This book is self-published by Laurie Fitzgerald. It’s being published this way in order to grant the author the liberty of including certain material in the book that some publishers won’t allow.
This book contains sensitive subject matter. Nuworld: Claiming Tara is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. She doesn’t really know what will happen in our future. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 by Laurie Fitzgerald. All rights reserved.
FOREWARD
THERE ARE SO MANY WORDS…
WHILE WRITING Nuworld: Claiming Tara, which takes place on our planet roughly 900 years in the future, something that crossed my mind was language. Words change over time. 900 years ago people spoke a lot differently than we do now. Even in our lifetime we have seen changes in our language. I know I’m always trying to keep up with new expressions and slang that my boys use. It only makes sense that in the future people will speak differently than we do now. I decided—and you’re very welcome for this—not to create a new language for my characters to speak. It was continually on my mind, however, that living so far into our future; the characters in Nuworld: Claiming Tara would very likely be impossible for us to understand. I wanted this to be on your mind when you read this story, as it was on mine. My son, Jonathan, helped me research. We also used our imagination, which means we made words up. For the sake of making this a good read, or at least I hope you will think it is, many words in this book are the same as those we use today. However, to help give the feel of a different society, others are not. Don’t worry. I’ve included a glossary for exact definition of these words, in case you need it.
THERE IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW…
I ORIGINALLY wrote this book twenty years ago. Coming up on that anniversary inspired me to enter this world once again. When I started writing Darius and Tara’s story I was going through a rough time in my life. I escaped into this world, into the future with these characters, and wrote the entire series—the original six books—in a couple of years. Today there are nine books, however only six have seen the light of day. This book, along with the five that follow it, were previously published. However, all of them are no longer in print. If you’re curious, or wish to compare the old with the new, Nuworld: Claiming Tara was previously published as Nuworld: The Saga Begins. You might be able to find some copies on eBay, or I’m sure someone is selling downloads of it on Amazon. It seemed appropriate to change the title when I began making so many changes in to the story. Along with returning Nuworld: Claiming Tara to its original, raw and gritty state before editors got their hands on it, there was another change I knew I needed to make. Laurie Fitzgerald is taking credit for writing these books since Lorie O’Clare didn’t exist when they were originally written.
AND FINALLY, FROM THE FUTURE IN THE FUTURE…
THERE ARE so many side notes involved with this series: notes going into further details in certain scenes, autobiographies of many of the characters (leaders did that sort of thing), and writings from a few of the characters. If these books reach any level of success, or if you simply ask nicely, I might publish some of them on my website for you to read. I am going to share a short piece of Lord Andru’s writing, even though by the end of this book he is only three. I think it makes for the perfect INTRODUCTION into this book. He wrote it approximately forty winters after Nuworld: Claiming Tara. I invite you to visit my website at www.lauriefitzgerald.net. Join my newsletter, befriend me on facebook, or simply send an e-mail and let me know what you think of this book. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Laurie
GLOSSARY:
Activate – Sign on/log on to a computer. Age Of Searching – this is a Runner tradition. Young Runners between 18 and usually no older than 23 leave their clan and travel (almost always alone) to learn more about Nuworld and experience different cultures. They return to their clan afterward and are considered an adult. Bangstick – Looks very similar to our rifles or a large pistol. They vary in size and use bullets. Beam – Flashlight. Caller – a telephone. It’s a Gothman term. A caller is attached to the wall and has a receiver (mouth and ear piece) that lifts off the box so a person can speak to someone else at a different location. Visualize a wall house phone from the 1970’s. It buzzes to announce a call. Claim/Claimed – a Gothman term. A claim is a spouse, either man or woman. Claimed means a person is married. Clicker– same thing as a computer mouse, although embedded into a landlink the way a mouse would be on a laptop. Cold box – refrigerator. Comm– a Runner communication device. It is a thin wire that wraps around the ear and comes down to the mouth. The person using it taps the mouth piece and speaks at the receiving end hears a beep letting them know someone wishes to speak with them. Crator – An entity that Neurians believe created Nuworld and everything that lives on it. He is their God and becomes the Runner and Gothman God as well. Cycle– one month. (Half-cycle is two weeks and a quarter-cycle is one week.) Day-afters – a hangover. Eating Knife– similar to a metal skewer but thicker. Not quite as wide as a knife. Runners and Gothman only use this one eating utensil. Eliminator– Runner weapon. It is best to hold it from the shoulder. It can take out the side of a large building or quite a few people at once. Evening Of Settling – A Runner tradition. When a Runner clan quits travelling and settles in for a period of time they have a celebration. It’s held the first night and there is a lot of food and alcohol. Funerals– Gothman bury their dead. Runners burn their dead because clans are nomadic and they don’t own land. Guardian– Began as a Neurian belief that people who turned into animals travelled around Nuworld and kept an eye out to make sure Crator’s people were always safe. The Dog Woman is a guardian. Most can’t see Guardians. Tara can see the Dog Woman, who appears to Tara and advises her. Groundmobile– a car. (Looks like an old