My goal in the 2021 A2Z Challenge is to complete a novel I started a few years ago but which has languished for lack of love (writing!). Each Post, daily in April (Sundays excepted), will consist of some aspect of the novel plus a chapter from it. I hope that the Alphabetical items will give a bit of extra background, muse on the writing process, but most of all, help me develop certain ideas to improve the novel. Some 12 chapters are already written so I have a bit of a head start…

Please comment with any opinions good or bad – you have no idea how much I need feedback at this stage…

When I planned these posts as adjuncts to publishing chapters of my book “Train Wreck”, language seemed an obvious choice for the letter “L”. I thought of those books that make up alien languages or at the very least, give the protagonists and the objects in their world, made-up names. I knew this would be a rich source of thought and when I started researching, I had to go no further than the redoubtable Wikipedia to see the truth of it. This excellent article takes you through the influence of linguists and semantic philosophers on science fiction including Jr Tolkien (not sure I would call him SciFi but he certainly invented whole languages) or George Orwell and his Newspeak. I realised that this is far too big a subject to tackle here so I will consider it mainly in relation to the choice s involved in writing “Train Wreck”

A central argument around the use of language in SciFi, is this quote from Walter Meyers – “The central question of linguistic relativity is this: does our perception of reality constrain our language or does our language constrain our perception of reality?” Clearly Tolkien and Orwell believed that language maketh the man but much science fiction simply bypasses the issue by providing some form of Douglas Adam’s Babelfish. Dr Who also has the Tardis handle all issues of translation.

At the other end of the spectrum, the novella “Story of Your Life” by Ted Chiang (made into a film from which the above image is taken) is entirely about a linguist endeavouring to make sense of alien communications (language) written in ink-in-water-like circles with their fingertips from within a cloud of gas.

My novel has no aliens in it, only an alien world but all the protagonists are human. I recently re-read Ursula le Guin‘s masterful utopian novel “The Dispossessed” where the action alternate between a fertile planet and its large, barren moon where a revolutionary breakaway group have been encouraged to settle and work out their new lifestyle. This book is really an exploration of political themes and the tyranny of the majority and it need not have been set on an alien world at all. But le Guin chooses to set her novels in SciFi settings in order to free herself from the bounds of actual Earth history – even if her work causes us to reflect strongly on our earthbound life and times. So le Guin gives her two peoples in “The Dispossessed”  their own languages but without going into much detail, except – and this relates to the quote about linguistic relativity, when she wants to illustrate incompatible ideas from the two peoples – literally, ideas that they don’t both have a word for. The language of the revolutionary people is in fact, made up by the founders as a new language for a new society, rather as Esperanto was intended to be.

So I don’t feel the need to give my ex-Earthlings a new language and they only need new words for new things that are unique to their new planets. But, I think that the SciFi writers who make up new languages, remind us that language does have a deeper meaning than the words themselves and today, with the rise of right-wing politics, maybe a re-reading of George Orwell might be in order…

The following chapter of “Train Wreck” moves the action on from a dead end towards another possible lead. There is no great drama, but for there to be great heights in a narrative, there must also be plains…

Chapter 12
Back to Square One

“I know that he probably meant ‘when I wake up from being drugged’ -again!” Jack said to Stig, as they sat in the stern seats of a motorboat travelling back at top speed. They were going fast, by the standards of Hawaii 2 where there was seldom any need to hurry, and motorboats were an extravagant item in terms of manufacturing resources. True, anyone could build or even commission the building of such a boat, but unless they clubbed together with others, it is unlikely that they could amass the credits to do it. There was no elite of high-earners with a need to display their wealth conspicuously as there were on the other planets of the Pan-Human Federation. Besides, although engines were not the gas guzzling, high polluting objects that had helped destroy Earth, nevertheless, people who enjoyed messing about in boats were more likely to be into sailcraft on Hawaii 2.

