[94113] in tlhIngan-Hol
[Tlhingan-hol] Who's up for another story?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Qov)
Thu Jul 19 19:08:28 2012
Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:33:54 -0600
To: tlhIngan-Hol <tlhingan-hol@kli.org>
From: Qov <robyn@flyingstart.ca>
Errors-To: tlhingan-hol-bounces@stodi.digitalkingdom.org
I was looking for a prefixes exercise to help =
someone off list and found on my hard drive a =
file which was promisingly entitled, =
"prefixes.doc". It was written one morning in =
November 2001. I'm really not sure why. Perhaps =
it was originally intended as a little primer =
demonstrating various prefixes but it went so far =
off the rails that I apparently abandoned it.
It's about a thousand words, three chapters of =
the beginning of a story. I assume I wrote this, =
as opposed to copying someone else's story for =
later study, in that ten years don't seem to have =
changed my style much and in just three pages it =
already shares with nuq bop bom:
* an alien unexpectedly speaking Klingon
* interspecies marriage
* an Andorian slave
* cultural misunderstanding
* sentient beings eating one another
* injured hands
* first aid
* the hazards of infection
* general subversion of the Klingon "glory of war" doctrine
I don't even remember writing this thing. I =
wonder what else is on this hard drive!
Because people like translations, it's followed =
by an English translation. The main character is =
a common soldier, and fairly vulgar, but there is no combat in the story.
----
wa=92 =AD rInpu=92DI=92 may=92
yuQ machDaq luDan romuluSngan QaS, tlhIngan QaS =
je. jo luSeH luneHmo=92 qaStaHvIS cha=92 DIS vaytaH. =
toq yuQ, =91ach =91Itlhbe=92 nganpu=92. toplIn =
lutlhIlbe=92. Soj SuqmeH, Sung Du=92mey weH negh, =91ach roD roghvaH lubuSH=
a=92 novpu=92.
rInpu' wa=92 may=92. DaHjaj Qaplaw=92ta=92 =
romuluSnganpu=92. che=92ronvo=92 yIttaH tlhIngan loD =
rIQ. Doy=92chu=92. jolmeH QuvDaq yItlaHpa=92 leSnIS. =
qachHom tu=92DI=92 =92el. qachHomDaq Sung be=92 mer. =
qulDaj retlhDaq joDtaH Sung. Soj vutlaw=92lI'. =
lojmIt waQmo=92 tlhIngan, Haw=92laHbe=92. tlhIngan bej.
ghu=92 qel tlhIngan. nIteb Sung HoHlaHba=92, =91ach =
=91oy=92 Hoch SomrawDaj. =91utbe=92chugh vangqangbe=92 =
SuvwI=92. be=92 ghIj qabDaj =91e=92 loS tlhIngan.
tlhIngan Hol Hoj jatlhchoH Sung. jatlh <choHoH=92a=92?>
tlhIngan mer SoQDaj. jot ghogh =91ej tlhIbHa=92 Hol. =
qoy=92be=92. jatlh SuvwI=92 <choboQbe=92chugh vaj =
bIHegh.> buQ =91e=92 Hech =91ach Doy=92qu=92mo=92 ngaDHa=92 ghoghDaj.
mu=92tlhegh qel be=92. mISlaw=92. jatlh <qaboQchugh vaj choHoHbe=92=92a=92?>
jach SuvwI=92 <baQa=92! maSutlhbe=92 jay=92> jatlh. <chaq qaHoH, chaq qaHoH=
be=92.>
Sung lughIjbe=92law=92 mu=92mey. <De=92 =91oHbe=92. =
bI=92elpu'DI=92 choHoH pagh choHoHbe=92 =91e=92 vISov.> =
jatlh. =91unvo=92 yuvtlhe=92 pep =91ej Soj nuD. Soj =
larghlaHmo=92 tlhIngan tlhoS QublaHbe=92. <bIghung=92a=92?> jatlh be=92. <j=
ISoprup.>
ngugh be=92 HoH neHchoH tlhIngan. nuQ. ghungqu=92 =
tlhIngan =91a be=92 QIp tlhochnIS. <jIghungbe=92> jatlh.
