After listening for several moments I finally decided that it MUST be music.   But what music!   I had never heard anything quite like it before.   The music I was used to was produced by computers and was esthetically perfect. This music was very different from that.   How do I describe this different music?   It was sweet, yet wild.   It was earthy and throbbing.   It was soulful and driven.   It was all of them at once melding into an unique sound and then every so often one of the sounds would soar above the others in a sweet manic solo track.   And the music was being produced by the oddest assortment of musical instruments I had ever heard grouped together.   There was the elfin skirling of pipes.   There was the sweet, high, clear sounds of horns.   There was the deep throbbing, heartbeat like sounds of drums.   There was the twanging of string instruments that sounded like they were accoustically enhanced somehow.   And threading through it all was the sound of some instrument I had never heard before.   Altogether it was like the songs of angels being joined by epiphany risen human emotions -- and yet it was far too earthy for that at the same time.   What sort of people made music like that?   I had to go closer and see!

   As I came in front of the stockade where I found the entrance located, I saw that there were guards!   Guards?   What were they guarding against?   Puzzled, I stood there a moment in the deep shadow of a large tree and tried to make sense of it.   I could understand why they would have a stockade around the village to keep out wild animals.   But surely the stockade would be enough to deter such ravenous beasts?   Especially since the top of the poles of the stockade looked to be razor sharp.   So, were they guarding against violent entry by members of their own species?   That didn't seem to make sense.   Like I said, there were several less civilized planets in this sector of the galaxy, but I had never heard of one so uncivilized that they preyed upon members of their own species just the same way unreasoning animals would prey upon weaker, less vicious species.   But what other explanation could there be?   All the animals I'd ever heard of, no matter how rapacious, were stymied by a wall topped by razor sharp points.   The only animal I could think of that was intelligent enough to circumvent such a fence was the animal known as man.   Struggling for another possible answer I thought, "Well, perhaps this world has a beast of prey that is smarter than any one previously encountered anywhere else?"   But no matter what the case might turn out to be -- some unknown, really intelligent animal or members of their own species -- if I wanted in, without being seen so I could study the situation at my leisure, I would have to teleport past the guards to escape detection.   And I wanted in.   I wanted to see what sort of people these people were!   So I did.   I teleported in.

   Teleporting, as you know, incorporates clairvoyance.   Without the added element of clairvoyance one would never know where one was going to end up.   With clairvoyance I espied a deserted corner of the village behind a large building and reappeared there.   As soon as I had made certain that no one had noticed my arrival, I crept forward and peered around the corner of the building.   Awash in the magnificent sound coming from the center of the village, I stood there and stared at the sight my eyes beheld.

   The sound, I saw, was coming from a raised platform in front of another large building.   That other large building was way over on the other side of the common area of the village -- on a direct line from where I stood concealed.   On that platform was a group of men and women.   They were playing what had to be primitive musical instruments; instruments that were played directly by human hands, rather than being synthesized by a computer!   And, as I think I already mentioned, they were doing a fabulous job; producing much better results than any computer could ever do.   Granted, the sound was a bit crude in spots, but that crudeness was more than compensated for by the -- for lack of a better term! -- spirit with which it was played.   I stood there a moment or two longer enjoying that fabulous sound, my eyes riveted entirely upon the musicians before I tore my eyes away from them and took a more encompassing look.

   As near as I could tell it was either some kind of pagan celebration or some kind of pagan rite that was going on.   Not having had any first hand experience -- at that point in my life -- with anything pagan, I could not be completely, totally sure of my assessment.   I HAD seen pagan celebrations and rites in anthropolgy holos, however and this affair DID resemble things I had seen in those holos.   So I was reasonably sure that I more or less had it pegged right.

   Dominating the scene was a statue.   This statue was made of some flesh colored stone and was easily 12 feet high.   It was the statue of a man and a woman coupling.   They were kneeling on their knees facing each other.   Right at first I had thought it was a REAL man and a woman.   The detail of the statue was so finely crafted that when I had first laid eyes on it I had thought it WAS two people -- until I realized that they would have to be giants.   And then the rigidity of the couple gave it away too.   No two people could be doing what they were doing and remain that completely still.   Still, the artisian who had created the statue must have been a master amongst masters!   One might almost think that two giants HAD been frozen in time and place rather than a statue being carved.   Ancillary to the statue was a huge bonfire.   That bonfire was casting flickering orange and yellow shadow flames on the statue, highlighting it.   The bonfire was also reflecting it's tongues of fiery light on the dancers -- both women and men -- who were weaving their way in intricate dance steps around the bonfire and around the statue.

