Cosmic Fairy Tales

COSMIC FAIRY TALES
A Thirty-fourth Century Guide to Children's Literature
by L. A. Webber
Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

34th Century, Page 1
Kalu — 4th Planet in the Talaarran System

Pucca Stew
Up to the pucca pit we shall go
you and me and our 'droid named Moe'
pick a pucca, pick a pucca
give them to the droid
who chews them up and spits them out
as alkaloids
scoop it up, scoop it up
give it to my parent 'Mnan'
who will mix it in a pan
with lobca juice and porba roots
and little baby bamba shoots
then there'll be lots of pucca stew
all for me and all for you
Attributed to the 29th Century when the Kalubians first discovered the pucca in the
asteroid belt that rings their planet. Considered a delicacy in much of the galaxy,
these tiny, wormlike creatures are cultivated by the trillions and have become the main
export of this now prosperous planet. Pucca stew is a favorite among the young ones
of Kalu since it is attributed to the growth of strong, healthy tails.

Pala'raa'haar'la — Song of the Sun and the Seven Moons

"Come dance with us" They turned around laughing
said the seven moons but the sun shed a tear
to the setting sun "There are seven of you but
"the night's just beginning I'm all alone here"
and your work is done"
The seven moons said to
"But I'm much too tired" each other "oh dear."
said the yawning sun "I "Perhaps, after all, one of us
must get my sleep for I'm should stay here"
no longer young"
So now they take turns
The seven moons giggled staying one at a time
and glided away to party and everyone's happy
and wiggle until the next that everything's fine
day
While six of them go out to
The sun awoke, calling dance and have fun the
"Now ladies come play!" seventh one rests up to play
"Please, we're so tired with the sun.
perhaps some other day."
The Pala songs are intricate and unique. Their language is based in music and their
mathematics is a blend of music and color. Here is the closest translation possible of an
ancient favorite. It "explains" the orbits of the seven moons and why one or another
moon, in it's order, is always seen with the sun in the daytime.

The mystic order of the Haarta sing of "The Sun and all the moons dancing at
night," which shall signal the cataclysmic shift into the next "age of final
enlightenment." While some of the Pala feel this is just a myth, studies prove that in
1,250± light years such an alignment will take place. The Haarta have been making
preparations since the "Arrow of the day" alignment some 12,500± years ago signaling
the "age of contemplation."

NARALA
Song of Kila — to her dragon Ner
Dragons fly and butterflies
and clouds go floating in the sky
my hummingbird
now knows the words
and sings just like the other birds
Now Pico birds sing
only when no moon
shines in the sky
the kodo bird sings not at all
and only she knows why
But dragon songs
are best of all
They set the soul aflame
Every dragon
has it's own
and no two are the same.
Narala is one of the few planets where two completely different species of intelligent
life live in peace and harmony. The dragons and humanoids of Narala share a
cultivated, telepathic bond unique in all the galaxy. Dragons have been known to stay
with the same family for life. The love and loyalty shared by the Naralians and the
dragons are legendary. The dragons offer high morals, terrestrial and inter-stellar
transportation and an incredible defense and security against crime and war. In turn,
the Naralians offer food, shelter, pampering, and adventure. Neither species claims to
have any advantage over the other and it is impossible to say just who has tamed
whom.

Bokuri - Chadlizaar
Chadlizaar,
the king is fat, He almost had
fatter than a wife,
a boblorat it's said
he taxes that
everything alive after one kiss
adds two plus two she fell dead
and calls it five Told his wizard
he used to bathe to make rain
out in the moat and when he failed
but that made cut him in twain
all the fang fish float Told his army
to attack
caught twenty arrows in
the back.
Late 4th or early 5th century Bokuri rhyme that makes fun of the evil King Chadlizaar
who was killed by his own officers when he ordered his army to charge into certain
doom against the larger, more advanced army of Kobliti, who went on to unify all the
tribes of Bokuri in peace. The poem itself grew over his 50 year reign, from its
beginning to his assassination.

Gamus XII - NABO, NEBO, & NIBO

Nabo, Nebo and Nibo were all the "Win 30 credits! Catch the Vlig!"
best of friends "A Vlig?" said Nabo "Too small, too
they went everywhere together quick"
"Gather round, then" said Nebo
and were brothers to the end
"we need a trick."
Nebo, Nibo and Nabo went

Nibo entered the three-sided Pen
to the amuzadome
with Nabo and Nebo outside
as soon as the slippery vlig was let in
They played the games and
they poked their heads in and screamed
flew the tubes until their
"Hi!"
credits were gone
"We'll have to sell our floater." The poor little vlig was terribly confused (for
the three looked alike, as you know)
said Nebo with a moan he ran up and down, all around,
to and fro
"Walk all the way home!?" said Nabo without knowing which way to go
"I don't think so." he groaned
Nibo kneeled in the third corner
Then said Nebo, looking around not moving or making a sound
"We may walk home anyway. the Vlig, without knowing
ran right to his arms
It will cost us 20 credits to get and he won the contest, hands down
our floater out of bay." with bellies full of Kava treats

They guided their floater home
Nibo, Nabo, and Nebo trekked around Nibo, Nebo and Nabo
the amuzadome
with no credits left of their own
trying to calculate how to get home
with no credits left of their own
Nibo was first
to hear the gamemaster's bid

The Jaba'Da, for 52 thousand years, have lived within a Dyson sphere .0003794 light
years in diameter. They worship the Grand Mathematician of All Creation; His
Emissary: The Grand TechnoLord who delivered unto the Jaba'Da, the Divine
Equations and The Technology of The Most High Celestial Host. Thus all things are
broken down to their equation. They lead peaceful, leisurely, pleasurable lives. Labor
is kept to a mathematical minimum.
There are thousands of poems and stories about Nabo, Nebo, and Nibo. The
three brothers are favorites of hivemasters. Separately, they are prone to failure, but
together, they are always victorious. The belief in Universal Cooperation is a cultural
foundation attributed to Gamus the 12th who united the Jaba'Da to take to space before
their original planet was destroyed in a planetary collision. They worked together
mining the debris and the other planets and moons in their solar system to create their
personal environment, which they take where they will. The sphere, which contains its
own sun, 2 moons, oceans, mountains, clouds, atmosphere, weather controls, and much
more — is named in honor of this great prophet-king.