<jIghung jIH> jatlh be=92. qul DopDaq =91un nechmoH. =
=91un bIS=92ubDaq ngawDeqDaj tey. ghaH retlhvo=92 =
jengva=92 Suq. =91unvo=92 jengva=92 tebchoH. buy=92chu=92DI=92 =
jengva=92, =91unDaq yuvtlhe=92 lanqa=92 =91ej quSHomDaq =
ba=92choH. qIvDu=92DajDaq jengva=92 lan. jatlh <chaq =
SoHvaD =91eybe=92 Sojmaj, =91ach DaSopchugh DuHoSmoH>.
<HughlIj vISIjchugh ghaytan Soj =91eymoH =91IwlIj> =
jatlh tlhIngan. HoHmeH yap HoSDaj. taj lelchoH, be=92 ghoStaHvIS.
HughDaj So=92meH be=92 wa=92 ghop lo=92. <lIHoHta=92DI=92 lISop=92a=92 romu=
luSngan?> jatlh.
HoSDaj lunatlh mu=92mey. jaghchaj Sop=92a=92 =
romuluSngan? Sovbe=92 tlhIngan =91ach SomrawDu=92 =
pujmoH qech. taj chagh. Dejbe=92meH QIt torchoH. =
puj =91e=92 leghlaHmo=92 be=92 QeHqu=92 tlhIngan, =91ach =
SomrawDaj ra=92meH yab, tlhoy Doy=92 yab. ratlhbogh =
HoS natlh QeH. tortaH =91ej tlhuH neH.
qIvDu=92Dajvo=92 tlhIngan qIvDu=92Daq jengva=92 buy' Qay =
be=92. vangbe=92 tlhIngan. tlhIngan poghmey =
lupe=92lu=92chu=92bogh legh be=92. Dat lam =91Iw je tu=92lu=92. =
romuluSngan =91Iw =91oHbe=92. poS ghopDaq tlhoS cha=92 =
nItlhDu=92 luchevlu=92pu'. nIH ghop ngejlu=92law=92. <yIleS> jatlh be=92. <=
qaQorgh>.
nItlhDu=92DajDaq Soj woH be=92. tlhIngan nujDaq Soj =
lan. tuHchu=92 tlhIngan. ghaH nuS chay=92 =91e=92 ngIl =
be=92vam? HoSqa=92DI=92, be' HoHta=92DI=92 HoH=92eghnIS tlhIngan..
yIvchoH tlhIngan. ngugh Soj =91ey law=92 bortaS =91ey puS.
vulchoH tlhIngan =91ej Dej. ravDaq chuS nuHmeyDaj SutDaj je =91ach luvemmoH=
be=92.
cha=92 =AD jajlo=92
QIt vem tlhIngan. =91oy=92 porghDaj naQ. Soj =
larghlaH. ghungqu=92. QongDaqHeyDaq Qot. ghaH =
=91emDaq ghoghmey nov Qoy. QongDaqDaq tlhe=92'eghDI=92, =
tamchoH ghoghmey. mInDu=92Daj poSmoH. SaH cha=92 nuv: Sung be=92, =91anDorn=
gan loD je.
SIbI=92 chol be=92. QongDaq retlhDaq Qam =91ej tlhIngan =
bej. jatlh <Hagh qoHpu=92 neH HeghtaHvIS =
SuvwI=92pu=92>. Qaghbe=92meH yeplaw=92. vIHbe=92 be=92.
wa=92Hu=92 ram wanI=92mey qawchoH tlhIngan. ba=92choH. =
ghopDu=92DajDaq Sev lutu=92lu=92. Sung nIvnav tuQtaH. =
Say=92 DIrDaj. Say=92 jIbDaj=92e=92 jay=92. QongtaHvIS tuHmoHtaH be=92vam m=
aw=92.
