Fire on the Water 1, an excerpt from Alliance Evolution. See below for part 2

Fire on the Water 1; excerpt from Alliance Evolution

The ship worked its way south through the channel. It was wide and calm at this point, but there were some narrow parts coming up before long, as they worked their way through some islands. Zhan told all of his captains of the horrific passage to the south, so of course several of them had to try it. It was a much shorter route, going to Shanghai, and the northern passage was very long, and no easy run either.The captains had learned to time the tides from entry to exit. Done right, it was a smooth sail. Now that they had it worked out, it brought them out right where they needed to be to catch the current that took them straight across to Shanghai on the shortest route. They learned to judge the height of the water on certain rocks to tell them where they were on the tide. Sometimes they sat and waited until the tide was right, then shot through with no problems. Once in the open, they headed straight west until they felt the tug of the current that went in an immense circle in the open ocean. From Shanghai they rode it north to the long chain of little islands, where it curved east and then southeast, right into the entrance to the inside passage between the big island and the mainland. Then they pushed south to where it opened out, and they could run hard for Rivergrass.

          The ship was the Wisdom, and its captain, Yan, was experienced on this run. It had been a safe run so far. They were shadowed by dolphins and passed a large pod of the black and white animals that seemed to be native to these waters. They were smaller than the numerous and varied whales they regularly saw, and they noted that the even smaller dolphins avoided them. On a couple of trips, they had seen them snatch seals right off of low-lying rocks. Clearly, they were predators.The channel out took a sharp right turn, some ways south of the islands, that gradually widened until they hit the open ocean. They had learned that the north side was shallower, but still very deep, and the south side that Zahn had hugged was incredibly deep, and subject to the violent upwellings that he had experienced. They held to the middle of the channel and had no problems. As they approached the end of the channel, the captain felt uneasy. He had no idea why, but he called to the watches to look sharp. They sailed closer, and closer to the open ocean, and the channel opened wider as they went.

         Two watchers shouted down at the same instant, "Ships at the entrance!"

         Yan saw them, four fast corsairs, with massed armed men at the railings, two coming from each side of the mouth, and turning to intercept. "Weapons and all hands on deck!" he bellowed. There was no doubt of their intent. He had a following tide, so he had speed and maneuverability, but four ships... If he ran ahead as fast as he could, he might just squeak through between them. If he tried to turn around, they would catch him. He couldn't let them board, their numbers would slaughter his crew, and take his ship. The worry for the headlong run between them was fire arrows.

         "Buckets to the deck! All the buckets we have and fill them with sand! All sail!" The deckhands put every bit of sail out to catch every morsel of wind. They were running a gauntlet.Yan had fire arrows as well, and he hoped to distract them as they went by. He also had a couple of catapults to throw fragile pottery balls filled with a flammable oil, but their effective range was limited. If they were close enough they could even be thrown. That was his last hope to drive the ships off. Win or lose, this would be a battle to tell at home, if they survived. It would be a knife fight at sea. As they grew closer, there were a few ranging arrows fired at them. They fell short. Yan didn't bother to respond. Let them give him the range. He looked about the deck and saw that everything was as ready as could be.Then he had a thought. If he cut quickly, at the last possible minute, to one side, he might catch them off guard. The ships on the other side wouldn't be able to fire across their own ships...He ran to a spot between the two sets of rudder men. Wait, wait, the arrows were getting closer. "Hard left!" The ruddermen leaned all their weight into the long arm for the rudder, pushing almost to the breaking point. The ship seemed to pause for a second, then heeled as she began to spin. Yan waited for breathless moments until he was sure they would clear the pirate ships.

         "Hard right and put us alongside that bastard!" He ran to grab two of the pottery balls from their straw filled boxes. "Fireballs and fire arrows!" he screamed. The ruddermen brought the ship around right next to the southernmost enemy ship. Pottery balls flew across to the enemy deck, bursting on impact, and the fire arrows landed in the pools of oil. The flames ran in all directions, catching everything on deck. Fire arrows also rained on the other pirate of the south pair, and two sails were burning. "Hard left! Leave them to burn!" Their ship spun southward, away from the flaming vessel.Yan took a moment to assess what the other ships were doing. It looked like the two northern ships were tangled up together. They must have panicked, and both spun towards each other. The remaining southern ship was hidden behind the pyre that the first ship had become.Yan decided to run while the running was good. If the other southern ship tried to pursue, they could probably outrun it. The northern two would take a few minutes to get untangled.He shook his head. He was thankful that Zahn bought well founded vessels. Making right angled turns at full sail and speed would have torn cheaper vessels apart. He'd seen it.He ran the ship southwest, to put as much distance between them as possible, just clearing the southern headland before reaching for the open sea to the west, and the current to Shanghai.   When he was sure that he was out of sight of the pirates, he pushed north along the outside of the big island to an inlet that became lots of little inlets. There was a large village there, and he put in. He dropped off one sailor, Shan Yu, to get word to Zahn of the attack. Then he sailed out to catch the current to Shanghai[TV1] .

---

 [TV1]This is slightly better in terms of structure and pace, but draw it out much more, it’s all too rushed. 

