His jaw made a cracking sound as it opened, as if rusted from neglect, and he drooled in anticipation as the morsel entered his mouth, then his tastebuds flooded with the flavor of petroleum, dried sardines, and dehydrated potato salad.
It's crazy, he thought. But that was actually pretty good.
Matt's eyes moistened with tears. I'm so weak. Why do I have to be such a baby? Why couldn't I hold off eating a few days?
Letting out an unhappy chuckle, Matt drove his teeth deep into the hunk of bread, tears pouring out of his eyes as he devoured the entire loaf. He felt no ill effects, only less hungry.
Quana seemed less sad, but Matt could still detect some worriment in her expression. He drank some water. "What do you call that stuff I just ate?"
"Muloyi. You want to try something else?"
Matt shook his head. "I only ate this stuff out of necessity. I'm not going to mix poisons."
"It's a start. Want some more?"
Matt thought for a moment. "Yes, please."
When she left to get it, Matt bowed his head and wept.
"I have no willpower. Now I'll die and never see anyone from Earth again." He let out a mad, bitter laugh.
Quana returned with a tray stacked with several large pieces of Muloyi, and Matt filled his stomach.
"Giladl said the Kugfiks are a constant nuisance. They protected the crops and the kitchen with Burble extract, but they haven't been as careful around the Cilaft."
Matt frowned. "Got anything fun to do here? Board games?"
"It's a Takofuea. All we have are books."
Matt sighed, staring at the barren walls. "What time is it?"
"It's...about time for the midday worship service. You were unconscious for a long time."
"I'm pathetic." Matt gazed at her sadly. "Are you going?"
She shook her head. "We can worship God in spirit and in truth. Together."
They had a little worship service at the bedside. Matt fell asleep during the prayers, and when he awoke, a group of males and females sang church hymns around him. This cheered him so much that he taught them a few more.
The doctor, seeming to notice his improved health and mood, removed the IV tubes and let him get out of bed. Matt managed to make it to the restroom and back with only a mild sensation of dizziness.
As he continued to rest in bed, a large group of monks came to visit, asking Matt for copies of the bible, English lessons, and all sorts of advice. He answered them the best he could, and he and Quana ended up promising them they'd have a Wava version of the bible ready as soon as possible. However, when they had left, Matt asked, "How are we going to translate all that material in a week? Some people have taken years to translate the bible."
"Did those people have computers?"
"I...guess not."
"I've heard about some excellent auto translation systems. They don't do English, of course, but we could program it in, and with a little proofreading, we could have some semblance of a Wava bible."
"Still, I think, to do a better job, we'd need a Hebrew and Greek bible."
"Didn't your translators have rough copies sometimes?"
"Sometimes. I guess the Latin Vulgate wasn't very good...Do you have this magical software handy?"
Quana shook her head. "We have to buy it from a place in Bencap."
"When do you want to go?"
"Let's wait until you're fully recovered."
"I've been in bed a long time already."
"Dinner's in a few hours. They should be serving Muloyi. Maybe Shojoji will let you eat in the Bindif with the others."
"Sounds good."
"It seems you've digested the food okay. You don't look at all sick. In fact, I think you look better."
"Yeah, I feel okay. And for a minute, I thought it would kill me." Matt rested.
At dinner, as the leader strolled in with the ceremonial Frisbee, Azbori muttered something in the male's ear, and the two had a hushed discussion for a few minutes.
The leader locked eyes with Matt, hissing and waving his tail.
Matt pointed to himself, and the monk nodded impatiently.
Trembling with nervousness, Matt marched up to him.
Matt's mouth fell open in surprise as the silver disk got pressed into his hands, and the male slapped him on the back, pushing him in front of the assembly.
Grinning sheepishly, Matt turned the heavy disk over in his hands. His smile faded when everyone in the room stared at him. It felt like speech class again.
Nervously lifting the disk, he prayed the Protestant common table prayer, causing a mixture of indignant murmurs, amens and indifferent shrugs. Some ate, but others regarded him with suspicion, not touching their food.
Quana jumped up from her seat, snatching the disk from Matt's hand, which prompted a few offended murmurs until she said a Wava prayer and calmed them down.
