Imperiad 1

By Mike Liston

Imperiad 1 is composed of Books One and Two. Book Two is about a small isolated village deep in the South American Andes. Due to its location, it has been cut off from the rest of the world for some time and developed a unique way of life. An American prospector stumbles into this isolated valley one day and this is the story of the people there as they deal with their own lives and a visitor from another world. It is both satirical and a tale of adventure

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mike Liston
• Release date: Apr 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781792378812

Book preview

Book One and Book Two

Main Characters:

Jarom Father Shar

Mother Shara

Bartle

Jake Agard

Old Wei

Grandfather Tot

Ancient Great Grandmother

Great Aunt Juna

Teena, Polleen

Mother Baxter

Lillian Gold

William Baxter Smith III

Renaldo Aldo-Jackson

Tialina Aldo-Jackson

Bobbette Aldo-Jackson

Bobby Aldo-Jackson

Maria, upstairs maid

Elena

Ellen Baxter-Smith

The Shadow

Teddy Diva

Commandante Fred

Pablo

Manuel, rebel intellectual

Colonel William Baxter-Smith IV

Rosa

Roberto, estate guard

General Oscar Mendoza

Generalissimo Rufillo Mendoza

Miss Lyle

Mary, the School teacher

Harry, the accountant

Angela, his wife

Jake, the surfer

BOOK ONE

ONE

The cock crowed at dawn. Jarom opened his sleepy eyes. Next to him on the thick layer of soft dried moss blanketing the bed, his older brothers and sisters still slept; from some the occasional snore. Above Jarom on the top floor, the sleeping platform of his parents gently creaked with a slow steady rhythm. Mother giggled. Jarom smiled. Parents at worship again. They worshiped often judging by Jarom’s crowded bed. He didn’t mind. After a good worship Mother and Father were all smiles as they cooed at each other over morning panga juice and wallo patties and often didn’t even seem to notice if Jarom forgot to chant his breakfast prayers. Jarom scrambled over Third Brother to get off the bed. He really had to squirt.

Jarom’s feet squished in the dewy damp mud of the wallo field as a hot stream of bright urine sparkled in the early light of Brother Sun. As the urine puddled in front of him trickling down into a small ditch, the boy mumbled the Day’s First Squirt prayer as he danced the accompanying shuffle and tried not to splatter his feet. Once finished with prayer and pee, the boy briefly considered a short plop, but not quite yet. Perhaps after a hearty helping of fried wallo patties.

Returning to the house, Jarom fetched the bucket from the porch. It was a beautiful old wooden bucket, relined with clay just that Spring and intricately carved. It was his duty to walk to the spring each morning for first water. As he walked briskly down the hill to the lane leading to Clear Spring, he recited the First Bucket Water prayer as he did the required skips, hops and turns.

He met several other boys his age filling their buckets too-most still mumbling their prayers and most made mistakes. In the Valley, only pre- adolescent boys were allowed to fetch First Water unless there were no pre- adolescent boys in the family. Then it would be the youngest male or the only male for that matter, and if no boys, girls could fetch water too but there were special prayers accompanied by dances to deal with all that. Other than mumbling their mostly botched prayers, the boys didn’t talk at all but they were allowed to pelt each other with the occasional mud ball as long as they didn’t upset their buckets of water.

After giving his hands and face a good wash including the back of his mud ball splattered head, Jarom filled his bucket, tugged his nose three times as was required and started the Filled First Morning Water Bucket prayer as he carefully walked backwards in the ritual manner all the way home. It wasn’t easy to walk backwards carrying a full bucket of water and although Jarom had gotten pretty good at it, plenty of boys stumbled and tripped and so they had to return to Clear Spring, refill their buckets and recite the Spilled First Morning Water Bucket prayer before beginning the whole process all over again. Needless to say, clumsy boys took a long time which annoyed the whole family as first meal was delayed.

Having arrived back with his First Morning Water safely intact, Jarom climbed the stairs in a zig-zag as fired clay and crystals hanging from the eaves chimed and tinkled from a puff of Cousin Wind. At the top of the stairs Youngest Sister was there to greet him as usual. Giggling-she loved this part-she dipped out a ladle of icy cold water, took First Sip, pronounced it excellent then poured the rest on Jarom’s head. That last part wasn’t exactly in the prayer, but she’d convinced little brother it was and so far, he hadn’t protested. Just then Father Shar and Mother standing on their bed chamber balcony, sang out a rousing chorus of the Day’s Happy Worship duet as they danced and Jarom’s sisters sang their sides to the Prepare Wallo Patty song as his brothers went out chanting their own prayers for feeding chickens and pigs. As for Jarom, he didn’t have anything to do now except wait to be fed so he went back outside to the porch where giggling he watched some of his less than adroit friends stumble and trip as they struggled not to spill their water buckets as they chanted walking backwards for home.

Jarom smiled. His parents, sister and brothers all singing different songs which blended in harmony somehow. Cousin Wind played through the chimes and Brother Sun rose in the clear blue sky as the last pale reflection of Sister Moon passed from sight; another day in the Valley begun.

The Valley where Jarom and his family lived was wide and long, lusciously green but on each side from the tallest ice-capped mountains to the north to a completely impassable deep gorge to the south, the Valley was enclosed by a wall of mountains, impossible to scale so steep and high their peaks usually hidden in fluffy white clouds. Jarom’s family home sat high on the western slopes of the Valley where the land had excellent exposure from Brother Sun, the snow melt was plentiful and the deep black soil in the terraced fields was some of the richest in the Valley. It was a large home for a large family and although the first house had been destroyed in an avalanche of snow some two centuries previous, the new one was built below a protective outcrop of granite and a grove of sturdy rock-clenching alpine pine.

Jarom sighed happily but just then he had a premonition this day might be strange. Father was now down in the yard. He usually came tromping down the narrow stairs but today-it must have been an especially fine worship-he had leapt out the back window the height of a tall man and since it was Eat a Pig day, he was already humming the opening of bars of Kill a Piglet. Mother too had joined the girls in the final stanzas of the First Fried Wallo Patty chant as Eldest Sister launched into the first verse of the Panga Juice Trot as she squeezed juice from reconstituted dried fruit.

