Acorna's Rebels

by Anne McCaffrey

  Ancestors—unicorn-like sentient species, precursor race to the Linyaari. Also known as ki-lin.

  Ancestral Friends—an ancient shape-changing and spacefaring race responsible for saving the unicorns (or Ancestors) from Old Terra and using them to create the Linyaari race on Vhiliinyar.

  Ancestral Hosts—see Ancestral Friends.

  Andina—owner of the cleaning concession on MOO, and sometimes lady companion to Captain Becker.

  Aridimi Desert—a vast barren desert on the Makahomian planet, site of a hidden Temple and a sacred lake.

  Aridimis—people from the Makahomian Aridimi desert.

  Arkansas Traveler—freight-hauling spaceship piloted by Scaradine (Scar) MacDonald.

  Attendant—Linyaari who have been selected for the task of caring for the Ancestors.

  Balakiire—the Linyaari spaceship commanded by Acorna’s aunt Neeva.

  Basic—shorthand for Standard Galactic, the language used throughout human-settled space.

  Becker—see Jonas Becker

  Bulaybub Felidar sach Pilau ardo Agorah—a Makahomian Temple priest, better known by his real name, Tagoth. A priest who supports modernizing the Makahomian way of life, he was a favorite of Nadhari Kando before her departure from the planet. He has a close relationship with his young relative, Miw-Sher.

  Calum Baird—one of three miners who discovered Acorna and raised her.

  chrysoberyl—a precious cat’s-eye gemstone available in large supply and great size on the planet of Makahomia, but also, very rarely and in smaller sizes, throughout the known universe. The stones are considered sacred on Makahomia, and are guarded by the priest class and the Temples. Throughout the rest of the universe, they are used in the mining and terraforming industries.

  Condor—Jonas Becker’s salvage ship, heavily modified to incorporate various “found” items Becker has come across in his space voyages.

  Declan “Gill” Giloglie—one of three human miners who discovered Acorna and raised her.

  Delszaki Li—once the richest man on Kezdet, opposed to child exploitation, made many political enemies. He lived his life paralyzed, floating in an antigravity chair. Clever and devious, he both hijacked and rescued Acorna and gave her a cause—saving the children of Kezdet. He became her adopted father. Li’s death was a source of tremendous sadness to all but his enemies.

  Dinan—Temple priest and doctor in Hissim.

  Dsu Macostut—Federation officer, lieutenant commander of the Federation base on Makahomia.

  Edacki Ganoosh—corrupt Kezdet count, uncle of Kisla Manjari.

  enye-ghanyii—Linyaari time unit, small portion of ghaanye.

  Fagad—Temple priest in the Aridimi desert, who spied for Mulzar Edu Kando.

  Felihari—one of the Makavitian Rainforest tribes on Makahomia.

  Feriila—Acorna’s mother.

  Fiicki—Linyaari communications officer on Vhiliinyar expedition.

  Fiirki Miilkar—a Linyaari animal specialist.

  Fiiryi—a Linyaari.

  fraaki—Linyaari word for fish.

  Friends—also known as Ancestral Friends. A shape-changing and spacefaring race responsible for saving the unicorns from Old Terra and using them to create the Linyaari race on Vhiliinyar.

  Gaali—highest peak on Vhiliinyar, never scaled by the Linyaari people. The official marker for Vhiliinyar’s date line, anchoring the meridian line that sets the end of the old day and the beginning of the new day across the planet as it rotates Our Star at the center of the solar system. With nearby peaks Zaami and Kaahi, the high mountains are a mystical place for most Linyaari.

  ghaanye (pl. ghaanyi)—a Linyaari year.

  gheraalye malivii—Linyaari for Navigation Officer.

  gheraalye ve-khanyii—Linyaari for Senior Communications Officer.

  giirange—office of toastmaster in a Linyaari social organization.

  GSS—Gravitation Stabilization System.

  Haarha Liirni—Linyaari term for advanced education, usually pursued during adulthood while on sabbatical from a previous calling.

  Hafiz Harakamian—Rafik’s uncle, head of the interstellar financial empire of House Harakamian, a passionate collector of rarities from throughout the galaxy and a devotee of the old-fashioned sport of horse racing. Although basically crooked enough to hide behind a spiral staircase, he is genuinely fond of Rafik and Acorna.

  Highmagister HaGurdy—the Ancestral Friend in charge of the Hosts on old Vhiliinyar.

