Matt stared at the crowd as they talked amongst themselves in hushed whispers around him, wondered what God was doing to him.
He yanked the IV out of his wrist, attempted to get out of the bed, but the monks pushed him back in, and Shojoji replaced the IV. Matt tried it again, but they forced him to lie back down. He opened his dictionary and spoke to Chaz. "Hua lepop eurtep. Hua glaap gosa jagopune."
"Hikigo," said Shojoji. "Gibet pebo'h gosa garu chimoqo layd jub chisnaa sakhai kai cutajma."
Matt flipped through the dictionary, attempting to argue that he was okay, but Shojoji refused to let him leave the bed, saying he'd only have another episode.
"Quana!" Matt cried.
Shojoji ordered a male with a fin on his nose to keep watch over Matt, then he and the others left.
Matt stared at Fin Face with annoyance. This is stupid. I feel fine. Quana's probably gone back to her room or something by now. She's probably crying or who knows what else, and I'm stuck here. Matt pulled the IV out again.
Fin Face looked shocked, but didn't appear to be medically trained, so did nothing but hand Matt a bandage.
Matt laid back with a sigh. Quana could be anywhere by now. I could be wandering all over the place looking for her...Okay, so it's not a big place...
He attempted communication with his guard. "Hi."
Fin Face didn't respond.
"Dusaq."
Still nothing.
Matt crawled closer to the stranger, pointing to himself. "Dahna Matt Gannon. Kreah chik cahna?"
The male said nothing.
Matt looked through his dictionary, asked if he were on a vow of silence.
Fin Face smiled.
"No wonder."
I'm going to find Quana if it takes all day, Matt thought. I don't care. Matt asked for the restroom and got led wordlessly to a small chamber with the usual toilet and sink combination, and a window.
Closing the door behind him, Matt got on his tiptoes, cranked a lever on the window until it opened wide enough for him to squeeze through.
The ground looked pretty close. After a bit of effort, he got himself through the opening, hanging his chest over the sill.
He pulled his body up and hopped outside, attempted to get his bearings.
The hospital stood behind a cluster of trees next to a familiar looking eyeball hay field. Since nobody seemed to be around, Matt wandered over a hill, watching the sky deepen in color. Alien insects whistled all around him.
The sun disappeared, replaced by a shining array of twinkling lights, two moons shining in their full brightness. Matt frowned at the female dwellings, surrounded by their glowing green lamps, puzzling over how to locate Quana without getting slapped.
He gave it up.
The cold night wind blew through his gown, making him shiver, but he didn't want to go back. Instead, he wandered out past the acropolis to spend some time alone on the cliff.
Matt found Quana and Dista praying together on a rock. Without saying a word, Matt sat down next to them.
Dista suddenly turned her head, stared at him with disgust and walked away.
"You shouldn't be out here," said Quana.
Matt shivered, pulling his legs up against his chest. "I know. It's cold."
She chuckled. "I meant, you should be resting."
"I feel okay, Quana."
Quana sighed. "Matt, I've been praying a lot, and thinking about what you said. I still don't know the answer, but I hope to learn more at the next couple meetings."
"I'll keep praying for you."
"Thanks." Quana gave him an apologetic smirk. "Are you really cold?"
Matt nodded.
Quana put her arm around him, laying her head on his shoulder, her robe surrounding him like a warm blanket. "Better?"
He smiled. "Much better."
They were quiet for awhile.
"I'm sorry I left you like that."
Matt shrugged and said nothing.
"You know you are my responsibility, right? I can't just leave you stranded here."
"You could, but it wouldn't be, Christ, um, Quaceb." He shivered, pressing closer to her. "So how was dancing?"
"Good. I taught them the Hammer Dance."
Matt screwed up his face. "What?"
"You know, M.C. Hammer?"
"I'm familiar with him. I just don't understand why you are doing his dance in the first place."
"The Gleenpach dance is a personal expression of praise. I figured it was a pretty good, non-suggestive dance."
Matt laughed and shook his head. "He...is doing gospel now."
"You should get some rest." Quana kissed him on the head. Noticing how his teeth still chattered, "It's too cold for you here. You'd better go back to the Fiqajko and let Shojoji finish treating you."
"I don't know. If they knew I'm well enough to climb out the window, they probably figure I'm well enough to go back to my room."
She giggled. "You actually climbed out the window?"
"Yeah?"
"You're starting to become like me. Maybe I should come with you and clear things up."
They returned to the building, where they got met with a crowd of worried monks. The males and females scolded Matt as he neared the door, lecturing and voicing their upset (they had sent out a search party), but Quana chatted with them a bit, and they seemed a little less angry.
"They say you're free to go," Quana said. "But they said be careful with your bandages and chew some Mixajqa root for your epilepsy."
"Tell them I'll do that." Matt really had no intention of eating alien roots, but wanted to placate them.
Quana relayed the message, and the crowd slowly calmed down. "It's all settled now."
"Thanks, Quana." Matt wanted to kiss her, but was too shy to ask. "I...don't know what I'd do without you."
She smiled.
He grinned back at her, nervously shuffling his feet. Despite her vow of celibacy and their little discussion at the Fiqajko, he still had hopes.
"You should go to bed. It's rather late for a human to be staying up."
Matt nodded. "Is my head thing waterproof?"
"Guep. Eyap mez."
"Good night."
On his way across the plaza, Matt bumped into Dista, muttering an apology as she walked off in a huff.
After a chilling bath and tooth brushing, Matt spent an hour tossing and turning in bed, staring at the ceiling. He heard scratching sounds like some kind of animal, but a search of the room yielded nothing. Giving up sleep, Matt seated himself in the dining hall, waiting for someone to talk to.
He sat by himself for quite some time, but nobody came in. He only heard low murmuring voices and musical instruments.
Quana's head poked out from a hole in the floor. "Couldn't sleep?"
Matt shrugged.
"Want to come to Cufajha? It's like choir practice."
"I thought outsiders couldn't sing your songs."
"Matt. You're not an outsider anymore. They think you're one of us."
"Really?" he stammered. "That's weird...Um, can I just...sit and listen to you sing?"
"Sure." She led him down a ladder and through a tunnel to a room with walls covered in scrolls and papers, where males and females sat in a seemingly random arrangement, Dista and Quana taking seats near the wall.
When Dista saw Matt, she gave him a dirty look and fled the room.
Before he could protest, the music director thrust a booklet into Matt's hand, seating him next to the green male.
As others warmed up their singing voices with singing exercises, Matt flipped through the booklet, staring at what only vaguely resembled musical notation, a confusing jumble of tiny pie charts, dots and Wava writing that looked the same upside down as it did right side up. Clueless about reading music to begin with, he gave up trying to read it.
The choir director ran the hymns over and over, politely correcting his singers whenever they sang on key, running through them so many times that Matt had them memorized. The more they rehearsed, the worse it sounded, as if they rehearsed for practice. You should have left well enough alone, Matt thought.
A couple times, the director prompted Matt to sing a verse, but Quana persuaded him to move on, and Matt played dumb when others asked him anything.
Matt felt like gasping for air when he listened to them hold their long notes, dragging them out past the point of human tolerance, breathing a sigh of relief when a song ended, but part of him wanted them to go on longer.
