THE SHAMAN'S LAST RAID

Ebon and Melody Strange, twins, are present day, off-the-reservation Apaches. They are happy, well adjusted, unselfconscious Indians. Then their unreconstructed great- grandfather decides to leave the reservation and spend the summer with them. He has never left the warpath. His coming coincides with the arrival of a TV crew who wish to use the New Mexico town as a backdrop. Great-grandfather is product conscious -- if it isn't Indian, he won't eat, wear it or stay in it. He fascinates the twins and sets out to educate them Indian style. His dearest wish is to go on one more raid. Unwittingly, the TV crew abet his determined attempt at one long, last rustle -- the twins his reluctant helpers. Amusing and touching at one and the same time, the story's additional merits include a fine family portrait and the gradual recognition on the part of Ebon that everyone must decide ""what kind of an Indian"" he is going to be.