1

Blank
By Josh Draeger

Table of Contents:
Cover...1
Table of Contents...2
Chapter One: Serenity Scarred...3
Chapter Two: Blank.........................................15
Chapter Three: Escape For All or Escape For Some22
Chapter Four: Captured or Free, Same Destination..
Chapter Five: Strangers in A Cruel Land.
Chapter Six: A Rendezvous with Truth
Chapter Seven: Home Bound
Chapter Eight:
Retaliation...
Chapter Nine: Ones Revolution, Anothers War.
Chapter Ten:
Chapter Eleven: ..
Chapter Twelve: ..

Chapter One:

Serenity Scarred
Skies filled with fantastic colors of fruit as the ocean's
mist reflected even more colorful rainbows. The young man,
Clive, being rhythmically pushed and pulled back to land to the
clear and crisp western waters of Tyecia Island. The waters
gently lured the tired fisherman back to his home without ever
leaping near the sides of the boat. Sun baked black skin as it
held in heat while the island breeze cooled over. Eyes stared
absentmindedly along the horizon as The Coconut Queen,
Clive's one-man-powered raft, drifted back to land. Fish filled
most of the boat, with Clive an ink blot next to other watercolored seafarers.
Although great care was put into the ship, the island's
seasonal storms had shown their effect on the craft. Its formerly
bright blue paint had been torn off by the wind and rain to
leave slightly warped wooden boards beneath. It had certainly
taken it's share of battery at the rocky cliffs of eastern Ondecia.
Often, as the waves waxed and waned, Clive
remembered his father's words,
Our ancestor has used this boat to support him and the
whole of Prailicia. This boat has endured more than we could bare to
imagine. Take great care of her, and great care of our home.
The ocean seemed to always call out stories from his
father to the boy.
Clive recalled ten years ago, in the 66th year of Prailicia;
the northern island of Jurlacia's crops had been fried by the

4
golden tropical sun, and so the chieftains of the other three
Tribes of Prailicia had sent their aide, as way of the Prailician
people. Clive's father had met his doom in the rough far eastern
waters trying to traverse to the starving Jurlacia. Clive's mind
wandered on the quiet trip back from work as the sunset
slipped out of sight and the moon soon to take its place as the
spectacle of the sky.
It was the middle of spring, one of the four seasonal
days of celebration of the alignment of the Prailic Tribes
seventy-six years ago. Being the spring celebration, the party
was hosted in Tyecia. By now, Clive could hear the fireworks
being set off in the distance. The party had begun. Clive
anchored his raft and slumped the net of fish corpses over his
shoulder. Up the pale yellow sands of the beach and into a
small shack built of dark wood, he finishes his work day. A
large weight system sits in the room, with one end being pulled
down by large spherical boulders and empty on the other. Clive
loaded up his catch to the correct proportions, and usually let
his boss handle distribution to the people, but she was absent
on this holiday, celebrating the holy day with the rest of the
island's inhabitants. Clive separated the island's fish and his
own family's and began the process of saving the rest of the
catch, but only one thing remained on his mind, the festival.
Through the winding dirt path cut into ancient forests,
passed colorful birds and painter's palettes of flora with green
everywhere in between. The soft ground skipped up as Clive
jogged along the trail. Wet plants and various ferns swiped
across Clive's shins as he ran through, disguising the odor
hunched over behind him.

5
Various scents teem in the air as Clive arrives at the
center of Tyecia Island, The Village. Fires spit wildly into the
setting sky, smells of all kinds of edibles filled his nose, and the
crackle and boom of fireworks swarmed the night. Clive
navigated his way through the carnival, detouring to chat with
townsfolk and discussing the utmost trivial things. Clive
walked by some of the many wooden stands offering small
games and prizes, eventually passing one particular stand
selling a chance to win a shot of Winston Biley's Bitter Peach
Brew, imported from Jurlacia, in exchange for throwing arrows
at a target. Clive's old childhood friend, Jahn Rau'ussa, was
working this particular stand, so Clive was obligated to partake
in at least one game.
Jahn jeered his friend over to him, Hey, Clive! Come
play a game! Shoot the shit! The parties have just started!
Clive straighten up and said, If I have to. You know, I
do have plans other than playing games tonight.
Jahn quickly spoke back, Oh bullshit, you got time to
play a game and take a shot. Hell, I'll give you a free one just for
good luck.
They both laughed and Clive said, You know I can't
turn that down, set me up with three. as he put his day's work
on the ground next to the stand.
Clive took his ammunition, his 'good luck charm', his
aim, and took his throw of the arrows at the ringed hay target.
Of the three berry red rings, he made a triangle all
within the smallest ring.
Jahn poured another shot onto the table, soaked from
spills and slams of glass, as he said, You know what that calls

6
for!

