The Labors of Ki'shto'ba Huge-Head: Volume Six: The Revenge of the Dead Enemy

By Lorinda J Taylor

In this final volume of The Labors of Ki’shto’ba Huge-Head, the Quest ship makes its way westward, passing the Point of the Monster and heading into uncharted seas. The Questers visit the fortress of Thai’no’no’gwai, where to their astonishment they find an entire citizenry composed only of female Alates. After barely escaping with their lives, Is’a’pai’a, Ki’shto’ba, and the Companions make off with a fertile female, who becomes Mother to the ship’s fertile male Vak’wum’a.
Following a peaceful interlude at the fortress of No’chet Li’lo’akh, the pace intensifies. One of the Companions is lost in a battle with pirates. Later, at the fortress of Kwi’thaim’chet, Ki’shto’ba experiences the second unexpected sorrow that was foreseen in the World Beneath, while Ti’a’toig’a the Twin is forced to fight a battle to the death.
The Questers arrive next at an island where an aged Seer is imprisoned, and Ki’shto’ba must engage an old foe in a final confrontation. The Huge-Head is victorious, but it is gravely injured. Even as its body is beginning to heal, certain prophecies are fulfilled, bringing the Labors of Ki’shto’ba Huge-Head to an unexpected and tragic end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lorinda J Taylor
• Release date: Oct 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310336874

Lorinda J Taylor

A former catalogue librarian, Lorinda J. Taylor was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and worked in several different academic libraries before returning to the place of her birth, where she now lives. She has written fantasy and science fiction for years but has only recently begun to publish. Her main goal is to write entertaining and compelling fiction that leaves her readers with something to think about at the end of each story.

Book preview

1

THE LABORS OF KI’SHTO’BA HUGE-HEAD

Volume VI

THE REVENGE OF THE DEAD ENEMY

by

Lorinda J. Taylor

This is a work of fiction. All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Similarities to certain mythological subjects and events are intentional.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return toSmashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The person responsible for the existence of this book in the 21st century wishes to acknowledge her debt to two sources:

First, to Robert Graves and his impressive compilation entitled The Greek Myths. The points of view and the comprehensive information contained therein helped to make this series possible.

Second, to Dr. Timothy G. Myles, whose amazing website taught me most of what I know about termites.

L. J. T.

Cover illustration (Mor’gwai Passes Dan’ki’no’dai – Point of the Monster) drawn by Lorinda J. Taylor.

Copyright © 2014 by Lorinda J. Taylor

Note to the Smashwords Edition

The print edition of this tale includes two black and white maps. Partly because the small e-reader format would most likely render this map illegible, the 21st-century presenter has omitted them here. They can be found online at http://termitespeaker.blogspot.com and the reader is welcome to print or download them from that source.

Because of difficulties in linking the footnotes in both directions, the presenter decided to distribute them throughout the text rather than placing them at the end of the book. A double dagger [‡] marks each note, which is then placed at the end of the paragraph. This seems to be the lesser of several evils, ensuring that readers have an opportunity to view the note without overly disrupting the flow of the reading.

L.J.T.

