Silent Dances Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    new project," her father signed, "but he didn't give us any details."
    "This project could be critical to Earth-it could mean Earth receiving full
    credit for a First Contact! That's im--"
    "Couldn't you do that after the surgery?" her mother interrupted.
    Tesa paused, trying to find the right thing to say. Her eyes settled on a mini -
    holo hovering over Dr. Rob's desk. In it, a smiling Mahree Burroughs and
    her eleven-year-old daughter, Claire-Dr. Rob's own little girl-perpetually rode
    an antique carnival ride. It had been Mahree's book, First Contacts, that had
    convinced Tesa to leave Earth, to go to StarBridge, to follow the harder path.
    Fifteen years ago, Mahree and Dr. Rob had followed their own hard path,
    when they abandoned the
    Desiree and, with their Simiu friend, Dhurrrkk', headed for Shassiszss.
    Tesa lowered her head to escape the distraction of the holo, and as she did
    her eagle feathers brushed her face. Tell them how you truly feel, she
    ordered herself.
    But, despite her resolve, when she met their eyes, she signed, Ì'm not sure this surgery is right for me."
    "Sure," AnadaAki agreed, "it must seem scary..
    Tesa forced her gaze to remain steady. "It's not that, Mom. I just don't know if I want to be ... hearing."
    Her mother swallowed, and Dan seemed to grow taller. Ana s igned , "Don't
    you want to hear my voice?"
    With a smile, Tesa answered, "Don't you think I have?" She remembered
    herself as a child in Pretty Woman's lap, her mother's strong arms around
    her, a tune humming through her body. The clarity of the hologram showed
    AnadaAki's eyes slowly fil lling with tears, shattering Tesa's resolve.
    "Mom, don 't cry. I haven't made any decisions." Maybe I'm being selfish, she thought. She really hadn 't examined the issue; she 'd just responded
    emotionally. Don't I owe them that mu ch? "I need to find out more-about the surgery, and the rest," she signed. "And I needed to know how you felt.
    "Have you told the grandparents?"
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    Ana brushed away tears an d t ri ed to smile . " My mother told me not to cry in front of you."
    "Grandfather Bigbee said ," D an signed , " listen to your heart before making a decision that could pull you f ro m your path."
    "That sounds like him," Tesa signed . The old man was fond of saying he looked at things the "Indi an way" when what he me an t w as the harder way. He said it was because he'd been a heyoka - a contrary- when he w as young . He'd go tt en the name Laughing Bear in those days . Tesa had trouble visualizing him as a sacred clown . They' d always scared
    her as a child.
    Her mother looked rueful. " The grandpa re nts also said they love you
    just the way you are. I don't know why I didn ' t think of that until now.
    We do, too , Tesa."
    "And I couldn' t love you an y more th an I do ri ght now."
    " Dr. Gable wa rn ed us you might not be re ady to make a decision ," her father signed . " Find out mo re about that p ro ject and about the surge ry. We'll wait."
    You've been waiting nineteen years now, Tesa thought sadly.
    The smell of fragrant smoke and the hot breath of the rocks surrounded
    Tesa like holy garments , even though she w as outside the sweat
    lodge , not in it. She fli tt ed over its roof, wonde ri ng who w as inside bu rn ing sweet grass . She danced on the air like a gnat , but not a gnat - a li tt le flying thing with shiny wings.
    Caught in a waft of escaping steam, she d ri fted higher, until the tiny
    lodge seemed only a hump of autumn - hued grass against rust - colo
    re d g ro und . The sky w as a mo re vivid blue th an she ' d ever seen , even over the endless plains of home.
    Suddenly the air was re nt with jagged st re aks of white-hot lightning . It w as the Wakinyan, throwing their power around. The ter ri fied gnat couldn't see the Thunder Beings , but then, no one ever saw the fierce
    gi an ts clearly , even in d re ams.
    The Wakinyan opened their mouths an d thunder ro lled out, but of
    course , Tesa couldn ' t hear it.