There are many Indian sites north of the 30th parallel, and not all of them have been abandoned by their original inhabitants. Most of those are on reservations, but many of the smaller ones simply are - there, still inhabited by the shrunken remnants of once-proud Peoples.
Bennu thought the site he was at was deserted. It wasn't. Two young adults of the local tribe watched from a distance as he approached a mound, carefully inspected the outer face, and entered it.
"John Running Deer, your legs are faster than mine. I do not know if this stranger means us any harm or not, but the elders must be alerted."
As John sped off, Dave Hawkeyes, flitting from cover to cover, cautiously approached. The stranger - for ease, Dave thought of him as "Cloudskin" because of his remarkable lack of skin color - repeated the performance at a second mound, then approached a third. Dave waited.
Cloudskin noticed a white eagle feather placed at the entrance and stopped. He seemed to stare briefly into the entrance, then turned, saluted the Sun, and walked to the next mound.
Surely Cloudskin must have heard his gasp, though he seemingly took no notice. That a white man would have bothered to study the tribe's religion well enough to recognize the symbolism was astonishing. That he would respect the holy site was unheard of. But that he would perform - apparently with the reverence the site was due - the proper ceremony was a mystery far beyond rational explanation. For that matter, the ritual was secret. Unless he'd been spying - and he hadn't, not with Dave and others like him watching the site - how could he even know what to do?
Bennu smiled. He'd quickly become aware of Dave's presence, and telepathy made such surprises easy to perform. Anyway, it never did harm to honor a site holy to The Light that filled the World, no matter what name It was given.
He sensed the approach of other tribal members and began using one of his mental powers. He radiated an aura of peace, friendship, and trust - we would call it giving off "good vibes" - literally.
The group rode up - some on horseback, others in Jeeps. Though some had, as Bennu expected, brought weapons, the aura was working. None had been drawn - yet.
He stood calmly, his arms at his sides, awaiting them.
Dave staggered up to one man on horseback and began talking so fast that all that could be understood was "Father, father!"
His father spoke: "Dave, slow down. What happened?"
Dave: "He knows, he knows! He stopped at the Sacred Mound and Saluted the Sun! Then he walked away."
The group murmured in astonishment - and respect. Though they, sadly, had all too many reasons to mistrust white men, they weren't bigots, and recognized a friend when they met one.
Dave's father spoke. "You are unlike the others who come here. Our chief would like to speak with you."
Bennu: "I am honored." It would have been most impolite to ask a rider to lend him his mount, so Bennu had to settle for a ride in the back of a Jeep. Too bad, those horses were beautiful animals, and well taken care of!
Soon they were settled about what, when the Sun went down, would be a large campfire. Chief Stronghand asked Bennu his name and purpose. Bennu replied, explaining his "belief" in contact between Indians and ancient astronauts. He removed the Sign he carried from his backpack and explained its significance.
Stronghand: "What else do you carry with you?"
Bennu handed over his backpack and the chief began his examination. His touch was gentle enough to handle a dried butterfly without breaking a wing, and his sight, even through 65-year-old eyes, was still keen. He found the pouch and held it up. "Indian make, though I do not recognize the tribe. How did you come by it?"
Bennu: "It holds Mindsmoke powder. Handle it carefully, it once held a sacred amulet of a great Healer of a People far away. He had no other container to spare, and, out of gratitude for my aid to him, gave me the powder that I might contact him in time of great need."
Chief Stronghand was a descendent of great leaders and had inherited some of their talent as a Sensitive. "You speak the truth." He ceased his inspection and returned all the items to Bennu's pack. Then he spoke to the tribe: "This man is a true friend of the People. Let us enjoy his presence!"
Bennu, who had been busy reading minds and emotions, made a decision. These People would do.
Stronghand: "You aided a Healer, so you must be one yourself. Strange for one of your race to be one - white men usually trust only their machines." (Bennu smiled. Not so strange for an Eldebrani!) "But tell me, Bennu, how did you know the site was holy?"
Bennu: "As you say, I am a Healer. All Healers are Sensitives - they must be, to function."
Stronghand: "A Sensitive, a Healer, and - you knew the exact ceremony - a thought-hearer! You are the Healer from the Stars you spoke of earlier! But why did you worship at our holy site?"
Bennu: "All religions who seek what we call "The Light that fills the World" are true, so one may worship at any of their holy sites. Besides, as you have guessed, I am a very long way from home - and my holy sites."