Fire on the water 2: excerpt from Alliance Evolution

Zahn was having a busy day at the port office. Two more ships had just come in from the north, one that looked like it was barely afloat, and one other accompanying it. The captain of the damaged ship asked for materials to repair the damage, most of which was to the deck and superstructure. He said that a barrel of oil had fallen over, and then caught on fire. Zahn didn't believe a word of it, because no reasonably competent captain would have let that happen, but he didn't really care. Their money was good, so he ordered the supplies brought to Wharf Twenty, where they were tied up. He asked if they had trade goods, but they said they had traded further north, and had nothing left. Red flags went up in Zahn's mind at that. Something was crooked about their story. After they left, he called his head of couriers, Shin, who doubled as his spymaster, into his office, and explained the situation and the story that concerned him.
Shin nodded as the story ended. "Sounds like pirates that got beat. Something smells rotten. I'll send runners north, and canoes to the big island. Maybe someone knows something."
Zahn waved him out and got back to the thousand other things that he was doing.
Two days later, a canoe came in from the island. Shang Yu jumped out and ran straight for Zahn's office. He described the attack on the Wisdom ship on the way out. When he finished, Zahn told him to go up to Wharf Twenty and see if it was the same boat. He sent for two guards to accompany the sailor, just in case they might recognize him. It wasn't likely, but he wasn't taking any chances with pirates. He also sent for Shin to meet him at the longhouse. Zahn headed for the longhouse himself, to find Kiapelaneh or his Warleader. He was relieved to see the Chief. He explained the situation succinctly. The Chief was infuriated, and sent for Stonefist, the Warleader. When the runner had gone, Kiapelaneh turned to Zahn. "Pirates? We don't want that to get started. We need to send a message to any fools that think they can mess with our ships, that they will pay in blood and bone."
Zahn agreed wholeheartedly, but "Unfortunately, there are many pirates on the other side of the great water. Smugglers and mercenaries as well. The Empire deals with them very harshly, and I think that we should too. They will not stop coming if we let them live."
The Chief recalled some of the less savory things he had seen in the Song lands. Opium was one. He was told that habitual users became violently sick and desperate if they didn't get their opium regularly, and they became useless when they had it. He did not want that to be smuggled in.
Stonefist arrived, with Shin right behind. The Chief explained the situation, finishing just as Yan's sailor arrived with his bodyguards in tow.
"They are two of the four ships that attacked us."
Zahn sighed. One way or another, this was going to cost money.
Kiapelaneh looked to Stonefist. "Assemble two assault teams and prepare them to take the ships in a surprise attack in one hour. I don't want the undamaged boat to get away in the night, if by some chance they smell trouble. Hit them hard and fast. We don't need prisoners, except the captains. Try to get them alive. Shin may be able to find out who was behind this."
Shin nodded, "I will assist."
Zahn waved his hand and the two men left to prepare their teams. When they were gone, he shared a thought with the Chief. "We have no warships. Our trading ships are lightly armed." He looked over at the bearer of bad news. "What is your name, sailor?"
"Shang Yu, Fleetmaster."
"How were the pirate ships armed? What weapons did you see used, or on the ship?"
"It began and ended very quickly Fleetmaster. I saw bows, and fire arrows. They had many men, all armed that way. I saw no other ship weapons."
Zahn sighed. "That is a relief. These are not Empire or other government warships. They are privateers."
Kiapelaneh's eyebrows went up. "You thought that a possibility?"
"Anything is possible, my friend. We are successful, and wealthy by any standards. When you are happy, there is always someone who wants to make you unhappy. This is my experience. My stay with the People has been the exception to that rule, and I value that greatly. I have been expecting something of this sort, and this was not as bad as I have imagined, thanks to your captain. Nevertheless, I, we, must plan for more of this, and worse. Not to do so would be reckless. I will be importing some of the latest Imperial military weapons for our ships. The cost will be enormous, but the loss of ships, cargo, and men would be catastrophic. The time has come to invest in our fleet.” A cook arrived with a tray of cha'. Zahn beckoned, "Sit with us Shang Yu, you have done well, and done enough for this day. Rest, and we will await further developments together."

***

Two hours later, Stonefist entered the lodge, and made a beeline for the Chief's table. "We were successful. The captains are still being interrogated, but we know key facts. "They knew our usual exit route, they even had crude maps. There was little detail to them, and we think they may have been compiled from cha'house gossip." He produced one of the maps and laid it on the table in front of Zahn. "The other two ships are waiting here," he pointed to a circle marked at a bay just south of the southern entrance to the strait. "They will be difficult to catch unaware, which is probably why they chose the location. They were relying on large numbers of archers and the element of surprise. They expected any ship to surrender to four ships attacking them."
Zahn nodded. "Most captains would have. I will have a special reward for Yan when he returns. I think he would be an excellent choice to train as Second Fleetmaster, to handle arming and training the fleet for combat. That will leave me free to concentrate on trade." He smiled.
Stonefist continued, "The captains appear to be from the southern islands, as do most of the archers, according to Shin. He believes that they are, in fact, free pirates. He suggests that if we simply ignore the other two ships. They will leave in search of easier prey, in more familiar waters, once it becomes clear that these two ships will not join them. The prisoners seemed very surprised that we knew who they were."
"Shin also suggested that we could encourage that choice by sending runners to the Makah village on that bay. A fleet of canoes filled with angry Makah archers heading for them, chanting war cries would probably do the trick. They are likely a bit jumpy. We could send a batch of fire arrows to the Makah, to help them make their point?"
That final touch led to grim smiles around the table. Fire on any ship is a captain’s greatest nightmare. It would be a final straw for the pirates, who were in unknown territory. If an enemy had fire arrows, who knew what else they might have.

