Listening Woman

{{long plot|date=April 2025}}

{{long plot|date=April 2025}}

Hosteen Tso, patriarch of the Tso Family, has a Listening Woman (a Navajo medicine woman) named Margaret Cigarette, brought to his hogan to learn what ceremony will best improve his health after he suspects he has a ghost sickness. Margaret is accompanied by her niece, Anna Atcitty, who is apprenticing under her and acting as an assistant as Margaret is also blind and elderly. Hosteen Tso is dismissive and vague about the questioning by Margaret Cigarette as she attempts to diagnose what specifically ails Tso, with him only admitting to finding a sand painting having been disturbed. Tso reveals that he cannot be specific because he had promised his great grandfather to keep a secret and he cannot break that promise even in his illness. Before Margaret leaves to listen to the mountain for the proper ceremony to perform, Tso asks if she know the way which a man may send a letter to his grandson who has left the Navajo reservation. She tells him she doesn't know how to send such a letter and leaves the hogan with the help of her niece. Once she finds a suitable place to ponder Tso's situation, Anna leaves her to return to the hogan. After listening to the mountain and preparing her advice, she calls for her niece to help navigate back to the hogan but gets no response and so she returns after some effort to find both Tso and Anna have been murdered by an unknown assailant.

Hosteen Tso, patriarch of the Tso Family, has a Listening Woman (a Navajo medicine woman) named Margaret Cigaret, brought to his hogan to learn what ceremony will best improve his health after he suspects he has a ghost sickness. Margaret is accompanied by her niece, Anna Atcitty, who is apprenticing under her and acting as an assistant as Margaret is also blind and elderly. Hosteen Tso is dismissive and vague about the questioning by Margaret Cigaret as she attempts to diagnose what specifically ails Tso, with him only admitting to finding a sand painting having been disturbed. Tso reveals that he cannot be specific because he had promised his great grandfather to keep a secret and he cannot break that promise even in his illness. Before Margaret leaves to listen to the mountain for the proper ceremony to perform, Tso asks if she know the way which a man may send a letter to his grandson who has left the Navajo reservation. She tells him she doesn't know how to send such a letter and leaves the hogan with the help of her niece. Once she finds a suitable place to ponder Tso's situation, Anna leaves her to return to the hogan. After listening to the mountain and preparing her advice, she calls for her niece to help navigate back to the hogan but gets no response and so she returns after some effort to find both Tso and Anna have been murdered by an unknown assailant.

Some months later, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of Navajo Reservation Police is returning from a [[Navajo_song_ceremonial_complex#Overview_of_Kinaalda_Ceremony|Kinaalda ceremony]] with a man who escaped arrest earlier. While on the road, a car at very high speed, drives by them but slows upon seeing Leaphorn's police truck's flashing lights. Once Leaphorn is at the driver side of the car, the driver attempts to run him over with the vehicle, but Leaphorn moves away in time and is merely grazed. Leaphorn is only able to catch a glimpse of the driver, who wore gold rimmed glasses, had black hair with other Navajo features. His prisoner had also seen a huge dog in the back seat. In an attempt to capture this man, Leaphorn's prisoner manages to slip away, and Leaphorn is only able to find the abandoned vehicle off the side of the road, leaving Leaphorn to return to town empty handed and frustrated.

Some months later, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of Navajo Reservation Police is returning from a [[Navajo_song_ceremonial_complex#Overview_of_Kinaalda_Ceremony|Kinaalda ceremony]] with a man who escaped arrest earlier. While on the road, a car at very high speed, drives by them but slows upon seeing Leaphorn's police truck's flashing lights. Once Leaphorn is at the driver side of the car, the driver attempts to run him over with the vehicle, but Leaphorn moves away in time and is merely grazed. Leaphorn is only able to catch a glimpse of the driver, who wore gold rimmed glasses, had black hair with other Navajo features. His prisoner had also seen a huge dog in the back seat. In an attempt to capture this man, Leaphorn's prisoner manages to slip away, and Leaphorn is only able to find the abandoned vehicle off the side of the road, leaving Leaphorn to return to town empty handed and frustrated.