The Qulon of Taka

song of Dreamtime
Come, our children Soon, our children

you are young you shall float as we float
and life is endless Soon, our children
as the ocean you shall love as we love
Sing, our children in Soon, our children
waves of harmony you shall fly as we fly
life is one Caressed in the love
as the ocean growing in the knowledge
Swim, our children of the endless life
floating dreams in the endless ocean
currents of love Life is the ocean
holding you as the ocean is life.
hugging you
gentle and warm
life is loving
as the ocean
First encountered on Taka VI, the origins of the Qu'lon are unknown. Taka VI is a
totally liquid planet of water and an unknown substance that defies all attempts to
define it. While the Jaba'Da are rumoured to have an equation for it, they refuse to
discuss the subject with anyone.
The Qu'lon exist in, at least, three stages. The swimming, or tripod stage. The
floating, or lilypad stage; and the flying, or spherical stage. While highly intelligent,
they have no apparent technology. They can communicate with other species by
telepathy, but among each other, songs are used. These songs, while highly complex
and technically broader, are similar to those used by the celestial whales of the
Dnin'nab system. While still an enigma, we know this much. They are intercreational
lifeforms able to travel from one universe or dimension to another. The young
swimmers are cared for by the floaters. When they become floaters, they care for the
new swimmers. Apparently, as swimmers become floaters, floaters become flyers.
Flyers then go out to explore the universe.
We have no idea how far this process may continue. They have no concept of
death and claim that they can only change. They are passive and powerful. Impervious
to harm, very friendly, and when it suits them, helpful. Many a drifting ship has been
saved by a Qu'lon. They claim to 'know' that creation is an intelligent lifeform
dreamed by an intelligent personality. Creation is life and the personality is the ocean.
Creation exists within the personality and vice versa. Thus life and the ocean is one
thing. They seek only to explore, know, and love this one thing.
AZJUR circa unknown
Close your eyes where, finally you'll

and dream a dream come to stop
of Kalbralar on the rainbow ring of
the fairy queen the rainbow world
who comes to children where all good little
in the night boys and girls
and takes them with faerie folk shall
on a wondrous flight laugh and play
upon her gold and sing and dance
and crystal sled until the next day
which by five unicorns when the morning sun
is led peeps over your bed
through fields of flowers and whispers "wake
as they sing up sleepyhead." and,
and over the hall dreams forgotten
of the elfin king spend your day
where, should you stop, in all the games
the elves perchance that children play
will teach to you until the next night
the gryphon's dance while you dream
Then once again again shall come the
through Stardust skies fairy queen.
the five, winged
unicorns shall fly
above waving giants
on mountaintops

The planet Azjur is a monastery culture. Inhabited by a level 5 psychic race, they
believe in "everything ruled by one thing." They communicate with any and all forms
of life-organic, inorganic; corporeal or non-corporeal. Their technology is minimal, at
best: stone housing and plumbing, handwritten literature, animal transportation etc.
While considered primitive by some, others feel that they have evolved past any need
for technology. They do not work. Children play, adults play and study. They are
vegetarians and their fields are fruitful and immaculate without cultivation. Their
weather is perfectly cooperative. They have no hierarchy, no leaders, no crime, no
disagreement of any kind. They have no doors or locks of even the simplest design.
They take few visitors from off-world since they require anyone coming for any
reason to be in "pure balance and agreement with everything and one thing." Few
qualify. Azjur is translated as "the name of the one thing" and Azjurite as "servant of
the one thing." It is believed that dreams of Kalbralar are not dreams.

Shalah
ynif r, yoj'wa and pid'ly'pu
Ynif r and Yoj'wa minding their manners

were wont to see the queen and stopping to talk
"Well tell the guards we're cousins to elder flowers
I'm sure they'll let us in." rocks and trees
"Sounds good to me" said Yoj'wa. royal animals
"How does it sound to you?" and birds and bees
But the bird called Pid'ly til, as the day
shook his head was getting late
and all he said was "pooh." they found themselves
"Pooh to you too" said Ynif r at the castle gate.
"I think it will be fun!" The guards were sleeping
"Besides" she said, tossing her hair in a row
"You don't have to come." and so our trio
But the bird called Pid'ly on tip-toe
shook his head did throughout
and all he said was "pooh." the castle roam
Now Yoj'wa was the strongest boy until, they found
of all the boys he knew upon her throne
and Ynif r was the prettiest girl the mighty queen
one had to say that's true. asleep and snoring
While Pid'ly was smart said Yoj'wa to his sister
and would talk when he liked "seems castle life is boring"
mostly he just said "pooh." Ynifr, giggling, replied
Off to the castle "Tis true"
our trio did walk But the bird called Pid'ly

shook his head when you wake up it seems."

and all he said was "pooh." "We cannot say," the children laughed
Well, "You see, it’s not our dream."
that one little "pooh" "But if my life
woke up the queen is just a dream
who looked at them whatever shall I do?"
and began to scream But the bird called Pid’ly
"You must be punished shook his head
for this disgrace! and all he said was "pooh."
Imagine! The nerve!
saying 'pooh' to my face!"
"We don't think you can do that,"
said the kids with a grin.
"For you see, all of this
is just a dream we're in."
So they took her to the ocean shore
tied up with golden strands
and made her sit until she cried
out in the cold, wet sand.
"Pity that I should fade away
Shala is a planet of several existing cultures. Its different religions, political states and
multi-ethnic/polyracial populations has held an uneasy peace for only the past 1500
years. Since its people are still prone to crime, war and other acts of aggression, they
have not been allowed to travel off-world beyond their own two moons. This poem is
a 21st century Pakatan piece. The Pakatan live on the southeast penninsula of the
conglomerate states of Kalusia.

Klaagen 21st Century

The Webbis and the Snick
One day and on the Aja plain

the webbis and the snick of chanting on the bema rock
were walking by the shore and dancing in the rain
"Oh, do be a dear webbis around blazing bonfires
and sing me a song glowing green
of days gone by and before." of these and more
"Oh darling snick why did the webbis sing
do you ask such things While softly smiling
when you know that the snick did gaze
my songs make you cry." upon the shimmering sea
And so as they walked "Dear dear?" the webbis asked the snick.
by the glistening sea "Have I saddened thee?"
the webbis did sing A single tear
of what used to be- fell in the sand
He sang of chldren and was captured
young and bright by the sea
of flying kites "Oh no," said the snick
on cool, clear nights as she took his hand
of journeys on "I find joy in what used to be"
the open roads And so
and bubbles the webbis and the snick
in the snow walking by the shore
of picnics were joyful in their memories
in the Foley woods of the lost days of before.

