38. Things start blowing up
Jake did not look pleased.
Nusumea sat with the man and Neytiri and caught Puvomun's eye as the teacher and his mate came down with the last group of children, from ikran watching. It was obvious that there was need for a talk of the council, so Puvomun asked Amhul to deal with the children and walked to Nusumea.
"Is there a problem?"
Jake muttered something under his breath.
"There was a talk with one of the ayuniltìranyu," Nusumea explained in clearer language. "They told us what they want."
"And they know they can forget about that," Jake tossed in. "I think they are infected by brain worms or so."
Puvomun learnt that Mankx had done the talking on behalf of the stray Dreamwalkers. They demanded use of a large part of the base, which they wanted to use as a starting point to scan the moon for places where they could get unobtanium.
"They say they want to look for places where no people are living," Jake said. "They're weak in the head, if they have not figured out by now that there are clans everywhere. No way they will find a place to dig without getting in someone's way."
"And you told them this," Puvomun assumed.
"I did, several times, but Mankx did not listen. He just kept going on, saying that they did not want this all and that we can work out all the problems."
"Jake told him that taking away the bombs in the base would be a good start, but Mankx does not want that. He fears for their lives," Neytiri added.
"And while he fears for his life, he threatens that of all the others." Jake shook his head. "We're really having a situation here. At least Norm had good news, the work on that separate building is going well and they're installing some basic air generators in there now. Soon they will know if it works."
The radio beeped and then a voice screamed from it. It was the voice of Mankx, Puvomun recognised it.
"Sully, call off your goddamn savages!"
A shock ran through all who were near and heard the words. Jake grabbed the radio.
"Mankx, what are you talking about?"
"Some of your guys launched an attack on our camp, damn you! I thought we had a deal or so, but this is making things hard. We've been benevolent, we only shot four of them, but next time the kids will face the consequences!"
A blip from the radio told them that the man had ended the talking.
Puvomun stared at Jake, not understanding. Jake did not understand either, obviously.
"We have to go over there and see what-"
Another blip from the radio.
"Jake. Are you there?" It was the voice of Norm Spellman.
"Yeah, what?"
"A bomb just went off here."
Silence, while another shock went through the people around.
"What? A bomb?"
There was some disturbance coming from the radio and some distant talking and shouting. Then Norm spoke again. "Yeah. We don't know why or what, but a few moments ago a hangar was blown up."
Jake closed his eyes for a moment. "Norm... I think this was a warning from the guys who are with Mankx. We just heard them and it seems that a clan attacked them in the forest. Are there people hurt over where you are? Can you handle what happened?"
"So far we got it here, Jake, there were no people near that hangar as far as we know. Some groups are going out to check the area, see if nothing vital's been hit or blasted. I think we're fine for now. Why the hell would they blast a bomb here when they're attacked over there?" Norm sounded stressed.
"To let us know that they can hit us in two places at the same time. Mankx said they shot four Na'vi. I want to go down there to see what's wrong, what happened, and kick the butt of the people who started this."
"Be careful, man, these people have lost their minds," Norm said. "We'll keep in touch."
"Good luck there, Norm." Jake put down the radio. "Damn. We need a plan, and fast." He looked around. "Neytiri. You come with me. Puvomun, you come too. And someone find Lolet and Rakan, and also Miktan and Tsu'wey, we may need them as backup."
Puvomun did not understand what kind of backup Jake had in mind, but he just nodded. "I will tell Amhul-"
"I will do that, my friend," said Nusumea. "Just be careful. I will find the others for you, Jake." He ran off.
"Everyone, get your bows. We're leaving as fast as we can."
Rapidly everyone got ready to depart, and once Lolet and Rakan had joined the group, they were off.
They flew very fast and also quite low. The treetops raced along beneath them, sometimes they had to make quick adjustments to their flight path to avoid hitting a few of the higher ones.
Puvomun kept very low, in the stance he had seen before, which helped to remain somewhat relaxed. Was this how people felt when they went to fight, he wondered. If so, he did not envy them. This was not a way of flying that he liked, even while he understood the need for this high pace.
When they came closer to the area that held the Dreamwalker camp, Lolet took the lead, as she knew where to go.
