The day was already promising to be a scorcher. The smell of smoke from the fire below us permeated the air. I gestured to a pair of men walking by and let them know the meals for the Native Americans were in my Jeep, and they promised to take care of moving and distributing the food. Elaine, who had not uttered a word yet, excused herself to use the ladies’ room.I turned to Steve Morella and said, “How long do you think the Native Americans will stay up here with the fire on the other side of that ridge?”“They are afraid that if they leave, they won’t be allowed to come back in for the completion of their ceremonies. So they will remain here, camping or whatever, until the Lunar Standstill.”“Have you seen their ceremonies before?” I asked.“Every July, over a dozen tribes send representatives to our social dances. It’s really wonderful—they tell stories, perform dances, hold ceremonies. This year, because of the Lunar Standstill, they are performing special rituals to mark the rise of the moon between the spires.