Klaagen is a female dominated, unicultural society ruled by the Imperial Daughters of

The Grand Matriarchal Empress. While all Klaagen have equal rights, the males, long
ago decided that all they wanted to do was "have fun." Major decisions are left to the
women while the men seem content to work, play sports, help raise the children and
maintain the home. Cooking is done by automation, as agreed 1500 years ago to end
the "great uprising."
There is no war although once, 592 years ago, two of the Imperial Daughters
declared war on each other after they both arrived at a coronation in the exact same
outfits. The Grand Matriarch had them imprisoned for five years for "being a couple
of spoiled, selfish twits who would waste time, money and lives over vain, stupid
materials like fashion and loose men." Thus was the only war avoided before it ever
began. They excel at business and finance throughout the galaxy and their educational
structure is second only to the Jaba'Da. The church of the Mother Goddess is
extremely powerful and holds the best network parties anywhere.

Zanada circa. 2595
counting poem
I am five arms and hands

an East Zanadian six legs and feet
as cute seven gills
as I can be eight tongues
When I stand nine rows of teeth
in the mirror-box ten fingers
this is what I see: eleven fins
one mouth and twelve webbed toes.
two ears I am an East Zanadian
three growing tails as perfect as can be
four eyes I smile at my reflection
(two front & two behind) because that is what I see.
The Zanadians live on a planet made entirely of Pobus — a dense, almost solid, liquid
substance best described as a cross between mercury and Jello. It is an excellent
conductor of energy and is widely used throughout the system in the tubing for warp,
plasma, nuclear, quark, ajma, outon, and static (electric and solar) ship drives, cores
and stabilizers. Since it can increase output by up to 500 percent, it is self-
replenishing, remaining constant in volume, never dissipating or evaporating.
Impervious to power loss or surge, it can power evrything from toys & weapons to
industrial and habitat machinery. Pobus tubes last indefinitely.
The Zanadians trade this ocean substance for technology. In small measured
spheres as currency, one ounce is worth 3,945 Kalibrium cubes. Thus, the Zanadians

live in the lap of luxury. They are a very vain, egotistical race. The East Zanadians
live in splendid hi-tech cities on the surface, while the westerners live in luxurious
habitats below. Though they refer to each other as "skimmers" and "swimmers," from
off-worlders, it is considered a derogatory insult.

Miso'ni 12th century

Labata'Qok
Labata was an was becoming quite annoyed

orphan boy no more
as poor as the widow paid her tax
poor could be no more
Bokiti was a the child it's due
mighty king no more
who lived in did beggars pay the toll
luxury to walk the streets he ruled
yet each of them So he gathered all
would claim the world his warriors
as far as they could see who marched with
Labata worked sword and shield
the fields for food But before they
and fed the widows reached the forest
in the woods Labata met them
he made them homes in the field
of elaa vines Labata, now grown
among the baya trees strong and tall
he taught the children came out alone
games and songs and laughed
and how to dance with glee at them all
Now as the poor folk he ran
flocked to him he ducked
to learn his ways of joy he jumped around
The mighty king Bokiti the soldiers

could not pin him down That is why

he reached the for centuries
chariot of the king our towns
and did the in silence stood
most amazing thing for all the people
he hugged the king await their return
and yelled "goodbye" and so live in the woods
then leapt into when they come back
the purple sky we'll all be there
the king in tow to dance around and sing
and you should know and take the crown off Bokiti's head
that they've yet and make Labata king.
to come down
The people of Miso'ni call themselves the Labata'Qok or people of Labata. They have,
indeed, lived in the woods for centuries. The common folk actually believe and expect
Bokiti and Labata to physically fall back down from the sky. The Labata mystics,
however, await the birth of twins who shall remember their last lives and shall identify
themselves accordingly.
Still, the Labata'Qok are an extraordinarily psychic and gifted people. They
live totally honest, open lives — in harmony with nature and each other. They are
telepathic, telekinetic and capable of amazing feats. Their elders can jump upwards in
excess of two miles, but, as of yet, everyone has been forced to come back down.
The towns and cities remain abandoned. It is hoped that, if Labata does not
return, the entire population will, one day, be able to achieve the consciousness needed
to make "The Great Leap."

Dolthus III 27th century
Tyamen
Tyamen
the puppet king
Schoumaalysaara
pulls his strings
and makes him do
most anything
watch him dance
and hear him sing
Tyamen the
puppet king
Schoumaallysaara
Schoumaallysaara
loves the king
but keeps him
on her silver string
our peace and joy
the priesthood hate
and so we pray
her grip is great
For if the high priest
had his way
our queen would lose
her head today

The Fingrapaa of Dolthus III are a hearty, consumer race. While they maintain a
comfortable, standard technology, it is mostly imported. Their main export is plant
life. They have worked out a system where trees and plants are grown in large
orbiting domes. These are shipped out at whatever stage of development would best
assure the desired state of growth upon arrival. This allows them to conserve planet
resources while perfecting ways to accentuate or retard planet growth as needed.
Tyamen, a mid 27th century king was an oppressive, mean-spirited ruler until
he married the beautiful sorceress Schoumaallysaara. While the priesthood of Tibok
charged her with placing a spell on the king which caused him to abolish taxes and
improve the living conditions of all citzens; Tyamen declared that love was the only
spell he was joyfully under. He also ordered the high priest, Ziphar, to "give, rather
than receive." All intrigue aside, the Queen mother of 15 generations still lives in
peaceful privacy. She never remarried, remaining true to her love

