Author: I. Graham Smith

Coming Snow

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

Pale white, luminous skidding across my view
Slow and inauspicious I wonder what they will do.

Is the temperature right?
When comes the night?
Will the dew point take flight?

The air shifts to blurred a glacial chill filling the sky
The atmosphere ever unheard yet consummating precious time.

Sit and feel the bite
Bringing soon the white
Every child’s delight,

It comes now with swiftness.

First with blowing specks scarcely evident to my eyes
Then little flurries on my neck bare tingles of surprise.

A heavy gusty falling snow thick and wet increases
Hefty for the wind to blow and joyful for the nieces.

The world is transformed parading its coated skin
Autumn leaves are mourned a new year to begin.

Forever quite the sight
Trees bowing to recite
Maker’s handiwork and might.

The River Bend

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

“Meet me tomorrow at our spot on the river,” she said. It was the simplest request whispered softly in my ear. Delicate fingers barely brushed my shoulder in her familiar manner as she turned away. The hair on my neck stood, and a chill wended its way under my collar.

I turned and watched her go, her long hair swaying gently. She wore one of my favorite dresses: light material for the Oklahoma heat, colored pale yellow reflecting her sunny personality, with light-blue flowers like her eyes.

My breath quickened, and my eyes rose to look at the sun. Tomorrow could not come soon enough.

I began my chores. My hands mucked out the barn on muscle-memory. The pitchfork restocked hay without thought. Daydreams played in my mind the rest of the afternoon, circling the same debate over and over. Every angle tested and dwelt on.

[I can find a ring, even if it is temporary. Is it too soon? Will she agree?]

Time seemed to flash by, but somehow when I stepped outside, the sun had not moved. The chores continued, watering, mucking, feeding. At last, I began to repair the fence near the gate. This was my last task, perhaps leaving enough time to find a ring.

[I’ll give her a birch bark ring if I have to!]

“Ma, I’m going to ride into town to pick up some things,” I said as I leaned against the door frame. “Should be no time at all.”

My Ma smiled at me. She was wise as ever and the kindest soul one could meet. “Alright. Try to be back for dinner. I’ll let Pa know.” She crossed the room and gave me a quick squeeze. Her short frame fit under my arms.

“Thanks, Ma,” I said. “I’ll make it quick.” My stomach twisted, conforming with my excited mind.

Upstairs, I leafed through the small wooden box that I kept under my bed. There was not much in it, a few trinkets and slips of paper. I took the few bills and coins and the two nuggets that Gramp had given me. In no time I was on Badger’s back bending low over the saddle.

The dusty streets were mostly bare when I arrived in Harington. I hurried into the general store to speak to William.

“Jake, there is some kind of trouble down by the mill,” William said before I could speak.

[That’s where everyone is…] The news skittered off my thoughts, barely putting a dent in my momentum. “None of my business,” I said. “I’m looking for a ring. Got anything you want to part with?”

William’s eyebrows raised, but he left his question unasked. “I have one or two.” He disappeared into the back room and came out moments later with a small box.

The rings were different. The largest was a gaudy pink and gold monstrosity. The other two were thin and delicate. The silver ring had a small topaz stone, and the gold ring had no stone at all, but its head was flattened and carved with an intricate circular knot pattern.

“How about this one?” I asked pointing at the plain gold band.

“Twenty-seven dollars,” William said.

I nodded slowly. It was a fortune. I fished everything I had out of my pockets and counted out the money. “Five and eighty-five cents,” I said as I dropped the gold nuggets on the counter. “The gold should be enough, right?”

William picked up one of the nuggets. Then he put it down and tapped each one with the blade of his knife. Once he saw the marks that had been created, he dropped the pieces onto his scale. The counterweights slid, and balance was achieved.

“That’s twenty dollars in gold. Still short by a dollar fifteen.”

With my heart in my throat, I looked up at him and opened my mouth in anguish. “I-“

“It’s enough, son.” William’s face cracked into a rare smile that disappeared quickly like the sun behind a cloud. He tore a page out of the day’s paper and then wrapped the ring up and handed me the packet. “Good luck, Jake.”