   The costumes the dancers were wearing were a spectacle all unto themselves.   In most of the holos I had seen the costumes employed by other primitive cultures in their rites had been representations of god-animals.   The costumes employed here, though, did not seem to represent any such mythological animals. Nowhere in any of the costumes employed here did I see overly large ears, exaggerated fangs, glorified wings or jewel like scales.   Instead these dancers were wearing costumes that seemed to represent some sort of -- for lack of a better explanation -- cosmic/spirtual/psychological event.   Some of the dancers were dressed in pastel white, blue and gold robes that were so gossamer and flowing that they looked like animated clouds.   Others were dressed in heavy black robes that were spangled with silver spots, making them look like the night sky.   Still others were dressed in form fitting pink clothing that made them look infantile somehow.   Intrerspersed in among all these other costumes were costumes that were dazzling, shattering gold, so bright and overwhelming shiny that they looked like animated sunbursts or maybe the advent of some awesome event -- like god-birth.   Then there was the costume that stood out above all the rest for it's singularity and amazing appointments.   All I could think of when I saw that costume weaving its way through the other dancers was the possibility that these people had been visited by my people before -- the Tuatha De Danaan! That costume looked just like what my people wore when we were in formal convention!   The same heavy purple brocade knee length robe with the gold and blue oversmock, the same magnificent halo like headgear that was shimmering and corruscating in just the way our halo headgear did.   And the same calf high boots -- that looked like that were liquid ruby -- that were worn by us.   Everything the same!   Same! Could it be possible that someone had been here before me -- or was it just imgination/serendipity?

   There was no way I was going to answer that question at that moment or any time soon.   So I just filed it away for future asking -- if it came down to that and continued to watch the spectacle as it unfolded to a new high.   If possible the music began to be more frenetic, frantic and earthy.   As the beat of the music began to reach for this new tempo the dancers began to disrobe; slowly at first, but then with increasing frenzy.   Oddly, though, it was -- again for the lack of a better word -- a dignified, almost reverent frenzy.   It was if the dancers had reached a state of glorious, edified, stately ecstasy.   When all of the dancers were naked, couples began to pair off and imitate the statue in the middle of the throng. Everyone had disrobed, that is, except for the dancer dressed like my people.   She just moved through the crowd, seeming as if she were handing out some sort of blessing as she bent down and touched the couples; each and every man and woman on their right shoulders and left hips.   She had just about made her way through the entire crowd when a horrible commotion broke out at the gate of the stockade!   It seemed like I might be going to find out what the guards were for!

   The woman looked up from her task, alarm clearly written on her face.   I thought for a moment that she had gone crazy and was going to ignore the alarm as she too began to remove her costume, but then I saw that she was simply getting down to less restrictive garments.   The only thing she left on from the costume was the ruby boots and that made sense because they would take too long to remove.   Finally she stood there dressed only in loincloth and halter top.   Without wasting another moment she began barking out orders to the crowd who'd been watching the rite.   The crowd responded by hurrying off into the darkness towards the smaller buildings.   The dancers joined the rest of the crowd.   Breaking off their embraces they too disappeared into the darkness, heading for other smaller buildings.   The only ones who did not join the exodus were the musicians.   They held their posts, as it were, but now the tempo of the music they were playing changed.   The music became fierce, sounding like a challenge an assault and an inspiration.   After only a few seconds all the villagers who had darted towards the smaller buildings reapeared, armed to the teeth with lances, spears, bows and arrows, long knives and hatchets.   Even the larger children and the elderly who were able to had armed themselves.   This looked like a very serious affair.   For a moment I was tempted to show myself and ask if I could help somehow, but I didn't want to distract their attention by my sudden, inexplicable presence.   Instead I turned and looked towards the gate waiting to see who or what might appear.   If I had to or needed or wanted too, I'd take a hand.   As soon as I saw what was what.

   The women, clearly some sort of leader, if not THE leader of the village stepped to the head of the gathered throng.   She then barked out more orders.   Those responding to her orders, about forty men and women split up.   About fifteen ran towards the gate, obviously to assist the guards, while the rest of the designated group mounted ladders leading towards positions on a denfensive catwalk surrounding the inside of the stockade.

   I had not noticed that catwalk, being as absorbed as I had been in the "festivities".   Now that I did see the catwalk it was time for me to move!   Surely as they got into their places some of them would see me standing where I was since the larger building I was standing behind was very close to the wall behind me and certainly someone would be posted somewhere near my position.   If they looked down for even only an instant they could not fail to see me -- even if the only light they had was the low light from the moons -- and since I did not at all look like any of them they might shoot first and ask questions later!   Even if I DIDN'T look like whatever enemy they were facing, still they might assume I was a spy in disguise!   I didn't want to get shot at until I saw for sure what was going on!   And I had another concern.   I didn't need to distract them from the real enemy.   If they took the time to shoot at me instead of the real enemy that could be a mistake that might cost them their life.   I did the only thing I could do at that moment.   I stepped inside the larger building and held my breath.   Was I alone?

