by Lawrence M. Schoen
Release Date: December 29th 2015
2015 Tor Books
Hardcover; 384 Pages
ISBN: 978-0765377029
ASIN: B00Y7RWXDE
Genre: Fiction / Science Fiction
Lawrence
M. Schoen shares a scene from Bask: The
Elephants’ Graveyard
In Barsk the main
characters are anthropomorphic elephants. They’re sapient, they walk upright,
have opposable thumbs and science and art, build relationships and cities and
governments. But they’re not the only “raised mammals” in the book, and several
other characters come from other animal species, or races, and play important
roles. I thought I’d share a bit of a scene involving some non-elephants.
I’ve lifted this particular bit from Chapter
Four and it’s from the point of view of an Otter named Lirlowil. She’s a very
talented young woman with a rare telepathic gift, but she’s also utterly
irresponsible and the very definition of a hedonist. Her life to this point has
pretty much been a never ending party. She’s availed herself of every vice that
comes her way. That all changes when the galactic government has a need for her
and shows up to change her life forever. Here’s a snippet of that scene.
A Bear from the Patrol had shown
up at her home on Sharv. One moment she’d been fast asleep, dreaming of the
debaucheries from the night before, and the next he’d been standing over her
bed with a writ of transference in his hand and trailing a small entourage made
up of a Prairie Dog wearing a civil parson’s ring in one twitching ear, and an
Otter, only a few years older than Lirlowil, garbed like a physician’s
assistant.
“I am Urs- Major Krasnoi,” said
the Bear. “I do not need your consent, but I do require you to be fully
conscious. Can you tell me your name?”
This didn’t make any sense. She
wriggled her neck and shoulders a moment in thought, remembered the distinction
between dreams and hallucinations, realized she was in bed and made a leap of faith
as she asked, “What the fuck are you doing in my dream?”
The Bear had frowned at her, but
his next words hadn’t made it into her memory. Perhaps she’d gone back to
sleep. The next thing she recalled was the feeling that her heart would
explode, it was pounding so fast. The PA was leaning over her, an empty ampoule
in one hand. As Lirlowil began to sweat, puke, and piss herself into a
clear-eyed panic, she understood she’d been slipped a sobriety agent which was
systematically purging any and all toxins from her body as if her life depended
on it.
Gasping, she sat up in bed and
grimaced. Nudity in front of strangers didn’t bother her but being covered in
her own filth surely did. The Prairie Dog stepped up, wrinkling his own nose,
and opened a small book.
“The universe is vast and complex,
comprising many peoples and many worlds.” Lirlowil rolled her eyes but managed
to suppress a giggle. Still, the solemnity of his words were marred by the
shrill pitch of his voice. “Rarely do any of us have the opportunity to be of
service beyond the immediate circle of our own community. But when that chance
occurs we must welcome it. Failing that, we must rely upon that same community
to recognize the circumstance for what it is and surrender us up to that need.
Gaze with me now upon such an individual and bear witness to what we do.”
The Bear stepped forward, opening
a small pouch on his belt and withdrawing a notary seal. “Her mark, now, if you
please,” he said to the physician’s assistant who took Lirlowil’s hand,
smeared a green gel over the pads of her fingers, and pressed them to a piece
of cardstock. The Urs reviewed the impression and passed the card to the
parson.
“I do place the seal of my office
alongside your mark, confirming your change of status from Citizen to
Resource.” The parson tucked the card away, waited for the PA to pack up her
things, and then both departed, leaving Lirlowil alone with the Bear.
As her chemical panic subsided,
Lirlowil asked “What . . . what just happened?”
“What had to happen. There is a
need and only you can serve it. We’re leaving in ten minutes. You can use that
time to pack whatever you can carry, or not. I don’t much care. I’ll give you
another five minutes to take a shower. I won’t subject my crew to your odor.”
“Where are we going?”
“Your new home,” said the Bear.
“Nine minutes and three quarters.”
And with that, this Otter is whisked halfway
across the galaxy and put to work as part of a government attempt to overthrow
an eight-hundred year old treaty that will forever change the balance of power
and the fate of the Elephants on the planet Barsk. Except of course, things
don’t work out as planned, and Lirlowil’s trials are only beginning.
Author Information
Lawrence M. Schoen holds a Ph.D. in
cognitive psychology and psycholinguistics. He’s also one of the world’s
foremost authorities on the Klingon language, and the publisher of a
speculative fiction small press, Paper Golem. He’s been a finalist for the John
W. Campbell Award, the Hugo Award, and the Nebula Award. Lawrence lives near
Philadelphia. You can find him online at LawrenceMSchoen.com and @KlingonGuy.
I like the passage, Lawrence.
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