As I stepped out the door, I heard two distant shots ring out. I recognized them as pistol caliber, but when I turned to look down the street, but could see nothing. On any normal day, I would have ridden Badger over to see the commotion, no doubt part of the ruckus that William had mentioned. Today, however, I was giddy and very eager to run home to dinner.

It was dark when I arrived, and I was grateful for the lantern that Ma had left burning in the kitchen window. The smell of stew hit me as I opened the door, and Ma turned from the table.

“I was wondering when you’d be back. Here, come get some supper.” She eyed me with curiosity. “How’s everything in town?”

I shrugged and then realized that my errand was strange without some other purchase. I had not even brought home a paper or any news. It hit me. “William said there was some kinda ruckus out toward the mill. I heard a couple of shots as I left, but I don’t know nothing else about it.”

“Didn’t go take a look?”

“I knew it was getting to be dinner time, and I was hungry…” I let my excuse trail off as it rang hollow in my ears.

Ma let it go. “Well, eat up, you’re getting skinny.” she said, patting me on my shoulder. “I’m washing tomorrow, make sure you leave this shirt out for me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said.

I slept fitfully, my dreams consisting of rocky rapids, and a recurring run through a wood ending with a branch repeatedly knocking me off my feet. It was early when I awoke in earnest. The sun had not yet begun to peek above the pines. I rose and pulled on a clean shirt and britches. In a few moments, I draped the dirty shirt over the chair back in the kitchen, grabbed my boots, and stepped outside. It was quiet except for a cheerful robin singing in the apple tree near the barn. I quietly slid on my boots.

[Soon.] I sighed happily.

Taking off at a brisk walk, I followed the tree-line southward. The morning dawn lit only the first part of the horizon, and it was still very dark in the shadows. I spent my entire childhood here and easily knew my way through the familiar paths. After a few minutes, I began to hear the sound of water. The river eventually opened up before me. I turned right along the bank and followed the trail.

Soon, I reached the river’s bend. The water sluggishly turned around and made a large ‘S’ shape. The natural peninsula there was sandy. Across the bend a large tree hung low over the deep pool that had been created by the flow of water and time. I knew from experience that many fish lived in that deep shade.

Turning, I looked for a place to rest. She would not be here yet, I was certain. I patted my pocket for the fiftieth time to ensure that the ring was with me. I sat on the boulder that rested at the top of the sand. The sun rose slowly, driving away the morning chill with fingers of dawn light.

Time passed slowly, or so I thought. I had no time piece to confirm. Only the sun and my well-honed experience.

[She should be here soon. I can’t wait to see her.]

I was restless. I paced. I skipped stones across the river. My spirits sank until sometime after the noon sun reached its peak, they crawled in the gutter. Anger rose, then denial and hope warred with each other through my heart and mind.

[Does she not feel the way I feel about her?]

I stood with hands clenched and screamed hoarsely at the treetops.

[What a fool. I’ve made such a mistake.]

The journey back home was slow and painful. I over-analyzed and prodded every moment I had spent with her. I wept bitterly for my own loss.

Finally, I walked through the yard toward the house. Ma must have seen me from the window. She came to the porch and wrapped her arms around me. I had no idea why, but like any son, I needed my mother’s love.

After a few moments, she pulled back and looked at my face.

I saw that her eyes were red and watery like mine.

“When did you find out?” she asked gently.

“Find out… what?” I stammered.

“About Jenny.”

[Maybe she meant to break it off with me at the river?]

“What, did she run off with that lawyer?” Anger bubbled up in my voice and threatened to start my tears all over again.

Ma shook her head. “She was in town last night when the shootout started. She’s gone, Jake. Innocent bystander. Mrs. Baker said she had gone into Christina’s for something, and when she came out… Well, it all happened so fast.”

My knees buckled, and I landed on the porch with my forehead on the wood. Ma knelt beside me and rubbed my back, but I resisted.

[I was right there in town. I was only a minute or two away. I could have saved her! I should have been there for her.]

My hands pounded the time-worn planks.

“I need time, Ma.”

Standing in a hurry, I reached in my pocket and pulled out the packet. I shoved it into Ma’s hands and then turned to run back to the river.

“I need time, Ma!” I hollered without looking back.

I was gone.