Clive swung the glass up and down to his throat. He

wiped his mouth as he said, Look, I'm really sorry, mate, but I
can't just stay here drinking all night, I've got to find Sonja.
They both gave a laugh and Jahn released Clive from
his social grip. Jahn said as Clive left, Alright then, I'll see you
soon enough.
Clive made his way passed more carefree nonsense and
joyful amusements, to the main cookery, where he found Sonja
Djeli with a large chunk of meat being spun over an enclosed
fire. The fire highlighted and shaded her maple skin, her dark
eyes intent on the task, and her long black hair tied away. Her
delicate hands slowly turned the rotisserie as she noticed Clive
at the doorway.
Clive! You finally made it! I was beginning to think
you wouldn't show! But never mind that, I'm just glad you're
here.
Clive dropped the fish as Sonja left her post and
embraced Clive with both arms. She talked to his side,
I'm just about finished here, are you all ready to go?
With this, Clive nodded and saw his mother in the back
of the kitchen. She smiled, signaling that he had done his job,
so Clive waved away to his boss and the two dashed off
through the town. By now, night had taken over day and the
party was in full effect.
What a merry night for all Prailician peoples! A
celebration of culinary delicacies, mutually accepted
debauchery across both ends of town, the carnival games, the

7
music show, and of course, the great speech given every year by
the Chieftains of the islands fondly remembering the past
season's events. But, with all this joy in the air, Clive and Sonja
were no where to be found. They had escaped the noise
pollution of The Village to the north-western coasts. The rocks
were being beaten down by the moon's relentless waves as our
couple lie in each others arms watching the stars underneath a
small shack built by them.
Every Prailician absolutely loved the celebrations, but
this tradition between Clive and Sonja had been set. Every
night they lay together, watching the stars, listening to the
waves and letting the island breeze drift them off to sleep. They
were as inseparable as the stars to the darkened sky. As the two
kept up their nightly tradition, The Chieftain of Tyecia's
booming voice spoke back at The Village.
All of us, the many of us, we all come here to today,
merrily, joyous, and full of life's energy, to celebrate one thing.
He paused for silence.
That thing is us! Prailicia, our home. It is not merely a
congregation of four grand islands. It is us. We are Prailicia,
and Prailicia is all.
At this point, the crowd went wild until the four
Chieftains had to calm the mob. He continued about the past
year; about the Ondecian dive squad's discovery of the sea god
monument, Shago's Statue, and about the success of Suracia's
crops this year. Finally, he touched on the subject everyone was
waiting to hear; the new people coming onto Jurlacia's northern
shores.
I know our peoples are both frightened and intrigued

8
by these new people in Jurlacia. Jurlacia's Chieftain could not
be present at this year's celebration once again, for he has been
away with the visitors being introduced to their lands. All we
know of these people is that they've come to enjoy what our
islands have to offer, just like the rest of us. I see no threat from
these people, and I expect the same from all of us. At the
moment, not much else is known of them, as we are awaiting
the Chieftain of Jurlacia's return. But if one encounters these
foreigners, I expect our peoples to treat them with honor and
Prailician respect! That is all for tonight, enjoy the festivals
people!
And with the clap of the Chieftain's hands, the party
had resumed to it's normal tune. The dancing, the drinking, the
falling over and the getting back up all went on well into the
night. So much so, the next day's sun even took a glance of
some of the commotion.
*
Clive woke up with the sun, and he gently left the
make-shift bed they had been resting upon.
Clive left to the island's ferry on the Eastern shore. He
sailed through the calm sea that separated Tyecia and Ondecia,
named after Shago, the sea god. Known as His Winking Eye,
because it was an almost entirely enclosed sea, where as the far
eastern Ondecia's waters were open into a great ocean.
His ferry eventually arrived at Ondecia's capital, Cora,
located on the south-eastern coast. He stepped onto land and
uttered a short prayer out of respect for the sea and his father.
The grand marble pillars of Ondecia's library stood tall in front