As practice continued, monks kept muttering and shaking Matt awake, so he went back to bed, and actually slept this time.
At roughly two in the morning, the temperature dropped about what felt like ten degrees, and all the blanket-like things Matt had piled on himself were not warm enough to keep him from shivering. He had to breathe into his covers to increase the warmth. Chaz popped in his room a few hours later to take him to service.
After Matt's usual awkward non-participation, breakfast time came.
Matt pulled a box of cereal out of Nubsa's saddlebag and a sprinkling of frosted flakes came pouring out the bottom. He cupped his hand to keep the rest in, cracking open the top.
The translucent bag wiggled, its interior entirely the wrong color and shape for cereal. Upon closer examination, Matt found it to be full of small slimy maggot creatures covered in so many feelers that they looked like Koosh balls. He dropped the box in revulsion, kicking it away.
Steering far clear of the saddlebag's bottom, Matt dug out another box and found a hole in it as well.
"Pests! I thought she said the boxes would help!"
Matt checked the other box and found more of the same. He tossed that one too.
The granola bars fared no better. He threw out box after box of cereal products until he had only one left. He cursed in frustration. "This better not have anything in it!"
To his relief, Matt actually did find some cereal that looked edible. He dug for the toaster tarts.
The first one of those boxes, of course, had a hole in it too. Inside, the mylar bags had become nothing but three irregularly shaped wiggling packages. Disgusted, Matt hurled the box at the far wall.
The majority of the other tarts and granola had met a similar fate. He ended up throwing them out, all except one box.
The pests had also attacked his powdered milk. Finding a tell-tale hole in the bottom, Matt yelled inaccurate epithets, throwing the container at the Grunkiahu's head. In response, Nubsa let out a mewling sound, stamping her foot. Matt almost got kicked.
The next box of milk had maggoty things things in it too. He jerked his hand back with a shudder, jumping away from the bag.
Fuming, Matt stormed off to the dining hall, slumping down on a stool. Once the prayers had been said, Matt opened a silver package from the Pop Tarts box and found white hairs sticking out. He jumped from his seat with a horrified shout.
The males just laughed at him.
"Oh shut up and eat your breakfast!"
They only laughed more. Ignoring them, Matt asked someone to get rid of the packages.
Cautiously, he edged toward the cereal box, rechecking the package. Seeing only cereal, he opened the plastic, scooped a handful of little circles into his mouth.
They...didn't taste right, like black pepper and peppermint with a refrigerator aftertaste. He felt like gagging, but ate more just to get food into his body.
The next handful felt strangely wet. When Matt looked at his hand, he noticed he held a glob of black slime with cereal floating in it. Shuddering, he flinged the stuff on the table, wiping his hands.
Hoping to recover anything edible at all, Matt stared down into the box. Something stirred beneath his Cheerios, moved the cereal. A cloud of wiggling white hairs exploded from beneath the little circles of grain.
Matt screamed, throwing the box on the floor.
More laughter. Matt suspected they joked about him being a wimp. He swore he even heard a few muttering "Wusu."
He backed away from the table, edging towards to the exit as he stared at the creatures wiggling out of the box.
Quana ran up to him with a look of worry on her face. "What is it, Matt? What happened?"
"My food! It's ruined! There's little white things everywhere! I've never had such a disgusting experience in all my life!"
Quana giggled, her tail slapping the floor.
"It's not funny. What am I going to eat?"
Quana forced down a grin. "Sorry I laughed. I don't know what you'll have to do now." She suppressed a giggle. "I'm sorry. It's not funny. It's a bad situation."
"It's a terrible situation!"
Dista stared at Matt for a moment, but when their eyes met, she looked away.
Quana sighed. "I completely forgot. I heard some sisters complaining about how Cugfiks got into the Grunkiahu grain, but I didn't think it was anything to worry about."
"And the cold temperature didn't do anything to kill them."
The look on her face said no.
"I thought you said the cardboard would keep out the pests."
"Sorry, Matt. It's just cardboard." Her tail fell flat. "I'm really sorry. I didn't know Cugfiks were going to get in there. Do you have anything left to eat?"
"If those things can't eat through metal, then I have canned goods. Tuna, I think. Mushroom soup. Maybe some chili."
"Well, you can eat that, right?"
"I guess, but it's not my idea of breakfast."
He returned to Nubsa's stall, inspecting the damage.
Cugfiks covered the bottom of the saddle bag, squirming and wiggling around inside empty bags of rice, spreading slime all over everything else.
Using all sorts of foul language, he beat all the cans against the wall to clear them of the vermin, stockpiling them in his room.
At this point, Matt didn't have the appetite to eat anything. He returned to the dining area to clean up the mess, but someone had already taken care of it.
He sat at a table, watching as Quana and three monks set out papers for another debate.
Despite his sudden burst of language skill, Matt couldn't follow the discussion, even with the dictionary. After listening for roughly fifteen minutes without grasping a single concept, he asked Quana for an explanation.
"I thought you could speak the language fluently."
"I guess not. I'm really confused."
She sighed. "They're discussing the donkey again. Shilem says that it can't be anything other than a Shoktar, since that's what we have on our planet."
"What's a Shoktar?"
"They're...green. We have them all over the place."
"Oh. That's right. The dinosaurs." Matt frowned.
"Goksar thinks that the meaning of the original text is unclear, but Shilem doesn't agree. He also thinks that the word for `branch' should be `Celburyix,' not `Nazarene.'
"Certainly he doesn't expect Jesus to speak...whatever language your prophets speak in!"
"Klargish. But yes, that's what he wants. Both of them aren't interested in Jesus being a teacher of the law, miracle worker, or that he healed or raised the dead. They don't find it significantly prophetic, even though I mentioned prophecies about the Kipom bearing the peoples' sickness. Shilem seems driven to dismiss your faith as mythology at every turn."
"C.S. Lewis said it's the only myth that's true."
Shrugging, Quana joined in the discussion again.
After a long talk, she asked him, "Did Jesus actually shepherd livestock?"
Matt twisted his lip. "I don't think so. Of course, there's about twenty years of his life that's unaccounted for. Still, he's known throughout all major human history as the Good Shepherd."
Quana shared the information, but Shilem didn't look impressed. "He wants him to be literally a shepherd."
"Jesus would be scary if he did everything critics wanted him to do. Why do you listen to this guy anyway?"
"Because he might be right."
Goksar and Shilem chattered about something for a few minutes, and she came back with "They say the Kipom is to be of a group of twelve fishermen, but since they don't count Matthew the tax collector, they want to know if we can count Jesus."
"I think sinking the boat with a huge catch of fish certainly counts. Plus, they were all fishers of men."
The response didn't work.
The debate went on for three hours, the issue of the Kipom's planet being the item most frequently discussed. They gave several scrolls, texts and diagrams a rigorous inspection, comparing the life forms, technology levels and other things of various planets (mostly other than earth) to the description of the planet of prophecy.
Shilem unfurled a paper depicting a spiral staircase.
Matt pointed. "What's this?"
"The genome of the Kipom and the Yadafcu race," Quana said. "They have it mapped. It's from the ancient computer texts of Barbitnox. The Order of Glomer made this diagram from it."
Shilem muttered something to Quana, and the two got into a long debate.
Quana gave Matt a funny look. "They want a sample of your blood to see if your genotype matches."
