by Jason Melzer
Books by Jason Melzer
The Trade Nation’s Series
Forge Kin
FORGE KIN
BY
JASON MELZER
FORGE KIN
Copyright © 2018 by Jason Melzer
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
For information contact:
Jason Melzer
https://jasonmelzertradenationsseries.wordpress.com/
[email protected]
Cover illustration by Jason Melzer © 2018
For my daughter Simran…
The future is as magical as the past.
Our eyes only need focus to see.
Chapter 1
Family heritage
The Monsoon season was a sweet memory with the dry and dusty windows reminding me of my parched lips. The morning sounds of the day were filled with birds chirping in the trees as a hammer was striking steel on an anvil outside. Bright sunlight kissed the red flowers outside my window bleeding there colors into the dusty glass. It was a beautiful weekend morning to wake up refreshed from a good night’s sleep.
My name is Simran and my ancestors have worked the forge, hammer and anvil since we could tell stories of it. That is until my father became an engineer and started teaching courses at the local university. Getting up from bed my hands and arms were still tired from making bangles with grandpa yesterday. My family training to become a smith left my muscles sore from making jewelry after school on the weekdays.
But today we will be picking up dad from his job and going to our family home in the city. My stomach growled before the hammering stopped followed by grandpa cursing and resuming hammering. Getting up with my twisted back I scooted over to the edge of my bed to get my clothes and my crutches. Tossing my two long braids to my back I reached the kitchen on my crutches as the smell of breakfast drew me to the dining table.
Sitting down mom removed a cloth that covered my plate and placed a bottle of butterscotch cane syrup next to my pancakes. I poured the syrup on and began eating my pancakes as mom admired the ornate bangles I made with Preti and grandpa. “These are beautiful girls. They will sell for top dollar at your cousin’s shop.” Polishing the bangles and pendants they shined with beautiful textures of spirals, ridges and watery ripples.
The sweetness of breakfast took me away for a moment before I drank my glass of milk. Finishing it the front door opened and grandpa’s footsteps crossed the house before he entered the kitchen. My sister Preti admired some of the jewelry mom had polished before turning around to greet the old man. “Good morning grandpa. Why are you working today?” The kind old man’s lips smiled as he lifted up a bangle in one hand offering it to Preti.
Turning with another bracelet he gave it to me, its shiny contrast made of gold and dark ripples on steel was good. “Here are my rewards for my two beautiful and hardworking granddaughters. Because you have learned to make patterns in your steel I give you Nehru family bangles. Gold mixed with family steel.” Putting the bangle on it passed my sore hand and looked beautiful as my tongue slipped admiring it.
“The other girls at school will be jealous.” Preti and I admired the bangle grandpa gave us as he continued. “It is our tradition to reward the newest smith in the family with a reminder of their family history. My mother was a Nehru from the south. My uncle trained me in the family tradition as I now train you to shape steel. You both have done well and after all of your hard training I give both of you the title of smith with a gift of our family steel.” Preti got up first to give grandpa a hug. Stopping myself from admiring my gift I moved over to the edge of my chair and I threw my arms around the old man.
His ticklish salt and pepper mustache and smile were accented with the smell of ash and slag. Gently wrapping his arms around me for a moment I had done it, the sweat and tears made me a smith as I whispered. “Thank you grandpa, I want to help you make more.” His warm smile was infectious as his kind voice answered. “We will my hard working Simran.”
Finishing the hug mom chimed in, “Hurry and get ready girls. I will get our ride so we can meet your father at the university.” Getting on my crutches I hurried to the door to find Preti admiring her new gift in the tall mirror. Whispering a song as she swayed and saw how she looked I turned to notice I had a loose braid. Fixing my hair I excitedly asked my sister about today’s adventure.
“Do you think that there will be cute boys at the college Preti?” My sister shot me an amused smile, “Lots of cute boys, yes.” After a few minutes of admiring our new gifts a horn was honking outside as mom called from our ride. The farmer’s truck filled with sugar cane only had enough room for us in the back as mom helped me climb inside. Passing the road to our private school Preti and I got to pick a piece of sugar cane as our ride to the city started off quietly.
Passing a small village mom started to play some of her favorite music as we started driving along the tea farms. Fresh green leaves and the smell of the tea plants filled the air as I waved to farm workers. They waved back to us with their bags like they did every weekend. Preti and I sang and even danced before I had to sit down as my back became stiff. Mom turned up the music and my sister continued to sway with the music and rhythm.
Pain began to rob me of my desire to sing as I just watched my sister being happy for the both of us. Preti finally sat down with me and I was again waving at anybody we saw while we finished our sugar cane treats. Passing the green trees along the outskirts of the city beautiful homes soon gave way to large apartment buildings and slums. The streets now filled with motor bikes, busses and cars as I asked my sister a question about her dreams.