Repast consisted of Muloyi, the pollen stuff, Wusu, and something new, Zux Leem. Matt took some of the bread, but passed the rest on, chuckling as he noticed the expressions of surprise on the faces of his dining companions.
At the end of the meal, Quana brought Matt a piece of Zux Leem. "Did you try one of these? They're really good."
"No thanks. I told you I didn't want to mix poisons."
"Oh c'mon. If the Muloyi didn't kill you, what makes you think Zux Leem will?"
"There's still a lot I don't know about Abreya physiology. What if it's like mixing ammonia and bleach?"
"Your body seemed to accept Muloyi just fine. Why wouldn't Zux Leem be okay, too? And it's so delicious."
Matt took the splotchy thing and stared at it. I guess if I'm already poisoned, another one won't matter. I'm still miles away from a real doctor. Plus the Muloyi really didn't hurt me. I could be making a big deal out of nothing.
He bit into the soft, fleshy outer layer, and his tongue got reminded of steak, turnip and tomato soup. The flavor changed.
"Now it tastes like blueberry pie and ice cream now. Am I going to turn into a giant blueberry?"
Quana rolled her eyes.
Matt took another bite, then stuck out his tongue in disgust. "Now it tastes like that cherry junk they put in those foam mouthpieces at the dentist's."
"It just tastes like Zux Leem to me."
Matt made a face, handing the fruit back to her. "Yuck! The aftertaste is worse!" He rinsed his mouth, but it didn't help.
Shrugging, Quana ate the rest of the fruit. "Another Cufajha session should be starting shortly. You can come along if you want."
Matt followed her down to the choir area, listening to the choir rehearse until he felt he could sleep sitting up.
"I'm going to go dance again," Quana said to him at the end of practice.
"You still do that?"
"Guep. Gleenpach is a beautiful way of expressing my thanks to Ponai. Now that I know my Kipom, I have much to thank him for."
"Okay. Have fun doing the Hammer Dance."
She giggled. "Have a good rest."
"Eyap mez."
Matt got to bed, but just laid on the blob, staring at the cracks and spots in the ceiling while every part of his body itched. He rolled over, staring at the wall.
I guess it makes sense, he thought. I was in bed for roughly two days. It's no surprise that I can't sleep now. He scratched his neck. These bed bugs don't help.
Matt turned on the light and sat up, watching a giant blue cockroach dash across the stone floor.
"Nope. No sleep for me." He crawled to the dining hall, scratching himself as he stared at tapestries. With Quana busy, he really didn't have that much to do.
The sensation of itchiness traveled through every inch of his skin like he had been skinny dipping in a mosquito colony. He scratched his arm until the flesh peeled off, exposing a layer of gray skin.
Matt swallowed. Aren't sunburns and rashes supposed to be red?...Maybe I'm going to die after all.
He scratched his other arm, uncovering more and more gray skin. What's going on? Did the food or the IV do something to my melanin?
Wrapping himself in layers of alien blankets, he strolled out to the cliff, watching Nessie bobbing across the ocean.
His body felt strangely warm. Thinking it to be a change of weather, Matt took off one alien `blanket', then another, and another, until he was down to his robe. "It must be summer. You think it'd be cooler at night..."
A sharp stab of pain to the backside interrupted his train of thought. Frustrated with his discomfort, he returned to the dining hall, slowly pacing the floor.
Quana climbed out of the hole in the floor with a dejected look on her face. Letting out a choking sound, she knelt down and wept.
Matt put his arm around her shoulder. "What happened?"
"It's Shali," she sobbed. "She became an atheist. It's all my fault! She got so confused and upset that she left the Takofuea!"
"Who's Shali?"
"Just a friend I met." She swallowed her tears. "This Qawdar named Tovia told her lies and she believed them."
"It's not your fault, Quana. It happens."
"I know. But it still feels like I did something wrong."
"Quana, you shared the message. All we can do now is wait and pray for the Holy Spirit to work in her heart."
"I guess you're right," she sniffed. "Tovia makes me so mad. I want to hurt her."
"I feel the same way about people sometimes, but that's not how you save souls...what's a Qawdar?"
"They're...like a high ranking nun." Quana wiped her eyes. "Couldn't sleep?"
He shook his head. "I think I slept too much. I'll probably start feeling it tomorrow."
Dista brought in a bible, and they had another study.
