Secret intelligence from afar

Takoda took the letter bearing the State Government's official seal, opened it, and skimmed it. Delight welled up in him. He looked up at the young hunter and said, "Awan, there's hope for the tribe."

Awan's eyes held nothing but disappointment and anger. When Takoda reached toward him, he warily backed away two steps.

Takoda sighed and lowered his hand. "I'll bring hope back with me."

He walked a few steps to fetch his horse. A sudden whistle cut through the air, and he glanced back. An eagle-feather arrow was embedded in the earth behind him.

Awan shouted at him, "Don't ever come back!" Then he drew his bow again and said angrily, "I'll shoot you dead, traitor!"

Takoda shook his head. He would not abandon his beliefs over this. Though no one in the tribe understood him, that was because they had seen too little and their horizons were too narrow. It was not their fault. He did not blame them.

He had always worked for the sake of his entire people, striving to communicate with the Federation. He had taught himself its language, could fluently recite all manner of standard laws, and embraced the lofty ideals it proclaimed. Despite suffering discrimination and humiliation time after time, despite his own people's failure to understand him, he had never abandoned his beliefs.

He believed that as long as he could demonstrate his worth, he would eventually win recognition. They, too, could become civilized people.

At three in the afternoon, he arrived at a small town with a population of over ten thousand. By car, it was only two hours from Central City.

The reply had said the State Government would send an official to discuss the matter with him, so he had made a point of changing into a brand-new