An interesting detail comes at the end of the list, where Tick says “Hat’s shoe!” That’s his last word on the discussion on the airship of whether he’s an oracle of Sphigx. A very interesting answer!
Book I
When Tick says . . . He means . . .
“Word, shoe word, who add pan” (Chap. 2, 39). . . . Bird, show bird, you bad man.
“Berry add word” (39). . . . Very bad bird.
“Pack!” (39) . . . Back!
“Add word! Add speak!” (39) . . . Bad bird! Bad beak!
Book IV
When Tick says . . . He means . . .
“Add, add word!” (Chap. 11, 212) . . . Bad, bad bird!
“Pack, itty laddie, peas dun lit am kilt may!” (212) . . . Back [?], pretty lady, please don’t let him kill me!
“Bake here shop! Cuss-cuss.” (221) . . . Make her stop! Kiss-kiss.
“Niece! Mow cuss!” (221) . . . Nice! More kiss!
“Itty laddie, done! Shop!” (221) . . . Pretty lady, don’t! Stop!
“Puck Tuck ape no!” (222) . . . Pick Tick up now!
“Nod heavey.” (222) . . . Not heavy.
“Nod rum.” (222) . . . Not run.
“Say wharf laddie.” (222) . . . Stay with lady.
“New!” (223) . . . No!
“Ale rat, nod rung.” (230) . . . All right, not wrong.
“Ma durst, due add word!” (245) . . . Me first, you bad bird!
“Add cot!” (247) . . . Bad cat!
“Shop, itty laddie! Wise rung?” (250) . . . Stop, pretty lady! What’s wrong?
“Done bay saw made, laddie.” (Chap. 13, 272) . . . Don’t be so mad, lady.
“Add cot end add word.” (Chap. 14, 291) . . . Bad cat and bad bird.
“Ess, laddie.” (Chap. 14, 294) . . . Yes, lady.
“Laddie, done by scarred.” (295) . . . Lady, don’t be scared.
“Done try, laddie.” (chap. 14, 309) . . . Don’t cry, lady.
“My see, wears she putty laddie?” (309) . . . Me say, where’s the pretty lady?
“An Gawk sees, hue comb wit may.” (309) . . . And Auk says, you come with me.
“Den my—add word!” (309) . . . Then me—bad bird!
“Add word, dew!” (317) . . . Bad bird, too!
“Rust Milk, laddie.” (318) . . . Trust Silk, lady.
“Milk bill take hit hall tight.” (318) . . . Silk will make it all right.
“Hat’s shoe!” (IV, chap. 14, 319) . . . That’s true!
Tick and Oreb run a message from Silk in the airship’s front gondola to Auk and Marble in the second gondola. Marble tells Auk that Tick’s phrase is “Something about milk and mammals, and strong twine off caramels.” Auk says, “That’s camels in a caravan” (IV, chap. 15, 322).
TICK (Translated):
Milk (Silk)
Mammals (Camels, Animals)
Strong (Long)
Twine (Train)
Off (Of)
Caramels (Camels, Caravan)
Twig “Twig that big red flare?” (II, chap. 5, 123); “And Hoppy? Never twigged” (IV, chap. 6, 111).
Type: Slang/Colloquial
Meaning: (verb) to espy, or notice.
W
Wap (III, chap. 3, 112)
Type: Obsolete
Meaning: a blow, knock, thump (OED).
Warm “if you’re warm to keep it [Oreb] you’d better teach it to shut its flap” (II, chap. 3, 70).
Type: Unknown
Sense: “interested in ~,” “like to ~.”
Wash “wash him down” (II, chap. 5, 127); “Only I get half. Don’t think you’re going to wash me down” (IV, chap. 11, 228); “Only don’t try to wash me, Orchid” (228).
Type: Unknown
Sense: the “washer” cheats the “washee” out of money.
Whin (III, chap. 3, 118)
Type: Unknown
Sense: a sword.
Winnow “you want me to winnow you out” (III, chap. 3, 115).
Type: Standard
Meaning: (standard) to expose (grain or other substances) to the wind or to a current of air so that the lighter particles (as chaff or other refuse matter) are separated or blown away; to clear of refuse material by this method (OED).