As they delved into the book of Corinthians, Matt found himself scratching every other minute. "Quana, do Abreyas get fleas?"
"Sometimes we get Hayajvis, but I haven't heard anything about it here lately." She frowned. "I did notice you scratching a lot. I guess we can check your bed." She crawled out of the room.
Another sharp pain shot through Matt's backside. And what's that about? Maybe I spoke too soon about the food not affecting me.
Trying hard to ignore such annoyances, Matt led Dista through some more passages.
The gray faced female kept gazing into his eyes, more than once "accidentally" brushing his hand.
Quana returned to the room with a bewildered look on her face. "I told someone about the bugs. They said they'll check." She gave him a kindly smile. "You feeling sleepy yet, human?"
"No, it's...weird. I feel wide awake. So what do we do now?"
"Normally I occupy myself with chores until morning worship. We could leave tonight, but I haven't said goodbye to everyone."
"So now I can leave. Now that I ate your food and my skin's peeling off and who knows what else."
"At least you're not fainting and hitting your head on rocks."
Matt sighed.
Quana gave an annoyed snap of her tail. "We can leave in the morning. What do you want to do until then?"
"I guess if we had a ball, and you didn't mind me cracking my head, we could play football."
She suddenly looked excited. "There's an idea! All three of us could play. There's even a ball in the Treivanox!"
They walked hand in hand in that direction.
Quana stopped, staring at Matt's palms. "Your hand isn't smooth anymore."
"Calluses?"
She turned his hand over. "I don't think so."
"I noticed that. I think it's from the washer in the bathroom."
Shrugging, Quana clutched it again, and they walked that way until Dista made it awkward by holding Matt's other hand.
At the building, Quana took the ball outside, and the three of them played a non-regulation football game between a group of statues.
Matt tried to go easy at first, but when Dista and Quana got the hang of it, he ended up tackled painfully to the ground. Quana ended up assigning Dista to Matt's side to make the game fair.
Perhaps a little too fair, considering how much enthusiasm Dista suddenly took to the game.
After another round, green coated Giladl, who had been watching from the sidelines, joined in, making the game more evenly matched.
They played a long time, stopping only when the digeridoos blew.
"That must be the call to morning worship."
"Already?"
"Guep. Time soars."
Matt sniffed himself. "I should probably hit the showers. I mean, the equivalent."
Quana looked puzzled for a moment, but then scrunched up her nose. "You need to hit something!"
After bathing, Matt discovered such a scene of such hostility at the worship plaza that he wanted to crawl back in.
A riot had broken out between two crowds of males and females, leaving a wake of broken statuary, smashed tables, and a gaggle of Hoyroq running wild around a spreading bonfire.
On one side, a giant mob shouted and waved their fists threateningly, looming closer and closer to a pitiful gathering of fifteen monks led by Quana.
Quana cleared a path, waving to Matt with her tail.
Gee, thanks for inviting me to the mincemeat party! Matt thought, running to her. He narrowly avoided a flying dirt clod hurled in his direction. "What happened?"
"Kodo tried to drive out the Carnricks! Now they're trying to make us leave!"
"We were planning to go anyway."
"Not like this! They don't ever want us to come back!"
"They want us to leave right now?"
"Yes, Matt. No stopping."
"But I have stuff in my room!"
"It can't be helped."
Matt frowned at the rioting Abreyas. He didn't have that much in his room, but he did want to retrieve it...and now couldn't.
"Quana, I want to come with you and learn about Jesus," stripey tailed Kodo said in Wava.
"Me too," said Chaz.
"Quana, I believe in you," said Azbori.
"Don't believe in me," said Quana. "Believe in Jesus."
"Okay. I believe in Jesus."
Bonbon, a female with a speckled green face, also wanted to come along.
Goksar waved at five others. "We all want to come with you."
Quana nodded. "Fine, but you all risk imprisonment. My mother the queen of Bencap wants to marry me to an unbeliever and put my friend in a zoo."
"We'll protect you, Quana," said Spak.
"I'll defend you to the death!" said Kodo.
"Please, protect me peacefully."
The Wusu farmer clenched his fists. "I will kill anyone who tries to capture you!"
"Azbori! Love your enemy!"
"Oh." With a frown of disappointment, the male walked away from the group, only turning around when his friend Giladl grabbed him and gave him a talk. "I will...love my enemy?"
