The story is set in a town in Genda (Canada), somewhere in eastern Ontario near Quebec. The time frame is approx. 25th century. Weather patterns have settled after the long drought and it is a period of ‘peace and prosperity’ including trade with Rosh (Russia) across the northern ocean protected by the Genda navy and the southern neighbours Meriga and Meyco.
Read The Prisoner of Genda - Part 1 The Prisoner, here.
Mourning blouse (Photo: Etsy.com via Pinterest)
Part 2
The Widow
A loud voice
rang out over the hubbub of the busy tavern. “Quiet down now, it’s time.” The chatter in
the room stilled. A tar player in one corner continued to strum but was quickly
silenced by an icy stare from the hard faced woman at the bar. She turned and
adjusted the volume on the radio.
“Today the Meer of Genda, heronna Magg Winn the fourth, has announced
that next year, the thirtieth of her gummint, will be celebrated by a grand
tour. She will visit cities, towns and hamlets throughout the country to meet the
people and enjoy the local hospitality. The itinerary will be selected by a
juree of citizens and ministers. All munees of Genda are invited to put forward
their proposals for consideration.”
“In the north, the Genda navy yesterday intercepted and repelled an
Arab pirate incursion off the coast of Greenlun.” Rouss’s ears pricked up. “The
Genda forces suffered no casualties in the action.” She exhaled and continued wiping
down the bar. She wore a loose black blouse buttoned to the neck, decorated
only by a small wooden cross and wisps of deep auburn hair that escaped her messy
bun.
A man entered the tavern and closed the door. He turned and removed his
hat, eyes searching the room. He finally found what he was looking for and
strode through the room toward the end of the bar. He stopped in front of her
his hands wrestling the hat in his grip. “Rouss darra Sage,” he whispered. “My
wife’s pains have started. She asks that you come.”
The woman eyed him warily with her green eyes, one finger slowly
lifting to touch the cross at her throat. “Are you sure it’s me she wants?”
He nodded rapidly several times. “Yes, please come. You delivered her
sister’s baby and she gives thanks to Mam Gaia every day for your help.”
“What of sister Fauney?”
“She is away, visiting the city temple. And anyway my wife asks for you.”
“I will need to get my bag.” The man nodded. She turned and whispered
to the young brown haired woman beside her. “Tarshay, I have to go.” She took
off the money pouch tied around her waist and handed it to her. Rouss nodded to
the woman behind the bar. She nodded in return and then leaned closer to the
radio.
“The gummint announced today that settlement of the northern
territories will increase this summer. The Minister of Guilds and Merchandise Trade
also welcomed growing exchanges with our southern neighbours Meriga and Meyco…”
****
Three sharp raps on the door jolted Rouss awake. She brushed her hair from
her pale face and glanced at the window. Light crept in around the edge of the heavy
curtain. “Who is it?” she called.
“Tagair sunna Boise, Mam. Mister Bartim sent me to do some more work on
your eaves.”
She groaned and pulled back the covers, swung her feet onto the cold
floor. She felt for her slippers and slid her feet inside. She stepped to door,
pulled her coat on over her night dress and slid back the bolt. As the door
opened she shivered in the frosty air.
A young man stood there clad in a fur hat, leathers and jacket, wearing
a tool belt and carrying several lengths of wood over his shoulder. “I told him
the roof was fine. A little sagging doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, Mam I know, but he insisted.” He put the wood down beside the mulch
covered herb garden.
“You must be just about due to be a Mister yourself?”
He stood a little straighter. “Yes Mam, next summer.” Then he sagged.
“If Mister will let me. He says I’m not ready.”
“Is that so?”
He shrugged, then looked up and down the lane and lowered his voice.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I’ve been thinking, since I’m soon to be a Mister and I have a little
money saved and…”
Her eyebrows lifted and her mouth curved with amusement. “And since
you’ve had your eye on certain young woman for longer than I can remember?” His
face reddened and he looked away. “I’ve see the way you look when you talk with
her in the tavern.”
He raised his eyes to hers. “Do you
think…does she…would she?”
She smiled and tucked a lock of red hair behind her ear. “I think it’s
time you had a real talk with her.”
“But…” His face twisted in anguish. “I never know what to say, apart from
the weather and the news. What I really want to say is how her laugh sounds like
a song bird in spring and her freckles are like drops of sunlight on her skin.”
Rouss laughed. “That would be a good start. Maybe it’s also time to
tell her about your plans and find out what hers are?”
He bit his lip and nodded. “There is another complication.”
She pursed her lips. “Her father?”
He nodded.
“I think it is time I had chat to your Mister Bartim about several important
matters.
He fidgeted on the doorstep. “Can I start on the roof now?”
She sighed. “Yes.”
****
Read The Prisoner of Genda - Part 3 The Gardener, here.
Glossary
Stars Reach words used
|
New words coined for this story (in rough order of use)
| ||
Darra
|
daughter of (e.g Rouss darra Sage)
|
Sackamon
|
exclamation derived from Sacrament – Quebec French meaning “God Dammit”
|
Gaian
|
Religion based on worship of Gaia (Mother Earth)
|
heronna
|
Her honour (official title)
|
Genda
|
Canada
|
juree
|
jury
|
Gummint
|
government
|
munee
|
municipality
|
Mam Gaia
|
Earth (seen as a goddess)
|
crussin
|
croissant
|
Meeda
|
metre
|
maypa sirp
|
maple syrup
|
Meer
|
Leader of Genda
|
Eldmin
|
Alderman/Alderwoman of the town council
|
Meriga
|
the former United States
|
hizonna
|
His honour (official title
|
Meyco
|
Mexico
|
Nowell
|
Christmas (from the French Noel)
|
Old Believers
|
Christians
|
chinselk
|
Chinese silk, obtained via trade with Rosh
|
Otwa
|
Ottawa
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Prentice
|
apprentice
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Rosh
|
Russia
| ||
Semba
|
December
| ||
Senamee
|
centimetre
| ||
Sunna
|
son of (e.g. Garint sunna Jardin)
| ||
Constructive comments welcome :-)
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