Jake beckoned everyone to slow down, and then he called out what he expected everyone to do.
"Lolet, Rakan, Tsu'wey. You go to the forest clan and the hill clan. See if you can find out who is responsible for the attack and tell them that I will personally come deal with them once this mess is cleaned up. Miktan, Puvomun, lead to where our people are keeping watch."
The last leg of the trip was a short one, and soon the four people made their way to the hiding place of the two Omatikaya who kept an eye on the camp.
These two, Ateyo was one of them, were shocked by the brutal killing that had suddenly gone on.
"We did not see them coming, as we looked at the camp. They were suddenly there."
"Did you see what clan they were from?" Jake asked.
"Hill clan," the two men said, without a doubt.
Puvomun could not be surprised. The Dreamwalkers had killed so many of them with their bombs, the hill clan had a good reason to attack. The forest clan, he thought, had a good reason not to attack, as the two children were still in the camp.
"Puvomun, you and I go to talk to them. They know you and me." Jake looked determined.
"I come too," Neytiri decided.
"No. You stay. We don't want to crowd them. When we come in with too many, they will think it's another attack and they come out shooting. Trust me, I know the kind." Jake held Neytiri's arm and looked stern.
"Hrah," Neytiri said, shaking her head once. She looked displeased but accepted Jake's words. "Go. Don't get killed."
Puvomun started down the tree, followed by Jake. At the foot of the tree, Puvomun took off his bow and arrows.
"Why do you do that?"
"Last time they saw me unarmed. I want them to see me that way again. That way they know me."
"Oh, right. Good thinking. Now let's go."
As they walked along the narrow path, they came across three bodies of Na'vi. Puvomun recognised the markings of the hill clan and shook his head. He kneeled down with each of them and said a short wish for the soul to join with Eywa. It was all he had time for.
They had gone but a few more steps when they heard a shot.
Puvomun threw himself to the ground. Jake jumped among the trees.
"Not another step!" It was Baker's voice. "Haven't you had enough?"
"Hold your fire!" Jake called out. "I'm Jake Sully, and with me is Puvomun!"
"What the hell do you want here?"
"We want to know what happened. Mankx said we did this, but we had no idea. It was another clan!"
Baker was silent for a while. Then he called over: "Show yourselves. And come over slowly!"
Puvomun looked at Jake, who nodded. Slowly he got to his feet and together they walked over the path towards the camp that lay barely hidden behind a few bushes.
As they were near the camp, they saw Baker, holding a gun to Siltere's head. The girl was terrified.
"No funnies, or the kid's gone," Baker growled.
"I have no weapons," said Puvomun, spreading his arms.
"And I'm not here to hurt people," Jake stated, holding up his hands. "We just want to see how this happened."
"You should know," Baker said, yanking Siltere's head to the side before he pushed her away. "They're your people."
Siltere fell to the ground and did not move.
"As I said, they are from another clan, with a different leader." Jake tried to keep calm.
"They'll have to do better if they want their kids back alive," Mankx said as he came closer.
Puvomun noticed that the man limped. A bloody wound showed on his upper leg. He did not care about that. Calmly he moved to Siltere and kneeled with her. None of the Dreamwalkers paid him any attention.
"Siltere. Are you hurt?" the teacher asked as he helped her sit up.
"No. Yes." The girl was very confused. "Scared."
Puvomun saw that the number of marks on her body were many more than when he had first seen her. The men had beaten her again. He worried about Tey'ran, the boy. "Hold still," he said as he picked Siltere up from the ground and then he carried her to where Tey'ran sat. The boy looked unconscious, and also severely beaten.
As Puvomun put the girl down he noticed that Mendelson was not where he had been. He could not even locate the man.
Jake in the meantime was trying to explain that the attack had not been launched by the forest clan...
Na'vi - English.
