The Fifth Civilization: A Novel
Page 38
“Or something else.”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. What could have caused the moon’s destruction? The finger of God, maybe? An asteroid?”
“There’s no telling,” David said, shaking his head. “My own theory was that it was a super particle, a remnant from the Big Bang, traveling beyond the speed of light—but it could have been an extremely large body, or some star burst. Many have theorized on this, you know. There are strong energies in the universe. We won’t have any solid answers until we get to that moon. I assume the locals have some fascinating legends that I desperately want to hear.”
David stood. He held out his talon, and Roan took it to heave himself up. The stars were out now, and it was the most brilliant light show he’d even seen. Aaron’s Planet didn’t have the orange and neon glow of the urban sprawl of Earth. Even the underdeveloped colonies couldn’t compare. This place was absolutely dark. Stars twinkled from a million different systems, and far-flung galaxies were visible as faint splotches. Overhead, the Milky Way spilled infinitely to the horizon.
“Where do you suppose Earth is?” Roan asked, his star navigation training long faded from his memory.
“Over there, I’d say,” David said, pointing to a quadrant of the sky over the rightmost mountain. “I’m unfamiliar with star charts in this part of the galaxy, though.”
David pointed to a star in the sky, right above the horizon, glowing red. “That’s Bauxa’s sun, if I’m not mistaken. And Nydaya is…well, my planet might not be visible this time of year.”
“How about that,” Roan said, forcing a smile. “Looking up the stars can make you feel pretty crowded sometimes, doesn’t it?”
“Yes it can,” David said, squawking. There was much more that needed to be discussed, Roan thought, and there would be plenty of time to do it in Kotaran custody. Theories on the origin of life, speculation about the planet, recounting their two-month journey. What to do when they got back to Earth. What they remembered about Aaron. About Kel.
Roan was going to say something of finality, but thought against it. He let the moment speak for itself. David’s head shined gold, and the two of them stepped back onto the craggy rocks, working their way from the cliff back to the ship. Through the woods, the dim lights of the Kotaran mothership beckoned them back for the night.
***
Two Mountains watched the two sit on the ledge, his eyes well suited for darkness. David and Nikrun had been talking on that outcropping for a long while, and now were beginning to move up the hill. The native watched while sitting on a log not too far from the cliff, safely out of view. He preferred it that way, wanting to meditate now instead of attracting attention.
His fellow warriors were sleeping near the big Kotaran enclosure. They’d found sufficiently level ground in the woods and were resting close to the clearings, where kegars rarely tread. Two Mountains had thought that too dangerous, being as they were too close to the Kotarans, but David tried to explain the current state of things. His hand gestures and drawn images were still baffling, but the warrior gathered that the Kotarans were friends now. The most evil Kotaran had been trampled by duexi and now they must make friends with his comrades.
That seemed to be enough for the other warriors, but Two Mountains was still wary. Who were these Kotarans anyway—if they were not demons, why could they kill and fly around the skies? And if David and Nikrun and the green man were all angels, why would they ally themselves with the Kotarans? Surely there was an explanation, and that is why the Chiefs had sent him here in the first place. But the answers could not come easily. Two Mountains was not sure if he believed the visitors from the heavens, yet they were certainly not worldly creatures.
In the end, he decided not to sleep and to stay up for the rest of the day and night. While his fellow warriors dreamed, he went away to think. One period without rest would not kill him. He’d done it before, during the Initiation training. He even found that without sleep for a sustained period, he became more lucid, could see things clearly, almost like chewing the qiba. Perhaps in this state he could gauge the true intentions of these people.
Whatever the case, the legends and myths of the Hedda were surely to change with these stories. He thought back to Hedda, his home seeming so far away. He knew roughly their present location, but with their trip in those flying boats it was going to be an even longer journey back. Snowy Island was waiting for him, probably worried. She would be comforting the child, rocking and nursing her, stroking her whiskers and telling him Father would be home soon.
“God, show me the answers,” he said aloud, looking up at the sky, where God surely was. Only the stars twinkled. Were they lights? The eyes of offlanders? These were his people’s stories, now in doubt. Two Mountains was comforted by two familiar sights on the horizon, shafts of light barely visible. They were the two new moons, the month of Yetli Va just beginning.
Moon and half-moon, Two Mountains began, in silent prayer to the two objects. At least you will be there to light my way home.
Acknowledgements
This book would not have been possible without influence from the following: my mother, Anne, who instilled in me a love of reading and writing; my father, James, who I have many times discussed religion and philosophy and the stars; and my brother Daniel, with whom I share a love of sci-fi and politics that shaped much of The Fifth Civilization.
The works of Michael Chabon and Alexander Dumas finally inspired me to begin a novel six years ago. I suppose I owe the Milwaukee County Zoo a thank you as well, since I wrote a lot of this book while on the clock there. Things can get pretty boring when you’re sitting in a popcorn wagon all day.
Debra Rossing and S.A. Gibson reviewed my manuscript and helped me immensely with editing. Errors in grammar, spelling, science, and anything else are wholly my own.
Danielle Pahlisch designed a beautiful cover for me. Check out her work over at http://www.daniellemariefineart.com/. Seriously, she’s a great artist.
KSquare Magazine published my first chapter online and deserves thanks for bringing extra attention to my novel.
A special thank you goes out to Krista Eichhorst, my continuing partner in the writing life. Her advice, ruminations, edits, and wit have all helped The Fifth Civilization for the better. The universe could not have provided me with a more extraordinary friend.
Finally, thanks to all those I haven’t mentioned who have helped make this novel a reality. Whether you read a few chapters of the manuscript or lent an attentive ear as I related the plot to you, you have my gratitude.
Peter Bingham-Pankratz
April 2016
About the Author
Peter Bingham-Pankratz is a Wisconsin native and graduate of Beloit College. A lover of stories all his life, Peter first wrote and illustrated his own amateur comic books as a young boy and gradually honed his writing talents from there. When not writing, he enjoys hiking and searching for the best Wisconsin beer.
This is Peter’s first novel.