Marooned on Tashoo, Chapter 18

XVIII

Creating Talo-Vy’s Army

(Day 125 on Tashoo)

Another nightmare, why do I have these nightmares and what do they have to do with

me? They are all different, yet, I know they are all related, but I don’t know how they are related

to me.

As is the norm for my dreams, I am with Tyarza. In this dream, we are at a cabin, sitting on a

porch in a swing. Tyarza is wearing what used to be known as a summer dress, a dress made

from relatively thin material that allows the breeze to keep her cool in the summer heat. The

dress is lemon yellow with small white flowers all over it. She is also barefoot as would be

befitting such a warm summer setting. She is holding my hand in her soft, strong one. She is

smiling at me showing her perfectly straight white teeth through her brown lips as she softly

caresses my upper arm with her free hand. I am wearing a navy-blue T-shirt that has ITN in gray

lettering outlined in white on the front. I am also wearing navy blue mid-thigh cargo-style shorts.

Like Tyarza, I am also barefoot. Tyarza presses her thigh against mine and laughs at the

whiteness of my legs, but I am not offended. I laugh along with her. I start caressing the soft lion

yellow skin of her cheek. As I caress her cheek, she lays her head on my shoulder and sighs

softly. I can't remember ever feeling this way about another woman.

A soft breeze is blowing and tousling Tyarza's long blue-blond hair, blowing it into her face

causing her to brush it back repeatedly. Despite the aggravation of the breeze, she continues to

smile at me, even laughing as she tries to pin her hair behind her ears. She reaches up with her

hand and caresses my cheek. Slowly, she stretches up and softly kisses me. As she kisses me, I

can feel the breeze against my face. The breeze is cool, too cool in fact.

I feel the air cooling perceptively as it suddenly becomes darker. Gradually, it becomes darker

and darker as a fog rolls in. The fog forms at the periphery of my vision and slowly clouds what I

am seeing. Finally, Tyarza is enveloped in the fog and starts to fade away. I see her start to speak.

I see her saying, “Mvilu, I am your destiny and you are mine. Overlook my seeming anger at

times. I am testing your love for me. Come for me. I am waiting for you.”

As Tyarza fades, she is replaced by the Khorcha that haunt my nightmares and prevent me from

the happiness that I desire. I see the female Khorcha, Rokshesan, sitting in a seat next to a large

machine.

*****

Rokshesan doesn’t hesitate. As strange as it may sound, her unhesitating willingness to be the

test subject only causes my fears to become stronger. She walks to the machine and sits in the

chair. The machine looks almost exactly like photos of the old form of execution that was used in

the United States of America in the Twentieth Century known as the electric chair. This only adds

to my fears. The main difference between this chair and the old electric chair is the fact that this

chair is heavily padded. The chair has straps for the wrists and ankles causing me even more

concern. At the top of the chair is a metallic “dome” about thirty centimeters in diameter. This

dome can be raised or lowered as necessary to reach the top of the subject’s cranium. To the top

of this dome three wires are attached in a design that looks like an equilateral triangle, one wire

is just above the center of the forehead and the other two are above the ears. The wires are

twisted together and go into a machine that looks like something out of a 500-year-old horror

movie. The machine is about two hundred fifty centimeters tall by three hundred centimeters wide

by one hundred centimeters deep. It looks like a rectangular box. On the front of the machine are

all types of dials, switches and gauges. The dials are numbered from zero to one hundred in

increments of five. The dials and switches are between eye and hand level to a Khorcha. The

gauges are in rows with large gauges in the top and bottom rows and getting progressively

smaller toward the center of the face of the machine. Each row was about five centimeters apart

as were the gauges. I almost laugh when I see it. It is that ridiculous looking.

Rokshesan sits in the chair, which is plenty big enough to hold a Terran gorilla AND chimpanzee

together. Dreydos straps her wrists and ankles to the chair and adjusts the, for want of a better

word, cap to her cranium. He walks over to the machine and presses a button and a low hum can

be heard in the room. Dreydos is watching a dial that is near the center of the face of the

machine near eye level for a human and, when the needle reads seventy-five, he steps over to a

switch that looks like three strong humans couldn’t move it and pushes it up as if it is a feather.

He then steps over to another dial and, when it reads fifty, he turns a switch that looks like a

radio volume control switch. The next thing I know I am hearing Rokshesan’s voice coming out

of a speaker just to Dreydos’s left.