9
of young Clive at the center of Cora.
The only leavings to Tyecia were early mornings and at
sunset due to the night's control over the middle sea. Clive
wandered through the city center, with its white wind cut
buildings and awnings covering various amenities. The smiles
and waves gesturing to indulge in whatever the island
inhabitants' had happened upon followed Clive towards the
edges of the metropolis.
He left the booming Ondecian capital and made his
way to the residential area of Cora. Outside the central urban
area was covered by lush grassy hills and dotted with small
houses built by the ancestors of those who live there now. He
arrived at a white-brick house built into the green hills with
Mali written above the doorway. The name wasn't the only
misplaced thing of this home, as the structure struck an
onlooker as distinguished and yet off in the back set of brightly
colored dwellings.
Clive approached the door as it opened before he even
made it up the steps with a older man swinging it open from
behind. Sun-charred skin, rough sea-scarred face, and a scruffy
white beard like the tips of ocean waves to match his salted
personality, the great Mr. Mali stood before Clive with a
welcoming smile.
...
Clive knew his way to the Chief Historian's office, left
and right through labyrinthine hallways, up and down grand
stairways and passing by not so grand book-ladders.
He arrived only to find it was unoccupied. Quite a rare

10
occasion, for the Chief Historian only left the library if it was a
matter of utmost importance, and he was even more rarely late
to set meetings. As Clive wondered the reason for the Chief's
absence, he decided to pick up some papers and indulge
himself. It was titled, The Coconut Queen, written by none other
than the current Chief Historian, Olin Ujamaha.
The text read, ...known for it's extremely rough seas, the
passage between Ondecia and Jurlacia has been the only way of
passage between the two lands, without of course, trespassing on The
God's Mountains. These waters were particularly used when
Jurlacia's famine occurred in the 66th year of Prailicia. As the other
islands of Prailicia sent their aide, the rough Ondecian waters claimed
the lives of only one ship, the Coconut Queen, with only one survivor
out of the two men operating the boat. Through interviews with the
survivor in the 75th year of Prailicia, it was revealed that rough
waters was not the only cause of the sailors' demise.
With this, the Chief entered his office hastily,
exclaiming,
What are you doing, Mr. Cetshwayo? This, is an
unfinished copy, and will not be read by anyone but the author.
Do you understand?
Clive nodded and waited for another outburst. The
Chief frantically searched about his office, then looked back up
to Clive.
Well, I seemed to have misplaced my rough drafts.
Might as well get you to work, so why don't you head to Cora
Hills and see if I left them at Elijah Mali's house. Hurry now!
Clive once again nodded and went off immediately.
Every step he wondered about the passage he read. The words

11
repeated in his head, ...rough waters was not the only cause of the
sailors' demise...
This was the first Clive had ever heard of such a thing,
and so he thought, who better to ask than his dad's old fishing
buddy, Mr. Mali.
He bellowed,
Hello! I thought you or Mr. Ujamaha would be back
soon. I assume you are looking for this?
He held up and flung around a roughly gathered stack
of papers. Clive nodded and asked permission to enter the
household. They walked in and sat down at a small circular
table with tea materials set. Mr. Mali poured a cup for Clive
first, then himself. They both sipped, as was custom, before
getting to the matter at hand.
Mr. Mali was Clive's father's right-hand-man. They had
sailed every body of water from the northern tip of Jurlacia to
the southern swamps of Suracia. He was also the lone survivor
of The Coconut Queen crash. Clive never had the desire to talk
to Mr. Mali about his father, he always just assumed and
accepted what happened to his father and preferred not to
bring it up. But he kept repeating the passage he read back at
the library, and felt compelled to ask what could have possibly
crashed the ship besides Ondecia's waters. Mr. Mali spoke first,
Ah. Good tea. So what have you come to discuss, little
Cetshwayo?
Clive spoke up, Well, sir, I was in the library earlier
today, and I caught a glimpse of the papers you're holding right
now. And-
Mr. Mali interrupted, And I suppose you would like to

12
know what really ended your father's life?
Clive was shocked at Mr. Mali's bluntness, So he
didn't drown? What happened?!
Mr. Mali calmly responded, Well, it's about time you
knew. Keep it down, we don't need to hear the whole island
talking about some conspiracy theory
Clive opened his ears as wide as possible.
Mr. Mali leaned in and continued, Come by the same
time tomorrow, and I'll explain. Right now, I have very
important duties to attend to.
Mr. Mali smiled as Clive frowned. They finished their
tea and Clive rushed back to the library, filled with questions to
his brim. His entire life had turned upside down with a single
paragraph, and he daydreamed to himself about the
possibilities. When he reached the library, he naturally began to
ask around. Although, it seemed that it was exactly as Mr. Mali
said; an elaborate conspiracy that everyone was in on except
Clive. Everyone gave Clive the same look of confusion, and the
same look of pity on the young's imagination and the same
answer of, Oh I remember that. Tragedy for sure. Why, of
course that's how your father died! It's not like a monster
showed up out of the sea and took your father, just ask Mr.
Mali!
Clive spent the remainder of his day reorganizing the
Chief's private library. He caught the ferry heading back to
Tyecia and once again looked for his lovely Sonja at sunset. The
Village had calmed down extensively, and returned to it's
normal quiet trading and general labor about the town. Once
again, he found Sonja cooking away. This time stirring a large

