PASSION FOR TINION (WIP Novel 120,000 words)
© Cupideros, October 21, 2006
CHAPTER 7: TELGARA'S STORY
© Cupideros, October 26, 2006
TelGara never felt better. She met her Romeo. She joined the Propaganda Office not so much to mislead others, but for the good paycheck. She made a trustworthy girl friend Isorfirà too. TelGara thought perhaps if it appeared she was moving in the right direction, marrying Anorfiviel, the Assistant of Television Propaganda, and her dad might ease up on the Forced Propagation due date a couple of months away. TelGara received regular letters from RaydGalil. Each time only one passage from Romeo and Juliet was referenced. RaydGalil had been given a command. He said he could tell her anymore. Even though time ticked short, TelGara felt an aliveness like eternal spring.
Thrylas, in the living room, was reading a newspaper and the television on with the sound low.
The television report drones on: "Nobody is this damn country wants to join up. They're either drafted, or caught escaping to Gian. Where are the loyal citizens in this great country of ours." --Quoardian Senator.Biesa."
TelGara stood watching for a second,
"And each year your respective ambassadors to Planet Gian, Nico Deven asks us to join up and support the Quoardian cause and each year Ambassador Trus Haven refuses."--G Congressman Bilk Mviv to both Quoardian and Galan ambassadors in United Countries Association"
TelGara said, "Lies. That's not what Nico Deven asked the Planet Gian Ambassador . He accuses him of being a secret support of Galan and threatens if he doesn't help the Quoardian he's going to develop a following to declare war on Planet Gians and get them expelled from the United Countries Associations.
"TelGara, Anorfiviel in the Propaganda Office, says you're a natural at changing the context of the wording of our Congressmen and Senators, even the Queen Morah."
"You have to get special permission to change the Queen's words. No one has gotten it yet. "But I found out the most fascinating thing about Tinion."
"What's that?"
"You know how I use to asks why certain races same first letter, first names? Seems before the Galan-Quodarian split, to ensure peace the Imigration Society created a codex for races: A-Indian-India, B-Indian-India, C-Arab, D-Arab, E-Japanese-Chinese/Asian, F-Czech, G-Sacred name only for Goddesses and Gods, H-Native American-Indians-Western Hemispher, I-Native American-Indian-Western Hemisphere, J-Chinese/Japanese/Asian, K-Unassigned, L-African/Black, M-European, N-European, O-Unassigned, P-Polynisian, Q-Chinese-Asian-Japanese, R-European, S-Unassigned, T-European, U-Tibet, V-Jewish, W-Native American/Indian-West, X-African/Blacks, Y-Unassigned, Z-Jewish."
Her dad grumbled uninterested.
"And Anorfiviel wants me to write movies scripts for the department. Secretly of course. They'd promote me as the budding new screen writer with phenomena talent," TelGara then giggled while not turning away from the television.
"Of course."
"Something to reach the general public, but high schools and below in particular."
"I'm sure you'll have no problem turning a phrase of literature to your advantage," said Thrylas and rattled his newspaper. He also brought up--"
"Dad!" TelGara said with her head pointing to the floor in a frustrated expression that made her seem smaller.
"It's two months till--"
"I don't want to think about it!" TelGara said plunked down into the chair and grabbing her copy of the Scarlet Letter. "Sometimes I think you're some kind of morality preacher. You want others to do what you can't do."
"Don't take that tone with me, TelGara!" Thrylasx put down his paper. "I wanted to marry your mother."
"Men always want to marry a pretty girl, a pretty face and pretty body!" TelGara said shouting. "It's not that simple for girls or women. Did you--" She closed her book and put on a big smile. "Daddy. I'm helping the war cause. You know I've always been a good girl. Besides how can you stand to read the newspaper and watch television when you know it's all manipulated pre-digest written in the future for the present lies?"
"Don't try to distract me. We Quoardians do whatever is necessary to keep on winning the war. Besides, you're mom wanted our marriage. She's loved me from the beginning."
"Then let me find someone I love too."
"You're running out of time TelGara," Thrylas said and he picked up his paper again. "If the Propagation Office decides for you, Heaven help your romantic sensibilities because he might be ugly as a toad. Then what will you do for a Prince Charming?"
