The Chief stepped out of his longhouse with his friend by his side and walked to the temple. A number of guards accompanied him as he left the house. The villagers who saw him, bowed to him and greeted him as he walked past them. They marched, climbed the stairs of the temple and stopped at the top. He turned to face the people. The people were going about their business, thinking of it as one of his routine visits to the temple.
"O my people hear me!", he called out to his people. Everyone stopped whatever they were doing and filled the square in front of the temple. The handful of apprentices that tended the temple, came out as they heard the call. Even the villagers that were at home, were told by their friends that something big was coming. The villagers expected something about the blasphemer and were restless to hear about his fate. They had another thing coming.
"I carry the burden of the duty to decide what is best for my people even if the decision hurts me. I had a vision last night that our previous Shamans came to me and they told me that our beloved Shaman has served his purpose and the gods want him to rest", the chief continued as he showcased what he had learned from the Shaman over the years. The people were puzzled. There were murmurs in the crowd. "But how can they depose him in the middle of a task?", a villager spoke out and the others endorsed the question. "They want this task to be his last", the chief expertly responded. People were still uneasy. "Why didn't they wait until his return?", another one asked and the question was again endorsed as the people silenced themselves to listen to what the chief had to say.
"My people, the gods are not satisfied with our beloved Shaman. I did not want to break this to you but you leave me no choice", the chief delivered the hefty blow and the crowd gasped. There were still some puzzled faces, trying to figure out why the gods were not happy with their longest serving Shaman. "Don't you see? None of our blasphemers had ever managed to escape yet this one still eludes us. The gods don't want the Shaman to catch him. Our beloved Shaman is now cursed", he continued and the people were convinced. The faces of the villagers asked another question in unison, "Now what?".
"The revered Shamans pointed me in the direction. They have given you your next Shaman. Behold!", he declared and gestured to his friend standing behind him. Some of the villagers recognized him. Whenever the Shaman was too busy to tend to their diseased, the villagers visited the healer in the wolf tribe who now stood with the chief. The villagers still seemed confused. The guest of the chief closed his eyes, looked up in the sky and held the cane in the air. The murmurs of the people silenced. He started to mumble. They all had their eyes on him. The mumbling became more and more audible. Baka was confused.
"The Gods have forgiven Tai! They want him to give up the earthly duties and prepare to join them on the other side. Prosperity is at the door! The children will no longer be punished!", he suddenly shouted. The chief was shocked and the people rejoiced. There were chants celebrating the new Shaman. The guest held both his hands high above his head, jumping and rotating like a top. During all the celebration, the chief kept eyeing his friend with a smirk on his face. His friend noticed it and smiled back.
"I'm afraid that's the only language they seem to understand", he whispered to the chief and shrugged. The apprentices were astounded with the development but they knew better than to interfere in matters above them. They stepped up and greeted the new Shaman, kissed his hand and feet, and they knew immediately that they would be treated better from now on. The new Shaman raised his hands to silence the crowds. The crowd calmed and listened.
"Tomorrow we hold the ritual to welcome our new Shaman in the temple", declared the Chief.