***

Zhuo was standing at the bow of his ship. He hoped the other two ships would arrive soon. He didn't like waiting, and he didn't like this place. A few canoes had come out from a nearby village, when they first arrived, and the natives seemed friendly enough. They had traded for some fresh water, meat, berries, and bread, at first, but they hadn't been out for days now. He glanced toward the village situated at the mouth of a small river. He straightened up and shaded his eyes to see better. There was a dark mass on the water just in front of the village. The mass seemed to be moving in his direction. It appeared to completely detach from the shore, then proceeded towards the ships. Zhuo sounded an alarm, summoning all hands to the deck. The other ship's captain did the same. Zhuo finally made out canoes at the leading edge of the mass, then he realized that it was hundreds of canoes, some large and some small. After a few more minutes, he could make out that, except for the oarsmen, the natives all carried bows at the ready. He passed the order to prepare for sail, and ordered weapons standing by. Now he could hear fierce chanting, coming across the water. He shouted the order to raise anchors, so that he could maneuver if necessary. Then one, followed by hundreds of fire arrows arced from the canoes straight for him.
He screamed the order to get moving, and all hands, on both ships, scrambled to their tasks. Slowly, they began to make way away from the massed canoes, but not before a second volley of fire arrows flew. Some of these struck his ship, and sailors scrambled to put them out. One had struck the lower edge of a sail, which started to burn.
But they were moving away now, picking up speed, and the canoes stopped coming.
Zhuo ordered course for the open ocean, and home, then ran to help douse the fires.

Alliance Nation: Book 3 of the Alliance Series

As of last night, I am 16,573 words into Nation, book three!

The Norse refugees are happily building communities north up the isthmus from Panama. They have named their new territory Sudtherlond, and the Capitol city/fort is Blodgata.

Midnight visits Buwei and Raventongue in Tairuna. Buwei agrees to be the southern continent representative for the Alliance, mainly so he can stay with Raventongue, who is trying to get a handle on the southern languages.

Sealion, the daughter of Whaletalker and Hardspear, of the Haida People, was the first indigenous person certified as ship’s captain to graduate from the Rivergrass Marine School. She sails the new ship to Tairuna, where she picks up Buwei and Raventongue for her final evaluation. They trade south to Jocay, Sican, and Chimor. Will she pass muster with Buwei, a master trader?

Midnight, with a crew of Norse and a Plains Cree scout, explores the East coast of South America. On the return, they stop at Arawaken for a rest and refreshment, making new friends, and at least one enemy...

Alliance is growing.

Alliance Nation!

In between edits, I have begun working on Alliance Nation again! The Norse refugees are landing, scattered across North coastal South America, much to the surprise of the indigenous peoples, most of whom are Tairuna Trading Consortium, but hadn't been warned about the arrivals yet. The ex-Byzantine Guard Norse are rounding them up and heading them to the, as yet unnamed, first city at the base of the isthmus...

WE HAVE A PROLOGUE!!!

Prologue:

An Elder, Keeper of Stories, sat in the circle of young people. A fire crackled and popped in the center of the lodge, casting shadows that seemed to be alive themselves. She spoke quietly, but her voice was powerful and gentle at the same time. As she began, the listeners leaned in to catch every word and gesture, as her hands seemed to help weave the story as she spoke.

"This story is told in whispers among the Grassland People, when it is told at all. The River People tell it with a dignified touch of pride. Perhaps more than a touch.

            Both communities contributed to the great deeds that were done, both contributed a key player to the events. The secret lies in the honor, and lack of it, that certain persons brought to the front when evil walked up on them. A man, or woman, is remembered for their doing. Those who do nothing are best forgotten, as that is what they have earned.

            A tall man, who is remembered, starts out at one end of a trail. A tall woman, nearly as tall as the man, who is also remembered, starts out at a far place on the same trail. This story happened between, and at both ends, and so it begins..."

            Ok, I'm getting real here...  https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ok-im-getting-real-here-david-oliver-godric/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_recent_activity_details_shares%3BIOJtr1hyRtuDj6nzkUpPqg%3D%3D

I have been remiss...

Scrolling through the last few posts, I realized that I've let possible confusion creep in for new readers:

My original working title for this book was "Whispers 1031 AD". During the editing process, I became less and less happy with that title, feeling that it just didn't represent what I was creating. The central theme is Alliance versus Empire, mutual benefit versus 'conquer or die', which was the dominant model for cultures across the Old World from the beginnings of civilization in the Tigris and Euphrates valleys.

That title came from the first lines of the book, kind of an introduction: "This story is told in whispers, when it is told at all..."

Then I found out that there was already a Whispers book series, which was large series of romance novels. Not what I wanted to be confused with - not that I have anything against romance! I have actually written some very romantic scenes into this story, with critical advice from my wife, who pushed me to go deeper than most guys are comfortable going! 😃

I was concerned at this point that the Whispers 1031 AD branding across my various platforms was too solid to change, but it kept nagging at me. Then Gina Peters came up with the gorgeous war canoe cover design, that pushed me over the edge. I finally pulled the trigger in late April, renaming the project Alliance 1031 AD.

Judging by the response to date, it was a good choice. Feel free to comment your feelings about the change! I love feedback from readers.

Alliance

An Alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. From Dictionary.com

It might be even worse....

It starts with a murder. It ends with a massacre. Between is love, horror, world changing trade, sharing the good and the really, really bad. Zhan changes history. Midnight changes the world. Hawk loves Midnight, and supports her as she finds her way. The world discovers that Alliance is stronger than Empire.Whispers 1031 ADFind it at FaceBook: Whispers 1031 AD Twitter: 1796SabreLinkedIn: David Oliver Godric Blogger: Whispers 1031 AD

Rough draft of a possible cover!

Chapter 12 One Canoe

Chapter 12 

 One Canoe

            One canoe came from the north. One man rowed it. He, alone, had been untouched by death. He rowed up to the wharf at Rivergrass. He tied the canoe off, and just sat there. He dared not touch the shore.

