Storm of Locusts (The Sixth World, #2)

by Rebecca Roanhorse

Four men with guns stand in my yard.

Opening line.

tsiiyééł.

Navajo hair bun, hair knot.

bilagáana

Caucasian. noun. member of Caucasian race. en.wiktionary.org · white man, Anglo, Caucasian, American (an early Navajo term for Americans).

Honágháahnii,

One walks around clan

“Keha’atiinii,”

Foot Trains People Clan (adopted)

Bįįh Dine’é.”

Deer People

cheii

Grandfather

atsiniltł’ish

This is the Navajo word for ‘lightning’ (also sometimes written as ‘atsinil-tlish). It’s also the word used for ‘electricity.’ The ‘tłish’ part is most likely referring to a sound, such as a loud clap (or, you can imagine a metal pot falling onto the hard floor).

jíni?”

1. they say "They say. When you say they say, you are just making it up, they say. So that's why you do not say they say, they say.‎" 2. it is said, it was said 3. 4th-person singular imperfective of ní

“Yá’át’ééh,

Literally: it is good (alternatively: it is well). This is considered the Navajo ‘hello,’ so it can be used to greet people. It can also be used with ‘shił’ as in ‘shił yá’át’ééh’ to mean ‘I like it.’

yinishyé.”

In English, it’s part of a verb group that means “to be named” or “to be called.” For example, if my name were Fenton I would introduce myself like this: “Yá’át’ééh, shí éí Fenton yinishyé.”

shimasani.

Maternal grandmother