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Wintu - Coyote and the Bird From Heaven
The one called Wuqwuq was on his way to heaven. WuqWuq was going up to heaven. Coyote wanted to follow him using umbrella leaves as wings. "I want to go with you," he said.
WuqWuq said, "You can't go with me. You can't fly."
"I can fly too," said Coyote, "I can get there."
Coyote followed him, flying with his umbrella leaves, gliding slowly. He followed closely, going up. Up towards heaven he went. As he was going up, the leaves wilted. The umbrella-leaf wings wilted and dried up. He came down fast. "I wonder where I'll land," he said. "Will I land in the soft grass of a meadow? Will I land among people dancing? Or will I land where beautiful women are sitting together." He came down.
He never mentioned a rock. He landed on a rock, spattering in all directions. He was unaware of how ants, worms, and all kinds of creatures picked up the pieces, gathered him together, and poured hot water on him.
"Oh," he said. "I must have been sleeping."
In My Own Words. Stories, songs and memories of Grace Mckibbin, Wintu [1884-1987]. by Alice Shepherd, 1997.
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