            Zahn's ship still rode the end of the wharf. Two men stood watch, not because anyone was worried about theft or vandalism. Just because that was the way things were done.

            One of the guards, Chan-Su, walked down the ramp and approached the lone man in his canoe.

            The man waved him away, and pointed at the longhouse.

            "Kiapelaneh, and Zahn." was all he said.

            Chan-Su looked back at the ship, then he ran to the plank and shouted to the other guard, "I must go to the longhouse!"

            His partner waved to him his understanding.

            Chan-Su ran to get his captain. He knew that something was terribly wrong, but didn't know what.

            He went straight to Zahn, and told him what he'd seen, and heard.

Zahn turned to Wei, who was closest, and paying attention.

            "A lone man in a canoe has just arrived. He wears a hood over his face, and he won't get out. He is speaking the language of the Empire. He asked for Kiapelaneh and myself."

            Wei went first to Hawk and Midnight. Fisheagle swiveled around to listen.

            Wei explained the situation. His Halq’uemehlem was quite good now. 

            Half of the hall was watching now, sensing that something was going on. Fisheagle stood and waved at Kiapelaneh. He rose and joined them. Fisheagle told him what was happening, as far as he knew. Kiapelaneh headed out the doors toward the wharf, Wei and the others following.

            A buzz was rising in the hall.

            The Rivergrass chief got there first. He approached the man in the canoe, but the man waved him back. He saw the others coming, and waited until they were closer. Then he told them what happened at the Haida village. He described the illness starting as a sickness like the flu that comes around every year. Then he told how it progressed. He told of the hundreds of bodies, and the scarring and crippling after effects on the survivors. He begged for help, but told them to keep their distance.

            Zahn listened to the story with growing horror. He grabbed Kiapelaneh by the arm, and waved Wei over.

            "I know what this is."

            Wei translated, and all eyes were on Zahn.

            "We call it the small pocks, because it leaves small pocks in the skin of the survivors. Do you not have this here?"

            All of the natives shook their heads.

            Zahn groaned. This whole place had never been exposed to the disease. It could kill untold numbers. He collapsed into a sitting position on the wharf. He didn't know how, but he knew that he had brought it. The timing was too perfect. The disease took about twelve days to show. Within a moon, many were dead, more scarred and crippled.

            Zahn motioned to Wei.

            "We are immune. Get this man food and drink, but do not touch him. He may still have the disease about him.

            Wei ran to the longhouse.

            Zahn waited, as did everyone else for Wei to get back. He placed the supplies on the edge of the wharf, near to the survivor.

            Zahn spoke to the crowd. Wei translated.

            "You need to know that we have this disease where we come from. It is in all the lands that we usually trade with. I have never heard of it killing this many. Somehow, it must have travelled with us. None of my people were sick, so I have no idea how it travelled."

            Suddenly he stopped speaking. He had picked up the bolts of fabric on the main island of the Heian people, just northeast of Shanghai, on the way.

            He explained what he was thinking.

            "The disease shows within twelve days of exposure, so none of my people could have carried it. It had to have been in the cloth, dormant. When they unrolled the cloth..." He couldn't go on.

            Wei explained to the natives that the disease couldn't be on any of the other trade goods, and that the Haida had taken all of the cloth that they had picked up on the island.

            Zahn looked up, finally. "The survivors must be isolated, or the disease will spread like fire in dry grasslands. There is no cure, but… our healers know how to make people immune. It is a simple thing.” 

            That statement created a hum of conversation.

            Fisheagle spoke up. "Can you bring one or more of these medicine men here, to teach us how to protect ourselves from this?"

            Zahn nodded. "With what you have brought here, I can bring several. They can teach you how to make the medicine. If it has never been in this land, then it will be a huge project to stop it. Every person has to be treated, and every child that is born, or it will be loose to kill. You will begin to have more contact with the outside world, when I take this load of goods back to my markets. More ships, more chance that the disease is carried here."

            He stood. He looked around at all the people there. "I am responsible for this. I will do anything that I can think of to help."

            Kiapelaneh spoke up. "It appears that the source of our salvation is also the source of great trouble." He smiled. "It seems somehow fitting, a balance."

            "I think that I must travel with our fearless, and honest trader."

            There was a gasp from the Rivergrass people. Everyone had come out to the wharf to see what was happening.

            Kiapelaneh smiled. "Never fear, my people, I will leave you in good hands. I must see for myself what this other world looks like, and what it has to offer us, and what other dangers may come from there. I will take a few with me, if that is acceptable to our trader captain?

            After hearing the translation, Zahn nodded agreement. 

            His mind spun. He had never felt heartsick before, but that term well described what he was feeling. He and his beloved ship had effectively wiped out a village of gentle people. Artists and craftspeople; mothers, fathers, and children. He thought himself a hard, strong man until this day. He had fought raiders and pirates. He had always negotiated for maximum return, unless it made sense to suck in the client first, then rape his wallet. This was different. This had the potential to wipe out an entire civilization, if it was let run loose in a land where it had never been. They would have no resistance to it. It would kill, and kill, and maim the few that did survive. He had brought it. His spirit was lost in the horror of that knowledge.

            He barely noticed when Chen and Li helped him to his feet and guided him to the ship, and to his cabin. They brought him a bottle of rice wine, and wrapped a blanket around him. His Chief Officer of the Boat, WanLi, came to stay with him after he heard what happened.

            WanLi recognized shock when he saw it. He also knew that his captain was a kind and civilized man, beneath the hard trader persona that he adopted for business. He had never mistreated a crewman that made an honest mistake. WanLi had served on many ships as he learned his trade. He knew that Zahn was an exceptional captain, and man. He hoped this would pass soon.