QamtaH be=92. qa=92meH vIttlheghDaj jatlhta=92mo=92 =
loSlI'. ... qa=92meH vIttlhegh. tuHmoHmo=92 QoS=92a=92? =
vaqqa=92=92a=92? qa=92meH vIttlhegh lajchugh, =
tuHqa=92moH=92a=92? wIvmey qel tlhIngan. jottaH be=92. =
pa=92 reDDaq QamtaH loD. bItlaw=92 ghaH. be=92vaD jatlh =
tlhIngan <bIHeghvIpbe=92>. choHbe=92law=92 be=92 yInroH, =
=91a ghup loD. wuq tlhIngan. jatlh <jIghung. DaH Soj HIqem>.
leSchoH =91anDorngan. quSDaq ba=92choH =91ej loQ joq =
ghopDu=92Daj. nom tlhe'=92egh be=92 =91ej tlhInganvaD =
jengva=92 qem. jengva=92Daq ghab jav QImmey je =
lujablu=92. QongDaqDaq jengva=92 lan be=92 ghIq QongDaq =
retlhvo=92 tlhIngan taj woH =91ej jengva=92Daq lan. =
ghopDu=92Daj nuD tlhIngan. Sevmey Hot =91ej nItlhDu=92 =
togh. SaH Hoch. HotlaH Hoch. =91oy=92qu=92. ghopDu=92Daj =
luQIDqu'lu=92pu=92mo=92 Qatlh SopmeH Qu=92, =91ach boQ be=92 =91e=92 nIDqa'=
be=92. bejbe=92.
=91anDornganvaD jengva=92 qem be', ej ghaH retlhDaq =
ba=92choH. SopchoHDI=92 =91anDorngan, ghov tlhIngan. =
Duj toy=92wI=92=92a=92 ghaHpu'. melqor =91oH pongDaj=92e=92. =
wa=92 ben ngaq raQ luweHtaHvIS romuluSngan, =
toy=92wI=92=92a=92pu=92 jonta'. toy=92wI=92=92a=92 matlh ghaH. =
tojbe=92. motlh toywI=92 QIv moj =91anDornganpu=92, =91ach =
toy'wI''a' ghaH je melqor SoS'e'. toy'meH boghpu' =
melqor. toH. melqormo=92 tlhIngan Hol jalthchu=92 be=92.
SoptaHvIS =91anDorngan, qevpobDaj yach be=92 =91ej =
jawtaH. Sung Hol lujatlh. yajbe=92 tlhIngan, =91ach qIDlaw=92 be=92. mon =
=91ej loQ Hagh.
QamchoH be=92 =91ej bIQ bal=92a=92 woH. lojmIt poSmoH =91ej vegh.
mejta=92DI=92, =91anDornganvaD jatlh tlhIngan. <QIp=92a=92 pagh yoHqu=92=92=
a=92?>
mon =91anDorngan <yoHqu=92 =91ej valqu=92 =91ej =91IHqu=92 =91ej loQ maw=92=
>.
Hagh tlhIngan. jatlh. <DaSawta=92=92a=92?>
jatlh =91anDorngan. <HISlaH>
jatlh tlhIngan <qaHoy=92. nItlhabmoHpu'=92a=92 romuluSngan?>
jatlh =91anDorngan <ghobe=92. jInarghmeH wa=92 vIHoHta'.>
jatlh tlhIngan <maj. DaHoHpu'mo=92 qatlhabmoH. DaH QImmeyvetlh HInob>
tlhInganvaD QImmey qem =91anDorngan. QIm woH =
tlhIngan. tochDajDaq =91uch. pel=92aQ ghormeH Ho=92Du=92 =
lo=92, ghIq pel=92aQvo=92 QIm tlhutlh.
chegh be=92, bal=92a=92 =91ugh qengtaHvIS. jatlh <naDev =
nInejbe=92 romuluSngan ngIvwI'pu'. bIratlh =
DaneHchugh vaj mebma=92 SoHbej.> yotlh lughoS be=92 =91anDorngan je. wIjwI=
=92 chaH.
