Subsequent to Coyote's return from beyond the great ocean, he did sojourn with his wife for a twelvemonth in the Joshua country, and there did construct for himself a sudatorium.
He was wont to absent himself from his wife with some frequency, for the express purpose of engaging in the pursuits of hunting and fishing. A short distance upstream, he maintained a dwelling specifically purposed for the desiccation of salmon. Upon one occasion, he repaired to this drying-house, wherein he remained for the space of a month. Thereafter, he returned to his wife, conveying the entirety of the dried salmon in a canoe.
Subsequent to his return, he ventured forth upon the beach at the ebb of the tide, where he discovered an abundance of eels distinguished by their red dorsal markings. This observation occasioned him some surprise, and he surmised that the vernal season must have arrived. It seemed to him that he had, perchance, overlooked a considerable number of months. Unable to comprehend this circumstance, he resolved to proceed upstream to a prairie, with the intention of surveying the surrounding countryside from that vantage. Upon arriving at said location, he observed that the entirety of the flora was in a state of desiccation. This observation served to convince him that he had, indeed, neglected to account for all of the winter months. Thus, he retraced his steps and addressed his wife, saying, 'My wife, all that lies upstream is parched and withered. It shall be midsummer ere long'. But the woman regarded him with amusement. Then Coyote instructed her to consign all of the aged salmon to the river, as he desired not to commingle the old salmon with the newly acquired eels. The woman, however, demurred from this instruction, and they engaged in a protracted dispute concerning the matter. She suspected that some party had perpetrated a jest upon her husband, and consequently, she resolved to conceal all the provisions she could discover and store them away. She remained unconvinced that the autumnal season was approaching. Coyote, in the belief that his wife had duly disposed of the aged salmon, as he had instructed, proceeded forth to gather fresh eels.
He did, however, fail to observe a single eel. He reflected, 'Verily, the eels shall arrive this eventide.' He then returned to his spouse and imparted the intelligence of his lack of success.
She, however, accorded him scant attention, continuing to partake of the salmon she had prudently conserved. As night descended, Coyote ventured forth once more. He engaged in angling throughout the nocturnal hours, yet he did not apprehend a solitary eel. Upon the arrival of morning, he was assailed by profound hunger, and thus he proceeded to the littoral with the aspiration of discovering some sustenance. Again, he was met with disappointment, for naught had been cast ashore by the tide. In the evening, he resumed his piscatorial endeavours. By this juncture, he was afflicted by acute hunger and entertained the suspicion that either Sol or Luna had acted to deceive him. For the duration of nigh on a month, he was bereft of victuals. He was so enfeebled that he could scarcely maintain ambulation. And during all this time, his consort was consuming the flesh she had secreted without his cognisance.
One day, Coyote did summon all creatures, both beast and fowl, and did impart unto them how the Sun, with cunning art, had deceived him. Wherefore, he did entreat their aid in bringing about the Sun's demise. Sustenance was provided unto Coyote, which did serve to bolster his strength. Thus fortified, they commenced their expedition in pursuit of the Sun's customary point of egress. A fortress was erected, shielded with boughs, and pierced with a diminutive aperture for observing the Sun's advent. Coyote, having fashioned a blade, stood ready to ensnare the Sun upon its emergence and to dispatch it forthwith. He kept vigil. As the dawn did approach, the Sun appeared afar. Coyote, addressing his comrades, counselled them to repose for the day, after which they should proceed to the location from whence the Sun had sprung. And so, they resumed their march. Coyote, addressing the land itself, did diminish the intervening space. Ere long, they arrived at a novel location and prepared themselves anew. Again, the Sun emerged, yet it remained at such a distance that Coyote could scarcely perceive it. Once more, he bade his companions to rest.
In the evening, they commenced their journey anew. Again, Coyote curtailed the distance by naught but a wish. They arrived at the new location, but the Sun was yet remote. This same occurrence transpired twenty times. At length, they reached a lofty mountain, which the Sun could scarce surmount. Then Coyote rejoiced, declaring, 'Now assuredly shall we capture him'. Consequently, upon the ensuing night, they advanced to a fresh locale, Coyote abridging the distance as before. Already, a considerable number of his companions were enfeebled by hunger and exhaustion, and had fallen by the wayside. The new place they had attained was flanked by lofty mountains on either hand. They constructed a towering wall betwixt these eminences, confident that they should ensnare the Sun in this locale. As night descended, they readied themselves. The first light of dawn began to appear, and Coyote cautioned his fellows to be wary of any stratagems the Sun might employ. 'He may emerge from the earth with his eyes yet closed', he warned, 'so that ye shall not perceive him until he doth unfold his orbs atop the mountain, and then he shall be beyond thy reach'. At long last, the Sun manifested itself at the base of the slope on the far side of the mountain. It appeared immense and remained at a considerable remove.
