Shoshone Station: The Galactic Consortium season 2

Episode 9: Asha-Tanga #14

Jake would have thought Mike would be bored spending most the day watching temple dancing, but when he, Chatura and Abioya caught up with the others at the temple that afternoon, nothing could have been further from the truth. He had seen a ritualized martial- arts dance and couldn't wait to tell Jake about it, leaping around and kicking out in a crude imitation.

Jamie was equally impressed with the dancing. She'd talked Mom into buying her a small data cube with videos of some of the great dancers of the past, including a couple dances by the Princess Sarasvat, recorded nearly forty thousand years ago when she had been little more than a girl and a temple dancer at the Temple of the Mother. No larger than Jamie was, the princess had already shown a precocious self-confidence and grace in the short video.

Chatura informed his father that they had the supplies for that night's cookout, and they all got into line under two massive statues of the Mother, one dancing and one holding a baby to her breast.

While they waited, Chatura explained, "This is the fountain where we can get our eggs. Each egg contains a necklace with a symbol on it."

"The symbols supposedly tell your fortune," Dhanesha said with a skeptical look. "If you believe such things."

"You got 'Paying the past' last year," Dhakshana said. "And look, you got that promotion for your hard work."

"And if I hadn't gotten it, you would have imagined some mistake I made years ago having caused me to be overlooked and the fortune would be as true," Dhanesha said. He waved her reply away. "I am not wanting to start a debate. I am just saying, take it how you want. Your fortune for the coming year or a fun custom from the past. But let us not lead our new guest to think we are victims of blind faith, or encourage the same."

"You and your skepticism," Dhakshana said without any real ire.

The fountain was large, and at the center, a statue of woman sat in a meditative pose, one hand held in benediction. Supplicants approached one by one. They bowed to the fountain, and a priestess placed a few drops of water on their forehead while another presented an oversized artificial blue egg.

The eggs broke easily between the palms and revealed small gold necklaces. There was a trash container to one side for the remains as each person left.

Jake felt self-conscious as he approached the fountain and bowed. The egg, close up, was a blue world: Earth. He held it between his palms as he had seen others do. It broke easily, being some sort of plaster. He took his necklace and put the trash in the container.

Dhakshana was reading their fortunes for them. "I got the princess's ghost," Jamie said as he came up. She showed him her necklace, which had some symbol on it that meant nothing to him.

"'Unrequited love,'" Dhakshana said. "But in Jamie's case, I think it's with the princess herself. She was quite taken with the story and the dancing." To her mom, she added, "She will obsess over dancing and princesses for most of the year, but little will come of it."

Cynthia snorted. Jamie already obsessed over those things. "And mine?" she asked, holding out her necklace for inspection.

"'Walking toward the mountain,'" Dhakshana said. "There will be much hard work in your coming year, with little results this year, but it will all pay off eventually."

"Appropriate," Cynthia muttered. Jake gave her a questioning look. "Kelly wants me and Sherry to go to Shoshone with her on spring break. Take our education exams, see about school in the Consortium when we graduate. I've got some basic stuff on my slate. Hopefully, I will rate well." She gave Mom a look. "It's just there aren't jobs back home these days."

"I understand," Mom said. "And I agree, it's a great plan." Her eyes misted over. "It's just . . . my babies are growing up."

"You still got me," Jamie protested, sliding her hand into Mom's.

"And me!" Mike said.

"Go on, let's see what you got," Cynthia prompted, and Jake held out his necklace. It was a stylized blade with writing swirling around it.

Dhakshana gave him a sharp look.

"What?" he asked.

"'The emperor's blade,'" she said in a whisper. "Big changes. Danger. Be cautious; you have a powerful fortune there."

Jake stared at the necklace. Did he truly believe it?

"Don't worry, I got Atuylan himself," Chatura said, holding out his necklace. "'The wise advisor.' I'll help you out." He grinned at Jake, and Jake laughed out loud. The feeling of dread vanished. It was just an old custom. And a pretty cool piece of jewelry, to boot. He put the necklace over his head, and they headed for the exit, each talking about their fortunes.

Supplicants got their eggs for free, but there was a place outside that sold them as well, and Mom bought a small case for friends at work. She also bought one done in glass with nothing inside, because she loved the design so much.

"They do a new design every year, and each temple has its own. Lots of people collect them," Dhanesha said to her.

"Whatever next year brings," Mom said as they arrived back at the compound and Dhanesha sat to work on their night's cookout, "this has been a pretty good year." She smiled and took Jake's hand as she said it.

"Better move under the roof," Chatura called to Mike. "The rain will start in a few minutes."

Watching the rain pour down just outside their shelter and listening to the fish sizzle on the grill, the aroma mixing with the tropical flowers, Jake couldn't help but agree.