“Do you think that our lives will ever be exciting enough to inspire a movie?” Preti took a few seconds to finish the end of a song before looking over to me. “One day Bollywood will make movies of us. We just need good clean fun.” Looking down to the bangle that was very pretty I just couldn’t see myself living a life that would inspire a movie. Leaving the highway people walked along the roadside waving to us as we passed with mom’s beautiful music.
Now it felt like the weekend as smiles were everywhere passing into the city with the sea of humanity around us. Busy people stood on the sides of the streets as they talked together seeming different somehow. Reaching the university where dad taught the students looked up into the cloudy skies above while talking. The clouds seemed to be breaking up but it was nothing worth looking at. Mom paid the farmer for the ride and I got out of the truck with my sister.
Grabbing my crutches from the truck bed my back still hurt. Turning to dads building I swung forward on my crutches and rushed through the door as Preti held it open for me. Together we walked down the carpeted hallway with the sounds of television news on the way to dad’s room. Seeing his open door dad stuck his head out and waved for us to come in, “Come here girls. You should see this.”
Reaching the room I heard the news reports before seeing his computer was streaming the news. An Indian reporter’s voice spoke as video was shown from the international space station. A giant ring shaped object appeared in the distance behind part of the station as the reporter continued. “The creatures living on this world contacted India’s government four hours ago. NASA is now making an announcement and we will return to their broadcast.”
Dad was talking on his mobile phone
as I looked at the green earth like appearance inside the ring. Not hearing mom come in the room dad still spoke on the phone and the video cut to an American woman speaking from NASA. “We began tracking the extraterrestrial designated ‘reef world’ last night at twenty one hundred hours before it moved into a stable orbit near the moon. After a period of silence we were able to communicate with the people of this world ship. They call themselves the Pontu and communicated to us a desire for trade and cultural exchange.”
Dad turned off the sound on the computer and hung up his mobile phone. “I have great news for my family. I was just talking to my friend Kavel back from my college days. Kavel is an advisor for the president of India and they just finished their call from Shoal.” Pointing to the image of the reef world on the screen he walked over to the image. “The reef world is called Shoal and our president was asked for representative engineers with experience in metallurgy.”
Dad turned away from the computer and looked at all of us. “We have been invited to stay on Shoal as a family for a few weeks before our people talk trade. What do you guys say? Do you want to spend two weeks on a new world?” Preti and I said ‘yes’ at the same time before we both turned to look at mom. Preti spoke up to our surprised mom. “We want to go mom!” The concern in her face softened and in a moment a smile appeared as she nodded her head.
“We should go visit this new world. And we should also invite grandpa before we go.” Dad paused for a moment smiling and thinking as his bright white teeth poked out from underneath his dark black mustache. Looking at me in the eyes he continued, “Your right. I will call him on the way home.” Dad noticed Preti’s bangle first and then pointed at mine.
“You two are now family smiths?” Quickly he pulled us into his arms and became way too emotional for a man. The moment quickly passed and Preti pushed out of the hug first, “Dad, we are going to see an alien world and you want to cry over bracelets?” Clearing his throat and acting tough he stood up and turned around getting his keys, “Your right Preti. We need to pack for our adventure.”
Another teacher in a suit poked his head into the room. “Darvesh, I just heard that you are going to that world in the sky. Is it true?” Hopping on dad’s back he carried me and my crutches to the door. “It is true sir. I will need a replacement teacher for my classes for the next two weeks. Can you have Zasha cover my classes?” The man in the suit Smiled at dad.
“I will have Zasha cover your classes. Bring back pictures. I want to see what Shoal is like.” Dad shook his hand while the man in the suit moved out of the way and we walked to the door down the hallway. With me on his back dad began moving towards the daylight that awaited us at the end of the hall. Preti ran ahead excited and I could not help but laugh as we moved onto an adventure.
Moving past open office doors teachers watched us from their rooms anxiously. A few of them wished us luck before we reached the sun lit glass leading to the outside parking lot. Opening it dad shifted to avoid hitting the door before lowering me to the ground and walking with me outside. A heavy beating in the air cruised overhead as a military helicopter flew over the college. My eyes were quickly drawn down to the three military trucks in the parking lot.
Soldiers in camouflage clothing were standing at attention as two waited for us on the curb of the parking lot. Swinging my crutches forward I was last to reach them as the commanding officer started talking to dad. “Is your name Darvesh Singh?” Straightening up dad replied. “That is my name. How can I help you sir.” The officer turned back and waved the soldiers back to the trucks. “We are here to transport all of you to the pickup site. The Pontu are waiting for you now.”
