XVII
Sha’-Naky
(Day 120 on Tashoo)
The Mory are very pragmatic and don’t mourn long for their dead. As a matter of fact, except for
close friends and family, and those that fought alongside of them, nobody showed up at any of
the “burials” of those killed in the battle. All of the fallen had been buried on the same day which
is the norm after any battle. The burials consisted of sliding the bodies head first into a hole in
the side of one of the Trees of the Dead Achohachy. I could hear the bodies sliding into the
interior of the tree, but the bodies sounded like they were going downward and further away
from us, a long way away from us. The first body seemed to slide for over a thalloo before it
stopped.
Because we had fought side by side, all of the achohachy in the battle, including Rora, the Ka’
Ky-Kikoo, the Ka’ Re-Sheshoo, and I attended the burials. It seemed that everything in the
village revolved around the trees. It was a long time before I found out why.
When he saw me at the “funeral”, Ka' Sheshoo spoke to me and said, “Chitekuro, Mvilu. Once
again I wish to offer up my apologies to you for my vote. I will have a hard time forgiving
myself for it.”
“Chitekuro, Ka' Sheshoo. Please do not continue to claw yourself, my Lord. I had already
forgotten about your vote as soon as the Ka’ Kikoo voted to let me live and if he had voted for
my death, it would not have mattered how who voted and why. It is easy for me to forget what
some would hold as a grudge, especially if I know it was done without prejudice against me
personally.”
“Once again, I thank you, Mvilu. I look forward to assisting you in any way I can when you start
digging the mota. As a matter of fact, I may assist Mu-Naka as Ka' of the project.” After he said
this, Ka’ Sheshoo gave me the Mory sign of friendship and left.
