1Land of the Baby People
It wasn't as if I did anything different that morning. My alarm went off at five and I hit the snooze till five-thirty before I got up, showered and dressed. A little after six I left my small flat and briskly walked to the tube station three blocks down. The station was almost empty at that hour, most people driving or biking to work rather than taking public transportation. A homeless man who was always at the station smiled at me and I returned it with a friendly wave before the early train arrived and I boarded.
Three or four people were in the car, but we didn't make conversation or eye contact. Within three stops they were all gone, anyway, and no one else boarded, so I was alone. The next time the train stopped I would get off, and hurry to work, or so I thought, as I stood holding a metal railing as the train passed through an unlit section of tunnel. When the light returned, however, it wasn't the frosty iridescent light of the tubes, but the bright light of sunlight. The train slowed to a stop and the doors slid open with the customary hiss.
I stepped out carefully for this was not my stop; it wasn't a tube station at all, just a rectangle of cement beside the train's tracks. The door slid closed and the train started up, going the opposite direction leaving me no way to return from where ever I was. I saw then that the vehicle couldn't have gone any farther; a large bank of moss covered rocks strewn over with spider webs blocked the way.
As I examined the pile a slight movement caught the corner of my eye. I hastily turned and met the eyes of a man some ten feet away. I took him to be about twenty, my age, by his look and clear eyes. He was handsome of face with deep russet hair that looked so soft I had the inclination to reach out and touch it. We were both silent for a moment, neither of us knowing quite what to say.
"Hello," I said, breaking the silence like a rock through a glass window. I smiled nervously, and as the man smiled back my stomach unclenched.
"Hello there," he said, stepping around the rocks that lay unceremoniously on the gleaming tracks. As he closed the distance between us I saw that his eyes were green, a bright green not seen in nature, the brightest I had ever seen. "You speak English then?" He had a slightly American accent, but it still held a hint of the English twang.
"Well yes, I'm from England," I said cheerfully. He frowned slightly, the smile wilting around the edges.
"England? Is that a town in Gooarga?" I frowned at this.
"Gooarga? What's that?" He blinked at me and smiled again, laughing out loud.
"You really aren't from around here, are you?"
I smiled again and shook my head. "No, my name is Penelope. My friends call me Penny. What's your name?" I held out my hand to shake but the young man unexpectedly took me in a tight embrace instead.
"My name is Goo 437, but most people just call me 'Hey you!' or 'The one with the face!' It would be confusing to just call me Goo, considering how many of us there are." I frowned again. He had been holding me while he spoke and finally released me.
"What do you mean, 'How many of you there are'?" He shrugged in a silly sort of way, almost as if I had asked the color of the sky.
"You're really not from around here then," he reiterated. "Every baby boy born is named Goo, and every baby girl born is named Gaa," he explained. "I was the 437th boy born in this century, so that's my name. Penelope, what a pretty name. Don't you have a number to go with it too?"
I shook my head. "No, everyone where I come from has a different name, well not everyone. Some people have the same names but we don't number them, there's not really any reason to." His keen eyes opened a little wider at that, and he smiled brighter, which made his eyes sparkle even more and lit up his whole face.
"Different names for everyone? Wow," he pointed away. "Here in Gooarga only very special or important people have their own names," he said.
"Well, you're special to me why don't I give you a name?"
He stared at me for a moment, his smile dimming, but then it brightened and he hugged me again. "Really? That would be wonderful!" He let go suddenly and pulled back. "But I'm not special at all," he said, dejection spilling into his eyes.
"You're the only person I know here, and you're so very nice to me, so you're very special." His eyes lit back up. "How about your name be…" I thought for a moment, wracking my brain for a proper name. "Cedric? Or would you like something different?"
The young man cut me off with his hands. "No, I love it. Cedric. Cedric." He said it a few times, as if getting a feel for it. "It's perfect, Penelope. Thank you so much!" He hugged me again, this time trapping my arms at my sides and squeezing me tight.
"How did you get here?" He asked suddenly.
I sighed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you,"
"You should try anyway," Cedric said, his face lighting up with a smile. "I'm very gullible,"
It was then that Cedric, new name and all, asked if I would like to see his home. I eagerly accepted, for who doesn't want to explore a new land given the chance? In this way that I learned the Gooargian's method of naming. I told him of my train ride that morning and in return he explained many things about his country to me. Gooarga was an empire I learned, and was therefore, led by an emperor, but this office was not passed through bloodlines or anything so plain. Candidates for the throne would participate in a battle of merit, Cedric was vague about this for the battles are very secretive and change every time preformed, and the winner would take the throne for a number of years.