STORIES
by
L.A. Webber
Copyright © L. A. Webber
18th century Tybeh'n story
Pokari was a poor lad who never had much luck at anything. He wandered
here and there doing odd jobs for farmers in the country or helping to unload the
many barrels of supplies that filled the carts coming into the cities. If Pokari was
good at any one thing, it was telling a good story. He could keep a hundred children
spellbound for hours and make the old men in the restaurants laugh so hard that they
were happy to buy him dinner.
Now it just so happened that there was a particularly mean dragon terrorizing
the countryside on his way to the king's castle. This made the king, not to mention
the people, terribly upset. He was so upset, in fact, that he offered his daughter, the
beautiful princess Amirand, to anyone who could stop the dragon. For many days, the
bravest of men would go out to fight the dragon only to have the huge beast eat them.
Not being the brave sort, Pokari decided that wherever the dragon was, he would go
the other way.
He was 5 miles north of the King's city behind him when suddenly, there was
the dragon standing right in front of him! He was huge and red with wings and
breathed fire as he looked at poor Pokari and laughed.
"Oh ho! Another brave warrior to eat! But you are so small, hardly worth the
effort. Still, a snack is a snack..." The dragon began to move closer to Pokari who
could only think of one thing to say.
2
"Who are you?" he said as seriously as he could.
"I beg your pardon?" The dragon replied, stopping in his tracks.
"What's your name? I'm Pokari the Great!" he said bowing majestically.
"'Pokari the Great' what?" asked the dragon.
"Pokari the Great Dragon Rider!"
"You ride dragons?"
"Of course! In fact, I'm searching for the greatest, fiercest, biggest dragon of
them all - Bolvamet! You wouldn't know him, or maybe where I could find him
would you?"
"Never heard of him. Bolvamet...What does he look like?"
"Nobody knows," said Pokari, forlornly, "imagine the most famous dragon in the
world and no one's ever seen him."
"Then how do you know that he's so great? I'm big and fierce, as great as they
come!" said the dragon, flexing his tail muscles.
"But you don't have a name! Nobody knows about you," Pokari replied,
turning his back.
"I've eaten a good 30 warriors and at least 20 sheep and 15 cows!" said the
dragon, stomping his feet.
"Sure" said Pokari, "and not one of those warriors can go back and tell your
name. Besides, who can talk to sheep and cows? Face it, you're a nobody. Sorry,
no name, no fame."
"Pokari the Great Dragon Rider, huh?"
"I' ve never heard of you." said the dragon smugly.
"Of course not." Pokari shot back.
"Dragons are not known as paying customers."
"Paying customers?"
"Yes. People give money, gold, silver, jewels, fur, stuff, goods - food!"
"Food? for what?"
"Food - for a good show - a little dancing, some flying; fire tricks, the usual."
"No fighting?"
"Nope."
"No spears, no arrows, no swords, and they give you food?"
"Yep - I figured that if I could get Bolvamet - we could even play for the
King. Oh, lots of food there. Well, thanks anyway, I'll see you around." Pokari
waved to the dragon and began to walk away. He had gotten about 10 steps when the
dragon grabbed him with his tail and placed him gently to where he was at first.
"I’ll do it," he said.
"Do what? " Pokari asked, surprised.
"The show. I'm Bolgameet."
"Bolvamet."
"Right. I'm your dragon."
"You're not him."
"Have you seen him?"
"No."
"Has anyone else?"
"No."
"Then why not me?"
Pokari considered this and agreed to hire the dragon for 2 sheep or 1 cow a
week. In return the dragon would be nice, practice hard and follow orders (within
reason, of course). The dragon let Pokari tie a vine around his neck and followed him
down the road to the King's castle.
The whole town marveled at how tame the dragon was to Pokari. Soon they
forgot their fear and cheered them on as they reached the castle. The King came out to
see what all the noise was about and was shocked to see a mere lad leading a dragon
on a leash while children played around his tail.
"Who has tamed this dragon?" asked the King.
"Pokari!" yelled the people.
"Excuse me, your majesty." Pokari said politely. "His name is Bolvamet the
Great and he has agreed to live out his life in peaceful service to the King as long as I
may take care of him."
"Then it shall be very crowded within these castle walls." said the King. "For
by delivering this dragon to me, alive yet, you have won the hand of my daughter, the
Princess Amirand."
5
So Pokari and the Princess, who actually did fall in love with Pokari, were
happily married - and the dragon? He spends his days roasting the royal meals, eating
his fill and playing with the children in the royal park. So he was happiest of all.
(Tybch'n is an average class 12 planet. While the dragons are much smaller than those
on Narala and possess no higher intelligence - they make wonderful pets and make up
much of the planet's pre-industrial folklore.)
Mnanomi - circa pre-5th century
-E labi-
Long ago, when the byabob ran free and the morning sky was filled with the
songs of Koliibis on the wing, there was a little elf-child named Elabi. Elabi was the
last of all the elves to be made by the great angel Alisiki and was very small and
pretty, even for an elf.
Now when an elf is made, it must immediately find itself a plant to take care
of. Some elves are big and strong and tend to trees. Some are short and fat and like
to grow bushes. Some are vain and proper, so they look for gardens that are tended
and all of the flowers grow in their own place. Some like manicured grass lawns with
hedges cut like artwork while some just like wild fields and prairies where everything
grows together like a huge party. There were plants for every elf and an elf for every
plant. All, that is, except for Elabi.
By the time little Elabi was made there were very few plants left unspoken for.
Elabi was so small that the other elves would always reach them first. Finally it
seemed that there were no plants left at all. Poor, little Elabi wandered here and there,
to and fro, helping out wherever another elf needed an extra hand. One day, the great
angel Alisiki said to Elabi: "Do not be sad, little one. Did you know that you are the
only elf to have taken care of every single kind and type of plant there is on the
planet? Do not be surprised if the tribe asks you to be their grand elf."
But Elabi would have none of it.
7
"All I want is a plant of my own to take care of, to tend to and love." The great angel
Alisiki told this to the whole elfin tribe. The great angel Alisiki also ordered each elf
to bring a piece of their plant, however large or small, to the place where the three
rivers meet around the mountain of the Grand Creator, which reached beyond the
clouds. There, the great angel Alisiki gathered them all together, millions of pieces of
millions of plants, and flew to the very top of the mountain of the Grand Creator.
There the Grand Creator made, of all the plants put to gather, a single seed. This, the
Grand Creator gave to the great angel Alisiki to give to the elfin tribe to give to Elabi.
Elabi accepted the new seed with greater joy than the new title of grand elf.
The happy elf tended to it right away with much love and attention. Soon the seed
sprouted and took roots so deep, they spread throughout the planet. Everywhere a root
reached the surface, a flower of 888,000 petals grew as big as the biggest of trees.
Every time one of the huge flowers bloomed, a Mnanomi [human being-ed] was found
within, full grown and awakening as if from a deep sleep.
That is how the Mnanomi were created and filled the whole of Mnanom. It is
also why, whenever a child is born, we plant a small, flower-tree in it's name - in
honor of Elabi and all of the elfin tribe who help us live in this wonderful, beautiful
world.
========================================
8
The Mnanomi are expert horticulturists, botanists, farmers, gardeners, and the
like. Their planet, Mnanom, is indeed lush with plant life which yields food,
medicine, fibers, lumbers and much more; enough to export seeds and samples to
dozens of galaxies in several universes. Yet the Mnanomi wear no clothes, build no
shelters and live happily wherever they are. They still claim to communicate with the
elf tribe. Considering the comfort of their environment and their joy in "Mna-simply
being", it should not be doubted.
Arupa — 14th century
In the days before the alliance between the Kir and the Arupa, the great King,
N'Faz Z'men, was the third prince and Keeper of the seventh Royal Column Force.