Rokshesan’s voice sounds like she is either drunk or drugged due to being somewhat monotone,

is telling about how her “chickhood” was formed by her parents almost from the second that she

hatched out of her egg. She was the runt of the clutch, and, naturally, her parents showed no

compassion for her. It seems that on Khorcha only the strong are allowed to survive, which is

why the Khorcha have no respect for humans who care for the sick and weak of our species.

Because of this, Rokshesan decided that she was going to be the most important Khorcha that

ever lived.

She stole food from her clutch mates at every opportunity. She even tried to steal food from her

parents once. She got caught and was commended for her ingenuity. But, she was also severely

punished, not for stealing, but for getting caught. As a result of this food stealing, in a short

amount of time, she was no longer the runt. As a matter of fact, she became the dominant chick

in her clutch.

After this last bit of information, Dreydos shuts the machine down, which is done in reverse

order of the powering up of the machine. After the machine is completely shut down, he tenderly

releases Rokshesan. I never even remotely thought of the Khorcha as being tender. But, I guess

that love can make any creature tender towards the loved one.

*****

This nightmare is as realistic as any of the others I have experienced since I arrived in Talo-Vy.

Like all of the others, because of its realness, it is frightful almost beyond words. I cannot

understand why I have them. I cannot understand why they come in two parts. Do they hold the

secret of my past, as I believe, and my future, as I hope, or are they nothing more than figments

of an overworked imagination? If they do hold the secret of my forgotten past, I am not certain I

want to know the truth about it. But, if they are a key to my future, I can hardly wait for the

future to arrive.

This dream is causing me undue stress, like all the others I’ve experienced. I can feel myself

tossing and turning in my bedding. I can feel a cold sweat rolling down my arms, back and face.

I can hear myself moaning and groaning. My moans and groans are loud enough to bring me

close to awakening, but not close enough to open my eyes. My groans must have awakened Ara

because I can hear her scratching on my door and calling my name. I hear the door opening and

Ara’s voice grows louder.

She calls to me, “Mvilu? Please wake up. I can tell you are having another nightmare.”

Slowly, my eyes open and I see Ara standing near my door. I guess she still remembers the time

that she got too close to me when I woke up unexpectedly. I also remember, and more

importantly regret, almost hurting her. As I open my eyes, I look groggily about before I say to

her, “Yes. Yes, I—I was having another nightmare. Thank you for waking me up. Is it time to get

up?”

“I was on my way to start the nakyvy when I heard you.”

“Then, I will get up, get dressed and help. I doubt I could sleep anymore tonight anyway.”

*****

Thanks to the meat and food rations that were sent to Ara’s home from Sha'-Naky, Ara was able

to prepare a great nakyvy that featured fewer vegetables and more meat. Because of the extra

protein from the meat over the last few days, I had noticed that Ara’s body was starting to take

on a more noticeably feminine shape and tone and Rora’s muscles had started to become more

pronounced. Come to think of it, my muscles had started becoming more toned as a result of this

change in diet along with my morning exercise routine and the hard work we had been doing on

the mota. I had to ensure that we continued having enough meat to satisfy the needs of all three

of us and I was going to do just that at the next opportunity.

For the first time since I arrived in her home, Ara did not immediately get up from our meal and

clear the table. She merely stood up, walked into the living room and sat down. I don’t know

who was more surprised, me or Rora, but we were both smart enough to not say anything to her.

I turned to Rora, shrugged my shoulders and smiled. I cleared the table and headed into the

kitchen. I had just started washing the dishes when I heard a sound behind me. I turned and saw

Rora standing there with a questioning look on his face.

“Norotha is acting strangely this morning, is she not, Mvilu? I wonder what is wrong with her.”

“She probably just wants a day off, Rora. Even among the Uany, anohachy, especially anorotha,

want, and need, a day off every now and then just to rest. Odds are good that she will be back to

her old self later today or tomorrow at the latest. So, I am going to act as if nothing has changed

for me. Today, I will be a proper slave to your norotha and take care of her hand and foot.”

“You are a strange one, Mvilu. You know Norotha does not want to be treated that way.”

“Perhaps not on a normal day.” I paused for a moment, thinking. “By the way, do you know

when your norothany birthday is?”

“Birthday?”

“Yes, the day on which she was born. I am sure she remembers when you were born. Of course,

she went through an awful lot just so you could be here. Maybe you should think about that

every once in a while.”

