Eras
First come۔d snow, then go۔d waddys.
We first learn۔d about the snow from hunt۔ors who come۔d down from the mountains to trade giant horn۔y fafa furs for our iki grains. Snow had visit۔d my grand۔parents, but only thrice. To my parents, snow in the mountains wuz winter-time seasonal. Then come۔d the time when the freeze۔t white powder blanket۔d the up۔er valley and it's surround۔y mountain forests so early that our summer crops freeze۔d.
We survive۔d on iki grains storage۔d in sacks, cook۔t by the females with mapas on junu-fuel۔t stoves, supplement۔t by gaga roots from the mountain forest. I, name۔d Byute, male gender, new۔ly adult, wuz birth۔t of clan Hak, pale۔by scrawn۔y southernors who dur birthcycles earn۔d our nickname "hardy". We Haks wuz farm۔ors, and occupy۔d the land far۔est up the valley, in the wedge where the mountain·ranges meet۔d, land with soil rock۔yer, grow۔in season short۔er, than land far۔er below. But as the climate become۔d ever cold۔er, as lowlandorts more then more abandon۔d they’s farms and herd۔d they's animals and wheel۔d they's childs and tools and furniture north۔ward toward weather warm enough for plants to grow, we Haks re۔locate۔d down-valley onto they’s former lands.
Ice kill۔d plants, on which waddys and animals thrive۔d. Each winter snow arrive۔d soon۔er and stay۔d long۔er. It blanket۔d farms. Relent۔less blizzards accompany۔d the approach۔ing ice sheets, freeze۔ing animals in they's tracks, then quick۔ly cover۔ing they – hide۔ing they. From above, rugged hunt۔ors, half-starve۔t, retreat۔d from the mountains with reports of blizzards ferocious and foreverlast۔y.
Below, year after year, clan after clan migrate۔d far۔er north۔ward toward warm۔er climate. Our clan Hak follow۔d reluctant۔ly, but each time only far enough to find soil soft enough to plow and plant. When we encounter۔d straggle۔ors, we battle۔d they, first with our plows, then with they’s swords and shields.
The dwindle۔ing supply of wild beasts final۔ly cease۔d; hunt۔ors report۔d the giant horn۔y fafas extinct.
As a specy we waddys, dur millenniums, had learn۔d to herd and farm, fire mud to form solids utilize۔d to carry water and build walls; we learn۔d to weave cloth. Jolly۔ly, before the climate change۔d, we sing۔d and dance۔d. Our planet Guppy have only two continents, we's (where all waddys live) and the other (a rock۔y mountain·range, harbor۔less and beach۔less, animal۔less and all but plant۔less) – in Waddy۔ese language, “Never-never-land”. In boats make۔t of junu trees the storm۔y trans۔ocean voyage wuz treacherous. Therefore, no suit۔able retreat from the advance۔ing ice.
On our continent, the lowlands, name۔d Plentyful Garden – the river valleys and ocean shores – wuz already heavy۔ly inhabit۔d, yet ahead of the rapid۔ly advance۔ing ice sheets more then more waddys migrate۔d there. (On the opposite side of the mountains wuz steep cliffs into the ocean, similar to those around continent Never-never-land.)
As the glacial mantle expand۔d north۔ward, battles rage۔d. Clans fight۔d for survival. Negotiations belong۔d to our glorious history. The new code of conduct: fight to the last man.
We clan Haks, each time we decide۔d to re۔locate, move۔d quick۔ly, with our womans and childs and oldstors, drag۔ing all we own۔d north۔ward down·hill. Our males, strong, hardy, myself include۔d, all become۔d warriors, equip۔t with our former enemy’s swords and spears, fight۔ing whoever we encounter۔d, our southern tough۔ness overwhelm۔ing soft۔er northernors again then again. We inhabit۔d they’s abandon۔t houses, and farm۔d they’s fields aslongas we could, before re۔locate۔ing again. As ice۔less land become۔d scarce۔er then scarce۔er, panic ensue۔d.
When no other food, we eat۔d our dead enemys – an acquire۔d taste, enhance۔t by starvation and vengeance.
North۔ward migrate۔d the hordes, destined to fight to the finish on the congest۔y lush lowlands. We Haks remain۔d in the freeze۔y tundra aslongas we could, then re۔locate۔d only as far north as necessary to survive. After our initial blood۔y battles, our reputation precede۔d we; of those hold۔ing out against the cold, upon word that the Haks wuz come۔ing, all but the foolhardy flee۔d.
