Darryl Babe Wilson

home.
‘ hwest I’luseum
. —
-
—--
he deciphered—square childlike print that
although it was labored over, could hardly
Somehow it seemed urgent. The address.
did not complete the almost individual let
ters Inside, five pages written on both sides.
into the paper. I could not read it but I could
Blunt figures. Each word pressed heavily
I’IIOTO OF A NATIVE
Eduard S. Curtis
AflKICAN IALE
F here was a single letter in the mailbox.
WaIIak tnbe)
Los Angeles
feel the message. A1 traz” was in the first
At the very bottom of the final page—run
paragraph, broken and scattered, but there.
ning out of space—he scrawled his name. It
curved down just past the right-hand cor
Gibso. It was winter, 1971. 1 hurried to his
ner. The last letter of his name, n. did not fit:
Darryl Babe Wilson
(rock) (rainbow)
Diamond Island: Alcatraz
Allisti Ti Tanin Miii
Diamond Island: Alcatraz 97

its timelessness.”
adj.: Independent (p. 102)
The ongoing force of a moving
(O tan’ ms)
Island: Alcatraz.”
quality of being fragrant or
(red’ ‘I ns) n.: The
Educated at the University
96 Short Stories
suggests, the interviews deal
preciousness and precious in
viewed Native Americans from
Barrow, Alaska, to the Mayan
from the Earth. As the title
Native American, Wilsoh has
his people. He has also inter
the University of Arizona. As a
Peninsula for his book Voices
and short story writer. About
perative that we [Native Amer
icans] write our history and we
remind American society that
his heritage he writes, “It is im
is a widely recognized poet
of California at Davis, Wilson
with our ecological problems.
Arizona, where he teaches
history that is timeless in its
a long and beautiful history, a
we do, in fact, own a history,
(mO men’ tam) n.:
Native American studies at
written about the struggles of
federal prison (1934—1 963). In Wilson’s words, “it is time to give the
a significance that is much different from its identity as the site of a
island of Alcatraz a proper identity and a real history.” In a group of
suming (p. 98)
object (p. 98)
Knowing the following words will help you as you read “Diamond
your understanding of its importance.
to discuss how the story added to your knowledge of the island and
Alcatraz.” Then, after reading the story, get together with your group
Keep your group discussion in mind as you read “Diamond Island.
three or four people. discuss what you know about Alcatraz island
sweet smelling (p. 99)
have spent or used by con
(ek spend id) u: To
To Native Americans, Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay has
(1939— ) lives in Tucson,
I)arvi BiI c
tells a story within the story.
the narrator is also a character in the story. As a character, the nar
times the narrator and sometimes the narrator’s grandfather, whc
of a story are seen. When the author uses first-person point of view,
Point of view is the position or perspective from which the events
rator participates in the events and tells the story using the firstperson
pronoun “I.” The “I” in “Diamond Island: Alcatraz” is some
GUIDE FOR READING -

Grandfather lived at Atwam, 100 miles
east of Redding. California, in a little shack
out on the flat land. His house was old and
crooked just like in a fairy tale. His belong
ings were few and they, too, were old and
worn. I always wanted to know his age and
often asked some of the older of our people if
they could recall when Grandfather was
born. After silences that sometimes seemed
more than a year, they always shook their
silver-gray heads and answered: “I dunno.
He was old and wrinkled with white hair for
as long as I can remember. Since I was just a
child.’ He must have been born between
1850 and 1870.
Thanksgiving weekend. 1989. It is this
time of the year when I think about Grandfa
ther and his ordeal. I keep promising myself
that I will write his story down because it is
time to give the island of Alcatraz a proper
identity and a “real” history. It is easy for
modern people to think that the history of
Alcatraz began when a foreign ship sailed
into the bay and a stranger named Don Juan
Manuel de AvaIa
recorded “Alcatraz’ in a log book in 1775.
That episode. that sailing and that recording
was only moments ago.
Grandfather said that long ago the Sac
ramento Valley was a huge freshwater lake,
that it was ‘as long as the land’ (from the
northern part of California to the southern).
and that a great shaking of an angry spirit
within the earth caused part of the coastal
range to crumble into the outer-ocean.