Stronghand: "I had not thought of that! But what do you seek from our site?"
Bennu: "My Partner. There was - an accident - during my Awakening, and I only know that she is in an Indian site on this continent. I need her to fulfil our Mission."
By now, night had fallen and the fire had been lit.
Two teenage boys had heard much of the conversation. "Thought-hearers" and aliens from space indeed! And that senile old fool of a chief was falling for it. They were "modern" Indians - disparaging those who used the native tongue or practiced traditional ceremonies. They wanted the freedom - and "coolness" - that motorcycles brought. That pouch Bennu had would fetch a nice price in town. One reached into his backpack and removed it.
Bennu had chosen his People, and a little shock effect would do no harm. Besides, he genuinely was angry about the irreverence shown to the pouch. Healers have many talents. Some get used very rarely, if at all, on Eldebran, but they still exist. Channeling the rather substantial force of his personality through his medallion was one of the more dramatic ones.
First he hit the campfire with a carefully crafted Sunbolt. It exploded into a column of twisting flame a hundred feet or more tall as most of the fuel was consumed in a matter of seconds. Still controlling the flames, he gave a mental roar of anger: //Thieves! Profaners of the Sacred! Return what you have stolen!//
The fire column died back, leaving only a "spotlight" effect on the guilty parties. They were caught, if one pardons the pun, "red-handed". They returned the pouch and sat down very quietly. They knew they were in BIG trouble!
Stronghand: "They have shamed our whole tribe in front of you! How shall I punish them?"
Bennu: "Do not be harsh. I'm quite sure they will abandon their foolish notions." He looked at them.
Though they hung their heads in shame, they had hope. Bennu sounded like he just might let them off lightly. Anyway, they weren't about to get anybody mad at them again. Especially Bennu!
Bennu: "Especially, nothing. You obey the chief and your parents!"
Two very quiet "Yes, sir's" later, Bennu relaxed. "I forgive them. They supplied an unexpected opportunity for the demonstration of a lesson, for I have chosen your People. Do you have a Healer? If so, I would speak with him." (Of course, he had detected the mind of a Healer - he never would have chosen this People otherwise - but politeness required him to ask the question.)
Stronghand: "Light-touch is his name. He is nearly 80, but still of sharp mind. Alas, we can find no one willing to be his apprentice."
Bennu smiled. His "lesson" had had a variety of purposes ...
Stronghand summoned Light-touch. He and Bennu spoke briefly, partially in telepathy. Though Light-touch couldn't actually read ordinary minds, communication between Sensitives is much easier, and Bennu soon explained who he was. His first spoken question still startled Light-touch, though.
Bennu: "Can you make Mindsmoke powder?"
Light-touch: "I had not thought of that for many decades. When I was an apprentice I had learned how to use it, but before my training had gone much further, an Evil wind reached out of the sky and killed many of our People, our Healer among them."
Bennu sighed. He was as familiar with that phenomenon as he wished to be! "I have some with me. I will use it to contact the Healer of another People - perhaps he will tell us how to make more."
He kindled half the precious powder and focused on the smoke. As promised, Osiron's image appeared. //Friend Bennu, how may I help you?//
Bennu: //I am with another tribe who needs help. Can you - will you - teach us how to make more Mindsmoke powder?//
Bennu put his hand on Light-touch's shoulder. Osiron quickly transmitted the ingredients and preparation. Speech would never have been quick enough, but mind-to-mind contact, especially to Bennu, was fast enough, and he had all the information stored away, and had even relayed any missing data to Light-touch, before the powder burned out.
Bennu remained with the tribe for several days - it took a while to find and prepare all of the ingredients, and he wanted to make sure the powder worked, for one thing.
Jeff and George, the two disgraced teenagers, had been assigned various menial jobs as part of their punishment. Jeff, as the actual thief, had the responsibility of doing what the two Healers wanted, and he had never worked harder in his life than finding all the strange ingredients they demanded. THEN he had to prepare them! And with great exactness - once he was careless in grinding a plant and was promptly sent out to find more, on a hot and humid day. Then he got caught in a thunderstorm! He learned to pay careful attention to instructions after that one.