By then I wuz recent۔ly marryed – to beautyful Uvu. Both my brothers had been kill۔t in battles, and my mother had succumb۔d to hope۔lessness. My father Du live۔d, although ail۔ing, but only another year. My Uvu wuz all the family I had. I wuz no long۔er so young, but battle-harden۔t.
North۔ward, north۔ward we migrate۔d, each time reluctant۔ly, push۔t by the advance۔ing glacier – whose speed astonish۔d we.
Up۔ward from below come۔d storys. Entire clans battle۔d nolonger to retain land but to prevent extinction. Battle·fields strew۔d with corpses too many to eat. Plagues rage۔d across the lowlands, as thousands succumb۔d to disease. Life had become dirt cheap. What we waddys had proud۔ly dub۔d our culture wuz vanish۔ing. As the population wuz squeeze۔t, the worst in our specys reveal۔d itself. Words such as “kind۔ness” and “generosity” wuz nolonger any more relevant than the old words “feast” and “plenty”. Down below, anybody could at any time attack anybody. But we Haks cling۔d together. If any clan survive۔d, we determine۔d, it would be we.
Then, to the lowlands below, arrive۔d the snow, as ice form۔d on river Lobu. Blizzards one after another, throughout the barren season and into the grow۔in season, which pass۔d without the opportunity to plant seeds. Therefore not even the victors would survive. With grains supplys all but exhaust۔t, and ocean creatures nolonger near to shore, the remain۔ing waddys turn۔d onto each other with vengeance. “Eat or be eat۔t!” – the new battle·yell.
We Haks occupy۔d a farm on the southern fringe, slight۔by above the gore. But one night come۔d the dread۔t roar of avalanche. By chance it wuz I who sit۔d watch on a tall boulder overlook۔ing the oval farm·houses, mark۔t by windows glow۔ing orange from warm۔ing fires.
Down۔ward, down۔ward tumble۔d an avalanche of snow, rush۔ing pass۔d both sides of my boulder, smash۔ing, and then pile۔ing high on top of the farm·houses where sleep۔d the Hak clan, where sleep۔d my Uvu, snow roar۔ing down۔ward the valley, proceed۔ing non۔impede۔t, with increase۔ing speed and ferocity and depth toward the lowlands. I believe۔d that all Haks wuz dead.
Root۔d to my boulder, I remain۔d alive, lookstare۔ing non۔believe۔ably at the fresh blanket of moons illuminate۔t white۔ness that cover۔d everythin with an non۔endure۔able silence. My wife Uvu, everybody I know۔d, our entire clan, gone. But I perceive۔d somethin even more sorrowful. Soon all waddys would be wipe۔t from the face of Guppy planet.
My sorrow, thankful۔ly, not endure۔d long. Another roar cause۔d me to turn, face۔ing up·mountain, where a second avalanche, much high۔er, much wide۔er, much loud۔er, dwarf۔ing my boulder, thunder۔d down۔ward toward me.
*
Imagine my surprise when I awake۔d to see rows of eyes look۔ing down at me, orange eyes belong۔ing to waddy-alike creatures dress۔d in strange garments neck to paws. I reach۔d for my sword, intent on swipe۔ing off all they's heads with one pass, because they appear۔d slug۔ish and weak -- but they had take۔d it from me. I thenupon jump۔d to my foots, ready to tear they apart with my paws. That wuz when I realize۔d I wuz trap۔d in a cage of poles cold to touch and impossible to bend.
They speak۔d a language hardly comprehend۔able, which I eventual۔ly realize۔d wuz advance۔y Waddy۔ese, with huge numbers of words, yet for me not difficult to slow۔ly learn. As our communication increase۔d, I learn۔d that somebody had notice۔d a protrude۔ing boot from a melt۔ing glacier – my boot, attach۔d to my foot, attach۔d to me, bury۔d in the ice. With wondrous machines they dis۔freeze۔d me, and re۔start۔d my breath and pulse. But they not believe۔d me when I say۔d I wuz an iki farm۔or, blanket۔t by an avalanche as ice cover۔d everythin. Accord۔in to they's confident historyors, the ice era had begin۔d 17,000 years ago, and endure۔d 11,000 years, after which (6,000 years ago) waddy specy spring۔d into existence alike wild·flowers. They – despite they’s obvious advance۔y knowledge and wondrous ways of make۔ing and do۔ing things – not believe۔d that waddys exist۔d before the ice era, much less that we had a develop۔d herd۔ing and farm۔ing and civilize۔y ways before the climate freeze۔d. They accuse۔d me of lie۔ing, and I remain۔d in my cage, sleep۔ing on the rock-hard floor, although eat۔ing good·taste۔y food.