When the huge lake finally drained and the
waves from the earthquake finally settled,
there was the San Francisco Bay. and there,
in isolation and containing a ‘‘truth,’’ was
Diamond Island (Alcatraz>.
1 observed the “rock” and
L Don Juan Manuel de Ayala (dan hwàn man
wet’ dã a va’ là): An eighteenth cntui SIianht1
explorer who the first Eui opeati to enter San
Francisco Bay.
He told me the story one winter in his
little one-room house in Atwam. It is bitter
cold there during winters. I arrived late in
the evening, tires of m truck spinning up
his driveway. The driveway was a series of
frozen, broken mudholes in a general direc
tioti across a field to his home. The head
lights bounced out of control.
My old 1948 Chevy pickup was as cold
inside as it was outside. The old truck kept
going, but it was a fight to make it go in the
winter. It was such a struggle that we called
it “Mr. Miserable.’ Mr. Miserable and I
came to a jolting halt against a snowbank
that was the result of someone shoveling a
walk in the front yard. We expended ow
momentum. The engine died with a sputter
ing cough. Lights flopped out.
It was black outside but the crusted
snow lay like a ghost upon the earth and
faded away in every direction. The night sky
trembled with the fluttering of a million
stars—all diamond blue. Wind whipped
broken tumbleweeds across his neglected
yard. The snow could not conceal the yard’s
chaos.
The light in the window promised
warmth. Steam puffing from every breath, I
hurried to his door. The snow crunched
underfoot, sounding like a horse eating a
crisp apple. The old door lurched open with
a complaint. Grandfather’s fatigued. cente
narian
brightness—bright although he had but a
single shadeless lamp to light the entir
house. I saw a skinned bear once. It looked
just like Grandfather. Short, stout arms and
bowed legs. Compact physique. Muscularnot
fat. Thick chest. Powerful. Natural.
Old powder-blue eves strained to see
who was out there in the dark. “Ilallo.
2 body a black silhouette against th
: 2. centcgaraan Iseli t. nt-n’ (‘ 211) iidj At least our’
hundred years old.
I
YE)
Sto,ies

lack volcanic glass.
oldnti
ing cup of coffee. Grandfather looked long
the ciniort of his jumbled little bungalow. It
Grandlather stood back and I entered
warmth!
arom
1
ploded from the open door, Coffee.
-.t the man I’m lookin’ for.” Coffee
Then, with a quiver in his voice, he started
waters.
Rainbow[, Diamond Island. In our legends,
were told to go when they searched for a
thought that he might he crying silently.
that’s where the Mouse Brothers, the twins.
always knew it as Allisti Ti-tan in-rniji [Rock
for it. To our people, in our legends. we
ago. Alcatraz, that’s the white man’s name
runs into the sea is where I was born, long
“Alcatraz island. Where the Pit River
telling the story that he wanted me to know:
ic blend. hut it was so good!
good. it was not a fancy Colombian, aromat
father s collections. It was like a museum.
that every part of the clutter had a history—
Everything was very old and worn. It seemed
origin of the earth, like the bent pail filled
Glass Mountain many summers before,
with obsidian
healtrv handshake we huddled over steam
clean, delicate aroma—a perfume. After a
wood. Juniper. cured for a summer, has a
was G)ZY in there. He was burning juniper
sometimes a history that remembered the
the old moon began to tell the story of his
escape from “the rock” long ago. He gath
into purchasing when he was a young work
“just in case.”
at me I think that he was not totally con
vinced that I was there. The hot coffee was
ing man in the 1920s. The radio cost $124. I
got the -dectric company to put a line to his
the episode magnified in mystery when he
think he got conned by that merchant and
recalled that it was not until 1948 before he
and he did not remember to turn it on until
home By that time he forgot about the radio
ness——like a mouse that died then dried to a
stiffness through the years—a redolence of
1958. It worked. There was an odor of old
3, obid1an (b sid’ t n) n.: Hard. daikcoIored or
ered himself together and reached back into
a painful past. The silence was long and I
We were surrounded by years of Grand
He also had a radio that he was talked
The old person in the old house under
4lected newspapers.