"What! How is it going to match? Jesus never biologically fathered any children. All you're going to find is that I'm Jewish."
"What he wants to see is if you're of the proper race, or at least the same species. He said `Who knows? Maybe you're the Kipom.'"
"This is stupid."
"Will you do it?"
"Will it hurt?"
"We're just sampling your blood with a needle."
"Fine."
Shilem brought out a gold box containing tools and a computer that looked like it belonged in an ATM machine.
Without prepping anything, the monk grabbed Matt's arm, drew his blood. He stuck the syringe in a spinning centrifuge, and the monitor displayed a page of Wava text.
Shilem muttered to Quana as he read the little card that popped out.
"He'll mail it and we'll get the results in a few weeks," Quana translated.
Matt stared in disbelief. "You still have postal mail?"
"I know, not very sophisticated, but that's typical for the Takofuea. I told you we don't have molecular transporters."
"Did you say a few weeks?"
"It's worth the wait. Maybe when I come back from dropping you off on Earth I can look at the results or something. Of course, I'd prefer it if we could just stay here and wait for it."
"Quana. You're never going to have scientific proof of religion."
"I know, but..."
"There might be a processing mistake."
"I can come back for it if I have to. It would still be nice to know something."
"Like you said, you can do it later."
"All right," She sighed.
The monks stowed their materials, and the meeting ended for the day.
"I cleaned up your table," said Quana. "Did you get something to eat?"
"Not yet. I thought I'd wait until I get really hungry. But thanks for cleaning up."
Quana smiled. "You know, you could try to eat some of our food..."
"I thought you didn't want me to get sick."
Her smile dropped. "We don't have that many options."
"I think I'd rather starve to death."
"Don't say that! I need your help! I won't let you die like that! I just won't! Couldn't you please eat some of our food instead?"
"No thanks. I'll fast."
Grinning, she said, "Would you, could you, eat it on a plane?"
Matt chuckled. "I'd have to be really desperate."
"How desperate?"
"If I'm about to starve to death, I guess I'll think about it. By then I'll probably be dead either way."
Quana smirked a little. It faded.
"So, did you find out anything new? Scripturally?"
"Not really. Shilem seems biased against Jesus, and Goksar almost seems biased the other way. All this arguing isn't helping me to figure things out any quicker. How do your people figure out what to believe?"
"Probably the same way you do here. The debaters don't really help people decide. It's the Holy Spirit that convinces people."
"I could use some convincing right now."
"I don't know what to tell you. Just keep studying and praying and see what happens."
After a long contemplative silence, she said, "So you have epilepsy. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know, live my life? This might be just a one time thing. I'm not chewing a plant root." Matt stared at the wall, puzzling over his speaking of tongues.
"You want to help out with the Maceva fields again?"
"Might as well. I don't feel like killing Wusu today."
Out in the fields, Speckle Tail set Matt up with Macevas and some uncultivated slime. Matt became quite skilled at the task, planting several clusters before he heard the prayer call.
Not wanting to have another convulsion, Matt stayed behind while all the others left their position, seating himself in the squirming grass for a little rest break.
After a long interval of introspective solitude, Quana came running through the irrigation canal with her gray faced servant trailing behind her. Both looked worried.
Quana stopped in front of him, clutching her knees as she gasped for breath.
"What's the matter? Why are you running?"
"Matt, you've got to come quick. There's a guy...attack...like you. Epilepsy." She took several breaths. "He keeps calling your name. Your full name. Matthew Aaron Gannon. He even said Ringo Bradford a few times."
Matt's mouth hung wide open. "Did you tell them—"
"No. Did you?"
Matt shook his head. "I never told anyone my full legal name, let alone my birth name. Not even you! They couldn't even get my first name right."
Quana stared. "Matt, I don't know what's going on, but he's thrashing around, and nothing we can do will make him stop."
"Did you call the doctor?"
"He is the doctor. It's Shojoji."
Matt laughed.
She shot him a scolding glare. "Goksar sent me because I understood what Shojoji was saying, and he thinks you might be able to make him stop." She tugged his arm. "C'mon! Let's go!"
"What am I going to do?" Matt groaned as she dragged him across the field. "So what if he called my name? What if this just causes a relapse?"
"Just humor us, okay? It won't kill you." She picked up speed. "C'mon, hurry!"
Matt kept pace with her the best he could, stumbling after her to the plaza, where the stripey tailed doctor lay flat on the flagstones.
As they approached, the doctor fell into convulsions, foaming at the mouth as a group of other monks held him down.
Before Matt could protest, he found himself being shoved closer, directly above the thrashing body, watching him foam at the mouth and repeatedly call his name.
"Shojoji," said Quana. "Rudib Matt. Matt Aaron Gannon. Ge'laap gosa nuxchik."
Oblivious, the Abreya continued thrashing, his stripy tail whipping around like a drunken snake.
"Uh...hi," said Matt.
Shojoji didn't respond. "Er, my name is Matt. Did you want something?"
The convulsions did not stop.
"Did you want to learn about Jesus or something?"
No reaction. The doctor only flopped around more.
Out of ideas, Matt knelt by his side, saying a prayer for him. Immediately, the convulsions stopped, and the monk laid still, breathing calmly on the pavement.
The crowd of males and females gasped and stepped back, murmuring to each other in amazement. A handful of them fell to the ground and worshiped him.
Horrified, Matt shook Quana's shoulder. "How do you say `Stand up, for I too am a man'?"
"How about `mortal'?"
"Whatever! Just make them stop!"
She relayed the message and the monks ceased their worship.
"Is he okay?"
She spoke to the doctor for a moment. "He wants to know about the Kipom named Jesus."
"But we don't know if he's the Kipom."
Quana spoke to Shojoji, then turned around again. "He says the word `kipom' just means `Ponai's chosen.' He asked to hear about Jesus again."
Matt opened his mouth and found himself speaking in fluent Wava about Jesus. To his astonishment, the right words and answers came flowing out of his mouth without the slightest thought, and when he didn't have the answer to some alien theological question, he discovered that Quana had the information. I am God's puppet, he thought.
With tears in his eyes, the doctor begged Matt for a meeting with Jesus, so he nervously obliged.
Quana looked uncomfortable, but she appeared to have put aside those misgivings enough to assist him, leading Shojoji to a conversion.
Thanking him, the doctor asked Matt what he should be doing next.
Matt gave him the basic instructions you give to any new Christian.
"What about Ponai?" said Shojoji. "Can I still serve him?"
"I...don't know. We came here to research that. Once we find the answer, we'll let you know."
Quana's welled up with tears. "We already know. I...I've found the answer, Matt. Jesus is the messiah, the Kipom that we seek. I always knew it. Ever since the first time I encountered Jesus on your planet, I felt it in my heart. He is the Kipom, the son of Ponai, and I must worship him." She hugged him.
"Are you really serious about this, Quana? I mean, aren't you still studying to figure out whether or not Jesus is actually the Kipom?"
"I...I've studied enough. If your planet is the temptation planet Medufa, there need be only one savior for both of us."
"I still don't get it," he stammered. "Why wouldn't God make a separate messiah for your planet? I mean, if some alien came down from space and said they died for my sins, I wouldn't buy it."
"Matt, don't you believe that one god created the entire universe?"
"Um, yes."
