2. Two Stories About the
Orphan Boy and the Monster
'Aréey
Translated by Millie Romero,
Barbara Levy, and Amy Miller
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée
(Seven Heads)
Translated by Barbara Levy,
George Bryant, and Amy Miller
This chapter presents two narratives about an orphan boy and a seven-headed monster. These stories appear to have been influenced by European folklore (as discussed below), yet they are nonetheless very much Quechan stories. For readers who are unfamiliar with Quechan literature, they provide a relatively simple plot while introducing Quechan themes, literary devices, and rhetorical style. Readers who are already expert in Quechan oral literature will appreciate the ingenuity with which these stories integrate European and traditional Quechan ideas.
The two narratives in this chapter focus on different events: ‘Aréey on the difficult journey the boy must make in order to reach the monster, and Tsakwsha Kwapaaxkyée on the details of the fight between the two main characters and the events which unfold after the monster is killed.
Notes and synopsis: ‘Aréey
This story was told to Halpern on March 14, 1979 by a Quechan elder (born in 1923) who asked to remain anonymous. The elder’s niece, Millie Romero, was also present, and explained that the story had been told to the elder by her parents as a bedtime story. Halpern later reviewed his transcript of the story with Millie Romero.
The main character is an orphan boy who lives under the authority of a character called ‘Aréey (see below for the significance of this name). ‘Aréey mistreats and imprisons the boy. Eventually a monster threatens the population, and everyone who tries to kill the monster fails. The orphan boy volunteers for the job, but his offer is rejected with scorn. He uses his spiritual powers to escape from confinement, overcome tremendous obstacles, and kill the monster. He returns home with the monster’s seven tongues to prove that he has done the deed.
The seven-headed monster in this story is referred to as ‘Aavém Kwasám but bears no resemblence to the character of the same name in Chapter 6.
Notes and synopsis: Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée (Seven Heads)
John Comet told the story Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée to Abe Halpern on January 31, 1981.
In this story, a village is besieged by an unknown predator. Sheep and other domestic animals are being killed and eaten at night, and no-one can figure out who the predator is or how to stop him. Finally an orphan boy who lives in the village discovers that the monster Seven Heads is responsible. He seeks out Seven Heads and, against all odds, succeeds in killing him. He cuts off the monster’s seven tongues and carries them home, where his cat swallows them.
Soon another person finds the body of Seven Heads and takes credit for killing the monster. The orphan boy’s cat regurgitates the monster’s seven tongues, and everyone realizes that the true hero is the orphan boy. The man who made the false claim is cruelly punished, and the people have a feast to celebrate the death of the monster.
European influence and the significance of these stories in the study of oral literature
Both of the narratives in this chapter involve an orphan boy who kills a seven-headed monster and cuts out his tongues. A similar monster meets a similar fate in some European fairy tales; see for example the story of Georgik and Merlin (Cadic 2013). In the story of Georgik and Merlin, just as in Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée, a dishonest person takes credit for killing the monster and is revealed as an impostor when the monster’s severed tongues are found. It should be noted that apart from these shared points of plot, the stories in Chapter 2 are very different from the fairy tale of Georgik and Merlin.
Other details provide further suggestion of European influence. In the story called ‘Aréey, the name of the title character is borrowed from the Spanish word rey (‘king’), and the character has much in common with royal antagonists in European fairy tales. The fact that the monster has seven heads is another revealing detail. Seven is a significant number in European culture. In traditional Quechan culture, on the other hand, the ritual number is four: events of ritual significance are performed four times or last for four days (see chapters 3-6 of this volume, Halpern 1997, and Bryant and Miller 2013), and in the Creation story, Sky Snake had four heads (see Bryant and Miller 2013). Third, both of the stories in this chapter depict acts of cruelty — for instance, in one story, ‘Aréey imprisons the orphan boy, and in the other, the guilty impostor is tied to a mule and dragged to death — which may have been inspired by the behavior of whites toward Native Americans.
In spite of European influence, the two stories in Chapter 2 are rich in traditional Quechan elements. For instance, in the story called ‘Aréey, the orphan boy protagonist has spiritual powers which allow him to change form at will. Thanks to these powers, he is able to complete a dangerous journey at which ordinary people have failed. In the story Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée, the Quechan ritual number four coexists alongside the Western significant number seven: the monster Seven Heads breaks four knives, and it is after the fourth knife is finally broken that the orphan boy manages to kill him.
Since it evidently arose after contact with Europeans, the story complex of the orphan boy and the seven-headed monster constitutes a relatively new addition to Quechan oral literature. It provides a window onto the process by which an oral literature might adapt, expand, and enrich itself with new ideas. It also serves as a case study of a story complex in the early stages of development, its narratives already diversifying thanks to the imagination, resourcefulness, and diverse perspectives of Quechan storytellers.
Xuumár xatál vatháts uuváakitya. |
This orphan child was around, they say. |
Maxáyt. |
He was a boy. |
Vanyuuváak, |
There he was, |
'Aréeyts atháwkitya. |
and 'Aréey took him, they say. |
Xwaatháwk. |
He took him as an enemy prisoner. |
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*** |
