey cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, “You can do this, Elan! God will help you!”
    “You can do everything through Him who gives you strength!” Elizabeth added. “The Bible says so in Philippians 4:13.” She winked at Bailey.
    “Yeah, Elan! Be strong and courageous,” Bailey said. “For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Even up the side of a cliff!”
    Elan looked down over his shoulder, then up at the rest of the cliff above him. He inched his right hand up the cliff wall until he found a handhold. He did the same with his foot. Over and over, he repeated the motion. Soon he was three-fourths of the way up.
    “He looks so small up there.” Sweat dripped down Bailey’s face, and she wiped it with her sleeve. “I bet he’s as high as my dad’s four-story office building downtown!”
    “If he makes it to the