Table of Contents

Note to the Smashwords Edition

Facsimile of the 30th-Century Title Page

List of Characters

Translator’s Foreword

Chapter 1: The Quest for the Golden Fungus Launches

Chapter 2: A Stopover at Hwai’ran’chet

Chapter 3: The Point of the Monster

Chapter 4: Sailing to the Islands of the West

Chapter 5: The Free Alates of Thai’no’no’gwai

Chapter 6: Parthenogenesis

Chapter 7: Escape

Chapter 8: Young Lovers

Chapter 9: The Last Mighty Ground

Chapter 10: A Holy Chamber Is Founded

Chapter 11: Is’a’pai’a’s First Great Blunder

Chapter 12: The First Loss

Chapter 13: The Second Unexpected Sorrow

Chapter 14: The Fortress of First Island

Chapter 15: Za’vu’yak’a

Chapter 16: The Contest on the Cliff of Fear

Chapter 17: The Island of the Marshy Hole

Chapter 18: Ki’shto’ba Finishes an Old Battle

Chapter 19: Poison

Chapter 20: A Last and First Prophecy

Chapter 21: Path of the Spirits

Chapter 22: The Revenge of the Dead Enemy

Chapter 23: The Guilt-Price of the Angry One

Chapter 24: The One and One

Chapter 25: Interlude of Peace

Chapter 26: The Coming of the Great Bird

Chapter 27: The Most Amazing Journey of Them All

Chapter 28: Apotheosis

Chapter 29: Chi’mo’a’tu Completes the Tale

Afterword, by the Translator

Glossary of Shshi Words

Facsimile

of 30th Century

Title Page

The Labors of Ki’shto’ba Huge-Head

A Series

Volume Six

The Revenge of the Dead Enemy

By

Di’fa’kro’mi the Remembrancer

Translated by

Prf. Kaitrin Oliva

Published through

the InterQuad DataBase

2 April 244 (old cal. 2999)

Planet Earth

List of Characters

The Companions:

Ki’shto’ba Huge-Head, of To’wak, a Warrior, our hero

Di’fa’kro’mi the Remembrancer, of Lo’ro’ra, a male Alate, the First Companion

Wei’tu, of Lo’ro’ra, a Worker of the Builder Subcaste, the Second Companion

Twa’sei, of Lo’ro’ra, a Worker of the Grower Subcaste, the Third Companion

A’zhu’lo, of To’wak, a Warrior, Ki’shto’ba’s twin, the Fourth Companion

Za’dut, of Kwai’kwai’za, an outcast Worker of the Builder Subcaste, the Fifth Companion

Ra’fa’kat’wei, of No’bu’cha, a female Alate, a Healer, the Sixth Companion

Is’a’pai’a, of Hwai’ran’chet, a Warrior and Leader of the Quest for the Golden Fungus, the Seventh Companion

Krai’zei, of Zan’tet, a Yo’sho’zei Worker, the Eighth Companion

Bu’gan’zei, of Chi’chi’gwai’u, a male At’ein’zei Alate, the Ninth Companion

Thel’tav’a, of Ra’ki’wiv’u, a female At’ein’zei Intercaste, the Tenth Companion

Da’sask’ni’a (The Doubly Cursed), of Zan’tet, male Yo’sho’zei Alate, Seer, originally named Tei’kail’a’kwai, the Eleventh Companion

Mo’wiv (Y/G: Mro’de’vwi’tze’uh’tzi), Gwai’sho’zei Worker, of Vok’sei’chet, a shipbuilder, the Twelfth Companion

The Crew of the Mor’gwai and Other Members of the Quest:

Ti’a’toig’a, Warrior Champion, of Yon’twei’chet, one of the Shin’ki’no’hna, twin of Ti’a’gwol’a

Ti’a’gwol’a, Warrior Champion, of Yon’twei’chet, one of the Shin’ki’no’hna, twin of Ti’a’toig’a

Sis’vei, Worker, of Yon’twei’chet, aide to the Shin’ki’no’hna

Tro’tei’a, female Gwai’sho’zei Alate, of Vu’vu’kwai’chet, Ship’s Eye

Swai’fol’zei, male Gwai’sho’zei Alate, of Vok’seit’chet, Chief Navigator

Ao’gwai, Gwai’sho’zei Worker, of Vok’seit’chet, Master Steerer

Vran’weil, Gwai’sho’zei Worker, of Dak’gwai’vit’chet, Chief for the upper bank of rowers

Pil’twa, Gwai’sho’zei Worker, of Grin’akh’oi’chet, Chief for the lower bank of rowers

Ur’ka, Gwai’sho’zei Worker, of Ek’ka’chet, rower

Gesh’lin, Gwai’sho’zei Worker, of Rim’ro’chet, Rigging Master’s Mate

Ma’valt’a’nam, male Gwai’sho’zei Alate, of Vok’seit’chet, Second Shipwright

Wun’tu’zei, female Gwai’sho’zei Alate, of Yak’gwai’i’kha’chet, Second Navigator

Min’sei’va, male Gwai’sho’zei Alate, of Ek’ka’chet, Second Ship’s Eye

Ul’yon’a, Gwai’sho’zei Worker, of Vok’seit’chet, Second Steerer

Za’swai’zei, Gwai’sho’zei Intercaste, of Gwai’grin’chet, Supply Master

Vak’wum’a, male na’ga’ma|, later called Mor’gwai’hma’no’tzi, of Hwai’ran’chet

In Thai’no’no’gwai:

As’it’toi, female Alate, Chief of the fortress

Pri’rak’vit’a Kwi’a’zei (originally called Pri’rak’vit’ta’tzi) Mother of the fortress

Glei’hma’no’tzi, deceased last King of the fortress

Dal’laf’ta’tei, aged female Alate and former Seer

Nei’ga’lo’a, fertile female nymph, later named Nei’ga’ta’tzi

In No’chet Li’lo’akh:

No’a’pai’a da’son’ni| [i.e., the Fourteenth], Warrior, Commander of No’chet Li’lo’akh

Fum’a’gwai’ta, Warrior, First Chief of No’chet Li’lo’akh

Hwa’hai’ta’tzi, Mother of No’chet Li’lo’akh

In Kwi’thaim’chet:

Lo’lo’rait’a (surnamed Offspring of Guoi’me’uh’hma’no’tze), Warrior, Commander of the fortress

Za’vu’yak’a, female Alate, Priest

Yus’tri, Worker, stowaway on Mor’gwai

On Ig’gwai’vit’mi:

Ko’zim’tuk’zei, male Alate, Kwi’thaim’chet’s outcast Sorcerer-Seer

Gai’proi, Worker, slave caring for Ko’zim’tuk’zei

Za’um, Worker slave, another of Ko’zim’tuk’zei’s helpers

Ur’re, Worker slave, another of Ko’zim’tuk’zei’s helpers

In Lo’ro’ra:

Chi’mo’a’tu, male Alate, Di’fa’kro’mi’s Scribe and friend

Gri’a’vu’tei, male Alate, Seer

A’gwa’ji, Warrior, retired Commander

Ni’shto’pri, Warrior, late Commander

Mu’tot’a Broken Mandible, Warrior, Commander

Fi’la’la’mo, female Alate, Remembrancer

Miscellaneous characters:

Ma’fach’mei’a, male Alate, Overseer and inheritor of Mo’wiv’s shipworks at Vok’seit’chet

Rin’dog’zei, first reptile to ever be tamed and taught to pull a wheeled vehicle

Sho’dar’zei, male Alate, nursery tender in Hwai’ran’chet

Ju’mu (or Ju’a’a’mu’a; in Y/G: Chuh’de’myukh’ze’uh’tzi), Yo’sho’zei Warrior and subject of legend, who appeared in the flesh in The War of the Stolen Mother

Ru’a’ma’na’ta, the Star-Mother, known on her own world as Kaitrin Oliva; also called kai’tri’ze|

Yon’a’saia, male Alate, Seer in Chi’chi’gwai’u

Lo’zoi’ma’na’ta, Mother of To’wak, Ki’shto’ba’s Mother

Yan’ut’na’sha’ma, Lo’zoi’ma’na’ta’s late King

Ziv’on’jo’a, female Alate, Remembrancer from Thu’dal’mi’cha who was the first person ever to read someone else’s story from a scroll

Mythical Characters:

Ek’dai’daim’a, legendary Warrior, first Champion to ever bring back a Golden Fungus spore capsule

Wak’a’lo’a, mythical hero, turned the Monster of Dan’ki’no’dai to stone

Guoi’me’uh’hma’no’tze, the Sea King (Y/G name)

Translator’s Foreword

As I embark on this final installment of Di’fa’kro’mi’s narration, I need only say that I feel privileged to have been allowed to present this epic tale to the universe. Most of the criticisms that were noised about in the beginning of this publishing venture have been resolved, and the story of the Quest to Reach the Sea has gained acceptance. I offer my thanks to all who have spoken positively and expressed their growing love for the saga and for the extraterrestrial people who lived it day by day.

I prefer not to say too much about the final tale until its conclusion, when I will offer some thoughts of my own on the events detailed herein. Until then, I will say only that I hope you find this final installment as moving and as rewarding as I did.

Prf. Kaitrin Oliva (Prof. Spec. Xenoanth. and Ling.)

Shiras-Peders University of Xenological Studies

2 April 244 (old cal. 2999)

Chapter 1

The Quest for the Golden Fungus Launches

It may have been the sunset path that we were to follow, but it was dawn of a fine day of the Fruiting Time when we all assembled on the beach before Vok’seit’chet to launch the Quest. The sun was rising behind the hills of the Island of the Twisted Tree, throwing long shadows toward the sea. Our great ship Mor’gwai rode at anchor in the shallows of the harbor. The sun was brightening the Eye-Nest and flashing from the Shell-Eyes of the Nameless, while the figurehead of Rin’dog’zei bobbed up and down above the full tide as if eager to break loose and be away.

A great throng had assembled to see us off – formed not only of Mo’wiv’s shipyard company but also of the citizens of Vok’seit’chet, eager to be present at this historic occasion in which they had played a part. There were even visitors from Rim’ro’chet on the other end of the island and from Yon’twei’chet and other fortresses around the Gulf. We who were embarking bunched together near the seam of sea and sand, a little amazed at our own audacity.

And then Is’a’pai’a Han’gri Hom of Hwai’ran’chet – our Captain – jumped on top of an overturned boat and addressed the gathering.

"Now after so long the moment has come when we who have been nurtured on adventure set out on a dangerous quest – the Quest for the Golden Fungus. In all the tales of the ages, this wondrous organism, which offers gifts that can feed and heal everything that lives, has ever eluded my people. The search has defeated the greatest of Gwai’sho’zei heroes – even Ek’dai’daim’a, who won a golden spore capsule in Yak’roit’zei’s Mountain only to lose it in its own land. But one tale states that that Champion took it away from the evil that was stifling Hwai’ran’chet and sailed off with it toward the Islands of the West, where a new Root was planted and flourishes even to this day.

"And so today we follow Ek’dai’daim’a, determined to find that distant land where the new wi’han’gri|‡ grows, and we are the ones who will not be defeated! We ourselves – my friends and comrades – have already become the stuff of wondrous tales, and we will succeed where everyone before us has failed! Seers have prophesied about our venture, and our course has been plotted in the Caves of the World Beneath and in the Stars of the World Above – and in the belly of the Mother in the Sea! And so I proclaim that what you bid us today is not goodbye – it is only farewell! For we cannot help but fare well with the might of the Nameless on our side and her Moon-Shell Eyes warding our prow! You will meet us again, people of my hatching, and we will bring the Golden Fungus back to flourish among you and nourish you forever!"

***

‡[Golden fungus]

***

And then Is’a’pai’a postured and cried out lustily, "We are the mor’gwai’zei|! We sail the belly of the Mother! Let us fare forth to glory! We are the mor’gwai’zei|!"

And to a Shi, myself included, every one of us who were about to sail postured and waved antennae and foreclaws, bellowing, "We are the mor’gwai’zei|! Let us fare forth to glory!" And a mighty cheering swelled from all the spectators.

*****

After Is’a’pai’a’s speech, the pace quickened. Boats were readied to ferry us out to the ship. In the confusion Is’a’pai’a grabbed hold of several of us. Do you think I overdid it? it asked, apparently feeling a little foolish. It does not really come naturally to me to speak in such a bombastic public fashion, but I felt moved by this moment.

It was most effective, said Bu’gan’zei. Coming from the Word-Crafter, that was quite a compliment.

Stirring! I said. Perhaps you should have molted to Alate, Is’a’pai’a – you could have been a Remembrancer!

And Ti’a’gwol’a the Twin added, It was spoken as a Captain and a Champion should speak to its company at the beginning of a great adventure.

I am proud of you, Is’a’pai’a, Ki’shto’ba said, and I think those last simple words meant more to our Captain than anything the rest of us could say.

I rode to the ship in a dugout together with Da’sask’ni’a, Bu’gan’zei, and Vak’wum’a, who was so excited that we practically had to sit on him. We clambered up a rope ladder and tumbled over Mor’gwai’s bulwarks onto the deck. This boarding felt very different from the test runs. I looked back toward the shore where the crowd still lingered, flashing wings and waving, and it seemed far away already. I looked around the boat and saw Za’dut scrambling up the mast to check the stays as it played its new role of Master Rigger. Tro’tei’a the Ship’s Eye had already mounted to the Eye-Nest. Six crewmates were gathered around the anchor housing, preparing to manipulate the windlass‡ that would haul the stone aboard. Ao’gwai the Steerer, who could handle the tillers of both steering oars all by itself, was on the poop deck with Mo’wiv. During the darktime the Shipwright had paid an emotional goodbye to Ma’fach’mei’a and all those from its shipyard with whom it had worked so long. Now it had put the past behind it and was pacing up and down bellowing spirited encouragement to the crew. Most of the Rowers were already braced in their grooves, getting a last minute harangue from Vran’weil, the Chief of the upper bank. I scampered through the chaos amidships and mounted to the foredeck where Ki’shto’ba and Twa’sei stood alongside Swai’fol’zei.