leS tlhIngan. Dargh wIb tlhutlh. mejrupchoH. HIp =
tuQmoH. nuHmey woH. lojmIt vegh.
mej =91e=92 legh be=92, pochtaHvIS. <romuluSngan law=92 tIHoH> jatlh.
qolmeH QuvDaq chegh tlhIngan =91ej beq tlhejqa=92.
loS waQ Dup chu=92 wIv ra=92ghomquv. yuQvamDaq ghor =
QaS lo=92be'choH. romuluSnganpu=92 SangmeH nuHmey HoS lo=92choH.
wej =AD wa=92 nem
wa=92 nem tepqengwI=92Daq paw Hung QaS chu=92. =
ramvetlh, tachDaq ghom. mangHom chaH HochHom=92e=92. =
not may=92mey SIQpu', vaj mIymeH nep.
<romuluSngan boSuvpu=92=92a=92? qu=92!>
<jeylaH SuvwI=92 nIv. wa=92logh, loS vIHoHta' qaStaHvIS wa=92 tup!>
<ngeD Qu=92! romuluSngan vIHoHmeH wa' nItlh neH vIpoQ. qatlh vagh DaHoHbe=
=92?>
<romuluSngan la=92 be=92nal vIqeylI=92mo=92 ratlh loS nItlhDu=92 neH>
=91IjtaHvIS wa=92 mang Qup, mon, =91ach jeSbe=92. poSDaj =
retlhDaq ba=92choH ra=92wI=92. mon ra=92wI=92. jatlh <romuluSngan DaHoHbe=
=92=92a=92?>
<vIHoHta=92 =91ach Qujchaj rurbe=92 Qu=92. DaSIqchugh, =
chaq not bISIqqa=92. nIv betleH. nIvqu=92 nISwI=92 beH>
<qatlh DujlIj DatlheDpu'?>
<vIQaylu=92pu'. qaSpu=92DI=92 cha=92maH chorgh jar, =
nawloghwIjvaD ratlh jIH neH. latlhpu=92 HoHpu=92 rop romuluSngan je>
<qewwI=92lIj chevpu'=92a=92 romuluSngan?>
HIvje=92 =91uchbogh ghopDaj bejchoH mang. <may=92 =
vIqawchu=92be=92. qaStaHvIS wej jaj ngemDaq =
romuluSngan DISuvtaH. rInpu'DI=92 may=92 tlhoS poS =
qewwI=92 qaywI=92 je luchevlu=92pu'. ropyaHDaq qaywI=92 =
lutI=92ta', =91ach ngImchoHpu' qewwI=92>
<Sogh vIpoQ. wa=92leS SoH qanum. nuq =91oH ponglIj=92e=92?>
<qoreQ, qaH.>
----
One - after a battle
Romulan troops and Klingon troops occupy a small =
planet. As they both want to control the =
resources, fighting continues for two years. The =
planet is inhabited, but the inhabitants are not =
advanced. They do not mine the =
topaline. Soldiers raid the native arms for =
food but generally the aliens ignore the natives.
One battle has ended. Today it would seem that =
the Romulans have triumphed. An injured Klingon =
man is walking from the battlefield. He is =
exhausted. He needs to rest before he can walk to =
the beam up coordinates. When he finds a hut he =
goes in. Inside he surprises a native woman. The =
native is stooping beside her fire. She seems to =
be preparing food. As the Klingon blocks her =
door, she cannot flee. She watches the Klingon.
The Klingon considers the situation. He can =
obviously kill the native unaided, but all his =
muscles hurt. He's not willing to do what's not =
necessary. The Klingon waits for his face to scare the woman.
The native starts to speak Klingon. She says, "Are you going to kill me?"
Her speech surprises the Klingon. The voice is =
calm and competent. She does not beg. The warrior =
says, "If you do not assist me, you die." He =
intends to threaten, but because he is so tired his voice is unstable.