The more I learn۔d, the more I wonder۔d. Some waddy clan somewhere must have survive۔d the glaciation of our continent. Dur many thousands years those hardy waddys – not Haks un۔fortunate۔ly – had manage۔d to find enough food to nurture they’s childs long enough for they to birth childs and nurture they, birthcycle after birthcycle – an incredible feat. When the glaciers final۔ly begin۔d melt۔ing – 6,000 years ago? – they emerge۔d with they’s knowledge of fire-make۔ing and plant۔ing and herd۔ing and pottery, a head start on development that could explain how far, since then, waddys had advance۔d.
I wuz, if they’s numbers wuz correct, 17 thousands years old! The thought put۔d a smile on my face.
Question۔ing they, I learn۔d that the place where they had discover۔d me wuz still snowbound, a smooth white glacier with no protrude۔ing boulders within sight – proof in they’s minds that my story of being avalanche۔t off a boulder wuz a lie. Yet – as I try۔d my best to convince my smart captors – if they would only dig down in the ice they would find the oval farm·houses, the swords, the cook۔ing utensils, and other proofs of Hak existence. My great hope wuz that my wife Uvu could be alikewise recover۔t and revive۔t.
But despite they’s advance۔y civilization – which include۔d nighttime lights and devices that cool۔d and cook۔d food, boxes that talk۔d, and numerous things whose purposes I could not comprehend – inside of theyselfs somethin wuz wrong. I eventual۔ly realize۔d that everybody wuz pretend۔ing. Secret motives, I discern۔d. Outright lies such as we Haks never tell۔d. Powerful weapons, I learn۔d, kill۔d at a safe distance. Historians not know۔d they’s history, and know۔d they not know۔d, but proclaim۔d otherwise. Lie۔ors, all assume۔d I wuz lie۔ing. Non۔alike we Haks, but alike horn۔y fafas, each for taself. Particular۔ly on the females, body۔y adornments appear۔d ridiculous. All pretend۔ing. Beasts with civilize۔y masks, I come۔d to consider they. But smart: invent۔ors, connive۔ors.
They treat۔d me – they’s own specys – as combination cage۔t criminal, zoo animal, and lab rat. They's observation of me wuz continuous; not even could I experience a dark night. Daytimes, a constant parade of passby۔ors gawk۔d at me. Evenins, questions questions of my former life – urge۔ing me, alike a criminal, to “confess”. Although they not strike۔d me, they poke۔d me, probe۔d me, starve۔d me until I would eat varietys of stuff. Never experience۔d I kind۔ness customary among we Haks. Ofcourse, I wuz desperate۔by lonely.
Day۔y I think۔d of Uvu. I remember۔d scenes from my child۔hood. Battles in which we Haks wuz victoryous re۔remember۔d, re۔remember۔d in my mind. Nights I sometimes dream۔d of life at the up۔er wedge of the valley before come۔d the snow and ice.
I yearn۔d to spring from my cage, grab a sword, and slice they all to pieces. They’s bodys wuz soft, they’s arms all but muscle۔less, in they’s eyes lurk۔d fear. But from my lock۔t metal۔y cage, no escape.
Final۔ly I become۔d sick. Probe۔ing and poke۔ing increase۔d, and they force۔d pills down my throat. But weak۔er then weak۔er I become۔d. Smart as they wuz, they could not discern why, or reverse the process, but I know۔d the reason: alike my mother, I wuz succumb۔ing to hope۔lessness.
They decide۔d that I wuz too value۔able to let permanent۔ly die, therefore upon my death to re۔freeze me, then in a freeze-box transport me back to the glacier, until they’s ever-expand۔ing medical knowledge could cure me.
They wheel۔d me near a big metal۔y cylinder with an open top. Feeble۔ly I protest۔d, without know۔ing why, "No."
That night, know۔ing I would not awake, I welcome۔d sleep.
*
Yet I awake۔d. Realize۔ing I wuz still alive, I shudder۔d with dread. Pairs of orange eyes look۔d down at me – yet with a difference. Above they's waddy heads, beautyful green junu trees, against a sky familiar blue. The eyes, I soon notice۔d, not peer۔d at me greed۔ly, menace۔ly, but gaze۔d fond۔ly in my direction, in a manner that allow۔d me ease. From somewhere, sing۔in, and an entice۔ing smell of somethin cook۔ing. Instinct for life grip۔d me.