"And isn't Jesus supposed to be Lord of all?"
Matt frowned.
"Why do you assume that we need a separate savior?"
"I...don't know."
"We've been studying so many prophecies that fit together...so many predictions that don't make sense any other way...And these miracles...It just seems right for Jesus to be the prophesied Kipom. I can't imagine anyone else who could possibly fit the specifications."
"I'm glad to hear it, Quana."
"I've offered Huisiang for years, but I never felt any holier. These Carnricks put such a high price on salvation that nobody can be saved, not even me. I'm willing to risk damnation by believing in your Jesus if it means I can be forgiven without being a Carnrick slave forever." She let go of him. "Your Jesus has the best path. No other charismatic leader, no Abreya kipom, can ever accomplish what Jesus did." She dropped to her knees. "Baptize me."
Matt stared in shock. "You. Want me. To baptize you."
She nodded her head vigorously.
"Is…there some water nearby?"
"Just a minute." Quana ran off, returning with a water jar. "Here."
Matt baptized her the way he'd seen his pastor do. He fudged a few lines, but gave the scriptural gist of it.
Crying tears of joy, Quana sniffed and said, "I want to start a church here. On this very spot!"
"Really?"
"Guep. After all, a church is not a building, it's a people."
"But there are people, Abreyas here that…oppose...us."
"You of all people should know that's nothing new. We'll just have to keep working and praying that they change their minds. Maybe if we convince enough brothers and sisters here, their opposition won't be so strong." She kissed Matt on the cheek. "I'm going to go share the good news at once, starting with Dista. I wonder how she'll react when I tell her I want to trade jobs."
Matt laughed. "I bet she'll be flattered."
Quana and Dista got into a long theological discussion. The crowd slowly dispersed.
For several minutes, Matt watched the two jabbering in a rapid pace, trying to ignore his rumbling stomach.
Soon Matt gave it up, tapping Quana on the shoulder. "I'm going to lunch."
Preoccupied with her conversation, Quana just nodded and kept talking.
When Matt returned to his room, he found an eyeless ball of hair burying its sharp yellow teeth into one of his soup cans.
"Hey!" he shouted. "I need that!"
The creature scuttled into a corner, hissing like a sick bilge rat.
Matt looked around for a weapon to hit it with, but found nothing handy except for a lamp he didn't want to break.
Afraid of getting alien rabies, he could only watch helplessly as the creature made a scampering retreat into a crevice behind the bed, taking the can with it.
Seeing the way clear, Matt marched to his stash, inspecting the damage.
The creature, or possibly its kin, had been very busy, demolishing all his soup cans. Matt checked around the end of the bed, but the creature hadn't missed anything, having since dragged it all through a hole behind his bed.
With a mixture of hatred and intense fear, Matt stared at the hole with clenched fists, but didn't want to stick his hand in and get bit.
Matt noticed his toothpaste had been left untouched on top of a dresser gourd. I guess I should be thankful for small miracles, he thought. Sighing, he plopped down on the bed, staring at the floor. I'm either going to starve to death or poison myself with alien food.
"What!" Matt shouted at God. "You want me to die or something?" He took a deep breath. "Just tell me what I'm supposed to do now." Silence answered him.
Maybe this is Satan punishing me for spreading the gospel, he thought. Or maybe God is, because it's wrong to convert aliens.
Matt knelt down in prayer, then shook his head in despair. "It's gone! It's all gone!"
Now utterly devoid of hope, he crawled out of the room, returning to the worship plaza.
The crowd of worshipers had departed, leaving two females kneeling in the center of the courtyard.
Dista wept on Quana's shoulder. Tears flowed down her face as she let out sobbing animal barks, wrapping her arms tightly around the princess's body. Both seemed overjoyed to the point of tears.
Seeing Matt, Dista pulled away from the princess, muttering something.
Quana grinned. "I've got great news, Matt! Dista just got saved!"
"Wow!" Matt laughed. "Congratulations! That's good to hear!"
"Thanks. The credit goes to Ponai."
Matt's shoulders slumped. "I wish I had some good news." He explained the situation with the food.
"That's terrible! I wish could do something."
"Now that you got your answer about Jesus, you can take me back home."
"I'm sorry, Matt. There's still so much I don't know. I can't leave now. Don't you understand?"
Matt swallowed, shaking his head.
"If I leave now, there's a chance mom won't let me come back. Then I'll never find out everything I want to know about the Kipom prophecies! Besides...I'm known all over Woggerscutt. If I tried getting a ship, someone would recognize me and turn me in, and probably put you in a zoo."
"What am I going to do? Starve? Poison myself with your food?"
Quana sighed. "I don't know. I'd try to get your food back, but I'm sure the Muadwomps are already eating it up."
Matt turned away, frowning at the sky as he weighed his options. I don't know the first thing about surviving on this planet, he thought. She's really my only ticket home. "Jesus went for forty days without food. Maybe if I have enough water, I'll be okay."
She nodded. "You know, you could try a piece of Muloyi."
"Sorry, Quana. No."
"I don't know what else to say. Want to come with me and share the gospel?"
"I guess. It's not like I have a lunch to eat."
Matt followed Quana out into a field where groups of monks worked a field of eyeball hay, watching with discomfort as she preached to anyone who would listen. She soon had a small crowd gathered around her, and monks kept asking Matt questions about his faith.
Matt suddenly realized he wasn't completely wasting his time, that something greater that he or his alien girlfriend had brought him there. He could sense their eagerness, their need.
He would have been overjoyed if he hadn't been starving.
Matt endured the discussions with an aching stomach, all the while wondering when angels would bring him something to eat.
Although many listeners eventually stomped away in anger, a fair number burst into tears as they confessed their sins, scraping their faces on the ground, or gave their confessions in a less dramatic fashion. All seemed eager to hear more.
Matt baptized Dista, Giladl, and a male who got sick eating Matt's Pop Tarts. They continued religious activities until dinner time.
With reluctance, Matt followed the monks to the dining hall, watching everyone else eat.
His whole body ached with hunger as he stared at them shoving food into their mouths, swallowing excess saliva in attempts to retain his dignity. It had only been a day, possibly less than that if you counted the handful of slimy cereal he ate before breakfast, so he waited for dinner to end, trying not to think too much about it.
However, as he stared at the walls, the utensils kept clattering, everything reminding him of food. Already his mind conjured up images of how bony people looked like when they starved for weeks on end.
He stared at the table, daydreaming of running or flying all the way back to the palace to get his food. His hands trembled, a sign of low blood sugar.
Christ fasted in the wilderness for 40 days, Matt thought. But normal people can't go that far without dying. What I need to do is save every calorie by not doing anything.
Chaz offered Matt a piece of alien bread, but he shook his head violently, pretending to stare at a tapestry. I can't. That's suicide.
Matt wished he could ignore his need, but hunger put him into hyper-aware survival mode. Are things going to get better? Will angels really bring me food after I go without for forty days? Or is this alien stuff the manna I prayed for?
Someone slid a plate of alien bread in front of him. Matt pushed it away. "Don't you guys fast all the time? You're not supposed to be...vexing your `brother!'"
He managed to sit through the entire meal without partaking.
When the room cleared, Quana stared across the table at him. "Are you feeling all right? I hated having to eat while you sat there with nothing."
