Read Online Silent Dances by A. C. Crispin, Kathleen O'Malley - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: A. C. Crispin, Kathleen O'Malley
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scared-afraid I
haven't got what it takes to function in the hea ri ng world as a hearing person."
the Avernian replied. < I sense only a reluctance to change something you are not unhappy with, and a desire for the people
you love to understand that. There' s nothing wrong with that, Tesa.>
"You make it sound so simple, Doctor Blanket." Tesa looked down, feeling heavyhearted.
individuality?>
Tesa nodded. " But it's hard to maintain culture in an homogenized world.
Even in the living museum we have the same media , the same
obligations and opportunities as the rest of the world. In our most remote lands, you can't watch a sunset without seeing contrails overhead.
Culture becomes something you save for vacation."
She looked up at the flickering stars. "Yes, I want to go ... but what if I screw up?"
She faced the Avernian squarely. "Doctor Blanket, it's my dreams. Even
mentioning them makes me ne rv ous . My people believe dreams carry messages ... sometimes wa rn ings. Dreams shouldn 't be ignored. When
they are, harm can come to the dreamer ... or those close to her. We
believe that spi ri ts send their power to Earth through dreams, that the dreamer
43
must use this power by acting out the dream."
Tesa nodded. "Before every big event, I've always dreamt about eagles ...
but I could never remember enough of the dreams to find out what I was
supposed to do. My grandfather told me that if the Wakinyan wanted
something of me, he would let me know. But, whoever dreams of the
Wakinyan ...
< ... becomes a contrary, a sacred clown.>
The Blanket's thought was like a blast of cold air over an exposed nerve.
Suddenly she saw clearly the old heyoka that came to summer camp. He
was decrepit with age but as spry as a boy, since he had been touched by
the Thunder Beings when he was young. Everywhere he went, he walked
on his hands. In summer he wore furs, and in winter, everyone said, he
sweated like a race horse and wore nothing but a breechclout. He was the
finest rider in the camp-he had to be, since he always rode backward. He
said no when he meant yes, bathed in dust to get clean, and jumped in water
to dry off. Wherever he went, he made the people laugh and as her
grandfather often told her, laughter was very sacred, very powerful. In the
years when the people had suffered from disease, starvation, and
persecution, the ability to laugh was sometimes all they had to keep them
going. The heyoka's medicine was always powerful.
But Tesa had never laughed at the old man. Instead, she always felt an
ominous dread whenever he came near. Anyone could become a heyoka
just by having the right dream. When Tesa was young and believed in
magic, she was terrified that someday the Thunder Beings would touch her
and turn her life upside down forever, as they had that sacred old man.
"No one wants to dream of the Thunder Beings," she signed.
Tesa looked at the Avernian for a long moment. "I can't remember. I see a wingtip, as though I'm the Wakinyan looking over my own shoulder. I see the
sky. I see lighting. And I feel afraid. Then, when I saw the Aquila. . .
Tesa nodded. "Deja vu. I wish that's all it was. Everyone talks about the
heyoka's power, but no one wants to walk his path. Lately, I've been nothing but a contrary. People make me angry, and I act pleasant. I don't want to
have ear surgery,
44
but I say I'll have it done in a year. I see the Aquila and feel ... no, I know that they are intelligent, when they are among the most hated, savage creatures
on the whole planet. If that's not contrary, I don't know what
haven't got what it takes to function in the hea ri ng world as a hearing person."
the Avernian replied. < I sense only a reluctance to change something you are not unhappy with, and a desire for the people
you love to understand that. There' s nothing wrong with that, Tesa.>
"You make it sound so simple, Doctor Blanket." Tesa looked down, feeling heavyhearted.
individuality?>
Tesa nodded. " But it's hard to maintain culture in an homogenized world.
Even in the living museum we have the same media , the same
obligations and opportunities as the rest of the world. In our most remote lands, you can't watch a sunset without seeing contrails overhead.
Culture becomes something you save for vacation."
She looked up at the flickering stars. "Yes, I want to go ... but what if I screw up?"
She faced the Avernian squarely. "Doctor Blanket, it's my dreams. Even
mentioning them makes me ne rv ous . My people believe dreams carry messages ... sometimes wa rn ings. Dreams shouldn 't be ignored. When
they are, harm can come to the dreamer ... or those close to her. We
believe that spi ri ts send their power to Earth through dreams, that the dreamer
43
must use this power by acting out the dream."
Tesa nodded. "Before every big event, I've always dreamt about eagles ...
but I could never remember enough of the dreams to find out what I was
supposed to do. My grandfather told me that if the Wakinyan wanted
something of me, he would let me know. But, whoever dreams of the
Wakinyan ...
< ... becomes a contrary, a sacred clown.>
The Blanket's thought was like a blast of cold air over an exposed nerve.
Suddenly she saw clearly the old heyoka that came to summer camp. He
was decrepit with age but as spry as a boy, since he had been touched by
the Thunder Beings when he was young. Everywhere he went, he walked
on his hands. In summer he wore furs, and in winter, everyone said, he
sweated like a race horse and wore nothing but a breechclout. He was the
finest rider in the camp-he had to be, since he always rode backward. He
said no when he meant yes, bathed in dust to get clean, and jumped in water
to dry off. Wherever he went, he made the people laugh and as her
grandfather often told her, laughter was very sacred, very powerful. In the
years when the people had suffered from disease, starvation, and
persecution, the ability to laugh was sometimes all they had to keep them
going. The heyoka's medicine was always powerful.
But Tesa had never laughed at the old man. Instead, she always felt an
ominous dread whenever he came near. Anyone could become a heyoka
just by having the right dream. When Tesa was young and believed in
magic, she was terrified that someday the Thunder Beings would touch her
and turn her life upside down forever, as they had that sacred old man.
"No one wants to dream of the Thunder Beings," she signed.
Tesa looked at the Avernian for a long moment. "I can't remember. I see a wingtip, as though I'm the Wakinyan looking over my own shoulder. I see the
sky. I see lighting. And I feel afraid. Then, when I saw the Aquila. . .
Tesa nodded. "Deja vu. I wish that's all it was. Everyone talks about the
heyoka's power, but no one wants to walk his path. Lately, I've been nothing but a contrary. People make me angry, and I act pleasant. I don't want to
have ear surgery,
44
but I say I'll have it done in a year. I see the Aquila and feel ... no, I know that they are intelligent, when they are among the most hated, savage creatures
on the whole planet. If that's not contrary, I don't know what
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