Race to the Sun

The children and Mr. Yazzie get off the train, and Mr. Yazzie reports that they have arrived at Sisnaajiní, “the Mountain of Dawn, the easternmost sacred mountain, and the home of the Rock Crystal Guardians and the Gray Dove Heralds” (124). He explains that there are four sacred mountains, one for each cardinal direction, each with a guardian and a herald—figures tasked with caring for the land. Each sacred mountain represents part of Navajo history and culture. Mr. Yazzie says that they have taken this “detour” to find gifts for Spider Woman.

The next part of the quest, Mr. Yazzie continues, will be to retrieve four items, one from each of the sacred mountains: “a perfect white shell from Sisnaajiní, a piece of turquoise from Tsoodził, an abalone shell from Dook’o’oosłid, and a nugget of black jet from Dibé Nitsaa” (125), which Davery notes are mentioned in the verses the cart woman gave them. Nizhoni asks Mr. Yazzie for clarification, but he cannot provide it. Nizhoni frets over the line in the riddle that cautions, “Beware, beware the friendly toad” (126).

Mr. Yazzie suffers in the cold, so the children look for shelter in the mountain despite Davery’s fears that the guardian may not like their trespassing. Nizhoni reprimands him for worrying just as an arrow strikes the ground inches away from her feet.

The children raise their hands in surrender, and a boy, made entirely of white crystal, emerges from the snow. Although initially suspicious of them, the boy eventually introduces himself as the guardian of the mountain. He warms Mr. Yazzie, whom he addresses as “Grandpa,” and tells the kids to call him “RC,” short for “Rock Crystal Boy” (131). He takes the group to his house, which is a hogan (a traditional Navajo dwelling). Inside, Mr. Yazzie urges the children to introduce themselves “the proper way” (132), including their names and clans. RC is delighted that part of Nizhoni’s ancestry is from Crystal Rock clan and calls himself her grandfather (a term of respect toward an elder).

RC explains that these relationships matter, as it means they “share k’é,” a concept he cites as being highly complex but essentially meaning that they will care for one another. RC directs them to where they can find a “perfectly formed” shell for Spider Woman. He leads them to a massive pile of shells.

Nizhoni feels dismayed over the massive task of finding a perfect shell amidst the huge pile of shells, which she does not consider a typical “hero” task. She becomes even more discouraged when she realizes that climbing the pile damages shells, reducing her chances of finding a perfect one. Despite being tempted to give up, she perseveres, searching for hours. She visualizes the perfect shell and finds what she’s looking for, though her triumph quickly dissolves into worry for her father.

A large bird suddenly swoops down near them, and the children fear that it will eat Mr. Yazzie until he explains that the bird is “the herald of Dibé Nitsaa” (140), Łizhin. Łizhin reports that the guardian of “the Mountain of the Folding Darkness” (141), named Black Jet Girl, is missing. A worried Mr. Yazzie explains that a missing guardian means that “all the people, animals, and other beings that live [on the mountain] are at risk” (141). Nizhoni knows that this must be Mr. Charles’s doing.

Łizhin says that Nizhoni must come and defend the mountain while Davery and Mac continue with Mr. Yazzie to find the other three gifts for Spider Woman. Nizhoni dislikes the idea of splitting up, particularly given the riddle’s caution about staying together and mistrusting “the friendly toad” (142), but Mr. Yazzie insists that it is the only way to meet the four-day deadline outlined in the verses. Łizhin summons the heralds from Tsoodził and Dook’o’osłiid and tells the children that they will each ride upon a herald’s back to get to their respective mountains.

The other two heralds arrive: Dólii, the herald of Tsoodził (who transports Mac and Mr. Yazzie), and Tsídii, the herald of Dook’o’osłiid (who transports Davery). The two depart with their passengers, leaving Nizhoni with an anxious feeling that she might not see her brother or friend again. Alone with Łizhin, Nizhoni admits that she doesn’t feel very heroic, but Łizhin believes that she is the exact right person to protect the mountain and urges Nizhoni to just be herself. They take off.

As they approach, Dibé Nitsaa looks ominous to Nizhoni. The violent wind threatens to dash them against the rocks as they descend, but Łizhin manages to land. The malevolent wind instantly dies, and Łizhin concludes that the strange weather has something to do with Black Jet Girl disappearing. She urges Nizhoni to have courage.

Nizhoni sees a door built into the side of the mountain. It gives her a bad feeling, which Łizhin attributes to her monster-sensing skills. She encourages Nizhoni to trust her instincts and then warns that her presence may attract monsters. Before Łizhin departs, she gives Nizhoni a feather, which she says “will become what [Nizhoni requires] most” when she “is in need” (152). Nizhoni assumes that this means it’s a weapon, but Łizhin corrects her: It is ingenuity. She cautions that Nizhoni must find Black Jet Girl by sunset, or else it will be “too late.”

Nizhoni opens the jet door, calling quietly inside. When she receives no answer, she enters, alarmed to find two enormous buzzards, which remind her of a frightening Halloween costume she saw as a child. The buzzards fight over a piece of rotten meat. They don’t notice Nizhoni. On the floor near the door lies Black Jet Girl. Nizhoni tries to wake her but can’t; a tear dripping down the guardian’s face tells Nizhoni that Black Jet Girl is somehow frozen—and frightened. Struck by an idea, Nizhoni waves the feather in front of Black Jet Girl’s nose, which causes the guardian to sneeze, unfreezing her.