Hkkli (Caveman Chronicles)

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

The Index -|-

“Da, I’ve made sure that Oiitr knows where to land the Greki. We must not land in the clearings!” Zara’s voice was thin and somehow reflected the semi-transparency and shape of her ethereal head and upper torso that was projected in front of Kpleeb.

“I know. I’m sure we’ll be fine. You know I’m much more concerned by the possibility of being found by the Xih,” grumbled Kpleeb.

“We cannot risk offending the Hkkli.”

Kpleeb shrugged. “These rodent people. They’ll be fine.”

Zara smiled thinly. “We need allies, Da. Promise me you’ll follow my directions.”

“Uh, sure,” he said in what he hoped was a meek tone. “I will, for you.”

“Thank you, Da.”

Jorqu was an arboreal planet covered with vast oceans of trees. The occasional plain and meadow dotted the terrain, but those were relatively small and separated by predictable distances. As the Greki arrived, Kpleeb was fascinated by the view from above. The surface was a mottled green that was dotted with an oddly regular pattern of yellow pin-pricks.

The terrain cruised by below him as the Greki lost altitude and approached the surface. After long moments, a larger clearing appeared, and Kpleeb could see that it was freshly cut. A ring of long, trunks lined the sides of the open space where they had been pushed away from the center. In a few more moments, the Greki landed near the center of the clearing.

Kpleeb stepped to the hatch and watched as the forest was exposed to his eyesight. There, a few dozen paces away rested the Hsstak, and Zara walked toward him with a smile.

“Thank you, Da.” She turned and waved at the expansive clearing. “The Hkkli won’t be offended by this. I’ve kept it as far from their villages as possible.”

Kpleeb stepped onto the sandy soil, and it felt good on the soles of his feet. “It’s weird that the Hkkli live in these little meadows. They’re so perfectly spaced out.”

“I understand that the trees surrounding their villages naturally die off because the Hkkli eat the roots below ground. The villages are spaced out due to constant territorial spats between the clans. The Hkkli conduct a surprising amount of war.”

Kpleeb looked around. “We’re preparing old-style huts?” There were a number of Ganix assembling rough-hewn logs into round shapes. Another group were wielding stone implements to shave and carve fallen trees into a more uniform shape.

Zara nodded and looked around. After a moment, she answered in a hushed tone. “I needed to get a few huts up and keep the Ganix busy.” She pointed. “We could use the kerflk, and then have the Ganix make only the roofs.”

Kpleeb shrugged. “We could use the kerflk for all of it. I could also make a device that will prepare the trees for building.” To his eye, slicing the logs into common lengths and sections would be an easy build. “But we need to talk about next steps before I spend time on that.”

Zara nodded in agreement. “Let’s talk in the Hsstak.” She took his hand and began to walk toward the other ship.

As they approached the ship, a warrior ran toward them. “Hkkli watch us.” His finger pointed toward the forest.

Zara and Kpleeb both stopped and looked toward the woods.

“Not surprising,” said Zara. I have no way of contacting the Hkkli other than in person, but this clearing is close to where I freed the two that were captured by the Xi. I am hoping that this will grant us some goodwill.”

“Hmm. If those two are still alive,” said Kpleeb. “Keep a close watch. We don’t want to be caught off-guard, but we will certainly not start a fight.”

The warrior nodded and trotted off to speak to the other Ganix.

“Have you had any alerts from Phaedro?” Kpleeb looked up at the bulk of Hsstak’s hull as the hatch slid open.

“So far, nothing. In a way I hope there are no reports of the Xi.” Zara led him into her chamber within the top level, and sat down in a sling.

In the corner of the room, Kpleeb saw a detailed triangle pattern on the floor. The colors, red, gray, and yellow, were bright and surrounded by shiny silver and gold. “Did you make that?” he asked, pointing.

Zara grinned. “No. I don’t have time for art. It was here before I arrived. These were the chambers of Iqw Okrat, the previous overseer.

Kpleeb grunted.

“I suspect that this is some kind of communication device between the Xih, but I haven’t had time to prove it.” She sighed. “It does not run on the aji, but I can feel something when I touch it. She knelt next to the pattern and gestured to Kpleeb. “Come see if you can feel anything.”

“Is it safe?” asked Kpleeb approaching. He knelt next to the shape.

