Read Online Shaman by Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff - Free Book Online Page B

around him, his “Chieftain” and the rest of his team echoed the expression.
    Rhys was struck with a sudden childhood memory of viewing a school of groupers through the glass window of the sea-quarium in the Earth habitat on Jamal. He burst out laughing.
    Zarber ceased making fish faces and herded his entourage out of the tent.
    What followed was half celebration, half negotiation. The Pa-Kai would receive catalogues of latex-derived products and the knowledge and training to help them produce products of their own and, as an added bonus, Pa-Lili requested that books on Human Shamanistic practices and magics be translated into Pa-Kai. Danetta deferred to Rhys on that point, and he cheerfully agreed to make sure the translations were done.
    The negoti-bration went on into the early evening, ending only when someone noted that it was dinner time. The assemblage quickly dispersed to prepare for the evening meal.
    Rhys expected that Zarber would have flown off without so much as a snarl or hiss. He was surprised to find that gentleman waiting for him as he strolled the short path to the Tanaka shuttles.
    â€œWell, Vladimir! Is this where you thump me over the head in revenge for some imagined wrong, or where you tell me you’ve learned your lesson and are going to turn over a new rock?”
    â€œCute, Llewellyn. Very cute. But actually, you’re half right. I came to congratulate you on a well-played match and to say, I suppose, that you would seem to be right—honesty is sometimes the best policy.”
    Rhys was sincerely astonished. “I’m—I’m astounded, Vladimir. Thank you.”
    â€œHmmm.” Zarber grimaced slightly. “I hate to admit it, but I learned something from you this week.”
    â€œOh?”
    â€œI learned that you can’t judge a culture by its trappings. These Pa-Kai were... not what I expected them to be.”
    â€œSimple, but greedy and easily bowled over by Human technology?”
    â€œSomething like that. I have to admit, your line of expertise can be quite useful... given the right set of circumstances, of course.”
    â€œOf course... Does this mean you’re planning to study Cultural Anthropology?”
    â€œGood God, no!” If Zarber’s nose had wrinkled any more, Rhys was sure it would have shattered. “It means I’m going to confine myself to dealing with Benz’s more... sophisticated prospects.”
    â€œOh. Keeping out of my way, then?”
    â€œDon’t flatter yourself too much, Llewellyn. This is just not my métier —dressing up like a Circus clown’s nightmare, cavorting about and flapping my arms like some idiot fowl. I felt like an utter fool.”
    Rhys laughed. He laughed so hard he couldn’t muster breath to tell Zarber it was his wild description of his very decorous behavior and not his humiliation that was so amusing. He grabbed Zarber’s hand and pumped it, finally choking out, “Believe me, Vladimir, it looked like you never broke out of a Waltz.”
    o0o
    Several days later, as the remaining Tanaka shuttle prepared to take flight on a return voyage, Rhys made a point of giving his private farewells to Pa-Lili.
    â€œI have to ask you,” Rhys said tentatively, “why you chose our offer over Bristol-Benz’s. What they were bargaining with really was worth more.”
    â€œNot to us, Reeslooelen. This is not (your) Homeworld, nor is it Planet of Human Origin, nor is it any other planet of your acquaintance. You know this. And as your Chieftain rightly expected, we were not impressed with Clan Benz’s many making-stuff things or their playthings or their food stuff. Their food stuff would make Pa-Kai stomachs hurt, while your growing-things package will give us foods from Pa-Loana soil. And as for his ‘tek-now-low-gis,’” she stumbled distastefully over the word, “we will not want them until we can understand them. What we