The sound rouses the buzzards, whose conversation reveals that although they are blind, their gaze has the power to paralyze. As quietly as possible, Black Jet Girl tells Nizhoni to “throw the feather into the fire” (156). The buzzards squabble over whether they have heard something, irritating Nizhoni into shouting that she has come to rescue Black Jet Girl. She identifies herself as a monsterslayer, but the birds don’t believe her, as they believe that a “real monsterslayer” would have a lightning sword. They call her “delusional,” which causes Nizhoni to doubt herself. They taunt her, telling her that a true monsterslayer could look into their gaze without suffering its paralyzing effects. Despite her hesitance at losing her only weapon, Nizhoni follow’s Black Jet Girl’s command to throw the feather into the fire; it erupts into thousands of salt crystals, and Nizhoni urges Black Jet Girl to flee the cave before it collapses from the explosion.

Nizhoni helps Black Jet Girl outside, where they discover that an avalanche is heading straight for them. They run to an overhang, which protects them from the cascade of rock. When the deluge passes, they look back to find that the house has been buried with the buzzards trapped inside. With the monster’s ominous presence vanquished, Nizhoni can recognize the beauty of Dibé Nitsaa. Black Jet Girl asks if Nizhoni is truly a monsterslayer, and Nizhoni says that she’s “working on it” (161). Black Jet Girl praises Nizhoni’s bravery against the bináá’yee aghání, the buzzard monsters. The guardian seems hungry, so Nizhoni offers her a cookie, though she cautions that Davery’s mother’s healthy recipe doesn’t make the most typical or appetizing cookie.

Black Jet Girl needs sleep but offers to help search for the perfect piece of jet for Spider Woman in the morning. Nizhoni feels dismayed at losing so much time but offers to watch over Black Jet Girl so that she can rest. While Black Jet Girl sleeps, Nizhoni sits, missing Davery, Mac, and her dad. She vows that she, Davery, and Mac will stay together after this and that they will find her father together. She falls asleep.

Nizhoni wakes in the morning to a cheerful campfire. Łizhin and Black Jet Girl emerge from a copse of trees. Łizhin praises her for her bravery on the mountain but cautions that danger still looms. Black Jet Girl offers Nizhoni one of her earrings as a gift for Spider Woman. Since Black Jet Girl is entirely made from rock, including her earring, Nizhoni worries that giving this gift will harm the guardian, but Black Jet Girl explains that a gift doesn’t mean anything unless it costs the giver something. She advises Nizhoni to “not be afraid to sacrifice” (167). Łizhin and Nizhoni take to the air, and Łizhin reports that “there’s been an accident” (168).

Łizhin refuses to say more, making Nizhoni fretful. They fly over Canyon de Chelly in Dinétah (part of Navajo Nation), and Nizhoni admires the beauty of the landscape. Spider Rock looms ahead, and Nizhoni nervously asks if Spider Woman is “nice.” Łizhin vaguely reports stories of Spider Woman eating children but appears unconcerned. As they prepare to land, Nizhoni spots Davery and Mac, relieved to see them unharmed. Mac, however, acts moody because he failed to get a piece of turquoise. The water in the canyon surges in response to his anger. He reports that he got the turquoise but lost it when they took a sharp turn while flying through a storm and he had to choose between grabbing the turquoise or Mr. Yazzie; he chose to save the toad. Mac, who still doesn’t know that their father has been abducted, wails that their dad shouldn’t have let them go on this quest alone.

Nizhoni offers to give her turquoise necklace to Spider Woman to make up for the turquoise Mac dropped, recalling Black Jet Girl’s comments about sacrifice. The heralds return to their mountains, and Davery, Mac, Nizhoni, and Mr. Yazzie begin their ascent to meet Spider Woman.

To the children’s surprise, they find a mobile home and a pickup truck at their destination. A sign reads, “THE NA’ASHJÉII. RUG WEAVERS EXTRAORDINAIRE” (176). They hear a television playing inside the trailer as they knock. In case they’re in the wrong place, Nizhoni tells the woman who answers the door that they wish to purchase a rug. Inside the trailer, they see a large loom and a gigantic TV, which impresses Mac.

The woman encourages the kids to pick a rug, which she will then finish, a task that will take a year and a half to two years. Nizhoni reveals that they’re there for a map, not a rug, admitting the truth about the lost turquoise from Tsoodził and offering her necklace in return. Spider Woman recognizes Nizhoni, who resembles her mother. Pleased with the gifts, Spider Woman praises their bravery but tells them that she doesn’t have a map.

When the children fret that they will not be able to complete their quest, Spider Woman clarifies that they don’t need a map to get to the Glittering World, as they’re already there. Mac and Nizhoni are skeptical since Spider Woman’s trailer is distinctly lacking in glitter, but Spider Woman escorts them outside and urges them to look at the natural splendor. Nizhoni understands. Spider Woman offers to show them the Rainbow Road the following day since it’s not safe to travel at night. Nizhoni worries about the delay, and Spider Woman advises that the road to the Sun is not long but will contain four trials.

They return inside, where Spider Woman invites them to help make dinner. Nizhoni confesses that she’s never even made frybread. Spider Woman patiently shows them how to prepare the dish, praising each child for their talents. When Nizhoni admires a rug, Spider Woman comments that Nizhoni’s mother admired a similar pattern, revealing that Nizhoni’s mother visited her approximately 10 years prior. This new information causes Nizhoni to reconsider her previous perspective on her mother—reframing her mother’s abandonment as protection and understanding that her mother undertook the same quest as Nizhoni. Nizhoni is eager to learn more about her mother, but exhaustion overtakes her.

As the children lay down to sleep, Mac comments on their dad’s silence, and Nizhoni finally confesses that their father has been kidnapped. Though he is distressed, Mac’s emotions exhaust him, and he quickly falls asleep. Nizhoni and Davery whisper about the cart woman’s verses, which frame their quest as a “team effort,” and they both feel optimistic. Yet Nizhoni thinks of her mom’s failure to return, which indicates that she lost her battle against the monsters.