*** |
Nyaatháwk awím, |
He took him, and so, |
aataruuxáarək — |
he put him to work — |
apúy. |
and (the boy) was dead tired. |
Apúyk ayáatənyk uuváakitya. |
He was going along dead tired, they say. |
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Vanyuuvám, |
There he was, |
'Aréeyənyts a'ím. |
and 'Aréey said it. |
Xuumár kwxatáləny a'ím, |
He said to the orphan child, |
“ 'Anytsuutsétsəny matháwk, |
“Take my blanket, |
maas'úlyk, |
and wash it |
xamáalyk, |
(so that) it’s white, |
aaráar a'ím, |
pure white, |
muukavék matakxávəxa.” |
and bring it back inside.” |
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|
'Aréeyənyts a'ím |
'Aréey said it |
xuumárəny — |
to the child — |
kwaxatáləny a'ím. |
he said it to the orphan. |
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A'ím, |
He said it, |
nyaa'ávək, |
and when he heard him, |
xuumár kwxatálənyts |
the orphan child, |
nyatsuutsétsəny nyaatháwk, |
he took the blanket, |
vanyaayáakəm |
and he went along |
xaasa'íly kwa'úurəm. |
to the edge of the ocean. |
Nyaaváamək aas'úlyk, |
When he got there he washed it, |
aas'úly kuu'éeyk uuváa. |
he did his best to wash it, poor thing. |
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Xamáaly ly'émək iikwévəm, |
It wasn’t white at all, |
nyaayúuk, |
and when he saw it, |
amíim siiv'áwt. |
he stood there crying. |
Nyaxátt-ts xavík. |
His dog was with him. |
Nyaxátt-ts nyíily tík a'ím. |
His dog was pitch black. |
Nyaxáttəntim nyiivák, |
(The boy) kept him as a pet, and there he was, |
ayúuk uuvá. |
and he was watching. |
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Xátt kwanyíilyənyts ayúuk avathík a'ím, |
The black dog lay there watching and said, |
“Kamíi alyka'émək. |
“Don’t cry. |
Avány, |
As for that, |
tsuutsétsnya, |
the blanket, |
nyaakata'ámək, |
put it face down, |
shaly'áyəny awím, |
and use the sand, |
vaawée |
like this |
vaawée |
and like this |
vaawée |
and like this |
vaawé. |
and like this. |
Kawíim kuunóok, |
Keep doing it, |
katkavéekəm, |
and then turn it over, |
aváts xamáalytan, |
and it will be really white, |
páq a'ím, |
perfectly white, |
aaráar a'ím. |
pure white. |
Matakxávtəxa.” |
(Then) you can take it back in.” |
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“Xottk.” |
“All right.” |
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A'ím, |
So, |
nyaatháwk, |
he took it, |
viiwáak, |
he went along, |
'aréeyəny áayk. |
and he gave it to 'Aréey. |
'Aréeyəny nya-áayəm, |
He gave it to 'Aréey, |
tsuutsétsk vuunóok; |
and he went about spreading the blanket out; |
“Nyáava xuumár 'uuxéerxats, |
“This is a child I must imprison, |
vathány.” |
this one.” |
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|
Xatálək a'ím. |
He was an orphan, they say. |
Sáa |
But |
xuumár vatháts kwasuuthíiny matt-tsapéek. |
this child had great powers. |
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|
Uuváas athótk, |
There he was, |
mattuuxatálək vanyuuváakəm, |
he was acting like an orphan, |
axéerək nyaatsaváwtsəm. |
and they tied him up and put him away. |
*** |
*** |
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Nyaatsaváwtsəm, |
They put him away, |
siivám, |
and there he was, |
nyáanyəm pa'iipáa nyaaéev, |
and at that point they got the people together, |
'atsuumáav a'ím vuunóokəm. |
and they were going to have a feast. |
Pa'iipáanyts apámək vuunóom, |
The people were arriving, |
vathány axéertsəm alyvák viivák. |
and he was in here (where) they had tied him up. |
Nyavály avák siivá. |
There he was in the house. |
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A'ávək uuvátəm, |
He was listening, |
a'ávək uuváxáyəm, |
he was listening, and suddenly, |
pa'iipáanyəny 'Aréeyənyts a'ím, |
'Aréey said to the people, |
pa'iipáanya nyiitskakwék, |
he asked the people, |
“Máam, |
“Well, |
pa'iipáa maamakyípəts alymavák |
which one of you people in here |
'Aavém Kwasám matapúy mayáam? |
is going to kill 'Aavém Kwasám? |
Matapúyxa maaly'íim?” |
Do you think you can kill him?” |
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A'éxáyəm, |
He said it, and suddenly |
pa'iipáanyəny, |
a person, |
pa'iipáa 'ashént alyav'áwk |
one person was among them, |
kayáak viiyáany, |
and he went straight off to do it, |
nyiikwévəm, |
(but) it was no use, |
takavék aváa. |
and he came back. |
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Xáyəm, |
Right away, |
nya'ashéntits ayáanys, |
another one went, but |
nyiikwévəm, |
it was no use, |
pílyəm púyk, |
he was exhausted from the heat, |
takavék aváa. |
and he came back. |
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Vanyuuváak, |
Then, |
xuumár kwxatál aváts siiv'áwk, |
that orphan child was standing over there, |
'Aréeyəny a'ím, |
and he said to 'Aréey, |
“ 'Anyáa 'ayáaxa.” |
“I will go.” |
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“Maxuumárək nyiimakwévək, |
“You are an incompetent child, |
kaawíts maxwíivək mawíyúm,” |
you are not strong enough to do anything,” |
a'étəm. |
he said. |
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“ 'Anyáa 'ayáak” a'ét. |
“I will go,” (the boy) said. |
“ 'Anyáa 'ayáak, |
“I will go, |
'Aavém Kwasám 'atapúyxa. |
and I will kill 'Aavém Kwasám. |
'Akamíim, |
I will bring him back, |
muuyúumxá.” |
and you will see.” |
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A'ím, |
So, |
pa'iipáanyənyts aatsxwáaaar a'étəm, |
the people laughed, |
makyík xalypámk. |
they didn’t believe him at all. |
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Xalypámk a'ím, |
They didn’t believe him, and so, |
aatsxwáar a'ítsəm a'ávək viivákəm; |
he heard them laughing at him; |
as'ílytsəm, |
they didn’t let him do it, |
uukavék 'avá alyashpétt-tsəm, |
they took him back and shut him up in the house, |
siivátum. |
and there he was. |
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Siivákəm, |
There he was, |
'axátt — |
and the dog — |
'axáttəny atskuunáavək uuvát, |
he was talking to the dog, |
'axátt kwanyíily. |
the black dog. |
Nyaxáttəny atskuunáavək uuváak. |
He was talking to his dog. |
A'ím, |
So, |
vathám, |
at this (point), |
“Tiinyáaməm, |
“Tonight, |
vi'nayémxa,” |
we will leave,” |
a'étəma. |
he said. |
Nyaxáttəny a'ím. |
He said it to his dog. |
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|