They were also at war with another kingdom to the north called Brubleen (The r is pronounced almost as an l in an almost French fashion). Although no one was quite sure, Cedric informed me, it was believed that the war was started over a petty matter involving the theft of something very precious to Gooarga's emperor by Brubleen's emperor. This was ages ago, and the war had continued as emperors took over the positions.
I wanted to ask about his daily life, customs and the like, but we arrived in his small town before I had the chance. A round woman met up with Cedric and me the moment we arrived, and I quickly took her to be my friend's mother. Her language was full of raspberries and slurred words, sounding strangely like adult talking "baby talk" to a small child.
"Penelope, this is my mother, Gaa 362." Cedric put his arm around the woman as he spoke, smiling comfortingly at both of us. I smiled and nodded at the woman who watched me in silent awe.
"I'm very pleased to meet you," I said cheerfully. She smiled, but it was uncertain.
"I'm afraid my mother doesn't speak English. Actually, there's only a few in my village who can."
I nodded my understanding, and then watched as he translated my message. She smiled again, understanding in her face but a hint of wonder in her eyes. Others of the village had begun to gather around us by this point. I smiled nervously waved at the gawkers but this just seemed to intensify their wonder. Cedric raised his voice and spoke to the group as a whole in the strange gurgling language. I heard my name, and his said several times before the speech was done, and could guess what he had been explaining. The looks quickly changed from awe to joy as they heard his words, and they rushed forward to embrace me one at a time, Cedric introducing me as they did so.
"This must be confusing," I said when it seemed I had hugged everyone. "What with everyone having numbers rather than names, do you always hug when you meet someone new?" Cedric smiled again, that giddy, sweet smile he used so often.
"It can become rather confusing, and yes," he said, gently leading me after his mother to what was likely his house. "We embrace to greet each other. Is it not the same where you come from, in England?"
I shook my head. "We would normally shake hands or just nod. People who are close will sometimes hug or kiss upon meeting again, but not strangers." He held the door, a piece of heavy cloth, open for me.
"Really? How odd, and what's a kiss?"
I smiled a little. I would later learn that although the Gooargian's society was based mainly on affection, they didn't kiss. It was almost a taboo for them, and they had no word for the action.
"It's a… maybe I'll show you someday Cedric." I smiled sheepishly, because how do you explain what a kiss is to someone who has no concept of the thing? Then we stepped into the small house and were immersed in the smell of food cooking. That afternoon he showed me around town and the surrounding countryside. We hastened back to his house for supper, which was so delicious that I granted Cedric's mother the name Margret, after the heroin in one of my favorite novels.
I was in Cedric's village, Wonba, for two weeks before everyone had been named. That was when the first of the emperor's men showed up. The emperor hearing rumors of the spate of naming had sent men to find out if they were true. At first Cedric was worried that they would take me away, and hid me when the men came. After the first few hidings I promised him I wouldn't do anything foolish, not without him at least. He agreed to let me stay out when the men came through. The soldiers didn't know what to make of me. My clothing was strange and I spoke English perfectly, which was odd, me being a girl. The second time they met me they asked, through Cedric, of course, if I would like to meet the emperor. I agreed, but with the condition that Cedric accompany me as my translator. We said goodbye to Margret and the others; then we were escorted to the royal city in a coach that had been prepared for my transport.
Several hours later we arrived in the capitol city of Largas, but Cedric and I filled them with talk of the country. We spoke in English, although I had picked up some Gooargian, because Cedric was suspicious of the soldiers and didn't want them to know what we were saying, even if it was meaningless pratter. When we arrived we were ushered into an exceptionally grand throne room. The only odd point was where I expected to see a throne for the emperor, there was a crib. A gold crib mind you, but still just a crib. A woman stood beside the crib and I took her to be some kind of nurse, because of her attire.
"Where's the emperor?" I whispered to Cedric, leaning closer so no one would hear me. He looked at me the way he did sometimes, as if I was hopelessly clueless.
"Right there. Who do you think is in the crib?" He whispered back. I laughed out loud before I could stop myself, calling the gaze of everyone in the room. I smiled sheepishly, leaning into Cedric again and whispering even more quietly.
"You must be joking. The emperor is a baby?" Cedric didn't answer my question because a man, a courier I guessed, loudly tapped his staff on the ground for silence.
"I present to you his majesty, the great Emperor Toolak," he said loudly as the nurse reached cautiously into the crib and carefully lifted out a small boy, dressed elegantly in the purple and gold royal gowns of his office. The child couldn't have been more than six, and I almost laughed out loud again. The woman sat the boy softly down on his feet, and he took a few small steps forward.