13
cauldron of soup as the spitting fire once again highlighted her
lovely face. She noticed Clive at the door and smiled. With the
same routine as the last day, and days before that, Sonja'
finished her job and left to join Clive at their coastal getaway
hideout. Clive decided not to tell Sonja about his news until it
was more certain. They let the waves wash over them as they
lay on the rocky coast, careful to stay with at least a finger still
on land.
As night came, they returned to sit with each other in
their arms, drying back at the hut on the beach. They slunk
back and drifted off to sleep, with Clive thinking of the latest
news in his father's death, and Sonja thinking of Clive.
As Clive woke, he was successful in his attempt to leave
Sonja undisturbed. Today was the day of rest, and so Clive
headed straight to Mr. Mali's house in Cora. Mentally, he
prepared his questions, many and varied they may be. As he
knocked upon Mr. Mali's cloud-white door, he didn't get an
response. He didn't even hear the rustling of someone heading
to the door. Clive knocked once more. Again, the same lack of
response. Clive decided to investigate and walked around to
the backyard garden. The back door was left open. Clive
wandered in slowly, calling out for Mr. Mali. To Clive's
discomfort, Mr. Mali was no where to be found.
Clive left the Mali household and dumbstruck, he went
to the Chief Historian's office at the library. As he entered the
office, he stepped onto paper on the floor. It was every where!
The office had been ransacked and destroyed! And the Chief
Historian was no where to be found as well! Clive left hurriedly,
and ran to the outside to the marble pillars outside the library.

14
The Chief was sitting beside one sulking.
The Chief looked up and noticed Clive, Oh, my dear
boy, they ruined me! They destroyed my research and beat me
up! I couldn't believe it, it all happened so fast!
Clive placed his hand on the Chief's shoulder, Mr.
Ujamaha, who? Who did this to you?
The Chief straighten up, No one. Leave. I don't care
where you go, but you cannot be here! You need to leave, now!
It's not safe here, it's not safe anywhere! You need to leave
Prailicia!
Clive respected the Chief so much, he thought it better
not to question, and did as told. At this point, Clive didn't know
where he was going to go, but he knew he needed to bring
Sonja. So, Clive hurried back to The Village to look for Sonja,
only this time, the sun was at high-noon. More was changed
from last night, as he couldn't seem to find Sonja at her usual
post. He searched the whole of The Village, to their getaway, to
Tyecia's harbor, he went to and fro on both ends of the island,
and Sonja was still missing. It became night, and with no other
options in mind, Clive returned to Ondecia to find the Chief
was at the ferry.
They made eye contact as Clive exited the ferry, and the
Chief spoke,
Clive. It's not safe here, I can't explain, but we need to
leave. Now. I have arranged a ship to take us out to sea, where
we will have to remain until I can think of a plan. We don't have
time to pack, so what you have on your back will have to do.
Let's get moving
Clive followed the Chief and boarded the boat. He

15
frantically asked questions, but only received silence. The boat
was the famous, Coconut Queen. They set sail, and Clive
watched as Prailicia slowly faded away. Everything Clive knew
and loved all just slowly faded away in one day, all because of
one paragraph in a book. Clive's mind raced, but he thought he
ought to get some sleep and try to figure this out in the
morning. As the waves became larger and larger, Clive drifted
off to sleep, dreaming of Sonja.

Chapter Two:
Blank
Sonja scampered through wet forest floor with a near
nightly shade laying over the understory of the forest. She
began gathering various hues of berries from about her.
Bursting reds, blooming blues, bright yellows and all kinds of
greens all in beautiful bounties scattered throughout the
grounds. As her labor produced the fruits, she noticed noise in
a far direction beyond the trees.
She readied her blade. The Prailicians traditionally
solved their disputes through a practice called Dag'oh. The
Dag'oh ritual involved two persons, each with a small blade
lined with Garuca poison, a nerve-damaging poison that
caused paralysis. Sonja's tendency to stand her ground tended
to land her into lots of Dag'oh rituals, and so for the peaceful
islands of Prailicia, she was war incarnate.
She moved fast and silently, passing bark and leave to