Most mornings while awaiting his breakfast, Jarom would be down on the floor of the porch playing with his large collection of toys some which were quite old. His playthings included carved houses, people, pigs and his most prized; a Rock Leopard carved and painted quite intricately by his great maternal grandfather.

Still, for some reason his toys seemed less and less interesting as he grew closer to Lose Little One’s Name Day. He was almost thirteen and for the past few months his thoughts-aside from the dreaded prayer training for most of the day-would often fly off to Dangle Tag. Jarom’s love for Dangle Tag seemed to increase daily and for some reason, he wasn’t sure why, he liked best to play tag with Palo.

Looking up in the sky he saw Grandfather Eagle, the old bird’s wings tattered from age and air battles with generations of hawks and crows. Old Grandfather Eagle was on the lookout for something tasty to eat. A snatched piglet, of course, would be quite suitable but he was unlikely to catch one here under Father Shar’s careful eye. Still the sight of the old eagle was always a good omen so Jarom’s hopes were high for a great day at Dangle Tag, or at least a large comfortable plop.

Jarom, time to eat! Third Sister called from the kitchen. Jarom jumped to his feet and as was his own personal custom, did his own quick happy dance as he joined his family at the table. Mother was covered in wallo flour, Father a bit red in the face from chasing piglet, but everyone eagerly and quickly chanted the Tasty Wallo Patty prayer and then set to eating and drinking panga juice as they chattered about the latest news including the soon to begin Harvest Gathering Festival and most interesting for all the family-except Jarom, who was much more interested in wallo patties-which of Jarom’s oldest brothers and sisters had worshiped last night and with whom.

Where’s Eldest? Jarom asked not paying much attention to all the chatter about worshiping because although he knew it made Father and Mother happy, he’d no idea why. Everyone laughed. In fact, Elder Brother was now tromping up the stairs in a manner very similar to Father. He stopped for a moment to wash himself off on the veranda and then entered looking happy, sheepish and damp.

Who was it this time? Middle Sister demanded.

My secret, Elder Brother replied simply taking his place.

I know who, smiled Second Eldest Sister, Second Daughter of Dah- Leen It was the custom of the Valley that while young children had a personal name, they lost it on Lose Little Name Day and from that point would only be addressed by family order of birth until the Three Days of Marriage. At that time, the happy couple would jointly announce their joint name chosen from the List of Old Names or one they themselves had made up. The only difference in their joint name, for example, would be Shar for the husband, Shara, the wife.

How could you know anything? Elder Brother demanded having taken great and elaborate pains to keep his preference for Second Daughter secret. He skipped the wallo patties as he had already eaten his fill at the Dah-Leen family home but he did take a sip of panga juice.

First Sister of Pang saw you jump out the window two weeks ago when First Brother Ping was jumping from hers.

So what? I worship with lots of females, Eldest Brother said. He did. Well...had. It was his duty. It was the last season before two young people would most usually choose their life long mate and to best make that final choice, they should be absolutely sure.

And since then, she’s seen you leave the House of Dahleen every day.

So? Eldest tried to present a bold front but it was clear he’d been caught.

"Every night for two weeks and no one else? You have made your choice!"

Son, is this true? Mother Shara smiled happily. She liked Second Daughter of Dah-Leen.

Uh, not absolutely but it’s possible...maybe, Elder Brother admitted reluctantly.

He must have made his choice, Father Shar said. Usually Eldest eats patties like a starved pig. Clearly he’s already ate.

How are Dah-Leena’s wallo patties? Mother asked mischievously provocative although she knew they were no match for hers. Still, if Elder Brother had made his choice, he was obligated to praise his future Mother in Law’s wallo patties fulsomely at least for the first year. Elder Brother stared at his mother. Trust her to make him say it even though she knew it wasn’t true. No matter, Second Daughter of Dah-Leen was more than eager to learn Shara’s baking and cooking secrets. Shara, in fact, was considered the best wallo patty cook in the entire Valley except perhaps the Bing’s who ran the wallo patty shop in the village.

Dah-Leena’s patties are very, very good, Eldest lied. Everyone cheered and clapped.

And when are we to expect the first? Father grinned.

Father, you know I can’t say anything about that. Second Daughter says she’s still considering the matter and... He paused. He and his beloved had made their choice but it was the custom for the girl, in public at least, to string her future mate along for a suitable time.

All right then, Father Shar said happily and the whole family launched into a prayer of thanks to the Choose a Mate spirits who had helped Eldest and his beloved make their happy decision. During the prayer, Mother Shara stole a glance at Second Son. He too was at the age when he should have been considering a partner but up to now as best she knew his worship partners had been abnormally few. That worried her. She knew the young man was quite absorbed in his studies as Apprentice Healer but he had a family tradition to uphold as Shar Family men were usually among the Valley’s most sought-after males. After all they were usually good looking, possessed a talent for worship and almost all had large dangles. That and there was something about the scent Shar males exuded that seemed to attract women like certain flowers attract bees. Later, Mother would discuss the problem with Father and perhaps Eldest had words of advice. Shar looked to Shara. She nodded.

Start the Day! both Mother and Father sang out together and with that everyone scattered in different directions to attend to duties and chores inside and out except Second Son and Jarom. Second studied with Healer Yao in the village every day and Jarom had Prayer Training which he was reluctant to attend. Thus, it was Second’s duty to deliver Jarom directly to Old Wei, the teacher, before Second went on to Yao’s. Eldest Sister, who preceded Eldest Son by a year would walk with them for some way. She had made her choice some months ago although the Three Day Marriage ceremony wouldn’t occur until the Harvest Festival but since her future mother in law had only the one son and no daughters, Eldest Sister now helped the older woman out with necessary chores especially wallo patty baking as she was second in that skill only to Shara. She would return to her own home just in time to help prepare dinner for her own large family and her evenings strolling forest and field with her man.