“ 'Axóttk.” |
“All right.” |
'Axáttənyts “ 'Axóttk,” a'éta. |
The dog said, “All right. |
“ 'Awétsxa.” |
We’ll go.” |
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Nyaatiinyáam nya-áaməm, |
When it started getting dark, |
xuumárənyts kwaskyíi atháwk, |
the child took a dish, |
alytsayóq vuunóonyk vuunóonyk vuunóok, |
and he went about spitting into it, on and on and on, |
nyaavíirəm, |
and when he finished, |
nyaavíirəm, |
when he finished, |
“Vatháts 'anyép aly'tsuuyóqənyts. |
“This is my spittle. |
Tsaqwérək vaa'íim viivám, |
It will be here talking like this, |
nyaatók va'tháwk aaly'íim, |
and they will mistakenly think we are still here inside, |
aaly'ítsxá,” |
they will think so,” |
a'éta. |
he said. |
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“Xóttk," |
“All right,” |
'xáttənyts. |
the dog (said). |
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A'ím, |
Saying (that), |
'xátt tsoqtsóqənyts siiv'áwk. |
the dog stood up. |
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Nyaav'áwk, |
He stood up, |
uutspám, |
and they went out, |
shóx a'ét. |
they went out swiftly. |
Nyaayúuny — |
That thing — |
ankúpk kwalyvíik uuvám, |
there was something like a little hole there, |
nyamaxávək, |
and they went into it, |
nyamuupúuk viiwétsk. |
they went through it and off they went. |
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Pa'iipáa 'ashéntəts uuvám, |
A person was there, |
nyáany uukanáavək a'ím, |
and (the boy) told him, |
“ 'Atspáqəts xavíkəm nyaav'óom; |
“There are two flowers standing there; |
'ashéntəts xamáalyk, |
one is white, |
'ashéntəts 'axwéttk awím, |
and one is red, and so, |
'anyáats av'ayáaxas, |
I will go, but |
nya'púyəm, |
if I die, |
kaxamáaly aváts apúyəm mayúuxa. |
you will see this white one die. |
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“ 'Íis, |
“But, |
nya'a'xóttəm, |
if we’re all right, |
xóttk nya'thúum, |
if we’re all right, then, |
vatháts xuuvíkəly 'axóttəm, |
both of these (flowers) will be all right, |
'atkavék 'aváaxa.” |
and I will come back.” |
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Nyaa'íim, |
When he said it, |
“ 'Axóttk. |
“All right. |
'Ayóovxa,” |
We will watch them,” |
nyaa'ítsəm, |
(the person) said, |
vatháts, |
and this one, |
'axáttənyts xuumárəny nyaaxavík viiwéts. |
the dog was with the child and off they went. |
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'Amátt nyáava nayémək, |
They headed away from this place, |
viiwétsk |
and they went on, |
viiwétsk |
and on, |
viiwétsk, |
and on, |
kwaxatsúurənyts xiipúkəm, |
and cold weather was the first (problem they encountered), |
nyáanyəm, |
and at that (point), |
'áw aráa mattiitsóowk, |
they turned themselves into a blazing fire, |
vanyaawétsk, |
and they went on, |
naxakyíik. |
they went across it. |
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Amák kwathíkənyts 'uupílyəny matt-tsapéem, |
What lay beyond it was extremely hot, |
suuv'óok, |
and they stood there, |
ayúuk siiv'áwk, |
(the boy) stood there watching, |
suuv'óony, |
they stood there, |
suuv'óok. |
and they stood there. |
Suuv'óony, |
They stood there, until |
xanapáats mattnyiitsóowəntik |
this time they changed themselves into ice, |
vanyuuv'óookəm, |
and they stood there, |
naxkyíik viiwétsk, |
and they went across it and went on, |
viiwétsk, |
and on, |
viiwéts. |
and on. |
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Vanyaawétsk, |
They went on, |
nyamáam, |
and finally, |
nyáasi nyaakatánəm, |
they reached that distant (place), |
nyuuv'óok uuv'óok. |
and they stood there and stood there. |
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Nyuuv'óook athúm, |
They stood there, and so, |
shaly'áyts viithíkəntim, |
this time there were sand dunes, |
naxkyíintik, |
and they crossed these too, |
'uupílyəny matt-tsapéesət. |
even though it was extremely hot. |
Xanapáats nyáany mattnyiitsóowk, |
They changed themselves into ice, |
nyaanaxkyíik siiwétsk |
and they went across and kept going on, |
*** |
*** |
'anyáa kwatspáasily katánəm. |
and in the emerging day they got there. |
Xaasa'íily kwa'úur uuv'óok suuv'óom, |
They stood there at the edge of the ocean, and |
“Ka'thóm 'anaxkyíik? |
“How will we get across? |
'Aavém Kwasáməny a'étəm, |
This so-called 'Aavém Kwasam, |
matapúy ma'íim ma'ítyənká?” |
how are you going to kill him?” |
a'étəma. |
he said. |
'Axáttənyts a'íim. |
The dog said it. |
Xuumárəny tsakkwék. |
He asked the child. |
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A'éxayəm, |
As soon as he said it, |
“ 'Ayáak 'atapúyxa.” |
“I’ll go and kill him,” (said the boy). |
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Nyaa'íim, |
Then, |
“Kamathóm maaxkyéev ma'íim ma'ítyənkáa? |
“How are you going to get across? |
Xaasa'ílyəny, |
The ocean |
vuulyéwəny nyiináam |
is extremely wide, |
nyammav'áwk.” |
from where you are standing.” |
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|
“ 'Aaxkyéevxa.” |
“I’ll get across.” |
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“Kamathóm mathúu ma'ím ma'ím?” |
“How are you going to do it?” |
a'í; |
he said; |
suunóo. |
there they were. |
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Siiv'áwxay, |
(The boy) stood there, and suddenly, |
kúur nyaa'íim, |
after a little while, |
xártsampúk mattiitsóowk. |
they turned themselves into tiny brown ants. |
Shaly'áynyi tsamíim, |
They were placed on the sand, |
pónənənən, |
and dust rose up in a cloud, |
xaasa'íly aaxkyéev. |
and they crossed the ocean (by tunneling under it). |
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Xaasa'íly nyaaxkyéevkəm, |
They crossed the ocean, |
suuv'óom — |
and they stood there — |
'Aavém Kwasám nyaványənyts suuvám — |
'Aavém Kwasám’s house was there — |
ayúuk siiv'áw. |
and (the boy) stood there looking. |
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'Uuméeny matt-tsapéek, |
It was extraordinarily high, |
'avíinyts 'amáy tan alyvám, |
the rock (where he lived) was at the very top, |
ayúuk viiv'áwk. |
and (the boy) stood here looking. |
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“Kamathóm makúlyxanká?” |
“How are you going to climb it?” |
a'étəm. |
(the dog) said. |
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“Náq ka'íim. |
“Be quiet. |
'Awétsxa. |
We will go. |