His domain was the asteroid belt which orbited where the planet Kufa was shattered
by the two renegade moons, Aeza and Moro. Now Prince N'Faz had six brothers and
one sister, Ne' Lundra. The Princess wasn't the most beautiful girl on Arupa, but she
was pretty, very nice, kind and intelligent. At the age of three moons she could sing
the whole of the Kabu Tza from memory. Her father, King S 'Ibi Z'men, anointed
her the Guardian of the Crystal Kabu and Mistress of the Tza stone. This meant that
the Princess would forever live in the Tower of Light, forbidden to marry, her wings,
removed.
N'Faz Z'men was not like his brothers. He wanted no part of diplomatic
parties (or, for that matter, diplomats). His mother, Queen Z'Belandi had done
nothing but argue and torture her royal husband ever since her daughter was torn from
her arms. The third Prince was the only one of his brothers to agree with their
mother. But not caring for the games of "spies, lies, and taking sides" (as he called
it), he spent his time between teaching his army how to maneuver through the
asteroids and visiting his sister with gifts and news of life in the universe. She, in
turn, shared with him the secrets of The Crystal Kabu and the images it would
transmit of other universes, planes, levels and dimensions. It was in one such place
that she found and communicated with the man she fell in love with - Geven'Xhin
10
Ho'Taau. He was, himself, a prince of the planet Kir in the Da universe, 5th level, 3rd
plane, 12th dimension.
Now Kir is situated in the Ran triad of the Chousuc galaxy. Its people, the Kir,
actually do look like exceptionally large Zarellians. Prince Geven'Xhin had a crystal
sphere of his own that placed him as Keeper of the Kir sacred history. He, too, was
kept in a tower of light. The two desperately wanted to be together and soon, with the
help of N "Faz Z'men, they formed a plan.
As the first sun dawned upon the Plaa region of Kir, the Grand Emperor
Dushosctek G'aa was in his celestial cruiser making his daily glide to the island of the
Tower of Light. When he arrived, he was astonished to find that the tower had
disappeared! All that remained was a thin, cosmic signal. A trail that lead to Arupa.
Meanwhile, on Arupa, the King and Queen woke up arguing as they did every
morning (except for sabbath and holy days when they didn't speak to each other at all).
It was a particularly bad argument since Ne'Lundra had told her mother, the day before,
that she would jump out of the window if her wings were not allowed to grow back.
Thus no one went that day to visit the princess, so no one knew that, where once stood
one tower, now stood two.
Dushosctek G'aa, however, was all too aware that his youngest son had been
kidnapped. His greatest scientists had assured him that a simple magnetic field set up
where the tower used to be, would create a gateway, big enough for an army, which
would lead to the end of the cosmic trail in the other universe.
11
The emperor gathered together a fleet of 5,000 battlespheres. Leading the way
in his celestial battlesphere, he and his forces entered the cosmic gate and quickly
found themselves in the other universe. Before them was the asteroid belt and where
they had expected to face thousands of fierce warriors, they found only one - Prince
N'Faz Z'Men. The Prince stood tall and proud upon an asteroid. His mighty wings
spread high, he faced the huge armada holding only one weapon, the Sacred Spear of
Tob. But Dushosctek G'aa knew nothing of the Sacred Spear and how the Celestial
Host gave it to Tob, the first Prophet. He didn't know how Tob sliced in two the
flying chariot of the demon Kubu Tatchsk and chopped him up into 33 pieces, keeping
his head for a fireplace to burn them in. The poor emperor simply did not know
enough to be afraid.
"Alien!" He screamed "Return to me my son and I shall kill you quickly and
painlessly for your crime!"
"You are the alien here!" replied the Prince. "You are also the criminal! You
are guilty of being deaf to the cry of love. Your son is here. He has come of his own
free will to marry my sister, his one, true love."
"Nonsense!" yelled the emperor.
"Impossible! He is Keeper of the celestial cube! He can't get married. He
can't be in love; it is forbidden!"
12
"Sadly," sighed N'Faz Z'men "It is forbidden my sister, also. Still, they have,
they are, and they will. There's nothing to be done about it and you're all welcome to
attend. You did bring presents, I hope?"
At this, the emperor totally lost all of his reason. "I will destroy this whole
solar system!" he cried.
"Well" replied the prince smugly "That may be. But first you have to catch
me. I'm the only one who knows where the poor boy is and, quite frankly, I just don't
think your little tour group here is up to it."
"I’ll shoot you down like the plobt you are!"
"You couldn't hit a sun from a nano-light year away."
Well, that did it. The emperor yelled "Attack! All I want left of him is his
brain to scan!"
All at once, 5,000 ships took off after the prince, who led them into the
asteroid belt.
Oh, my dear little citizen, I do not have to tell you what you surely have
studied or have seen in the holodome of legends. How the great prince flew, around
and about the thousands of asteroids in the belt. How the Kir battlespheres could
never lock their weapons on so fast a target. How they were afraid to fire for fear of
exploding asteroids or each other.
For half a day and half a night they chased the prince, to no avail. All the
while their emperor screamed for blood and cursed his own soldiers for being so
13
blind and stupid. But N'Faz Z'Men was following a strategy made by his sister and the
emperor's own son. He was to work his way around the belt, faster and faster, until
all 5,000 ships were following him, single file.
And so the great battle had become the great race. Faster and faster he led
them in a circle until he found himself behind the very last battlesphere. Suddenly, he
turned around and, holding up the Sacred Spear of Tob, sliced in two, every single
ship in the fleet as it went by. They were going so fast, there was no way to avoid it.
As the emperor watched, every soldier in the armada was picked up by the Prince's
guards, who were hiding among the asteroids, as they came floating by, their ships
destroyed.
The prince glided over to the emperor's ship and perched himself upon the
forward cannon which was right under the center window in front of the main console.
He smiled at the emperor who was still sitting in great shock with a frozen,
flabbergasted look upon his face.
"Dear emperor" the prince said with great sympathy. "Your eyes have grown
as big as your mouth. I do wish you would close it, it's open so wide I can see all the
way down to your stomach."
The poor emperor still sat, frozen in shock, staring at the laughing prince. N'Faz
Z'men ordered his guards to bring the Kir soldiers along as he pushed the emperor's
celestial battlesphere to the island on Arupa where stood the two towers of light.
Setting it down upon the beach, he pulled out the now limp emperor through
14
the escape hatch. Ne'Lundra and Geven'xhin then caused King S'Ibi Z'men to appear.
The startled king found himself standing on the beach in his bare feet, his royal
pajamas and the royal blanket. It seems that he was about to take an early nap.
Before he could ask about it, his third son explained the situation.
The king stared at his son in awe. "A whole armada!? By yourself!?" He
turned to the emperor and asked him "Is this true?"
The emperor looked down at his boots and mumbled something that sounded
like "yes." The king then looked at the prince in greater amazement.
"My son!" He cried in joy.
"My only son!"
"Father," said the prince, somewhat exasperated. "You have seven sons, out of
which I am hardly noticed."
"Not any more!" yelled the king.
"I am declaring you to be the new king of Arupa! The king is retiring. Long
live the king!"
"What about Ne'Lundra and Geven'xhin? They want to be married!" Insisted
NTaz Z'men.
"No longer my concern," smiled his father. "I'm free! I'm on vacation! Do
what you will," he said, walking away down the beach.
15
"I'm going to tell your mother the good news. Maybe I'll even take her on her
ninth honeymoon. Ah, no more arguments. No court intrigue. Just leisure in the lap
of luxury. She'll love it...."
The emperor watched him stroll into the distance, still talking to himself.
Dushosctek G'aa then looked at the new king and spit at his feet.
"I forbid it!" He screamed. "No keeper has ever left the tower. None will!"