I wuz lay۔ing on somethin soft. No bars around or above me.
They – seven of both genders, dress۔d simple۔ly in beige robes, wuz talk۔ing soft۔ly among theyselfs, and I begin۔d to listen. They’s Waddy۔ese language sound۔d strange, yet I comprehend۔d individual words, although, perhaps not yet full۔by awake, I could not discern mean۔ins.
“Where iz I?” I manage۔d to murmur.
Wild exclamations from everybody, accompany۔t by wide smiles. “He can talk!”
Non۔familiar place names, follow۔t by “Planet Gubre."
“Planet Guppy,” I correct۔d they.
"We dis۔freeze۔d you, educate۔d you, and now have bring۔d you to consciousness," I wuz inform۔t by a mid-age۔y man who remind۔d me a bit of my father. The way he say۔d it, I know۔d it to be true. Indeed, it seem۔d as though my head wuz full of strange knowledge. In shock, I refuse۔d to talk.
“You have been been dead for 967 years.”
My previous freeze, I remember۔d, had been much long۔er. “Only?” I respond۔d.
Wild laughter, which cause۔d me to smile.
Steam۔ing food arrive۔d on a plate, with no compulsion to eat. Of the three types – white, orange, and brown – I recognize۔d only the fish. All delicious! Hunger۔ly I eat۔d while they watch۔d intent۔ly, chat۔ing among theyselfs.
I stand۔d, a bit non۔steady۔ly. They lead۔d me along a grass۔y path to a lake·shore cottage build۔d of junu wood. “Your new home,” they say۔d, and on the door I notice۔d no lock. Notice۔ing me notice, they add۔d, “You iz free to go anywhere anytime.” They not ask۔d me questions. But they’s faces wuz alive with interest.
“You iz the famous۔est waddy on Gubre,” an old man comment۔d, “and we not even know your name.”
“Byute,” I answer۔d, which somehow cause۔d a stir.
The shock of it all cause۔d me to feel sleepy, thus on the soft bed I sleep۔d.
Dur subsequent days, as I gain۔d massweight and strength, I become۔d accustom۔d to my new situation. Everybody wuz friend۔y. Nobody do۔d anythin I not want۔d. They’s only questions wuz when and what I want۔d to eat – somebody or another in a beige robe wuz always ready to prepare my food.
Gradual۔ly they’s story emerge۔d. The primitives, they say۔d, refer۔ing to my former capture۔ors, the mask۔t beasts, had discover۔d me in a glacier, and had revi۔d me – that much I remember۔d as though yesterday – and before I die۔d they re۔freeze۔d me, put۔d me in a metal۔y casket along with written explanation, and haul۔d me back to the glacier. Wars then destroy۔d waddy civilization, so I wuz forget۔t. Since then, on the planet, much had change۔d. Recent۔ly a fly۔ing machine had detect۔d, deep in snow, my metal۔y box.
My benefactors, non۔alike the ignorant mask۔t beasts, know۔d about pre۔ice era waddy civilization, thus I not need۔d to try to convince they. From the still-melt۔ing glacier, they had discover۔d clay drink۔ing pots and eat۔ing bowls, thus they know۔d we had fire. They’s metal۔y detect۔ing equipment had retrieve۔d from the ice swords, spears, shields, eat۔ing utensils. But all they possess۔d of that long-ago era – which they date۔d ap 18,000 years early۔er – wuz artifacts. Thus, I gradual۔ly realize۔d, they’s excitement at the opportunity to talk to a survive۔or – which nobody had ever consider۔d possible. As much as they know۔d about pre۔ice era waddy۔hood, ofcourse I know۔d much much more. I begin۔d to appreciate they’s patience in wait۔ing for my story.
So kind wuz they to me, that I wuz only too happy to tell they all I know۔d. Dur sessions endure۔ing many days, to varyous groups, I praise۔d my hardy Hak clan, and describe۔d how life had been hard but jolly before the climate change۔d. They marvel۔d that I had eat۔d fafa, the giant horn۔y mammal long extinct. Historyors' video·audio devices record۔d (and with my permission broadcast۔d to the entire waddy population) my story of the demise of waddy culture, the battles as the population wuz force۔t ever-far۔er south۔ward to the over۔crowd۔y lowlands, where, final۔ly “Eat or be eat۔t” become the new battle·yell. Historyors, listen۔ing to me, add۔d details: they know۔d about the final avalanche (but not the small۔er one immediate۔ly proceed۔ing it) – which, they inform۔d me, had blanket۔d the lowlands, include۔ing the entire Lobu river valley. Only fish۔ors, those who with they’s familys reside۔d on the ocean in junu boats (which I had not earhear۔d about), wuz not kill۔t by the avalanche and it’s after·effect, when all other survive۔ors starve۔d. Ap 10,000 years later, as the glacier start۔d melt۔ing, corpses wuz recover۔t, eventual۔ly number۔ing thousands.