'Angtsìk - hammerhead
Atokirina - seeds of the Sacred Tree
At'sha - "Archer" (name of the man, chapter 14)
Ayewan - young ones
Ayfkio - many tetrapteron, four-winged flying animals
Ayfo lu tstunwi - They are kind
Ayfo makto nìwin - They ride too fast
Ayikran - plural of ikran
Aynivi - plural of nivi
Ayoeyä atxkxe - our land
Aysa'nok - mothers
Aysaronyu - plural of taronyu (also 'saronyu')
Aysawtute/sawtute - Sky people, the humans
Aysko / sko - bows
Ayuniltìranyu - plural of uniltìranyu, dreamwalkers
'Eveng - a child
Eveng - children
'Ewantu - young one
'Ewll - plant
'Eylan - friend
Eylan - plural of 'eylan
Eywa - the Goddess, nature, Gaia
Eywa ayoehu - Eywa be with us
Eywa ngahu - Eywa be with you
Fa'li/ayfa'li - plural of pa'li - horses
Fkio - tetrapteron, 4-winged animal
Fngap - metal
Fngapä ta'leng - metal skin, AMP suits
Hayalovay - See you!
Henten - fan lizards
Hetuwong - plural of ketuwong - aliens
Heyn - to sit
Hì'i - small
Hì'pa'li - small horses
Ikran - mountain banshee
Ikran makto - ikran rider
Ikranay - forest banshee
Irayo - thank you
'Ite - daughter
Kaltxì - hello
Karyu - teacher
Kava - alcoholic drink
Kämakto - go ride
Ke nìltsan - not well
Kefyak? - right?
Kehe - no
Kelutral - Hometree, where the Na'vi clan lives
Kelku lefngap - house of metal
Kenten - fan lizard
Ketuwong - alien
Kìyevame - May we see each other again
Koaka karyu - old teacher
Kxam - middle
Kxawm - maybe, perhaps
Kxetse - tail
Kxi'txah - Na'vi phonetics for guitar
Lonataya - Medusa, large floating animal with deadly tentacles
Lu - is, to be
Ma yawne - (my) love
Makto zong - travel safely
Mawey - calm down
Mesawtute - two Sky people
Meharyu - two teachers
Meveng - two children
Mllte - to agree
Nantang - six-legged direwolf
Nga - you
Nga yawne lu oer - You are my beloved
Ngeyä - your (ngeyä sa'nok - your mother)
Nìltsan - well
Nìprrte - you're welcome
Nivi - hammock
Numeyu - Student
Oe 'efu pa'li - I feel the horse
Oe irayo si Eywaru - My thanks to Eywa
Oe ke lu - I am not
Oel omum - I know
Oe tsleram - I understand
Oeyä koaka 'eylan - my old friend
Olo'eyktan - clan leader
Pa'li - six-legged direhorse
Palulukan - giant six-legged feline predator
Po lu - he is
Pxasìk - very bad curse-word
Pxora'pam - explosion
Rewon lefpom - good morning (lit. morning good)
Riti - stingbat
Rolyu - singer
Rolun - Na'vi equivalent of "Eureka", I got it!
'Rrta - Earth
Sa'nok - mother
Saronyu - hunters
Sempul - father
Set - now
Sì - and (used in listing things)
Sìltsan - good
Skxawng - moron, idiot
Sran, srane - yes
Srung - help (n)
Srung si - to help
Swizaw - arrow
Syaksyuk - Prolemuris
Syuve - food
Tam - Good, okay
Taronyu - hunter
Taw - sky
Tawsìp - Airship, flying machine
Tawtute - Sky person, one human
Teylu akerusey - larvae of death
Tokx - body
Tsa'u lu sìltsan - that is good
Tsaheylu - a mental bond, made by tendrils in a Na'vi braid to other living organisms on Pandora
Tsahik - spiritual leader, shaman
Tsamsiyu - warrior
Tsko - bow
Tsmuk - sibling
Tsmukan - brother
Tsmuke - sister
Tswin - queue, braid
Tokx - body
Txon lefpom - good night (lit. night good)
Txonam - last evening
Txumtsä'wll - poison squirting plant
Ulte - and (used to combine sentences)
Uniltìrantokx - Avatar (dreamwalker) body
Uniltìranyu - Dreamwalker, a human in an Avatar body
Utral Aymokriyä - the Tree of Voices
Vitra - soul
Vitrautral - the Tree of Souls
Yawne - loved one
Yerik - six-legged kind of deer