Study well, Second Son intoned seriously to Jarom as he brought him right to the door of the Council Chamber. He gave a wave to Old Wei so the old man would know Jarom was here.

I will, Jarom said tone woeful but the moment he stepped inside his spirits rose. All his best friends were here for prayer training and if they were lucky, Old Wei would put himself to sleep in an hour or so with his own endless droning and then the boys could talk quietly and joke.

Unfortunately, Old Wei was full of enthusiasm that morning. He explained difficult prayers with more energy than usual and was so demanding when the boys recited prayers that more than one boy, including Jarom, had to stand five minutes on his head while he sang the Lazy Boy song loud as he could. Not only that, the old man’s digestion was a bit off that day and his back door toots especially redolent.

Mercifully, noon arrived and after the boys ate their lunch of soup and wallo patties in the yard, Jarom went to have a peek inside.

He’s sleeping, Jarom whispered to his friends. Whose turn to stand guard?

Skinny Pok stayed behind while the rest of the boys ran to play. Once Wei stirred and he might not for hours, Pok would come running. After all, Prayer Training officially lasted until mid-afternoon but if they were lucky and often were, Old Wei wouldn’t wake until it was well past time to let the boys go home for the day.

The boys ran south where they could swim in a quiet slough of Big River with plenty of room to play in a wide-open meadow filled with flowers, green grass and since it was now the hottest part of the day, they decided to swim.

Prayer training is so boring, complained Poolum as he ran at Jarom’s side. As always, the two lead the charge for the slough. Once at its bank, happy boys whipped off their clothes and jumped in swimming like two legged seals. Some climbed trees to dive from the top branches and others played games in the water batting a ball woven of tough reeds back and forth. They were louder than usual and played with wild abandon. After all, the Prayers were especially difficult these days because Old Wei was making them learn the one hundred separate prayers that made up the Eight Step Celebration of Harvest Moon. Each of the one hundred prayers were short, it’s true, often just a single couplet, but the order of the couplets was extremely important and Old Wei, when not snoozing, extremely exacting.

In fact, just thinking about the prayers caused Jarom to sigh as he stood high on a branch over the slough waiting to dive. Prayer training was a great burden it seemed to him but what choice did he have? All his life, everyone told him-especially Father Shar one of the most serious prayer masters in the Valley-it was all thanks to prayer their Valley was such a peaceful happy place. Still, Jarom wondered in a moment of rare perversity, was it the prayers that made it peaceful or was it peaceful only because everyone was so tired from having to learn all these prayers which had to be recited again and again day after day? A boy called his name out. Distracted Jarom slipped and fell from the tree, arms flailing, his balance all off and hit the water with an embarrassing belly flop. Usually, one of the best divers his friends hooted and joked.

I’ll show you! Jarom called ready to crawl up the bank, climb the tree and execute the best dive of the day. The girls attacked from the trees.

Dangle Tag! they howled pulling off their own clothes. Boys panicked flailing for the opposite side as girls, most superior swimmers, cut cross the slough like slippery eels. Most boys just managed to escape, still naked, into the trees as laughing naked girls chased them, but some of the more unfortunate boys were trapped in the slough by knots of girls who tagged dangles and everything else they could grab again and again.

You can’t get away from me Jarom! yelled Palo hot on Jarom’s heels. Jarom, acknowledged fastest of the boys, could run pretty fast, but Palo was almost his match.

Just see if I don-awp! he yelled having just slipped in a pile of pig plop. He just managed to get to his feet in time to dash for the water. If Palo did manage to tag him, he certainly didn’t want to stink, but when he got to the slough, Palo had disappeared.

Hah, I showed her, Jarom said to himself jumping into the cold water to wash off. Once washed, he floated about nonchalantly on his back humming a tune when suddenly something someone grabbed him around the stomach and pulled him under. Sputtering he came up his dangle well in hand, not his, but Palo’s. Grinning, water streaming for her hair, she held his dangle for the longest time.

You’re just supposed to tag and let me go, Jarom protested but not vigorously.

Why should I? she smiled. I caught you fair and square. What do I get if I let you go?

What do you want? Jarom asked. She glanced at him with impish mockery.

Close your eyes, she demanded. You must give me a kiss.

Okay, but make it quick, Jarom said closing his eyes with trepidation. Since he’d never kissed a girl as of yet, he was a bit scared. Laughing, Palo gave him a tremendous shove, and swimming right for the bank, scrambled out and ran for the trees.

You tricked me! Jarom shouted angry he’d been tricked and not even kissed, but once he’d managed to heave himself from the water, she’d again disappeared.

Hah, hah, hah! he could just hear the last of her distant laugh. He gave chase at top speed.

At noon when it was time to eat, Shara came down to the pig hut where Father was completing the last part of the Kill a Piglet prayer. She looked at Shar who was bent over the sleeping piglet lost in dreamy thought. She knew it was hard for Shar to kill a piglet especially this piglet which had been his favorite ever since he’d had to help what was then the runt of the litter find a place at Mother Sow’s crowded teats. Shar had already drugged the piglet with Sleep Flower and the piglet would feel nothing when the knife passed across its throat. Still, Shar was no killer. Although well skilled at archery and spear, he’d no stomach for hunting and even left it up to Eldest and Third Son to do the fishing for the family.

The piglet will be happy to feed us, she reassured her husband stroking his head.

It’s not Piglet, Shar said his tone sad.

No? she crouched low to sit beside him.

I was talking with Old Wei yesterday. For some reason he was wandering about the road just below. I met him when checking the Wallo fields.

Hmm, usually Wei doesn’t come this way.

I thought so too and he asked some odd questions, Shar admitted. I don’t know why but I took the chance to ask of Jarom.

Oh... Shara said wondering what this would lead to. She knew her intelligent youngest was not enamored with Prayer School these days. He hadn’t voiced his dissatisfaction openly but she could tell by the expression on his face and the shade in his voice. And…?

He said the boy does better than anyone and sings the Lazy Boy song least but... Shar’s voice trailed off. He was quite passionate about prayers and had always been so. He was clearly disappointed with his son.

