KOKOPELLI'S PLACE

In the First World there were delicious fruits and vegetables to eat. People lived happily in the shade of giant trees. But soon they began living only for themselves. They forgot the ways of the great gods.

The gods became angry. They met on the top of the highest mountain and chose the god of water to destroy the world. The water god stood up with his eyes full of lightning. The winds roared around his head. He looked down at the world below and saw that everyone was lying and stealing and killing. All the people were evil except for one poor woman and one poor man who were making pulque (fermented juice of the maguey cactus) in their tiny hut.

The water god came down the mountain and spoke to the good couple: “Soon water will pour down this mountain and cover the earth,” he said. “You must cut down the ahuehuete tree and ride it like a boat over the water. Take a little fire with you and one ear of corn to plant in the new world.” And the good couple did as they were told.

Then the water god returned to the top of the mountain and waved his flag furiously. Son clouds covered the earth; the whirling winds came; and the rains fell harder and harder. Water covered everything but the highest mountain peaks. The greedy people crowded onto wooden rafts with all their belongings. But their belongings were so heavy that the rafts began to sink. The people were afraid of drowning.

”If only we were fishes, we could swim away!” cried the people. “Then fishes you shall be!” answered the gods. And the people were instantly changed into fishes.

But the good woman and the good man rode their tree trunk over the flood, carrying their fire high. When the flood was gone, they stepped off their tree trunk into the Second World.

In the Second World there were many fishes to eat. The sons and daughters of the good couple lived in peace for many years. But then they began to fight over the land and the food. They forgot the ways of the great gods.

The gods became angry. They chose Quetzalcoatl, god of the air, to destroy the world. Dressed in his jacket of white feathers and his cap of jaguar skin, Quetzalcoatl set out to find one good woman and one good man to be saved.

He passed fine houses where people spoke of lying and stealing and killing. Finally, he stopped in front of a simple hut. Inside lived the only couple in the Second World who still remembered the old gods. Quetzalcoatl spoke to them: “Soon the winds will blow from all directions and destroy the world,” he said. “Take a little fire and an ear of corn. Then hide yourselves in a mountain cave.”

Quetzalcoatl returned to the top of the highest mountain and called all the winds. The winds came twisting and turning, rising and falling. The people ran away screaming, but the winds found them and lifted them up and threw them down.

”If only we were animals, we could hide in the little mountain caves!” cried the people. “Then animals you shall be!” answered the gods. And the people were instantly changed into animals.

But the good man and woman were safe in their mountain cave. When the storm was over; they came out into the Third World.

In the Third World there were many animals to eat. The people of earth lived in peace for many years. But once again, they became selfish and forgot their gods. This time the god of fire with his waving red and orange feathers and fierce yellow face was chosen to destroy the world.

Changing himself into a tiny flame, the fire god danced down the chimney of the only generous couple left in the Third World. “Soon all the fires under the earth will burst from the mountain peaks,” he told them. “Go quickly to a cave in the woods.”

The good man and woman were in the cave only a moment when the door mysteriously closed.

Then the earth shook and the volcanoes erupted with smoke and lava. “If only we were birds, we could fly above the fire!” cried the people.

But the good couple was safe in their cave. When the volcanoes were quiet, they came out into the Fourth World.

In the Fourth World there were many birds to eat. The sons and daughters of the earth lived in peace for many years. The great ahuehuete trees reached almost to the sky before the people forgot their gods for the fourth time. Then it was the powerful earth goddess who said to the others, “You, gods of water, air, and fire! How hard you have worked! You must be tired! Go rest in that cave until I return for you.”

When the three gods went into the cave to rest, there was no more rain, no more wind and no more sun. The world was in darkness and the crops died.

”Oh gods! Save us from hunger and thirst!” cried the people. But the gods did not hear them. The earth goddess sent down food at night – but only to the good people. The evil ones cried out angrily, “Better to be eaten by jaguars than to die of hunger and thirst!”

”So be it!” said the earth goddess, and she commanded the hungry jaguars to eat the greedy people.

At last there were no more evil people in the world. There were only good people whom the goddess had cared for and the jaguars had spared. Then the goddess called the three gods from the cave. The rain fell, the breezes blew, and the sun gave light to the Fifth World.

In the Fifth World people sang and danced. There was peace and happiness on earth for many years.

This is a neat little book for young children introducing them to the history of the Aztecs. It’s available from Amazon or from you local library.