The woman considers the sentence. She seems =
confused. She says, "If I assist you, then you won't kill me?"
The warrior cries out, "Shit! We're not fucking =
negotiating," he says. "Maybe I'll kill you, maybe I won't."
The words didn't seem to scare the native. =
"That's not information. When you entered I knew =
that either you would kill me or you wouldn't," =
she said. She raised the lid of the pot and =
examined the food. The Klingon almost couldn't =
think, because he could smell the food. "Are you =
hungry?" said the woman. "I am ready to eat."
Now the Klingon starts to want to kill the woman. =
The Klingon is very hungry but he needs to =
contradict the woman. "I'm not hungry," he says.
"I'm hungry," says the woman. She moves the pot =
sideways beside the fire. She scrapes the bottom =
with a stirring stick, gets a plate from beside =
herself, and starts to fill the plate from the =
pot. When the plate is completely full she puts =
the lid back on the pot and sits on a stool. She =
places the plate on her knees. She says, "Perhaps =
our food is not tasty to you, but it will strengthen you if you eat it."
"If I slit your throat your blood will probably =
make the food tasty," says the Klingon. His =
strength is sufficient to kill her. He starts to =
draw a knife, proceding towards the woman.
The woman uses one hand to hide her throat. "Do =
the Romulans eat you when they kill you?" she says.
The words sap his strength.. Do Romulans eat =
their enemies? The Klingon doesn't know, but the =
idea weakens his muscles. He drops the knife. In =
order not to collapse he slowly kneels. The =
Klingon is very angry that the woman can see that =
he is weak, but his mind is too tired to command =
his muscles. Anger has consumed his remaining =
strength. He kneels and just tries to breathe.
The woman transfers the full plate from her knees =
to the Klingon's. The Klingon takes no action. =
The woman sees the Klingon's cut up gloves. There =
is filth and blood everywhere. It's not Romulan =
blood. On the left hand two fingers have been =
severed almost. The right hand appears infected. =
"Relax," says the woman. "I will take care of you."
The woman picks up food in her fingers. She =
places it in the Klingon's mouth. The Klingon is =
utterly ashamed. How does this woman dare to =
ridicule him? When he is strong again, the =
Klingon wil need to kill himself once he has killed the woman.
The Klingon starts to chew. At this moment food is sweeter than revenge.
The Klingon loses consciousness and collapses. =
His weapons and clothes are noisy on the floor but they don't wake him up.
Two - dawn
The Klingon awakens slowly. His whole body aches. =
He can smell food. He is ravenous. He's lying on =
some sort of bed. Behind him he can hear alien =
voices. When he turns over on the bed, the voices =
become quiet. He opens his eyes. There are two =
people: the native woman and an Andorian man.
The woman immediately approaches. She stands =
beside the bed and watches the Klingon. She says, =
"Only fools laugh while warriors die." She seems =
to be careful not to make an error. The woman doesn't move.
The Klingon remembered last night's events. He =
sits up. There are bandages on his hands. He is =
wearing alien pajamas. His skin is clean. His =
fucking *hair* is clean. This crazy woman =
continued to shame him while he slept.
The woman is still standing. She is waiting =
expectantly because she has said a replacement =
proverb. Is she sorry for shaming him? Does she =
mock him? If he accepts the replacement proverb =
will she do it again? The Klingon considers his =
options. The woman remains calm. The man is =
standing by the wall. He seems nervous. The =
Klingon says to the woman, "You are not afraid to =
die." The woman doesn't seem to flinch, but the =
man swallows. The Klingon makes a decision. He =
says, "I'm hungry. Bring me food now."
The Andorian starts to relax. He sits in a chair =
and his hands shake a little. The woman turns =
quickly and brings a plate for the Klingon. =
There's a chunk of the midsection of an animal =
and six eggs. The woman places the plate on the =
bed and then picks up the Klingon's knife from =
the side of the bed and puts it on the plate. The =
Klingon examines his hands. He touches the =
bandages and counts his fingers. Thet are all =
present. They can all touch. They hurt a lot. =
It's hard to eat with such badly injured hands, =
but the woman doesn't try to help again. She doesn't watch.
