Shaman Read Free Page B

“cape” and the fluorescent splendor of his head ornaments. Pa-Lili had been very impressed, although a bit disappointed to hear that his dress kilt was fabricated from the wool of a creature that thrived only on Earth and one or two of its colonies.
    She’d made such delightful noises over his entire outfit that he had promised to make a gift of some similar garments. His preparation for the evening’s festivities had included the careful folding and wrapping of those gifts, which now reposed on his bunk-side unit next to the little pile of Shamanistic fetishes and charms Pa-Lili had insisted he have to fill his sporran (which she had taken to be an empty medicine pouch). He smiled at them, feeling a genuine fondness for the Pa-Kai Shaman, and put on the lulac stone necklace with its small pendant spirit bag. It clashed wonderfully with the rest of his outfit and he knew Pa-Lili would approve.
    So, he thought, might his ancient Celtic ancestors.
    His assistants, on the other hand, did not approve.
    â€œDo we really have to wear these crazy get-ups?” whined Rick. “I look like a neo-deco Franciscan monk.”
    â€œNo, you look like a Pa-Kai apprentice Shaman,” said Rhys. “Franciscan monks didn’t wear that particular shade of chartreuse.”
    â€œAren’t we taking this ‘when in Rome’ stuff a little too far?”
    â€œNot if it makes the Pa-Kai more comfortable with us.”
    â€œBut why are we pretending to be Shaman?” asked Yoshi, peering at him from beneath the nest of colorful cloth strips that festooned her hair. “I thought you said we should always be honest in our dealings with indigenous cultures.”
    â€œWho said anything about pretending? All three of us are the product of cultures in which Shaman played an important early role. We’re just reaching back to our own roots.” Rhys studied the two dubious faces for a moment, then sighed. “Look, I realize this is a bit different from our usual negotiating style. Normally, we’d just throw on the dress clothing, behave in what is generally accepted to be a civilized manner, and offer the sought-after goods and technologies. And I realize you two are out of your element here. But consider this: We know that as far as the Pa-Kai are concerned, there are two parties necessary for official, binding negotiations—the Chieftain of the Clan or Tribe and the ranking Shaman. If our CEO is the equivalent of their Eldest...”
    Yoshi nodded. “Then you’re the logical equivalent of their Shaman and the Shaman must have apprentices and we have to look and act the part.”
    â€œExactly. And when it comes to looking and acting the part, there is a... slightly different measure of decorum among the Pa-Kai than we’re used to. The clothing we consider businesslike, they consider unworthy.”
    Yoshi continued to nod, her dark eyes lighting. “Yes. Our clothes seemed dirty to them—drab like the clothing worn by their children—little color.”
    Rick blinked at her. “Is that what that was all about?”
    â€œDidn’t you notice? The young Pa-Kai wear drabber colors than their elders. I would say you earn your colors on this part of Pa-Loana. It’s a sign of status. The more colors, the greater the status.”
    Rhys was pleased. The girl had the makings of a good cultural anthropologist. He wondered what either of them was doing in a negotiating team for a major corporation.
    Rick nodded. “All right. So, we looked young and dirty. And since we want to impress them as mature and capable...” He shook his colorful habit.
    â€œYou’ve got it. But don’t forget the behavior part of the equation. A Shaman is obviously expected to use the full range of body language to communicate. Our mannerisms probably seem ... weak or even secretive to them.”
    Rick’s eyes glinted with a sudden spark of realization.