"Is this the one who has been presenting names upon others?" he asked, his voice high and almost silly in contrast to his words. The courier nodded hesitantly as the diminutive ruler looked at him, and then the child's eyes shifted to me. I couldn't believe it; a child emperor? There had of course been young kings in England's history, but they had been the results of death and the children always had regents to look after the affairs of the country. This child seemed to have power all on his own, and no one was contesting it. I cleared my throat as he looked at me, wondering how to deal with the diminutive ruler.
"What is your number, strange Gaa?" he asked, addressing me in English as he had addressed the courier.
"I don't have a number, your grace," I said, choosing my words carefully and fighting the urge to laugh. "But I do have a name, it is Penelope." A collective gasp went up from all who stiffly stood around the large hall, and then the air filled with quiet chatter. "I'm a native of England, new to your country," I explained, as Cedric gave me a warning look. The small emperor seemed to regard me for a tedious moment, then looked at Cedric.
"Have you bestowed a name on this one?" he asked, the little voice trying for grand and failing. I nodded, and he went on. "What service did he do you to earn such an honor?"
"He is my translator, sir; he helps me communicate with those who speak only Gooargian." The boy nodded at that.
"What of the others in Wonba what favors did they do you?" Cedric looked worried I couldn't understand why. This was a child what would he do?
"They took care of me. Cooked me meals, showed me around, washed my clothes, and showed me kindness at every possible opportunity," I answered. The boy king nodded again, as if accepting this answer.
"I ask you and your translator to stay in my court and to tell me of your native country, England." I glanced at Cedric and he nodded, looking better and smiled again.
"We would be honored, your grace."
I had been at the emperor's palace for only a few days when I grew tired of it. It was not that I didn't enjoy the time that I spent with the young king, or his noble subjects, it was just that there is only so much I could do with a bunch of children. That was what they were of course. The emperor, all his lords, and ministers were children. I learned much about the country during my time in the library, all of which I found very odd. An emperor ruled till he was ten; on his tenth birthday a summons was sent out to one male baby between the ages of three and five, from every village. They arrived over in the next few months and a contest was held (The type of contest is a very tightly held secret so I could not obtain this information) after which winner was trained in the proprieties of an emperor. Then on the old emperor's eleventh birthday, the new emperor was coroneted. Those boys who did not win were offered the opportunity to be schooled or to go home. This was how Cedric had learned English. He had been a candidate for the emperor sixteen years before and had stayed on in the palace to be schooled until he was eight. I also learned of the country's current war. It had started, I learned, with a squabble over the theft of the emperor of Gooarga's favorite teddy bear.
As the days passed, I began to understand how petty and selfish Gooarga's rulers were. I watched in horror as reports came to the emperor of dying crops, starving people, and illness ravaging the land, and watched him respond with shipments of toys to those in need. Rich banquets were held every night, yet over half his country had food taken from them to supply the royal kitchens. And no one but Emperor Toolak himself had a name. I endeavored to name those around me as I had done in Wonba. I named a maid here, a servant or butler there. I named those I came in contact with for the next several days until almost everyone around me was named.
"You're just getting yourself into trouble you know that don't you?" Cedric asked blatantly one morning after I named a servant who had stumbled down the hallway. "The emperor isn't going to like this one bit,"
I shrugged. "He doesn't care much about anything, that emperor."
"That attitude is going to get you into trouble."
I looked at him and smiled, but I saw worry behind his eyes. "Just be careful."
I was careful, but I still named people. Later that day that I was summoned by the emperor himself. I went to the throne room and found the young king already out of his crib and standing. I curtsied as was customary, but his expression worried me. He looked like someone had taken his candy.
"Miss Penelope," he said in that small, grand voice. "Have you been naming people?" he asked directly. I felt it must be his age that made him so forward.
"Yes I hav,e your grace," I answered shortly.
"Under what pretences?" He was angry; his ministers were stiffly standing in a half circle behind him.
"Those who help me take care of me," I answered, trying to look comfortable with all those young eyes on me.
"A scullery maid and a palace chef helped you?" His voice had changed from grand to malicious and his voice had risen to almost that of a girl's.
"The food is delicious here," I said, "and Molly was very helpful when I…" The little emperor cut me off.