LISTS BY TYPES
ARCHAIC
Cit
CANT
Bob cull / Bufe / Cant / Cap / Cull / Cully / Cut Bene Widdes / Dell / Dimber / Dimberdamber / Dimberdamber nanny nipper / Gammon / Kate / Ken / Lily / Lumb / Mort / Napped / Nose / Prog / Queer / Queer lay / Queering a lay / Rum / Scavy / Sneeze it / Snoodge / Stamp
COLLOQUIAL
Beat the hoof / Bet the basket / Dandy / Do for / Done for / Larger / Plonk / Snaffle / Sojer / Swop / Twig
DIALECT
Ag’in / Cank / Fussock / Sojer
FICTITIOUS
Beggar’s root / Card in a cart / Froggies / Hoppies / Pure / Red Ribbon / Rust / Rust bucket / Send sprats . . . / Tall asses
FLIER TALK
Canna / Cargo / Gleacaiocht
OBSOLETE
Cank / Feague / Foyst / Gibbe / Hog Grubber / Lay / Wap
SLANG
Abram / Beat the hoof / Bing / Cank / Dandy / Darkee / Dosses / Flash / Flat / Flicker / Flue / Fly / Fussock / Gas / Goldboy / Hotpot / Iron / Ken / Kicks / Lay (I’d lay) / Lowre / Lush / Napped / Putt / Row / Scrape out / Shag / Stood / Swop / Twig
SOLDIER TALK
Holy Corrosion / KIA / M.O.A.’s difference / Spit oil
SPANISH
Jefe
STANDARD
Bad bit’s difference / Chit / Chops / Crank / Dilly / Flipper / Glims / Hacking / Hanger / Hoof / Jakes / Knot / Lock / Plum / Quits / Scut / Shave / Sprats / Winnow
TRIVIGAUNTI TALK
Betitham ’arabi / Boraz / ’Ishsh / Karbaj / Marhaba
UNKNOWN
Big my glims / Boilin’ / Books / Brick / Buy him rope / Candy / Chill / Dog’s right / Egg cup / Flush his fussock / Hang on to / Hornboys / Hornbuss / Ice / Jabber / Jump / Kink talk / Lay (know the lay) / Naked / Nanny nipper / Nicker / Padken / Pip of the scavy / Plate to me . . . / Plucked / Plucks / Pure keg / Quill / Rags and tags / Ramped / Rollin’ him . . . / Sharp / Shook / Slap on / Smoke up / Smokin’ . . . / Solve / Stir it / Sweatin’ ken / Warm / Wash / Whin
Appendix 2: Typos of
The Book of the Long Sun
(first edition, hardcover)
• painful job (I, chap. 8, 200): jab
• talk awhile (II, chap. 2, 35): a while [add space]
• —’-cause (II, chap. 5, 129): ’cause [remove dash after single quote]
• at her. I’m going (III, chap. 4, 133): “I’m [add double quote]
• friend of the caldé’s.” (III, chap. 8, 292): caldé’s [remove double quote]
• Kypris again. it might be nice (IV, chap. 2, 47): It
• for a means carry the body (IV, chap. 6, 108): to carry
• May I ask about him, too? (IV, chap. 6, 112): too?” [add double quote]
• hips—Horn and Nettle huddled (IV, chap. 11, 235): [seems this should be new paragraph at the em dash, as part of a list set off by em dashes]
• city,” Oosik continued, “To prevent you” (IV, chap. 14, 315): [“to prevent”]
Appendix 3: Pagination of
The Book of the Long Sun
(first edition, hardcover)
Chapters and page numbers
Volume I
Chapter 1, 9–32
Chapter 2, 33–56
Chapter 3, 57–90
Chapter 4, 91–115
Chapter 5, 117–136
Chapter 6, 137–163
Chapter 7, 165–191
Chapter 8, 193–214
Chapter 9, 215–241
Chapter 10, 243–270
Chapter 11, 271–293
Chapter 12, 295–315
Chapter 13, 317–333
Volume II
Chapter 1, 13–33
Chapter 2, 34–54
Chapter 3, 55–77
Chapter 4, 78–106
Chapter 5, 107–135
Chapter 6, 136–174
Chapter 7, 175–198
Chapter 8, 199–220
Chapter 9, 221–251
Chapter 10, 252–268
Chapter 11, 269–292
Chapter 12, 293–321
Chapter 13, 322–352
Volume III
Chapter 1, 15–37
Chapter 2, 38–74
Chapter 3, 75–123
Chapter 4, 124–159
Chapter 5, 160–215
Chapter 6, 216–254
Chapter 7, 255–280
Chapter 8, 281–307
Chapter 9, 308–334
Chapter 10, 335–377
Epilogue, 379–381
Volume IV
Chapter 1, 15–38
Chapter 2, 39–59
Chapter 3, 60–70
Chapter 4, 71–82
Chapter 5, 83–91
Chapter 6, 92–118
Chapter 7, 119–140
Chapter 8, 141–163
Chapter 9, 164–183