“I touched it a few times, like this,” Zara put her palm on one of the gold corners, and the silver sections seemed to shimmer like the surface of a crystal pond on a spring day. “No harm has come that I know of.” She lifted her palm again.

“You need to be careful with these new things,” grumbled Kpleeb eyeing the pattern. He placed his hand on the adjacent gold corner. There was nothing, but the cool touch of metal and no silver shimmering. He looked at Zara and shrugged. In another moment, the heat from his hand drove away the coolness, and there was a tingle in his palm.

“Interesting that the silver does not glisten when you touch it. Does it feel strange?” asked Zara.

“It tingles a bit, as if a crowd of tiny ants are throwing a party between my hand and the metal.”

Zara put her palm down on the adjacent corner, and the tingling in Kpleeb’s palm changed from its randomness into a slowly pulsating waveform.

“The silver changed. Did you feel that difference?” Kpleeb lifted his hand and stared at the creased and worn skin of his palm.

Zara nodded. “Put your hand down again.”

Kpleeb complied and felt the pulse of the pattern flow through his hand and halfway up his arm. “Whoa. This is stronger than before.”

Zara looked at the pattern, tilted her head, and after a moment she reached over and placed her other hand on the remaining, golden triangle.

Instantly, all the way to the ceiling in a vertical, triangular column, the air above the pattern lit up. Kpleeb fell backward in surprise and his hand came off the floor. The air blinked and returned to normal.

He looked at Zara and then back at the shimmering silver. “This is dangerous.”

“Everything is dangerous, Da. Everything is also useful. How do you expect to defeat such a large group of advanced enemies without more tools and knowledge?”

Kpleeb shook his head. [She has a point… but I can’t let her be harmed by my anger toward the Xi.]

With a sigh, Kpleeb put his palm back onto the golden corner. “We must be careful to save ourselves for each other and for the long fight. I do want my revenge, but it cannot come by losing you.”

Zara nodded and put her palms on the other two corners.

The glow appeared, and after a few moments, the glow reduced and finally winked out. What was left were pinpricks of light within the column. At the center, a green dot pulsed slowly. Some of the other lights moved slowly within three-dimensional space, while others remained static.

“What is this?” asked Kpleeb. “A light show of random fireflies? Could it be that this Iqw Okrat used this for entertainment?”

“I don’t know,” said Zara. She reached her hand into the center and poked at the green dot, but her hand passed right through everything. “It could be celestial bodies.”

“Like stars?” Kpleeb waved his hand through the nearest pinprick of light. “Stars don’t move like this.”

“I was thinking others, like orbs that circle a star, but I would have to observe this long enough to map the orbit.”

“These lights are all grouped together,” said Kpleeb pointing at an area that was a hand’s distance from the green dot. “Orbs don’t come in groups… not unless there are moons.”

Just then, three of the indicators on a red-tiered device against the wall began to blink, and the device itself emitted an odd blorping sound.

“That’s my sensor on Phaedro,” said Zara as she looked at the device. “The Xi must be there.”

In front of Kpleeb’s eyes, four of the grouped dots disappeared, and the one that remained began to move. He blinked, but they did not come back. He pointed “Some of these lights are gone.”

Zara looked at the cluster and shrugged. “Strange. Maybe they merged?”

Kpleeb shrugged as well and pulled his hand away from the floor. “I want to go help set up our village and take a look at these Hkkli.” He rose and watched Zara for a moment. She was deep in thought.

“It has only been five days since we left Phaedro. We have been lucky.” Kpleeb smiled at Zara. “I hope they enjoyed my little gift, but I want to return and see what is there.”

Zara nodded at him absentmindedly. “We should wait a few days before we leave. The village needs to be settled and the Hkkli contacted.”

“We?” said Kpleeb. One of us needs to stay here in case things get complex.”

“What if there are more Xi ships at Phaedro? The Hsstak with my crew will be the strongest in battle.”

“I agree,” said Kpleeb with a grin, “but someone has to stay.”

“We cannot always be here for the Ganix. They are very capable. In fact, you should appoint a Ganix leader that can lead them when we are gone.”

Kpleeb pondered the statement, and it was not long before he saw the logic in it. Eventually, everyone alive would die. The Ganix could not be treated like the Xinti were treated. They were more than deadly slaves. They were now friends and family.