So Coyote exhorted his companions to find rest that day, confident that they should ensnare the Sun come nightfall. After sundown, they set forth and came upon a great body of water. Coyote convened a council with his people and enjoined them to seek a place to traverse the ocean. One half he dispatched northwards, whilst the other half was to journey southwards. He conjectured that the Sun might have its abode in the water. Presently, they espied an abundance of reeds. Coyote's comrades became disheartened and desired to return home, but he did encourage them, averring that he had been there before. They were grievously wearied and famished. Wherefore, Coyote counselled them to partake of certain roots. These did sustain them, and from that time hence, mankind did learn the medicinal virtues of roots. From the shore, they beheld a vast fog on the opposite side of the ocean, which did dissipate as soon as the Sun emerged. Then were they certain that they were nigh unto the Sun's lodge. At noon, the Sun ascended high above them; yet it remained exceedingly far. They knew not how to cross the ocean. So Coyote did beseech the water-folk to aid him. Ten times he called, yet none came forth. Then did he nigh lose his courage. He and his companions were well-nigh starved to death.
At length, the Coyote, perceiving the exigency, addressed one of his companions thus: 'Pray, smite me upon the head twice! Perchance, some consequence may ensue'. His companion, apprehensive of inflicting a mortal blow, demurred. The Coyote, however, persisted, enjoining upon his friends that should he fall insensible, they were to suffer him to remain prostrate until the arrival of some personage, at which juncture they should rouse him. Accordingly, the Coyote seated himself, closed his oculars, and his companion, with a stout stick, delivered a blow upon the side of his cranium. A sound, not unlike that of cleaving wood, reverberated through the air. Twice did the Coyote endure such blows before succumbing to a lifeless state upon the ground. The assembled populace then commenced to ponder upon the method by which they might effect their return homeward without the guidance of the Coyote, who had conducted them to such a distant locale. Night descended, and they became cognisant, initially, of a faint susurrus, akin to the squeaking of mice, encircling them. However, they elected not to disturb the slumber of the Coyote.
Thrice did the mice traverse their perimeter ere the company entertained the notion of awakening the Coyote. At first, they merely vocalised his appellation; subsequently, they resorted to shaking him. Finally, the Coyote roused himself, extending his limbs and exclaiming, 'Oh, how somnolent I am!' His comrades, in a state of agitation, retorted, 'Someone has arrived!' Whereupon, the Coyote opened his visual organs, manipulated his cranium on all aspects, and it was restored to its former condition. Anon, the mice recommenced their squeaking, and the Coyote summoned them, declaiming, 'My grandsons, approach hither!' Forthwith, two mice materialised. They were devoid of caudal appendages; their auricles were diminutive; and their pelage was exceedingly short. The Coyote apprised them that he was their avuncular relation and that their progenitor was a bosom companion of his. The murine creatures lent their ears in silence. Subsequently, the Coyote enquired of them the whereabouts of the habitation of the Sun.
The larger murine entity pronounced, 'If thou dost bestow upon us that which we desire, we shall impart unto thee the situation of the Sun's domicile'. 'What, pray, is your desire?' queried the Coyote, 'dentalia shells, perchance?' The mouse agitated its head in the negative. The Coyote proffered all manner of valuables, but the murine creatures remained unmoved. The nocturnal hours were rapidly diminishing, and the Coyote found himself in a state of haste; therefore, he procured a salmon-net and fashioned therefrom two caudal appendages. Unto one mouse, he bestowed the elongated tail, whilst the other received a truncated version. Furthermore, he furnished them with auricles and pelage of variegated hues. At length, he enquired whether they were content, to which the Mice responded in the affirmative. Then, the Coyote procured some tallow and smeared it upon their proboscises, informing them that thenceforth, they would detect the scent of grease, even from a considerable distance; and this, indeed, is the rationale behind the propensity of all mice for grease, and why they infiltrate salmon-nets, rending them asunder whenever they are suspended. They perpetrate such acts because their tails were originally fashioned from salmon-nets.
Then did Coyote enquire of the mice, 'Pray, how do ye traverse the ocean?' The mice did inform him that they possessed a trail beneath the waters. He did also make enquiry concerning the abode of Sun and Moon, and learnt that there existed one hundred Suns and Moons, and that the Suns and the Moons were one and the same people.
One person would present himself as a Sun on one day. Upon his return, another man would venture forth as Moon. Then would he return and retire to slumber, and yet another person would sally forth as Sun... and so forth.
Coyote was desirous of knowing if there were any sudatories there. 'But one', quoth the mice, 'and it is exceeding hot'.