"Anorfiviel is a robot." TelGara said, going to the television and shutting it off. "He doesn't think. He follows orders." She paused and stared at the newspaper in front of her Dad's face. "I want a man with individuality and passion."
"You mean someone you can control?"
"Don't we all want someone we can control--to a little extent?"
"Anorfiviel is a follower." Thrylas said from behind the paper. "But I'd think from your romantic sensibilities, you'd see that as a plus. You could remake Anorfiviel to your marriage ideal."
TelGara had never consider this path before. "For once you've said something idealistic Dad. I thank you."
Thrylas lowered the newspaper. "Honestly, I trying to help. I admit your mother didn't love me and at first we had many fights. But counseling and patience and we've made it for these long 22 years."
TelGara grew shy. "I know marriage for love wasn't always the norm, even in old earth's history." She went back and grab her Romeo and Juliet and fingered the cover gently. "Still I want true love. Not a contractual agreement, some bartered dowry association." Besides TelGara thought to herself, Anorfiviel is ugly as a toad compared to RaydGalil. RaydGalil is my Prince, my Knight in shining armor. If only RaydGalil were an Quoardian. What cruel fate the Goddess and God play when it comes to love.
***
As TelGara walked to work, she often avoided reading the newspaper headlines. She considered this game similar to the game played by the Intelligence Officers who fake like they didn't hear the true facts happening in the war--the fact that no side held any superiority what so ever! She knew well the Propaganda Office had total say over the headlines in all the major papers. The television front story parrot the Propaganda Office as well. Only the computer news (CN) was a wild wild west of unregulated news and rumor and the spamming automated programs run by another section of the Propaganda Office to hinder and control the populace through fake advertisements and scurrilous half-truth articles. The truth existed on CN but it'd take extra long time to discover. Not many Quoardian had such time.
The fact that only those "Sheep" innocents who truly believed in the press and media still watched television and read newspapers with a faith bordering on the religion didn't baffle TelGara so much. For years the now extent, Mountain of Faith Protestant Denomination waied and died freezing to death on mountain tops in the hopes of the return of the Messiah named Jesus. Why not believe the media? At least they did some in the warm comfort of their homes. Reported Alien sightings in some distant part of Quoardian happened whenever a true and damaging war fact to Quoardians in the news and could not easily be dispelled, didn't baffle TelGara either. Nor was she bamboozled by those media-believing Quoardians who did their share producing myraid products and holding the jobs to boost the economy. "Sheep" believe what is set in front of them. Hide a wolf behind a bush or wrap him in sheep's clothing and he'll go entirely unnoticed. What did baffle TelGara was how so many people could marry at 18 without being in love without so much as a hint of youthful rebellion?
TelGara thought RayGalil Gian conversation about how Galan handle religion best described religions new place on Tinion. He noticed an African-descendant preacher stomping and preaching on the corner near RayGalil's recruiting office, "How reasonable is it to ask our sons and daughters to join this infernal eternal war soon to last for another 100 years? Do you think we don't have any dreams of life after war? We dream of living for our highest cause-- being one with our creator, of whom you military recruiters are a subject to as well.".
The same Intelligence officer dressed in a series of differeny disguises debated the Preacher every other Wednesday replied, "Don't tell me about your dream pie in the sky, Preacher. Wars and countries are wholly practical things. The only dreams on earth come from blood, sweat and sometimes, yes, sometimes tears. If God had wanted to stop this war, we'd all be dead! The byproducts from war fill the store shelves, computer shops and sporting good stores!"
~~~~~~
When young, TelGara thought was odd there were no preachers in Quoardian. Of course now that she knew how the Propaganda Office and its extensive private, secret technological and invisible torture and spying and revelations of how unmoral conduct anyone opposed to their plans to continue the war, it all made sense. Protesters and Preachers were no higher morally than any news reporters or Congressperson or businessperson and some scandal or near candle or rumor scandaled or preplanned scandaled could be forced upon any of the Propaganda Office's enemies. Quoardian Intelligence Corps (Quo Security) ran practically everything like an Octopus with 10,000 tentacles and had totally wiped the overt religious presence from any serious audience's consideration. The religious books available of course. One might buy them or borrowed one from the library, but you went on a short security list. Quoardian had individual private religion though. She found this odd.