  Hissim—the biggest city on Makahomia, home of the largest Temple.

  Hraaya—an Ancestor.

  Hrronye—Melireenya’s lifemate.

  Hrunvrun—the first Linyaari Ancestral attendant.

  Iiiliira—a Linyaari ship.

  Iirtye—chief aagroni for narhii-Vhillinyar.

  Ikwaskwan—self-styled leader of the Kilumbembese Red Bracelets. Depending on circumstances and who he is trying to impress, he is known as either General Ikwaskwan or Admiral Ikwaskwan, though both ranks are self-administered. Entered into devious dealings with Edacki Ganoosh that led to his downfall.

  Johnny Greene—an old friend of Calum, Rafik, and Gill; joined the Starfarers when he was fired after Amalgamated Mining’s takeover of MME.

  Jonas Becker—interplanetary salvage artist; alias space junkman. Captain of the Condor. CEO of Becker Interplanetary Recycling and Salvage Enterprises Ltd.—a one-man, one-cat salvage firm Jonas inherited from his adopted father. Jonas spent his early youth on a labor farm on the planet Kezdet before he was adopted.

  Judit Kendoro—assistant to psychiatrist Alton Forelle at Amalgamated Mining, saved Acorna from certain death. Later fell in love with Gill and joined with him to help care for the children employed in Delszaki Li’s Maganos mining operation.

  Kaahi—a high mountain peak on Vhiliinyar.

  Kaalmi Vroniiyi—leader of the Linyaari Council, which made the decision to restore the ruined planet Vhiliinyar, with Hafiz’s help and support, to a state that would once again support the Linyaari and all the life forms native to the planet.

  Kaarlye—the father of Aari, Maati, and Laarye. A member of the Nyaarya clan, and life-bonded to Miiri.

  ka-Linyaari—something against all Linyaari beliefs, something not Linyaari.

  Karina—a plumply beautiful wannabe psychic with a small shred of actual talent and a large fondness for profit. Married to Hafiz Harakamian. This is her first marriage, his second.

  Kashirian Steppes—Makahomian region that produces the best fighters.

  Kashirians—Makahomians from the Kashirian Steppes.

  kava—a coffee-like hot drink produced from roasted ground beans.

  KEN—a line of general-purpose male androids, some with customized specializations, differentiated among their owners by number (for example, KEN637).

  Kezdet—a backwoods planet with a labor system based on child exploitation. Currently in economic turmoil because that system was broken by Delszaki Li and Acorna.

  Khaari—senior Linyaari navigator on the Balakiire.

  Khleevi—name given by Acorna’s people to the space-borne enemies who have attacked them without mercy.

  kii—a Linyaari time measurement roughly equivalent to an hour of Standard Time.

  ki-lin—Oriental term for unicorn, also a name sometimes associated with Acorna.

  Kilumbemba Empire—an entire society that raises and exports mercenaries for hire—the Red Bracelets.

  Kisla Manjari—anorexic and snobbish young woman, raised as daughter of Baron Manjari; shattered when through Acorna’s efforts to help the children of Kezdet her father is ruined and the truth of her lowly birth is revealed.

  Kubiilikaan, the legendary first city on Vhiliinyar, founded by the Ancestral Hosts.

  Kubiilikhan—capital city of narhii-Vhiliinyar, named after Kubiilikaan, the legendary first city on Vhiliinyar, founded by the Ancestral Hosts.

  LAANYE—sleep-learning device invented by the Linyaari that can, from a small sample of
any foreign language, teach the wearer the new language overnight.

  Laarye—Maati and Aari’s brother. He died on Vhiliinyar during the Khleevi invasion. He was trapped in an accident in a cave far distant from the spaceport during the evacuation, and was badly injured. Aari stayed behind to rescue and heal him, but was captured by the Khleevi and tortured before he could accomplish his mission. Laarye died before Aari could escape and return.

  Laboue—the planet where Hafiz Harakamian makes his headquarters.

  lilaala—a flowering vine native to Vhiliinyar used by early Linyaari to make paper.

  Liriili—former viizaar of narhii-Vhiliinyar, member of the clan Riivye.

  Linyaari—Acorna’s people.

  Lukia of the Lights—a protective saint, identified by some children of Kezdet with Acorna.

  Ma’aowri 3—a planet populated by cat-like beings.

  Maarni—a Linyaari folklorist, mate to Yiitir.

  Maati—a young Linyaari girl of the Nyaarya clan who lost most of her family during the Khleevi invasion. Aari’s younger sister.