16
tract her target, following her ears intently. She was focused and
prepared for anything the land offered. Experience from her
years sleeping in canopies, refusing to stay in her family's home
made her adamant in her pursuit. As she soon encircled the
area of noise, her eyes glimpsed the culprit. An island boar,
tusks swinging about in an unexplained rage. Eyes were red
with blood, as the beast seemed to crave it. Sonja crept into
position behind a large fern. She slowly pressed her body like a
tiger ready to pounce as the boar snapped its neck into eye
contact with Sonja. She released her stance and landed upon
the animal, grabbing a tight hold with one arm and setting her
knife to empty the creature of life. It kicked and squirmed when
she drove the poison spiked weapon into the boar's side.
Ripping flesh and drawing blood, the poison work fast into the
wild tusked noise. As it calmed, Sonja once more struck the
knife into the boar, this time in the neck. It let out a final squeal
and let go of its world as it dripped the life giving fluid.
Sonja took the beast to the couple's coastal home and
prepared it for a meal. She set aside most of the meat to be
made to stay for a long time. She would give this to the rest of
Tyecia, but she would celebrate her victim's life by herself, and
Clive when he returned. She started a fire on the beach and
began to cook her game. She ate her choice cut as Clive's stayed
far above the fire to warm. She waited, watching the waves for
hours. Her eyes started to refuse her alertness. She began to fall
asleep upon the sand.
Sonja lie half-conscious on the beach down from her
and Clive's structure. Her sleepy eyes lulled around the coast.
Watching the waves crash over and over, she notices something

17
out of place in the distance. People. The north-western coast of
Tyecia were entirely uninhabited at all times of the day. The
reason being, the jagged rocks of the coast had claimed many
lives throughout Tyecia's history, and every parent in The
Village warned their children to never play anywhere near. This
of course, attracted young Clive and Sonja, being the
adventurous type.
Sonja decided it was time to leave her humble hut and
find out who these distant characters were. She got up,
removed the sand from her body, and walked her way towards
the far away shapes. As she got closer, she discovered one had a
telescope, and the other seemed to be making a map. Sonja
thought to herself, why would anyone need to make their own map?
The Council makes maps for everyone and they're always on display
at The Village.
Sonja decided to approach the strangers and greet them
with the expected Pralician respect. But before Sonja could get
within a comfortable speaking range, one of the strangers called
out in a frightened voice, Who goes there?!
Sonja replied in her angelically soft voice, My name is
Sonja Djeli, and I might ask the same of you
After the strangers had adjusted their eyes and noticed
Sonja was simply a young women, they shrugged and
continued their work.
Sonja repeated herself, Excuse me, might I ask, who
are you two?
The stranger holding the telescope replied, Not to
worry, just go back to your village, young lady. We are just
doing our own business, none of your concern

18
This of course had the opposite effect, as it further
intrigued Sonja's curiosity. Sonja continued to question the
strange men until they became frustrated and threatened her.
Sonja ignored the threat and confident in herself, she continued
her investigation.
The stranger's tone changed as he said, Listen, lady,
we don't want any trouble. For you, of course. But we're also
not afraid to give it out. So, are you going to leave? Now?
Sonja was always one to stand her ground and so she
chose to ask more questions. The men suddenly dropped their
equipment and lunged after her.
She dodged the first man's advances, but the second
had gotten a hold of her arm. She struck the man with her
other elbow and released herself from the grip. She reached for
her blade, hidden in her loin-cloth, but she wasn't fast enough
in her attempt. They wrestled her down to the ground and hogtied her.
They looked at one another for a moment, then one
said, Alright then, damn savages. Let's just take this one to the
ship. She can probably cook or at least something, as they
carried her off down the coast. Sonja screamed and screamed,
as she was not the one to give up so easily, but being that far
away from The Village meant that she might as well have been
in the middle of the ocean. One of the two men knocked her out
and she dazed off.
When she woke again, she was in a very different
setting than her beautiful island home. This room was made of
hard metals, like those for plowing and cutting crops. It was
cold and damp. She no longer heard the smooth wind of Tyecia,