            

***

            Back at the Lodge, Kiapelaneh announced his intention to travel with Zahn on his return voyage. "Our world is changing because of this other culture across the great water. I now know, with certainty, that Zahn is an honest and good man. I trust him to get me there, and return me to you on his voyage back. I will be doing my job as Chief, representing our People to theirs. I hope to speak to their leaders, and gain a sense of who they are. I also will see what their culture has brought them, for good and evil. We have just learned a lesson on the perils of ignorance: an entire Haida village effectively wiped out. We must know better what we are dealing with. We must understand when to say 'no' to what seem like gifts, or fair trade. This disaster was an accident. There will be those in their society that would do this on purpose. Just think of the Grassland Shaman, that would have enslaved us all, and taken our ancestral lands. There will be men of that type there. We must have a sense of the threat. Zahn has already said that other ships will follow him when they see what he has brought."

            There was a hum of discussion at his words. They understood now.

            Fisheagle came to speak with him, and the two of them went off to a table in the back to talk. They had their heads together for some time, and no one bothered them.

            They gave the man in the canoe blankets, food, and water. They asked him what else they could do for him, or his people.

            "Spread the word to all of the villages and communities to stay away. We will survive, but we do not want this to happen to anyone else. We will run off any traders that come. If you have cure, come to us, not before."

            Someone asked for his name, for the histories.

            He thought for a few moments. "I am not the man I used to be. My name is Darkwater, from this day forward, and this has become my history."

            The lone man, in the one canoe, used his oar to push away from the wharf and headed north.

Chapters 10 and 11 of Evolution: beginning of the birth of the Alliance

Chapter 10 The Best of Worlds

            The future was in motion. It swirled from the east, the west, north and south. A Song ship, a vibrant coastal culture eager for new opportunities, a stagnant inland culture driven by greed, and a southern culture ready for change; all unknowing, waiting for something. As present becomes past, bringing the future closer, just so events unfolded, following the path of the ship from the east. Just as in battle, some die that others can live. In the best of worlds, some deaths save the lives of many others.

            

***

            The Song ship slowed to a crawl. It got as close to the shore as Zahn, the captain, dared, seeking deep water close in. This was their third visit to the Haida, the first since the birth of the west coast alliance created by Fisheagle, himself far to the south. His words were on the minds of the Haida, as they awaited the ship carrying the trader.

            Zahn was able to find the deep hollow next to shore where he had anchored before. It made for easy access to the land. He put the rudders over, and drifted deftly in, parallel to the landing. They had a plank long enough to reach the rocks next to them. They ran out the plank, and two sailors ran across with ropes to secure them close, but not too close, to the rocky shore. The crew cast woven bamboo fenders over the side to take the shock of the rocks, if waves threw the ship against them. Then the sailors on shore snugged the ship up tighter, leaving room for the rise and fall of the tides.

            Zahn strode down the plank and greeted the Chief and Ts'aak. They exchanged pleasantries. The formalities out of the way, Ts'aak opened the negotiations.

            "If you will come with me, we have our goods in the warehouse. I am quite interested in what you have brought." He smiled, quite genuinely.

            Zahn was pleased with the goods furs, well cured and including the coveted Sea Otters; some copper ingots; and some Haida art works that Zahn had taken a chance on, and had proved very popular in the Song capital.

            Ts'aak waited, silent, for the first offer.

            "I have a variety of hard, long lasting tools, some beautiful fabrics..."

            Ts'aak smiled. "I am very interested in your tools, depending on what they do. I am even more interested in an advisor, such as you left with the southern tribes, preferably one who can teach us how to make the hard metal for tools, and the tools themselves."

            Zahn went pale, then a little red, no longer smiling. "Do you plan to ruin my trade then?"

            Ts'aak laughed. "Of course not. As I said, I am interested in the tools you bring, but tools break, and it is many moons before you return. If we become dependent on your tools, which will change the way we work, and then they don't work any more, we will be left in an uncomfortable position. I'm sure that you see that."

            Zahn was off balance. These people were astute traders, but this was a harder bargain than he was used to. He could spare one of his shipwrights, that could teach what they wanted, but he hated to do so. These savages knew exactly what they wanted, and it wouldimpact his trade. He thought about alternatives. His was a trader's mind, honed in the cutthroat Song markets. He would be able to pick up the four shipwrights he had left further south. They would have had enough of these primitives. So what if they learned to make iron, and work it. There were many, many other things that he could offer on future voyages. He would be better prepared next time.

            "Very well. Your copper, as shown, for the use of one of my men for the time between now, and my next voyage."

            Ts'aak bowed his acceptance of the deal. "Now, let's see these tools of yours."

            The sailors had brought ashore samples of iron augers, hatchets, axes, pry bars, saws of various sizes, from one handed to long two man saws for planking. There were hammers and kegs of slivers of metal of various sizes. One of the Song demonstrated their use in joining two pieces of wood.

            Ts'aak considered, then haggled with Zahn for a time. The slivers didn't impress him, but the other tools did. Finally, he offered their furs for a selection of the other tools. They agreed on the quantities of each, and moved on.

            "We do have some artwork that we would trade for your fabrics, if they are acceptable..."

            Zahn was feeling better. This was more what he was used to. "Let's inspect the goods, and reach agreement then."

            Ts'aak smiled, and bowed his own concurrence.

