Chapter 439: Of Imps and Fishes
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Sensing the Native Americans’ evil intent, Ah Meow, who had been waiting in Li Du’s backpack, popped out, wiggled his paws and howled non-stop, showing that he was ready for battle.
Seeing Ah Meow, a few Native Americans looked interested in him. They started to point at him; their eyes were fiery with passion.
Li Du knew this expression very well. When he was hunting at the National Park previously, the Native Americans of the Comanche tribe, which Harris had been leading, had shown the same expressions upon seeing Ah Meow.
As ocelots were deemed brave and fierce fighters in the jungle, many Native Americans regarded them as totems. Some wealthy Native Americans loved keeping ocelots as pets.
But, of course, other ocelots were neither as ferocious as nor as intelligent as Ah Meow.
In order to avoid any conflict, Li Du stuffed Ah Meow back into his backpack.
In the end, as one could not manage too many matters at one time, Crispy Noodles popped his head out, and waving his paws and howling at the Native Americans.
Li Du could only press him back down, before warning him sternly, “Don’t come out, and stay in there obediently!”
Ah Meow continued to wave his paws and was howling away; he had wanted to get out and fight for Li Du. However, as there was little space in the backpack, his movements to the left and right caused him to scratch Crispy Noodles by accident.
A commotion was brewing: Crispy Noodle was unhappy with the scratch while Ah Meow was agitated; they almost got into a fight instead.
Li Du was miserable; he had no choice but to give Ah Meow a piece of dried fish and also handed Crispy Noodles a few raisins.
As such, with a snack each, the two fellas quieted down.
A few minutes later, Hans, together with Big Quinn, swiftly rushed over. They saw that Li Du and Godzilla were surrounded. Big Quinn dashed into the crowd furiously, and shouted, “What are you guys trying to do?”
The surrounding Native Americans backed off, with fear on their faces. Big Quinn’s appearance, expression and huge physique looked really threatening.
Some other beefy-looking Native Americans came rushing over from the back; they looked equally aggressive. Upon seeing them, those Native Americans who were initially fearful of Big Quinn became confident and surrounded them once again.
Li Du asked, “What’s happening?”
Hans laughed bitterly, “Did they see your two feathers? D*mn it, I should have left them behind.”
Li Du tried to recollect. “Yes, they only behaved this way upon seeing the feathers. What’s actually happening?”
Hans said, “Our feathers represent our friendship with the Hopis while the people here are the Navajos. The two parties are enemies. Do you get it now?”
The Hopis had always deemed the land as sacred because agriculture was an important component of their culture. Without the land, there would not be any agriculture.
Then, their neighbors were the Navajos. Both tribes continued to reside on their own ancestral lands.
On December 16th, 1882, President Chester Alan Arthur passed an executive order, the “Hopi Reservation,” so they could have their own piece of land.
However, this piece of land was small compared to the Navajo reservation. Also, the Navajo reservation was the biggest Native American reservation of all.
In addition to living with the smaller territory, even more depressing was the segregation by the government: the Hopis’ land was situated in the center of the Navajos’ reserved land and was almost half the size of the Navajos’ village.
The establishment of the reserved land was to prevent more white settlers from invading. From then on, beside the Hopi tribe, all other people were not allowed to settle or perform agriculture activities on that land.
However, this did not prevent the Hopis from coming under the threat of Navajos, especially because these two tribes did not have the practice of clear division of land boundaries. The Hopi population was also comparatively small, so they were at the losing end in the conflict with the Navajos.
Therefore, with no choice, the Hopis could only live with it. However, instead of yielding to the Navajos, they sought help from the US Government.
In 1851, the US Government built a fort at Arizona, and deployed the military to suppress the Navajo threat against the Hopi. The Navajo were well-versed in warfare, and did not retreat even when faced with the US Government. Instead, they chose to go to war with the Hopis.
Such a plan agitated the US Government; the soldiers launched an attack to capture the native Navajos, and locked them into the fortress to force them to stop bullying the Hopis. Under such heavy-handed pressurizing policies, the Navajos had no choice but to abandon the use of force to suppress the Hopis—both parties finally managed a peaceful co-existence.
In fact, instead of saying this was peace, it was more like the Navajo did not launch any attacks to invade the Hopi’s land. If the Hopis were to enter their territory, they would still suffer a merciless attack.
Hans explained this just once, and Li Du understood what was going on: when the people in power were in disagreement, the common folk would suffer (when immortals disagree, the imps suffer); when things happen, the innocent would also be affected (when the city gate is on fire, the fish in the water will be in trouble).
He said in shock, “It is already the twenty-first century now—the digital era, the peaceful era. Don’t tell me there’s still tribal conflict here?”
Hans sighed, “These people still regard the land as their lifeblood.”
At this moment, a Native American of about sixty years of age walked out, and said sternly, “Are you friends with the cowards from the north?”
Hans explained, “By ‘cowards from the north,’ he means the Hopi. Their territory is in the North, and as they had sought help from the government, the Navajo refer to them as cowards.”
Li Du did not want to cause a conflict, and said, “This is probably a misunderstanding between us; we have no relationship with the Hopi—”
“Don’t say that name!” a Native American shouted. “They are the cowards from the north!”
The elder Native American waved his hand to stop his aggressive henchman. He then looked at the tour guide, and told him something in his tribal language.
The tour guide got onto the bus grudgingly, and reassured the anxious tourists in English, before leaving the place in the four-wheel-drive vehicle.
Now, without the presence of the tourists restricting them, the Native Americans took on a domineering air.
The elder Native American said, “We Navajo are not like the cowards from the north, who are weak and uncivilized. Young man, burn their pheasant feathers, and then you can leave this place.”
Li Du said, “Why are you forcing us? Sir, we’ve paid for the entry ticket and tour fee. We will not burn the pheasant feathers, and will not leave bearing this insult!”
Hans hurriedly gave him a look: What the f*ck big brother, this is not the time to act tough!
He whispered, “We will go online to swear at these sons of b*tches when we get back. Let it rest for now, obey and stay alive first!”
