King - Coyote and the Enemy Aliens

You know, everyone likes a good story. Yes, thats true. My friend Napioa comes by my place. My good place. My good place by the river. Sometimes that Napioa comes by my good place and says, tell us a good story. So I do. Sometimes I tell those good stories from the Indian time. And sometimes I tell those good stories from the European time. Grown-up stories. Baby stories.

Sometimes I take a nap.

Sometimes I tell Coyote stories. Boy, you got to be careful with those Coyote stories. When I tell those Coyote stories, you got to stay awake. You got to keep those toes under that chair. I can tell you that.

You better do that now. Those toes. No, later is no good.

Okay, so Im going to tell you a Coyote story. Maybe you hear that story before. Maybe not.

Coyote was going west. Thats how I like to start that story. Coyote story. Coyote was going west, and when he gets to my place, he stops. My good place. By the river.

That was in European time1940. Maybe it was 1944. No, it was 1942.

Coyote comes to my house in 1941. Hello, says that Coyote. Maybe you have some tea for me. Maybe you have some food for me. Maybe you have a newspaper for me to read.

Sure, I says. I have all those things.

So Coyote drinks my tea. And that one eats my food. And that one reads my newspaper.

Hooray, says that Coyote. I have found a job in the newspaper.

Maybe youre wondering who would hire Coyote.

I thought so.

Okay, Ill ask.

Who would hire Coyote? I says.

The Whitemen, says Coyote. The Whitemen are looking for a Coyote.

Oh boy. Coyote and Whitemen. Thats pretty scary.

Its over on that coast, says Coyote. In that west. Thats where my job is.

Good, I says. Then I wont have to move.

But I am so hungry, says Coyote. I dont know if I can get to that coast, unless I get something good to eat.

Okay, I says, I will feed you so you can get to that coast.

And I dont have a good shirt, says Coyote. I really need a good shirt, so the Whitemen will see that Im a good worker.

Okay, I says, I will give you my good shirt.

Oh, oh, oh, says Coyote, how will I get there? Its a very long ways, and my feet are quite sensitive.

You still got those toes tucked under that chair? You better keep your hands in your pockets too. Just in case Coyote notices you sitting there. And dont make any noise. If that Coyote sees that someone is listening to him, that one will never leave.

Okay, I tell Coyote, I will call Billy Frank. My friend Billy Frank goes to the coast. He drives that pickup to that coast to go on that vacation. Maybe he will take you when he goes on that vacation.

Hooray, says Coyote. Hooray!

So Billy Frank takes Coyote to that coast. And thats the end of the story.

No, I was only fooling. Thats not the end of the story. Theres more. Stick around. Have some tea. Dont move those toes. Coyote is still around here somewhere.

Ho, ho. So a lot of things happen. All of a sudden, everyone is fighting. Mostly those White people. They like to fight, you know. They fight with each other. And then they fight with those other people. And pretty soon everyone is fighting. Even some of us Indians are fighting.

Youre probably thinking that Coyote is fighting, too.

Is that what you were thinking?

Its okay, you can tell me.

So Coyote comes back. I warned you about this. Coyote comes back, and he is driving a pretty good truck.

Yoo-hoo, says Coyote, come and see my pretty good truck.

Yes, I says, thats a pretty good truck, all right. That job you got must be a pretty good job.

Oh, yes, says Coyote, that job is the best job I have ever had.

That pretty good truck that Coyote is driving says Kogawa Seafood on the door. Ho, that Coyote. Always looking for something to eat.

Where did you get that pretty good truck? I says.

Coyote stole me, says that pretty good truck.

No, I didnt, says Coyote.

Yes, you did, says that pretty good truck.

Dont talk to that silly truck, Coyote tells me.

Whats wrong with talking to trucks? I says. Everybody talks to trucks.

Not anymore, says Coyote, and that one lowers his eyes so he looks like he is sitting on a secret. Talking to Enemy Alien trucks is against the law.

Enemy Alien trucks? Holy, I says. That sounds serious.

National security, says Coyote. If someone saw you talking to an Enemy Alien truck, I might have to arrest you.

Im not an Enemy Alien, says that truck.

Yes, you are, says Coyote.

No, Im not, says that truck.

So Coyote and that pretty good truck says Kogawa Seafood on the door argue about Enemy Aliens. They argue about that for a long time. All day. Two days. Three. One week. They keep everyone awake. Nobody on the reserve can sleep. Even the dogs are awake.

Knock it off, those dogs says. Youre keeping everyone awake.

I havent heard of any Enemy Aliens, I tell Coyote.

Oh, says Coyote, theyre all over the place. But you dont have to worry. You dont have to run away. You dont have to hide under your bed.

Thats good news, I says.

Oh, yes, says Coyote. Now that Im on the job, the world is a safer place.

No, its not, says that pretty good truck.

Yes, it is, says Coyote. And those two start arguing again.

I dont know about you but all this arguing is making me dizzy. Maybe we should have some tea. Maybe we should have some dinner. Maybe we should watch that television show where everyone goes to that island, practise their bad manners. Maybe we should go to sleep. You can sleep on the couch.

So when I wake up, that pretty good truck is gone. But Coyote is still here.

Where is your pretty good Enemy Alien truck? I ask Coyote.

Oh, says Coyote, I had to sell that one. Thats the law now. All Enemy Alien Property must be confiscated. All Enemy Alien Property must be sold. Thats my job. And that Coyote shows me a piece of paper says Order-in-Council 469.

Boy, I says, that paper has a nice voice.

Order-in-Council 469, says that paper. All hail Order-in-Council 469.

Boy, I says, that paper sounds pretty important.

It is, says Coyote. That paper says that I am the Custodian of Enemy Alien Property.

Coyote is the Custodian of Enemy Alien Property, says that paper. All hail Coyote, Custodian of Enemy Alien Property.

That job sounds pretty important, I says.

It is the most important job in the world, says Coyote.

Is it more important than being truthful? I says.

Oh, yes, says Coyote.

Is it more important than being reliable? I says.

Absolutely, says Coyote.

Is it more important than being fair? I says.

Probably, says Coyote.

Is it more important than being generous? I says.

It certainly is, says Coyote.

Holy, I says, that is one pretty important job, all right. How do you do that pretty important job?

Well, says Coyote, first I find all the Enemy Aliens. Then I confiscate their property. Then I sell their property. Say, you want to buy some Enemy Alien Property?

Enemy Alien Property. Yes, thats what that Coyote said. Sure, I dont mind asking. You keep sitting in that chair. Keep those toes under that chair. And stay awake. You start snoring, and that Coyote is going to hear you for sure.

So I ask Coyote, what kind of Enemy Alien Property do you have for sale?

Oh, says Coyote, I have everything. You want a sewing machine? How about a set of dresser drawers? I have a bunch of radios. Cameras? A refrigerator? Blankets? Tea kettles? A wheelbarrow? A house. Maybe you need an easy chair. I got lots of bicycles. Maybe you need a new car. Maybe you need a fishing boat.