***

            Two weeks later the disease struck. It started with a mild illness, fever, headache, body pain, then spread across the skin as little bubbles that burgeoned and grew. People began to die by the hundreds. Those that survived this far began to have scabs form on the blisters that the bumps had become. Two thirds of the Haida died. Those that lived were scarred for life, some blinded in one or both eyes.

***

            The Haida had taken all of the fabrics that Zahn had to trade. The Haida artwork was extraordinary, and reflected similarities to antique Song designs. That had make them very popular in the empire on the previous voyages, and the Haida had sensed a kindred artistic sense in the Song fabrics. Unknown to anyone, the disease had been hiding in the fabrics. Fortunately, Zahn had no more for trade as he worked his way south, down the coast. The outbreak was confined, for now, to the one village.

***

            Unaware of the disaster unfolding behind him, Zahn took his ship south along the coast. He was eager to get to the village where he had invested four of his shipwrights to create a market for his remaining cargo of tools. Tools were heavy, so he hoped to unload the lot at Rivergrass. He was also eager to see if the southerners had collected a good quantity of sea otter pelts, and, with smelters built by his shipwrights, there should be a lot of copper in the proper ingots for best price in Shanghai. He also wanted to see the quality of the green stone they had spoken of. If it wasa new variety of jade, his fortune was made.

            His anticipation made him pass by a couple of communities that he had traded with before on his way down the coast. He could always stop in on his next voyage. They did have some nice artwork.

Chapter 11 Return on Investment

            The Song ship pulled in to the new wharf that Chen and Li had designed and had built while Zahn was gone. It stretched across the tidal flat to a deeper hole where the ship could tie up. They had also made wheeled carts that would help move the heavy tools down the boardwalk to the shore. Zahn felt like he was pulling in to a civilized port. He reflected that he was, in fact, bringing civilization to these people. It gave him a sense of pride that he had not expected. He was just a trader that had discovered new markets. He found himself looking forward to seeing the changes his shipwrights had wrought among these people, and the trade goods of course. Copper was rising in price at home, and the furs always did well when he brought them back. He knew that other traders had taken note of his last profitable voyage. This might be the last trip where he was the only one in this market. That was one reason why he had left the advisors, to establish good will for the future voyages. So long as he had first rights, he would profit greatly. His trader sense told him that there was great potential here. He could smell advantage!

            He gave orders for the tools to be brought up and loaded into the carts. He could see the natives, and Li and Chen on the shore. He hoped that Wei and Zizhan would bring the second tribe along soon. This being his first Spring voyage, he could possibly make two more voyages before the winter weather confined him to local Empire trade, which was not nearly as profitable.

            He had been able to purchase a compass with part of the proceeds of the last voyage. That would allow him to cut straight across the sea to home, instead of following the route way up North, and then down the coast, bucking that current. Coming here, he traveled with the currents. His first three voyages, he had had to sail back against those same currents. It was a long, slow voyage, but without the compass, he might have ended up anywhere if he just pointed across the sea. Once out of sight of land he had the stars, until there was a storm, or even just overcast. Then he had nothing to guide him, until now. Now, he could navigate straight home to Shanghai, his primary market for the goods he would bring back. Zahn was a happy man. All his plans were coming together.

            Just as he stepped onto the plank He noticed that the coastal village now had a log palisade around it. It also appeared to have a drawbridge over a ditch, and a covered walk with firing ports.

            Then he saw a line of three huge cargo canoes headed from upriver to the wharf. They were all loaded and sitting deep in the water. He maintained his composure, despite a powerful surge of glee. He would return with his holds full, by the look of things. He hurried, casually, down the plank to the wharf. He walked towards where the canoes were pulling in and tying up in a row. 

            Chen and Li were just starting out from shore. He saw Kiapelaneh waiting on shore to greet him. Zizhan and Wei climbed out of the lead cargo canoe, followed by Fisheagle, Hawk, and Midnight. There were dozens of other people in the canoes. He had a twinge of uneasiness. This was unusual. 

            It was still very easy for him to beam delightedly at the three from upriver. Zizhan translated.

            "My good friends! Well met. I have brought the tools we discussed. I hope that my advisors have been worth their keep?"

            Fisheagle, composed as always, spoke for all of them. Hawk and Midnight struggled to keep from laughing out loud. As it was, the corners of their mouths kept twitching up, and they seemed to be almost vibrating with what they were holding in.

            "Indeed, wise Zahn. You are most welcome back, and your people have been of inestimable value to us. We would probably not be here to greet you, if they had not been here to share your ways of thinking, and doing. That said, we have much to compensate you, and to trade for tools." He smiled widely at Zahn, who suddenly had a memory of Ts'aak driving a hard bargain, not so long ago.

            As their word sunk in, he put on his concerned look. "Why, what has happened?"

            "We will tell you the story tonight at the feast. It is too long of a tale to tell before we conclude our business. It would be feasting time before we concluded our trade!"

            Zahn shook his head. "A mighty tale then. Very well, to business."

            He showed them the tools that he had shown to the Haida, plus tongs for handling hot metal, and others for removing the crucibles of molten metal from the ovens. The demonstration of the nails was greeted much more favorably, and he was glad that the Haida hadn't wanted any.
             The natives seemed pleased. He also had about a hundred small kegs of saltpeter.              Kiapelaneh shared that they had found a local source of the rock coal, and plenty of sulfur.             Then they walked down the wharf to the canoes from Highwater.

            Protective tarps had been untied and pulled away to show their goods. The first canoe held furs from land mammals: fox, wolf, marten, fresh water otter, lynx, beaver, a few cougar, and bear. There were also some deer and moose hides, tanned with the hair on.

            The second canoe held more of the same. The third held copper, in Song style ingots. There were also a few ingots of a much richer color, which Zahn knew instantly were gold. His men had told the natives that he would be interested.