   After a moment when my eyes adjusted to the ambient light and I could see in the dark as usual, I gave a startled little gasp, which I quickly stifled.   The walls were lined with bodies!   But then I relaxed -- at least somewhat.   None of the bodies were radiating any heat.   They were all dead!   Still it WAS a creepy feeling standing there in a house full of dead people; people who were propped up in little niches in the wall.   Then a thought occurred to me.   Perhaps I had only fooled myself; perhaps they were only statues?   I went closer to the nearest body and tentatively touched it.   It was cold like a statue would be, but the texture of the hand was definitely flesh like, although dry and withered feeling.   What sort of people would mummify their dead and leave them on display like this?   I grappled with the idea for a bit since the Tuatha don't ever really die -- we just get really old.   And after a bit I decided that it was very probable that these people's lives were really short and that they wouldn't want to let go of their ancestors all that quickly.   Keeping them here would be a sort of defiance of nature and a shaming of whatever god or gods they served.   It would be like saying, "Why did you take grandma away from us?   How dare you?   And now we're going to keep her here right in front of your face so that you can think upon what you've done!"

   But then I didn't have any more time for ruminating upon spiritual or sociological matters.   By the sounds of things the fighting had moved into the stockade.   I went to the door, pulled the hide flap aside and peered out.   And was saddened by what I saw.   I had confirmation of one of my earlier theories.

**********************************************************************      

   At this point in her narrative Perki's voice became choked with emotion and she had to stop for a moment to fight for control.

   To fill in the uncomfortable silence, I chattered away for a bit, being the master of the obvious.   "From what you've told us so far it sounds like this people were similar to the Iroquois Nation.   Like the Iroquois they built a stockade around their village, like the Iroquois they had two main long houses -- one for the chief's clan and one for the House of the Dead -- and like the Iroquois they were a matriarchial society.   They even armed and dressed themselves like Indians.   But two differences stand out.   I have never heard of the Iroquois having a ritual like the one you described and the Iroquois kept their mummified dead laying down, not standing up.   So I think we can safely assume --"

   "Stop it, Doc!" Perki cut me off.   She had managed just barely to keep from breaking down and I thought my distraction was at least partly responsible.   But then when I raised my hands in a warding gesture, she did break down.   Between sobs she managed to say, "It was the most horrible thing I ever saw.   Up to this point it was just an intellectual excercise or like seeing a drama on a holo.   But when I saw the invaders come in there and start butchering man, woman and child without mercy and no matter how fiercely the villagers fought back it was suddenly, immediately, horribly real!   I mean these invaders were like killing machines.   They were armed with pistols and rifles; weapons superior to those welded by the villagers.   They were dressed in armor that was impervious to the villager's arrows, hatchets and knives.   They looked more like robots than men!   For a short while I was sure that they WERE robots until I found out different at a later time.   Anyway, the villagers were all going to be slaughtered unless I did something."

   "So what did you do?" Weslee asked, hanging a bit too avidly on her tale I thought.   But then that's Weslee.   Since he is a genetically enhanced human/bear he tends to get that way sometimes -- when his bear nature is ascendant. And it was obvious that this gory tale had brought his bear nature to the forefront.

   Perki gave him a remonstrating look, then said, "I did the only thing I could do! I grabbed the leader, her husband and their child and teleported out of there!"

   "How did you know who to grab in all the confusion, besides the leader I mean?" I asked.

   Once again Perki had composed herself.   It was as if recounting the small victory had soothed her shattered nerves.   "Well, let me explain.   It was simple, really . . . "

*************************************************************************      

   When it became obvious that their cause was lost a man, holding a child's hand stepped up beside the matriarch.   From the look of love that passed between them and the fierce look of determination that passed between them that said if they were going to die they were going to die together, I knew they were man and wife.   And it was obvious the way the woman looked at the child that it was hers. I knew I could not face myself if I let this whole tribe be slaughtered.   I decided that the least I could do would be to save the man and the woman and their child. That way they might be able to rebuild their tribe someday.   Of course I didn't know if this tribe was all there was to their people, but I was going to operate on that assumption for the moment.   Stepping out of my place of concealment, I hurried through the throng of invaders as if they were merely ghosts.   When I reached a position right in front of the couple I flashed.   This blinded the group of invaders who were about to administer the coup de grace on the couple and child.   Under the cover of my flash, I grabbed the three villagers and teleported out of there.   Just before I telported us away from there for what was going to be forever, I finally heard the music stop.   It came to a discordant, wailing, crashing halt.   I heard one last cry of triumph from the invaders and then we were gone.   I thought the death of that music was the saddest thing of all.

   Teleporting is not as easy as it seems like it might be.   I mean, it's not magic.   So when I had carried the trio as far as I could away from the village, I had to stop and set us all back in place.   I had not managed to make it to Edgar, which was where I had wanted to go, but upon reflection, I decided that was all right after all.   They probably weren't ready to see Edgar anyway.   Then we all just stood there and looked at each other for a moment.   At last the woman broke the tableau by falling prostrate at my feet.   The man quickly followed her example.   The child, a girl, I now saw, just started screaming!

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