"It's okay. It's not your fault." He said it halfheartedly.
She gave him a sad puppy dog look. "Are you sure you'll be all right?"
Matt responded with an uncertain nod.
The rustling of papers interrupted the awkward silence. The religious debate team seated themselves and another long talk commenced.
"Quana, don't these guys have an office or something?"
"I think this is the biggest table in the Takofuea."
The discussion went on for hours.
Pouncil 7 and 3 Mailetta 9:3 said the messenger of Kipom would be headless, or beheaded, which sounded like John the Baptist, but Shilem thought it meant a prophet naturally born without a head, or a prophet who behaved like a headless animal, suggesting that prophet Cylert and Stopamoya Jerz more than qualified as a fulfillment of that scripture, both due to their recklessness and the fact that Cylert had a thick stumpy neck.
Roskecia 5:0 and other books prophesied a childless Kipom, yet one who would be the father of many, which Matt and Quana thought to be a good description of a spiritual "father" like Jesus. Shilem dismissed the prophecy as being a mistranslated contradiction in terms.
They quibbled about prophecies of the Kipom raising the dead, translational issues about him bearing more sufferings than anyone had ever faced, and questions about bringing peace to the planet and universe.
Following this, Shilem argued that since they couldn't physically go to Jerusalem and prove Jesus to be sinless, he couldn't be their perfect messiah, an argument ad ignorantum they just had to work around due to the lack of rational discourse in that area.
Then came the subject of the Klargish word `Biv', or `one'. The Quaceb faith commanded them to worship only one god, which Quana's opponent was quick to point out, claiming Quana argued for the worship of three separate gods. While `biv' could be interpreted in terms of "one nation", Shilem stubbornly stuck to a rigid definition that disallowed anything multiple, even when Quana argued that "one spaceship" consists of many parts.
Matt patiently endured his hunger pains, at times showing his irritability in a snapping remark that didn't translate, but as the papers got filed away, he worried he might die. Since he could do nothing about it, Matt kept it to himself, but couldn't escape the sensation of being dissolved from the inside.
"I'm going to bed," said Quana. "See you tomorrow."
Thinking it the best way to conserve energy, Matt decided to turn in early as well. Sleep is the poor man's dinner, he thought.
When he returned from his bath, Matt found Kodo waiting in his room with a tray of blue bread in his hands. "Would you, could you, eat it in your room?" he said in broken English.
Laughing, Matt replied in Wava, "Quana put you up to this, didn't she?"
Kodo nodded.
Thanking him, Matt took the tray to his bed. Once Sam-I-Am had departed, Matt stared at the food in the lamp light, unsettled by how much it looked like bread to his undernourished mind.
The stuff had a hairy blue polka dotted exterior, an interior textured like bread with rice noodles woven through the fiber.
"It's not squirming," he said to himself. "That's a good sign." The stuff smelled of bandages and cheesecake, with a mild odor of sweaty socks, but Matt's imagination turned it into a pizza smell. He broke off a morsel, squishing it between his trembling fingers. Light, soft and spongy.
"This is crazy. That almost looks good."
His hands trembled and the crumb fell to the floor, where it got instantly snapped up by a Muadwomp. Matt's stomach ached with hunger as broke off another piece and stared at it.
"No. I can't!"
In a bitter burst of rage, he hurled the whole mess behind the bed, and the ugly rodent creature devoured it in one bite.
Matt laid down, dreaming about food.
A sudden temperature drop awoke Matt early the next morning. Despite being covered with skins and three robes, his teeth continued to chatter, so he crawled to the kitchen, attempting to fill his belly by drinking water.
The didgeridoos blew and Matt found himself being dragged through the crowd of bowing Abreyas to a prayer and bible study meeting with Quana.
After they'd finished a lesson on the book of John, the horns blew and worship commenced.
Halfway through the second hymn, Spak fell into convulsions, and someone dragged Matt over there. Matt said a prayer and the convulsions stopped.
After leading him into a conversion, five other Abreyas broke into fits, but they were just faking it to get his attention. They wanted to know Jesus, too.
Unfortunately, all this activity proved too distracting for some of the worshipers, and a group of guards with staffs ordered Matt, Quana and the new converts to leave the area. They moved the commotion to the dining hall.
Breakfast time came and Matt sat at his table, unhappily watching everyone else eat.
At the end of the meal, Quana seated herself across from him, looking worried. "Matt, did you eat the food I sent you last night?"
Matt gave a sick grin. "Yeah."
Quana didn't seem to share his mirth. "You're lying. I bet you just threw it away, didn't you?"
Matt changed the subject. "What are your plans today?"
Quana sighed. "The usual."
The pair of grumpy looking monks brought out their papers and the meeting began with a discussion on the forgiving messiah described in Kentar 83:93 and Noelia 50:65. Shilem, obviously not too happy about the disturbance in the worship plaza that morning, made no delay in his dismissal of the prophecy, Shilem calling it a mistranslation, that only Ponai forgave sins. Even when Quana explained Jesus's divinity, and his death was huisiang, Shilem stuck to his metaphorical guns. All throughout, Goksar appeared to remain uncertain, making guarded replies that kept his position hidden.
They moved to the book of Torimapo, which stated the Kipom would be a `Galian'. Although shockingly close to the word Galilean, Shilem called it a mistranslation of Galia, a planet in the Danocrine system, and any other translation is a deception.
The dwarf read from a scroll. "`Behold your king, the Kipom. He shall arrive from the womb of a virgin, no male shall she noquisi until she has borne him She shall be as Ponai's handmaiden (Medaus 289:30).' Tell me, did your Jesus fulfill this prophecy?"
Quana sat bolt upright. "Yes!"
Shilem frowned at the scroll. "That appears to be an accurate translation."
"Amazing!" Quana exclaimed. "Both our religions have the same birth prophecy!"
"Is it literally `virgin'?" Matt asked.
Goksar shrugged. "The word poqufa literally means `One who has not had sex."
"Agreed," said Shilem. "But many tribal cultures have virgin birth myths."
Quana shook her head. "The presence of parallels does not necessarily mean that something is untrue."
"Enough!" Shilem shouted, throwing his papers across the table. "I will take no more of this heretical nonsense! Your Kipom never ruled a planet, and probably never will. I don't care if this imposter played Kodebano on the surface of Denamori, this is a hoax founded on fanciful lies and I won't waste any more of my time listening to it!"
He stormed out of the room.
Quana grinned at Goksar. "You've seen the evidence. You agree with it, don't you?"
"Most of it," he stammered. "Some passages are questionable, but..."
With her tail wagging in excitement, Quana shared her testimonial, tried to convert him. In response, the dwarf got flustered and also scampered out.
"Don't worry," said Matt. "It's to be expected, I think."
"I guess you're right. Not everyone is ready to accept the gospel." She stared at Matt, shaking her head. "You're really starting to waste away."
"Is it that noticeable?"
"It's not that noticeable, but I do notice it. You look like you've lost a few pounds."
Matt changed conversation topics. "Are there some more people we can share the gospel with?"
Quana rolled her eyes. "Sure."
He followed her out to the Maceva fields as she preached and taught the workers.
On their way to the field on the opposite side of the compound, Matt stumbled and fell on his shaky legs, hitting his head on the pavement. The world went dark.