They did also impart that whenever a Sun did desire to enter the sudatory, he would first thrust his foot within, and then leap out with alacrity. Then would he re-enter and again leap out. This he would perform five times ere remaining within the sudatory for good. 'Then', the mice declared, 'may ye apprehend him'. Coyote did also ascertain that the Moon's country was arid, bereft of water, and perpetually hot and luminous. He did further interrogate the Mice, 'Which Sun did deceive me last autumn?' The mice responded, 'There were two of them. Their appellations are Windy Moon and Bad Sun. They are exceedingly wicked and create all manner of mischief. The others are of good disposition'. Coyote was fain to know of their stature. 'Of great size', the mice declared, 'and exceeding perilous'. Then did Coyote inform the mice that he and his companions would repose for a full day and would launch the assault upon the Suns and the Moons on the morrow night. He entreated the mice to return home and gnaw through all the bow-strings in the habitations of the Suns and Moons. At length he enquired of them, 'Did ye assert that these habitations were beneath the water?' 'Nay!' replied the mice, 'they are upon land'. Coyote suspected the mice of prevarication, but resolved to take his chances. Then he enquired, 'How far is it hence?' 'A long distance off!' The mice were prepared to commence at noon. Coyote was desirous of knowing how long the Suns remained within the sudatory and if they possessed any canines. 'There are no canines', the Mice asserted.
Then they continued, 'None of the Suns emits much urine, save for the two we mentioned afore. These two depart from the house oft and urinate for a protracted duration. Whenever they do so, it rains and storms with great vehemence. Observe these two with diligence, for they are the ones who played the trick upon ye'. Just ere the mice departed, they agreed to forewarn Coyote of any lurking peril by squeaking. They opened the door and vanished.
Coyote, having convened his folk in solemn council, a resolution was passed that the Suns and Moons, upon their demise, should be consumed, for within that land existed no consecrated ground for their interment. Forthwith, he commanded the ocean to recede, becoming diminutive and arid, and with his people he commenced their journey. Ere long, the luminescence did wax exceedingly bright, as they drew nigh unto the abode of the Suns and Moons. The sand, moreover, was of an intolerable heat. They arrived at the sudatory. Coyote, with cunning artifice, concealed his comrades within, whilst he himself did prostrate himself nigh unto the portal, that he might ensnare any who entered, dispatching them with haste and casting them forth to his confederates. Soon, he detected the stridulation of mice, and whispered, 'My progeny, I am nigh!' The mice divulged that the entirety of the Suns and Moons were within the edifice, whereupon Coyote did conjure a dense fog to envelop the locale. The mice then imparted, 'The populace hath observed our novel caudal appendages and pelts, and doth marvel at their significance. They are seized with astonishment and suspect that Coyote hath perpetrated this deed and doth observe them. We have devoured all the bows and strings within the dwellings.' At this intelligence, Coyote was gladdened.
Thereafter, one mouse did return into the house, whilst the other remained without to provide warning. Anon, all became hushed. After a brief interval, Coyote discerned the deliberate, ponderous footfalls of an approaching Sun, and perceived a radiant light, attended by a faint sibilant sound. Then, a foot was thrust into the sudatory and swiftly retracted. This procedure was reiterated four times. Upon the fifth iteration, a Sun did introduce his entire corporeal form, whereupon Coyote slew him, casting him forth to his people, who did devour him forthwith. And from that juncture forth, the feathered tribes and Coyote have been wont to partake of deceased carcasses.
In this egregious fashion, he dispatched fifty souls, thereby leaving fifty Suns to illuminate each hebdomadal period of the annum. Following the demise of the initial score and a half, the populace of Coyote became replete and could ingest no further sustenance.
Thus, the locale commenced to reek of sanguine effluvium, and the remaining Suns grew circumspect. Eventually, Windy Moon did embark upon the sudatorium. He drew nigh, engendering a considerable clamour and zephyr. Coyote did tremble with fervent anticipation.
Windy Moon did micturate for a protracted duration. As he neared the sudatorium, he did ponder as to the cause of the obscurity within. He inserted his pedal extremity, then did promptly retract it. Coyote commenced to vacillate; he surmised that perchance he had extinguished a sufficient number of Suns and Moons. At length, Windy Moon did enter.
Coyote did thrust his weapon, yet only abraded his posterior. The wounded Sun did hasten into the abode and raise the alarm. Coyote did swiftly assemble his people and instructed them to scatter. Thereupon, he conjured a dense fog, such that he might remain concealed.
The Moons did awaken and seize their arcus and sagittae, but all were gnawed asunder. Thus did Coyote and his comrades abscond. The murine creatures did likewise return homeward upon their spoor. They convened at their primatial rendezvous, and Coyote did execute the mortuary saltation. Since that epoch, persons have perpetually performed the homicidium saltation. The wounded Moon endured a most grievous night; he was exceedingly unwell.
At the meridian, Coyote did cast his gaze heavenward and pronounce, 'Suns, should ye ever deign to trifle with me henceforward, I shall return and visit upon ye all a most grievous demise!' The Suns vouchsafed no rejoinder. Thereafter, Coyote did settle the duration of the annum and apportion it into twelve distinct periods. The Suns have ne'er since evinced the temerity to contravene his decree.