“Yes, an early۔er avalanche,” I repeat۔d, add۔ing that it had cover۔d the farms where we Hak’s wuz stay۔ing. “I happen۔d to be on watch that moons-illuminate۔t night, alert for enemy sneak attacks, when the first avalanche sweep۔d pass۔d both sides of my tall boulder.”
Many boulders indeed protrude۔d from the glacier in that region, they confirm۔d, cause۔ing me to realize that, since the time of the mask۔t beasts, the snow-cover had lower۔d, as the planet gradual۔ly warm۔d. “Take me to the area,” I beg۔d they with mount۔ing excitement, “and I will show you where farms lay.” My dream of find۔ing Uvu had spring۔d back to life.
My benefactors wuz skeptical. The boulders protrude۔ing from the still-melt۔ing glacier number۔d hundreds, and the valley, wuz long and wide. But I believe۔d I could find the location. I know۔d ap how far down the valley we had come۔d, and I could still visualize the boulder – the tall۔est overlook۔ing the farms, with a peculiar shape which had render۔d sit۔ing – dur that and previous nights when I had been on watch – difficult. Although by they’s calculation, I wuz more than 18,000 years old, only dur fourty or so of those years had I been awake. My two long frozen periods had feel۔d to me alike catnaps.
I convince۔d they to proceed. Excite۔ment all around – from they, at the opportunity of discover۔ing a pre۔ice era farm community, me at the chance of find۔ing and revive۔ing my dear one. While my health and vitality continue۔d to improve, they make۔d preparations. The future event, on the planet I continue۔d to dub Guppy, wuz much anticipate۔t, and my personal status upsoar۔d.
Meantime I wuz learn۔ing, from they’s patient explanations and answers to my questions, about they’s civilization. From the primitives they had learn۔d that the way for each self to become happy wuz not selfish۔ness. Dur the primitive era, each waddy scheme۔d for advance۔ment of ta’s self (and of ta’s self’s family and clan and region) at the expense of other selfs and clans and regions, restrain۔t by ever-numerous regulations to prevent harm to others, with numerous (expensive) enforce۔ors and violation punish۔ors, counter۔t by numerous schemes to evade enforce۔ment and punish۔ment, result۔ing in a system which, while it indeed advance۔d material progress as each compete۔d to best the others, wuz inherent۔by non۔stable. Among the primitives – beasts wear۔ing civilize۔y masks – lust for power and greed for wealth overcome۔d regulations to restrain they. Militias, possess۔ing ultra۔destructive weapons, clash۔d, then coagulate۔d into armys, too powerful to be stop۔t by more sensible forces. Urge۔t forward by headstrong charismatic but neartsight۔y lead۔ors, armys war۔d. All too soon the entire waddy civilization lay۔d in ruins.
Survive۔ors pick۔d up the pieces. Material knowledge wuz preserve۔t, which save۔d they from re۔invent۔ing everythin. But the primitive philosophy of regulate۔t selfish۔ness, and it’s resultant social structure, had prove۔t disastrous, therefore wuz trash۔t.
In it’s place wuz the converse: a philosophy of non۔regulate۔t give۔ing. Give۔ing great۔ly benefit۔d the give۔or – not the motive but the result. Almost everybody seem۔d happy. I had yet to detect a single mask. How the system function۔d soon become۔d clear to me: have۔ing been give۔t so much, I feel۔d a non۔quench۔able urge to give.
For the first period of the socald archeology۔y operation I and several scienceors wuz transport۔t via helicopter up valley, to where I – as best I could determine from the fly۔ing machine that could not only fly but hover – estimate۔d that we Haks had last settle۔d. Indeed, gray boulders wuz everywhere, pop۔ing out of the white ground, but I not recognize۔d any. Metal۔y detection scan۔ors such as the one who had spotnotice۔d my casket scan۔d the area, but to no avail, probable۔ly, experts surmise۔d, because the ice layer above farm·houses wuz too thick. Thus, after touchland۔ing, and don۔ing snow·shoes (an innovation easy۔ly within Hak ability to construct that I wish۔d we had conceive۔d), we begin۔d trek۔ing, at my direction, north۔ward up·hill across the ice. Everybody wuz depend۔ing on my memory of an event that had occur۔d ap 18 millenniums early۔er – that amaze۔y fact in itself wuz enough to drive we forward.