"They don't have to leave the towers to be together," sighed N'Faz Z'men.
"Both have a spell that will make the two towers one, yet existing in each place
separately."
"Impossible!" Harumphed the emperor.
"Not so! A simple interdimensional field zone should do it. Both towers will
remain where they should but sharing infinite space between them. They can live
together and still maintain their positions from within. Our two planets will be united
for the rest of eternity. Think of the might, the power, the commerce! A whole new
universe to do business with!"
This was a language the emperor could understand, wealth. Especially in light
of the fact that he needed to replace 5,000 shredded battlespheres. So the two lovers
were married, as were our two happy planets. They lived happily and had many
children, including Z'men G 'aa, seventh son and first Supreme Ruler of the Allied
Planets. N'Faz Z'men ruled as a wonderful, divinely blessed king, the last, greatest
king of Arupa. Oh, and his parents retired and had many honeymoons.
THE END
16
The alliance between Arupa and Kir began in the third century. At first they
traded between each other. But when the alliance was formalized with Z'men G'aa as
the first ruler of the new structure, he followed the advice of his father N'Faz and
established a "toll zone" that offered a gateway for trade between the two universes at
large. By having control over all interuniversal commerce (protected by the Act of
839.625-352 marking the zone as the only legal avenue to such trade) and backed up
by the might of their combined military forces, the Alliance assures it wealth while
charging the generously low transaction percentage of only ten percent. It is their
strict adherence to this amount charged as a "business toll" that makes everyone so
happy that there has never been one, single protest or illegal incident or takeover
attempt in the whole period since it began some twenty centuries ago. As N'Faz Z'men
taught his son: Greed destroys good business and makes enemies. There is enough for
everyone. Let everyone have enough. What is good for everyone is protected by
everyone.
The No Story
(I don't have to tell you, you already know)
Go to sleep child! It is very late and you have instruction tomorrow. Do I
have to tell you wild stories? Must I fill your head with bold lies to dream about?
Dream about your geometry or your alchemy!
I don't have to tell you what would happen if you fell out of the window into
the mother's rover; your head knocking the voice command module out of sync,
causing it to glide out of port just because you said "ouch!" I'm not going to sit here,
wasting my time telling you about how it just glided in a straight line over roads and
parks and homes and valleys and hills. Over front yards and back yards and zoos and
museums and thrill parks and game domes and towers and bridges and statues and
small pets and trees.
And there's no sense in telling you about how you flew over the beach and hit
the ocean blowing water and fish everywhere! Or how you went straight over islands
and reefs and volcanoes and ocean rovers and bounced over tidal waves until you got
caught up in a whirlpool which sucked you straight down into the water where you
hung on for dear life while you were slapped straight up in the air by an angry whale's
tail because you knocked him on his head, and you almost made it into orbit.
Of course, you already know how fortunate you are not to have reached orbit or
you'd still be up there. So I don't have to tell you about how you fell back down,
18
at an angle of 33.33 degrees (give or take a three) to the left, which lands you right
smack dab on the top of the whole planet. Now you already know, so I don't have to
explain to you about the big, huge, hole at the North Pole and how it leads to the
inside of the planet and how you fell right through that hole and landed in the greatest,
largest, loudest, longest party ever given by thousands of children that have fallen into
their parents rovers. Because then, I'd have to walk, by myself, all the way up there,
fighting lions and dragons, up mountains and across deserts-through the yards of
people that I don't know, who will set their guardbots on me, to finally arrive tired,
beaten, bitten, hungry, ragged, hair messed up - my antennas bent, crawling down that
hole to find you, because your family is crying all eight of their eyes out, only to be
told that you're having too good a time, you're not tired and don't want to go home? So
NO! No story - go to sleep. I love you - good night.
Zaisan - circa Unknown
This is one of the more popular 'no story' stories. Another is the "hiding in your
mother's luggage and getting misplaced at the spaceport." These stories are basically
told by babysitting uncles, fathers, grandfathers, and so forth. It seems that the women
have their own traditional 'so story'. Usually it is called 'So what are you going to do -
there you are." Examples such as: So what are you going to do? There you are telling
me you're not sleepy. You want a story. So what are you going to do
19
- go running outside with your dolls in your jammies? So there you are, running
around trying to stay away from people until you end up in the forest, miles from
home. So there you are, bumping into some unicorn who claims to be a prince under a
spell and he wants to take you to some castle on a mountaintop somewhere - like,
right - but he's a sweet unicorn so what are you going to do?..."
Anything goes with such non-stories and the children of Zaisan love them and have
remembered them for thousands of generations.
TaQ'Kir - dated to antiquity.
- The Warrior and Philosopher Kings-There was, once, sometime ago, but not
too far from here, a very wise philosopher. Now this philosopher had a twin brother,
identical, it seems. This brother was a great and mighty warrior who could never be
defeated in battle or any fight, for that matter, fair or unfair.
The first brother was quite happy living a simple life, reading his books,
teaching classes and learning from his own teachers. But the other brother was
ambitious and dreamed of the life of a king. He wanted only luxury and days of
wine, women, and song.
"Brother, think of it!" he would badger his twin while he was trying to read,
"with your brains and my brawn, we could rule the whole world!"
20
"You wouldn't like it too much: being a king," he would reply as he turned
pages. "There's a bit more to it than having a hundred women and scaring people into
paying their taxes."
"Nonsense!" was the retort while he sharpened his sword. "Think of the glory,
the battles!"
"Once you've conquered an entire planet," asked the philosopher. "Who will
there be left to fight?"
But finally, and just to get it over with so that he could return to his studies, he
succumbed. On condition that, once conquered, the world would be divided between
them. The sage would rule the northern hemisphere and the warrior, the southern half.
With one planning the strategy and the other doing the fighting, the world was soon
theirs.
The philosopher brother, now king, was very happy. He had more books than
he could read. He spent his time bettering the lives of his subjects. Better education,
full employment, fair wages with a maximum tax of ten percent, affordable and
competent medical care. He abolished the priesthood and replaced their primitive
religion with the study of attributes and personality (mind, light, love and will) of the
Uncreated Creator. The fulfillment of which was required for full citizenship. The
citizens lived lives of peace, and joy, serving the 'One Will" and working to improve
their technology for everyone.
21
But the warrior king was quite a different story. Out of laziness he mimicked
his brother's governmental reforms. However, he adopted the exiled priesthood and
filled his treasury with the donations that were extorted from his subjects. He
preferred to spend his tune with the dozens of beautiful women he took as wives and
the dozens of mistresses that came and went. Throughout it all he drank and ate and
danced and partied most all of the tune.
"Afterall," he would say, "there is nothing worse for a warrior than peace."
He would visit his brother, complaining of how bored he was with it all.
"I tried to tell you," said his wise sibling. "Besides, you have everything you
ever wanted - what more is there for you to have?"
"I want a woman."
"You have hundreds already."
"No, get rid of them all. I want the world's most beautiful woman."
"There is no such animal. It's futile. You have to find a woman that everyone