Rora was silent for several athata. Finally, he said, “I guess I never thought that Norotha had

birthdays. I know she has always helped me celebrate my birthday, but I guess I was just too

selfish to think about her having a birthday to celebrate.”

“Rora, I know you better than that. Selfishness is the last word I would use to describe you. You

were just a chorothoo. Most arothoo do not think about their norotha as being anything but being

their norotha.”

“You are quite right, Mvilu. I had never thought about it until you brought it to my attention just

now. To every Mory, nohachy or chohachy, their norotha is the most important thing in their life.

That is why we are willing to kill quicker over an insult to our norotha than to ourselves.”

“It is the same with most Uany, as well, Rora. You can say almost anything about their chorotha,

but leave their norotha alone. Now, are you going to stand there acting like my master, or are you

going to give me a hand with these dishes?” I said, laughing.

Rora rolled his eyes and walked over to the sink and started rinsing and drying the dishes. It

didn’t take us long to do the dishes since we only had six utensils apiece.

After we finished the dishes, Rora and I walked back into the living room and found Ara sitting

relaxed in her chair with her eyes closed, a book in her lap and a beatific smile on her furry face.

When we walked in, she opened her eyes, turned to us and said, “Why did you wash the dishes? I

would have washed them in a little while.”

I said, “I know, Ara. I just thought that you would like to have a day of rest every now and again.

I have also decided to be a proper slave today and wait on you hand and foot. So, tell me, what is

your bidding, Mistress?”

“My bidding is that you and Rora go ahead and get back to work on the mota. Oh, and do not call

me Mistress.”

I laughed and said, “Yes, Mistress.” Ara just looked at me through half closed eyes, shook her

head and smiled.

Rora had started toward the door and was waiting for me. I joined him just as someone started

scratching on the door. Being the slave, it would not have been proper for me to open the door. In

fact, for me to do so would likely have ended my life because any Mory chohachy that saw a

slave open a door would have thought he was trying to escape and would have struck the slave

down without a second thought; so, it fell to Rora to answer the door.

“Chitekuro. May I help you?” Rora said shortly after opening the door.

An unfamiliar voice from outside the door said, “Chitekuro. Is this the home of My-Rora and his

slave Mvilu?”

“Yes, it is. I am My-Rora. Welcome to our humble home. Please enter and grace us with your

presence.”

A young Mory chohachy, perhaps 14 or 15 years old, I had never seen before entered the house

and looked directly at me. He said, “I wish my home was as luxurious as yours. I am Te’-Maky.

Today is Cha-Vamoony day off from working as door guard at the Suala Ka’ynony. You are

Mvilu?”

Lo-Nachoo interrupted and said, rather sarcastically, “I have but one brother.”

This revelation, for some reason, didn't seem to surprise me although I knew next to nothing

about Lo-Nachoo's family. “In that case, Great One, your brother. To continue, below the

Ka’yno’s brother are the Aka’. These are the three levels of semi-permanent ranks. Below the

Aka’, in order, would be Genara, Kachata, Konara, Kamada, Maja, Looten, Ensana, Sajate,

Kashara, and, finally, Rayvatu.”

Lo-Nachoo interrupted and said, “These words, Genara, Kachata, Konara, etc., are not words

within the language of Tashoo. Where do they come from?”

“Great One, they are words similar to words I remember from the fragmented memories of my

past. Because the mouths of the Mory are unable to create certain sounds, I corrupted the words

to make them easier for the Mory to say. Please do not be offended by my doing this for you.”

Ka' Hoo-Kavy said, “We are not offended. In fact, we are honored that you concern yourself with

assisting the Mory with words that may be impossible for us to pronounce. Please continue.”

“I thank you, my Lord, Ka' Kavy. To continue, each higher rank would be directly in charge of

two or three members of the next lower rank. In other words, each of the Aka’ would have two

or three Genara below him; each Genara would have two or three Kachata below him and so on.”

Ka' Thaty asked, “What advantage would this ranking system give us?”

“As I said earlier, my Lord, during the battle a few days ago, other than Ka’ Re-Sheshoo, I saw

virtually no leadership. Each chohachy fought for himself and himself only. If the Ka’ had been

killed, who would have taken over the leadership role in the battle? I would assume it would

have been Ka’ Ky-Kikoo because he is a Ka’, but I am not certain if this would be the case.”

Ka' Thaty said, “No, Ka’ Ky-Kikoo would not have taken over because he was not in his Ka’na.