3 that he had collected from
ter. We were always told that the ‘diamond’
was a thought, or a truth. Something worth
They brought it back. But it is lost now. It is
end of It A-juma [Pit River}. They fhund it.
long, long ago. They were to go search at the
all our people, everywhere.
said, the ‘diamond’ was to bring goodness to
and it shined, but it was not a jewelry. It was
very much. It was not a jewelry. It sparkled
mond’ on an island near the great salt wa
with every movement. That is why we al
more. Colored lights came from inside it
ways called it [Alcatraz[ AUisti Ti-taniri
Grandfather spoke of a time long past.
words filled with enduring knowledge,
mUL” With a wave of an ancient hand and
of the Pit River country, his pregnant moth
er was taken captive and forced, with other
to Alcatraz in the winter. At that same time,
Some of our people were “removed” to the
Indians, to make the long and painful march
the military was “sweeping” California.
during the winter to Quapa, Oklahoma. Still
Round Valley Reservation at Covelo; others
were taken east by train in open cattle cars
others were taken out into the ocean at
healing treasure for our troubled people
Eureka and thrown overboard into icy
chains to Quapa are still there. Some of
“We always heard that there was a ‘dia
In one of the many raids upon our people
I)esceiidants of those that were taken in
Diamond Island: Alcatraz 99

*
100 Short Stories
4. crevassed (kr vast’) czdj.: Deeply cracked.
scratched and scarred—when Grandfather
left at darkness. Grandmother said that I
in the frozen winter night— round, bright,
had to get home.
clinging as she swam from Alcatraz to solid
Quivering with emotion. he hesitated.
When those old. cloudy eves dripped
often I trembled too. He softly spoke of his
Our cups were long empty; mulls.s (fire)
needed attention. The moon was suspended
tears down a leathery, crevassed
covered with white stubble. ‘I must have
scared.” Grandfather said. crooked. thick
were not just swimming. We were gaining
‘When it was time, we were ready. We
swim around the rock. Every day, my moth
remembered it all. The guards allowed us to
Grandfather said, “I was very small, too
strength. We were learning the currents. We
too.
He trembled. “I do not remember if I was
currents, made it back to Pit River country,
der sticks,” and dark winter nights of a cold
small to remember, but my grandmother
finement, the threat of being shot by “thun
Alcatraz-made-deadly by churning, freezing
ground in night. My Grandmother remem
indicated where “there” was.
River country. A few of those defying con
in the water. .
4 face, and
long silences were between his sentences.
been.”
. somewhere.”
With a point
made it back to land and returned to Pit
broke my mother’s necklace. It is still there
ing of a stout finger southward, Grandfather
memory.
those cast into the winter ocean at Eureka
er swam. Every day, the people swam. We
was a baby and rode my mother’s back,
bered that I pulled so hard holding on that I
fingers rubbing a creased and wrinkled chin
non hen 1 (‘a litornia
5. Mount Shasta slias’ t. A volcanic mountain iii
coyote howled. Far to the west an old coyote
have been trained to believe that it was
Alcatraz. Through Anwricaii propaganda I
not like us. It denies us.’’
ible that there was such an escape from
me wonder about this story. It seems incred
The night was thick. To the north a
The One-as-Old-as-the-Mountains made
escaped. But after I heard that story so many
times. I don’t think so. I think there was a
our people. The truth hides from us. It must
taJ or So Tilt [Medicine Lakej. It hides from
supreme presence beneath starry skies with
must be deep inside Axo-Yet [Mount Shas
“When first I heard about the ‘diamond,’
where that truth is now, Vhere can it be? It
help our people. I don’t think that I know
instructed to get and bring back long ago to
truth there that the Mouse Brothers were
I thought it might be a story of how we
icy freedom all around.
rasped a call to the black wilderness, a
that I “wrote things down on paper.”
reflected, he gathered his thoughts. He knew
barely remembered. For long moments hc
that was so long ago that the mountains
standing. some kind of good thought—or
something.” He shook a white, shaggy head
and looked off into the distance into a time
were not diamonds hut some kind of under
real diamonds on the island. At least I don’t
Grandfather continued. “There was not
again.
appeared. I slammed the top closed. Silence.
