Swan Song

By Freya Abbas

  Desantia, a theocratic country encompassing most of North America has grown to become the most powerful country in the world under an oppressive tyrant ruler. Anyone who speaks out against him is promised death. The environmental destruction, wars, and famine all over the world caused by the power hungry tyrant are threatening to wipe out all cultures and assimilate them into the Desantian one in a dangerous wave of terrorism that transcends all international borders. In Swan Song, An eclectic group from all inhabited continents comprised of military tacticians, warriors, politicians and artists discover a common goal that could unite all the world's cultures against the horrible dictator. The Native Americans still manage to survive. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Freya Abbas
• Release date: Jan 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781508049807

Book preview

SWAN SONG

…

Freya Abbas

¶

PRONOUN

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Copyright © 2017 by Freya Abbas

Interior design by Pronoun

Distribution by Pronoun

ISBN: 9781508049807

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1: The Coronation

Chapter 2: The Mutilations, the Witch and the Wardrobe of Patriotic Swimwear

Chapter 3: Some Flashbacks to a Vexillological Memory

Chapter 4: Dalziel’s Final Solution

Chapter 5: The Tuberculosis Scare

Chapter 6: On Another Track

Chapter 7: The Healer

Chapter 8: The Haka

Chapter 9: Back to the heroine, Tecolotl

Chapter 10: Under the Visser’s heels

Chapter 11: Mike’s New Station

Chapter 12: Tecolotl and the Scouts

Chapter 13: Fulda and Darius

Chapter 14: Tigremation and Hatuey are also trying to get to Dresden

Chapter 15: Stephanie makes up her mind

Chapter 16: Recite all the names of your ancestors whom you know of

Chapter 17: The Clauses of the Manifesto

Chapter 18: The Liberation of the Final Solution Camp with the help of two Africans

Chapter 19: From Wellington, Desantia to Wellington, New Zealand

Chapter 20: The vibrating cuneiform tablet

Chapter 21: On yet another track

Chapter 22: The Norwegian Cabin

Chapter 23: The Reign of Eros, Italian politicians, and the Kemet Gathering

Chapter 24: Race to the South Pole

Chapter 25: Swan Song

CHAPTER 1: THE CORONATION

ZANDER SQUINTED THROUGH THE rain, his teeth chattering and his back tensing at the thought of suffering another one of the Visser’s lashes. He ran his bony fingers through his drenched hair, the normally bouncing curls now a matted, brown mess. His lips moved in prayer to his Jewish God, Yahweh. Soon, he was able to make out the familiar azure and red flags and heraldry of the approaching parade, despite the torn, drenched, and drooping banners.

The ceremony’s date had been set in stone after an incident in the Alabaster Room that had thrown the Visser into a rage. One of his hooded Cruisects had been charged with treason and executed after suggesting that the Visser should not meddle with the affairs of other nations, lest they were angered. The Visser had wanted to invite all the Cruisects and members of the Desantian Guard to this ceremony where he was to demonstrate his power. The impetuous Cruisect’s wife had also been had also been charged with treason and was tossed into the gas chamber, along with her husband. The Visser had been sure that this action would result in public outrage if he was not quick to declare the date of the ceremony, and it was to take place today, rain or shine.

Zander felt a warm hand on his shoulder and jolted in fear, but relaxed at the familiar sound of his friend’s laugh.

Calm down, Zander! You look like Visser Dalziel whipped you again, Mike chimed.

Shut up, Mike. Try to be serious. Why aren’t you with the rest of the Desantian Guard? Zander asked, irritated.

"Old Dalz asked me to keep an eye on you, in case you do anything else questionable." Mike narrowed his eyes at him and put on a stern look, then laughed it off.

Thank Yahweh, it could’ve been to the chambers for me as well, Zander whispered.

He shuddered when he thought of the incident that had occurred in the Alabaster Room only days ago. Being a member of the Visser’s Desantian guard, Zander had been asked along with a few others to keep watch at the parliamentary meeting in the Alabaster Room.

I’m glad I wasn’t on duty that day, or perhaps I would’ve gotten a lash or twenty myself as I would’ve run to your aid, Mike sighed.

Mike’s face suddenly looked 40 years older. Like many other citizens of Desantia, he tried to cover up his discontent with the government, doing so with his particular brand of humor, and avoiding anything that might tempt him to fight for what was right rather than what would keep him alive. Zander’s soldier-like discipline and seemingly unflinching loyalty had attracted Mike’s admiration at first, but he soon realized that Zander was just as much in disagreement with Dalziel’s government as Mike secretly was. Nevertheless, the pair remained good friends.

