Uko's Legacy by Rod Panos

Author:Rod Panos [Panos, Rod]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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A trading visit called for celebration. For the first time since their arrival, Angus and Eilen saw the Mingi play host to a midday feast. A roar of voices surrounded the Mingi stage, filled to capacity. Eilen wondered why she and Angus were seated there among dignitaries. Su’ban’s work for sure. What is she planning? Beside her, La’ann spoke in her ear. “Ee’laan. Quiet, you are.”

Su’ban was occupied with the Bakeisiká Haku’iké. Daughters of the same calling, they seemed to have much to talk about. Ra’ahj and his counterpart also appeared to have business to discuss. The Bakeisiká, it seemed, served another valuable function, as news couriers.

Discussion ceased as Ra’ahj rose. Standing with raised hands, he announced, “From you, hearing, I ask ... News, there is.”

Ra’ahj returned to his seat, trading places with the Bakeisiká Haku’iké, who held herself silent for a moment. Assured of the crowd’s attention, she began speaking in a metered, somber voice. “From Nahélé’s clans, news, I bring ... In the north, crazy fire burned.”

Using every bit of language skill at her command, Eilen barely made sense of the story. She tried to picture a burning colōfn tree, finding the idea difficult to imagine. The crowd reaction and the Haku’iké’s somber tone told Eilen that uncontrolled fire fostered fear among the people of Nahélé.

The Haku’iké moved smoothly into a second story. “From Nahélé’s clans, news, I bring … the ’Ohebato, a sickness visited.”

In this way, Eilen learned of recent events affecting several of the forest clans and saw how the Bakeisiká wove a unifying commercial web among the clans much as the Raiju and her sister ships had knit together the worlds of Haven.

The news report ended in a simple declaration. “Ending, my stories have.”

But the Haku’iké was not completely finished. She also carried a more personal message. “From An’nii, greetings, I bring. For him speaking, I must ... Well, he is.” The announcement brought her to one last topic. The Haku’iké then raised an arm toward the Mingi first tier. “Four others with us are.”

At her bidding, four young men rose from the seated Bakeisiká group and made their way down the side aisle to the stage level. They arranged themselves to stand nervously in a row. The first stepped forward. “Lim’lii of the Máilobabato, I am. All day run I can.”

In like manner, the M’pepebato clan became acquainted with Lor’aal of the Kùmubato, Kal’tie of the Libangabato, and Bor’ahm of the Uayémbabato. The Nomads were marriage brokers as well.

Then Su’ban rose to speak. “Story to tell, also we have. Speaking, La’ann will.”

A nod from Su’ban brought La’ann to his feet. Spreading arms wide, he began. “Into the Mokililana a great flying stone fell. From a distant sister of Amon, visitors with it came.”

And that’s why we’re here, thought Eilen.

With La’ann’s animated telling, the origin of the M’pepebato clan’s newest members took one more step toward becoming forest lore. Bakeisiká storytellers would spread the tale to all of Nahélé’s villages.

Speeches ended and feasting began. Sometime

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