Kathoc Bose 4: Deviance
They slipped away to bathe together in the small pond as the shadows began to lengthen.
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Kathoc Bose 4: Deviance
As the shadows began to lengthen, they slipped away to bathe together in the pond. The lowering sun lit up the stones at the water’s edge, the purple flowers of the mirtal had already folded their petals for the day. Kathoc Bose and Iz-lâ breathed in the hypnotic scent of the ecklis vine that grew in the deep shade of the brangh trees. They dropped their dusty clothing in the leaves and shivered into the cold, clear water, hand in hand, the perfect anodyne for their long day of toil in the fields.
They swam together to the center of the pond. “This is happy and good,” said Kathoc. It was the best he could do with his poor command of their language. It didn’t convey what he wanted to tell her; no subtlety or nuance were possible.
She pulled him to her in the water and wrapped her long legs and arms around him. She licked the water from his cheek and bit his chin, lightly, clinging to him as if she feared he would somehow escape. But Kathoc Bose wasn’t going anywhere.
“This is happy and good for me,” he said again, hoping her body would understand what he could not yet say.
It was now eighty-six days that Kathoc had been living with the men of Veylas, but today was only the fourth time he had gone with them to visit the Place of the Women. He found himself thinking only of her, of Iz-lâ, the one who had chosen to be with him as his night partner three times before.
The men had spent the entire day working to repair the drystone walls and to carry wood ash to their gardens to amend the soil. They usually stayed only three days, and then returned to their own home, an hour’s walk down the slope toward the sea. Tonight, though, they would stay in the welcoming arms of their women.
From the daily log of Kathoc Bose
Day 80. “I continue to be plagued by the language here. Fahlo, Brahn and I exchange lessons every evening, but they’re learning much faster than I. The English language seems like an easy game to them. I am not patient — I have questions. There’s so much I want to know about this place and these people.”
Day 81. “I think about Iz-lâ far too much – it’s not good, I know. It’s natural for us on Earth to pair up, but it’s not in the nature of the Velasím to form an attachment to only one partner. They’re accustomed to open, fluid connections among all the men and women in their gather-family — men with men, women with women, women with men, and ever changing. I’d like to accept these wide, loosely-woven relationships — they seem content with it! I’ve seen no rivalry or jealousy. But to me it is truly strange.”
Day 82. “My work here is evolving. I began helping in the gardens, then they taught me how to care for goats. Today I began learning the work of the arborists, tending the fruit trees. All of it is new to me. I am fairly certain I have never done these things before, though I recall very little of my life on Earth. Yesterday I taught Fahlo how to measure the height of a tall tree using only a small stick and shadows and a few bits of basic trigonometry. He was surprised to learn of my practical ability with numbers. I believe he may well have doubted my intelligence up until now.
Day 83. Memories of my home come back to me in small bits, in unexpected bursts that don’t linger, like a window opened and quickly closed. I remember things related to my work - devices with wires, calculators, meters, so many numbers. I remember the word “thrum-screen”, but I don’t recall what it is. Today the name Benjamin came to mind, and something sweet called cookie. I remember heavy shoes. But, I need to focus on finding my place here in this world now, and trust that my memories will be retrieved eventually.
Day 84. Iz-lâ will soon take me to see the Place of Books. I understand that it’s a sort of history depository or library. I look forward to seeing these books, though I know I won’t be able to read them yet.
Brahn and Kathoc spent the day casting their fish nets into the surf, and had done well. Now they sat in Fahlo’s dark house in front of the fire, with pots of yarl, a warm beer-like drink, in their hands.
“But Fahlo,” Kathoc interrupted, “I want her. I want only her … not to wait after twenty days. I want her … every day.”
“No, Kathoc. We go to the women two times every moon-cycle. It is enough. It is the way of the Velasím. We are content. You will understand this soon.”
“But I want Iz-lâ with me…. she is all I think. Maybe … she want that too.”
Fahlo could see Kathoc was struggling to express himself, and switched to English. “You are wrong. It is not possible, Kathoc Bose. Where would you stay?
“Stay?”
Would Iz-lâ come to live here with you by the sea, the only woman among men, doing men’s work? Would you want to live there in her home, the only man among women, doing the work of women? It is all unnatural, my friend.”
“Yes, it is not correct,” agreed Brahn. “Iz-lâ would not choose to leave the Place of the Women and … become your … your possession.”
“Not my possession! No! I don’t want to possess her. She is not a thing to be possessed. I want her for my wife, my one partner! If she loves me, she will want that too.”
“There is no wife on Veylas, Kathoc Bose. Iz-lâ loves you, as she loves all the men and the women of the Gather. We are all partners. Because she loves you, she wants you to be free — as nature intends.”
“Well. Yes. Then, I see I have only two choices. I will continue to spend my days and nights in the close company of these good men and try to adapt to what your people expect. Or I must create some other way that is acceptable to all.”
“Kathoc Bose” photo by Elijah Hiett . “Iz-lâ” photo by Filipe Vieira. Both on Unsplash.com
The second printing of Bartle Clunes has finally arrived! If you would like a copy of my novel for your bookshelf or to give as a gift, send me an email. Thank you! bassanois@cruzio.com. $20. Free shipping in the US.
Another excellent installment, Sharron! If this was a book being sold on a shelf somewhere, I’d buy it without hesitation. The flow of the story really works, and it is all being pieced together seamlessly. Can’t wait to read the next installment!
Such a good story! Absence, perhaps abstinence, makes the heart grow fonder??