Today, with permission from the author: An excerpt from Volume One of the Harappan History Project: “The Harappan Secrets”
As I promised, here is the portion of the “Harappan Secrets” that describes how I met my wife Ina and how she introduced me to Oodo. To set the scene Dorian and I were escorting Rodin Cooper from our home in the White Mountains to his order’s fortress in the south. Dorian and I did not yet know the Founder’s Secret. At the time we simply thoght we were going to settle a dispute between Caelum and Salus that threatened to infect the rest of our little world. We were passing through Mandan land when we were captured by them and taken to a village of theirs.
The Mandan Clan camped in about twenty yurts clustered around a central camp fire. Rodin, Dorian and Philip were brought to this fire and forced to their knees. A large number of the Mandan had gathered to see the strangers.
Timmon, leader of the band that captured Rodin and his young companions shouted, “Get Arrok Sen!”, and two young boys ran off in a flash.
Several, nervous minutes later a small crowd approached from the dark outer rim of he camp. In the center of this crowd shuffled a stooped, hooded figure, aided with a gnarly walking staff. This staff rattled with the myriad of objects hanging from it. Pieces of bone and colored strips of cloth, shells, feathers, and objects undecipherable.
The hooded figure took a position directly in front of Rodin. Dorian and Philip were both kneeling to Rodin’s right. Philip, next to the fire, was feeling the heat from both the fire and his plight.
When the hood was pulled back the weathered and worn face of a very old woman was exposed. Her hair was silver and pulled tight into a braid that disappeared into her black cloak. Though her face revealed her advanced age, her eyes still had a twinkle and she almost had a smile when she said, “Rodin, you old fool. What kind of mess are you in now?”, her smile broadened a bit betraying her enjoyment of the situation.
“What should I do with you?”, she went on, “Sneaking through our pastures. Hmmmmm. How do I know you haven’t been planning to steal some of our sheep.”
For his part, Rodin, wasn’t seeing the humor. “Now see here!”
The old witch giggled a bit, turned her head and said to a group of young men standing nearby, “Help them up. They are friends of the Mandan.”
When Rodin and his two escorts were on their feet and unbound, and tensions had melted into the campfire, introductions began.
Rodin said to Dorian and Philip, “This is Arrok Sen.”, then his smile grew, but Rodin's smile betrayed a touch of nervousness, “She and I were . . . students together.” Rodin went on to introduce Dorian and Philip to Arrok Sen. Unnoticed, while these introductions were being made, several Mandan musicians had gathered and were setting up near the campfire and tuning up a variety of instruments.
A pretty young woman with black hair and olive skin brought to Arrok Sen a skin pouch filled with some sort of drink. Arrok Sen handed it to Philip and said, “Here, I think you’ll enjoy this.”
Philip took the bag, pulled the stopper and took a swig of the cool liquid which immediately started a fire in his throat and belly. As his eyes filled with tears he thought to himself, “I think this is more of sipping drink.” He then handed the bag to Dorian and said, “Here, take a big swig. This stuff is great!”
Rodin and Arrok Sen excused themselves and suggested that Dorian and Philip stay by the campfire and enjoy the music. The young exotic woman who had brought the drink followed the elders. The music began and after a few more swigs of the local libation, Dorian and Philip did indeed enjoy their brief respite from their adventure.
* * *
Dorian woke up, wrapped in sheep skins, lying next to the remains of the evening’s fire. His head ached and his mouth felt like it was full of sand. He sat up and saw a lump next to him that he assumed was Philip. There were a few Mandan wandering about the camp obviously engaged in some important task and they mostly ignored Dorian and Philip. Dorian started digging through the sheepskins to find the rest of his clothing.
“Why aren’t you up?”, shouted Rodin, standing over Dorian’s back. Rodin turned and gave the lump that was Philip a not so gentle kick. “Get up!” he shouted, “We’re leaving!”. Standing behind Rodin was Arrok Sen and the pretty young woman who had brought the drink the night before, both laughing.
Noises and some motion started under the pile that was Philip. Dorian stood up to gather his things and his head exploded. His hands went to his skull to keep the pieces from flying away.
“Don’t worry. You’ll feel better by mid day.” The young woman had an oval face, large exotic eyes, full lips and a pointed chin. Her smile was accented with deep dimples. Dorian was captivated. She was wearing a long dark green wool skirt and a simple blouse under a wool hooded cape similar to the one worn by Arrok Sen.
She could barely contain her smirk. “When you boys are, uh . . . ready, meet us at the edge of camp there.”, she said pointing to the South. She turned to run after the elders, already headed in that direction, but before she left, she looked back over her shoulder and said, “Oh, I’m Ina.”, and she was gone.
Philip, now standing behind Dorian and scratching his bearded chin said, “I like her.”
Never mix red wine with Oodo.
Philip Normer
Kushan Year 87
Earth Year 2479
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