Alan Dean Foster Cyber way

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told it is a little more intense here than some other places. We have unique
problems of cultural as well as fiscal disenfranchisement.
"It helps that every major high-tech corporation in the world would like to do
work here. It took them a while to discover that the people of the Four
Corners region are the best high-tech workers on the planet. There are plants
here that literally turn out zero-defect product. Combine those human
resources with the unique tax advantages available to multinationals on the
Rez and you have a combination irresistible to many companies. Our street
people and our problems reflect this influx of outside influence and money."
So did the ethnic mix that swarmed the walkways, Moody noted. Between the
Indians and Asians and
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Hispanics, Anglos were a distinct minority here, just as they were in parts of
Tampa. It did not bother him. He'd been in the minority
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Alan Dean Foster all his life. Fat people were an unrecognized minority all
their own.
He had to agree that this would be a tough town to police. You'd need
specialists in a whole range of languages and cultures. Tampa's ethnic mix of
Anglo, Black, and Hispanic was much more straightforward, whereas Ganado was a
seething southwestern bouillabaisse.
"Your people aren't restricted to assembly work, though?"
"Oh, no. We own our share, individually and through the Council Enterprises.
You can always tell if a building is Navaho-owned. Whether it is an apartment
building, office complex, shopping tower or private home, the entrance will
always face east." He hesitated. "I am sorry. This is a lot for you to absorb
all at once, and you just got off the plane."
"No problem."
"Well, you won't meet many Hopis, so don't worry about that. They have their
own commercial center over at Seba Delkai. The Zunis stick mostly to New
Mexico. But if you have trouble with any
Navaho, just smile and say 'doo ahashyaa da.'"
"Do a hashee dun," Moody essayed. Ooljee repeated the phrase slowly and
carefully until he was sure Moody had it reasonably correct.
"What am I saying?" Moody asked him.
"It will tell people that you are a stranger here, not to be feared, and in
need of assistance. I
assure you they will be instantly sympathetic. Few Anglos make any attempt to
learn Navaho. This will endear you to anyone you meet. It is a useful greeting
phrase, though not readily translatable. Just like yatahey is Navaho for
shalom."
"Say what?"
"Never mind. Just stick with doo ahashyaa da and you will be okay no matter
who you meet."
"Except for the guy we're after."
CYBER UJflY
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"Yes. I do not think he will be instantly sympathetic to anyone. I would give
a great deal to know if we are dealing with someone medically certifiable."
"I doubt it. A nut wouldn't be able to hide his tracks this well."
"Not necessarily. A sane person is somewhat predictable. A crazy one is not.
He could be more difficult to locate because of that."
"Unless some other sandpainting collector gets himself blown away." Moody
nodded out the window.
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"I've seen some paintings in a few storefronts, haven't I?"
Ooljee nodded. "Downtown is the center of the important tourist and shopping
areas. It would be unusual if you had not seen any sandpaintings by now."
"Nobody uses the patterns for anything else? Advertising, maybe?"
"Oh, no. That would be like making underwear out of the American flag.
Eye-catching but unsettling. It is interesting that even those who insist they
are completely modern and do not believe in the old ways would never do such a
thing. It might make your business go bust or your building fall down. The one
per cent uncertainty factor, remember?
"Here is something else you might find of interest."
Ooljee switched off the laser pickup and resumed manual control of the truck,
turning left and heading down an incline into a natural basin in the plateau.
Ancient trees lined a stream through which water ran lazily. The land had been
turned into a park, preserving the old trees and a cluster of aged buildings.
Rocks had been sculpted into pleasing shapes or benches on which old people
and young couples relaxed.
"This is what remains of old Ganado. This is what all this country used to
look like. The only silicon and gallium arsenide at this spot is in the
ground. Not that anybody uses that stuff much anymore anyway. The park
idealizes things a little but I have seen old two-D pictures of the area.
The
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Rlan Dean Foster simulation is accurate." He pointed to his left, at a hill
fringed with gleaming towers.
"They even saved the old Hubbell Trading Post. It occupies the lobby of the
new one on Betatkin
Boulevard." He sat staring at the unhurried stream, the couples wandering
along its modest banks.
"Have you got a place to stay?"
Moody shook his head.' 'My department told me to check in anywhere
comfortable."
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"I see. Then you will of course stay with me."
"Hey, no chance! First off you probably don't have a bed that'll fit me."
"I think we can manage something, if you don't mind sleeping a little on the
diagonal." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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