Mashqwíivək!” |
You’re being noisy!” (the boy said). |
“ 'Axuulyóoyəny nyiináamək 'uuv'óok nya'athúuva. |
“Here we are, (giving off) our distinctive odor. |
Nyiiny'ávək amántəxa.” |
He will smell us and wake up.” |
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Uuv'óok vaa'íim, |
They stood there like this, |
'amáy tayáamək ayóovək uuv'óom. |
they stood there looking way up to the top. |
Vaa'íim, |
They went like this, |
xalytótt mattiitsóowk, |
they made themselves into spiders, |
líiiip!, |
and up they went (on the spider’s silken thread), |
'amáy alykatán. |
and they got to the top. |
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*** |
*** |
Kúp kwalaxúytantum. |
There was a hole going right through. |
Tskwashányəny paaxkyée kwa'átsk viitháwm, |
Those seven heads were there, just as they had said, |
ayóovək suuv'óom; |
and (the boy and the dog) stood there watching; |
nyaayúu tsanpéevəm, |
(the hole) was a small thing, |
takxávək ayúuk siiv'áw. |
and he took (the dog) in and stood there watching. |
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Uuvák, |
(The monster) was there, |
axwíivəm a'ávək athúm, |
and he smelled the odor they gave off, and so, |
mattapéek uuváakəm, |
it was pretty strong, |
páa tsakyíw a'ím. |
and he felt like biting someone. |
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Nyuuváats, |
(The boy) was there, |
'atsaayúu, |
well, |
xalytótt mattiitsóowətk awím, |
he had turned himself into a spider, and so, |
ayúuk uuvátk. |
he was watching him. |
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Uuvák, |
There he was, |
viitháwk viitháwk, |
and they stayed and stayed, |
viitháwxaym, |
they stayed, and suddenly, |
kaawémtək vuunóom, |
they managed to do something, |
ashmáam. |
and (the monster) went to sleep. |
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Ashmáam, |
He went to sleep, |
nyaayúuk, |
and when they saw this, |
uupúuvək viiwéts. |
they went on in. |
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'Aavém Kwasámənyts uuvák, |
'Aavém Kwasám was there. |
Pa'iipáa asóok vuunóo, |
He had been eating people, |
*** |
*** |
nyatsasháakəny tavéerək viiyém. |
and he had piled up their bones and left. |
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Pa'iipáanyts tapúy a'ím aváamək, |
People had arrived, intending to kill him, |
uuváanym, |
and there they were, |
nyáany asóok alytakxávək awétk, |
and he had let those (people) in, in order to eat them, and so, |
asóok alytakxávək awétk, |
he had let them in, in order to eat them, and so, |
vuunóom — |
he went on doing this — |
matt-tsapéek, |
and there were a lot of them, |
nyatsasháakányts. |
the bones. |
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Nyaayúuk siivák, |
(The boy) saw this, |
suuv'óokəm, |
and they stood there in the distance, |
nyuuv'óokəm. |
and as they stood there, |
xalytótt nyáany mattiitsóowətk athúm, |
they had turned themselves into those spiders, and so, |
líiiip a'ím, |
up they went (on the spider’s silken thread), |
máam, |
and that’s all, |
axwíivəm a'ávkəm, |
(the monster) smelled the odor they gave off, |
'iipáyk uuváam, |
and he came to life and there he was, |
ayúuk uuvá. |
and they were watching him. |
|
|
Xuumára kwasuuthíits nyiináam, |
The child’s powers were extraordinary, |
viiv'áwk awétk awím, |
and he stood there and used them, and so, |
'aavény tashmátsk, |
he put the snake to sleep, |
miipúkəny tatkyéttk aavíirk, |
and he chopped through its necks and finished, |
awíik a'étəma. |
he did, they say. |
|
|
Nyaavíirkəm, |
When he finished, |
“ 'Anyáats nya'aavíirkəm.” |
“I have finished,” he said. |
“Kamawém ammawíim? |
“How will you manage it? |
Tskwashány muukamnáwxamká? |
How will you carry his heads? |
'Uunéxəny mattapéem,” |
They’re terribly heavy,” |
a'ím. |
(the dog) said. |
Xáttənyts siivány tskuunáav, |
The dogs that were there could talk, |
nyáasim. |
in those (days), |
tsaqwérək uuváakitya, |
and he was speaking (to the boy), they say, |
'axáttənyts. |
the dog (was). |
|
|
*** |
*** |
Nyuuvám, |
He sat there, |
tskuunáavək a'ím; |
and (the dog) was talking to him; |
“Kaawémk? |
“How will it happen? |
Tskwashá kwavatáyəny viimawáak |
How will you bring these great big heads |
pa'iipáany maatsuuyóoyxanka?” |
and show them to people?” |
|
|
“Nyáanyts athúulya'éməxa. |
“It won’t be those heads. |
Nyaayúu kwanymé 'awíim. |
I will do something else. |
'Awíim, |
I will do it, |
pa'iipáanyənyts uuyóovxa |
and the people will see |
'Aavém Kwasám 'atapúyəm.” |
that I have killed 'Aavém Kwasam.” |
“Xóttk.” |
“All right.” |
|
|
Xaym, |
Right away, |
iipály aakyéttk vuunóok; |
he went about cutting off the tongues; |
paaxkyéek viitháw 'etəm. |
there were seven of them, they say. |
|
|
Viitháwm awim, |
There they were, and so, |
axéerək vuunóok, |
he went about tying them up, |
nyaavíirək, |
and when he finished, |
a'íim, |
he said, |
“Móo, |
“Okay, |
máam, |
that’s all, |
'Aavém Kwasám 'atapúyk 'av'áwtk 'athúm. |
I have killed 'Aavém Kwasám. |
Iipály 'aatskyéttk va'uunóok, |
I have been cutting off his tongues, |
'aavíirəm, |
and I have finished, |
máany manyíilyqxa,” |
and you will swallow them,” |
a'étəma. |
he said. |
'Axáttəny a'ím. |
He said it to the dog. |
|
|
“Manyíilyqəm, |
“You swallow them, |
'awétsxa.” |
and we will go.” |
|
|
A'ím, |
He said it, |
suuv'óom, |
and they stood there, |
kúur a'ím, |
and in a little while, |
“Nyamáam, |
“Finally, |
'Avém Kwasámts apúyk,” |
'Aavém Kwasám is dead,” |
a'íim. |
he said. |
|
|
Nyatsasháakənyts, |
The bones, |
iimák — |
they danced — |
sél sél sél sél sél! — |
rattle-rattle-rattle-rattle-rattle! — |
xalakúyk. |
they were rejoicing. |
|
|
Nyuunóom, |
(The spirits) were there, |
nyaayúukəm, |
and when they saw it, |
amáam, |
at last, |
aatspáatsk, |
they came out, |
'Aavém Kwasám tapúyk nyaa'íim. |
when he told them he had killed 'Aavém Kwasam. |
|
|
Xuumárənyts vinathíik, |
The child (and the dog) came this way, |
nyaanakavék vanyaanathíik katánək |
they came back and arrived |
'Aréeyəny. |
at 'Aréey’s (place). |
'Aréeyəny nyaanakavék nyaakatánk, |
When they arrived back at 'Aréey’s (place), |
“Makyíts 'Aavém Kwasáməny tapúy?” |
“Who has killed 'Aavém Kwasám?” (someone said). |
|
|
“ 'Anyáats 'atapúyk 'av'áwk.” |
“I killed him,” (said the boy). |
|
|