Therefore, the achohachy would not have listened to him. However, I understand now what you

are saying. Please continue.”

“Thank you, my Lord. Another advantage would be this. With this ranking system, the Ka' of the

Ka'na would not have to resolve each and every little dispute or answer each and every question

that one of his achohachy has. A Kapara, for example, could go to his Sajate with any problems.

If the Kapara is not satisfied with the Sajate's answer, he could go up his chain of command until

he is either satisfied, or understands why he cannot have his way about a problem.

“Next, the number of achohachy in each level of hierarchy would depend on how many

achohachy are living in each Ka’na and how many achohachy the Ka’ wants to put in each

respective level of the hierarchy. My suggestion would be to have the greatest number of

achohachy at the lowest rank.”

Ka' Chakoo asked, “How do we decide which achohachy receive which ranking?”

“That would depend on the Ka’ in question, my Lord. My personal suggestion would be this,

though. The more experienced a chohachy is or the longer the chohachy has lived in Talo-Vy, the

higher his rank would be to start. Because Mory achohachy respect experience and abilities in a

chohachy, I doubt any achohachy would be upset at the decision of his Ka’. After that, I would

suggest a testing system.”

Ka' Kavy said, “In other words, if I were choosing for the ranking of Ensana and I had one

chohachy that had been a chohachy for five years and one that had been a chohachy for four

years, I should choose the chohachy with five years’ experience. Is that what you are saying?”

“Not exactly, my Lord. However, that would be one way of doing it. But, if the chohachy with

four years’ experience is a better chohachy with better leadership qualities than the one with five

years’ experience, then the one with less experience as a chohachy probably would be a better

selection as Ensana. Also, as I said earlier, you could also choose to test each chohachy for his

rank.”

Ka' Kikoo asked, “What do you mean, 'test'?”

“What I mean, my Lord, is this. You could ask a potential candidate questions about what he

would do in certain battle situations, what he knows about the history of Talo-Vy, what he knows

about the history of the Ka’na in which he lives, what he knows about his Ka’, within reason of

course, and then promote the candidate who gives the best answers to your questions. Of course,

the questions I mentioned are merely suggestions. You could choose better questions or more

important ones. You could also put each of the candidates into a simulated battle to judge is

abilities. However, I would strongly suggest not promoting anyone more than one rank.” All of

the Aka', surprisingly, even the Ka'yno, nodded their heads in agreement with this suggestion.

Ka' Mooky asked, “When would we promote a chohachy to a higher rank?”

“That would depend on you, my Lord. But, I would suggest promoting a chohachy only when an

opening is created. Since death occurs on a regular basis here, these openings would probably

happen sooner rather than later.”

Ka' Thaty asked, “Why would our achohachy want to be a part of such an idea?”

“My Lord, most achohachy would enjoy the prestige that a higher rank would bring with it. Plus,

do not the achohachy receive payment for their services to the Ka’na?”

“Yes, they do.”

“Then I would suggest that the Ka’yno set up a payment allowance for each rank of the hierarchy

that got higher with each higher rank. This pay allowance would allow the achohachy of Talo-Vy,

or each Ka’na, to be able to purchase more and better items from the market shop owners. The

higher rank the chohachy holds, the more different items he could purchase and create a better

life for himself. I realize that what I am suggesting is unheard of, but, if you want your

achohachy to be more animated in their defense of Talo-Vy, you must be willing to change the

way things are done.”

Lo-Nachoo spoke up. “You are right, Uany. What you are suggesting is unheard of in Talo-Vy.

But, why should we change the way we have done things for more than twenty-five thousand

years? After all, the achohachy are expected to defend their Ka'na and Talo-Vy if they are

attacked.”

“Simple, my Lord. If Talo-Vy attacks a village in retaliation for an attack it first experienced, the

village attacked might think twice before attacking Talo-Vy again. However, there are two

requirements for such a future attack to be successful.”

Ka' Thaty said, “What would that be?”

“For such an attack to be successful, the attack must be unexpected, which it would be since it

would, basically, violate tradition, and it must be overpowering. In other words, my Lords,

Talo-Vy must be willing to punish the enemy and make them unwilling to risk another attack

against Talo-Vy for fear of the reprisal.”

The entire Ishoo'se was silent for several athalloo, even Lo-Nachoo had nothing to say. I had

touched on a raw nerve. From the history lessons I had received from Ara, I knew that

suggesting all-out war against an enemy risked bringing back the days of old when each Mory

was basically against every other Mory. I believe that every one of the Ishoo'se members had the

same question, but nobody wished to voice it.

