Epilogue

Coyote and I and lots of other folks sit in the Community House in the ancient village of Coyote's Paw. All night we have listened to stories, and all night winter storms have screamed through the village. Now at sunrise, clouds pull apart and the first winter sunlight streams over the ridge. It's time to go outside and greet the morning.

Before we do that, we honor a tradition in this village. At the end of each storytelling, after listening to the wisdoms of our stories, an elder stands by the fire and gives us some advice to take out into the wide world.

On this morning, Coyote appoints himsef elder. He stands by the fire and says, "Now you people, you've heard enough stories. You'll need Coyote stories all of your lives but too many at one time and your ears will grow long from listening to too many stories. You'll look like a silly rabbit. And you'll Have bad luck with rattlesnakes.

"So while you're alive, do something important. Like me. Learn the flowers. The ways of the deer in the brush, the ways of the birds in the trees and the sky. Learn the dances of the people and the music of the river. Dance the rhythms of the earth.

"You people, make up more Coyote stories! You people, keep the world going. Kaichoonia. Kaichoonia. Forever."