Book 3: “Death On Mt. Undenkhark!” Page 58
SETH TICKLES TARNAK WITH HIS TALL TAIL
or
“EVEN IF I WIN—I LOSE!”
Welcome, most honored reader!
Ah, poor Seth, always left holding the bag, drawing the short stick, and the bad end of the bargain. Even his reincarnation by the Thinker short-sheeted him, at least compared to Bryan and Nikki. Though no longer human, they at least bear a strong resemblance (even Bryan!), when compared to Seth, who became a Swamp-Man, a semi-amphibian, equally at home on land as in the water.
And unlike Bryan and Nikki, who were only petty bourgeois, the children of a stepped-up tyrant, semi-reformed bandit-governor-general, wannabe aristocrat, Seth is the real deal, the first son of the King of Rejivyk, heir to the throne. Thus, unlike the twins, Seth has lost much, much more than his friends, having fallen much farther. Yet, as bad as things are, he still lives, so though his reincarnation wasn’t a total win for him, neither was it a total loss.
Now he again faces a seemingly no-win situation: either quickly kill Tarnak (if he can!) and quickly move out to safety to save himself from the effects of the Thinker’s New Magic—but also continue the vicious cycle of T’Nacaikaku, the battle feud of blood vengeance, or allow Tarnak to kill him (and Tarnak himself as well, once the Thinker’s New Magic activates).
Our wise, noble, gentle prince seems to have found the solution, having succeeded in knocking Tarnak unconscious. However, laden with the Ogre’s 900-lb bulk (after all even Ogre teenagers aren’t light), it isn’t clear whether or not he’s reached a point of safety from the magic detonation.
If he survives, he’d better hope that his passenger survived as well. Do you remember when I spoke about how the T’Nacaikaku requires a witness, a T’Showrin, someone who has actually seen the insult to family honor? (as discussed HERE). Look carefully at today’s transmission, honored reader, look very carefully. Do you see those eyes in the cave over Tarnak’s belly? Eyes roughly 10-feet in the air? (About the height of an Ogre? Hmmm…) No? Then please examine Figure 1 to the left and the Close Up below. Is this our T’Showrin?
Sigh…. poor Seth, even if he survives—if Tarnak dies—he’s still lost as the ritual of T’Nacaikaku will continue.
Thus, for our poor hero, even if he wins, he loses. Our prince just can’t catch a break!
But will he even survive? Please join me next time, most honored reader, to find out. Until then,
With Cognescentii blessings,
~The Traveller