Light-touch kindled the powder and, with Bennu's help, focused on Osiron. It worked! It was hard to decide who was more pleased - Bennu, Osiron - who now had something more useful to do than guard an almost empty ruined site from a defeated enemy - Light-touch, or, most surprisingly, Jeff.
He didn't even have an Indian last name. He blurted out: "I didn't know our culture could do anything better than the white man!"
Bennu: "You are all too typical. Do not ignore modern society - it has much that is useful in it - but it is far out of balance with both itself and Nature. Nor should traditions be blindly accepted, as some have become outmoded, but there is much wisdom in them. After all, many have lasted for centuries or longer."
Jeff: "I would be a Healer, if it is permitted."
Bennu: "Permitted is not the question. Ability is. Do you think you have that?"
Jeff: "I have something! I've always been 'lucky' at avoiding danger and finding things. I just 'knew' where to go - or not go."
Light-touch: "That is so. How do we test him?"
Bennu lit some of the powder Jeff had worked so hard to help prepare. "Show us!"
Jeff produced a variety of images in it - he really was a natural at using it! However, he was smitten by a young maiden of the tribe, and his depiction of her was both anatomically correct and nude.
Bennu: "That's exactly what we mean. You ask for a heavy responsibility, but you do not take it seriously."
Jeff: "Sorry."
Bennu: "You realize that if we accept you, you can't suddenly decide: 'This is too much work - I quit!' or 'Well, I'm off to the city on my motorcycle for the next two weeks'. This is for life! And the tribe will depend on you. One moment of carelessness or distraction can be fatal to someone you're trying to help."
Jeff hadn't thought about some of what he was letting himself in for. Still, the whole tribe would respect him. And, work though it certainly would be, he really did enjoy using his mental powers. He spoke slowly: "I understand what I'm getting into. I choose to do it."
Bennu spoke to Light-touch. "He has the Talent, and he does mean what he says. I think you've found your apprentice."
Light-touch: "Long have I had my eye on him, but I feared he was lost to us as so many of our young are. Bennu, we owe you much." (to Jeff) "You must now take an Indian name. Think long before deciding, as it will be yours for the rest of your life."
Jeff: "That's easy! I would be known as 'Smokesinger'."
Light-touch: "You have chosen wisely, my apprentice. But we must have a ceremony - fortunately, I remember the one I went through so many years ago! Come, let us tell the chief the good news."
The tribe decided to hold a simplified Initiation ceremony. Few remembered the old rituals, and most of the ceremonial objects and clothing would have to be remade, too. And Light-touch was 80 years old. Best to get Smokesinger's training started and save the big ceremony for its completion. And Smokesinger promised to use the Mindsmoke to invite Bennu to that event! (Bennu felt deeply honored - it would take more that Yago to keep him away from that!)
Since the New Moon - the symbol of beginning - was in only about ten days, Bennu decided to risk a "close encounter of the worst kind" and remain until the Initiation was completed. Besides, it let him enjoy his hobby of studying real Indian magic.
In addition, the knowledge would be most useful. He dared not actually put it into practice - he was a SunChild, and medicine magic used the Power of Channeling. Mixing Powers often had unpredictable side effects, and "unpredictable" was almost certain to be disastrous to the recipient of the Healing! However, he could certainly teach it to suitable Earth humans.
So the days passed - at least he could safely experiment with Mindsmoke. He was surprised at the lack of precise control he had over it - Powermixing really did have unpredictable effects. Good thing he had had to do nothing more with it than create an image of himself (the bear might have been too unrealistic to fool Premminger) and focus on the familiar mind of Osiron! Still, he did get steadily better at using it.
As the new Moon rose in the evening sky, the tribe held its ceremony. Bennu watched with pride - it was, after all, his first major success.
Light-touch Smiled. He was the only person in the tribe - and one of the few on the planet - who had enough control over his mind to be able to plan a surprise for Bennu - and, though even he dared not think too much about it, he had managed to keep it a secret.
The ceremony had just reached its climax, and Bennu was quite surprised to suddenly hear his name being called from the platform - so surprised that he wasn't even sure if it was by voice or telepathy. He hesitantly started towards it, and only resumed his normal stride after specifically being signaled to come forward by Light-touch.
Light-touch: "We are all children of the Creator. He goes by many names in this world of ours - and even more throughout the Universe. One such name is "The Light That Fills the World/The Light That Is Love", and that is the name our friend Bennu knows Him by.