Jarom is a good boy, said Shara. He’s just feeling burdened, I think. You have to admit the prayers are long and complicated and that’s in thanks in part to you yourself and all your prayer making as there’re even more prayers to learn now than when we were young.

I was very happy to create the Ten Hour Winter Solstice Chant," Shar protested.

Certainly, it’s very beautiful and everyone loves it. But it is ten hours. Did it have to be so long?

Some complained it too short.

I know, I know, but they...well... Shara’s voice too trailed away. The truth was the winter months were long after the Harvest and before Spring and for many of the People composing new and even longer prayers was a very enjoyable thing. But once composed and if accepted as part of the liturgy of The Way as Shar’s had been-a great honor-then all the boys and girls had to memorize the prayer at school. When Shara was young, she had only spent four months a year for three years total learning prayers, but now Jarom and everyone else his age would spend over four years and what had been four months a year were quite close to six.

I know prayers are a good thing but...it’s a lot to remember, you must admit. Anyway, it’s noon and time to rest, she reminded him.

It’s just-

You worry too much, my man, Shara smiled and with that, she shoved him back into a pile of clean straw Shar had gathered to line the pig pen and let slip her dress. Normally a sensuous woman, she was even more so these days for some reason and there was something about the smell of her man’s neck and taste after he worked that drove her especially wild.

Where’s Mother and Father? Third Son asked Fourth Sister as they waited for them to begin to eat.

I don’t think we should wait for them, smiled Second Sister. She had just been out on the back porch and had heard familiar sighs and giggles from the Pig yard.

Are they worshiping again? giggled Third Sister.

Wouldn’t you if you had a man as handsome as our father? Second Sister said. Eat, there’s plenty left to do this afternoon.

As Jarom hunted Palo, Tato came running straight for him but with a feint to the left, he easily dodged her and ran. Tato stopped once more disappointed Jarom didn’t let her tag him. She knew she was prettier than Palo, plenty of other boys were willing to let her tag them, but Jarom only seemed interested in Palo and Tato most interested in him.

Minutes later, Jarom came upon Palo who was dressed now and waiting besides a tree. She’d seen him evade Tato which pleased her although she and Tato were friends. Grinning impishly, she waved his shirt and short trousers in the air then dashed off. With a shout Jarom gave chase.

The two ran and ran. They ran so far that meadow, slough and most certainly the village where Old Wei had possibly already woken up and was waiting for the boy to return were all left far behind. Still, that never crossed Jarom’s mind. They ran down roads, through the trees, closer and closer to the mountains when suddenly Palo disappeared. Jarom stopped. The trees were tall here, brush thick. There were farms in this part of the Valley but few. He was hot, covered in sweat and thirsty and knew Chilly Pool was not far...and then he smiled.

Jarom made his way through the thick trees very quietly not making a sound. He saw the water, he heard someone singing and there...he saw her, just her head the top of her glistening shoulders in the water, she turned, she grinned.

Hah, I caught you! Jarom announced triumphantly from the bank just before he jumped in. He swam in her direction. Giggling she eluded him. Not only could she run fast, she was an excellent swimmer and better probably than even Jarom.

You can only catch me if I let you, she taunted from the other side of the pool.

You’ll regret that, Jarom said thrashing towards her through the water at full speed. Unexpectedly, he bumped right into her head first. Laughing, she tagged his dangle again, but this time she didn’t move.

You can’t tag me twice; I haven’t even tagged you once.

So, now’s your chance, she retorted wearing a saucy smile. Reaching behind her, he pinched her naked bottom.

I tagged you twice, is that the best you can do?

There, he said pinching her bottom again.

Longer and that’s the wrong way, she ordered. You have to hold my bottom in both hands.

Like that? Jarom said doing as ordered.

Maybe, but hold me closer.

Closer to what?

Closer to you, silly, she giggled. He did. Closer. He pulled her closer but Palo put her own arms around his waist with a laugh and pulled him closer. They embraced.

Why so close? Jarom said feeling funny. His breath started to come in short pants and even though Chilly Pool was more than chilly, his face felt very hot.

We have to be close to have a kiss.

You tricked me once, I won’t be tricked again.

Come on, I’ll close my eyes first, you can start. She closed her eyes waiting, her body pressed close, her breasts clearly bigger than even the last time he’d seen her without clothes and her niblets rubbed against his. Well? she asked waiting expectantly, her eyes closed. And then he kissed her, the first time he kissed a girl. He tried to pull away, she pulled him closer, then she kissed him back her tongue forcing his lips to part darting about his mouth like a sweet little pink snake. Jarom couldn’t move, now passive as her little pink tongue slipped around and about exploring his lips, his mouth. She moaned, he did too, it felt so good, he felt dizzy, as if floating in air. More excited, his tongue slipped into her mouth and that’s when...she burst out laughing, gave him another great shove and swam away. He swam after her but she climbed out of the pool.

Why leave? That was...fun.

Fun? she smiled wringing out her long hair.

I think...you didn’t?

You’re such a silly goose. Of course, it’s fun but that’s all you get for now. We have to wait.

Wait for what?

Wait for after Lose Little Name Day.

Why?

Because that’s when we start worship training.

What’s a kiss got to do with worship training?

Because a kiss is the very first start and very important. My sister told me a good kiss can’t be learned in no less than six months.

That’s silly, we just kissed and-

What? You think that a good kiss? I can see it might even take you a good year to get it right, she said with scorn.

How do you know that?

Because I’ve been kissed by a boy with training. Just once.

With who? Jarom demanded feeling strangely upset.

One of my sister’s boys. He likes her very much. I told him I’d put in a good word for him if he kissed me.

And he did?

It was very nice, but not good enough for Sister it seems. She picked another boy.

And did that boy kiss you too?

Of course not. My sister’s favorite? You think that’s The Way?