“Kaawíts maxwíivək mawépək muuváak ma'íim,” |
“You are not strong enough to have done it,” |
a'ítsəm. |
they said. |
|
|
Siiv'áwk kuu'éeyk, |
He stood there, the poor thing, |
xuumár kwxatáləny. |
the orphan child (did). |
|
|
A'ím, |
And so, |
aatsxwáaar a'ím. |
they laughed. |
|
|
“Xatál, |
“He’s an orphan, |
xuumár kwxatáləny. |
he’s an orphan child. |
Kaawíts axwíivkəm. |
He is not strong enough. |
Mawíim muuváak ma'ím!” |
And you say that you did it!” |
|
|
A'ím, |
And so, |
aatsxwáaar a'ítsk suunóotsəm, |
they were all laughing, over there, |
siiv'áw kuu'éeyk, |
and he stood there, the poor thing, |
'axóttk athúm. |
(but) it was all right. |
|
|
Nyaxáttənyts av'áwəm; |
His dog stood there; |
“Kayóqəm uuyóom.” |
“Throw up, so they can see them,” (said the boy). |
|
|
A'ím, |
And so, |
'axátənyts ayóqxayəm, |
the dog threw up, and suddenly |
'Aavém Kwasám iipályəny nyaayúu nyiitháwəm, |
'Aavém Kwasám’s tongues and things were there, |
uuyóov. |
and they saw them. |
|
|
Nyaanymáam. |
That’s all. |
Xuumár kwxatáləny, |
As for the orphan child, |
nyáanyi amánk 'axóttk athúuk a'étəma. |
from then on he was just fine, they say. |
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée (Seven Heads)
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée uu'ítsənyts, |
The one called Seven Heads, |
suuváak 'eta. |
he was there, they say. |
Piipáa 'aláayts. |
He was a bad person. |
|
|
Suuvám; |
There he was; |
piipáa nyaváyk, |
people were living there, |
'atáyk nyaváyk siitháwm, |
a lot of them were living there, |
nyuuváak suuváakitya. |
and there he was, they say. |
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyéenya. |
Seven Heads. |
|
|
Sanyuuváak, |
There he was, |
tiinyáam kwashíintənyəm, |
and each night, |
nyaayúu tapúyk uuváatk: |
he went about killing things: |
'amó awétk, |
he did it to sheep, |
kaawíts, |
or whatever, |
nyatsxáatt avkwathík avány, |
the domestic animals that were there, |
tapúyk. |
he killed them. |
|
|
Tiinyáam aváatkəm, |
Night came, |
nyáany tapúyk asóok awét. |
and he killed those (animals) and ate them. |
Awíim uuváak athúuk 'eta. |
He was doing it, they say. |
|
|
Uuváam, |
There he was, |
piipáa kwanyváyənyts, |
and the people who lived there, |
uuyóovəsáa, |
they watched, but |
shtamatháav awíis, |
they didn’t know (what was going on), |
piipáany, |
the people, |
iimáattəny uuyóov alya'émtum. |
they didn’t see the bodies. |
Shtamatháavəm, |
They didn’t know (what was going on), |
avawétk uuváat. |
and he kept doing it. |
Tiinyáam nyaashmáts aváak awét. |
At night while they were sleeping he came and did it. |
|
|
“Kaawítstants aváak awíim?” |
“What on earth is coming and doing (this)?” |
aaly'íim. |
they wondered. |
Uuyóovət. |
They watched. |
Taxalyuukwáats vuunóonyk, |
They went on searching, |
uuyóov alya'émk 'eta. |
but they didn’t see him, they say. |
|
|
Sanyuuváak; |
There he was; |
“Kaawíts suuváak, |
“Something is there, |
'ayúuxa 'aaly'íim,” |
I think I might see him,” (someone) said, |
siiyáak, |
and he went along, |
xalykwáak suuváanyk; |
he went hunting for him. |
“Kaváarək. |
“No. |
'Ats'ayúulyəm.” |
I don’t see anything.” |
|
|
Matt-tsakakwék athúm; |
They asked each other; |
piipáanyts mattaaéev. |
the people had a meeting. |
Piipáa nyavány apák, |
They got to someone’s house, |
mattaaéev. |
and they had a meeting. |
Mattuukanáavəs athót. |
They told each other about it. |
“Kaawíts uuváak athóxa maaly'íim?” |
“What do you think is there?” |
a'étəm; |
they said; |
“Áa-áa, |
“Well, |
'ashmathíika.” |
I don’t know.” |
|
|
Avawíi kwa'átsk uuváatəs, |
“He is doing it, just as they said, but |
tiinyáam aváak awét. |
he gets here at night and does it. |
Tiinyáam aváak awét, |
He gets here at night and does it, |
uuváak awét. |
he hangs around and does it. |
'Ayúusáa, |
We’ve watched, but |
'uuyóov aly'émtəm, |
we haven’t seen anything, |
awétk uuváat.” |
and he keeps on doing it,” |
A'íikəta. |
They said it, they say. |
|
|
A'íim, |
So, |
matt-tsakakwék. |
they asked each other. |
Piipáa nyavá siitháwət. |
There they were in someone’s house. |
|
|
Tiinyáam vaa'íim aváak, |
He got there at night, like this, |
awét. |
and he did it. |
Vaawét tapúyt. |
He killed them like this. |
|
|
Awétk vuunóok awíikitya. |
He kept on doing it, they say. |
Nyaqwalayéwəm uuyóovət. |
In the morning they looked. |
Ayóov, |
They looked, |
ayóov; |
and they looked; |
nyatsuuxáattəny awétk. |
he had done it to their animals. |
Namák alya'émk vuunóot. |
He kept at it without stopping. |
|
|
Vuunóom, |
He kept at it, |
siitháwm, |
and there they were, |
piipáa xatálvəts suuváakitya. |
and there was an orphan there, they say. |
Suuváak. |
He was there. |
Shuupóowkitya. |
He knew (what was going on), they say. |
“Kaawíts avuuváatk awítya,” |
“Something is around here doing this,” |
aaly'íim suuváakəta. |
he was thinking, they say. |
Xuumár kwxatálv 'éta. |
He was an orphan child, they say. |
|
|
Suuváak; |
There he was; |
“ 'Ayúuxa 'aaly'íim,” |
“I think I will watch,” (he said), |
suuvát. |
and there he was. |
|
|
A'ím, |
So, |
piipáats nyuuváyapatk uuváak, |
(another) person was living there too, |
nyáanyts ayúuxa a'étk, |
and he said he would watch, |
siiyáak, |
and he went, |
uuváat, |
and there he was, |
nyiirísh 'ét. |
(but) there was nothing there. |
Tapúy kamúlyk a'ét. |
He pretended he was going to kill him. |
Nyaakwawítsəny xalykwáatsk, |
He went looking for the one who had done it, |
nyiirísh a'ét. |
(but) there was nothing there. |
|
|
Suuváany, |
He was there, |
aváts, |
and this one, |
xuumárənyts, |
the child, |
siiyáatapatk, |
he went along too, |
ayúutk, |
and he watched, |
takavéktək uuváat. |
and he came back and there he was. |
“Kaawíts nyaawíim, |
“When he does something, |
'ayúuxa 'aaly'ét.” |
I think I will see him,” he said. |
|
|
Nya'ím |
Then, |
nyatiinyáam, |
at night, |
nyaawínyəməshtəka. |
(the killer) did it again. |
Nyaawínyəmáshk, |
He did it again, |
tapúy. |
he killed (something). |
|
|
Asóok vuunóok, |
He went on eating it, |
nyiinamák viiyém. |
and he left (the remains) there and went off. |
|
|
Siitháwnyək, |
There they were, |
piipáanyts. |
the people. |
“Kaawítstants uuváak awíim 'ityá?” |
“What on earth can be around (here) doing (this)?” |
a'ét. |
they said. |
|
|
“Tiinyáam awétk, |
“He does it at night, |