Matt again awoke in the Fiqajko with an IV in his arm, green fluid pouring down the tubing, worried faces again staring back at him.
Quana gave him the barest trace of a smile.
"I fainted, didn't I?"
Quana gave a solemn nod. "You hurt yourself again. You've got to stop doing that."
"I feel like such a sissy. I can't even go a stupid day and a half without food. I don't know how much longer I can go without, unless I do nothing but lay in bed." He sat up.
"Doctor Shojoji has given you some nutrients intravenously, so it should help a little."
"If it doesn't poison me," he said gloomily.
She handed him a piece of blue bread. "You really need to eat solid food. It's the only way you can get better." When Matt refused, she tore off a big hunk, offering it to him. "I love you. Please. Eat."
"It's only been a day and a half. I'll live."
"Two days. You were out yesterday. And it would be nice if you could function in addition to living."
Matt didn't take the bread.
"Matt. You already have a Qatald tube in your arm. For the second time. You're still alive. If that doesn't hurt you, what makes you think Muloyi will?"
"I didn't ask to have tubes put in my arms. I'm not going to make the situation worse!"
Quana looked sad, desperate. "Please, Matt! Take it!"
Matt sighed, staring at the bedspread.
Quana muttered something to Dista, then said, "C'mon. Just a bite. Please. I want you to get better. Try a bite. It can't be that harmful."
"I don't know, Quana. I just don't know."
"Would you prefer to fast to death?"
Matt swallowed. "I don't think I can die from fasting a few days."
"How long are you willing to fast?"
"I don't know, until we get back to the palace and get my food?"
"I'm sorry, Matt. We can't go yet."
"Why not? It's been, what, ten days? People back home are going to be worried about me!"
"Matt..." A sob crept into her voice. "It's too dangerous. You're not strong enough to walk anywhere, let alone ride a grunk! You'll get captured if you don't break your skull open first!"
"You don't know that."
Quana sniffed, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'm sorry I didn't plan this out right. I should have stored your food in a safer place so none of this would ever happen. But that's hindsight. I can't do anything about it now." She laid the food down, weeping into the bed.
"So you want me to eat that stuff so I can die faster?"
"I'm sorry, Matt! I don't know what else to do!"
Matt's stomach ached as he stared at the bread. "I...guess...an angel isn't going to come out of the sky and give me a hamburger."
Quana made a small noise that could have been either a chuckle or a sob. "No, and manna might not rain down from the sky, either."
When Matt held out his hand, it trembled so bad that he seriously wondered if he could do anything at all except lay in bed.
It's been a good life, Matt thought. The least I can do is try to make things less painful for everyone else.
Matt's shaking hands tore off a small piece, putting it to his lips.
[0000]
Author's note:: Matt's sudden language proficiency had more to do with me getting sick of monkishly translating English words and phrases into Wava. It was a pain, and if I had to start over all again, I'd ditch the whole thing. Still had to do some work here, so kept the dictionary.
About the bible studies: No matter how perfectly accurate a bible prophecy is, no matter how much it points to Jesus, someone will always come up with a counter-argument.
[0000]
ALIEN CHARACTERS:
Choxu: Prince of the Voorop nation, previous suitor for Quana Falcameer.
Dista: Personal servant of Quana Falcameer.
Goksar: One of the shortest Quaceb monks at the Takofuea.
Kodo: A monk at the Takofuea. Stripe tailed, same age as Chaz.
Nabal: Prince of Kadegni, fiancee of arranged marriage to Quana Falcameer.
Poog: An elderly Takofuea monk.
Quana Falcameer: Princess of Pathilon.
Rusa: A male arranged to be Quana's suitor.
Shilem: A senior scholar of Quaceb literature at the Takofuea.
Shojoji: The medic at the Takofuea.
Tama Falcameer: Queen of Pathilon.
Thiftreda: Princess of another nation bordering Bencap.
GLOSSARY
Abreya: Furry aliens with bare humanoid faces and hands, long opossum-like tails, and feet resembling human hands.
Agyhat: "Dance building/center".
Auno: Powerful subatomic unit, providing energy surpassing that of nuclear fission or fusion.
Bariafu: A special cloaking system for Pathilonian spaceships.
Barbitnox: Quaceb ancient computerized scriptures.
Bedzyk: First female ever created, according to Gaxea.
Bencap: A country on Pathilon.
Beaurbak: Security device on a spaceship.
Bifafras: A prayer of penitence.
Bindif: Dining area of the Takofuea compound.
Boomosi: Far rural area of Pathilon, inhabitants known to be uneducated bumpkins.
Bub Tig: Special entree enjoyed by Abreyas.
Bujaxia: A dinosaur-like sea monster.
Carnrick: Seller of ceremonial Hoyroqs.
Chirqui: Obelisks that absorb essences of sacrifices, transporting them to Kwibron, for the honor of Ponai.
Cufajha: "Choir."
Cugfik: An alien pest with behavior similar to a cockroach, but it has a shape like a Koosh ball and leaves behind a trail of slime.
Cylert: A prophet in the Quaceb religion.
Deglos: Planet near Abreya planet Pathilon.
Denamori: A Venus-like planet with thousand degree temperatures.
Deoring: Paradise planet described in Holy Gaxea.
Dinagla: A statue which Quacebs use to remind themselves of the great prayers of the faith.
Duvalha: A dictatorial nation of Kaybok system history.
Duwaky: Transit tunnel.
Duxamca: Pathilon's best amusement park.
Elazfil: Coming of age observance for Quacebs.
Ferleok: Coldest of the eleven planets of the Kaybok planetary system.
Fetmip: Chemical that can change coloration of your blushing and blood.
Fiqajko: Small medical station.
Fopakna: Quaceb anointing ritual.
Fotebja: Abreya entertainment device.
Fubalca: Special knockout gas developed by Abreyas. Contains a percentage of breathable air.
Futamer: Planet destroyed in Auno wars of Duvalha.
Gaxea: The core Quaceb religious book.
Gleenpach: Quaceb ceremonial praise dance.
Gogibi: Cryogenic stasis machine.
Gojot: "Living room" of a spacecraft.
Gi'uz: Ceremonial Quaceb headwear for males and females.
Grunkiahu (Grunk): A large flying creature, ridden by Abreyas like horses.
Haxgorg: Personal toilet waste disposal appliance.
Hirejosi: A sawing machine.
Hoyroq: Premium sacrificial animal used to expunge Quacebs from their sins.
Iznolgu: Environment suit.
Jiticuha: A monastic organization.
Jufuceri: Planet in which law treaties regarding Auno energy were drafted.
Kadegni: Country located close to border of Bencap.
Kaiaquke: Stellar nursery
Kecuru: Special mineral found on planet Deglos.
Kemmer: When animals go into heat.
Kicabaii: Special gas that exists on Kugifogelo, has unusual properties that affect coloration of its atmosphere.
Kipom: Quaceb messiah.
Kisostrom: A book in the Quaceb Holy Gaxea.
Klecut: A laser knife.
Kodebano: A sport enjoyed by Abreyas.
Kugifogelo: Planet nearest Abreya planet Pathilon.
Kwibron: Core religious site for the Quaceb faith.
Laima'j: An aromatic plant, which is burned to ashes for use of bathing and drying off.
Lemwag: Abreya showering cubicle.