19
the island's varied bird calls heard throughout the days and
nights. Instead, she heard a single drop of water echo when it
hit the opposing surface. She tried to pull herself upright, but
her hands and feet were still tied together. Luckily for her, she
managed to wiggle her way out of the rope holding her, and
made her way around the small room. Then it all hit her. This
wasn't a room, it was a cell! She had been imprisoned by these
strange men! She had no idea where she was or what to do.
Then, trembling in anxiety, she heard a whimper.
It was coming from the next cell over. Sonja peeked her
head out of the cell bars and looked around. The saddest sight
Sonja had witnessed in her entire life lay before her. It was Mr.
Mali, crying on the floor of the next cell over. His legs had been
crippled and he had been beaten badly for what could have
only been several hours. He was bloody and blue from head to
heel. There is not a sadder sight than a formerly active and
strong man crippled and bloody on the floor.
Sonja gasped to herself. She thought to herself of the
trouble she had found.
Sonja was stunned by the sight, but Mr. Mali stopped
her trance as he barely uttered, Th-th-they, c-c-ame, a-and t-totook m-me. Th-they, c-came, a-and, t-to- He was cut off by his
own fatigue. Sonja realized the fate she had stumbled upon,
and so she slumped herself against the back wall of her cell. She
sat there for some time, thinking of Clive. It was about this time
when Clive had found Sonja missing from the beach, and he
too, sat for some time, thinking of Sonja.
*

20
On The Coconut Queen, Clive awoke to rumbling and
salt-water splashing in his face. The Chief was standing above
him with an empty, upside-down bucket.
The Chief called out to the sky, Yep, boy! This is it!
Somehow I always knew we'd be in this predicament
together!, he turned back to Clive, Now, I'm sure you have
plenty of questions. Well, I've got plenty of answers, and plenty
of time! Although, more importantly, plenty of things to be
done! We're going to be on this boat for a good while, so try not
to think of it as a cramped prison cell, and instead, think of the
massive open ocean we're floating upon!
Clive rubbed the water off his face and opened his eyes
up at The Chief. Clive said,
Okay, since I'm up, I guess, let's start with the big
ones. Where are we going? What are we doing? Why are we
doing this? And when will I be able to go home? I'm terribly
worried about Sonja
The Chief looked disappointed. He said, Well, I
thought you'd be more excited about the journey, because I
know you won't be for the destination, so I'll keep that one to
myself. Um, what are we doing? Well, we're sailing of course!
The Chief let out a chuckle to himself, Why? Well that one's a
bit trickier He paused to gather his thoughts.
There are people after us. They don't want us to know
what we know, and they'll do anything to stop us. We may
never go back to Prailicia, but I can damn well guarantee you
won't die there. You can thank me later. Anyway, that's about it.
For now you can help me bring in this shrimp net
The two men pulled in the massive shrimp net,

21
somewhat full, as Clive got his wits about him. He asked the
Chief, Okay, well what do we know that they, whomever they
may be, don't want us to know?
The Chief responded quickly, You mean you haven't
figured it out? Put the net down, you might need to have a seat
too. Let's make this brief. You father's death was no accident.
He was murdered
Jaws wide open, Clive said, How was he murdered?
What happened?!
The Chief turned himself into the boat to face Clive and began
to narrate, Well, your father, according to Mr. Mali, was killed
by the new people that have been touring Jurlacia. The stories
are true, their ships are massive, and as your father struggled to
leave their path, to continue his mission to help our brother
nation, they caused this boat to flip, and they resumed their
path without a thought of their destruction.
Clive couldn't find the right words he wanted to say.
The Chief continued, I know, boy, I know. Apparently, Mr.
Mali managed to flip the boat and drift to the rocks with your
father now gone under the sea. He stayed in the boat, bashing
against rocks until a rescue boat came to save him.
The Chief paused.
But now is not the time to think, now is the time to act,
for these men are after us as we speak. They destroyed my
research at the office, kidnapped Mr. Mali, and if you say Sonja
is missing, I'm afraid they must have her as well.
Clive was forced to think about his situation for a long
time, as he saw no action to be done. As the Chief navigated his
way through the sky, the stars and the sea, Clive droned on

22
physically, but mentally, was stuck in thought. As the sun left
them, and nighttime approached, Clive hadn't come to any
conclusions. He seemed to just repeat the same thoughts over
and over to himself; What to do? What to do?
Clive's prayer for an answer was responded, but with
more of another question, as oppose to an answer. In the
distance there was a ship. And just as the Chief had said, it
truly was massive. It stuck out on the horizon like the
remaining clouds in the sky, large like one too. A deafeningly
loud and low boom had come from the ship. It was like no
man-made horn Clive had ever heard, and he covered his ears
in complaint.
Clive hollered to the Chief, Are those-?
The Chief only responded in silence with his eyes.
Completely still except for stares at the boat, then back to each
other, the two were frozen in fear. The ship made it's way closer
and closer. It was obvious they wouldn't collide, but the
mystery of if they knew who was in this raft, and what they
would do if they did was enough to cause a heart to stop.
A mere few hundred feet away now, was the massive
metallic ship cutting its way through the waters. It went by the
side of The Coconut Queen, and both men stood silent staring
at the ship. In total anticipation, they watched as it cruised
directly by the small raft, and then away. They hadn't noticed.
A wave of relief washed over them as they continued
their journey.
Clive decided to break the silent tension,
What are we going to do? Those things will stomp us
out like ants!