Chapter 10, 184–205
Chapter 11, 206–233
Chapter 12, 234–261
Chapter 13, 262–282
Chapter 14, 283–320
Chapter 15, 321–346
Chapter 16, 347–370
My Defense, 371–382
Afterward, 383–384
Appendix 4: Pagination of
The Book of the Long Sun
(omnibus edition, hardcover)
Litany of the Long Sun
Volume I
Chapter 1, 1
Chapter 2, 26
Chapter 3, 45
Chapter 4, 73
Chapter 5, 93
Chapter 6, 109
Chapter 7, 131
Chapter 8, 153
Chapter 9, 170
Chapter 10, 192
Chapter 11, 215
Chapter 12, 234
Chapter 13, 251
Volume II
Chapter 1, 271
Chapter 2, 288
Chapter 3, 305
Chapter 4, 324
Chapter 5, 348
Chapter 6, 371
Chapter 7, 401
Chapter 8, 420
Chapter 9, 438
Chapter 10, 463
Chapter 11, 477
Chapter 12, 496
Chapter 13, 519
Epiphany of the Long Sun
Volume III
Chapter 1, 15
Chapter 2, 34
Chapter 3, 65
Chapter 4, 105
Chapter 5, 134
Chapter 6, 180
Chapter 7, 211
Chapter 8, 232
Chapter 9, 254
Chapter 10, 277
Epilogue, 313
Volume IV
Chapter 1, 325
Chapter 2, 351
Chapter 3, 373
Chapter 4, 384
Chapter 5, 397
Chapter 6, 406
Chapter 7, 435
Chapter 8, 459
Chapter 9, 483
Chapter 10, 505
Chapter 11, 528
Chapter 12, 558
Chapter 13, 587
Chapter 14, 610
Chapter 15, 615
Chapter 16, 679
My Defense, 313
Afterward, 717
THE SHORT SUN HALF
A
Aanvagen “the protagonist’s hospitable jailer in Dorp” (VII, list). Wife of Beroep. First mentioned in Jahlee’s letter (VII, prologue), later met at her house (VII, chap. 5, 93). At one point she has a dream influenced by Scylla, and Silkhorn seems to fear the goddess might have possessed her, if only in a limited way: see BEROEP for details.
Dutch: swept.
Abanja, Colonel “Generalissimo Siyuf’s chief intelligence officer” (VI, list). She is the maliki of the village on Green where Sinew lives (VI, chap. 25, 377). She had originally gone to Green to spy for Trivigaunte, intending to stay only a year or two, but she became trapped when her lander left without her (VI, chap. 24, 371).
She recognizes Silkhorn as Silk right away and assumes that he came with his party directly from the Long Sun Whorl in a lander. She obviously wants that lander immediately for her own escape from Green, and she is willing to torture Jahlee to find out where it is.
Somehow, between scenes, Silkhorn convinces her that he is not Silk. Subsequently they ride horses with Sinew to the partially repaired lander where Horn died (VI, chap. 25, 375). (See entry in LS Half.)
Arabic: anesthetic.
Adatta, Captain “Incanto’s chief female subordinate at the Battle of Blanko” (VI, list; VI, chap. 16, 242). Incanto promotes her from captain to major on the day after the Battle of Blanko (VI, chap. 18, 275). She is to assist Captain Rimando in moving the artillery back to Blanko while Incanto and Colonel Sfido move into the hills with a large force.
Italian: suitable.
Addax given as an example of a common male name in Viron (VII, chap. 2, 45).
Zoology: the screwhorn antelope of the Sahara desert.
Affito “Inclito’s coachman” (VI, list). The oldest of his three men (VI, chap. 1, 32), he is the trooper guarding three important prisoners: Rigoglio, Morello, and Terzo (VI, chap. 20, 308). He becomes a captain (309).
Italian: properties.
airship on the Trivigaunti airship, Nettle had gone up to the roof alone one time: “It was the day before we got back to Viron, I’m pretty sure” (VII, chap. 1, 27). So it seems the return trip from Mainframe was a multi-day affair.
Alubukhara “a concubine” (V, list; V, chap. 7, 185). She is one of the rajan’s pregnant wives (V, chap. 12, 310). Pehla is another. For a list of his concubines, see RAJAN OF GAON.