'anyáam awíilyəm, |
he doesn't do it in the daytime, |
tiinyáaməm awétk awét. |
he does it at night. |
Awétəm, |
He does it, |
'uuyóov aly'émtəm 'itya.” |
and we don’t see him,” |
a'étk; |
they said; |
mattuukanáavək vuunóot. |
they were telling each other about it. |
|
|
Mattaaéevəm'ashk, |
They had another meeting, |
mattuukanáavək vuunóot. |
and they were telling each other about it. |
|
|
Nyáanyi, |
At that (point), |
xuumárənyts, |
the child, |
viiyáak ayúutəs — |
he went along and he might have seen it — |
ayúum: |
he saw it: |
kaawíts nyaatapúytəm'ashk avathíkəm, |
once again (the killer) had killed something, |
ayúuk siiv'áwkəta. |
and (the child) stood there looking, they say. |
|
|
Ee'ée, |
Yes, |
kaawíts suuváak awét. |
he had been there and done something. |
Tsakwshány uukyéttk alytáptək, |
He had cut the head off and thrown it away, |
asóotk awét. |
and eaten (the rest). |
|
|
Áa, |
Well, |
aváanyək, |
(the child) got there, |
viiyáantik 'eta. |
he went along again, they say. |
Xuumárənyts nyaayáantik, |
The child went along again, |
ayúuk awítya! |
and he saw him! |
Ayúut. |
He saw him. |
|
|
Nyaawíntik, |
He was doing it again, |
suuváam, |
there he was, |
nyamatspámək ayúukəta. |
and (the child) came out and saw him, they say. |
|
|
Ayúum, |
He saw him, |
awím, |
and so, |
vaa'íim: |
he said this: |
“Piipáa avány, |
“That person |
makyény tuupúy kaa'áamts,” a'éta. |
is someone that can never be killed,” he said. |
“Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyéenya. |
“Seven Heads. |
Páa 'aláay.” |
A bad person.” |
|
|
Awétk awíim, |
He did it, and so, |
xuumárənyts, |
the child, |
nyáasi, |
over there, |
xatáltək uuváasáa, |
he was an orphan, but |
nyaayúu uuthúts aspérətk uuváatk, |
he was strong in the things that he did, |
iimáatt nyaayúu tsáamts aspérətk viiwáatk. |
his body and everything were strong. |
Nyáasi tsáam manyúuvəkəta. |
Over there, he fought everything, they say. |
Awét. |
He did. |
|
|
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée uu'ítsənyts — |
The one called Seven Heads — |
'asháakts vaa'íim vathályavíim, |
there was a knife like this, |
atháwkəm; |
and he picked it up; |
aatskyítt 'íikəta. |
he was going to cut (the child) up, they say. |
Tapúy 'ím, |
He was going to kill him, |
xuumára. |
the child. |
|
|
Tapúy 'ím. |
He was going to kill him. |
Nyaa xuumár, |
That one, the child, |
nyáalyavíim atháwapatk awím, |
he picked up (something) similar, and so, |
mattaatskyíttkəta. |
they cut each other up, they say. |
|
|
Mattaatskyíttk |
They cut each other up, |
mattaatsxámək vuunóonyək. |
they kept on striking each other. |
|
|
Nyaayúu, |
Well, |
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée nyasháak nyuuwítsənyts, |
the knife that Seven Heads had, |
alyéshkəta. |
it broke, they say. |
|
|
Alyéshtəm, |
It broke, |
kwanymé atháwəntikəta. |
and he picked up another one, they say. |
“ 'Anymatsaváamúm!” a'íikəta. |
“You can’t do it to me!” he said, they say. |
Kwanymé atháwtəntík, |
He picked up another one, |
awítsəntík, |
and they did it again, |
awítsk viitháwk viitháwk viitháaaaw tanək, |
they really did it, going on and on and on, |
uulyéshəntikəta. |
and he broke this one too, they say. |
|
|
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée nyasháakəny uulyéshəntik. |
Seven Heads had broken a knife again. |
Xavíkəm uulyésh. |
He had broken two. |
|
|
“ 'Anymatsaváamúm!” |
“You can’t do it to me!” |
'Ashént atháwəntik athútya. |
He picked up another one. |
|
|
Awítsk vuunóonyk vuunóonyk, |
They did it again, going on and on, |
mattkaawém alya'ém, |
and they weren’t able to do anything to each other, |
vuunóonyk vuunóooootan, |
they really went on and on, |
nyamáam, |
and finally, |
nyuulyéshəntík. |
he broke another. |
|
|
Nyuulyéshk. |
He broke it. |
|
|
Vuunóok, |
They went on, |
uulyéshəny, |
and as for breaking (knives), |
nyaatsuumpáp amáam, |
the fourth (time that it happened), that was all, |
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyéeny miipúk tatkyéttkəta. |
he chopped through Seven Heads’s necks, they say. |
|
|
Xuumárənyts. |
The child (did). |
|
|
Nyáanyá, |
As for that, |
xáam vathány uukyéttk — |
he chopped through them on this side — |
táq a'ím — |
they were cut clean through — |
viitápk awítya. |
and he threw (the heads) down here. |
|
|
Nyaatápm, |
When he threw them down, |
nyamáam, |
that was all, |
apúyk a'íikəta. |
(the monster) was dead, they say. |
|
|
Nyaapúyəm, |
He was dead, |
xuumárənyts alynyiithúutsk siiv'áwnyək. |
and the child stood there thinking about it. |
“Vathány, |
“As for this, |
'atapúyk 'anamákxaym, |
if I kill him and leave him here, |
piipáats suuváak aváak, |
someone might come along, |
‘ 'Anyáats 'awíim nya'thúuva,’ a'éxa.” |
and he might say ‘I did this.’” |
Aaly'íim siiv'áwkitya. |
(The child) stood there thinking, they say. |
Iiwáaly alynyiithúutsk. |
He thought about it in his heart. |
|
|
Nyaav'áwk; |
He stood there; |
“ Iipály avány 'aakyíttk, |
“I’ll cut off those tongues, |
'atháwxa,” |
and I’ll take them,” |
'íikəta. |
he said, they say. |
|
|
Iiwáam alynyiithúutsk. |
He thought about it in his heart. |
A'ím, |
And so, |
iipályəny aakyíttkəta. |
he cut off the tongues, they say. |
Iipály vaawíim. |
He did this to the tongues. |
Iipáalyəny aakyíttk atháwt. |
He cut off the tongues and took them. |
|
|
A'ím, |
So, |
aas'úuttk, |
he wrapped them, |
vathány nyaavíirək, |
and when he finished this, |
atháwk, |
he picked them up, |
ta'úlyk, |
and he carried them, |
viithíikəta. |
and he came this way, they say. |
Aváts apúyk siithík. |
And that (monster) lay there dead. |
|
|
Nyaanamák, |
He left him, |
vanyáathíik, |
and he came this way, |
nyaványi aváakəta. |
and he got to his house, they say. |
Nyaaváak, |
When he got there, |
kanáav alya'émkəta, |
he didn’t tell anyone, they say, |
tuupúya. |
about the killing. |
|
|
Kanáav alya'émk. |
He didn’t tell anyone. |
|
|
Póosh nyaxátt-ts siithíkəm, |
His pet cat was there, |
aqásəm, |
and he called it, |
aváatkəta. |
and it came, they say. |
|
|
Nyaaváam, |
It came, |
iipályəny ashóok nyaavíirkəm, |
and he finished unwrapping the tongues, |
póoshəny áayəm a'ítya. |
and he gave them to the cat, they say. |
“Kanyíilyqəm!” |
“Swallow them!” (he said). |
Anyíilyəqətá, |
It swallowed them, they say. |
póoshənyts. |