Sparks flew up into the darkness then dis
think so. I always thought the diamonds
flnal1’ paused in his thinking. The old castiron
heater grumbled and screamed when I
slid open the top to drop in a fresh log.

,lilrthuted t Joshua Peirc,
SAN FRANUSCO. 1849
freezing temperature as the powerful ocean
and ihe surging rivers merged in chaos. I
impossible to escape from that isolated rock
because of the currents and because of the
was convinced—until I heard Grandfa
dwelled within a different “time,” a different
thers story and until I realized that he
of a ii dural source. In his world, I was only
a forrn infant. It is true today that when
I talk with the old people I feel like rülladu
‘element.” He dwelled within a spirituality
i white man). I feel like some domesti
cated creature addressing original royalty—
knowing that the old ones were pure savage,
south for three nights before we could turn
north. [My people landed at San Francisco
ceeded. “We wandered for many nights. We
hid during the day. It is said that we had to go
born into the wild, free.
traveling at night with no food until they
and had to sneak to what is now San Jose,
could turn northward.[ They [the U.S. Armyj
were after us. They were after us all. We had
In his calm manner, Grandfather pro
Diamond Island: Alcatraz 101

102 5hurt Sloric5
fire because they would see the smoke and
me to her. We cried. I know we cried. I
people. Perhaps a generation approaching
tion and custom and less satisfied to being
We waited for him to holler as was the plan.
We waited a long, long time. Then we heard:
We were close to home. My mother squeezed
found along the river. We could not build a
time for two nights also.
‘There is a small island of mountains in
climbed the highest peak. He was brave. We
were all brave. It was during the sunlight.
toki Tanjan’ [Mount Shasta! Mount Shasta!
North direction!]. Our hearts were happy.
‘Axo- Yet! Axo- Yet! To-Jto-ja-toki! To-ho-ja
shore [possibly the Benicia Straits]. We rest
catch us so we must eat it [fish] raw. At night
reached that place one of the young men
upstream then jumped in. Everybody fol
the great valley [Sutter Buttes]. When we
make mistakes. We headed north for two
nights.
We came to a huge river. We could not
cross it. It was swift. My mother walked far
was there. So was my mother and grand
are to survive as a distinct and autonomous
inal knowledge now more than ever, if we
for many snows now. The volumes of knowl
Grandfather has been within the earth
mother,
to be careful. We had to be careful and not
ed for two days eating dead fish that we
lowed. The river washed us to the other
we traveled again. Again we traveled, this
edge that were buried with him are lost to
my generation. a generation that needs orig
will be more aware, more excited with tradi
ago to forget the tragic episode that could
Axo-Yet (Mount Shasta) are deep. The glar
below: “Axo- Yet! Axo-Yet! To-ho-ja-tokt
An old chief of the Pit River country, “Char
edged. A truth that needs desperately to be
long ago.
and, standing with the sun shining full upon
have been the termination of our nation,
that caused the hunted warrior 140 years
strands that I often identified as “silver.’
yellow—now that I better recall the coars
ing white makes Grandfather’s hair nearl)
him, hollered to a frightened people waitink
seek and locate AlUsti Ti-tanin-mUi within
reveal many truths to this world society that
found and known for its value.
Atwam, during a sparkling winter night
still can’t read it, but if I could, I am sun
Island long ago. A truth that needs to b
is immense and confused in its immensity.
will set us free.” Along with Grandfather, I
It is nearing winter, 1989. Snows upor
an,” and will seek this knowledge.
think that It was a “truth” that the Mouse
the “white man” and the world of the “Indi
Tanjan!”
That beautiful mountain. The landmark
the mountains. Possibly that generation wil
Perhaps the approaching generation will
Brothers brought to our land from Diamond
Grandfather’s letter is still in my files. I
that the message would be the same as this
understood. appreciated, and acknowl
story that he gave to me as the moon listened
and the winds whispered across a frozen
off balance somewhere between the world of
lie Buck,” said often: “Truth. It is truth that

I I\G ) 1111 Si ii ( I P)\
1 ,uld ask Grandfather a question about
.orj what would you ask? Why?
2 .,r ild tell a future generation a story from
yo ir )uth, what would it be? Explain.