Quana nodded.
They crawled up to the Cilaft.
"Does everyone have a Grunkiahu?"
"We are only allowed to take our own," said the speckled female. "We have only three, counting yours."
"Why are there not more of them?"
"Many of us sold our Grunkiahus to buy salvation contracts."
"There are a few more here," said Kodo. "But they belong to the Takofuea."
"Are the same as the ones you sold?"
"No, they're different."
"Then not all of you can come."
The monks sighed and muttered.
"I came here by Shoktar," said Dista. "Anyone that's left can follow me."
More murmuring.
"It's as good as we can do on such short notice."
"Shoktars?" Matt asked. "That's those dinosaur mule things, right?"
"Yes, Matt." Quana threw the saddle over Nubsa's back.
As Matt leaned on the wing of the great bird, watching her buckle the saddle in place, Quana frowned at him. "I'm sorry, Matt. I can't let you ride with me. It's for your own protection."
"But how will I find you? How will I get home?"
"You'll have to go with Dista."
He stared at the servant. "Can she be trusted?"
"She loves Jesus now. She wouldn't mistreat God's messenger."
The skepticism was plain on his face. "But I'm not that good at Wava. What if something happens?"
"Come on, Matt. You know the language. Just keep doing what you're doing."
"What about the stuff I had in the saddle?"
"Honestly, there's not much there. It was only food and a dull knife." She handed the knife to him.
"Can I have yours, too?"
"No. You're too dangerous with that thing." Matt opened his mouth to protest, but she added, "I think I might need it again."
He sighed. "At least let me call mom."
Quana handed him the Vemorik.
Shouts, banging, and a baying hound erupted from the speaker.
"Trixie!" Matt's mother shouted at her dog, then, "Hello?"
"Hello? Mom?"
"Get out of those cookies!" He heard scuffling sounds, then a door slamming. "That dog..." Camille sighed. "How are you? How is the mission down in...Cape Canaveral?"
Matt frowned. "It's fine, mom." He swallowed. "Mom, things are getting really crazy down here. I really don't know when I'll be back again. I, I'll try my best to get back as soon as I can, but..." He trailed off.
"I can just barely hear you. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. It's just..." The line fell silent. "Mom?"
Nothing.
Quana stared at the device. "It could be a solar storm or something. Want to try it again?"
"No, that's probably good." He called Keith, but nobody was there, so he left a voicemail.
Quana spoke with her servant for a minute.
"Dista says she'd be honored to accompany you. She thinks you're cute."
Matt chuckled, but didn't feel happy.
"And you're okay with me being with her?"
Quana put her hands on her hips, narrowed her eyes. "You trying to tell me something, Matt?"
Matt blushed. "N-no. It's cool. If you trust her, I trust her."
She seemed to get what he hinted at. "I trust both of you. Anyway, you're still better off with her. There's less a chance of someone will recognizing you."
"Speaking of which..." He dug the fake fur out of the saddle. "Can you fix this before you go?"
Quana frowned. "I don't have my Domakfi. Maybe Dista can get you a Hegaljo or something."
Matt wrapped the fur around his neck, but he couldn't get it to stay on without showing his bare skin or falling off, so he threw it away with a sigh.
At Quana's prompting, someone fitted him with a hooded cowl and a scarf that covered most his face.
Quana faced her flock. "Everyone, let's meet back together at the Coly-Myxcin." Then she and speckly Bonbon mounted the Grunk.
Tapping Nubsa with the control rod, Quana leaned over the saddle, giving Matt a sorrowful gaze. "Goodbye, my dear boyfriend. Until we meet again."
She rode out the gate, taking to the air.
Matt frowned at Dista, speaking in Wava. "How do we get to where we're going?"
"There's a trail to the south."
Skirting the angry mob, Matt followed her down a long trail lined with alien totem poles, and toadstools the size of trees. Large pitcher plants with eyes stared at them as they walked past rows of alien cabbages with red shelled eggs in their centers. Matt reached for an egg, but Dista said they were poisonous.
A mass of soft acorn barnacle things squished beneath his bare feet. When they wiggled, he shuddered in disgust and looked away.