“Mm, you are right, my dear girl. Who do you recommend? Xir?”

“I need to think about it. Until we find the one, I will go to Phaedro, okay, Da?” Her eyes pleaded.

“Uh, sure. Fine.” he said after a moment. “I guess I can stay here this time.”

“Good. I’ll make sure to be careful, and I will bring back pictures.” Zara stood. “First, let’s go talk to the Hkkli.”

Kpleeb grunted his assent. In a few moments they had exited the Hsstak and approached the edge of the woods where Xir stood.

“There,” Xir said simply. He pointed with his knuckle the way he had learned from Kpleeb. The trees ahead were thick, and the light from Jorqu’s star had difficulty illuminating the ground.

“I see nothing but shadows,” said Kpleeb.

“Use Mama’s ring, Da.”

Kpleeb nodded. “I forgot about it,” he said, fishing in his front pocket. With the ring on his finger, he extended his hand toward the forest. A fuzzy circle of air bloomed before him and the center coalesced into a lens. There, among the trees, close to the ground were humps of fur.

“I see them,” said Kpleeb as one of the humps blinked its eyes. He scanned right and then left and saw that the surface of the ground was covered with hundreds of the Hkkli. He turned and looked at Xir. “Quite the eyeballs you have, my friend.”

Xir grunted wordlessly.

“We should go talk to them,” said Zara looking up at Kpleeb.

“Will they attack us?” Kpleeb grinned as he imagined large rodents with fat butts sporting kung-fu stances.

Zara lifted a small Xi device. “I have a translator that will help them understand us and we will be able to understand them. I think if we don’t bring a lot of warriors and you talk nicely.” She paused. “We should be okay. I can put up a shield as well.”

Kpleeb grunted and then shrugged. “Alright. Xir, you’re with us. I’ll do the talking.”

Slowly, the Kpleeb walked into the trees. He tried to act nonchalant as he passed the first trunk and the forest dusk settled over him.

[Most of Jorqu must be dark due to the tree cover. I wonder if the Hkkli eyes are suited for it?]

Within a few long minutes, Kpleeb slowed and stopped. The Hkkli had not moved, but now he could see them a bit better. They were brown or tan. Some of them had mottled snouts. All of them had pink lips and smallish ears. He raised his hand in a non-threatening way.

“Hello Hkkli. I am Kpleeb and this is my daughter, Zara.” Kpleeb turned and gestured toward the clearing. “We are peaceful and wish to talk with your leaders.”

The translator that Zara held relayed his words in breathy, and somewhat awkward noises. After a moment the speaking stopped. There was no apparent change in the Hkkli. “Can you appeal to the Hkkli that you freed from the Hsstak?” Kpleeb said to Zara.

“Uh, hello.” said Zara raising her hand. “I freed two of your people not long ago. We want to establish a friendly relationship and trade with you.”

There was a rumbling from the Hkkli to their left, at least fifty paces away. A multitude of eyes shifted and hairy balls of brown fur arose from the groupings like fervent bubbles. The breathy noises grew, and a background hubbub echoed through the forest. Finally, a shrill and piercing squeak whistled above the din, and silence fell.

“Urh, what is going on, Zara?” asked Kpleeb as concern whispered in the back of his mind.

Xir crouched silently.

From the dark depths of the trees, a silent frenzy of ruddy shapes bounded toward them with blistering speed.

Zara’s shield flared as dozens of minuscule projectiles impacted it at once.

Kpleeb flinched.

Shifting Places (Caveman Chronicles)

~ I. Graham Smith ~ Leave a comment

The Index -|-

“So, you think it’s true?” Kpleeb raised his palms in a shrug. “I just don’t buy into this ancient prophecy crap. It seems impossible. Ridiculous even.”

Zara smiled. “Jial believes that you’re the builder, and so do the other Ganix women. Jial used to tell me these stories when I was a baby, and some of the older women have slowly filled in some pieces… myths and rumors really. Lots of stories about Janaka and the roaming augurs, the ones you and Mama called the death-whites.”

“Xir tried to call me the builder once,” said Kpleeb with a grimace. “I’ll have none of that.”

“Some of the story matches your life, Da.”