Well...no, I guess it probably isn’t, Jarom said now very confused. It had long been clear to him that his parents liked worship and clearly made them happy but his father also liked prayers and so somehow in his mind, Jarom had the idea worship must be just as tedious as prayers. But that kiss...his mind was whirling. It felt...scary and strange but...so good. Was he also wrong about prayers?

You should see the expression on your face, Palo giggled as she slipped into her pants. She was still naked from the waist up. Did you notice I’m getting bigger here? she asked giving her breasts a pat.

Yes.

Are they pretty?

I guess so.

You guess so?

They’re very pretty.

Someday, I’ll let you touch them and kiss them, do you think that would be...fun?

I think.

If Tato wants you to touch her like me, would you?

No, he said quickly.

You’re so silly. If Tato wants, you have to give her a try.

But I’m not interested in Tato.

It doesn’t matter. To walk The Way, you have to have a try with many even if you don’t want to because when you marry, you want to be sure.

So, you want to kiss other boys?

I want to kiss you, but I will follow The Way. Aren’t you coming? Prayer Training is over, you have to get home.

I will... he said not moving. Palo gave him a smile, she turned; she ran.

Jarom splashed about slowly and thoughtfully in the cool waters of Chilly Pool his head still in tumult from his very first kiss and all Palo had said, but then he got the sudden urge to have a plop so he climbed out of the water to search out a small private clearing in the trees.

When his last plop hit the ground with a satisfying thud yet distracted with dreamy thoughts of kisses and Palo, Jarom reached back for a handful of leaves with which to wipe and mistakenly grabbed a fistful of Flaming Prickle Plant. The scorching pain once he wiped was instantaneous. Yelps ringing though the trees, he crashed through brush and vine and plunged into the delightfully cold and soothing waters of Chilly Pool.

Ah... he sighed eventually coming up for air. A long soak in icy water was the most effective antidote for Flaming Prickle Plant. Fortunately for Jarom, Chilly Pool at the foot of Falling Waters was considered to have medicinal qualities and was therefore a popular place for seniors with all the aches and pains of old age to lounge about on a hot summer day. Now that it was very late summer almost autumn, Jarom had the pool all to himself. He relaxed and paddled about and then after he remembered it was said the soothing effects of Chilly Pool were strongest and so he swam right up to that point where Falling Waters fell into the pool and sat there in cold shallow water on a comforting mixture of gravel and muddy dark sand.

Ah, he smiled feeling the medicinal effects of the minerals almost immediately. Although it was getting to be late afternoon, it was still warm, he could hear insects hissing in the trees and the trill of a bird. His bum felt better and better as he sat there but then he felt chilled. He got up, but the pain again flared so he quickly sat down determined to wait it out as even a little chilly was much preferable to the intense discomfort of Flaming Prickle Plant Bottom.

As he soaked, his back nice and warm from the last rays of Brother Sun, his bottom pleasantly cool, he felt calmer, even a bit drowsy-he’d missed his short little post lunch nap-and he considered the day’s events. Palo was paramount in his thoughts-especially that kiss. It made his dangle swell just to think about her soft lips, her tongue probing his mouth. He also remembered Tato and how she seemed to be angry and wondered what it would be like to kiss her? He didn’t want to kiss her, but according to Palo, someday he’d have to and what if he liked it? Impossible, he’d always liked Palo better. She could run just as fast as him and swam even better. More important, she too thought prayer training a bit boring but still she accepted school because it was part of The Way.

Tato, on the other hand, was considered a model student often praised by her teacher, the Elder Great Aunt Juna, a grouchy intimidating old woman in Jarom’s eyes. Also, Tato was considered the prettiest of the girls and many of the boys, including his best friends, had been mooning over her for years which always irritated Jarom. What was the use of mooning over a pretty prayer learner who couldn’t run so fast or swim that well and, unlike Palo, didn’t enjoy exploring the forest? Kissing a girl like that had to be boring and yes, he’d do it if he had to just like he did a lot of things but he would certainly not enjoy it even if she had pretty lips, long black curly hair, gleaming soft brown skin, and breasts even bigger than Palo’s but as he considered her image, his dangle again swelled. Suddenly, he heard a strange frightened braying; a man’s voice loud with anger. Jarom shot to his feet eyes wide, the commotion coming from just behind him. Diving back into the pool he swam swiftly to the opposite side where he could watch hidden in the reeds.

That angry demons had come to drag him off into their underground kingdom was the first thing that came to Jarom’s mind. Bad thoughts, a kiss too early, his dislike of prayers-he’d not walked The Way; now he would pay!

The submerged boy waited only his head showing amidst the thick stalks of the reeds. The noise grew louder, closer, like an army of demons charging. Fervently, silently, Jarom prayed.

Just then a four-legged brown beast braying loudly burst out of the tangle of brush flanking Falling Waters plunging into the pool. It tumbled stumbling through the water panicked desperate to escape. Staring at the sight, the Jarom could see the beast was staggering under what seemed a heavy load of bags. The beast tripped, lost its footing on slippery rocks and fell on its side. Legs flailing, fighting to get to its feet, the heavy water-filled bags slipped from its back just as a wild screaming demon charged out of the trees. Howling, the hairy red-faced demon jumped into the pool right after the beast.

Petrified, certain his end was imminent, Jarom began to recite the Prayer of Death which he’d fortunately learned last week. He chanted, the beast made right for him braying, the demon screaming thrashing through the water for the beast. Jarom prayed frozen with fear.

You son of a bitch, I’ll kill you! the Demon AKA Jake Agard howled as the beast came right for the boy. Stopping, it stared at the boy with round staring frightened eyes as if pleading to be saved. Jarom reached out, the beast came closer breathing hard. Now almost chest deep, the Demon struggled and cursed, it seemed unable to swim, losing its footing in deep water and the pool’s loose gravelly bottom.