They crossed a steep rocky hill scattered with bits broken toadstool trees and five to six foot tall conical plants covered in giant thorns, tromped down a narrow dusty pass to a wide meadow full of flowering, squirming plants resembling Limidae mollusks without the shell.
Up ahead, a herd of saurian creatures grazed on squirmy grass, sticking their long stiff tails in the air as they dug for choice roots in the soil, pausing occasionally to scratch their floppy ears with wicked looking toe claws.
Shushing her companions, Dista blew on an ocarina, causing the creatures' ears to stick straight up.
A muscular beast with stripes along its back clomped up to her, bowed, then licked her face with its huge tongue. Dista giggled, petting it on the head and scratching it under the ears, making soft clicks and purring noises until the creature knelt before her.
Dista locked eyes with Matt, gesturing to the creature with her tail.
With a nervous shrug, Matt crept nearer to the reptile, but it backed away in fright, rearing up on its hind legs.
In attempts to calm it down, he offered his hand to smell, but the reptile only jerked its head back.
"Go like this." She put her arms behind her back and bowed. "Now you."
Matt mirrored the gesture, and the reptile bowed back, stomping close enough for him to pet it.
As Matt slid his hand around its snout and stroked its forehead, the reptile tilted its head in puzzlement, then licked Matt in the face.
Dista made clicking sounds, which the reptile responded to by kneeling.
Dista gestured for Matt to climb on its back.
Scooting into a somewhat comfortable position, Matt wrapped his legs around the creature's muscular neck, watching the other monks climb aboard their scaly steeds.
The palace servant hopped up, and to his dismay, Matt felt her body pressing up against him, her soft warm breath cascading down his neck as she reached across his legs to grab the creature's floppy ears.
She kicked the creature's sides, and it broke into a brisk forward jog. She kicked again, and the creature hurtled through the forest, speeding past immense morel mushrooms and ground growing pine cones the size of dog houses.
"So you are human from Earth planet," the palace servant's monotone voice purred in Matt's ear.
"Guep."
She seemed to notice Matt's tense posture. "Am I making you nervous? Uncomfortable?"
"Guep."
"I'm sorry. I don't know how else to do this. At least you are not in back."
"That's all right."
They rode through a clearing to a marsh, where long tubular plants swelled with fat bubbles periodically erupting in clouds of spores that blew across their path with a moldy bread smell. Matt cringed as the flecks landed on his face and hair, sometimes landing on his lips and getting into his nostrils, tingling and bubbling in a most unpleasant way, hoped he wouldn't get sick.
The reptiles sped onward through the marsh with surprising ease, their clawed feet somehow immune to the suction and change in soil integrity.
The marsh continued for at least a mile before giving way to large pockets of algae filled water.
A big purple lake loomed beyond, but nobody slowed.
"Stop!" Matt cried in English. "Slow down! Kulwad! Yok!"
Dista muttered something, and the others only laughed. Matt could only watch in horror as the reptiles carelessly dashed out across the water.
To his surprise, they didn't sink. Like giant Jesus lizards, the reptiles skated across the water, their toe claws creating pockets of air to tread upon. When one pocket collapsed, they hopped to another, and another, until they rode over dry ground on the opposite shore. And it all took a fraction of a second.
Matt sighed in relief as they raced across solid ground once more.
Dista giggled. "You've never ridden on a Shoktar before, have you?"
He shook his head.
"Cejmiega," she chuckled. The tone indicated something derogatory, like `gringo.'
They crossed a wide field, entering a forest of trees larger than the Sears Tower. Futuristic buildings appeared in the branches, and several homes and businesses cropped up along the ground, which had now turned into a sort of spongy concrete.
Arriving at a massive silo shaped building, they dismounted, stepping into a large room with plant couches and video equipment. Dista twisted a cone shaped object on the wall, and Matt felt his stomach and insides shifting.
Good grief! This is an elevator! Feeling unsteady on his feet, Matt staggered across the room, plopping into an empty plant couch.
Moments later, Dista occupied the cushion next to him, smiling as she wrapped her tail around his waist. "You're the one who told Quana about Jesus, yes?"
Matt nodded with discomfort.
Dista grinned. "Quana told me about how you two met. You are a very good witness."
He blushed. "Not really. But the Lord does use me occasionally."
"Humility. That is the mark of a true Quaceb. I must be on the right track. Are you married?"