“Sure, by coincidence! Anyway, would that make you ‘the seed?’ Meh. it just seems so far-fetched, and we weren’t there for most of the story. If it’s about us, there are only a few lines of the prophecy left.” He huffed with irritation. “Just because these jerks stole me away and now, I want to get some revenge doesn’t mean I am the builder. It’s just a similar story, although I do like the last line about the foundation of an empire crumbling… unless it’s my empire.”

“What empire?” Zara said with a laugh. “I don’t suppose it matters whether or not you’re the builder.”

Kpleeb grinned. “It doesn’t. They’ve harmed me and I mean to pay them back. Simple as that.” He stood and cracked his back. “Anyway, when will the Greki be ready to fly again?”

Zara took a sip from a stone cup. “Soon…? I made sure it was empty of any hidden Xi, and Tiirw and I altered its ability to communicate with the First Terminal. We moved it closer to the village, but now I am working on a way to let the Ganix serve as crew on the Greki. I have three Xi and two ships. I need trained Ganix and all of the devices to help them use the ship.” Zara sighed. “I guess it will take more time.”

“How much time do we have left? Don’t the Xi know that we are here?”

“Yes. Tiirw has warned me several times that they will likely send another ship. I suspect they will come with greater force. I am working as fast as I can.”

Kpleeb nodded thoughtfully. “My defenders are savvier now that you’re here, but they may not be enough. The Xi are fools if they have had three rebellions on Phaedro and they have not chosen to come and kill us once and for all.”

“The Xi empire is vast. It is so large, that I cannot really imagine it. Also, the Xih are secretive and everything about the Greki and the Hsstak was shrouded in shadows. That may cause some confusion, and maybe it will give us extra time.”

“Maybe,” said Kpleeb thoughtfully. “What if we moved?”

Zara’s face scrunched up. “They will see us from orbit. I don’t think we could lose them that easily.”

“I mean, move to another orb.” Kpleeb gestured toward the door. “We pick up everything and move everyone. Surely, they would not find us.”

“That might work,” said Zara thoughtfully. “Kanta and I will look for a suitable planet. That may take time as well.”

“My gut feeling is that we don’t have a lot of time,” said Kpleeb. “I will prepare a booby-trap for the Xi when they come here.” Kpleeb grinned evilly. “But first, I will ask the Ganix to prepare themselves and their small ones for the journey.”

###

Kpleeb stood in the open hatch on the Greki and gazed at the village. It was empty. The huts stood barren and lifeless in a way that he had never seen. The ship below him shuddered very slightly and the air outside quivered in a faint purr that expanded into a whine. The ground below him began to recede, and an indicator on the wall next to his brace-hand glowed red.”

He stepped back as the hatch closed, finally turning and entering a white hallway. Xir stood there waiting for him.

“Five days.” Xir said solemnly. He said everything solemnly as did all Ganix warriors.

Kpleeb sensed a mood, or at least an abnormal seriousness in Xir. It was to be expected. Not often did they move. Even less often did anyone move from their orb to another. Zara had told him that the trip would take five days, and her description of the speed at which the Greki moved defied logic, even to his enhanced caveman brain.

###

She had converted the speed into terms that applied to the tundra. “Imagine a yak running from here to the mouth of the canyon.” She had pointed generally toward the steep river canyon that he had discovered with Thoka so long ago. “Now, at a normal speed (let’s call that 1-yak-speed), Xir thinks the yak would be there in about six hours.”

Kpleeb had nodded, but inside he had been confused.

Zara continued. “The Hsstak travels fast. I did some rough math with Tiirw’s help and I think the maximum speed is around, uh fifty-nine thousand yak-speed.” She winced and shrugged.

“Fifty-nine thousand yak-speed,” Kpleeb had exclaimed. “What does that even mean?”

“The yak would arrive at the canyon mouth in less than half a second.”

After a long moment, Kpleeb’s gaping mouth had closed. “Urgh, that’s fast. Very fast. Its poor legs!”

###

Now, as the village disappeared into the clouds below, Kpleeb sat down in the room he shared with Xir. After a few long moments, he leaned back into one of the sleeping cocoons.

[I hope five days is far enough away.] His eyes became heavy, and he yawned expansively. [I hope my boobytrap will kill so many Xi.]