Poor frightened beast, the boy soothed now chanting the Calming Prayer which seemed to affect even the Demon who got quiet all of a sudden. Not quiet, actually, but sober enough to remember his bags half submerged in Chilly Pool. With a loud curse, he struggled back through the water to his gear. Jarom grabbed his clothes. Unfortunately, the only place suitable for the beast to get out of the water because of the pool’s steep banks was the very place it had entered but the beast was calm now, very calm and allowed Jarom to lead it about the edge of the pool as the Demon struggled to haul out his bags and Jarom was able to get the beast to land. It stood there waiting as Jarom dressed quickly, the Demon cursing and clawing through its bags streaming with water as they lay on the gravel and sand.

Once dressed, Jarom watched the Demon storm and curse as it examined its things. The boy should have run but strangely fascinated by the Demon and all the strange objects it kept pulling from the bags, the boy stood watching unwilling to move. He too was much calmer as a result of the Calming Song and by nature curious to a fault.

Fuck me to hell, everything’s gone to shit, Jake fumed. The flour, his beans, two bottles of booze smashed. His compass, his fucking hand-held computer. If some part of his gear wasn’t smashed up from the descent down, man and beast tripping, falling, at times tumbling, the water had finished it off. Taking a grip on his one last half bottle, he drained it of its contents and then fumbled in his shirt for cigarettes. He pulled out the remains of one crushed pack, extracted a single intact smoke and then cursed and fumed looking about for matches but all he could find was paper matches sodden and useless. Son of a bitch! he cursed tossing them to the ground, but then he remembered the flint hanging around his neck.

Desperately striking the flint, he finally got the white tube in his mouth lit and as Jarom watched in fascination, Jake stood there a moment savoring his first cigarette since he’d attempted to bugger his own mule and started all this shit. Once he’d sucked down half his smoke, he tore open more bags. He smiled. There it was, thank fucking Christ, his pistol. At least he’d had the sense to keep that in a waterproof bag. He grabbed it, checked to see it was loaded then stood.

You son of a bitch, I’m going to blow out your fucking brains, Jake said turning toward the beast his voice darkly malevolent. The beast started, Jarom stared at the demon. The boy no idea what that was, that shining metal thing in its hand but the Demon’s ferocious face left no doubt that it would harm the beast. Jarom got between them both raising his hands.

Get out of my way, you little shit, Jake snarled. I’m in no mood to be crossed. He stuck the gun in Jarom’s face. Jarom didn’t budge. Jake cocked the trigger ready to fire, but with a loud bray, the beast knocked Jarome aside clamped its teeth on Jake’s wrist. Screaming in pain, the gun discharged the bullet just missing Jarom and the gun dropped from Jake’s hands. Howling with pain even louder than before, the Demon fell to its knees. Jarom snatched up the evil metal thing and flung it to the deepest part of Chilly Pool.

The Demon screamed clenching his bleeding wrist, braying the beast galloped back into the brush bordering Falling Waters but Jarom didn’t move. Demon blood was green, not red, a common fact. This was no demon, but a man. Not a good man, true, but a man just the same and this man was in terrible pain. Jerome turned, entered the forest and in a few minutes returned with a hand full of Healing Herb.

Holding the Healing Herb in front of him, Jarom carefully approached the moaning Stranger now lying on his back. The instant he saw Jarom, he choked attempting to scuttle back.

Stay back you little bastard, Jake croaked all helpless bluster.

Healing Herb, Jarom smiled holding out the herb.

No, no, I won’t eat, I know what you’re up to! Jake cried sure it was poison.

Jarom watched the man curiously. He seemed very afraid. Jarom nodded, he smiled and started once more to chant and sing the Calming Prayer and in a very short time, Jake was much calmer, even smiling as if he had taken some of his drugs. Jarom stepped towards him, the man didn’t move. Squatting at the man’s side, Jarom squeezed the Healing Herb tight as he could letting the plant’s juices drip over the wound. The effect was almost instantaneous. Healing Herb applied to the skin not only had excellent pain control qualities, it also sped the process of healing. Oh yeah, that feels much better, Jake grinned. He’d never met a drug he wasn’t happy to abuse. Jarom held out the rest of the herb miming that Jake should chew it for a moment then spit it out. Again, always ready for a good buzz even at the risk of his life, the man took the offered herb, stuffed it in his mouth, and chewed the leaves much longer than he should have and swallowed more than he should have. He sat there with a silly grin on his face for a few moments, head nodding, eyes drooping and then he toppled to his side fast asleep both drugged and deeply exhausted.

Jerome snatched up the fascinating clear stone bottle as proof of the Stranger’s appearance and ran for home like the wind.

As for Jake, bone tired, half drunk and drugged from the Healing Herb, a strong soporific if a large dose was ingested, he was out like the proverbial light. 24 hours previously, after he’d just made camp and started a fire, he’d sat staring into the flames. He’d been wandering the mountains almost three months and nothing to show for it. He was tired, he was depressed and sick to death of eating little but beans. Even worse he was almost out of booze, low on pills and to top it off he hadn’t been laid for almost a year because he was too broke to buy even the cheapest of whores. Worse yet, he was on contract to Wilbax International, an enormously wealthy and powerful multinational conglomerate whose majority stockholder, an old evil bastard, had informed him through a minion that if Jake didn’t come up with at least a small strike this time out, he was as good as fucking dead.

I ought to just blow out my fucking brains, Jake grumbled as he took another drink with one hand and with the other scratched his balls. That of course, got him hard so he sighed, got up, dropped his pants, started to wank himself off and as he yanked, he eyed his mule its hindquarter’s facing Jake still loaded with all Jake’s gear but its head down nibbling herbs. Jake smiled, he’d gotten an idea, hell he’d corn holed a sheep more than once in his life, even a cow so why not his goddamned mule? But the instant the mule felt Jake try to jam his penis into its anus, it brayed in alarm and reared back knocking Jake off his feet. The mule galloped off. Stunned for just a moment from the force of the blow Jake stared as the mule left with all Jake’s gear! Leaping to his feet, struggling to pull up his jeans, Jake ran for his life for the mule.

Fortunately for Jake the mule, heavily loaded, made right for the mountains and Jake, darting this way and that, was able to hem it in.