23
The Chief said nothing. And so the night went on, all
silent but the wind. The moon crept its way to the sky, the stars
shone bright, and the two men lie and drift into the dark open
sea.

Chapter III:
Escape For All or Escape For Some
Clive and the Chief had been at sea for three days now,
and this day they had caught no fish. Trouble brewed in the air,
along with the tension of secrecy between the two heightening.
Curiosity had begun to take a hold of Clive's mind, and he felt
compelled to find out more from the Chief. Every repeating
motion of the sea's waves caused Clive to ask another question
in his mind. Clive thought of The Once Great Coconut Queen,
now seeming to barely handle the ocean's rough waters. The
boat's floors seeped salty sea-water, and the relentless flow
beneath rocked the boat so intensely it seemed to come as near
as it could to flipping before the next wave jolted the raft again.
As the men pull in another empty fishing net, Clive
speaks up,
We need to find land. We can't just stay out at sea for
our whole lives. Where are we going?
They put the net within the boat and throw out another
as the Chief speaks, That's of no concern. I told you, those men
are out to get us. You saw their ships, we have no way to defend
ourselves. If we land, I have no doubt they'll find us soon after.

24
But, you are right in your assumptions. We can't stay out here
too much longer The Chief had turned to face Clive,
I can tell you this; we will land today
With that, the Chief had pulled out his navigation tools
and began to direct Clive. The ocean's constant bumps went on
for some time in silence, except for the occasional direction
from the Chief, until on the horizon the smallest bump of nonblue showed up. As they enclosed in upon the land, Clive
noticed a statue upon the tallest hill of the island. It was the
statue of Sheyoh, the wind goddess! Clive realized they had
arrived at the northern most island of Jurlacia! It struck odd
that to escape the foreign threat by heading to where they
congregate, but the Chief explained before Clive could even
ask,
Yes, Jurlacia. I thought it'd be best to hide in plain
sight, you see? When we land, we'll need aliases. I am a
researcher from Suracia, and you are my son I brought for
protection. We are simply here to visit the monuments. Got it?
Clive nodded in understanding. They came to Jurlacia's
harbor and once again their feet stood on solid ground. The last
time Clive had been to Jurlacia was with his father as a very
young boy. Even though he had a slight impression made on
him as a child of Jurlacia, he knew things had changed
drastically. There never used to be strong men welcoming you
from the harbor. There never used to be this scent of a strange
fire's smoke in the air. And there certainly never used to be this
many buildings! Everywhere they went, buildings dominated
views. Where as a boy, he could look in any direction to see
Jurlacia's lush hills and forests.

25
They made their way to the capital city, Kama, nestled
within the hills of Jurlacia. On the path to the capital, another
new sight had entered Clive's eyes; a man sat on the side of the
road, asking for a donation of charity. Quite a sad sight indeed,
but to Clive's eyes, this sight appeared more shocking than
depressing. All of Prailicia, the people have been fed well. They
have been clothed and homes have been built by the people of
Prailicia, for the people of Prailicia. Poverty was unheard of, as
the people saw themselves as family. They cared for one
another, and empathy was felt all around.
So, to see a man asking for charity, obviously beaten
down badly by life, was a new sight for Clive. He immediately
sat down with the man and grabbed a fruit from his backpack.
He asked the man of his ailments, to which the man replied,
I've been homeless since those bastards showed up. I
live on the charity of the Prailician people, but the new people
have outlawed this! Can you believe that? And so, I live on the
outskirts of Kama, picking fruit off the remaining trees and
scavenging what I can find. It's just terrible what their doing to
this place
All of this was so new to Clive. So much had changed.
Clive made a decision.
Would you like to come with us? We are heading to
Kama, and we could use a guide
The man rustled himself up and smiled. He exclaimed,
Of course! Haven't been to the city in over a year! And trust
me, if you aren't from around here, you'll need a guide
And so the trio walked along the road, Clive staring at
the massive buildings everywhere in sight. They finally made it

