28 June 1993, 1 a.m. Monday
I spoke with Judge Hamilton earlier this evening. She's a very perceptive woman. She plans to take my advice about placing Mr. Boyle's bond at a significant amount. I told her that if Nick or his mother ultimately ask for my help that I shall, of course, be willing to post the bond - provided that the court places Nick in my custody. She completely understood (without my having to say anything) that this was a confidential discussion.
The bail hearing will be tomorrow, the 29th. As I understand it, Nick will be represented by an overworked, court appointed counsel. Excellent. All things come to he who waits.
In the meantime, I shall be occupied. I have a Luna board meeting Wed. afternoon & reams of paperwork to prepare before hand. Then I fly to New Mexico early Thursday - a Legacy consultation and a very welcome escape.
I received a call from Gilbert Ortiz, a former student of mine who is now the unofficial Legacy liaison with the Navajo and Pueblo peoples. His family has had a trading post and pawn shop in Gallup for generations &, through their honest dealings, have earned the trust of the tribes.
It seems that a Navajo "shaman" (not exactly the correct word for it, but adequate, I suppose) died suddenly during the second day of a ritual called the "Blessing Way". Apparently, Kennedy Hosteen was a gifted healer/singer from Chinle who had mastered the complex chants, symbols, & sand paintings of the ceremony at an unusually young age. He was in the process of curing a woman of an outbreak of boils, when he suddenly collapsed and died.
Unsubstantiated rumour has spread that he was poisoned. It's said that certain others who cast wicked spells then sell the cures wanted to remove this very effective healer. He was hurting their business.
The Navajo have an aversion to all things death related. The tribal police are attempting to investigate, but the family has denied their request for an autopsy. Without further evidence a court order is unlikely. Gilbert thought that I, as a "belagana" shaman, might be able to "see" something. No Navajo, similarly gifted, will enter the structure where the death occurred for fear being of contaminated by Hosteen's ghost. It's worth a try. I'll have to study up a bit. My understanding of the finer details may be in error. It's been a very long time.
I wish I could go sooner, but foundation duties come first. I shall be all too happy to be out of here. The place is rather closing in on me. I'll take a commercial flight out early Thursday to Albuquerque, then rent a car for the drive to Gallup. Gilbert offered to pick me up at the airport, but I'd rather have the time alone.
On second thought, maybe it is better that I have to delay. We wouldn't want Mrs. Boyle to have difficulty reaching me. A lot is riding on her call. This may all work very well. The longer Nick is forced to sit in "stir", the more eagerly he might grasp my helping hand - as long as he doesn't sit too long. I just hope she doesn't think of an alternative. I'll trust in Providence on that.
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