Jeep.) Runner women drive them when they are pregnant and can no longer ride their motorcycles, or when hauling babies or children. They are also used to haul supplies. Claimed Gothman women seldom drive and most don’t know how. A widowed claim or older unclaimed Gothman woman might learn to drive one if she doesn’t have anyone to do it for her. Groundmobile covered with artillery– a tank. Headscarf– Runners wear these over their heads to protect their head in battle. Pulls over head with openings for eyes, nose and mouth. They are made of the same black material that Runner clothing is made—bullet proof material that would appear to us as something between silk and leather. Image– a picture, whether hanging on a wall or seen on a landlink screen. Landlink – Runner computers that Gothman incorporate into their society. Merchant’s Lane– Gothman term. An alley, usually between two buildings. Network – Web/Internet Oldworld – Nuworld. (This would be our civilization.) An Oldworlder is a derogatory term, which would be the same as us calling someone a barbarian. Open room– a porch attached to either the front, back or side of a house. same thing as our World Wide
the civilization that existed before Sound Transmitters– speakers/microphone Test Of Wills– A Runner tradition. Instigated when a Runner leader dies and has no heir. Runners enter a competition. They must pass a written test of their history. The second stage is simple elimination fighting in a ring. All clans may participate and watch the fights. Transmission – e-mail. Viewers– binoculars. Walkntalk– very much like a walkie talkie. Gothman used them in their military prior to Runners introducing the comm into Gothman society. Watermobile– a boat, barge or anything that moves over the water. It is a generic term. There are different types of watermobiles. Warrior’s death – an honor given to a Runner or Gothman who died in battle. In Gothman, the claim of a warrior given this honor has higher rank. Win
ter – one year.
INTRODUCTION:
AS GUIDED by Crator, and with aid from the Dog Woman, in spite of her riddles, I will share the history of Nuworld as I have come to understand it. I am the tenth Lord of Gothman and share this information, not because I wish to document my heritage, but because it is important that we see that what has happened before is proclaimed to happen again. But as I understand Crator, He has given me the power to change it, and to break the cycle.
Oldworld ended with Greene Day, right before the new winter of 2082. I quote from the Books of Crator.
“And Greene, not a color, nor a time before winter, but a man, brought the world to an end.” Books of Crator, Story 15.
The sixteenth through twenty-fifth Stories in the Books of Crator tell us how war broke out among nations in Oldworld and destroyed their planet. Although misguided by greed and power, there were intelligent leaders during those days. They saw the insanity festering among other leaders and prepared for it. The Books of Crator say the warriors of Oldworld were very powerful, but they weren’t able to stop a bomb so great that it destroyed the entire planet. During Oldworld time the planet was called earth. Since Oldworlders destroyed that planet it is fitting that today the planet is called Nuworld.
Crator makes it clear in the thirtieth Story,“And before two thousand one hundred winters shall pass, men, women, children and all that they own, shall move to live in the levels of cities beneath the ground.”
We know from our documented history that this did happen. All that Crator says in His great stories came true. I’m aware that our teachers again argue as to whether these stories were written before, or after Greene Day. I know of the argument that the Books of Crator wouldn’t have survived the devastation of our planet so long ago. But I stress, that does not matter.
The point is that the Books of Crator exist today. They are with us for a reason and that is the only point that matters for us as we learn from Crator.
Our descendents rose up from where they’d lived for hundreds of winters beneath Nuworld and reestablished our nations as we know them today. Now it is this particular Story that I stress to you now.
“It was then that man rose from the ground. As he did before so shall he do again.” Books of Crator, Story 43.
Since there is no advice offered by the Dog Woman, I can only conclude that if we are not careful, once again insanity will erupt on Nuworld. I take credit for making Nuworld greater than it ever was during the winters of Oldworld. I know, however, that I am not perfect. Gothman is more powerful than it ever was in the winters that my papa was Lord, or his papa before him. We stand strong with the Runners ready to fight by our side. Crator has blessed us. We are very powerful warriors. It is therefore my wish, and what I hope to pass on to my son when he becomes Lord, that we never allow this insanity to return, fester and destroy us.
No matter the knowledge that we gain, no man or woman will ever be permitted to develop a weapon so powerful that it would destroy all that Nuworld is today.
So it is decreed: Andru Bryton, Lord of Gothman CHAPTER ONE
TARA CURSED her foolishness. Patha had warned her
about taking the Gothman for granted. When would she ever learn? The flat plains gave way to more jagged hills, and she knew without a doubt that she was surrounded. She saw no one, but they were there, keeping their distance. The Gothman—the other warrior race on Nuworld—hid themselves well. But her skills were better. Much better.
Tara took a deep breath and reflected on the information she’d recently learned. The plains, known as the Freelands, lay behind her now. And good riddance. Although the land there thrived and the wildlife plentiful, the people were boring.
Bred from the feared and respected warrior race known as the Runners, she struggled in understanding the Freelanders. Tara knew from the stories told by her people that Freelanders welcomed her people more than other races. But that didn’t mean she felt comfortable around them. She had a hard time understanding a race who worked their land and made no effort to develop a military. Their weapons were primitive and used mainly to hunt.
