But, Dear Readers, before we start, I want to tell you about a remarkable opportunity for both writers and/or the Ecologically Minded to Save Our World. $12,000 cash prizes…. See suespeaks.org/how-we-saved-the-world I too am contributing. Spread the news, Good People…. Pretty Please, Maurice.

Share

“The best teachers are those who have already learned to self-observe” Anon.

12942BBBC.

Our Good Island Folk were intensely curious about the newcomers in their small crafts that had accompanied Skandar’s explorers. A little taller and broader than their hosts, yet of an easy disposition. Communication was a problem at first, until Wijken noticed that the visitors appeared fascinated by the skin image, and the massive tree sculpt, of the twins mother - in particular the dot and line symbols on both. One woman appeared to be explaining something to the others. Wijken took her hand to touch the markings. The woman spoke, pointing to the figure, then to herself, then to Wijken, who, guessing at the meaning, touched the figures stomach then the woman’s and her own, followed by a pantomime of cradling a baby. The woman laughed in delight, pointed at several men whilst repeating another word, shaking her head vigorously, thereby causing much merriment. Wijken then placed a hand on her breast, giving her name, bowing. Likewise Esterigh introduced herself, and her people as the Navan, the first language lesson achieved. Wijken had long suspected, like Benedara, that these symbols represented a common form of language. Here was the joyous confirmation. Over the winter moons they learned to converse in detail, taking great pleasure in matching their signage skills. However Esterigh knew nothing of the origins of Moeder van Dreyfuss or that of the longboat wreck and skeletons.

12941BBBC.

Klenten came and with it, another trek south to the cairn of Moeder Av Dreyfuss, where the two new best friends were able to perform the Navan history, whose name meant “Travelers between Mountains.” Over a thousand cycles earlier they had arrived with a different name, from a different place, to live as hunters on the broken icefields, just south of this region until the sudden terrible flood had taken over half their people unawares. The rest had been slowly regrouping further north around an estuarial mouth, where freshwater fish leapt into the small craft they were learning to shape. Into this scene Skandar’s crew had sailed. Wijken could make little sense of Esterigh’s responses as to their actual origins or older name. That Klenten night she tried again, the younger woman simply shrugged and said the knowledge had drowned with our elders. Some moments later she stabbed a finger at points of light in the sky, stooped for a handful of dust, scattering it far. “Skydust ?!” thought Wijken, “That’s crazy…”, and left it at sitting. When she woke, Esterigh was gone.

As the cycles of seasons repeated, the Navan and the Good Islanders became one people, yet could never decide on a name that satisfactorily identified all. Discussions ran many winters. Wijken and her offspring pushed for retention of D’Akanii, Skandar felt unable to support this, perhaps because of his love for his Navan woman. The twins advocated for Dreyfussenen Av Gottland. Even though there was little acrimony, Klenten councils reached no consensus. The twins took to preparing each Klentenfest earlier and earlier, turning it into the major event of the year at which Wijken would retell the Legend of Orolandus and the long journey of the D’Akanii. Only gradually did she introduce the concept that this new home was that of the New Golden Lantern.

Meanwhile Birgin and Skandar had discovered a source of large shells they could grind to a keen sharpness, and a method to affix a number of these blades to a single handle. Finally they had a tool that could sever the tree sculpt. The children watched in awe for days as the two men strained to achieve a rhythm. “ZiggaZaarga ZiggaZaarga” they cried. Lowering the loosened figure with ropes, rolling it on logs to their ship, Skandars crew proudly sailed their beloved totem to the coast below Moeder av Dreyfuss’ cairn. Getting the huge weight off the vessel proved to be a nightmare. A dock and ramp were needed, which required every adult hand to create, taking some days. At one point the ship broke it’s moorings, leaving the sculpt bridging a gap between ramp and prow, and there it remained for the whole of Klentenfest. The struggle continued for moons before the sculp was finally dragged on rollers up the slope for erection behind the Cairn, just in time for the next Klentenfest. Wijken presented a new large skin image of the sculpt projecting from the ships prow, that did not include any trace of the dock or ramp.

Wijken had long been accepted as the Oracle by both the D’Akanii and the Navan, yet she steadfastly refused the title of Ed’Uahaana, until such time as the tribe could settle it’s own new name. She continued to seek and disburse knowledge and wisdoms, earning gratitude in the form of far too many gifts, … despite her protests. Skandar suggested a solution “Let the children recreate your skin of our Totem Boat, and return the gifts to thank them at the Klentenfest”… And so the rituals and her stature expanded.

12932BBBC.

Now, at 40 cycles, Wijken, the oldest surviving female of the flood, felt tired, and so taught her immediate circle to teach the increasing number of youngsters. Skandar at 41, has fathered many children with both his Navan spouses. Brother and sister have drifted apart. Feeling guilty at this he resolves to build a community teaching hall, including more comfortable quarters for Wijken.. She agrees on the condition that it be shaped and named the Oval hall, after that of Old Orolandus. During the construction she becomes seriously injured. Having lost the ability to walk unaided, a byre is built, on which she is carried to each Klentenfest. The bearers are six of Skandar’s sons, surrounded by the twins and Wijken’s girls, led by Skandar. Wijken repairs and wears her Grandfather’s headband. This new ritual leads to more headbands worn at successive fests and ceremonies. Skandar, still feeling guilty, now protective of his sister, acts as her gatekeeper, which angers her, the rift returns.

12912BBBC.

Wijken, Oracle and Teacher, has reached her 60th cycle, Skandar has died during the Winter, followed by the frail Wijken, just days before the Klentenfest, which is a period of mourning for the entire tribe. Birgit and Birgen attempt to console their gebretheren, yet somehow unexpectedly sow the seeds of both disintegration and new Great Adventures.

To Be Continued…….

Share Maurice’s Substack

NeXt A,B,C + D. Weds 24th Jan. Enter the G.Y. Dragon.

NeXt Article. Sun 28th Jan. Affordable Ecohomes.

NeXt Inspirational Episode. Weds 32st Jan. The Boathouse Right Now.

NeXt t’Otherwith Tale. Weds 6th Feb. Big City Boy.

JUST going back to saving the world, as mentioned at the top of this post, I believe that if everyone who reads Sues concept forwards it to friends and family, ad infinitum we could create a viral global benefit. REALLY. Peace at last ?! Please feel free to tell me what you think, I really wanna hear from you…….. More on this soon, as there is a deadline - Valentine’s Day.

Leave a comment

THANKYOU FOR BEING HERE, PEACE, MAURICE.