Isorfirà always made TelGara laugh at the absurdity of the war. Isorfirà often cracked one joke after another about the imminent victory around the corner that was foiled by the imminent news update of the present lost. And how the present lost suddenly turned into a sudden thrashing of the enemy eliminating their forces. Isorfirà was a realist and had decided to marry a guy suggested for her last year, Elvor. He wasn't so dull and he carried a respectable trustworthy quality. Their sex life was all right. The love growing 'like a slow watermelon' currently the size of an pear.. But as Isorfirà put it, the baby will arrive long before the watermelon of love can be dug up and experienced to the full.
Isorfirà thrived on hope and she always agreed with TelGara. When TelGara revealed she might enlist. Isorfirà said, "Go for it! Forget what your parents think. The foolishness of Romeo and Juliet spins this world. They made their mistakes. Now it's your time to make your own.".
TelGara agreed, "Who cares about Romeo and Juliet. They didn't understand their difficulties. I mean the book has lead me to the right conclusion. But they didn't understand the insanity of their parents obsessions. I do understand the insanity of the warmongers in both countries. They thrive on chaos! As long as this damn Eternal War continues they can send their children to college and then to officer's school and then escape the war entirely by sitting behind some high-powered desk pushing papers or speaking in their Senate or Congress. No. I have to do what Romeo and Juliet never dreamed of. I have to enlist, go into the heart of chaos and find my love."
Nearly there, TelGara went into a store to buy lunch. TelGara heard another separating couple leaving for the war. "I'll come back soon, darling. I promise. I won't let any of those Galans kill me."
His wife responded, "Darling, I'll be here waiting. We'll start our dream home in the west where it is peaceful and less talk of war war war."
The Zitir Hotel nearby served as a recruitment office for the military. The fancy place alone made you want to sign up Mr. Zitir and his family refurbished the old school boarding house into something grand. Mr. Zitir had an affinity for profit. The fact many in the Propaganda Office signed up and departed for the front reminded TelGara she was not safe. She told RaydGalil of her options in her last letter:
"Using tailored birth control and fertility drugs, our children are selectively breed to produce slightly more boys than girls. The only way out of my dilemma RaydGalil is to a) Marry someone I'm already in love with, even if for only a couple months, b) Join the military where you are curiously not subjected to "Forced Propagation or selective marriage" or c) Leave for Gian, which is very hard to do since the borders are eternally closed. d) Suicide is not an option for me RaydGalil. I mean I'm not that much of a drama queen despite what you think. I love life no matter how sordid it may get!
I don't have any doubt that Anorfiviel would love to marry me by the way.. He being the Beast and I the Beauty Oh how I missed you RaydGalil."
---TelGara
***
It took some time for RaydGalil letter on the Poison Dove program to reach TelGara: He mailed it a month ago.
Dear TelGara,
"Nothing has changed in 110 years, TelGara. Nothing will change. You don't know the insanity of SILTH. Several generals wanted to stop this war fifty years ago. Declare peace, but SILTH prevented that. I don't even think Lord Tweezer knows for sure what happen to his father's peace talks. Oh yeah they give me a vacation to entice me to become an intelligence officer--one of them. 'Travel to all the countries of the world; meet all the young women you want. All we ask you to do is spy on them and bring us intelligence from their countries.' I refused to be recruited as a spy. So now, I'm being sent to the front. And TelGara, if I come back from the front, I'll be lucky. TelGara, maybe if my family wasn't not a military family, I could have gotten out of it. But heck guys are expected to be brave join the war, fight and perhaps die for the country.
Yours truly,
RaydGalil"
TelGara’s letter said, "I'm being sent to the front. And TelGara, if I come back from the front, I'll be lucky. Guys are expected to be brave join the war, fight and perhaps die for the country.
Yours truly,
RaydGalil"
TelGara cried and cried. Explaining to her Dad didn't fit well as an option. Her Mom explained the situation. TelGara struggled to drag herself to work day after day. She kept thinking of fall arriving soon. The changing colors of the leaves and cool weather muting the flashes of heat from the "sick sun" as the weather person labeled their central star.
She'd have to make a decision. RaydGalil was helpless. TelGara sniffled one last time and decided to do something. She threw away her copy of Romeo and Juliet. The next day, she decided to join the Quoardian Military Army.
end chapter 7