***

‡[The word that Di’fa’kro’mi uses is simply oi’veim’zi|, turner or thing that rotates, but I am guessing that it was a simple form of a windlass, since we know that the Shshi are familiar with the uses of wheels, axles, and pulleys.]

***

I grabbed Ki’shto’ba by the leg and said, Well, old friend, we are off again! Could you ever have imagined that something like this would happen to us?

What matters is that we are all still together! Twa’sei declared.

But Ki’shto’ba was stretching its head into the breeze, its palps quivering. Can you smell the sea, Di’fa’kro’mi? Do you know – I think I smelled it in Lo’ro’ra when Ru’a’ma’na’ta spoke to us of Ul’i’seit! I did not know then what it was, but I believe I smelled it. The sea is the ultimate adventure. I swore when I was leaving Mik Na’wei’tei’zi that from that time forth I would always know joy no matter what happened to me. There have been times since then when I was not sure such a resolve is within the reach of any Shi, but yet I can say truly – joy is in me now!

I quite understood how Ki’shto’ba felt. This sailing on the sea into the unknown was the greatest thrill any of us People of the North Wind could ever experience. And that thrill was strengthened by the sense of its danger. Except for those pertaining to the fate of Ki’shto’ba itself, there were no longer any unanswered prophecies hedging our lives. We all felt the Dark King of the World Beneath ever walking invisible beside us.

So the three of us stood there sensing the wind and feeling the thrill and thinking back, now, and ahead, as our natures dictated. It was a moving moment.

*****

After a while I went down to the cabin to stow my gear (at last – being able to journey without having to lug a heavy pack!) The chamber was efficiently designed, with the aft end squared off into a roomy storage closet. Sleeping niches were built like shelves along each side in order to accommodate the maximum number of occupants, while the Warriors slept in the open space between the bunks where there was enough room for their big heads and dangerous mandibles. Some of the niches were built longer than others to accommodate the wings of us Alates, and the width was sufficient for the stretching of legs, if one did not mind letting a row of them hang over the edge from time to time! The overhead space was skimpy, however – starting up too hastily could yield a cracked head! An adjustable bar along the outside of each niche prevented a sleeper from falling out when the ship rolled. Unfortunately, no cushioning was allowed; we were told that common bedding materials rotted and stank and damaged the wood, and got scattered unpleasantly about the cabin, giving the Cleaners fits. So we became reconciled to close space and a hard bed.

That is, except for Vak’wum’a. At first he had fussed – progenitors should not be crammed in with everybody else! – but Mo’wiv had laid down the law. If you want to come with us, you must be willing to accept no more special treatment than is necessary to meet your peculiar needs. Otherwise, you can stay in Vok’seit’chet and wait for your wings to slough! That scared Vak’wum’a and he submitted meekly. I found him to be a great annoyance, but at the same time I could not help feeling sorry for him.

Nevertheless, one could not put a delicate King-creature on bare wood, so he was given a heap of fiber scraps left over from the weaving of the tek’a|.‡ His niche was specially enlarged in order to prevent damage to his wings, and a curtain was hung over the front of it to give him some privacy. The original plan of the cabin had called for eighteen bunks, but we ended with only fourteen, which provided for all the nine Alates on board. This meant that Tro’tei’a and a couple of the Second Chiefs had to take shorter niches, but they were the three smallest Alates and did not mind. The hefty Swai’fol’zei was pleased to accept the longer space above the nag’na’ma|.

***

‡[Sail; literally, trick or tricky, so named because it tricks the wind into moving the ship]

***

Bu’gan’zei volunteered to share Vak’wum’a’s niche. The King nymph needed constant reassurance and he dearly loved Bu’gan’zei and was overjoyed to have him as a bedmate. Bu’gan’zei never seemed to mind catering to him; besides, it meant he got to share the cushiony bedding!

