THE FOURTH WORLD: LOCUST'S TESTS

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Wiineeshch'iidii (Locust) was the first Being to come into the Fourth When he emerged, he was afraid because he saw water everywhere and any monsters. One of the original inhabitants (monsters) of this world asked Locust from where he had come. Locust answered that he had come from the world beneath this Glittering World. Locust told him that other Beings were coming into this world to live. The monster said that no one could live here unless Locust could pass certain tests. Locust agreed. The first test was to sit in the same place for four days. Locust said he would do that. As the reader knows, a locust has a shell skin which he sheds at certain times; so Locust left his shell skin and made it look as if he were sitting in the same place. While his skin sat there, he burrowed back to the lower world and told the Beings what was happening in the upper world. Locust returned before the four days were up and passed the test.

Next the monster drew an arrow through his body, putting it in his mouth and drawing it out the other end. He challenged Locust to do the same. When Locust equalled the feat, the monster said that he and the rest of the Beings in the lower world could come and live in this world.

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