in the world would agree is the most beautiful. Besides that, there's always some
young girl about to blossom into a woman perhaps more beautiful than yours. Things
go on, you know."
"Nonsense. Besides, it will get me away from those annoying idiot priests."
"You took them in. I-"
"I know, 'You tried to tell me.'"
22
The warrior king set out with his caravan. He was intent on visiting every
inhabited place on the planet, no matter how small. Everywhere he went, the women
would line up for inspection and he would look at each one and comment: ("Hmm,
nice, nice, pretty, oh very pretty, charming, cute, please, oh beautiful...") as he went by.
Eventually he would choose one, claiming, "Surely you are the most beautiful woman
in all the world!" His grand advisor would always suggest, "Your majesty, perhaps
you'd like to see the rest of the world before you make a final decision?" And so the
king would visit the next city, town or hamlet. All the women would line up and if he
found one more beautiful than the one he had, the one he had was left behind.
Over and over it went. He would pick up one and drop one off. Eventually,
having been around the world twice, he found himself no better off than he was when
he began.
"I tried to tell you," said his brother, trying not to laugh, and failing miserably.
"Is that all you know how to say? I would think you'd want to be more
helpful!"
"Okay. But tell me please. Exactly what kind of woman are you looking for?
And don't give me that 'most beautiful woman in the world' stuff! Be specific."
"Fine. She should be about so high so her head can rest on my shoulder. She should
be about so wide here, this narrow there and that wide there. All nice and round. Her hair
should be long, all the way down to her waist. Her eyes should be Copyright © L. A. Webber
23
large and dark brown, like a baby zelle. Her lips should be wide and soft like a
butterfly. Her cheeks should be even. Her nose should set her face like a jewel sets a
necklace. Her skin should be the color of the golden dawn, her stripes should be
exotic, curving around her entire body. Her ridges should ..."
"My dear brother, please stop, you're making my head hurt."
"What is wrong? You asked me what was beautiful."
"Are looks all you care about? What about intelligence, personality, the quality
of her soul?"
"She should have a pleasant voice that is seldom used."
"You are hopeless. No such woman exists!" pleaded the philosopher.
"Nonsense, there must be."
"You'd have to build her, like a robot!"
"Perhaps I should conjure one up by magic" laughed the warrior.
"Actually" said the mystic king "that's possible."
"Oh, you're studying magic now?"
"Of course, but it's not magic. Anyway, I prefer that my teacher try this one. I
don't think I could do it without laughing."
"Please!" exclaimed the king of soldiers. "Arrange it! He can have anything
he wants!"
"Well, it's not that simple..."
24
It seems that this powerful master lived on a mountain-island in the middle of
the North ocean. There was no technology allowed, so a boat had to be taken. The
boat couldn't even have an engine or machine of any kind. A large sailboat was built
and, with directions given by his sagely brother, the warrior king set off with his
entourage on a three month journey. They partied the whole way.
When they arrived, they found an extremely huge mountain surrounded by a
beach, upon which were scattered thousands and thousands of seashells. Since he
was instructed to come up alone, the king ordered his entourage to remain until he
came back with his bride. As soon as he had climbed out of sight, the party resumed
on board. Three weeks later, the tired ruler found himself at the mouth of a cave on
the mountain top.
As he pulled himself up over the ledge, he found himself faced with a rather
short fellow in a long hooded robe. It was hard to guess how old he was. He had
extremely long hair and a beard, all very grey which made him look very old. But he
was full of energy and if you studied his face, you'd realize that, without the beard,
he'd look about twelve years old.
The poor king was about to introduce himself when he was interrupted.
"I know who you are and I know why you came. Come in and sit down.
Mind you, I am only doing this as a favor to your brother."
The king followed the man inside and sat down on a chair sized rock that
rolled itself behind him.
25
"You've talked to my brother?"
"He has daily lessons. He was here just yesterday."
"But...how?...It took us three months without a flyer..."
"Your brother can think of himself to where he needs to be. That is how he
first came to me and why I agreed to teach him the third level."
"The ..."
"Do not pain yourself. You are without, not within."
"But..."
"Nevermind. You seek a woman of undeniable beauty in appearance but one
empty inside, like a seashell."
"A seashell?"
"Yes. So beautiful on the outside yet, on the inside, nothing but air."
"Or water!" said the king excitedly, as if answering a riddle in day school.
"Ah" smiled the robed fellow. "A candle in the void."
"Right" said the king, confused. "Can you help me or not?"
"I have all the ingredients needed to conjure up the woman of your dreams."
"Great!"
"All except one."
"One? What one?"
"Well, you want the most beautiful woman in the world. It is like the most
beautiful seashell on the beach. Now, you probably didn't notice but I have the
26
greatest seashell collection in seven galaxies. Right down there on the beach at the
bottom of the mountain. All you have to do is find the most beautiful seashell on the
beach and bring it back here. If we both agree that it is, indeed, the most beautiful
seashell in my collection, then I will be able to create for you this dream woman you
crave so much."
"Do this, and I shall give you your own kingdom!" The king cried happily.
"Thank you, but no. I do not think that I could endure the limitations. Please -
go - find your seashell - my head is beginning to hurt."
The king rushed down the mountain, his feet hitting the beach about a day later.
The crew on the ship watched in amazement as their excited monarch ran five steps one
way, then ten steps another way. All the time, he was bent over, talking to himself and
picking up seashells.
The mighty warrior, however, was paying attention only to finding his prize
seashell. He would pick one, look it over, comment on how beautiful it was and
decide that it was the one. But everywhere he turned, he found another, more beautiful
shell. He became so involved with his search that he didn't realize that he was walking
in circles around the mountain. He didn't notice that his path was ever widening
towards the water. As his quest became more intense, he failed to recognize that he
was going deeper and deeper into the ocean. Farther and farther he went until he
completely disappeared beneath the rolling waves.
Copyright ® L. A. Webber
27
The ships crew waited another three days. When he failed to reappear, they set
sail for home. The philosopher king was declared sole ruler of the entire planet and an
annual day of mourning was decreed.
"I tried to tell him" said the new exalted emperor to his teacher as they looked
down from the mountaintop.
"I know" said the old man reassuredly. "Let us hope that he remains so
focused on his task that he reaches land somewhere."
"That could take years."
"Yes, many. Come, I shall teach you how to call an Archangel to conference."
So, my friends, should you ever find yourself on the ocean, when the water is
calm and all the moons are full , and you see bubbles moving along the waves and
hear a soft mumbling from beneath- know that it is just the warrior king searching for
the world's most beautiful seashell. Go peacefully upon your way and do not disturb
him while he is down there, on the ocean floor. For if he ever realizes where he
is......
THE END
This story, from the planet TaQ'Kir is believed to be more than 2,500 years old. The
TaQ'Ki take it very seriously, to the point of debating when and where the warrior
king might emerge should he remain set upon his task. While off-worlders call this
28
the "what you don't know won't hurt you story," this much is true: 1) AmenpoQ'Ta has
ruled the planet for at least 2,500 years; and 2) There is an island mountain,
surrounded by thousands of seashells and inhabited by one old man of undetermined
age. The TaQ'ki mathematician Kraanta KOQ'Pa has suggested that at an average
speed of 1 foot per second with each circle only 1 foot wider, progressively, it would
take in excess of 6 thousand years to reach the closest land point - 23,000 miles away.