Now come on, you little bastard, Daddy won’t try to fuck you again, Jake cajoled best as he could, but the mule, still badly frightened, Jake was in general a cruel master, continued to elude him running this way and that. Finally, Jake was able to pin the thing into a ravine. Grinning he made a sudden move to grab the mule’s tether when with a cry, the beast dived into what had seemed an impenetrable wall of brush.

You fucker, I got you now. Your asshole is mine, Jake chortled fighting his way through the branches and leaves to get to his mule. He tore through the last of the brush, then froze in his tracks staring. Before him stood the mouth of a cave. From within he could hear his mule’s hooves clattering on loose stones. Oh...mother fucking son of a bitch... Jake groaned petrified with indecision. Christ knows what could be lurking in that cave waiting for him and the mule, but he knew his fate here high in this alpine wasteland with no food, no gun, not even a goddamned blanket; he’d be dead within days. Teeth clenched, Jake entered the cave and followed the sound of the mule.

At times in pitch dark, at times in a weird half-light that seemed to seep from above, Jake ran and he ran. He often tripped, stumbled, but kept going following hooves clattering on shale for what seemed like an agony of forever until eventually he burst out of the passage and a tangle of brush into a world of verdant green utterly unlike the wasteland he’d left behind.

By then, it was early morning. Before him stretched an emerald meadow filled with lush tall grass waving in the early morning breeze. There, up ahead, he saw the hungry and tired still fully loaded mule grazing greedily at the grass. Jake paused to catch his breath. He was hungry, he was tired, he was too fucking sober, but he resumed the chase. Still, the instant Mule heard him come, it brayed out with alarm and galloped off.

The chase over the meadow wasn’t so bad because at least Jake could see, but when the mule entered tree line just beside a bubbling mountain brook, the real misery began. Falling Waters literally fell more often than not as its waters tumbled down the steep slopes. The mule followed an ancient game trail made by many generations of Mountain Deer when deep snows and heavy winds drove them down into the protection of the trees. Nevertheless, the narrow trail roughly following Falling Waters, twisted, turned and dropped almost as much as the stream did itself. The mule, tripped, fell, even tumbled as it hurried fast as it could under its heavy load dreadfully afraid of Jake who fell all the more than the surefooted beast. Cursing, screaming as he ran, Jake tripped, tumbled and fell until he got to Chilly Pool where he now lay in the deepest of sleep.

Jarom first stopped at the Council Chamber where prayer training was held, but Old Wei had left and the boys all gone home. Although tired, he ran on for home.

What’s wrong? Mother cried as her youngest fought to catch his breath. He’d just burst into the house his feet thudding up the stairs. Hearing the commotion, Father hurried in from out back. He’d had to interrupt his Thank Pig for this Meal prayer for the piglet he’d just killed.

There’s a demon stranger man at Chilly Pool. He’s red and white with a hairy face and he stinks! Jarom gasped.

Oh Jarom... his Mother admonished with a knowing smile. Just last week he’d claimed to have missed Prayer Training because he’d heard a Cave Bear growling in the forest and had to run to save his life far from school.

It’s true! the boy protested for once unjustly accused. He had this, and he held out his prize. Seeing the clear stone container, Father’s amused expression switched to alarm. Jarom stared at his father in surprise. Father was usually a very calm self-possessed person, but the way he examined the clear stone thing with such serious concern frightened his youngest son.

And why were you at Chilly Pool, not prayer training? Mother demanded sternly.

But Mother, Jarom replied not caring for this turn of events, it’s a Stranger and he had this terrible metal thing that made a huge noise.

And where’s this Demon now? Father asked looking up from the bottle he held in his hands.

It’s not a demon, a beast bit him on the wrist. His blood is red not green and he’s sleeping because I gave him a big fistful of Healing Herb to eat.

That was good thinking, Mother said giving her youngest a quick hug. Shar, call your sons. I think you should go take a look.

Yes, yes, of course, but we have to tell the Elders first. Jarom, you take this whatever it is and don’t lose it. We go.

Shara watched her husband clenching his spear in the company of her oldest sons. They were running as Jarom trailed. She sighed. She shook her head. Not one stranger had entered their valley for hundreds of years. She prayed this wouldn’t end badly.

Old Wei was quite surprised to see such a large crowd of people crowding into the chamber. He had gone home to eat, but had returned as was his custom after his late afternoon meal because it was quiet and now free of bothersome kids. With the people were two other Elders who’d been found on the way. The Elders gathered on the platform, staffs thumped, Shar made his report and in minutes a crowd of men and women bearing hunting spears, axes and even harvest knives were quickly making their way to Chilly Pool.

Jarom, is the Stranger dangerous do you think? Shar asked his son as they hurried along at a fast pace.

He seems awfully bad tempered but he’s not a very big stranger if that’s what you mean.

How big? Father asked.

I don’t think he’s much taller than me.

Oh... Father said looking to his two eldest sons. Broad shouldered Eldest was even taller than Shar and Second, who’d joined them at the Council Chamber, was slender, but just as tall as his elder brother and deceptively strong. Probably just we three are more than enough, Shar said glancing back at their large following, a significant chunk of the adult population. A Stranger had not come to their valley in a very long time according to the old tales and all were eager to see for themselves.

Despite widespread curiosity, the group decreased in size as Father led them in the prayers as they marched to Falling Waters. Shar himself might know all the prayers but not too many others could remember the long and complicated chant necessary for greeting a Stranger, let alone the prayers to make him return from where he came.

There he is, Jarom whispered as they slipped quietly out of the forest to the edge of Chilly Pool. Now almost dusk they could see the snoring Stranger still stretched out on the gravel where Falling Waters flowed into Chilly Pool and though asleep, he was pawing away at his balls.

What’s he doing to his dangle? one woman asked.

He certainly makes an awful noise, Mala, her neighbor, announced loudly.

Does he snore worse than me? Mal asked as wife Mala often complained he snored like a bear. Shar motioned for silence as he and his sons stepped closer. Shar was the first to approach the Stranger as he lay there snuffling and snorting.