Matt blushed deeper. "Yok."
"Have you and Quana mated?'
He cringed. "Why are you even asking me that?"
"I was curious."
Matt's ears were burning. Dista wasn't exactly unattractive. "No, I believe in waiting until after marriage for...mating. Besides, we're not even the same species."
"She didn't want to mate because you're not the same species? Because you're a hairless, tailless Abreya like Jesus?"
"She didn't want to marry because we're not the same species," Matt corrected her.
Dista chuckled. "What if I told you that I don't find anything wrong with m-marrying your species?"
Matt got away from the couch. If his heart didn't belong to Quana, he probably would have stayed there. "What's wrong with you? We've just barely met!"
"We are not strangers...we met before..."
"That wasn't enough time for me to properly get acquainted."
"Then let's get acquainted."
"I...I don't want to get acquainted that way."
Dista frowned. "Quana told me a lot about you. I think she's being too picky. I don't think she understands what a good thing she has."
"I think she understands a lot more than you do."
Dista sighed and slumped her shoulders. "You're both hopeless."
Matt sat down next to Chaz. What's Dista's problem? he thought. Feeling an itch, Matt gave his arm a thorough scratch, then the itch moved to his leg, his neck, and he was scratching everything in between.
"Alien parasites. Great." Matt's nails scratched a patch of gray skin on his wrist, and it peeled off, exposing thick clumps of fine brown hair. He scratched his forearm and more hair sprouted out.
"Good heavens. I'm a werewolf."
Matt tried to stop, but the itching sensation persisted until he scratched again, and hair popped up all over. Stop! Stop! Stop!
He dug his nails into the chair, fighting the urge to itch. The others stared and murmured to each other.
Noticing Matt's bare feet, a big male across from him handed Matt his pair of glove-like moccasins.
Matt tried them on, but they turned out to be a bit loose. Chaz offered his, but the thumb sockets hurt Matt's big toe, so he kept the other ones. While loose and clunky, it provided foot protection and a disguise.
Since the brush-off, Dista had busied herself staring at a small monitor attached to her couch. She now pushed a button, and a hologram of Quana appeared in the room: Security footage of a suited figure running down a tunnel with a storage robot.
The image changed to the princess being carried down a hallway in a cocoon.
"They caught her. They're taking her back to the palace."
"What can we do?" Matt asked. "I know what I want to do, but it's unwise." He scratched more flesh away, causing another eruption of fuzz.
Dista cleared her throat. "We need to go prevent this marriage with Nabal."
Matt stared at her in disbelief. "You actually want to help?"
She nodded, though her facial expression implied it was an unwanted chore.
"What about me? They want to throw me in a zoo!"
"I'll...hide you at a friend's house near Yagduz. She doesn't trust the government any more than we do."
"But you are the government!"
"Not...anymore."
Dista stood up. "Faithful!" she said in Wava. "We're going to the palace to share the gospel with Queen Tama, Prince Nabal, and anyone else we can find. Anyone who fears arrest may leave, or hide in Yagduz with Mot. Who is leaving?"
No one said anything.
"Good. We will arrange for a Wamzik transport at the Snaral. Until we get Mot safely to my friend's house, we must keep watch and hide him from the Didronal."
The elevator stopped, and everyone got to their feet.
Matt pulled down his cowl, wrapping the scarf around his face. I am now a Jawa, he thought.
He followed the monks out onto a massive treetop market scattered with pumpkin shaped buildings, banners and flashy signs. A mob of males and females meandered around the platform, visiting the shops and carrying around goods, this, that and the other one bumping into Matt every couple steps. He followed the gray and sepia tone outfits of his group through a crowd of shoppers in bright garishly patterned clothing, staring in amazement as more strangers glided down from ultramodern gourd shaped buildings high in the treetops.
Nearly losing himself in the crowd, Matt stumbled after a gray robe, passing through a row of market stalls.
With unease, he watched as the alien Christians commenced preaching to every stranger they met, growing more and more impatient as they escaped his sight, the crowd pushing him in an unwanted direction.
Once Dista got the group back on track (Matt appreciated her common sense), he followed her to a narrow bridge.
