People of Darkness (1980)

Hillerman uses the term as an informal reference to a Navajo cult within the peyote religion, a pan-Indian, semi-Christian religious movement. The rituals of the peyote religion involve ingesting peyote cactus buttons containing mescaline, a hallucinogenic substance that produces psychotropic effects. The term "People of Darkness" originates in Navajo myths relating to the mole, which was the sacred totem animal adopted by the Navajo peyote cult.

The mole is a small burrowing rodent, an industrious and persistent tunneler that is sensitive to light, sound, and vibration.

Among the pueblo cultures of the American Southwest, moles are considered an important medicine animal, representing the downward direction, the color black, earth and agriculture, and also sickness and health. The Zuni carve stone mole fetishes for protection, ascribing to them both healing and hunting powers. The mole also symbolizes an awareness of externalities as well as an awareness of self derived from deep introspection. In the mole, these various perceptions come together to form a being who is sensitive, grounded, and inquisitive. The mole also symbolizes intuitiveness, as his hyperawareness and ability to think deeply unite to help him see beyond the obvious. In this sense, the mole is also always searching, exploring beneath the surface.

A rifle popular due to its relatively low cost, minimal recoil, and low noise level. The .22 refers to the caliber, or internal diameter, of the barrel of the rifle, as well as the diameter of the cartridge, or projectile, fired by the rifle. In this case, the .22 rifle fires a cartridge that is twenty-two millimeters in diameter.

A vehicle with an enclosed cab and an open rear compartment for transporting cargo.

The act of surveillance, with the potential for taking disciplinary actions, as well as offering other peace-keeping services, throughout a particular area. In small areas, called "beats," police personnel, called patrolmen, may patrol on foot or on horseback, moving through the streets as a way to ensure order and enforce the law. A highway patrol unit, typically maintained at the state level, is a police unit in charge of enforcing traffic laws and safety regulations on U.S. roads and highways. A patrol car is the most common of several vehicular options utilized for maintaining a police presence in larger areas. Bicycles, motorcycles and helicopters can be used to patrol as well.

A soldier in the army who is part of a special unit that is trained to jump out of airplanes using prarachutes.

An array of objects or accessories that are utilized for a particular purpose or a specific activity.

An exposed upthrust of rock that appears to break through the earth's surface. These rocky protrusions are produced in areas with extreme or persistent erosion, where soil and vegetation are removed, or never even get the chance to accumulate due to wind, water, waves, fire events, volcanic eruptions, mechanical disturbance, and even shifting tectonic plates. Rock outcrops are often found in mountainous areas or near canyons or ravines and can emerge as the result of the removal of large amounts of earth associated with mining or large scale construction activities.

A genus of large antelope, the oryx is native to the various arid parts of Africa. This herbivore is well-adapted to surviving in dry conditions and can live up to ten months without drinking water by reducing perspiration and minimizing urine production. It is recognized by its beautiful colors and long, almost straight horns. Once widespread across Africa, the oryx is now endangered due to extensive hunting and climate change, with two of its four species coming close to extinction.

A very large hauling truck used in mining operations to transport mined minerals and/or debris.