Written Assignment - Compare/Contrast Two Native American Writers

Title: Authors:

Source:

Document Type: Subjects:

Abstract: Lexile:

Full Text Word Count: ISSN:

Accession Number: Database:

Record: 1 Men on the Moon. Ortiz, Simon Dawson, John Literary Cavalcade. Mar1998, Vol. 50 Issue 6, p26. 5p. 1 Black and White Photograph. Short Story MEN on the Moon (Short story) SHORT story (Literary form) Presents the short story `Men on the Moon.' 530 2929 0024-4511 940462 MasterFILE Premier

MEN ON THE MOON A story by one of our most respected Native American writers One Joselita brought her father, Faustin, the TV on Father's Day. She brought it over after Sunday mass and she had her son hook up the antenna. She plugged the TV into the wall socket. Faustin sat on a worn couch. He was covered with an old coat. He had worn that coat for twenty years. It's ready. Turn it on and I'll adjust the antenna, Amarosho told his mother. The TV warmed up and then it flickered into dull light. It was snowing. Amarosho tuned it a bit. It snowed less and then a picture formed. Look, Naishtiya, Joselita said. She touched her father's hand and pointed at the TV. I'll turn the antenna a bit and you tell me when the picture is clear, Amarosho said. He climbed on the roof again. After a while the picture turned clearer. It's better, his mother shouted. There was only the tiniest bit of snow falling. That's about the best it can get, I guess, Amarosho said. Maybe it'll clear up on the other channels. He turned the selector. It was clearer on another.

Page 1 of 8Discovery Service for Ramussen College

9/4/2016http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.rasmussen.edu/eds/delivery?sid=94b84d52-75ce-41af-b...

There were two men struggling with each other. Wrestling, Amarosho said. Do you want to watch wrestling? Two men are fighting, Nana. One of them is Apache Red. Chiseh tsah, he told his grandfather. The old man stirred. He had been staring intently into the TV. He wondered why there was so much snow at first. Now there were two men fighting. One of them was Chiseh, an Apache, and the other was a Mericano. There were people shouting excitedly and clapping hands within the TV. The two men backed away from each other once in a while and then they clenched. They wheeled mightily and suddenly one threw the other. The old man smiled. He wondered why they were fighting. Something else showed on the TV screen. A bottle of wine was being poured. The old man liked the pouring sound and he moved his mouth. Someone was selling wine. The two fighting men came back on the TV. They struggled with each other and after a while one of them didn't get up and then another person came and held up the hand of the Apache who was dancing around in a feathered headdress. It's over, Amarosho announced. Apache Red won the fight, Nana. The Chiseh won. Faustin watched the other one, a light-haired man who looked totally exhausted and angry with himself. He didn't like the Apache too much. He wanted them to fight again. After a few moments something else appeared on the TV. What is that? Faustin asked. There was an object with smoke coming from it. It was standing upright. Men are going to the moon, Nana, his grandson said. It's Apollo. It's going to fly three men to the moon. That thing is going to fly to the moon? Yes, Nana. What is it called again? Apollo, a spaceship rocket, Joselita told her father. The Apollo spaceship stood on the ground emitting clouds of something that looked like smoke. A man was talking, telling about the plans for the flight, what would happen, that it was almost time. Faustin could not understand the man very well because he didn't know many words in Mericano. He must be talking about that thing flying in the air? he said. Yes. It's about ready to fly away to the moon.

Page 2 of 8Discovery Service for Ramussen College

9/4/2016http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.rasmussen.edu/eds/delivery?sid=94b84d52-75ce-41af-b...

Faustin remembered that the evening before he had looked at the sky and seen that the moon was almost in the middle phase. He wondered if it was important that the men get to the moon. Are those men looking for something on the moon? he asked. They're trying to find out what's on the moon, Nana, what kind of dirt and rocks there are, to see if there's any life on the moon. The men are looking for knowledge, Amarosho told him. Faustin wondered if the men had run out of places to look for knowledge on the Earth. Do they know if they'll find knowledge? he asked. They have some information already. They've gone before and come back. They're going again. Did they bring any back? They brought back some rocks. Rocks. Faustin laughed quietly. The scientist men went to search for knowledge on the moon and they brought back rocks. He thought that perhaps Amarosho was joking with him. The grandson had gone to Indian School for a number of years and sometimes he would tell his grandfather some strange and funny things. The old man was suspicious. They joked around a lot. Rocks -- you sure that's all they brought back? That's right, Nana, only rocks and some dirt and pictures they made of what it looks like on the moon. The TV picture was filled with the rocket, close up now. Men were sitting and moving around by some machinery and the voice had become more urgent. The old man watched the activity in the picture intently but with a slight smile on his face. Suddenly it became very quiet, and the voice was firm and commanding and curiously pleadining. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, liftoff. The white smoke became furious and a muted rumble shook through the TV. The rocket was trembling and the voice was trembling. It was really happening, the old man marvelled. Somewhere inside of that cylinder with a point at its top and long slender wings were three men who were flying to the moon. The rocket rose from the ground. There were enormous clouds of smoke and the picture shook. Even the old man became tense and he grasped the edge of the couch. The rocket spaceship rose and rose. There's fire coming out of the rocket, Amarosho explained. That's what makes it go. Fire. Faustin had wondered what made it fly. He'd seen pictures of other flying machines. They had long wings and someone had explained to him that there was machinery inside which spun metal blades which made them fly. He had wondered what made this thing fly. He hoped his grandson wasn't joking.