the cat (did). |
|
|
Anyíilyq. |
It swallowed them. |
|
|
Nyamáam, |
That’s all, |
siithíkəta, |
there he was, they say. |
xuumárənyts. |
the child. |
Apátk siithík. |
He lay down and there he was. |
|
|
A'ím, |
So, |
piipáanyts nyuuváak uuváak, |
the (other) person was hanging around and hanging around, |
nyáanyts: |
and he was the one: |
qwalayéwəm siiyáak, |
the next day he went along, |
ayúu va'ár kwa'átsk, |
he was always looking for him, just as he had said, |
viiyáanyk — |
and he went along — |
apúyk avathíkəta, |
and it was lying there dead, |
nyaayúunyts! |
that thing! |
|
|
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée! |
Seven Heads! |
|
|
Apúyk viithíkəm, |
(Seven Heads) was lying there dead, |
kamúly, |
and (the person) pretended, |
nyáanyts awíi kamúly a'étkəm; |
he pretended that he was the one who had done it; |
'asháak atháwkəm, |
he picked up a knife, |
aakyítt |
and he cut it |
aakyítt |
and he cut it |
aakyítt, |
and he cut it, |
awíikəta. |
he did (that), they say. |
Iimáatta. |
To the body. |
|
|
Awíim. |
He did it. |
Iimáatt kwaxwáattəny vathí nyamalúuk, |
He rubbed the blood here on his body, |
vathí nyamalúuk awíikəta. |
he rubbed it on here, they say. |
Iimáattnya. |
On his body. |
|
|
Ava'íim, |
He did that, |
suuváanyək, |
he went about doing it, |
takavék viithíikəta. |
and he came back, they say. |
|
|
Viithíik, |
He came, |
nyaaváak, |
and he got there; |
“Móo! |
“Well! |
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée 'atapúyk!” a'íikəta. |
I have killed Seven Heads!” he said, they say. |
Piipáanyts a'íim. |
The person said it. |
Kwayúunyənyts. |
The one who had seen (the body). |
|
|
'Íis, |
But, |
xuumárənyts vathík takavék nyaaváak, |
the child came back here, |
viithíktək; |
and here he was; |
“ 'Anyáats 'atapúytək 'athúm.” |
“I am the one who killed him.” |
Aváak viithík; |
He got here and here he was; |
kanáav alya'émək viithík. |
he was here and he didn’t tell anyone about it. |
|
|
Saváts awítsəm. |
That (other) one did. |
“ 'Eey!” |
“Hey!” |
'íikəta. |
he said, they say. |
|
|
“Piipáa nyamaayáak muuyóov awítsəm, |
“You people go and look, |
maayáak!” |
you go!” |
Piipáany apéetk, |
There were a great many people, |
avaayáakəta. |
and they went, they say. |
'Atáyk iináam. |
There were a whole lot of them. |
|
|
Vaayáak, |
They went, |
apámək, |
and they got there, |
uuyóovəm; |
and they looked; |
apúy kwa'átsk athúuk 'eta. |
he was dead, just as (the person) had said, they say. |
Aaíim makyí iisháaly nyaakyéttk, |
Somewhere on his hand he had been cut, |
nyaakyéttk, |
and cut, |
nyaakyétt. |
and cut. |
Púyk avathíkəta. |
He was lying there dead, they say. |
|
|
“Ee'é,” a'ím, |
“Well,” they said, |
“Awíi kwa'áts, |
“He did it, just as he said he did, |
vatháts.” |
this (person).” |
|
|
Aakavék vaathíik, |
They came back, |
nyaványi apák 'eta. |
and they got to his house, they say. |
Apák. |
They got there. |
|
|
“ 'Anyáats 'awíim nya'athúuva,” |
“I am the one who did it,” |
'íikəta. |
he said, they say. |
|
|
A'íim, |
(The person) said it, |
a'ávək siithíkəta, |
and he heard him, they say, |
xuumáranyts. |
the child (did). |
Avathík. |
There he was. |
|
|
A'ím, |
So, |
“Piipáa makanáavək, |
“You tell people, |
kwanyváy vathány tsáaməly makanáavəm |
you tell all these (people) who live here |
mattaaéevəm. |
that they (should) get together. |
'Uuwíts nyáany uuyóov alynayémxa.” |
They should go and see what I did.” |
Piipáats siiyáak, |
Someone went along, |
'aváats kanáavək viiwáakəta. |
he went from house to house telling about it, they say. |
|
|
“Piipáats tapúy! |
“Someone has killed him! |
Piipáa kwa'aláayəny tapúy viithík! |
He has killed the bad person! |
|
|
“Maayáak muuyóov a'ítsəm athúuva!” |
“They said for you to go and see!” |
a'ítsəm. |
they said. |
Piipáats “Áa,” nyaa'étk, |
People said, “All right,” |
viiyémk vuunóokəta. |
and they went, they say. |
|
|
*** |
*** |
Siivám, |
There he was, |
mattnyaaéevək, |
and they got together, |
vuunóok, |
and there they were, |
'atáytank, |
there were a lot of them, |
nyaatsaamánək saayáak 'eta. |
and they started from there and went along, they say. |
Uuyóov a'ím. |
They were going to look. |
|
|
Nyaayóov; |
They looked; |
vaayáak apámək uuyóov. |
they went along and got there and looked. |
Apúy kwa'átsk avathík, |
He was lying there dead, just as (the person) had said, |
a'éta. |
they say. |
|
|
A'ím, |
So, |
piipáavats awíilyəs awétk, |
this person wished he had done it, |
awíi kamúlyk a'ítsk, |
and he pretended to have done it, |
iimáatt nyaakyíttk uunóom, |
he had gone about cutting the (monster’s) body, |
aaíim 'axwáatt mattapée avathíkəta. |
and (the monster) had just bled (on him), they say. |
|
|
“Ée! |
“Yes! |
Awíi kwa'átsk! |
He did it, just as he said he did! |
Nyaathík!” a'ím 'íikəta. |
There it is!” they said, they say. |
|
|
Nyaathíi — |
They came — |
“Ée'é,” nyaa'étk, |
“Okay,” they said, |
aakavék vanyaathíik, |
and they came back, |
'aványi apák, |
and they got to the house, |
mattaaéevəkəta. |
and they had a meeting, they say. |
|
|
'Aványi apák, |
They got to the house, |
mattaaéevək avatháwm, |
and they were having a meeting, |
“Áa-aá, |
“Yes, |
mawíim,” a'ét. |
you did it,” they said. |
“Áa, |
“Yes, |
'awésh,” 'ét. |
I did it,” he said. |
|
|
A'ím, |
So, |
nyaa'ávək, |
when he heard it, |
siithíkəta, |
he was over there, they say, |
xuumárənyts. |
the child (was). |
|
|
Xuumár amúlya |
As for the child's name, |
Xalyiipíitt amúlyk a'éta. |
he was named Xalyiipíitt, they say. |
Amúlyənyts. |
It was his name. |
|
|
Áa, |
Yes, |
xuumár kwatapúyətánənyts. |
he was the child who had really killed (the monster). |
|
|
Siithíkəm, |
He was over there, |
“Ée'é, |
“Okay, |
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée uu'ítsəny athúu kwa'átsk. |
it was the one called Seven Heads, just as he said. |
Piipáa 'aláayts nyuuváa kwa'áts, |
There was a bad person here, just as he said, |
amáam. |
that’s all. |
'Anyáa 'atapúyəm viithíkitya!” |
(But) I am the one who killed him, and there he is!” |
a'íikəta, |
he said, they say, |
xuumáranyts. |
the child (did). |
|
|
A'íikəta. |
He said it, they say. |
A'étkəm athúm, |
He said it, and so, |
piipáa uu'ítsəny 'atskuunáts. |
what he said to the people was a request. |
“Iipályvətək athúuk athutya,” |
