Odyssey of the 8th FIre

“The man-made system now destroying the Hopi culture is deeply involved in similar violations throughout the world. The devastating reversal predicted in the prophecies is part of the natural order. If those who thrive from that system, its money and its laws, can stop it from eliminating the Hopi way, then many may be enabled to survive the Day of Purification and enter a new age of peace...

“...Yet the man-made system cannot be corrected by any means that depends on forcing others to do one's will, for that is the source of the problem. If people are to correct themselves and their leaders, the gulf between the two must be eliminated. To accomplish this, one can only rely on the energy of truth itself.”

- Little Dan, Hopi Chief Dan Evehema

Day 176 - Friday, December 15, 1995 - The walkers are incommunicado. No calls from them, no way to check in. I keep the vigil candle burning for them on the corner of my desk, as ever.

Donna Brooks called me yesterday. She was very upset—“really pissed” as she put it. Donna is the companion of Phil Kratzer, who has supported the walk and its development on the Internet since the beginning. Phil and Donna helped set up our web site, and our e-mail lists. They have remained in close contact throughout, providing technical, organizational, and moral support.

When Donna called she told me that two days ago Tom Dostou had called her, and angrily blasted her for having spoken directly with his wife, Naoko Haga.

Donna told me she called Naoko to check whether there was a block on collect calls to her phone from the walkers. Naoko said no, even though, according to Donna, the walkers were complaining that their phone calls could not get through.

According to Donna, Tom would not listen to a thing she said or make any effort to understand her. He just kept yelling at her. He “ordered her” to not talk to Naoko.

Tom said the Internet had savaged him and ruined the walk. He said that if Donna and Phil did not back off and stay clear of the walk, he would sue them.

“Altogether,” Donna told me, “he was abusive and unreasonable.”

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Inecke Soto (author photo)

According to Donna, as of today Tom and his small group of followers are back to our east in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They have no plans to join us, and will instead start their own walk.

Tom is no longer communicating with me at all, so what Donna reports is the most up-to-date information I have.

Inecke Soto, her husband, Joe, and their baby Julia (Doongees) have been with the walk since Virginia. Inecke has walked along pushing Doonges in a stoller, and has been in generally good humor all the way. But when she learned that Tom was not going to re-join the main walk, and had started up his own, small parallel walk, she wept.

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Read Day 177 -- Odyssey of the 8th Fire