Leaphorn makes his way to an out of the way trading post and talks with Shorty McGinnis, the elderly white owner of the trading post who is keen to the happenings in the area, which includes the area of Tso's Hogan. Shorty reveals that Hosteen Tso had inquired about writing a letter to his grandson but since he didn't know the address to reach his grandson, Shorty was unable to send the letter. Shorty refuses to reveal the contents of the letter to Leaphorn.

Leaphorn makes his way to an out of the way trading post and talks with Shorty McGinnis, the elderly white owner of the trading post who is keen to the happenings in the area, which includes the area of Tso's Hogan. Shorty reveals that Hosteen Tso had inquired about writing a letter to his grandson but since he didn't know the address to reach his grandson, Shorty was unable to send the letter. Shorty refuses to reveal the contents of the letter to Leaphorn.

While at the trading post, Leaphorn meets Theodora Adams, who is seeking a ride to the hogan of Hosteen Tso. After initially refusing to assist Theodora due to his charge not to help her go further out into the reservation, she sneaks into his vehicle while Leaphorn departs to find Margaret Cigarette to follow up on some information missing from her interview about the murders. Leaphorn agrees to drive Theodora to the Tso hogan after she agrees to explain the purpose for her journey.

While at the trading post, Leaphorn meets Theodora Adams, who is seeking a ride to the hogan of Hosteen Tso. After initially refusing to assist Theodora due to his charge not to help her go further out into the reservation, she sneaks into his vehicle while Leaphorn departs to find Margaret Cigaret to follow up on some information missing from her interview about the murders. Leaphorn agrees to drive Theodora to the Tso hogan after she agrees to explain the purpose for her journey.

Before arriving at the Tso hogan, Leaphorn uses binoculars to see if the hogan is occupied and observes a man that reminds Leaphorn vaguely of Gold Rims saying Catholic mass alone in the hogan. When Leaphorn questions Theodora about this, she reveals the man to be Benjamin Tso, grandson of Hosteen Tso who had been raised outside the reservation and had become a Catholic Priest. Despite Benjamin's Oath of Celibacy, Theodora had become infatuated with Benjamin and Benjamin, feeling a great temptation to break his oath with her, had made an escape to the home of his grandfather in the hopes of saving his soul. However, Theodora had followed him and had now found him. Leaphorn questions Benjamin about his purpose at the hogan and Benjamin reveals he had received a letter from his grandfather requesting that he return to reservation to help deal with his affairs before he died. Leaphorn memorizes the contents of the letter which Benjamin let's him read and Leaphorn leaves, feeling a tinge guilty for bringing Theodora to Benjamin.

Before arriving at the Tso hogan, Leaphorn uses binoculars to see if the hogan is occupied and observes a man that reminds Leaphorn vaguely of Gold Rims saying Catholic mass alone in the hogan. When Leaphorn questions Theodora about this, she reveals the man to be Benjamin Tso, grandson of Hosteen Tso who had been raised outside the reservation and had become a Catholic Priest. Despite Benjamin's Oath of Celibacy, Theodora had become infatuated with Benjamin and Benjamin, feeling a great temptation to break his oath with her, had made an escape to the home of his grandfather in the hopes of saving his soul. However, Theodora had followed him and had now found him. Leaphorn questions Benjamin about his purpose at the hogan and Benjamin reveals he had received a letter from his grandfather requesting that he return to reservation to help deal with his affairs before he died. Leaphorn memorizes the contents of the letter which Benjamin let's him read and Leaphorn leaves, feeling a tinge guilty for bringing Theodora to Benjamin.

Leaphorn makes his way to the Kinaalda again to talk with Margaret Cigarette, whom is also a relative of the escaped prisoner Leaphorn had arrested but then lost. After questioning her further about the murders and participating in the ceremony, he only learns that even at the last minutes of Hosteen Tso's life, he was inquiring on how to send a letter to Benjamin. After the ceremony, Leaphorn watches as people gather objects they had left to be blessed as part of the ceremony, Leaphorn sees a name on a flashlight being retrieved by a boy that had the name of the pilot of a helicopter that was stolen in the robbery. He questions the boy and takes the light to give to the FBI.

