Sing — Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Dirk wants to learn how to sing like the natives, but they have no word for singing nor a concept of it. Until Dirk tries to show a young child her people's beautiful music. Intrigued, she offers to help -- only to discover that teaching Dirk to sing could cost her everything.

Like early Ray Bradbury, Rusch has the ability to switch on a universal dark.
-- the London Times