  MacKenZ—also known as Mac, a very useful and adaptable unit of the KEN line of androids, now in the service of Captain Becker. The android was formerly owned by Kisla Manjari and came into the captain’s service after it tried to kill him on Kisla’s orders. Becker’s knack for dealing with salvage enabled him to reprogram the android to make the KEN unit both loyal to him and eager to please. The reprogramming had interesting side effects on the android’s personality, though, leaving Mac much quirkier than is usually the case for androids.

  madigadi—a berry-like fruit whose juice is a popular beverage.

  Maganos—one of the three moons of Kezdet, base for Delszaki Li’s mining operation and child rehabilitation project.

  Makahomia—war-torn home planet of RK and Nadhari Kendo.

  Makahomian Temple cat—cats on the planet Makahomia, bred from ancient Cat God stock to protect and defend the Cat God’s Temples. They are—for cats—large, fiercely loyal, remarkably intelligent, and dangerous when crossed.

  Makavitian Rainforest—a tropical area of the planet Makahomia, populated by various warring jungle tribes.

  Manjari—a baron in the Kezdet aristocracy, and a key person in the organization and protection of Kezdet’s child-labor racket, in which he was known by the code name Piper. He murdered his wife and then committed suicide when his identity was revealed and his organization destroyed.

  Martin Dehoney—famous astro-architect who designed Maganos Moonbase; the coveted Dehoney Prize was named after him.

  Melireenya—Linyaari communications specialist on the Balakiire, bonded to Hrronye.

  Mercy Kendoro—younger sister of Pal and Judit Kendoro, saved from a life of bonded labor by Judit’s efforts; she worked as a spy for the Child Liberation League in the offices of Kezdet Guardians of the Peace until the child labor system was destroyed.

  Miiri—mother of Aari, Laarye, and Maati. A member of the Nyaarya clan, life-bonded to Kaarlye.

  mitanyaakhi—generic Linyaari term meaning a very large number.

  Miw-Sher—a Makahomian Keeper of the sacred Temple cats. Her name means kitten in Makahomian.

  MME—Gill, Calum, and Rafik’s original mining company. Swallowed by the ruthless, conscienceless, and bureaucratic Amalgamated Mining.

  Mog-Gim Plateau—an arid area on the planet Makahomia near the Federation spaceport.

  MOO, or Moon of Opportunity—Hafiz’s artificial planet, and home base for the Vhiliinyar terraforming operation.

  Mulzar—the Mog-Gimin title taken by the high priest who is also the warlord of the Plateau.

  Mulzar Edu Kando sach Pilau dom Mog-Gim—High Priest of Hissim and the Aridimi Plateau, on the planet Makahomia.

  Naadiina—also known as Grandam, one of the oldest Linyaari, host to both Maati and Acorna on narhii-Vhiliinyar; died to give her people the opportunity to save both of their planets.

  Naarye—Linyaari techno-artisan in charge of final fitout of spaceships.

  Nadhari Kando—formerly Delszaki Li’s personal bodyguard, rumored to have been an officer in the Red Bracelets earlier in her career, then a security officer in charge of MOO, then the guard for the leader on her home planet of Makahomia.

  narhii-Vhiliinyar—the planet settled by the Linyaari after Vhiliinyar, their original homeworld, was destroyed by the Khleevi.

  Neeva—Acorna’s aunt and Linyaari envoy on the Balakiire, bonded to Virii.

  Neo-Hadithian—an ultraconservative, fanatical religious sect.

  Ngaen Xong Hoa—a Kieaanese scientist who invented a planetary weather control system. He sought asylum on the Haven because he feared the warring governments on his planet would misuse his research. A mutineer faction on the Haven used the system to reduce the planet Rushima to ruins. The mutineers were tossed into space, and Dr. Hoa has since restored Rushima and now works for Hafiz.

  Niciirye—Grandam Naadiina’s husband, dead and buried on Vhiliinyar.

  Niikaavri—Acorna’s grandmother, a member of the clan Geeyiinah, and a spaceship designer by trade. Also, as Niikaavre, the name of the spaceship used by Maati and Thariinye.

  Nirii—a planetary trading partner of the Linyaari, populated by bovine-like two-horned sentients, known as Niriians, technologically advanced, able to communicate telepathically, and phlegmatic in temperament.

  nyiiri—the Linyaari word for unmitigated gall, sheer effrontery, or other form of misplaced bravado.