An exciting feature of the cabin was the existence of apertures in the walls, in the middle-bunk level. There were two on each side, closed by waterproof panels that could be slid aside for ventilation and a view. I was fortunate to have one of these in my bunk. It looked out above the landing boat that hung on the side of the ship, and when I peeped out on that boarding day, I could see the shore of Roit’sei’thaim’mi, with Is’a’pai’a and the Shin’ki’no’hna in a reed boat about halfway between the water’s edge and the ship. I felt a stirring in my gut. Is’a’pai’a had planned to be the last to come aboard, so I knew the moment of departure had almost arrived!

I dashed out onto the deck for a better view. Our Captain came aboard and mounted the steering deck to stand beside Mo’wiv. That part of the ship was off-limits to most of us landlubbers, who would simply get in the way.

Chief, are we ready? asked Is’a’pai’a.

Ready, Captain!

Well, then, let us be off!

Mo’wiv stepped forward. "Now, all you pathetic bottom-scrapers, attend to what I say! Your lives and the lives of those who know nothing of the sea depend on your skill – and on your ability to work as one! You Rowers – row! … and you Riggers – rig! … and all the rest of you crawlers – you know what tasks are yours! But if it comes to that, and the Rowers have to lug dung or the Mates have to push an oar or the Riggers have to haul the anchor, I expect everyone to obey my orders and the Captain’s orders cheerfully and quick! Because you, Ur’ka, are no longer a citizen of Ek’ka’chet, and you, Gesh’lin, are no longer a rim’ro’zei|, and so I expect you to put your petty rivalries aside. You received the words of the Captain earlier and answered lustily, and now I repeat them: We are the mor’gwai’zei| – citizens of a fortress called Mor’gwai! Show yourselves proud of the fact!"

And the whole crew waved their antennae wildly and responded, "We are the mor’gwai’zei|! The people of Mor’gwai! Let us sail forth into the unknown!"

Now, Tro’tei’a! Is all clear? bellowed Mo’wiv.

All clear! came the answer from the Eye-Nest.

Then, Swai’fol’zei, take command!

Weigh the anchor! cried the Navigator from the foredeck.

The ship groaned and rolled to starboard as the windlass turned and the enormous rock rose slowly into view, to be swung over the side and settled into its housing.

Swai’fol’zei ordered oars deployed. The Navigator’s Mate conveyed the command below deck. The oars swung over the gunwales and thrust outward from the ports, held in a resting position by the Rowers. Mo’wiv had ordered that the tek’a| remain furled until we were past the narrows between the outer islands. Za’dut was skittering about on the deck in a frenzy of impatience.

Then the order was given to commence rowing. The Mate began to thump the rhythm with a hind leg. In one motion, the Rowers aligned the oars, dipped, and drove, their clypei and their foreclaws pushing the blade against the water. Bright Water trembled, bobbed – Rin’dog’zei postured – the Shell-Eyes upon the wood flashed defiantly …

And the ship moved. We glided toward the mouth of the harbor and never looked back.

*****

And now, my forbearing readers, now comes the time when I, Di’fa’kro’mi the Remembrancer, must name the names for you of the first ones to sail in the ship called Bright Water – those very mor’gwai’zei| whom Is’a’pai’a and Mo’wiv exhorted on that day so long ago. They are all worthy of mention in the words of the Remembrancers, down to the last Common Mariner, although I cannot name every one, for the crew was large.

First, the Warrior Champions –

Is’a’pai’a Han’gri Hom, Captain of Mor’gwai, the designated Commander of Hwai’ran’chet, a Gwai’sho’zei

Ki’shto’ba Huge-Head, the Champion of Peace, mighty Champion of the People of the North Wind, a Da’no’no Shi from To’wak

Ti’a’toig’a and Ti’a’gwol’a, called the Shin’ki’no’hna, the twin Champions, Gwai’sho’zei from Yon’twei’chet

Thel’tav’a the Intercaste, the Runner, the Eyed Warrior, an At’ein’zei from Ra’ki’wiv’u

Second, the Alates –

Di’fa’kro’mi the Remembrancer, an Um’za from Lo’ro’ra

Ra’fa’kat’wei the Healer, an Um’za from the destroyed fortress of No’bu’cha

Bu’gan’zei the Word-Crafter, an At’ein’zei from Chi’chi’gwai’u

Da’sask’ni’a the Seer, a Yo’sho’zei from Zan’tet

Third, the Workers –

Krai’zei, aide to the Captain, a Yo’sho’zei from Zan’tet

Wei’tu the Staunch, also surnamed the Founder, an Um’za from Lo’ro’ra

Twa’sei the Little Champion, also surnamed the Seeker and the Never Satisfied, aide to Ki’shto’ba Huge-Head, an Um’za from Lo’ro’ra