Preti took my arm and helped me move quickly to back of the nearest truck as the beating of a second helicopter approached. Being lifted into the open topped truck by my father I took a seat noticing the clouds were gone. The officer called up to us as soldiers were getting into the back of the truck. “We will be taking you to a barracks at the edge of town. The Pontu will be providing clothes and food on Shoal.”
The officer turned with the other soldier standing next to him before walking to the front of the truck. As the vehicles engines started a police siren drew my eyes to the road next to the school. The truck lurched forward following those sirens away from the lives we were leaving for two weeks. As helicopters continued to circle over head the whining of the trucks engine moved us past the crowded sidewalks and cleared streets.
People on the sides of the road were transfixed no longer speaking to one another. Many of them looked up to the skies or silently observed us. It was truly strange to see them frozen as if something held them against their will. They had become imprisoned in wonder. As if answering my unspoken curiosity many of the people were now pointing up into the sky leading me to look up.
It was distant and huge as a ring that looked larger than the moon hung in the sky. Pointing up and tapping Preti’s arm I saw something that looked like a small dim sun at the center of the ring. The dim sun was connected to a huge spire almost like a flashlight but on a planetary scale. The spire attached onto gears on the back side of the ring. “Look. There are mountains on it.” Looking over to Preti she was amazed. “I wonder what it is like up there.”
Looking back to dad and mom they were talking on the cell phone with what sounded like grandpa. “Dad, we are going to be on an alien space ship for the next two weeks. I will ask and see if they will let you come up alright? What do you mean no? You can bring some metal jewels and show them if you want. Will you come if I can get you up?”
Looking up far above the clouds the shape of the ring was surprisingly big. The large circle appeared to be grey with the teeth of a gear along the outer edge. Smaller giant gears rolled on the back of the ring connecting the megalithic engines and spire to the rings back. Trying to see more of the textures on the side of the gears it was beautiful and distracting. Our truck pulled into the barracks moving into a tree lined parking lot.
Helicopters passed overhead, sirens went quiet and Dad passed me to a soldier with my crutches. Now waiting for my mom and dad I looked over to see a soldier waving us over so I naturally moved ahead. Stopping me from passing I saw something move beyond him obscured by a fence. Still waving the commanding officer now stood with us waiting for my family. Turning back Preti was pulling mom and dad away from the center of the parking lot as they were now looking to the sky pointing.
I waited and hoped to soon see what was ahead. The officer next to me drew my attention as he shared a few words. “I envy you and your family young one. Make the most of your time on Shoal. You never know what will happen.” My family joined us as our escort and the guards moved aside leaving me to see the creatures. Dad moved ahead of me and we were escorted into the courtyard. Their frames had a human feel with short light fur and tall ears.
With short pointed snouts, pink noses and small whiskers they wore rich orange and white clothing. On their forearms were beautiful white arm guards with engraved symbols that were lit with different colored lights. Short hairs covering their skin made me think that they most resembled a mongoose. Unlike the mongoose the Pontu had long legs and arms with thin chests. Two of the creatures were taller than the third and even with my twisted back I was a couple of inches taller than them.
They couldn’t have been more than a hundred and twenty centimeters tall with three fang filled smiles greeting us. As dad stepped up one of the creatures moved forward extending its slender hand. “Doctor Singh I presume?” Dad gladly received the hand and shook it happily. “Yes I am. What is your name?” The alien looked up to dad and smiled making their introductions. “I am Lotu. This is my lovely wife Sollea and excited son Tolan. We are members of the Pontu race and we are here so our families can learn about each other.”
Lotu’s wife and son both moved forward to shake dads hand before dad introduced us. “I am happy to meet you. Please call me Darvesh and this is my beautiful wife Jasleen. And these are my two beautiful daughters P
reti and Simran.” After dad shook their hands Lotu looked at Preti’s bangle pausing and asking about it. “Did you do this Preti? My son Tolan enjoys working with the forge. Would you like to make a keepsake with one of our forges?”
Preti replied with a simple ‘yes please’ as I waited to shake their hands. Shifting off of a crutch I lowered my hand shaking lotu’s hand before he touched my bangle. “You’re family has so much skill with the forge I must have a friend meet all of you. He would love to tell you stories about our people’s culture of forging worlds. Would you like to hear it Simran?” Nodding and looking at Lotu I answered him with my own smile. “Yes please.”
Soon shaking Tolan and Sollea’s hands Lotu began handing out armguards like their own. Taking mine I slipped them over my wrists and they tightened to my forearms by themselves. The back of the Guard had a nozzle like on a rocket and white hard shell with small blue, orange and purple lights flowing down to a sleeve covering my wrist. Moving my bangle over my left armguard it fit perfectly before I looked back to see the others. Tolan surprised me looking at my wooden crutches. “Why do you have these things?”