Page 3 of 8Discovery Service for Ramussen College

9/4/2016http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.rasmussen.edu/eds/delivery?sid=94b84d52-75ce-41af-b...

After a while there was nothing but the sky. The rocket Apollo had disappeared. It hadn't taken very long and the voice from the TV wasn't excited anymore. In fact the voice was very calm and almost bored. I have to go now, Naishtiya, Joselita told her father. I have things to do. Me, too, Amarosho said. Wait, the old man said, wait. What shall I do with this thing? What is it you call it? TV, his daughter said. You watch it. You turn it on and you watch it. I mean how do you stop it. Does it stop like the radio, like the mahkina? This way, Nana, Amarosho said and showed his grandfather. He turned the dial again and the picture went away. He turned the dial again and the picture flickered on again. Were you afraid this one-eye would be looking at you all the time? Amarosho laughed and gently patted the old man's shoulder. Faustin was relieved. Joselita and her son left. He watched the TV for a while. A lot of activity was going on, a lot of men were moving among machinery, and a couple of men were talking. And then it showed the rocket again. He watched it rise and fly away again. It disappeared again. There was nothing but the sky. He turned the dial and the picture died away. He turned it on and the picture came on again. He turned it off. He went outside and to a fence a distance from his home. When he finished he studied the sky a while. Two That night, he dreamed. Flintwing Boy was watching a Skquuyuh mahkina come down a hill. The mahkina made a humming noise. It was walking. It shone in the sunlight. Flintwing Boy moved to a better position to see. The mahkina kept on moving. It was moving towards him. The Skquuyuh mahkina drew closer. Its metal legs stepped upon trees and crushed growing flowers and grass. A deer bounded away frightened. Tshushki came running to Flintwing Boy. Anaweh, he cried, trying to catch his breath. The coyote was staring at the thing which was coming towards them. There was wild fear in his eyes. What is that, Anaweh? What is that thing? he gasped. It looks like a mahkina, but I've never seen one like it before. It must be some kind of Skquuyuh mahkina. Where did it come from?

Page 4 of 8Discovery Service for Ramussen College

9/4/2016http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.rasmussen.edu/eds/delivery?sid=94b84d52-75ce-41af-b...

I'm not sure yet, Anaweh, Flintwing Boy said. When he saw that Tshushki was trembling with fear, he said gently, Sit down, Anaweh. Rest yourself. We'll find out soon enough. The Skquuyuh mahkina was undeterred. It walked over and through everything. It splashed through a stream of clear water. The water boiled and streaks of oil flowed downstream. It split a juniper tree in half with a terrible crash. It crashed a boulder into dust with a sound of heavy metal. Nothing stopped the Skquuyuh mahkina. It hummed. Anaweh, Tshushki cried, what shall we do? What can we do? Flintwing Boy reached into the bag at his side. He took out an object. It was a flint arrowhead. He took out some cornfood. Come over here, Anaweh. Come over here. Be calm, he motioned to the frightened coyote. He touched the coyote in several places of his body with the arrowhead and put cornfood in the palm of his hand. This way, Flintwing Boy said, and closed Tshushki's fingers over the cornfood gently. And they faced east. Flintwing Boy said, We humble ourselves again. We look in your direction for guidance. We ask for your protection. We humble our poor bodies and spirits because only you arc the power and the source and the knowledge. Help us then -- that is all we ask. They breathed on the cornfood and took in the breath of all directions and gave the cornfood unto the ground. Now the ground trembled with the awesome power of the Skquuyuh mahkina. Its humming vibrated against everything. Flintwing Boy reached behind him and took several arrows from his quiver. He inspected them carefully and without any rush he fit one to his bowstring. And now, Anaweb, you must go and tell everyone. Describe what you have seen. The people must talk among themselves and decide what it is about and what they will do. You must hurry but you must not alarm the people. Tell them I am here to meet it. I will give them my report when I find out. Coyote turned and began to run. He stopped several yards away. Hahtrudzaimeh, he called. Like a man of courage, Anaweh, like a man. The old man stirred in his sleep. A dog was barking. He awoke and got out of his bed and went outside. The moon was past the midpoint and it would be morning light in a few hours. Three Later, the spaceship reached the moon. Amarosho was with his grandfather. They watched a replay of two men walking on the moon. So that's the men on the moon, Faustin said. Yes, Nana, that's it.

Page 5 of 8Discovery Service for Ramussen College

9/4/2016http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.rasmussen.edu/eds/delivery?sid=94b84d52-75ce-41af-b...