3, H v did Grandfather learn the story of his fam
s s ape from Alcatraz—an event that took
p ace en he was a small boy?
4, Accord ng to the story, what does the “dia
mond of Diamond Island represent?
5, lrterpret the narrator’s comment on page 98,
Tht episode, that sailing and that recording
was only a moment ago” What does the com
ment uqqest about the history of Alcatraz
island?
6. Why did Grandfather ask the narrator to visit?
7, In your words, explain why the author’s gener
ation coeds “original knowledge” in order to
survi C.
8. What do people in your culture do to preserve
their heritage—their identity—as a culture?
I
• Al.
11ZLG LHFRAItJRF
1 11
A first person narrator tells mainly what he or
she thinks, feels, and observes. As a result, the
narrators attitudes shape the story. In addition to
communicating his own attitudes, the narrator of
this story also conveys his grandfather’s beliefs
and obseriations. He does this by recording a
story that his grandfather told him nearly twenty
years efore.
1 D ccss two ways in which first-person narra
on rnbles the author to use Grandfather’s
storj most effectively.
2. What does the narrator reveal about his feel
ings toward Grandfather and Alcatraz island?
I
IIII\KIG \I)
I
An author who writes in the first person wants
the reader to know the narrators thoughts and
feelings. Exploring these thoughts and feelings
can provide insight into the author’s motives for
writing a story. In the case of “Diamond Island:
Alcatraz,’ the author is the narrator. What do the
emotions and ideas that Wilson expresses reveal
about his purpose in writing ‘Diamond Island: Al
catraz”? Refer to passages from the story to sup
port your answer.
I
THINKING
N1) WiunG
ii SI
What stories do you know that you think
should be preserved for future generations?
Choose one, and write about it in the first person.
Like Wilson, you might choose to write about a
story that was shared with you and affected you
deeply. You could also write about a story from
your life, your family, your school, or your com
munity. Try to interview someone who can give
you his or her first-hand observations of the
events in your story. Finally, in your narration, in
clude hints to the reader about your purpose for
writing the story.
J LRNG
Orl IoN
Art. Draw a map of Grandfather’s return to Pit
River country from Alcatraz. In order to begin,
consult a map of the areas described by Grand
father. On your map, illustrate Grandfather’s story
at key locations. For example, you might want to
draw a necklace at the point where Grandfather
pulls at his mothers necklace as they struggle
through the icy currents.
Diamond Island: Akatiaz 10.3

I
4
I—
104 Short Stories
beautiful history” of Native Americans.
our right to exist—a right that was a gift to
The Storytelling Gift For many gener
us from the moment the stars were scattered
ers such as Darryl Babe Wilson have begun
through what Wilson calls his “thought
plains it this way: “When it is time for the
prepared to record that thought at the mo
down by word of mouth. More recently. writ
in the vastness and songs were given us to
in hand, place the proper words in the exact
Babe Wilson’s inspiration comes from his de
Americans to ‘fInd’ us and to acknowledge
sing that awesome power. We must take pen
catraz” was the result of an impulse flitting
processor.” How does this work? Wilson ex
story or poem to appear, it does. If I am not
A Writer’s Inspiration Much of Darryl
A “Lost” History Wilson insists that Na
tive American writers “cannot wait for the
to “take pen in hand.” “Diamond Island: Al
DRAFTING
lowed. “Al this point I did not pursue com
ever. “There is always the search for a bet-
put it down in words with enough velocity to
has made itself ‘visible’ enough so that I can
must he on guard to ‘capture’ a thought thai
insure its survival.”
PREWRITNG
sire to preserve what he calls “the long and
sequence. and move this society to awaken.”
came in three parts,” he recalls. The first
portion to appear was the body of Grandfa
ther’s story. Then a period of waiting fol
ations, Native American history was passed
ment of its appearance. then it vanishes. I
The Story Approaches “The manuscript
that “often a story beginning with the clos
Searching for the Better Word Wilson
patiently waited for more ‘instruction’ from
the element within me that places the words
beginning three pages arrived.”
upon the page. The following morning the
the creation of the story took patience. Yet
Releasing Your Voice As you can see,
Of course, not all stories begin at the be
Beginnings and Endings Once the vari
like allowing a curious fawn to approach, I
idea how or when it would be complete. And.
arrived. Wilson began to sense how to fit them
together. He realized that the three pages de
ing line is more effective.”