Cosmic Fairy Tales

Încărcat de

Informații document

Descriere originală:

Drepturi de autor

Formate disponibile

Partajați acest document

Partajați sau inserați document

Opțiuni de partajare

Vi se pare util acest document?

Este necorespunzător acest conținut?

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

Cosmic Fairy Tales

Încărcat de

Drepturi de autor:

Formate disponibile

COSMIC FAIRY TALES

A Thirty-fourth Century Guide to Children's Literature

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Kalu — 4th Planet in the Talaarran System

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Pala'raa'haar'la — Song of the Sun and the Seven Moons

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Gamus XII - NABO, NEBO, & NIBO

Nebo, Nibo and Nabo went

our floater out of bay." with bellies full of Kava treats

Nibo was first

to hear the gamemaster's bid

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

The Qulon of Taka

Come, our children Soon, our children

Close your eyes where, finally you'll

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Ynif r and Yoj'wa minding their manners

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

shook his head when you wake up it seems."

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Klaagen 21st Century

One day and on the Aja plain

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Klaagen is a female dominated, unicultural society ruled by the Imperial Daughters of

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Zanada circa. 2595

I am five arms and hands

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Miso'ni 12th century

Labata was an was becoming quite annoyed

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

could not pin him down That is why

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Dolthus III 27th century

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

Copyright © 1996 Lyman A. Webber

were happy to buy him dinner.

the other way.

breathed fire as he looked at poor Pokari and laughed.

could only think of one thing to say.

"Who are you?" he said as seriously as he could.

"'Pokari the Great' what?" asked the dragon.

"Pokari the Great Dragon Rider!"

"You ride dragons?"

"Never heard of him. Bolvamet...What does he look like?"

world and no one's ever seen him."

come!" said the dragon, flexing his tail muscles.

turning his back.

dragon, stomping his feet.

"I' ve never heard of you." said the dragon smugly.

"Of course not." Pokari shot back.

"Dragons are not known as paying customers."

"Food? for what?"

"No spears, no arrows, no swords, and they give you food?"

"I’ll do it," he said.

"Do what? " Pokari asked, surprised.

"The show. I'm Bolgameet."