There were two men inside of heavy clothing and equipment. The TV picture showed a closeup of one of them and indeed there was a man's face inside of glass. The face moved its mouth and smiled and spoke but the voice seemed to be separate from the face. It must be cold. They have heavy clothing on, Faustin said. It's supposed to be very cold and very hot. They wear the clothes and other things for protection from the cold and heat, Amarosho said. The men on the moon were moving slowly. One of them skipped and he floated alongside the other. The old man wondered if they were underwater. They seem to be able to float, he said. The information I have heard is that a man weighs less than he does on earth, much less, and he floats. There is no air easier to breathe. Those boxes on their backs contain air for them to breathe, Amarosho told his grandfather. He weighs less, the old man wondered, and there is no air except for the boxes on their backs. He looked at Amarosho but his grandson didn't seem to be joking with him. The land on the moon looked very dry. It looked like it had not rained for a long, long time. There were no trees, no plants, no grass. Nothing but dirt and rocks, a desert. Amarosho had told him that men on earth -- the scientists -- believed there was no life on the moon. Yet those men were trying to find knowledge on the moon. He wondered if perhaps they had special tools with which they could find knowledge even if they believed there was no life on the moon desert. The mahkina sat on the desert. It didn't make a sound. Its metal feet were planted flat on the ground. It looked somewhat awkward. Faustin searched vainly around the mahkina but there didn't seem to be anything except the dry land on the TV He couldn't figure out the mahkina. He wasn't sure whether it could move and could cause fear. He didn't want to ask his grandson that question. After a while, one of the bulky men was digging in the ground. He carried a long thin hoe with which he scooped dirt and put in into a container. He did this for a while. Is he going to bring the dirt back to earth too? Faustin asked. I think he is, Nana, Amarosho said. Maybe he'll get some rocks too. Watch. Indeed several minutes later the man lumbered over to a pile of rocks and gathered several handsize ones. He held them out proudly. They looked just like rocks from around anyplace. The voice from the TV scorned to be excited about the rocks. They will study the rocks too for knowledge? Yes, Nana.

Page 6 of 8Discovery Service for Ramussen College

9/4/2016http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.rasmussen.edu/eds/delivery?sid=94b84d52-75ce-41af-b...

What will they use the knowledge for, Nana? They say they will use it to better mankind, Nana. I've heard that. And to learn more about the universe we live in. Also some of them say that the knowledge will be useful in finding out where everything began and how everything was made. Faustin smiled at his grandson. He said, You are telling me the true facts, aren't you? Yes, Nana. That's what they say, I'm not just making it up, Amarosho said. Well then -- do they say why they need to know where everything began? Hasn't anyone ever told them? I think people have tried to tell them but they want to find out for themselves and also I think they claim they don't know enough and need to know more and for certain, Amarosho said. The man in the bulky suit had a small pickaxe in his hand. He was striking at a boulder. The breathing of the man could clearly be heard. He seemed to be working very hard and was very tired. Faustin had once watched a crew of Mericano drilling for water. They had brought a tall mahkina with a loud motor. The mahkina would raise a limb at its center to its very top and then drop it with a heavy and loud metal clang. The mahkina and its men sat at one spot for several days and finally they found water. The water had bubbled out weakly, gray-looking and didn't look drinkable at all. And then they lowered the mahkina, put their equipment away and drove away. The water stopped flowing. After a couple of days he went and checked out the place. There was nothing there except a pile of gray dirt and an indentation in the ground. The ground was already dry and there were dark spots of oil-soaked dirt. He decided to tell Amarosho about the dream he had. After the old man finished, Amarosho said, Old man, you're telling me the truth now? You know that you have become somewhat of a liar. He was testing his grandfather. I have told you the truth as it occurred to me that night. Everything happened like that except that I might not have recalled everything about it. That's some story, but it's a dream. It's a dream but it's the truth, Faustin said. I believe you, his grandson said. Editor's Note Simon Ortiz is a respected Native American poet and fiction writer. An Acoma Pueblo, he was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1941. His writing is both universal and specific to his experience.

Page 7 of 8Discovery Service for Ramussen College

9/4/2016http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.rasmussen.edu/eds/delivery?sid=94b84d52-75ce-41af-b...

He says, "If the survival and quality of Indian life is not assured, then no one else's life is either, because the same economic, social, and political forces which destroy us will surely destroy others." "Men on the Moon" reflects Ortiz's concern with nature, the land, and the search for meaning. It features a recurrent Ortiz figure, the mythological coyote. A Closer Look 1 When Faustin learns that men looking for knowledge on the moon will bring back rocks, he is puzzled. Why? • 2 What does Faustin dream? What do you think the dream means? • 3 When a man in a space suit strikes a boulder with a pickaxe, Faustin remembers workers using

a big machine to drill for water. Do the workers find water? What happens next? What is being implied about the moon mission?

~~~~~~~~ By By Simon Ortiz

Copyright of Literary Cavalcade is the property of Scholastic Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.

Page 8 of 8Discovery Service for Ramussen College

9/4/2016http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.rasmussen.edu/eds/delivery?sid=94b84d52-75ce-41af-b...