Lerilite: Laser sawing element on an Hirejosi.
Lutab: An organic swimming pool, with wormy creatures along the sides for cleaning purposes.
Lyuntaaz: Quaceb religious observance similar to passover and Hanukkah.
Macevas: A plant similar to rice, which is made into a bread-like substance.
Mailetta: A book in the Quaceb holy Gaxea.
Medufa: "Planet of Temptation/Downfall" according to Gaxea.
Mimapi: Matriarchs of the Gaxea.
Miricacci Sector: A galaxy containing the Abreya universe.
Mixajqa: Medicinal root used for treatment of epilepsy.
Muadwomp: An eyeless rodent, similar to a rat, but with teeth that can chew through metal.
Nafnith: Main world altar of Quaceb faith.
Naidru: An order of prophets in the holy Gaxea.
Navaktos: Quaceb ceremonial mats.
Neflah: Ceremonial Quaceb headwear for females.
Nidrix: Musical scales used by Abreyas.
Nilfloip: Quaceb compass that directs one to holy sites.
Nubsa: One of the Falcameer family's royal Grunkiahus.
Obnurd: Personal toilet waste disposal appliance.
Order of Glomer: An ancient society of Quacebs.
Pabizol: Vision correcting devices.
Pathilon: Planet of Abreyas.
Pija: A staple food for Abreyas, similar to wheat.
Pijaturu Festival: A grand celebration that harkens back to ancient times, regarding the harvest of Pija.
Pihodai: A group of Abreya Quacebs described in the Gaxea.
Pocwam: A Quaceb saint.
Ponai: Quaceb religious name for God.
Pouncil: A book in the Quaceb holy Gaxea.
Pufedaga: Special mineral found on Ferleok.
Pulotage: Docking center at Bencap palace.
Qatald: Device similar to an intravenous catheter, but not requiring a vertical stand for the pumping of fluid or blood. The machine can lay flat and reposition without interrupting the flow.
Quaceb: A monotheistic Abreya religion, or one who adheres to the religion.
Quidsy: Spaceship manufacturing company.
Quinamm: A month on the Pathilonian calendar.
Rantag: A book in the holy Gaxea.
Rilla: First Abreya ever created, according to the Gaxea.
Roskecia:Book from the Quaceb Holy Gaxea.
Rujodale: An alien type of furniture, resembling a Venus flytrap.
Rukhag: A month on the Abreya calendar.
Saholiqe: A country on one of the planets described in Gaxea.
Sihiku of Tocedopu: Alien tree of forbidden knowledge, described in the Gaxea.
Stopamoya Jerz: Famous Quaceb saint/Pocwam.
Supica: Quana's spaceship.
Takofuea: Quaceb monastery.
Tagososi Bosigoqa/"Flash Matter Transit Zone": Hidden area of space where bubbles of time can be encountered.
Tarru Lorejiba: Matrimony. Literally "Binding of tails."
Tesagob: A sacred Quaceb hymn.
Treivadel: A sport similar to Jai Alai.
Tuldil of Fuceti: A second version of the tree of forbidden knowledge, according to the Gaxea.
Vanseb: Quaceb religious temple.
Vemorik: Communications device.
Vitabese: One of the smelliest animals on Pathilon.
Voorop: Nation adjacent to Bencap.
Wava: "Tongue", the language of Abreyas.
Wighesh: Dress-like garment worn by male Abreyas.
Witad: Spirit of Ponai.
Wodov: Priest or priestess of Quaceb faith.
Wusu: A chicken-like creature used as livestock.
Yadafcu: A special race of Abreyas found in the book of Rantag.
Yarkolemsis: A month on the Pathilonian calendar.
Zajyaf: A book in the holy Gaxea.
Zorlaeba: "The Evil One."
Zux Leem: An alien fruit.
WAVA LESSONS:
Note: These aren't solid rules. I got tired of trying to trying to write stuff in Wava after awhile and just threw everything together. Sometimes I didn't even spell the alien words correctly.
Bitu: Indicates future tense.
Bri: Used before a word to indicate plural forms. Often used at the beginning of a word.
Cik: Can be used instead of Chik, as a contraction.
Gi: Add to word to indicate "we," such as Gisnaa ("We can").
Iga: Add to word to make possessive.
`Ih: Used to indicate past tense.
Teb: Indicates action progressively, like "ing" in English. Example: "Walking" would be "Jujagteb", not "Jujago".
O'h: Past tense ending in a vowel.
Paga: "Quality of being". Example: "Borpaga" (Worriment).
Yi: Functions the same as "not" when added to words.
Contractions: Words can be combined into contractions. Example: Guki'ua=Guki+Hua ("May I"), Chibya=chik+bya (you were) Kreeuv=What is it (Kreah+Guv) Marud=This female, Chiib (Chik+hib) Bisib (Bisa+hib).
Compound contractions are used sometimes, such as: chigoselsa (chik+gosa+oalesa). Gelgos (To+him). Rudib ("This is"): Ruhd+Hib
NUMBERS:
Dool: 10
Rey: 9
Fat: 8
Dolsike: 7
Leeg: 6
Diete: 5
Ri: 4
Oim: 3
Hanna: 2
Bid: 1
LEXICON:
Aaberahu: Solely/strictly/alone
Abukos: Nothing
Adanep: Behavioral model
Ahdep: Halt!
Aiju: Closer
Algot: Any
Andere: Amen
Aoqigoia: Neutralize
Artane: Beacon
Audep: Halt!
Ausuhi: Force (v)
Azulfine: Upstairs
Barb: Their
Batua: Dressed/wearing
Bav: Did
Bea: The
Bebak: Other
Becuro: Finally
Beekay: Seek
Baueco: Bless/guide
Benuforte: Prophet
Benuton: Prophecy
Biofa: There
Bisa: Who
Biti: Let/allow
Biv: Klargish word for "One."
Bixok: Queen
Boqadi: Answer
Boqedo: Prove
Boine: Bless
Boqadi: Proof
Boru: Worry
Bosagre: Chick (baby bird)
Bowfez: Stand
Bozakda: Stupid
Bya: Was
Cacurei: View (n)
Cahna: Name
Cajbei: Trouble/problem
Cagote: Ignorant
Cao: Far
Capamfe: Wonderful
Casiku: Recognize
Cazqui: Hope
Cehoo: Welcome
Ceiogefa: Already
Celburyix:A Klargish term, meaning "Branch."