I gave them several athata to think about what I had suggested. Finally, I said, “I know what

must be going through the mind of each and every one of you. My mistress, My-Ara, has taught

me about the history of the great Mory race and of your many prophets and prophetesses. I also

know how the Mory at one time had no unity and fought against each other for the meager food

resources. But, what has changed since those days? Several things. Now, the Mory live in

villages, grow their own food and attack each other in groups instead of as individuals. I also

know that your prophets of old never condemned retaliatory attacks to prevent future attacks.

Therefore, what I am suggesting might, in actuality, prevent future attacks and may even help to

enlarge the population to where archaic laws such as the Chorotha-Rothoo Law can be

abandoned.”

The last statement was an attempt to feel out Lo-Nachoo. I wanted to know how much he abused

that law. If he got angry, or found an excuse to absolutely refuse to inaugurate my idea, then the

Ishoo'se Aka’ny would have the excuse they needed to overturn the law without his approval. I

knew that it would take at least six of the Ishoo'se members to approve the overturning of any

law. I was hoping, for the sake of the Mory-Talo-Vy, that I could convince the necessary six Aka’

my idea was sound.

I believe that Lo-Nachoo knew what I was doing. Because the next thing he said was, “Uany,”

Not sarcastically for a change? I wasn’t sure I would like this. “What you have suggested is more

than a little radical. I cannot ask, nor will I expect, the Ishoo'se Aka’ny to vote on these

suggestions without considerable debate, especially the retaliatory attacks idea. However, may I

ask you what your hierarchy idea would have to say about a lower ranking individual attacking

and killing a higher ranking individual so he could move up in the hierarchy?”

“The answer to that, Great One, is simple. All that has to be done is to tell all the achohachy that

killing another chohachy of Talo-Vy, or more specifically one of their Ka'na, without just

provocation, would be little more than murder and the guilty party would be tried for such a

crime. I am sure you are wondering what would be considered just provocation. Therefore, I will

go ahead and answer. Just provocation would be the same as it is now, with one exception. The

provocation would have to be witnessed by a minimum of three witnesses who have nothing to

gain by the death of the higher-ranking individual, such as individuals that rank higher than the

one killed, or individuals from another Ka’na.”

Lo-Nachoo said, rather calmly, “You seem to have everything thought out pretty well, Uany. One

would almost think that you have experienced something of this before.”

“In truth, Great One, I have had dreams that seem to indicate such a situation. Perhaps that is

where I got the idea but, as I said when I first started explaining this idea, it was the battle with

Te’ka-Jy that made me think of this for Talo-Vy.”

“I see. Then, you and your master may leave. It is almost time for the nakyvo. The Ishoo'se

Aka’ny is adjourned until first thing tomorrow morning. We will then consider the slave’s

proposal and vote on it.”

I said, “Great One, there is one more thing the Ishoo'se Aka'ny should consider. That would be

the matter of how would the achohachy show proper respect for those of higher rank.”

“What would you suggest?”

“There are two ways that I can think of. First, the lower ranking chohachy would initiate a salute

which the higher ranking chohachy would return. The lower ranking chohachy would be required

to hold his salute slightly longer than his superior. Second, the lower ranking chohachy could

give the higher ranking chohachy a slight bow. Of course, the Ishoo'se Aka'ny could come up

with their own idea.”

Ka' Sheshoo said, “I do not know this word you used, salootu. Please explain what that word

means.”

“I am sorry, my Lord. A salute is performed by taking your right hand and touching the fingertips

to your head just above the eyes, like this.” I demonstrated an ITN salute, which is the upper arm

is at a 45-degree angle from the body and the tip of the middle finger touches just above the

center of the right eyebrow, for the Ishoo'se Aka'ny. “This is just one of hundreds of different

types of salutes that could be used. The salute is one of the oldest methods of showing a

higher-ranking individual respect in my home—village.”

After watching me perform a salute, the Ka'yno said, “This is something else for the Ishoo'se

Aka'ny to consider, Uany. The two of you may leave.”

**********

1-As I mentioned before, the counting system of the Mory is extremely cumbersome and

difficult. What she actually said was, “This is year hoohachashoova shoovatithe'

(twenty-five-three) from my birth.” That is why I have chosen to use the Terran counting system

from now on, except in necessary instances for better understanding.

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