26
to Kama, the capital city. The first thing Clive noticed was the
people. As far as he knew, the largest city was Cora, in Ondecia,
and there had never been a population like this there. Clive
thought it must have been a festival, for the only other times he
had seen such crowds of people were at Tyecia's spring
celebrations. Clive asked the Chief,
What's going on? It's spring-time. The Jurlacians
shouldn't be celebrating their winter festival for months
The Chief somberly responded, The visitors have
changed this place. They brought themselves here and made it
their own. I don't even know where they all fit
Clive replied, But how? How could all this happen?
They've only been here for such a short amount of time
The Chief said, No. You are wrong there. You'll come
to find a lot of things are different than what you thought they
were. The new people have been here for over a decade.
They've controlled the island for some time now, and they plan
on doing the same to the rest of Prailicia. They've kept this a
secret to the other islands, but I've found them out. This is why
they're after us
Clive said, But, I thought you said they were after us
because we know what they did to my father?
The Chief said, That is true. You'll learn in due time.
For now, we need to make it to Sheyoh's Tower. The answers to
your questions lie there
They pushed their way through masses of people, and
on to the trail to Sheyoh's Tower, the giant statue the
symbolized Jurlacia. It's inner walls had been used as a meeting
place for Jurlacia's Council since its creation. As they arrived at

27
the entrance gate to the trail, another strong-looking man stood
waiting with a hand on a large sheathed blade. They
approached, and the man sprung into life like a stone gargoyal.
He spoke in a stern and solid tone, Halt! State your
purpose for entering Sheyoh's Tower
The Chief explained, We are researchers from Suracia,
we seek to record measurements of the tower
The man said monotonously, Papers, please
The Chief looked to Clive. They both had no idea they
needed identification. Then, the homeless man spoke up and
showed a small paper,
Here we are, Jurlacian citizen, right here
The man quickly glanced at the paper, and then stood
the side of the gate.
The group walked through and made their way to the tower.
The man followed behind. When they came to the doorway of
the tower and feet of Sheyoh, the man spoke up,
You may now follow me
The Chief responded, Um, sir, we need to take
measurements of the tower, where will we be going?
The man unsheathed his blade and said, You are now
prisoners of the Jurlacian Colony. Follow me
The Chief blurt out, Prisoners? What happened?
What's going on?
To which the man said, That I.D., was expired a year
ago He turned to the homeless man, You, are not supposed to
be within the city-limits of Kama. Let's move
The Chief looked to Clive, and in silence they agreed to
see where this took them. They followed the man around the

28
tower to a doorway in the floor. The man turned a key in the
large lock outside the doorway and opened it. They walked
down stone stairs into a dark room lit by a single torch. Inside,
filled jail cells lined both sides of the room. At the sight of light,
people screamed out in agony. The man opened a cell and
directed the two men into it and held the homeless man back.
He locked the bars and walked away. The homeless man yelled
insults, but to no effect. The man dragged the two's former
acquaintance and left the room, closing the door behind him.
The sound of the large lock ensued.
They could barely see their hands in front of them, so
the Chief called out, We need to get out of here. I have no idea
what they'll do to us here, or how long they'll keep us
Clive too called out, Okay, how are we going to go
about doing so?
Clive heard a rattling metallic sound, then something
heavy hit the floor.
The Chief said, That's how, my boy
The Chief pushed the doorway and called out to Clive
to follow. As they left their cell, they could see the dimly lit
faces of other prisoners. One had realized they had escaped and
began to plea,
Please, sirs, please. Let me out! I've been here for so
long, I can't count the days anymore. Please. Please free me!
Oh, please! Please help me!
He began to cry and weep uncontrollably. Then, Clive
heard the lock on the door outside. The guard was coming! As
the lock sounds continued, the two had to make a decision.
Should they rush the door and run away to freedom? Or should

29
they help these men escape, and perhaps they could help fight
off the guard? Clive had no time, and he decided to rush the
doorway.
Light crept in as the door opened and Clive yelled as he
attacked the man behind it, shocking and knocking him over.
He yelled back, Let's go!, and the two men ran out of the
prison with their lives depending on it. The last sound Clive
heard was the sad sobbing of the man in the cell. Clive could
only imagine the Hell that man faced as he ran through the
trees, clinging to his life like a toddler to a toy.
____
Sonja

Chapter 4:
Captured Or Free, Same Destination
...

Chapter 5:
Strangers In A Land With Cruel Ways
...

Chapter 6:
A Rendezvous With Truth

30

...

Chapter 7:
Home Bound
...

Chapter 8:
Retaliation
...

Chapter 9:
One's Revolution, Another's War
...

Chapter 10: