Epilogue

Epilogue
It had been 10 years ago since Emmeline had left Pankhurst on that midnight which seemed so long past to her now, it could have been a different lifetime.
There had been many changes since then, and Em herself had changed most of all. Youthful enthusiasm had banked down to a smoldering coal within her, no longer burning with such a bright, all-encompassing fire. She slept better, though, thanks to Marta's recetas...and, she must admit, she became exhausted sooner now.
Em rode alone down the same road that wound down to the valley from the dry hills that she and Jack had taken home from the hoe-down with the Guevara's on that long-ago evening. She smiled, recalling the good times...Jack and his Blue Suede Shoes! She sighed and pulled her horse up, and gazed out over the valley below as she took a sip from her canteen. There it was; Pankhurst. It struck her then that she was viewing it as though she'd never seen it before.
That, was a good thing.
'Well, not getting any younger just sitting here, eh, Pancho?' Her
bay horse snorted and was eager to head down to the valley where he could smell water. 'Yes,the Rio Americain! We can even swim!' She patted his dusty hide. Her own hide felt as dry and powdered with the road. Why not? A swim would be just the thing on a hot spring day...
                             . . . . .
Lying against a huge oak tree, Pancho tethered and grazing nearby, Em relaxed and ate her lunch as she dried off from her swim. No one about but hawks and turkey buzzards circling the skies, occasional quail and the odd wild turkey and squirrel. She munched her apple as she observed a lizard zip up the tree branch to share her space.
Little heat-seeker, she thought, smiling lazily. He was welcome...
She knew she was putting off heading into town proper. She'd discovered after all these years on the road, that she preferred her own company most of all, and craved time alone, out in the wild. She'd inklings that she had a hermit's soul before, she just never had time to find out for sure. She knew now that the Road Less Traveled was hers.
She'd seen and done much along that road. In the beginning, she'd return here, occasionally, in the first few years, after the Guevaras were sure it was safe. Their place, as well as Marco's was still in tact and finding not much more had changed than the gardens gone wild.
She'd seen Jack and Al and Yeats again, but she always kept her stay short, and was always eager to be off with Marta again.
She found she loved much about the deserts, and the high deserts in the mountainous regions of the southwest. The desert in bloom in spring, and the high pine regions and red rock country called to her. She couldn't bear life in the towns anymore...and she liked the folks out in the mountains and small villages. She and Marco had become close, having much in common, with their background helping Lev with his unionizing and activism. She was surprised at first, but not much, when she found that Lev and Marco had also been very close. Well, there was much to love about Lev! She knew that he and Alejandro were still together down south and quite content, as were Alice and Frank, still. Em would visit with Marco
when she went to see Marta...he was still a good friend. Her capitan, Keithcliff, had found a Canadian girl in B.C. and had settled there;well, whenever he was in port, that is...she knew that he couldn't give up the sea, just as she was made to follow that road which winds ever on...
And, she had seen la Revolucion! She'd seen more than she had wished to, there...and still had some bad dreams over things that had been burned into her mind's-eye. But, overall, she knew that
power had corrupted politics there to the point that a total revolucion was the only way to ensure any change. And change was required.
No, little Pankhurst had not been so corrupt. Not yet, Em reminded herself. She could see how small cracks in the liberty bell could allow power and despotism to gain control even here, though. She had no illusions anymore. What would it take to abolish greed? If change was ever to come; real, true and lasting change in the world, people themselves would have to change, intrinsically. Perhaps at a cellular level.
Pancho interrupted his grazing to snort as he lifted his head and
looked off over the river. Deer, Emmeline saw, two doe and a young buck, antlers just buds. These creatures knew how to live upon the planet. Unlike those others behind the closed doors of the town. Em sighed, well, there's no putting it off any longer. She had one last job to do here...
Saddled up again, Em and Pancho headed into town. '...Oh, Lost River, now I'm coming back...'Em sang softly to herself. As she gained the outer reaches of Pankhurst, she suddenly realized how
out of place she both felt and looked. She wore a wide-brimmed Stetson, and wore a light poncho over her dungarees and boots. She probably looked a right vagrant, and with her hair tucked up under her hat she didn't even appear to be female, which served her well on the road.
She hid her smile as she clopped through the streets, the well-dressed ladies in their walking suits, carrying ruffled parasols eyeing her with distain, the men looking at her with narrow gazes trying to figure her out, the children openly laughing at her and running. At least they weren't lobbing rocks, the little...rascals.
She came at last to the Guevara's fence and well-tended yard, with garden a riot of green and bordered by flowers that the bugs favored rather than the vegetables within. Dismounting, she opened the gate, and led Pancho in back. 'Hola!' she called, as she tied him to the shed in back.
'There you are!' was Marta's greeting as she came out the back door. Emmeline embraced her  old friend at last.
'Made it before sundown. And,' Em removed her saddlebag from her shoulder, 'I have your herbs! And, a little something extra.'
'Come in and have some cold tea! Relax a minute! Ole Pancho can wait and graze a wee while!' Em took his saddle off and replaced his bridle with a halter, then followed Marta indoors.
'Ahhhh...' Em sighed as she sat in an armchair and Marta handed her a cold glass of tea. 'The comforts of civilization!'
'Take off your boots and stay awhile?' Marta asked, as she joined Em.She looked at her young friend, not so young anymore, she had to admit. Emmeline had some lines upon her tanned face, like a road map, which is what happened to those who chose a travelling life.Her firey red hair was still thick and long though, and Em removed her hat and shook her hair loose, still damp from her swim.
'I'd never want to put them back on again.No, won't be more than a jerk-water stop this time, Marta.' Emmeline regarded Marta, who seemed, unlike Em, not much changed over the years.'Como estas? How is Tina and Leon?'
All was well with the Guevaras and Marco, as well as the Crowley House crowd. Woody's business had done well and he had opened a restaurant now, on the Pankhurst side of the river. 'He is nearly respectable now!'Marta told her, laughing.'Even the mayor goes there for his bar-be-que!'
'A little more popularity than he needs!' Was Em's comment. 'That's great, though...'She bent down and picked up an item from her saddlebag. 'Alright, Marta, this is for you.' And, she removed a small sack that was wrapped up in a woolen scarf. Opening the bag, she took out a white, ovoid object.
'Ooooh, that Thing!' Marta recognized it from the Night of the Blue Flames. 'I didn't know you still had that Thing! Big medicine, that.'
'Yes. It is.'Em agreed. 'I've kept it with me these many years. And, it is little changed, unlike the rest of us,'she mused. 'But,
recently, I noticed it was showing a faint line around it,here,'
She pointed along the side of the artefact, which now had a thin line running around the outside.
'I thought then, that it looked like it had a lid! And so...' Em took the top of the Thing, and pulled gently up. The Thing opened.
'Oh, my!'Marta peered within. 'What is it?'
'It's yours,'Em told her. 'It's a seed.'
Marta held out her hand, and Em tipped the small fat grey seed within her palm. 'Hm! So, do you know what it grows?'
'A plant.' Em smiled.
'Oh, very good, Senorita Smartypants!'Marta rolled her eyes and sat back eyeing her find.
'I've actually been planting them wherever I travel! And they grow well, in the roughest places!'
'Is this the last seed then?'Marta asked.
'No. There's always just one. Until I open it again. And then, there is another.'
'Big medicine, indeed!' Marta was impressed. 'Yes, Em, gracias! I will plant this magic bean! Will it grow to a castle in the sky perhaps?'
'Much better!' Em assured her, as she stood.'Well, I should probably be going soon...I told my friend to meet me here when he's finished with business in town...Ah! That may him now!'
Hoofbeats sounded outside the house, and the women exited to find a
large black Andalusian carrying a handsome silver-haired gentleman also clad in wide-brimmed Stetson and poncho, who made a sweeping bow from his saddle.'Buenos tardes, ladies! Forgive me for insisting, but I must insist we ride, my dear! It's Time...'
Marta turned to Emmeline then, and gave her a hug. 'Ah, you and Ambrose!' She smiled knowingly. 'I thought you and the old gringo would get along well!'She released Em then who saddled up
Pancho and got his gear together then Marta raised her hand to shield her eyes from the setting sun and regarded the Old Gringo. 'You don't bite, do you Ambrose?' She asked him.
'Only in print, dear lady.' He allowed, and Marta laughed.
'However, my captiousness grows less, with Time...'
Emmeline, now geared-up for the road, mounted Pancho and walked him over to Ambrose, who leaned over and kissed Em gently.'Ready, then?'
'As I'll ever be,'she sighed. 'Hasta luego, Marta! Take good care of your little seed. A seed of change.'
'Good,'Marta said,'Change is needed.We'll see you again, soon, though, no? Jack has been asking about you, as always!'
Ambrose looked at Em then. 'No, not this time,'Emmeline answered.'We're heading over to Lake Tahoe, then following the Sierra up into the Cascades and up north aways. We've much seed to plant!'
'I like that area up north,' Ambrose allowed. 'Maybe look around for some land up by Mount Shasta.'
'Well! Have a care! Strange goings on around that mountain! People  go missing and no one ever finds them! Strange lights in the skies! The Indians can tell you some stories like you wouldn't believe!'Marta warned them, then smiled. 'No stranger than the two of you, I suppose...'
'True,'Em smiled. 'Good to see you again, Marta. Tell Tina and Leon 'Hola' from us! And, say hi to Crowley House for me. And, tell Jack...'she paused, looking at Ambrose, 'Tell Jack I said...goodbye.'
'That's something, best said yourself, Em.'Marta raised a brow.
'Next time.' Em nodded, 'Well, let's vamanos! We'll stop by Homer and Jethro's later tonight...should get there before it's too dark.' And Em and Ambrose turned their horses back to that long and winding road.
'Adiosa!' called Marta. 'You don't take so long coming back next time! You must come see how your seed has grown!'
'That I will, Marta! Take care!' Emmeline called, as she and Ambrose waved from their saddles and headed off, into the sunset, together.
Marta watched them go awhile, then gazed at the odd little fat seed she held. 'So! A magic bean, eh? Where did you come from, little seed? And why are you here! Well, only one way to find out!' And she turned then and grabbed her hoe and began to dig a space in the far corner of her garden, next to the chilies. 'There,' she patted the seed into the ground and held her watering can over it, sprinkling drops. 'Now we'll see what you can do! Big medicine!'
She laughed and patted the dirt again. 'Grow tall and fat, little seed! The world is waiting!'
                          . . . . .
There's a lost river that flows
In a valley where no one goes,
Where the wild water's rush
Rumbles deep in the hush.
Gone far from there now,
Lord I'll be back somehow
To where the lost river winds
In the shadow of the pines
Oh, lost river, now I'm coming back
To the pot-belly stove, where the firewood's all stacked
Oh quebec girl, go with me,
Oh my belle, my fleur de lis,
Where the lost river winds
In the shadow of the pines
Now every body knows
Where that lost river flows
It's someplace he's lost
Behind bridges that he's crossed
Well, he'd like to return,
But his bridges are all burned
And he's much too far down
To return to higher ground
Oh, lost river, now I'm coming back
To the pot-belly stove, where the firewood's all stacked
Oh quebec girl, go with me,
Oh my belle, my fleur de lis,
Where the lost river winds
In the shadow of the pines
Oh lost river, far over ther ridge
Now is it too late for me to build me a new bridge?
To the bright golden time
When her love was still mine
And the world was still wild
Like the heart of a child
Oh, lost river, now I'm coming back
To the pot-belly stove, where the firewood's all stacked
Oh quebec girl, go with me,
Oh my belle, my fleur de lis,
Where the lost river winds
In the shadow of the pines
Where the lost river winds
In the shadow of the pines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOhr48vevCY

Em and Marta's Scrumptious Lowfat Tamales

 Tamale Time! Ah, the delicioso scent of masa steaming away...nothing better! These are vegan and gluten-free AND ecstatically delicious!You must be prepared for tamale making, takes 2-3 hrs. If you cook filling the day before it can go abit quicker.

Ingredients: dried corn husks--a dozen or so. and first, after peeling them apart, soak in hot water about 20 min.for ez handling.
Vegan sour cream, if using.
filling:i made 2 different kinds 1.
sautee:1/4 c. chopped garlic, 1/3 c. ch. onion, ditto. chopped peppers, same amount of chopped mushrooms. add
1/2 c. corn kernels. & about 1/3 c. chopped cilantro..
i added slices of zucchini, can also use greens, about
1 cup. season with chilie powder, cumin, oregano & soy sauce. Sautee til near-done. Add abit of water to make stock to add to masa later. Save stock. Then, add chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, NOT MUCH, about 1 tbsp. to
about 1/2 c. tomato sauce. stir well into the vegie mix, & cook another 3 min.
2.also cooked up a yam & beans for an alternate filling using the sofrito above, w/black eye peas.When done, mashem up for the filling, add sr. cream.
the masa:
3 c.masa harina corn flour (not cornmeal)Maseca brand is good.
mixup w/ about 1 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. vegan spread (i use Earth Balance, soy-free)
abit of'stock' from sautee above,to make wet, pliable, about 1/4 c.
Separate corn husks, tear some into strips to tie tamales.
laying husk out, spoon masa mix onto husk and spread to about 1 in. from all sides. Spoon filling on top making a thick line down middle. Add sour cream if using. taking 1 side of husk, fold over middle, then fold over other side, pressing together as much as possible. Fold up small bottom end of husk over top and tie with strip of husk. Can also fold over top and tie if you want.
Put enough water in steamer, & keep adding enough to steam tamales for about 55 min. Lay leftover husks on bottom of steamer tray, then layer tamales on top. Add a final layer of husks on top, lid on, and we're steamin'!
Note: when done, approach tamales carefully--they're hot!
Use tongs. Let sit a bit, first. But, oh, when you unwrap that baby and dig in...! Well we're in Tamale Heaven 4 sure.
Muy Bueno!

Dinner and a Movie Time! The following all go well with tamales:best choice: Like Water For Chocolate!!! (you go, Gertrudis!) or:
Frida, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Once Upon A Time In Mexico, any Zorro movies (Antonio Banderas is always worth a look, no?) El Mariachi, House of Spirits, Oliver Stone's South of the Border, Che, Motorcycle Diaries, Belle Epoch, Gaudi Afternoon and El sueño del héroe.