Littlest certainly didn’t exaggerate the man’s reek, Eldest Son said wrinkling his nose.

There’s something about him that smells like liquor. Not Wallo, but something similar, Second Son observed.

Jarom, give your brother that container you found, Father said.

Jarom took the bottle from his pouch and handed it to Second who gave the bottle a slight shake, examined its contents; then yanked out the cork to have a sniff. This is it, liquor of some sort. He lifted the bottle to his mouth to take a small taste.

What are you doing? Eldest said loudly making to grab at the container. Second eluded his brother with a quick move and took a sip which he quickly spit out.

As I thought, similar to Wallo, but the quality is poor. Jarom, how much Healing Herb did he eat?

A big handful.

There you have it, Healing Herb and strong liquor...He will sleep for at least a day-if he lives.

If he lives? Father asked.

Look at him, skin and bones, Second shook his head. I’ve seen a corpse in better health.

Has he disease? asked Shar with concern. After all the first Stranger had died of a strange fever after only a few days.

No, this one has no sign of fever, Second said, but we should be careful not to touch him.

That shouldn’t be any trouble. We can roll him into a litter and carry him back to the village. Let’s everyone gather his things.

From the sight and smell of him, we would all be better off if we tossed him in Chilly Pool, grumbled Tata, an old woman who had a reputation for voicing her thoughts. I feel bad things might come from this.

He hasn’t harmed us, we won’t harm him, Shar said who felt a similar unease as he gazed at the Stranger’s weather-beaten face. The Elders want him brought back. We will follow The Way. The Stranger was wrapped in his own tarp, set on a litter, and as everyone chanted ‘Protect Us from Demons’ prayer, they hurried through the twilight for home.

Because the returning prayers and dancing took more time than it took to actually walk back to the Village, Shar led them around the long way so that just when the final stanza was repeated six times to appease the Spirits, they arrived at the center of the village and the Council Chamber’s big door where the entire group of Elders were now assembled all fitted out in their most formal Elder clothes including tall hats and their most intricately carved staffs.

The moment the Elders saw the group bearing the Stranger approach, they broke into chants, thumped their staffs, did the Elder Dance and Great Aunt Juna who was younger and still had the strongest voice told everyone to wait outside except Shar, his son Jarom, the Stranger and his possessions while the Council met privately to discuss the problem. The Stranger was carried into the chamber where he was laid out with all his possessions and everyone except Shar and Jarom, went outside to wait patiently for the discussion to end. After all, this was an important occasion in their quiet peaceful Valley which required the special uninterrupted attention of their Elders.

He’s drunk, isn’t he? Great Aunt Juna said as she looked down with distaste at the stranger shaking her head.

I can smell him from here, Old Wei said shaking his grizzled head.

Just what we needed our busiest time of year, a visit from some smelly drunken Stranger, groused Grandfather Tot.

The twists and turns of The Way are not always clear, whispered Ancient Old Grandmother who was so old she preferred to stand as much as possible because it took such effort to get back on her feet. He’s not ill is he like the first?

Old Yao, the First Healer and Second Son’s teacher, squatted at the side of the snoring Stranger to check the man’s body temperature and pulse.

He’s no fever, heart beat is normal. But he does smell like a dead mouse in a rotted Panga, Yao concluded.

Mercifully my nose is too old to detect that, Ancient Old Grandmother said. All right then, Sprout, the old woman said giving Jarom an amused look, tell us how you met the Stranger and no exaggerations. It’s said you’re quite the tale spinner.

Especially when it comes to inventing reasons as to why he didn’t learn his prayers, Old Wei said dryly as yet a sharp-witted old man when fully awake. For example, Shar, did you know your Jarom was actually carried away into the sky by Grandfather Eagle for an entire morning and couldn’t come to school?

Yes, yes, I heard it from Shara. But for punishment he was given wallo porridge without panga for breakfast the next four days and had to spend the entire afternoon after prayer training in the hottest part of the day cleaning pig plop from the shed.

My, my, chuckled the old man, that must have been unpleasant. He got up stiffly from his Elder’s stool supported by his staff and gestured up to a beam. Can you see this carving here? It’s hard to see without a lamp. Most of our People have no idea what it means but this carving depicts the first visit and the last visit as best we know from a Stranger of the Outside.

At least that’s what he says, Grandfather Tot said a bit peevishly. He’s a fairly creative tale teller himself.

It’s true enough, I was told the story by Ancient Alop some, wait, was it fifty years ago? And he had it from...somebody, an older Elder. Oh, and don’t forget the trunk.

What trunk? asked Grandfather Tot who clearly had forgotten the existence of any trunk.

You know, the one...somewhere... Old Wei struggled to remember.

Oh, for Love of The Way, it’s back with the other old things where it’s been for the last several hundred years, Ancient Old Grandmother said.

Wait, Great Aunt Juna interjected a bit alarmed. Shar’s not an Elder, he can’t be shown the secret room.

Secret Room? Shar exclaimed taken aback. A secret room in the Chamber was all news to him.

No secret now, Juna, thanks to you, chuckled Ancient Old Grandmother. Besides, if Shar is to be an Elder, does it matter?

What? Shar said now completely flummoxed. Strangers? Elder? Secret Room?

Father, what’s going on? Jarom asked.

Not your affair, said Yao. Here, he said handling a clay jar to Jarom. Sprinkle the Stranger with Fragrant Flower Water to hide the stink.

For Love of The Way, hasn’t Shar been told? Old Grandmother asked.

Told what? Old Wei asked.

You were supposed to tell Shar he should replace me.

I was?

Yes, we discussed this weeks ago when I told you I had selected Shar as my replacement and you said you would tell him right before the Harvest Festival.

Oh...I suppose it slipped my mind.

You want me to-but...I can’t, Shar protested now in a state of shock, I mean-

Don’t talk nonsense, Juna snapped. Shara’s already agreed.

She knew?

Knew what? Jarom asked looking up. The Stranger had just snorted loudly because Flower Water had dribbled up his nose.

Flower water, faster, Yao ordered the boy. "And careful