Hindi: plum.
Alpaca mentioned as a common Vironese male name (VII, chap. 2, 45).
Zoology: a domesticated animal of South America, somewhat like a small, woolly llama.
Amberjack a person mentioned by Hide, probably from the fishing village on Lizard (V, chap. 1, 32; 34). As such, he is likely a relative of Daisy.
Zoology: name of three species of Atlantic fish of the Carangidae family.
Antbear included among a list of a common names among Viron males (VII, chap. 2, 45).
Zoology: a term for either the African aardvark or the South American giant anteater.
Antler “a son of Smoothbone by his second wife” (VII, list), this half-brother of Horn is ten years old (VII, chap. 12, 252). His little brother is Stag.
Zoology: this anatomical detail of seasonal bone growth is found on the heads of most deer species, primarily on males (caribou and reindeer being exceptions).
Commentary: his name might combine Smoothbone’s “head bone” (see SMOOTHBONE) with “deer” from the mother’s side of the family. It has a clear parallel with Horn’s name: the implication is that Smoothbone has started over with a new wife, and is doing exactly the same thing.
Aspis a town from which Inclito bought both ammunition and the technique of making more (VI, chap. 9, 141).
Greek: generic term for “shield.” As such it might be in the same group with Heleno and Poliso.
Aster “when Aster’s house had been haunted by her dead child, Remora had laid the ghost with candles and sacred waters” (VII, chap. 1, 15). A woman of New Viron. See entry in LS Half.
Botany: a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. The name comes from a Greek word meaning “star,” used for the shape of the flowers.
Atteno “Incanto’s host in Blanko, a stationer” (VI, list; VI, chap. 1, 19; 23). He has the same job as Horn’s father, Smoothbone.
Italian: attention.
Onomastics: an Italian surname.
Auk “a Vironese burglar” (V, list); “the thief who led a party of colonists from Viron to Green” (VI, list). Auk is referenced in the sayings of Silk (VII, chap. 17, 338).
&nb
sp; Horn, talking to Marble on her island, says that even on Green, Auk might be a better person than he was in Old Viron (V, chap. 4, 100). On Green, Horn initially suspects that the blind man in the sewers is Auk, but this does not seem to be the case. Rather, it is worse, in that Auk is an inhuman, slave of the inhumi.
Auk is among the first to see Silkhorn and the mercenaries when they warp to Green. (See CITY OF INHUMI.)
In Dorp, a fatigued Silkhorn sees a ghost of Auk at the tavern (VII, chap. 7, 153). Silkhorn, writing about it, implies that he did not meet Auk on Green. But he did meet Chenille. So the prisoner who died at Sinew’s house before Silkhorn arrived might have been Auk, in which case the ghost Silkhorn saw was real in so far as Auk is dead. (See entry in LS Half.)
Zoology: a flightless water bird.
Azijin “a legerman of Dorp” (VII, list). Leader of the group sent by Nat to arrest Horn and his group on the road to Dorp (VII, chap. 3, 54).
In Azijin’s “unusual” dream of Incanto and Jahlee, first he dreams of them walking by. Anxious that they might escape, he wakes up into another dream with his bed hanging on the wall like a picture (VII, chap. 3, 63) in a room flooded with sunlight because there is no roof (65), where he is happy and relieved that the guarding of Incanto and Jahlee was just a dream. This roofless room seems to be a structure of the Neighbors and recalls the pit.
Dutch: vinegar.
azoth the energy sword Mint gives to Silkhorn. It has a “watery, somewhat purplish stone in its hilt” (VII, chap. 16, 321). See HYACINTH.
B
Babbie “a tame hus” (V, list). He lives on Mucor’s Rock with Marble and Mucor, given to them by sailors for protection (V, chap. 1, 48; V, chap. 3, 82). Mucor sends him with Horn in return for the gift of The Book of the Long Sun (V, chap. 4, 105).
After Horn abandons him in Pajarocu, it takes Babbie a long time to return to Mucor’s Rock. He arrives there a few days after the Battle of Blanko, something like a year and a half since he had last seen Horn. After Mucor makes contact with Silkhorn, she sends Babbie to Dorp, and he arrives there in a few weeks.
When Babbie warps to Urth he looks like a strong hairy man wearing spectacles (VII, chap. 17, 345–46). After Silkhorn leaves Blue, Babbie goes away, into the woods (according to Hoof) or back to Witches Rock (according to Vadsig) (VII, chap. 17, 345).
Gate of Horn, Book of Silk Page 17