Sis’vei, aide to the Shin’ki’no’hna, a Gwai’sho’zei from Yon’twei’chet

Fourth, the special passenger –

Vak’wum’a, a nag’na’ma|, a Gwai’sho’zei from Hwai’ran’chet

Fifth, the Principal Mariners of all Castes –

Mo’wiv the Master Shipwright, Builder of Mor’gwai, First Chief, a Gwai’sho’zei Worker from Vok’seit’chet

Ma’valt’a’nam, Second Shipwright, a Gwai’sho’zei Alate from Vok’seit’chet

Swai’fol’zei, Chief Navigator, a Gwai’sho’zei Alate from Vok’seit’chet

Wun’tu’zei, Second Navigator, a Gwai’sho’zei Alate from Yak’gwai’i’kha’chet

Tro’tei’a, Chief Ship’s Eye, a Gwai’sho’zei Alate from the destroyed fortress of Vu’vu’kwai’chet

Min’sei’va, Second Ship’s Eye, a male Gwai’sho’zei Alate from Ek’ka’chet

Ao’gwai, Chief Steerer, a Gwai’sho’zei Worker from Vok’seit’chet

Ul’yon’a, Second Steerer, a Gwai’sho’zei Worker from Vok’seit’chet

Vran’weil, Rowing Master of the upper bank, a Gwai’sho’zei Worker from Dak’gwai’vit’chet

Pil’twa, Rowing Master of the lower bank, a Gwai’sho’zei Worker from Grin’akh’oi’chet

Za’dut Fortress Breaker, the Clever One, Rigging Master, an Um’za Worker cast out from Kwai’kwai’za

Gesh’lin, Rigging Master’s Mate, a Gwai’sho’zei Worker from Rim’ro’chet

Za’swai’zei, Supply Master, a Gwai’sho’zei Intercaste from Gwai’grin’chet

Lastly, the Crew, all Gwai’sho’zei Workers from several fortresses –

The Navigators’ Mate

The Steerers’ Mate

The Shipwrights’ Mate

27 Rowers of the upper bank

27 Rowers of the lower bank

4 Riggers

2 Common Shipwrights

8 Common Mariners, who clean, bail, collect dung, fetch food, and do whatever else is required

So it was that the number of those who sailed in our company was so large that there is no word for it, but it was more than twice the two-antennae count of the Shum’za. We became a world unto ourselves – in truth, a floating fortress, as Mo’wiv liked to call us – and the fate of that noble fortress called Mor’gwai would be … But that is something that will reveal itself only with time.

*****

Once we reached the open sea, nothing could keep Za’dut in check! The wind was from the northeast and we were bound southwest, so the tek’a| was hoisted. The sheet of weaving rose jerkily, since it took two Riggers to manage one line, and Za’dut had only five plus itself to do the work. They would hoist the tek’a| part way, belay the line, raise another portion to the same level, then repeat the process. Za’dut had argued for more Riggers, but Mo’wiv refused. Some of the Rowers or the common crew can help out if it proves necessary, but for now I want to see what you can do with just this many. It made for some very hard work. I found that ironic, since Za’dut had invented its contraption solely to make sailing easier!

Then Za’dut and Gesh’lin, the Rigger it was training to be its Mate, scuttled up the mast and out along the yardarms to properly secure the tek’a|. I knew that our trickster relished that highly dangerous part of the work. I only hoped I would never see Za’dut’s guts splattered on the deck.

But it all worked perfectly. The ship began to run before the wind and was quickly out of sight of land. Swai’fol’zei and Tro’tei’a were nervous, sensing that we were drifting off-course. Za’dut attempted to adjust the position of the sail. The speed slowed a trifle. In the meanwhile, the Rowers lazily leaned on their oars, conversing with one another and stopping occasionally for a snack or to defecate over the gunwales.

One of the mariners was in charge of a sandbox; it would call out the turnings to track shift-changes. We who were not restricted to shifts also followed the rhythms, although I was too excited to do more than doze when the first sleep-time came. Is’a’pai’a did not come to the cabin, but Ki’shto’ba did and was soon