Left Behind

Two young persons in the clan are having an enthusiastic sexual relationship: they are always sneaking off into the bushes. It seems to be the girl who is the leader in this, though the boy never says no.
This affair has become something of a joke in the clan - despite their best efforts someone always seems to see them going or coming back and give a whistle or a call. The boy just grins, the girl is beginning to become irritated by the attention.

One morning Shidumpush spots them and calls out. He appears to be reminding them the caravan is leaving very soon, but the boy indicates they are just going for a quickie. Shidumpush makes an exasperated gesture and gets back to loading the elephants.

After the caravan has been on the trail about an hour the two appear, trotting up behind to a chorus of whistles. Shidumpush stands and waits for them with a 'come here'. He is evidently not happy, and gives them a lecture.

The nearest stranger gets a translation: they are being told that if anything had happened to them no one would have come back for them. The caravan cannot wait. Traveller Myan, the strangers have already learnt, take this seriously. If you want to relieve yourself, you walk ahead of the caravan before stopping. No one gets out of earshot of others.

That evening Shidumpush stands up and makes an anouncement. He calls on the two young persons to stand up, and says he has decided they need more than a telling off. He has a suitable punishment for them: they are not to speak to or go near each other for a week.

For the next few days the two are subdued, but apart from smouldering looks across the camp fire they don't attempt to disobey, indeed they make every effort to avoid each other. When some children try to tease the girl she loses her temper, runs off - and the children are immediately given a telling off from an adult.

At the end of the week it is the shamen who stands up. He calls the two young persons forward. They look surprised and somewhat apprehensive. He says that people have been saying to him it is time for these two young persons to decide upon their future. He asks for opinions on this.
There is no shortage of them. The rule it seems is that everyone sits and only one person can stand and speak at a time. About half the speakers make jokes, but those that are serious do agree that a change is required.
The girl's mother speaks. "I'm not sure this a good idea at all," she says. That gets everyone's attention.
"My daughter is a very noisy girl, and lazy as well. If she is married, she will only go as far as the nearest bush and no one will get any sleep until she's finished." Her group collapse in laughter. The girl covers her face in embarrassment. The strangers are probably already aware that there is some truth in what she says, but in Nipponese houses with paper walls one normally ignores such things.

When speaking has ended the shamen turns to the couple. "Do you wish to be married?"
They look at each other and everyone holds their breath, but it is an 'I will if you will' and they both agree. As it is by now past sunset the flash of magic is obvious as the shaman casts a spell, and a second of the same colour (pale green). There is a long pause in silence, and then the couple walk off - into the bushes!

If the strangers ask about the magic, they are told the shaman was checking to see if they really meant it, that it was Myan magic.

The following day the couple are inseperable. People come up to them with presents: bangles, earrings, small things. Shidumpush is seen to be talking to people, and that evening there is a reshuffling of groups, not all of which seems to be directly connected with the newlyweds - it dawns on the strangers that that was a Myan marraige. The couple end up not with either set of parents but in a group which includes her aunt, who in the following days sets the wife to work, as does Shiddumpush with the husband. They are now adults.