            Carts began arriving from the village. They held sea mammals: sea otter, seal, and sea lion. There were also more ingots of copper.

            Zahn was dumbfounded. For a moment he didn't know what to do. These people could supply as much as he could carry. The profit would be beyond his previous imagination. The sea otter pelts alone would have paid for his voyage. He looked at the native leaders, and knew that they knew. His own men, that he had left here, were looking at him with doubt and concern in their eyes.

            Then the River People unveiled a pile of rocks, some large, some small. Green rocks. Jade, and unlike any jade he had ever seen.

            Zahn sat down on the edge of the wharf and put his head in his hands. He had to think. If he brought this load back, every trader on the coast of the Song dynasty would follow him wherever he went, for the rest of his life, to find out where he had gotten this load. The other side of the coin was that, if he didn't trade fairly with these people, they would never trade with him again. He could see it in their eyes. They knew!

            He cast a glance at his advisors Wei, Li, Chen, and Zahn. They were all four looking at him with cold, hard eyes. They were awaiting his response.

            Zahn was not a stupid man, he had the vision, and the willingness to take a chance that led him to explore uncharted waters. Neither was he a coward. 

            He suddenly saw clearly. There was a story here. They had alluded to it. He had to hear that story, before he did anything, or he might lose it all.

             He stood, and faced them. "I think that I musthear this story behind this amazing feat. Clearly, you have surpassed my highest hopes for this voyage. Shall we go to your lodge, and let me hear the tale. We can talk about trade later."

            His own men looked surprised. He couldn't read the natives, except that they looked more at ease, as if relieved. Zahn knew that he was walking a thin edge. He needed to know this story.

            They all headed for the lodge. He ordered all of his men, except for three to stand watch on the ship and the tools, to come to the lodge with him. He still didn't know what this was, he just knew that it was deadly important to both the natives and his own men that had been here while he was gone.

            When they got to the lodge, there were tables loaded with food. They were proper tables, although a bit taller than he was used to, with benches for everyone to sit on.

            The lodge was packed. Zahn was led to a prime seat beside Fisheagle, with Midnight and Hawk on the other side. His shipwrights sat behind him.

            An older woman strode confidently to the front of the crowd: Huckleberry, the Keeper of Stories from Highwater. Silence reigned in the hall. Zizahn, because he was still the most fluent in the People's language, skootched his seat forward, so that he could translate for Zahn.

            Huckleberry began to tell the tale, of Hawk and Midnight, of the evil Shaman and his greed. She recalled the preparations for war, and honored the Song advisors. She spoke of the battles, the rescues, and the dead. Then of the reconstruction of the villages destroyed. She spoke of alliance forged and growing, honoring Fisheagle for his wisdom in that. She spoke of a vision, of people across the vast expanse of land, to the north, south, and east, joining together to build something greater than just tribes in the wilderness: a nation, an Alliance! Guided by a council of chiefs, based on their reverence for the land, the spirits of the land, and their ancestors, for the good of all the peoples that lived on Turtle Island, or whatever name they chose for this vast place they lived in, for every People had their own name for it. Trade would benefit all parties. Governance would benefit all the People. The land, it's spirits, and its People were the central concern of this new Alliance, and those who would help it were a part of it. Those who opposed it were doomed, for all of the forces of nature and the spirit world would be fighting with the People when that day came. The Alliance would be their voice and their mighty arm against their enemies, and none of those would survive the experience, so that the Alliance's Peoples could live in peace.

            When she finished, there was a moment of reverent quiet, then someone started the ululating cry of defiance that had echoed over every victory of the past year. It built to almost deafening force, then faded like a spent wave returning to the sea.

            Zahn sat still as a stone, his mind racing at the implications. This was an empire being born, and he was here to witness. Zizhan leaned forward again, and said, in his native tongue, "Chen, Li, Wei and I will not be returning with you. We have found a place of honor here, where we can be more than we ever believed possible. We thank you for that, but know that our allegiance has changed. Help these people, help us, and your rewards will outstrip your imagination. You will always be first, for the best items, at the best price. There is more to this place than meets the eye, and we don't yet know even how big it is."

            Zahn was dumbfounded. Somehow, his simple trading voyages had changed the world for these people, and they had known what to do with that. Astute traders indeed! He knew that he needed time to process what he had heard, to understand where to go with this, and what to do next. The World had just changed, and he was there. What to do. There was no question in his mind that people who could do what these had done would forge their empire, or Alliance, as they called it.

            His profit from what the People had brought would buy him ships, as well as goods, but he sensed their need for knowledge, above all. He could deliver that. Help them reach the level of technology and science that his own people had achieved. These minds would take that, and go further, perhaps, than even his own culture. One day, he might be taking knowledge in the opposite direction, benefiting his people as much as theirs.

A Monday morning thought:

When civilization began in the areas around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, they rose and fell in a "conquer or die" environment. The further you get from this region, the more we see experimentation with other philosophies by other cultures. Alliance becomes a theme in the East, with the Mongols a significant exception, although they were an alliance of disparate tribes themselves.

Europe revered the classical philosophies, and so continued the tradition, culminating in the various Empires that ultimately collapsed in the 1900s, following two world wars, won by an Alliance.

Thanks to all the people interested in this novel. With your help I will bring this story to print. Many, but certainly not all, of those liking this concept are First Nations from Canada, the US, and Central and South America. There have also been Chinese, Japanese, and Middle Eastern people. This tells me that there is a broad based hunger for the ideas that Whispers 1031 AD explores, and that people around the world are finding their voices amid all the chaos that the "powers that be" have allowed, no, encouraged to exist in our world. "Alliance" has always been seen as a solution to chaos. May it be so again.