Atwam formed the story’s beginning. “And
how much more appropriate it is that the be
REVISING
ergy surges through you. .
. , It
is all a mat
out your effort as you rewrite and earth’s en
Wilson stresses that when inspiration ar
rives. the writer must seize upon it. “Do not
write, splash your words upon the paper by
pletion of the manuscript—since I had no
scribing Grandfather’s letter and his house in
ginning of the story began at the beginning!”
ginning. Wilson points this out by noting
doubt,” he says. “Do not hesitate. When you
ous pieces of “Diamond Island: Alcatraz” had
the bucketful, and sprinkle ideas through
ter of listening to the voice that is within you
whispering. singing. clamoring to be re
narrative. He does revise the language, how
leased, Release it!”
seldom tinkers with the broad outline of a
Danyl Babe Wilson and “Diamond island”
ONE WRITER’S PROCESS

them
hon a- lie revised it. According to the au
pression s.’
danger
t iin PRci’s
water. .
couraing.’
the5ame telocity that Babe Ruth needed to
ents to .vriting, to creating with words, with
trial it’ll toror. Apply yourself and your ted
to .prai trs and hours of pract tie and
authorized to ‘present the story once it has
mother remembered that I pulled so
Every day, my mother swam. Every
Along with his cultural goals. Wilson also
have to wonder if the ancient ones of my na
tion would give approval.”
plains. “is that I am not certain that I am
been ‘captured’ and recorded. I constantly
d’ too many words that clutter the
e avs. or for the elimination of
‘One (>1 the greatest problems I live,’ lie ex
unsure ahom it whether to publish a stor\’.
recei ed ;j copy of Wilson’s draft and con-
come it. When someone says, ‘This is not
cultur Sometimes this wish makes Wilson
wish to honor arid preserve Native American
Moving the Reader Much of Darryl Babe
the es ape from Alcatraz.
some if those Wilson added to this descrip
thor, these revisions underlined the sense of
discussed was Grandfather’s description of
structor ilso gave Wilson advice about revi
Sharpening the Details The class in
your wisdom-bank to use in your future ex
clont cringe in fear. Rather, ask them why it
ally Wilson found the comments of his
tributed suggestions and comments. Gener
ati e
.
Advice Helps Wilson wrote “Diamond
play iseball.
raw words,’ Wilson insists. “Make
inca! n 0nd are an obstacle to clarity
d es a writer find that better word?
ririn lass. Each student in the class
fellow ‘,tudents “very constructive and en
“Do not fear criticism.” Wilson says. “Wel
good. this is not clear, this is incomplete,’
is so. Then make the adjustments within
Look at the box. The darkened words are
Wilson’s writing is motivated by the author’s
sions. One particular part of the story they
l,,Iar-id:.\hatraz for a university-level cre
were 1_iav baseball. .‘ca be required
. tkt n. get up. sing and dance. If von
other people, too,’ he says.
adnuts to a much simpler motival ion—mno’—
ther indicated where “there” was.
back, clinging as she swam from Alca
With a pointing
of a stout finger southward, Grandfa
We were learning the currents. We had
day, the people swam We were notjust
“When it was time, we were ready.
mother’s necklace. It is stifi there in the
mother remembered it all. The guards
allowed us to swim around the rock.
swimming. We were gaining strength.
to get home.”
too small to remember, but my grand
Grandfather said, “I was very small,
traz to solid ground in night. My Grand
that I was a baby and rode my mother’s
hard holding on that I broke my
timing and it moves me, then I know it moves
We left at darkness. Grandmother said
. somewhere.”
1. Which aspect of his writing does Wilson
2. Writing Do you usually start your stories with
the beginning, middle, or end? Try taking a
story that you have already written and rear
ranging the pieces in a different order so that
effect this has on the story.
the end is now the beginning. Describe what
change the most during the revision stage?
ing the reader. “Wheneer I reread sonic
One Writer’s Process 105