“ What are they going to use? A gardening tool to defend themselves?” she mumbled.
Tara grinned but the smile faded as she assessed her surroundings. This is what she loved about the Age of Searching. It was the time in her life she would have to explore different people, learn about them, and learn from them. The Freelanders were definitely too dull for her liking.
Since growing out of adolescence and arriving at the Age of Searching, Tara had begun to crave knowledge of the world, as did all Runners. The stories told by clan elders around the fires about other races no longer satisfied her; she needed to see these people and their lands for herself.
Until reaching the Age Of Searching, Tara traveled with her clan, moving according to the seasons, learning the skills of the warrior, and racing on her motorcycle with other teenagers. She’d helped to care for the younger Runners, cooked for Patha, who had raised her since she was a small child, and cleaned their trailer. Once that life had been enough, but now it wasn’t.
Of all the stories told around the fires, Patha’s stories of the Gothman intrigued her the most. Runners and Gothman had a hatred for each other that transcended the winters. She had asked why over and over again, but no answer ever satisfied her. For many winters she’d thought about the causes. The only reason she could see for Runners and Gothman despising one another was that each race thought the other inferior.
Tara meant to find out for herself which race was correct.
After traveling this far, Tara now had the perfect opportunity to see what kind of warriors the Gothman actually were. Of course entering Gothman wasn’t what most Runners would view as an opportunity. More like a suicide journey.
She shivered as adrenaline kicked in. Chills started down her spine and spread. Hills grew larger around her. The rugged countryside was a sure indication she had entered Gothman territory. She ran her fingers over smooth metal. Her laser rested, secure, on her belt. Tara hoped her plan would work and not end up instigating her demise.
She navigated her motorcycle around protruding rocks half-buried in the ground, keeping most of her attention on the surrounding area. What was up until now a leisurely jaunt suddenly became much more than a drive through a new country—it became a strategy course unlike any she’d driven as a teenager learning to be a warrior.
An explosion vibrated the air. Tara nearly crashed her motorcycle into a tree.
“Ahhh!” Tara, daughter and heir to the leader of the Blood Circle Clan, didn’t scream because something exploded!
She’d heard stories about the weapon that exploded when shot, leaving a foul smell in the air, but she’d always thought them fictional. But now…now she realized it was true. It was actually true. Tara’s heart pounded in her chest. She’d just heard her first bang stick.
“Stay focused, warrior,” she whispered under her breath. “Don’t get distracted.”
Another shot flew through the air, and a large branch crashed to the ground.
She screamed again and leaned closer to the body of her cycle.
Where were the Gothman? Behind the rocks? Somewhere in the approaching forest? How far could they shoot?
Primitive or not, these Gothman weapons can do damage.
Tara licked her dry lips. She’d looked forward to meeting the Gothman, but she hadn’t expected to encounter them this soon, or under such deadly conditions.
She drove into the cool, sweet-smelling forest, and stopped her bike once the woods surrounded her. After hiding her motorcycle between two giant boulders, and confident it wouldn’t be found, Tara pulled her landlink off the handlebars and slipped it in her pocket. The Gothman would find great pride in retrieving a Runner’s bike. No other race in the world had achieved the level of technology her machine represented.
As she searched her surroundings, some of the stories of the Gothman she’d heard around the fires came to mind
. Gothman only taught their men to fight. Gothman women weren’t educated.
“It’s a waste!” she muttered under her breath. “Imagine! Half of a race needing protection!” It made no sense. Runner men and women were taught the same skills. Gender had nothing to do with what a person might excel at doing.
More bang sticks created explosions all around her. Tara broke into a run.
“You men want to play with this woman? Then come get me!” She moved easily over rocks and around trees, adrenaline flowing from the thrill of being the hunted.
Two Gothman approached on foot, moving stealthily from protruding rocks to a large tree. Tara stopped walking, her breathing loud in her ears. They were a fair distance away but also stopped walking. She’d been spotted.
As she squatted, one of the men raised a long brown, thick stick to his shoulder. It was a slightly darker shade than the brown leather pants and jackets both men wore. Even at this distance it was easy to see how large both men were. They would be formidable opponents in hand to hand combat, something she hoped not to put to the test.
Slowly, Tara pressed herself against the forest floor. Stretching out, she gripped her laser and brought it forward, taking aim.
This time, when the bang stick exploded, she didn’t scream. A large branch cracked overhead. She rolled to the side, banging up another trunk just as the branch fell to the ground. It made a loud thudding sound and sticky needles sprayed toward her. If she hadn’t laid down they would have hit her.
She smelled the explosives and her heart raced as she watched part of the tree next to her disappear as another shot fired. Tara aimed her laser and pressed the trigger. She shot once, twice. Two Gothman fell dead on the forest ground.
Not waiting for their friends to discover her location, Tara ran through a cluster of pines as fast as the dense foliage would allow. She then slid to a stop—and stared face to face with the largest, and most definitely, ugliest man she’d ever seen. If it weren’t for the smell of the brown leather covering most of him, his body odor would have been unbearable.
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