“(Seven Heads) had tongues,” |
a'íikəta. |
he said, they say. |
“A'étəm, |
“And so, |
nyaamawétsk, |
if you go, |
mayóov |
you (will) see |
iipályənyts nyiirísh avathíkxa,” |
that the tongues are gone,” |
a'íikəta. |
he said, they say. |
Xuumár a'éta. |
The child said it. |
|
|
A'ítsəm, |
Then, |
“Maayáak, |
“You should go |
muuyóovxa,” |
and see, ” |
nyaa'íntikəta. |
he said it again, they say. |
|
|
A'ím, |
And so, |
“ 'Anyáats 'awíim nya'athúuva,” |
“I am the one who did it,” |
a'étk uuváa, |
he kept saying, |
piipáa 'ashént — |
one person — |
kwawítsəny, |
the one who had done it, |
nyaamák kawítsənyts, |
the one who had done it afterwards, |
kwaatskyíttənyts. |
the one who had cut him up. |
“ 'Anyáats 'awét av'áar,” a'ét. |
“I have always been the one who did it,” he said. |
|
|
“ 'Amáttk mayáak muuyóovəly,” a'ítsk, |
“I wish you would go to the place and see,” (the child) said, |
vanyaayáantik 'ét. |
and they went (there) again, they say. |
Aakavék. |
They went back. |
Xuumárənyts nyiiv'áwk viiyáakəta. |
The child stood up and went along, they say. |
Xalyiipíittənyts. |
Xalyiipíitt (did). |
Kwatapúytanányts. |
The one who really had killed (the monster). |
|
|
Vaayáak apámk awéta. |
They went along and got there. |
|
|
Apámk, |
They got there, |
awíim, |
and so, |
iiyáany uutáq, |
they opened his mouth, |
uutsalyáq nyaa'ím, |
they propped it open, |
iipályənyts nyiirísh a'ím! |
and there was no tongue! |
Akyítt-təm nyiirísh a'íikəta. |
He had cut it out and there was nothing there, they say. |
|
|
“Mayúukəm?” |
“Do you see?” (he said), |
uuyóovk vuunóokəta. |
and they went on looking, they say. |
“Vatháts, |
“This (monster), |
piipáa lyavíik, |
he’s like a person, |
iipályvtək athúukəta. |
he is supposed to have a tongue. |
Vathány iipály nyiirísh a'ét! |
This one’s tongue is not there! |
|
|
“ 'Anyáats 'awíim 'athúuvəta! |
“I am the one who did it! |
Sáa |
But |
nyammatkavékəm, |
when you go back, |
nyaatsuuyóoyxa,” |
I will show it to you,” |
'íikəta. |
he said, they say. |
|
|
Nyaa'íim, |
Saying this, |
viithíikəta. |
he came this way, they say. |
Aakavék nyaathíintikəta. |
They came back too, they say. |
|
|
Vanyaathíik, |
They came this way, |
'aványi apák. |
and they got to his house. |
|
|
Nyaapákəm, |
When they got there, |
póosh nyaxáttəny aqásk 'eta. |
he called his pet cat, they say. |
|
|
Póosh aqásəm, |
He called his cat, |
nyaxátt nyaaqásk, |
he called his pet, |
“Kathíik!” a'étəm, |
“Come!” he said, |
aváakəta. |
and it got there, they say. |
|
|
Aváam. |
It got there. |
“Kayóqəm |
“Throw up, |
uuyóo a'ím!” |
so that they can see!” (he said). |
Póoshənyts ayóqəta. |
The cat threw up, they say. |
|
|
Ayóqəm, |
It threw up, |
iipályənyts alyavákəta. |
and the tongues were in there, they say. |
“Muuyóov,” 'íikəta. |
“You see them,” he said, they say. |
|
|
“Nyáany |
“Those |
Tsakwshá Kwapaaxkyée iipály athúuva!” 'íikəta. |
are the tongues of Seven Heads!” he said, they say. |
|
|
“Ée, |
“Yes, |
avathúu kwa'átsk,” a'íikəta. |
they are, just as he said,” they said, they say. |
“Máany matsanyáayəm ma'éta!” |
“You have lied to us!” |
a'ítskəta. |
they said, they say. |
Piipáa avány a'íts. |
They said it to that (other) person. |
|
|
Nyaa'íim, |
Having said it, |
“Móo, |
“Well, |
amáam. |
that’s all. |
Piipáa uu'its tsanyáayta. |
That (other) person has lied in what he said. |
Matapúytəxá,” |
You will kill him,” |
a'ítskəta. |
they said, they say. |
|
|
Piipáa kwatáyəny nyiikanátskəta. |
They summoned a lot of people, they say. |
“Avány, |
“This one, |
tsanyáaytəm apúytk. |
because he lied, he dies. |
|
|
Xalyiipíitt tán tapúy kwa'átsəsh,” |
“Xalyiipíitt is the one who killed (the monster), just as he said,” |
a'ítskəta. |
they said, they say. |
|
|
“Iipály lyavíi kwa'áts. |
“It appears to be tongues, just as he said. |
Nyavám,” a'íikəta. |
There they are,” they said, they say. |
|
|
“Savány, |
“That one, |
matapúytəxa, |
you will kill him, |
tsanyáay a'ítsəm,” nyaa'étk. |
because he lied,” they said. |
“ 'Axóttk,” nyaa'étk a'ím. |
“All right,” they said. |
|
|
Piipáa tsuumpákəm |
Four people |
'iipáava nyaatháwk, |
took the man, |
viiwáakəta, |
and they brought him along, they say, |
kwatsanyáaya. |
the one who had lied. |
|
|
Nyaatháwk, |
They took him, |
nyaawáak, |
they brought him along, |
nyuukwév iimény axíirək, |
and they tied his legs with a rope, |
nyaavíirək. |
and they finished. |
|
|
Nyaayúu, |
Well, |
múul yaakapétt siiv'áwm, |
there was a crazy mule there, |
nyáany malyaqény axérək vuunóok, |
and they went about tying the rope around its neck, |
nyaavíirək 'íikəta. |
and they finished, they say. |
|
|
Nyaavíir, |
They finished, |
athúm, |
and so, |
múuləny aatsqwíttk, |
they whipped the mule, |
amáam, |
and that’s all, |
avéshk, |
it ran, |
piipáany uunaxwíily, |
and it dragged the person, |
athúu kathómk athúm. |
and I don’t know what happened. |
|
|
Apúyk athúm |
He must have died |
uunaxwílyk viiwáa. |
(as) it dragged him along. |
|
|
Athúukəta. |
It happened, they say. |
|
|
Athúm, |
So, |
“Móo, |
“Well, |
máam, |
that’s all, |
nyaamawíi kwa'átsk,” 'et. |
you did it, just as you said,” they said. |
Nyáasi, |
Over there, |
amáam, |
that’s all, |
nyaayúunyts apúyk, |
the creature was dead, |
nyáasəts xalakúyk aaíimk suunóokəta. |
and those (people) just went about rejoicing, they say. |
|
|
Xaltakóoyk suunóok, |
They were rejoicing, |
nyáasəts. |
those (people). |
'Ats'uumáavəxa,” |
“Let’s have a feast,” |
a'íikəta. |
they said, they say. |
|
|
Máam, |
That’s all, |
apúyts amáam, |
his death was over, |
'atsuumáavxa a'ím. |
and they were going to have a feast. |
Xalakúyk viitháwk. |
They were rejoicing. |
|
|
A'ím, |
So, |
'atsaamáats kamíim, |
they brought food, |
awíiyum. |
and they were going to do it. |
Mattapéem, |
There was a lot of it. |
piipáa kwatáyənyts uumáav awéta. |
and many people ate. |
|
|
Uumáavək, |
They ate, |
amáam, |
and that’s all, |
iiwáanyts 'axótt-tan amaamáam. |
they were happy, that’s all. |
Matt-taxmakyépk vaawíim, |
They hugged each other like this, |
suunóokitya. |
and there they were, they say. |
Nyamáam. |
That’s all. |
Piipáa nyaapúyəm, |
The person was dead, |
piipáa kwaláay. |
the bad person. |
|
|
Awíikəta. |
He did it, they say. |
|
|
A'íim, |
So, |
nyáavəm áamtəka. |
that’s all. |
Vuunoony. |
There they were. |