I just couldn’t help it, Mike. It wasn’t the execution of the treasonous Cruisect that bothered me, nor was it his indignant wife getting booted in by Dalziel himself. It was the hopeless expression on the face of that child! She looked utterly destroyed, in disbelief at the horrible fate of her parents. That was when I had to yell for them to stop.

Zander’s only crime was to utter one word. That word was stop. In the Alabaster Room, Zander had stood up for what he believed- even though he had been the only one standing.

"Now hold up, a child? Last time you told the story you said the lass was at least 18," Mike reminded him.

I was referring to the fact that she was birthed from the Cruisect’s wife and him. She was probably around eighteen, but she seemed to grow younger and weaker before my eyes. I didn’t want her to be thrown in as well. In the time it took for the Visser to whip me, she ran. I think I saved her life.

Soon the Visser’s palanquin bearers came, draped in pristine white Desantian Guard uniforms, with their pot-bellied tyrant ruler atop their shoulders. Mike nodded to Zander and the two rushed to fulfill their crowd-control duties. The Visser was to stand on a platform and deliver his speech as soon as the parade came to a halt.

Dozens of Cruisect trumpeters blasted the anthem of Desantia, wearing white pantsuits and tall, blue top-hats. They looked quite comical. Any fool could be tricked into thinking the parade was amusing, but Zander knew better. He would see through every word of the Visser, even though the tyrant was a most charming orator. Everything in sight was draped in blue and white.

Right before the Visser stepped off his palanquin, a Cruisect came with a roll of glorious blue carpet. It was spread out in front of Dalziel, as if he were a god and his feet were too holy to touch the dirty ground where commoners walked. The Cruisect bowed his hooded head respectfully.

All Cruisects wore hoods of a dazzling blue and white color, as part of their uniform. Zander shuddered when he remembered the disloyal Cruisect who had been disposed of. He had his hood on when he was thrust into the gas chamber, with its transparent walls for spectators to witness the power of the Visser. The man had been clutching on to his hood, as though hoping it would protect him from the gas- fear had driven him delirious, and Zander could still remember the look of raw fear on the sentenced man’s face. When the Guard who had been asked to turn on the gas did as he was told, the eerie blue gas had coldly seeped through the fabric of the hooded mask. It was absorbed by the man’s clothes and skin. He began to sniffle and he clawed off his mask and held it submissively. The gas had tickled his nose and he had to take it off. It had sped up the killing, and then the crying woman had been shoved in as well and the same happened to her.

Was it love at first sight or something? Asked Mike.

Mike and Zander had taken their places alongside the rest of the 118th contingent of the Desantian Guard to wait for the anthem to be sung before the Visser made his long awaited speech.

What? Zander whispered, annoyed.

When you saw the girl.

Zander sighed, "You are the one who is still thinking about the girl, and you think I love her? Ridiculous. And you know my heart already belongs to someone."

Who?

Esther, Zander hissed angrily.

Ah right! Esther Abdenstern. Yeah she’s a good one. And no, I don’t love the girl whom you speak of so passionately. I have never even beheld her. My girlfriend, Stephanie, is the most beautiful woman in the world to me. The way you described the appearance of the girl you saw wasn’t even interesting.

It really wasn’t? Zander asked, surprised. He supposed it was just because he was bad at describing things. But the girl had been quite a sight, it was what had moved him, a member of the Desantian Guard.

You said she had messy, black hair and dark eyes and was very thin.

Yes. But there are a million things you can imagine based on that description. Now shut up and stand tall, Zander chided.

But Mike droned on. It is just that, it’s such a small description, vague as hell, but it reminds me of someone.

Oh yeah? A first love? Zander drawled out, before he could stop himself. He cursed himself silently. He shouldn’t have said anything, so that Mike would shut up, but now his interest had piqued.

More like a toy who was infatuated with me. I’m glad I have Stephanie now, and her eyes are as blue as the star on our flaaaag-

Zander smiled. "The star on our flag" was also the first line of the Desantian anthem, which had begun to play, and Mike had merged his speech with it.

After that was over the Visser finally spoke. There were also many foreign dignitaries present, whom he managed to acknowledge in a remarkably polite manner.

Outsiders, though the snow of our land may be cold, I’d like to assure you that the heart of every documented Desantian citizen is as warm and welcoming as I. Though you come from various countries that I respect very much, such as the now independent Scotland and Germany, both of which my ancestors hailed from, I’d like to remind you that Desantia is the most noble country in the world. I love immigrants, they are what Desantia is made of, but I must warn you that we Desantians are a proud people and we will never let anyone step on us.