Leaphorn makes his way to the Kinaalda again to talk with Margaret Cigaret, whom is also a relative of the escaped prisoner Leaphorn had arrested but then lost. After questioning her further about the murders and participating in the ceremony, he only learns that even at the last minutes of Hosteen Tso's life, he was inquiring on how to send a letter to Benjamin. After the ceremony, Leaphorn watches as people gather objects they had left to be blessed as part of the ceremony, Leaphorn sees a name on a flashlight being retrieved by a boy that had the name of the pilot of a helicopter that was stolen in the robbery. He questions the boy and takes the light to give to the FBI.

After the questioning, Leaphorn makes his way back to the trading post and asks Shorty another round of questions. With the text of the letter in his mind, he asks Shorty if the contents of the letter Benjamin was sent matches the letter Shorty was asked to write. After some coaxing, Shorty reveals that the letter Leaphorn read was missing key details, such as that someone named "Jimmy" being crazy and that Hosteen Tso needed help dealing with Jimmy. Leaphorn figures that must mean that Hosteen Tso didn't send the letter Benjamin has, something which, due to the late hour, he decides to follow up with later after he drops off the Flashlight to the FBI.

After the questioning, Leaphorn makes his way back to the trading post and asks Shorty another round of questions. With the text of the letter in his mind, he asks Shorty if the contents of the letter Benjamin was sent matches the letter Shorty was asked to write. After some coaxing, Shorty reveals that the letter Leaphorn read was missing key details, such as that someone named "Jimmy" being crazy and that Hosteen Tso needed help dealing with Jimmy. Leaphorn figures that must mean that Hosteen Tso didn't send the letter Benjamin has, something which, due to the late hour, he decides to follow up with later after he drops off the Flashlight to the FBI.

After dropping off the evidence at the FBI office in Albuquerque, Leaphorn requests to read the file on the robbery. After some coaxing, Leaphorn is granted access to the file where he reads about John Tull, the one robber in the crime that was captured after he was shot by a police officer. John Tull is extremely loyal to a lieutenant in the Buffalo Society named Hoski. Hoski was never captured, but Tull claims Hoski to be his best friend. Leaphorn learns that sometime after the interviews he read, Tull had his bail paid and jumped on his bail, presumably to reunite with the Buffalo Society and Hoski who must have paid from the money from the robbery.

After dropping off the evidence at the FBI office in Albuquerque, Leaphorn requests to read the file on the robbery. After some coaxing, Leaphorn is granted access to the file where he reads about John Tull, the one robber in the crime that was captured after he was shot by a police officer. John Tull is extremely loyal to a lieutenant in the Buffalo Society named Hoski. Hoski was never captured, but Tull claims Hoski to be his best friend. Leaphorn learns that sometime after the interviews he read, Tull had his bail paid and jumped on his bail, presumably to reunite with the Buffalo Society and Hoski who must have paid from the money from the robbery.

Leaphorn begins reviewing what he has learned and realizes that, based on the information he now has that Margaret Cigarette must have sat in a different spot than was reported, one that meant the killer of Hosteen Tso and Anna Atcitty came from the canyon, not the road like the police originally thought meaning that they never searched the canyon for the murderer and that the murderer or murderers may still be out there and may find that the Tso Hogan was once again occupied and that Theodora and Benjamin may now be in danger.

Leaphorn begins reviewing what he has learned and realizes that, based on the information he now has that Margaret Cigaret must have sat in a different spot than was reported, one that meant the killer of Hosteen Tso and Anna Atcitty came from the canyon, not the road like the police originally thought meaning that they never searched the canyon for the murderer and that the murderer or murderers may still be out there and may find that the Tso Hogan was once again occupied and that Theodora and Benjamin may now be in danger.

Leaphorn drives to Tso hogan and finds it empty with food and supplies left behind. A rainstorm, which had occurred while Leaphorn was in Albuquerque, washed any tracks away, but he makes out large dog paw prints inside the hogan and realizes with horror that Gold Rims and his dog must be involved somehow. With a flashlight, his revolver and his portable radio, Leaphorn quickly makes his way into the canyon to search for Benjamin and Theodora.