  Our Star—Linyaari name for the star that centers their solar system.

  Paazo River—a major geographical feature on the Linyaari homeworld, Vhiliinyar. pahaantiyir—a large cat-like animal once found on Vhiliinyar.

  Pandora—Count Edacki Ganoosh’s personal spaceship, used to track and pursue Hafiz’s ship Shahrazad as it speeds after Acorna on her journey to narhii-Vhiliinyar. Later confiscated and used by Hafiz for his own purposes.

  piiro—Linyaari word for a rowboat-like water vessel.

  piiyi—a Niriian biotechnology-based information storage and retrieval system. The biological component resembles a very rancid cheese.

  Praxos—a swampy planet near Makahomia used by the Federation to train Makahomian recruits.

  Rafik Nadezda—one of three miners who discovered Acorna and raised her.

  Red Bracelets—Kilumbembese mercenaries; arguably the toughest and nastiest fighting force in known space.

  Roadkill—otherwise known as RK. A Makahomian Temple cat, the only survivor of a space wreck, rescued and adopted by Jonas Becker, and honorary first mate of the Condor.

  Scaradine MacDonald—captain of the Arkansas Traveler spaceship, and galactic freight hauler.

  Shahrazad—Hafiz’s personal spaceship, a luxury cruiser.

  sii-Linyaari—a legendary race of aquatic Linyaari-like beings developed by the Ancestral Friends.

  Siiaaryi Maartri—a Linyaari Survey ship.

  Sita Ram—a protective goddess, identified with Acorna by the mining children on Kezdet.

  Standard Galactic Basic—the language used throughout the human settled galaxy, also known simply as Basic.

  stiil—Linyaari word for a pencil-like writing implement.

  Taankaril—visedhaanye ferilii of the Gamma sector of Linyaari space.

  Tagoth—see Bulaybub.

  techno-artisan—Linyaari specialist who designs, engineers, or manufactures goods.

  Thariinye—a handsome and conceited young spacefaring Linyaari from clan Renyilaaghe.

  Theophilus Becker—Jonas Becker’s father, a salvage man and astrophysicist with a fondness for exploring uncharted wormholes.

  thiilir (pl. thilirii)—small arboreal mammals of Linyaari home world.

  thiilsis—grass species native to Vhiliinyar.

  Toroona—a Niriian female, who sought help from Acorna and the Linyaari when her home planet was invaded by the Khleevi.

  Twi Osiam—planetary site of a major financial and trade center.

&nbs
p; twilit—small, pestiferous insect on Linyaari home planet.

  Uhuru—one of the various names of the ship owned jointly by Gill, Calum, and Rafik.

  Vaanye—Acorna’s father.

  Vhiliinyar—original home planet of the Linyaari, destroyed by Khleevi.

  viizaar—a high political office in the Linyaari system, roughly equivalent to president or prime minister. Virii—Neeva’s spouse.

  visedhaanye ferilii—Linyaari term corresponding roughly to “Envoy Extraordinary.”

  Vriiniia Watiir—sacred healing lake on Vhiliinyar, defiled by the Khleevi.

  Wahanamoian Blossom of Sleep—poppy-like flowers whose pollen, when ground, is a very powerful sedative.

  wii—a Linyaari prefix meaning small.

  yaazi—Linyaari term for beloved.

  Yaniriin—a Linyaari Survey Ship captain.

  Yiitir—history teacher at the Linyaari academy, and Chief Keeper of the Linyaari Stories. Lifemate to Maarni.

  Yukata Batsu—Uncle Hafiz’s chief competitor on Laboue.

  Zaami—a high mountain peak on the Linyaari homeworld.

  Zanegar—second-generation Starfarer.

  Brief Notes on the Linyaari Language

  by

  Margaret Ball

  As Anne McCaffrey’s collaborator in transcribing the first two tales of Acorna, I was delighted to find that the second of these books provided an opportunity to sharpen my long-unused skills in linguistic fieldwork. Many years ago, when the government gave out scholarships with gay abandon and the cost of living (and attending graduate school) was virtually nil, I got a Ph.D. in linguistics for no better reason than that (a) the government was willing to pay for it, (b) it gave me an excuse to spend a couple of years doing fieldwork in Africa, and (c) there weren’t any real jobs going for eighteen-year-old girls with a B.A. in math and a minor in Germanic languages. (This was back during the Upper Pleistocene era, when the Help Wanted ads were still divided into Male and Female.)