"Bennu's People have sent him across vast reaches of space to this planet on a Mission - what it is, we do not know. In an act of unlooked-for mercy, The Light has caused Bennu to find us, and then Bennu has restored to us our dignity and pride, and given us hope for the future. Let us honor He who loves us and he who has helped us."
As Bennu listened to Light-touch's words, he first felt - yes, embarrassed. He was, after all, just doing the job he was suited and trained for, and Eldebrani Adults weren't fussed over for doing their jobs. But then, as the waves of gratitude from the tribe swept over him, he understood the true fulfilment in being a Missionary Healer. Not his Mission - that was his job. But this - this made all of the genuine problems of serving on a world of Immatures worth it! He embraced Light-touch and Smokesinger in turn, and his eyes filled with tears of joy.
Stronghand, too, was overjoyed. But still, he was curious. "Bennu, why have you done this for us?"
Bennu: "I am a Healer. Have I not helped a whole group? Obviously, The Light directed my steps to you. But I sensed that it would take relatively little to bring your People back into balance. My work here is finished for now. Now that you have an ample supply of Mindsmoke powder, Osiron will help teach your Healer and his apprentice. Now I must leave to continue my search for my Partner. We will return, though, to finish our Mission here."
Stronghand was puzzled. "What more can you do for us?"
Bennu: "My People are a Mature race. We hope to bring that Maturity to as many of Earth's people as we can in the time we have. I know now that it is only possible with a group who is in harmony with themselves and Nature, and for that, a Healer is necessary."
Stronghand: "Could we not simply be left in the peace that you have made possible?"
Smokesinger's eyes grew wide with understanding. Looking directly into Bennu's, he stepped forward and placed a hand on Stronghand's shoulder. "I do not know if Bennu wants me to say this or not, but, as he has taught me, my loyalty is first to my People. I have seen him use the Mindsmoke many times in the last several days, and I have seen shapes form in it - shapes that come from the sky! I think what Bennu means is that we will not be allowed to be left alone."
Bennu: "Truly, you will have a great Healer. Smokesinger is more perceptive than even I thought. Alas, he is right. We were sent to Earth to prepare it for Contact. The race who will visit is not evil, but they are - careless - about their effect on the Immature. You know how easily panic can start and spread. We hope to help this planet avoid some of the disasters that have befallen others.
"One must start someplace. 'The longest journey starts with a single step,' is, I believe, how it is put. To help billions, we start with a few hundred. But those few hundred are one small step for Man -"
Smokesinger broke in and finished the line: "But a giant leap for Mankind. But I thought we were supposed to be the explorers, not the explored!"
Light-touch gave Bennu a larger pouch of the powder. Bennu then used the rest of what Osiron had given him to says his good-byes.
Osiron: //Friend Bennu, how can I thank you for giving my life meaning and purpose again?//
Bennu: //By helping others, as you are doing with this People. I am done with your pouch now, and will return it when I can. Strange how your kindness has led to such great things, but The Light works in subtle ways.//
Osiron: //You may keep it. It has indeed served a purpose far greater than as a mere container for an amulet. May the Light bless you and your Mission.//
Bennu prepared to leave, and this time, he felt he had earned a horseback ride. The chief and several other members rode along with him. He'd stayed as long as he dared in one place ...
A voice - Smokesinger's - rang in his mind. //Your enemies approach!//
Bennu Mindspoke back: //Surely you remember Osiron's methods. I'm sure you can be at least as creative.//
Smokesinger smiled. It was a rare opportunity for a sanctioned practical joke.
Premminger and company approached the Indian camp. There he found another medicine man staring at him. He was quite unaware that this one had an apprentice and didn't notice a thin sheet of Mindsmoke spreading over the ground and past him and the team.
Suddenly the smoke rose up and stubbornly wrapped itself around each of them. They couldn't see anything but a white mist. Smokesinger manipulated the cocoons of mist to appear as brighter in one direction, and each man stumbled "towards" that brightness. Soon they were standing by a pond of noxious water - the tribal cesspool. A few of the braves walked up behind the agents and shoved, and it was the white, not the red men who said "UGH!" - and a lot more, too!
Jose had the last word. "Justin, repeat after me 'it's only hypnosis' and keep swimming. One of these days, we're going to meet somebody who plays rough!"
Copyright August 6, 2000 Three Cheeks Productions (Richard Kaplan)