Whispers 1031 AD is now on Twitter!

I just linked the Facebook page to Twitter, so hopefully you will be hearing a lot more about the novel!

In the year 1031 AD, Zahn, an adventurous Song Chinese trader, keeps going north after trading with Japan and Korea, following the currents North and West into new lands. There he finds new civilizations, with valuable trade goods. He builds relationships with the native peoples as he travels down the West coast of what is now North America. Those bonds are cemented when he accidentally introduces smallpox in bolts of Japanese silk, and a village is effectively wiped out.

            Zahn has found a better world than the one he came from. He desperately wants to protect it from the greedy and brutal worlds across the waters, where life has no value, and death is a currency. If he cannot equip his new people to stand against the old worlds, their lands will be devoured, and their people enslaved, for that is the way the old civilizations stay alive and the powerful thrive.

Zahn, speaking to his children:

            "When I was young, I worked with my body. I grew strong and healthy. I also fed my mind: I read everything I could get my hands on. Orders, reciepts, signs for stores, and eventually books I devoured with my eyes and my spirit. I discovered science, art, philosophy, religion, and the power of imagination. At that time, I found little use for my knowledge, as there were always those who knew more, had experienced more.

            In my middle years, I achieved responsibilities. I had earned enough for my own ship, and was experienced in the ways of trade. My mind was ascendant, but my body remained strong.

            This, I realized, was my time of opportunity. I determined to seek the unknown, not just following the well worn paths that others walked. There are very many of those people. I think they find comfort in the well worn paths.

            That is why I followed the known currents past the boundaries others set for themselves. I had not conciously planned it, that voyage. I traded north, as I often had, but then I thought about the currents that continued north, past that place. I had a good ship, provisions and cargo. My crew was one of the best.

            I called them together, and told them of my plan. A few looked concerned, but they trusted me and the ship. I let them talk among themselves. I have seen crews become terrified when they don't understand what is happening, and ignorance is feritle ground for fear.

            They finally stood together, and agreed to seek the unknown. That decision is why we are here, and why the Alliance came to be."

Why I write what I do:

This is why I wrote Whispers:

https://www.facebook.com/92ndstreetY/videos/10154402971973884/

Synopsis: WHISPERS 1031 AD

In the summer of 1031 AD, a trading ship from the Chinese Song Dynasty follows the currents north, past Japan, then east and south, down the coast of western British Columbia. The captain, ZAHN, a hardboiled Chinese trader seeking new markets, trades first with the Nisga'a and Haida, then on a later voyage travels further south to the Musqueam (Rivergrass) lands around what is now Vancouver.

There Zahn meets with KIAPELANEH, the Rivergrass Chief, and a delegation from the River People (Sto:lo) from up the Fraser River, which includes Chief FISHEAGLE, MIDNIGHT and HAWK. Zahn offers a trade of technology for furs and copper. Song technology at this time includes gunpowder, metallurgy, tools, and medicine—far more advanced than the local culture. When an agreement is reached, the Song leave four advisors with the locals, to help them produce the trade goods that the Song desire, and introduce the new technologies.

            After Zahn’s visit, and a war with a predatory band from the interior, the River People and the Rivergrass tribe, form an Alliance that will eventually develop into a new civilization encompassing the West Coast of North America.

 The experience of the Song with smallpox, which arrives in bolts of cloth with Zahn's second visit, allows the people to mitigate the effects of the disease. They spread their knowledge to all members of the alliance, and further. But Zahn is devastated when he realizes that he is responsible for bringing smallpox to the Haida, almost wiping out an entire village. He commits to guiding the initially naive natives in shaping their Alliance, and dealing with the older cultures that they come in contact with.

            The Alliance grows throughout North America, finding allies in the Arabs and at a Norse settlement on the East Coast, which briefly becomes a refuge for desperate Norse and Rus, including the Varangian Guard, who flee the corrupt influence of the European Church that is going to destroy their culture.

            Zahn, now the Alliance Fleetmaster, is still a trader at heart. He sends BUWEI, a senior captain, to expand trade south along the coast, in search of tobacco, which has become a new trade item for the Alliance. Contacting new civilizations as they go, they spread their influence south into Central and South America where they find fascinating new cultures, and face desperate conflict with unbelievable barbarism from the collapsing Mayan and Toltec cultures.

            The Song Empire finally sends EMISSARY LIU, backed by heavily armed warships, to find out first hand what this Alliance is all about. Are they a threat, or vulnerable to expansion of the Empire? The envoy realizes that they are a unique culture, valuable as an ally, and dangerous as an enemy. With Zahn and the council negotiating for the Alliance, they strike a deal for a joint venture, where the Empire will provide metallurgists and skilled workers to build the infrastructure for a metalworking industry, for a share in the profits.

            In the south, the Norse refugees begin to arrive, and the Mayans become an immediate threat. The first battle is a slaughter, and has a devastating effect on Buwei, his men, and the Norse.

            The Tairuna, a trade league in what is now northern Columbia, and Jocay, a large trading center in modern Ecuador, are vulnerable to an influx of Mayans and Toltecs fleeing the collapse of their civilizations. Both join the Alliance, as the Norse refugees settle in to a toehold in their new home in southern Central America, and prepare for all out war with the Maya and Toltec cultures to the north.

            Zahn, content that he has guided the Alliance well on their path and established strong trade ties that will support their expansion, retires to spend time with his wife and children in Rivergrass, leaving Buwei in charge of Alliance trade.