The Fifth Civilization: A Novel (38 page)

His fellow warriors were sleeping near the big Kotaran
enclosure. They’d found sufficiently level ground in the woods and were resting
close to the clearings, where
kegars
rarely tread. Two Mountains had thought that too dangerous, being as they were
too close to the Kotarans, but David tried to explain the current state of
things. His hand gestures and drawn images were still baffling, but the warrior
gathered that the Kotarans were friends now. The most evil Kotaran had been
trampled by
duexi
and now they must
make friends with his comrades.

That seemed to be enough for the other warriors, but Two
Mountains was still wary. Who were these Kotarans anyway—if they were not
demons, why could they kill and fly around the skies? And if David and
Nikrun
and the green man were all
angels, why would they ally themselves with the Kotarans? Surely there was an
explanation, and that is why the Chiefs had sent him here in the first place.
But the answers could not come easily. Two Mountains was not sure if he
believed the visitors from the heavens, yet they were certainly not worldly
creatures.

In the end, he decided not to sleep and to stay up for the
rest of the day and night. While his fellow warriors dreamed, he went away to
think. One period without rest would not kill him. He’d done it before, during
the Initiation training. He even found that without sleep for a sustained
period, he became more lucid, could see things clearly, almost like chewing the
qiba
. Perhaps in this state he could
gauge the true intentions of these people.

Whatever the case, the legends and myths of the Hedda were
surely to change with these stories. He thought back to Hedda, his home seeming
so far away. He knew roughly their present location, but with their trip in
those flying boats it was going to be an even longer journey back. Snowy Island
was waiting for him, probably worried. She would be comforting the child, rocking
and nursing her, stroking her whiskers and telling him Father would be home
soon.

“God, show me the answers,” he said aloud, looking up at the
sky, where God surely was. Only the stars twinkled. Were they lights? The eyes
of offlanders? These were his people’s stories, now in doubt. Two Mountains was
comforted by two familiar sights on the horizon, shafts of light barely visible.
They were the two new moons, the month of Yetli Va just beginning.

Moon and half-moon
,
Two Mountains began, in silent prayer to the two objects.
At least you will be there to light my way home.

This book would not have been possible without influence from
the following: my mother, Anne, who instilled in me a love of reading and
writing; my father, James, who I have many times discussed religion and
philosophy and the stars; and my brother Daniel, with whom I share a love of
sci-fi and politics that shaped much of
The
Fifth Civilization
.

The works of Michael Chabon and Alexander Dumas finally
inspired me to begin a novel six years ago. I suppose I owe the Milwaukee
County Zoo a thank you as well, since I wrote a lot of this book while on the
clock there. Things can get pretty boring when you’re sitting in a popcorn
wagon all day.

Debra Rossing and S.A. Gibson reviewed my manuscript and
helped me immensely with editing. Errors in grammar, spelling, science, and
anything else are wholly my own.

Danielle Pahlisch designed a beautiful cover for me. Check
out her work over at
http://www.daniellemariefineart.com/
.
Seriously, she’s a great artist.

KSquare Magazine published my first chapter online and
deserves thanks for bringing extra attention to my novel.

A special thank you goes out to Krista Eichhorst, my
continuing partner in the writing life. Her advice, ruminations, edits, and wit
have all helped
The Fifth Civilization
for the better. The universe could not have provided me with a more
extraordinary friend.

Finally, thanks to all those I haven’t mentioned who have
helped make this novel a reality. Whether you read a few chapters of the
manuscript or lent an attentive ear as I related the plot to you, you have my
gratitude.

Peter
Bingham-Pankratz

April
2016

Peter Bingham-Pankratz is a Wisconsin native and graduate of
Beloit College. A lover of stories all his life, Peter first wrote and
illustrated his own amateur comic books as a young boy and gradually honed his
writing talents from there. When not writing, he enjoys hiking and searching
for the best Wisconsin beer.

This is Peter’s first novel.