Shaman Read Free

act. Then, we’ll design some costumes for you, too.”
    â€œAre you serious, Professor?” asked Rick, scrunching up his forehead.
    â€œLook, Roddy, we’ve already made a not-so-wonderful first impression by appearing in ‘young, dirty’ clothes. We need to improve on that, don’t you think?”
    Yoshi frowned. “What does that mean— ‘young, dirty’ clothes? Why did the Shaman say that?”
    â€œTake a look around the villages. See if you can figure it out for yourselves. Now, get on it.”
    Rhys arranged the bright orange fingers he’d cut from a pair of Tanaka OmniClime all-weather gloves into a cockscomb atop his very red hair. He waggled his head to make sure they’d stay put, then left the shuttle.
    He managed to locate the Eldest’s Shaman without too much trouble and approached her, making the “Your humble equal approaches you” face and matching gestures. He sidled the last three steps to stand before her, underlining his appreciation of her station.
    â€œYou have put off your young, dirty clothes,” observed the Shaman.
    â€œThat was my costume of travel,” explained Rhys lightly. “We came to you straight from our ship and had no time to put on our proper clothing.”
    The Shaman nodded, looking Rhys over carefully. “You are much prettier,” she said, then made the “Listen, I am saying something important” face. “A Shaman must never forget its dignity,” she told him. “Better you should dress well and be late than appear in the Council Tent in a child’s clothing.”
    Rhys nodded and looked woebegone, letting his shoulders droop. “This is so,” he sighed.
    The Shaman put her long narrow hand on his shoulder and canted her head to one side. “You are very young,” she told him, “but I feel you have the colors of a good Shaman. You can learn much by watching your elders.”
    â€œIt will be a privilege to learn (most humbly) from you, O Colorful One.”
    The Shaman smiled toothily. “Your praise is singing. Now, say why you have come.”
    â€œI wished you to know, O Bright and Shining One, that my Chieftain will arrive in four of your days and will be honored to sit in the Council Tent of the Pa-Kai.”
    The Shaman made a “Have I heard you correctly?” face and said, “Why does it take so much longer for your Chief to arrive? You and not-Shaman Rumble Mouth are from the same world, yet he sends an Elder to tell me his Chief will arrive tomorrow morning.”
    Rhys wished he could just bring himself to tell the Shaman that was because the Bristol-Benz “Chief” was a fake, but his personal code of ethics forbade that bit of back-biting. Besides, as far as he knew the Pa-Kai didn’t have a word for fake. He suspected they would after associating with Humans for any length of time.
    He didn’t have any way to explain Time Altered Space travel to the Pa-Kai either, so he settled for trying to bill Danetta Price as a conscientious sort of Chief, in Pa-Kai terms.
    â€œYour wise eyes will easily see why that is,” he said. “My Chieftain is a female and she feels she must see to the needs of her Clan families before she can be free to do business.”
    The Shaman nodded approvingly. “An honorable Chieftain. I will advise the Eldest that we should wait for her arrival before speaking again of foon. It would be only courteous to do so.”
    â€œThank you, Most Splendid Shaman!” exclaimed Rhys, bowing deeply, then capering two steps to one side. “I am fulfilled.”
    â€œWelcomes, young Shaman. Now, it would please me if you would adore to see my laboratory/workshop/office/place of colorings.”
    Rhys boggled at the rich palette of nuances the last word provided. He understood clearly, however, that he was being singled out for the Shaman’s special attention. He accepted her