The thing resembled a balance beam, with only about a foot of flooring on each side, surrounded by a rail that stopped below his kneecaps. No safety nets or protective devices, only a hard unyielding landscape hundreds of feet below.
Wonderful, Matt thought. Fire the codes administrator.
He sucked in his breath as he watched Dista casually stroll across, supported only by the railing and her tail.
Someone hooked a sort of cane with wheels onto the rail for Matt, and he cautiously followed, keeping his eyes away from the ground as much as possible.
They passed by shops and offices, arriving at a massive nautilus shaped structure packed with Abreyas.
He followed Dista into a line behind a fat female and her screaming children. "What's this place?"
Dista's tail curled around him. "It's the Snaral. This is where we'll board the Wamzik, to get to the palace."
When Dista shuffled ahead, Matt stepped aside, trying to get other monks to stand between him and her, but she pulled him back to her side, asking him all kinds of questions about his family and his faith.
The building's interior resembled the underside of a snake skeleton with melted silverware stuck to it, its bones curving around busy shops, eating establishments and egg shaped communication booths. Figures in dresses danced and battled each other on posters while bikini clad holograms tossed a button ball at each other.
As Matt stared at the pedestrians, wondering if the males wore skirts on account of their tails or a fashion statement. Dista asked Matt a lot of embarrassing questions about his love life, making Matt wish he could get away from her.
At last they arrived at a check in desk manned by a pair of males in Nehru jackets and dresses, one with a face blacker than an oil slick scanning everyone's hands.
Matt stared at his palms, and a sudden wave of dread washed over him. "The queen scanned me. I'm in their computer, aren't I?"
Dista gasped. "They'll find you for sure! We'll have to find another way to the palace!"
Before he could get away from the desk, a male with a face like an owl with leopard spots aimed a sort of gun at Matt, and the machine made an angry beeping sound.
"Mot...Gano."
"You are wanted by the palace authority," said Oil Slick. "Wait here." He spoke into a communicator.
"Quick!" Dista shouted. "Let's get out of here!"
As she dragged Matt away, Owl Face lunged across the counter, grabbing hold of Matt's cowl. The robe nearly came off before Chaz forced the stranger back.
Shoving their way through the crowd, Matt and Dista came within a few yards of the entrance before a group of figures in alien gorilla suits stepped in front of them with their weapons raised, barking orders through bug-like masks.
Matt's friends jumped in front of him, forming a wall between him and the gorillas.
"Stand aside!" a muffled voice shouted.
"Yok!" Dista shouted. "He's not some animal you can just shut up in a cage!"
A brilliant light flashed, and Spak fell to the ground, convulsing from electrical shock.
Matt stared, thinking how differently it looked in comparison to his act at the Takofuea.
Dista shoved Matt backwards. "Run!"
In a panic, Matt bolted away from the hunters, pushing his way through the mob of unfamiliar faces.
Someone screamed. Light flashed. When Matt looked back, he could see nothing through the crowd. He kept running.
"Layd!" A child in a black dress yelled, pointing to Matt. "Layd ge'lib!"
"Shut up!"
Matt rammed his way through a line of customers and jumped a railing, ripping his robe on a plant holder as he dodged a crowd on a lower landing.
As he navigated his way between chairs in a waiting area, he tripped on someone's bag, fell to the floor.
Clank, clank.
Matt looked up just in time to see a purple suited figure pointing a weapon. Something flashed.
[0000]
Author's note:: As stated previously, gave Matt a miraculous language proficiency to get rid of headaches associated with translating Wava. I used very little Wava in this section.
[0000]
ALIEN CHARACTERS:
Bonbon: Speckly faced Quaceb from the Takofuea.
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.
Tovia: A female monk at the Takofuea.
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.
Cejmiega: "Newby" or gringo.
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.
Hayajvis: A pest like bedbugs or mosquitoes, a constant annoyance to Abreyas.
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.
Qawdar: A high rank for females in the Quaceb Takofuea.
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.
Shoktar: A saurian creature used for riding and farming.
Sihiku of Tocedopu: Alien tree of forbidden knowledge, described in the Gaxea.
Snaral: A transport station, mainly used for Wamzik.
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.
Treivanox: An arena where Treivadel is played.
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.
Wamzik: A fuzzy, organic `train' that Abreyas ride.
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.
Yagduz: A region to the far south of Bencap.
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