It had been the next morning that Stig walked into the house to find Jack asleep on the couch in the living room. After ascertaining that Jack was okay, he had made a cursory exploration of the house and island. “We know about this place, Jack – it’s a resource that can be hired for special occasions, although its usually the government hiring it for entertaining off-worlders for diplomatic type events. Robert – President Widnes, has often sat where you were sleeping just now!” “I am living the high life indeed!” said Jack with a wry laugh “Though I am mixing with low-life as well…” Jack had already described the events that had befallen him since his kidnap at the mosque but now he was thinking about his interrogators last remark.“The one who did all the talking, well, he did threaten Douglas but he admitted that was a bluff once he believed that I had no access to Anna’s files and that if I had, they were indecipherable and he seemed at pains to make sure I didn’t think too badly of them for kidnapping me. But he said something interesting ‘If you want to know who did, follow the money – or in this case, not money but something else… Ask yourself in whose interests it is, not to have wider access to Hawaii 2 – I can guarantee it is no off-worlder!’ What do you think he meant by that Stig?”If Jack noticed the momentary shadow that clouded Stig’s face, then it didn’t register or he assumed it was to do with Stig also puzzling over the remark, but later, when Jack went up to stand beside the helmsman and watch their progress up the Euphrates, back towards New Orleans, Stig frowned as he became more thoughtful about Jack’s account. There was no doubt that the men represented commercial interests, probably from Hawaii 1 and Stig had already taken a moment to phone colleagues in both the Police and the Rangers – but as he explained to Jack, he knew form past experience such operators were well funded and well organised and he didn’t expect to have much luck tracking them down. Most likely they worked in some cover role at the Hawaii 1 Embassy. Stig’s phone rang and he listened for a moment then replied “well I didn’t think that would lead anywhere – anybody who knows the island knows there is no permanent staff or residents come to that and no security – its not considered necessary. What about the boat they used – anything on that?” After a moment listening, he added “Okay let me know if it leads anywhere. You would think that in almost crime free society, criminal activity would stand out like a sore thumb – does it heck as like – we’re back to square one! Speak to you soon – we’re not far out from New Orleans now. I think it’s best if I keep Jack with me for now and if he’s agreeable and we’ll go and check out that report on Gervald’s camper van…” 