This got a cheer from the sheep-like Desantian Guard and Cruisects.

Now, if you must know, Mike, Zander muttered through clenched teeth. The aspect of the girl that had intrigued me was the way she was unafraid, even though there was the imminent danger of inhaling Prussian Blue with her mother and father. She did not look frightened, though she was momentarily crushed by sadness. Right before she ran off, her eyes showed vengefulness, bloodthirstiness! I knew that she wanted Dalziel’s head and she would stop at nothing to avenge her family. Now Mike, never ask me again.

Mike gulped at how serious Zander had sounded. It had almost been like a prophecy, as if Dalziel really would be overthrown.

To show how proud the Desantian people are, their representatives- my carefully appointed Cruisects voted recently in the Alabaster Room on a new form of government. Absorbed in their passion for their Visser, they have decided to not only maintain his presidential status but make him a king as well! This ceremony shall be my coronation!

Zander had to force himself not to drop his jaw in shock. King? The man must be mad. It was absolutely outrageous.

A monarch. The bloody tyrant wants absolute power now, Zander whispered furiously.

As if things would change much. He already carries himself like a god, so being king is nothing, Mike shrugged half-heartedly, only partially joking.

Mike do you know what this means? And right in front of foreign representatives as well? He’s gone batshit crazy!

"The glorious sovereign nation of Desantia has entered a New Age. We will now finally take our place as an old nation, a nation with refined culture and history, a nation of beauty no less than anything found in the fatherland of Europa," the Visser justified. He wore a blue suit that matched his eyes. Once, he had been young and handsome. Now there was nothing but baldness where there once had been a golden mane. Years of living in luxury had caused him to swell to 5 times his former weight. His obesity did not stifle his voice, but rather gave it a booming, omnipresent feel. Though his voice was strong and caused Zander to gulp in fear and Mike’s heart to race, his appearance was comical. He was nothing but a fat, rich man. Who knew that such a person could be feared by so many?

The German dignitary, a woman with a thin, blond ponytail looked as if she had been slapped. Her expression grew baneful, menacing. Zander noticed this and bit his lower lip. He was getting better at reading people ever since Dalziel was elected as Visser and had employed him in the Desantian Guard. He could tell just by looking at a person whether they were one of the sheep or else someone who was questioning the Visser’s authority. The German woman’s eyes were pale and expressive, leaving no doubt about what she was feeling. She had the same look as the daughter of the executed Cruisect. She knew bad economic times would come if Desantian trade connections were cut.

Desantians, it is time for a New Age of winning! Never again shall we have to depend on other countries for anything and never again shall we allow foreigners to take advantage of our generosity.

Everyone tuned out for the rest of the speech, save for a few sheeple Desantians who were smiling and clapping like fools for their new king, or perhaps because they simply valued their lives.

After that, the leader of the Cruisects, a hooded and powerful Catholic man named Richard Chalice stepped onto the platform carrying a silver crown inlaid with white pearls and blue sapphires. It was of breathtaking beauty, but would soon become the symbol of a great war that was to divide all of humanity into two factions. It was gorgeous, yet it would sparkle on the Visser’s bare head as the earth below him shed blood and pleaded him to stop.

Praise God that he has sent you such a good man to be your humble and fair ruler! He will be like a father to us all.

Richard was also the bearer of the Chalice of Truth, a ceremonial piece from which a king named George had once drunk. King George was from a far away land that Desantia had declared its independence from long ago. The Chalice was preserved as an artifact by Cruisect leaders throughout the centuries and had passed through the hands of many hooded men who had maintained its shine, although it was never touched by any lips since George’s.

Is that the CHALICE? Exclaimed Zander.

My God, we really are returning to an oppressive feudal system, Mike whispered, his huge, dark eyes wide with disbelief.

Archbishop Chalice was a wobbly, enthusiastic old man and deeply religious. In addition to being counselors and advisors of the Visser, many of the Cruisects led churches and were very respected among the various Christian communities of Desantia. There were a couple of exceptions to this of course, such as the man who had been executed a few days prior to the coronation ceremony.

He had been an Islamic token. The Visser had appointed him to try to fool people into thinking the nation was still secular and tolerant of all faiths. But the cold heart of Richard Chalice had an insatiable lust for total theocracy and monarchy, one Desantia under God and Visser-king. Zander’s