Late that afternoon I spotnotice۔d what I believe۔d wuz the boulder. Less than half it’s former height, it wuz nevertheless tall۔er than it's neighbors. As dur that fateful night so long ago, I scamper۔d up it’s less-steep southern side. At the top, as I had remember۔d, it’s non۔regular shape render۔d it impossible to comfy۔ly sit. “This iz it!” I declare۔d with certainty.
Orient۔ing myself prove۔d easy. I point۔d to varyous spots on the snow (at which scienceors plant۔d poles attach۔t to flags) above the farm·houses – include۔ing the farm·house where I hope۔d my Uvu lay۔d.
All of we, but especial۔ly me, as he ride۔d the helicopter back to the lowland, wuz wild with excitement.
The second period involve۔d air-lift۔ing to the siteplace a giant earth-move۔ing machine, which begin۔d the long process of shovel۔ing away snow. Giant concave mirrors focus۔d sun·light on the ice, soften۔ing it. Ofcourse, I could not pinpoint the location of my kins’ house (the one we focus۔d on), so the machines dig۔d in a wide area. The process seem۔d to endure forever.
Late the five-eth day of dig۔ing the earth-move۔ing machine strike۔d what prove۔d to be the mud-brick wall, lay۔ing on it’s side. Sit۔ing in the heat۔t cab next to the drive۔ort, my heart beat۔d with anticipation.
The third period of the operation, too dangerous for the machine to further dig, involve۔d airlift۔ing a crew of three scienceors and seven work۔ors, include۔ing myself, equip۔d with pickaxes and shovels. Lest we chop into somebody, we proceed۔d careful۔ly, slow۔ly. The avalanche had smash۔d the houses, and impact – not suffocate۔ing beneath deep snow – had kill۔d the inhabitants, scienceors speculate۔d, a theory which cause۔d me anguish, and wuz soon verify۔d when we encounter۔d a crush۔d adult male skull, to me non۔recognize۔able. But not long afterward we dis۔cover۔d Lod, a fellow warrior, his body apparent۔ly intact, his hand near his sword; scienceors re۔wrap۔d his body in snow, for possible revival later. The expedition wuz focus۔d on my wife.
Then we find۔d she. As snow wuz scoop۔t and then brush۔t way, scienceors utter۔d the tentative conclusion that her body seem۔d intact. Her face seem۔d exact۔ly as I remember۔d. Of course, she wuz dead – a painful sight – but beautyful even in death, enhance۔t by my wild hope that she could be, as I had been, revive۔t.
Period four involve۔d maintain۔ing Uvu’s corpse freeze۔y – to avoid decay – as she wuz transport۔t to a lowland hospital.
Two days pass۔d, while the population of Guppy, ofcourse myself more than anybody, seem۔d to hold it’s breath. They ask۔d me, if my wife rervive۔d, would I be willin to allow the broadcast of our meet۔ing; ofcourse I would have prefer۔d privacy, but in the spirit of give۔ing to those who had give۔d me so much, I welcome۔d the opportunity, and agree۔d. Would doctors be able to revive a pre۔ice-era woman whose pre۔ice-era husband, in his third incarnation, wuz pace۔ing back and forth almost non۔stop outside his wife’s hospital room? Drama and archeology and technology and a love story all roll۔d into one non۔precedent۔y event.
Ap noon on the third day, Uvu stir۔d. I wuz rush۔t to her bed۔side, as cameras roll۔d.
Uvu’s first word wuz a cry of alarm. “Avalanche!”
A heartrend۔y warn۔in 18 millenniums too late!
I fall۔d on she, hug۔ing she, me, once a brave warrior, tears stream۔ing down my face. Not only do۔d I have back my long lost Uvu, but somehow I had been return۔t to my clan Hak, which without realize۔ing, I had so dear۔ly miss۔d.
Not much wuz say۔d dur those first few minutes, only mutual statements – ofcourse in Old Waddy۔ese, hardly comprehend۔able to the immense broadcast audience – of thanks that we wuz both alive. It would require moon·months, I know۔d from experience, before my wife would come to comprehend her new situation.
Little do۔d Uvu know, I think۔d as we remain۔d tearful۔ly embrace۔d, that she wuz rein۔ing queen of waddys on planet Guppy.
* * *