¤ ¤ ¤ ¤

 Jack was sitting in the passenger seat as Stig drove them way out along the East coast New Orleans far behind them, they had been on the road four hours now and the roads were getting rougher by the mile. Luckily the Land cruiser they were in could handle most terrains. It was truly a hybrid vehicle, solar panels all over the exterior gathered as much power as they could, storing it in the batteries incorporating the rare metals that were one of Hawaii 2’s main exports. The metal had made electrical storage more efficient than ever before. The stored electricity split water down into hydrogen and oxygen and the hydrogen powered fuel cells. Momentum was also conserved as electrical power when braking but if electrical/ hydrogen power failed, there was a combustion engine as back up. The car looked bulky but was incredibly light-weight. When it was re-fuelled, it took petrol in one tank, water in another and could be charged up with electricity too. Most cars on Hawaii 2 were electric only, so there were plenty of charging points in towns and cities – but that was where cars were used most. Stig’s Land Cruiser was a rarity and was custom built since Hawaii 2 was not populous enough to support a car industry beyond the little urban run-arounds and cars too expensive to import via the space lift.
Before leaving New Orleans, Stig and Jack had gone for a good meal and Stig had arranged for another call with Jack’s mother and young Douglas whilst he loaded various supplies for the trip ahead. The video call was not an unqualified success since Douglas suddenly grew upset at the screen facsimile of his father and the lack of his tangible presence. It left Jack equally upset too, overwhelmed by his paternal missing of Douglas, but comforted strangely by the fact that Jack did still miss him – he had already experienced how swiftly babies move swiftly and relentlessly forward in their development and was glad not to be forgotten by his son.
“So where exactly are we going?” Jack asked Stig as they bumped along the narrowing road.
“Erehwon! It’s nowhere spelt backward! And if you think you know the underside of Hawaii 2 society, then Erehwon is the real dirty little secret. I know our libertarian society is so full of freedom – as long as you don’t hurt anyone else – so everybody should be happy someplace here. But no! Erehwon is where the rebels of the rebels go – the ultimate misfits – the ones the most tolerant society in the universe can’t tolerate. Or that’s only what the residents feel to be the case. Like Lowtown, some people go there and after a while, some personal process is complete and they return to the rest of society…”
“I see!” said Jack, although in truth he was struggling to imagine a place more outré than Lowtown.
A few minutes later, Stig pulled off the road near a group of trees. Trees had been getting sparser as they headed west and Jack knew that eventually, their route led to the Great Western Desert and trees would disappear completely. Stig got out and stretched himself after the drive and Jack followed suit.
“Over there!” said Stig and started around the group of trees. There, partially concealed by piles of branches pinning down balls of Hawaii 2’s very own tumbleweed – stood a camper van. Actually, more of a camper trailer being towed by what passed for top of the range in Hawaii 2’s pantheon of electrical vehicles – that is a more powerful, longer range car than the average urban run-around.
“Is this Gervald’s camper?” asked Jack. “So we believe…” said Stig as he opened the drivers door and bent down to examine a plate bearing serial numbers. “As you may have noticed, the number plates have been removed but – and this definitely is Gervald’s van” Stig said straightening up “- he didn’t remove the serial number!”
“Do you think he’s alive then?”
“Maybe… there was no body found after the fire at his place although it was so fierce that we couldn’t be one hundred percent sure. Given that we are so close to Erehwon, I’m thinking that both the fire and coming here, are ways to drop off the radar. I had a long talk with your friend Clem while you were on the island – firstly to see if he had any clues as to where you might be, but also to learn more about Gervald and his possible off-world connections. Clem couldn’t help much with either. Actually, it was while I was with Clem that I had the call from a ranger saying that he had found this van though with no sign of Gervald. So then we speculated as to why Gervald might want to disappear from view…”
“I see, so you think we’ll find him at Erehwon?” said Jack.
“I hope so! If off-world interests are playing a more active part in even fringe activities like drugs, then it’s concerning – especially when you put it alongside the attempt to get full access to Hawaii 2 through Anna’s research. That sounds more like mining companies whilst the people Gervald may or may not have been dealing with are more likely to be criminals. Having said that, mining companies control their employees access to everything – including drugs.”
“So they are not smuggled onto Arctane then?”
“No. They might not be shipped there by official channels but the company knows and allows the trade because they can then keep it under control. What type of drugs are available and how good they are at keeping the workers ‘happy’ but not so much that it affects their work.”
“Drugs are so self-regulating here, I mean hardly anybody lets their drug use get out of control here or ends up ill, and if they do, then they get treatment. It’s difficult to imagine such an abusive system as you have just described on Arctane!”
“Well and on Hawaii 1 too – drugs are part of the capitalist system – the shadow side if you like. The rest of the Federation’s governments can’t seem to accept the libertarian solution that we on Hawaii 2 have proved works.” Stig opened the camper trailer and started searching through all the compartments. “I have a suspicion that what you just said about out of control drug use might not apply in Erehwon.”
“How do you mean?” replied Jack, stood at the doorway watching Stig.
“Well it’s true that most people like you, or Clem, come through the rebel, drug taking stage unscathed or with, at worst, a little medical help, but a few people don’t want to pass through the other side. Whether it’s the drugs that have affected their mental state or the other way round, but as long as they are not a danger to anyone else, we won’t force anyone to have medical or psychiatric interventions. Erehwon is where those people eventually gravitate to. I have an undercover ranger who keeps an eye on things – Roger, you’ll be meeting him later – but we try not to interfere if possible.”
“Do you think Gervald came here to sell drugs as well as to hide away?”
“Possible, I guess. It’s not like he needs – except…”
“Except what?”
“Well, everybody who lives here still collects their stipend – there’s a shop just down the road between here and Erehwon where the residents come to collect their stipends and get supplies. You know yourself, everyone gets the stipend whether they work or not, but whilst most take the occasional break from productive work, the residents of Erehwon may never work again and maybe it’s shame that keeps them where the rest of society can’t see them.”
“Maybe!” said Jack thoughtfully “I’m getting intrigued to see this place now.”
“Okay, well I don’t think there’s much more to be gleaned here, so let’s get along to the shop. We’ll leave the car there. Oscar – the shop owner, he’s not one of my guys but he knows who I and Alex are, knows he can turn to us in case of trouble, and so he lets me use his garage on the rare occasions I come here – best not to be too obvious…”
Oscar not only allowed Stig to stow the Land Cruiser in his garage but offered them a shower and a meal before setting off into Erehwon on foot. Stig brought in a trunk from the boot and after showering he opened it up to offer Jack a “disguise” from a selection of either somewhat well-worn or very eccentric clothes. Jack settled for well-worn and having cleaned up in the shower, Stig encouraged Jack to make at least the parts of him that showed, a little dirty! Stig himself, donned faded denim-dungarees over a once-white t-shirt and a dark wig that covered his distinctive blonde hair.
“When I went to see Clem,” Stig said “I asked him for something that would make a person seem strung out without doing any harm to them. What I would like for you to do, is pose as someone in withdrawal so that we have a chance to score something maybe a little unusual that might smoke out a connection to Gervald – assuming he did come here to deal. Maybe he has plenty of money and he is just hiding out – we don’t know – I have checked and he hasn’t drawn his Stipend since the fire. Jack! Are you prepared to play that part with the help of Clem’s pill?”
“If it came from Clem, I trust it. Let’s do it!”