Leaphorn drives to Tso hogan and finds it empty with food and supplies left behind. A rainstorm, which had occurred while Leaphorn was in Albuquerque, washed any tracks away, but he makes out large dog paw prints inside the hogan and realizes with horror that Gold Rims and his dog must be involved somehow. With a flashlight, his revolver and his portable radio, Leaphorn quickly makes his way into the canyon to search for Benjamin and Theodora.

==Characters==

==Characters==

* [[Joe Leaphorn]]: Lieutenant in the Navajo Tribal Police, police officer with a master's degree in anthropology.

* [[Joe Leaphorn]]: Lieutenant in the Navajo Tribal Police, police officer with a master's degree in anthropology.

* Anna Atcitty: niece to Mrs. Cigarette, about 16 years old, learning from her aunt.

* Anna Atcitty: niece to Mrs. Cigaret, about 16 years old, learning from her aunt.

* Hosteen Tso: old Navajo man with illnesses, seeking his grandson; Tso is the great grandson of the famous Navajo Standing Medicine, lost in the era of Kit Carson leading the army to annihilate the Navajo people, in the [[Long Walk of the Navajo]].

* Hosteen Tso: old Navajo man with illnesses, seeking his grandson; Tso is the great grandson of the famous Navajo Standing Medicine, lost in the era of Kit Carson leading the army to annihilate the Navajo people, in the [[Long Walk of the Navajo]].

* Mrs. Margaret Cigarette, the Listening Woman: blind older woman who knows the sings to help specific problems.

* Mrs. Margaret Cigaret, the Listening Woman: blind older woman who knows the sings to help specific problems.

* Captain Largo: Navajo Tribal Police captain based in Tuba City, who directs Leaphorn as to responsibility for the safety of Theodora Adams, who the Navajo Police are asked to keep safe.

* Captain Largo: Navajo Tribal Police captain based in Tuba City, who directs Leaphorn as to responsibility for the safety of Theodora Adams, who the Navajo Police are asked to keep safe.

* Emerson Begay: escaped prisoner taken at Kinaalda ceremony by Leaphorn, then got away again when a driver tried to kill Leaphorn with a speeding car.

* Emerson Begay: escaped prisoner taken at Kinaalda ceremony by Leaphorn, then got away again when a driver tried to kill Leaphorn with a speeding car.

*Rosemary Rita Ovileras: Woman in Washington DC with whom Hoski fell in love, unexpectedly to him. That love changes his plans.

*Rosemary Rita Ovileras: Woman in Washington DC with whom Hoski fell in love, unexpectedly to him. That love changes his plans.

* George Witover: FBI agent in Albuquerque who is eager to resolve several cases following from a robbery of an armored car in Santa Fe a few years earlier.

* George Witover: FBI agent in Albuquerque who is eager to resolve several cases following from a robbery of an armored car in Santa Fe a few years earlier.

* Alice Endischee: hosting the Kinaalda, where Leaphorn speaks directly with Margaret Cigarette.

* Alice Endischee: hosting the Kinaalda, where Leaphorn speaks directly with Margaret Cigaret.

* John Tull: member of the Buffalo Society who blew off the back of an armored car to steal the money in Santa Fe; released on bail a few weeks before Leaphorn was attacked; he is easy to identify because of a childhood accident that damaged one side of his face. He is a Seminole man.

* John Tull: member of the Buffalo Society who blew off the back of an armored car to steal the money in Santa Fe; released on bail a few weeks before Leaphorn was attacked; he is easy to identify because of a childhood accident that damaged one side of his face. He is a Seminole man.

*Jackie Noni: first approached McGinnis to buy his Trading Post, which offer was rejected; member of the Buffalo Society, at the caves with the kidnapped Boy Scouts; a Pottawatomie man.

*Jackie Noni: first approached McGinnis to buy his Trading Post, which offer was rejected; member of the Buffalo Society, at the caves with the kidnapped Boy Scouts; a Pottawatomie man.