The woman brings a plate for the Andorian, and =
sits beside him. As the Andorian starts to eat, =
the Klingon recognizes him. He was a ship slave. =
His name is melqor. A year ago while raiding a =
support camp, Romulans captured the slaves. He =
was a loyal slave. He didn't trick. Usually =
Andorians made inferior slaves but melqor's =
mother was a slave too. melqor had been born to =
be a slave. So, the woman was fluent in Klingon because of melqor.
While the Andorian eats, the woman strokes his =
cheek and chats. They speak the native language. =
The Klingon doesn't understand, but the woman =
seems to joke. She smiles and laughs a bit.
The woman stands up up and picks up a water =
vessel. She opens the door and goes through.
Once she has left, the Klingon says to the =
Andorian, "Is she stupid or very brave?"
The Andorian smiles. "She is very brave, and very =
smart, and very beautiful and a little bit crazy."
The Klingon laughs. He says, "Did you marry her?"
The Andorian says, "Yes."
The Klingon says, "Congratualtions. Did the Romulans set you free."
The Andorian says, "No. I killed one in order to escape."
The Klingon says, "Well done. I set you free for =
killing them. Now give me those eggs."
The Andorian brings the eggs to the Klingon. The =
Klingon picks up an egg. He holds it in his palm. =
He uses his teeth to break the shell and then drinks the egg out of the she=
ll.
The woman returns, carrying the heavy water =
vessel. She says, "The Romulan patrols won't look =
for you here. If you wish to stay, then you are =
indeed our guest." The woman and and the man go =
out to the field. They are farmers.
The Klingon relaxes. He drinks sour tea. He =
becomes ready to leave. He puts on his uniform, =
picks up his weapons and goes through the door.
The woman sees him leave, while she is planting. =
"Kill many Romulans," she says.
The Klingon goes to the beam-up coordinates and rejoins his crew.
Four months from now, the High Command will =
choose a new strategy. They will stop using =
ground troops on this planet and start =
obliterating the Romulans with energy weapons.
Three- A Year Later
A year later new security troops arrive on a =
freighter. That night in the bar they meet up. =
Most are cadets, never experienced battle, so in order to brag, they lie.
"You've fought Romulans? Right on!"
"A superior warrior can defeat them. Once I killed four in a minute."
"Easy! I only need one finger to kill a Romulan. Why didn't you kill five?"
"Seeing as I was in the process of using my =
middle finger on the Romulan commander's wife I only had four left."
One young soldier smiled as he listened but =
didn't participate. The commander sat down to his =
left. The commander smiled. He said. "You don't kill Romulans?"
"I have killed them, but it's not like their =
game. If you point at one, perhaps you will never =
point again. A betleH is superior. A disruptor rifle is best."
"Why did you leave your ship?"
"I was transferred. After twenty-eight months I =
was the only one left in my squadron. Romulans =
and disease had killed the others."
"Did a Romulan cut off your ring finger?"
The soldier glances at the hand holding the =
tankard. "I don't remember the battle clearly. We =
were fighting Romulans in the woods for three =
days straight. When the battle was over my left =
middle finger and ring finger were practically =
severed. They mended the second finger in =
sickbay, but the third one turned putrid."
"I need a liutenant. I'll promote you tomorrow, What's your name?"
"qoreQ, sir."
---
It was really cool to read a story when I didn't =
know what was going to happen next -- and I =
didn't have to figure it out for myself, =
either. I'm confused about where the tepqengwI' =
deposited qoreQ and his less experienced =
companions. I'm curious about this commander who =
is so hard up for officers that he ventures into =
the bar to promote the least idiotic of the =
fresh-off-the-boat recruits. Must be a remote =
colony. And what does it have to do with =
prefixes? Is this some kind of illness, this need to write stories?
- Qov
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