Celini: Understand
Ceo: Her
Cevafpe: Maximum
Cewafme: Sick
Ceygaum: Cult
Chik: You
Chisda: Heaven
Chuzka: Idiot
Cikdew: Fast (v)
Citboi: Danger
Citiseu: Sign/Indication
Clozaril: Disable
Coamurugi: Hypothetical
Codimol: Done
Con: With
Copagva: Qualified
Coz: As/for/from
Cron: Owe
Cujajl: Evil
Cuocup: Shall/Will
Culumafa: Worship/adore
Cumfio: Generation
Cutajma: Recover
Daced: Plan
Dahna: I am
Darulo: Mate/Have Sex
Datucue: Absolutely
De: Of
Debotoke: Consider
Degatec: Store (v)
Demofoa: Order
Depo: Again
Depogast: Reenter
Derako: Soon
Dete: Each
Deubew: Fear
Devibo: Pagan/unbeliever/heathen
Dezafvi: Outfit (clothing)
Divag'qa: Experience
Dobov: Clip (v)
Docuinu: Best
Doqjah: Surrender
Dotasa: Future
Duboqidu: Grant/allow
Dudpim: Rather/Prefer
Duhem: Die (verb)
Duquedaka: System
Duigoje: Separated
Dusaq: Hello
Dutio: Happen/occur
Eidaraba: Guess/suppose
Eiko: Now
Emilihu: Threat
Eurtep: Well/Somewhat good
Eyap Mez: Good night
Faneso: Should/Might/Shall
Feobex: Wrath
Fapai: Fight (verb)
Fepahoi: Choice/option
Feut: Whether/if
Fexagta: Wing
Fihbux: Easy
Fijbuy: Ball
Finihu: Seem/appear
Fipogue: Waste
Fito: At/to
Fod: Back
Fomu: Thing
Fonome: Before/first
Foqipi: Child
Fuhe: Even
Fuqapeh: Bride
Gac: Have
Gahagi: Has
Gapagna: Careful
Gapsom: Affection
Garu: Keep
Garzok: Heathen
Gaz:u: Know
Geben: Father
Gebupega: "People" (Abreyas)
Gecar: Difficult
Gefmoo: Another
Gehgapeqak: Egotistical/Egomaniacal
Gejcuh: Touch
Ge'l: He
Gibet: Them
Gik: We
Giperhofi: "Weirdo"
Gimble: Affectionate nickname like "honey".
Gingahan: Serious
Giwi: Will
Glaap: Want
Gosa: To
Gosaca: Engine
Gubayo: Hand
Guep: Yes
Guki: May/might/can/could
Guli: Play
Guom: Where
Gubayo: Hand
Gurabo: About/concerning/on
Guv: It
Guvicoh: "It's" (contraction of "it is")
Ha: Or
Hacapad: Meddle/dabble/toy(v)
Hakafha: Egg
Haofek: Morning
Hapa: Eat
Hargawage: Cannibal
Havajgu: Adulterous
Hawcuqi: Except
Hei: On
Hib: Is/are
Hieroda: Alarm
Hifarud: Ever
Higiwi: I will
Hojila: Tell
Hojita: Tell
Hua: Me
Huqea: Fake/false/artificial/fraud
Hurgoco: Fool
Hurota: Foolish
Husigu: Quantity
Ibblesquib: Forget
Ip: An/"A"
Jagbei: Return
Jagopune: Give up/surrender/leave
Jaii: Do
Jaogoa: Capture/Catch
Jaolal: Catcher
Jegfoj: Clever
Jeko: Also
Jiaz: Like
Jilat: Try
Jocabai: These
Johoca: Side
Jomofo: Join
Jopotaju: Comfortable
Jouge: Begin/Start
Joreh: Palace
Jub: So (in order that)
Jufae: Friend
Jujago: Walk
Jujuba: Immediately
Julujau: Invalid
Jupe: But/However
Kai: And
Kaha: Get/Gain
Kahna: Name/"Called"
Kalaja: Political
Kalefim: Powerful
Kalefimpaga: Powerfully
Kee: So (interjection)
Kehag: Time
Kenuiji: Prepare
Keucam: Happy/Cheerful
Kigo: Sorry
Kijafwa: Service
Kimera: Present/presence
Knoli: Find/discover
Kogel: Stay
Kolapibu: Sharing
Kood: Both
Kreah: What
Kuditig: Specific/Particular
Kuiyo: Holy
Kulwad: Stop
Kusele: Make/Create
Kusuqali: Change (v)
Labuc: By/under the order of/under/subject to
Lagupo: Week
Lajuje: Word
Layd: Here
Legparf: Mean
Leijue: Thief
Lepop: Feel
Liduli: Pace
Lifahu: During
Loex: Good
Lorejiba: Bind
Lotfem: Job
Maltuje: Ask
Marun: Female
Mepjar: Really/seriously
Mese: Too/very
Metau: Zero
Micha: "Little"/"small", often used affectionately.
Midasu: Truth/True
Midhohu: Honestly/seriously/truly/really/actually
Minahujo: Display/show (v)
Moacibi: Praise/Flatter
Moqo: In/inside
Mudkma: Listen
Muhafofo: Relationship (connection)
Naca: Flesh
Najikece: Detect
Nalah: Wow
Najufe: Boyfriend
Nar: Him
Narun: Male
Naxu: Maybe/Perhaps
Neebee: Search
Niblet: Kill/destroy/shut off
Nioqa: Dress/clothe (v)
Nocodo: Problem
Nueto: Silly
Nuqida: Prison/jail
Nux: Help
Oalesa: Would
Oopuhane: Individual
Pae: Give
Palafnu: Slow
Paneciqa: Everywhere
Parehe: Then
Paryiz: Pool
Patnar: Firing
Patuihi: Defect
Pebe: Say
Pequecoja: Confess
Peraha: Cage
Pihile: Clearly/definitely
Pikhi: Need
Pimopek: Exterior
Pimqam: Self Praising/Self Important
Pisoqo: Just/only
Podo: Meet/introduce
Pofokiai: Password
Poiagupu: Heart/Mind
Puebuko: Elder (honorific term)
Pugot: Everything
Puguqe: Belong to
Pumcko: Think
Poqufa: Virgin (Klargish word)
Pusasuji: Hide/conceal
Putu: Data/Info
Pututula: Information
Pyoci: Like (verb)
Qafe: Take
Qaigas: Event/Occasion
Qasolire: Purpose/Reason
Qecajeda: Birth
Qidu: Table
Qilahami: Treatment
Qiol: My/mine
Qoeloqe: Challenge/competition
Quako: Self
Quayhox: Fur
Qiciheli: Recording
Qugu: Certain/Sure
Rajua: Dear
Raraba: Must
Raulu: Bring
Redaheo: Nice/fine
Remabe/Reem: Mother/mom
Reodacol: Rain
Repisita: "Jerk" (Disagreeable Person)
Riko: Be
Ritaqomi: Approaching
Roca: Within
Rofi: By
Rua: Your
Rudibugu: Background
Ruhd: This
Rulijo: What we have?
Saasaa: Water
Sakhai: Rest (v)
Salbue: Harvest
Saojifa: Security
Scrumsaarg: Marriage
Sejucore: Planet
Shnarf: That/concerning
Siruka: Wrong
Snaa: Able/can
Sohenogi: Question
Soisofu: Family
Soqokuru: Identify
Sotukobe: Religion
Subecosu: Bother
Suka: Many/Much
Susocir: Bald
Tarru: Tail
Tebesoe/Tebesque: Command
Tibu: His
Ticoh: Is
Tipohu: Add
Tiks: When
Tocedopu: Wisdom
Tohibou: Run/operate
Toihoja: Board(v)
Toib: See
Tuc: "Child" or "Baby", usually used condescendingly or as a pet name.
Tupaha: Possible
Ucuk: Speak
Ukxa: Pants/overalls
Umua: Thank you
Vatus: King/ruler/lord
Viravo: How
Weh: Our
Welk: Use
Xoc: Go/Going
Wof: Now
Yalnov:
Yok: No
Yunk: Why
Zaib: Correct
Zoor: Because/since