Downslope, I could feel the waves of magic spun off by the Dance. My stomach knotted and churned; my bowels felt like they were full of ice water. Frag it, I had to do something . I had to gamble. Maybe if I dropped Pohaku—and managed not to get Akaku'akanene geeked in the process—the shaman could shield me from the guardian spirits while I made a run for the Dancers ... I took a deep, energizing breath, locating my assault rifle precisely in my peripheral vision. I wouldn't have much time to do it right. I tensed ...