"This is unacceptable!" He said it loud enough that his small voice echoed in the huge room. "My ministers and I have decided that you are not who you say you are. You are not from England but from Brubleen, sent here to spy on us." I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up his hand and went on. "Don't try to deny it; we have decided it is true. You will be executed immediately." I had never thought that the rulers of Gooarga would be capable of execution, they were children for gracious sakes, and the very idea infuriated me.
"How dare you!" I said, receiving startled looks from everyone in the room, including the emperor. "You're just a child. What right have you to execute anyone? Or to lead a people you don't even care about while fighting a war you know nothing about?"
"Seize her!" The cry was high and whiny. The emperor clenched his hands and launched them about in the air shouting "Seize her" over and over. The guards, all adult, rushed at me and I tore back through the door.
The grand hall was full of normally ridged people, but they backed off as I entered. The looks on their faces told me that I was a disease that they didn't want to catch. I raced past them into the dinning hall where the tables were being set for dinner by kitchen servants. I glanced at them as I ran, and realized that I recognized almost all of them, I had given them names. There was a loud crash behind me and I knew the guards were in the hall. I hurried toward the kitchens, noting as I did so that the servants were all heading to the door, holding plates, utensils, anything they could. I stopped short and turned to watch what they were doing and saw them surge forward to meet the guards coming at the door. Molly, a maid I had named the day before looked back at me and smiled.
"Don't worry, Miss Penelope. We'll hold them here," I nodded my thanks and turned on my heel, rushing again to the kitchens. I tore through the door, finding the room empty and rushed out a side door into an empty corridor. I wasn't sure where I could go, but then Cedric was there.
"I told you so." he breathed quickly. "We need to go to the stables I have horses prepared; can you ride?"
I nodded as I ran. "I'm English; of course I can ride a horse." He nodded back and we ran, the guards behind us. We reached the stables ahead of the guards and hurriedly mounted the readied horses. Cedric galloped off so fast I was afraid I wouldn't catch him, but I did.
"They'll follow us, won't they?" I asked, my horse galloping beside his.
"How can they follow with no horses? I let them all loose." He smiled his playful smile and picked up speed.
"Where are we going?" I shouted over the thunder of hooves, pulling myself even with him again.
"Home, both of us." He didn't look at me, and I didn't reply.
We reached Wonba in less than an hour. Knowing the royal guards were ages behind us, we hurried, on foot, to the train tracks. Cedric took only a moment to tell Margret of what happened and to warn her of the approaching royal guards. When we rounded the rock pile I saw that a train had just pulled up. As we watched the doors hissed open, then ran. We rushed to the train, afraid it would pull away leaving me, and I jumped onto the vehicle. I turned anxiously to Cedric.
"What will happen to you?" I asked, breathless.
"I don't know, nothing too bad, I'm sure."
I nodded though not believing him. "Thank you, Cedric I don't know what I would have done without you." He smiled that silly smile again and I kissed him quickly, leaning over to reach his mouth. Shocked, he touched his lips.
"What was that?" he asked, the smile coming back.
"A kiss," I said as the doors started to slide shut.
"Goodbye, Penelope. I'll never forget you," he told me quickly.
"You too, Cedric." I felt tears pricking my eyes. "Will I ever see you again?" He smiled and opened his mouth to speak, then the doors hissed closed and the train lurched forward. I raced to the back of the train, pressing my face to the glass and waved at him, tears starting to spill onto my cheeks. He returned it, then the sunlight disappeared and I was in the tunnel and he was gone forever.
Light returned to my vision, and I found myself lying down. Where was I? Had I been caught? I tried to sit up, but hands stopped me.
"Careful, miss, you slipped and hit your head. Are you all right?" I didn't recognize the voice, but it was English and I realized I was on the train.
"I'm fine," I said, sitting up slowly. "Did I pass out?" I asked the woman. She looked strangely familiar, but I couldn't place her face.
"Yes dear, for several minutes." The train slowed to a halt, and the door hissed open.
"What stop is this?" I asked.
"Miles Street," she said. I gasped, standing up a little too quickly, leaving myself dizzy. The woman steadied me and my head cleared. I checked my bag, still at my side, and my work papers, still inside.
"This is my stop I have to go. Thank you so much…"
"Margret," she said gently, smiling.
"Thank you Margret, goodbye." I slipped off the train just before the doors hissed closed behind me and hurried towards the tube station stairway. As I climbed the stairs to the street I remembered where I had seen the woman before.
"Margret, Cedric's mother," I said breathlessly, but then shook my head. It was all too strange for words. I hurried down the street toward my office, my head down, worried more about my own thoughts than what was going on around me. I walked stiffly into a human shaped form, loosing my balance. I fell backward onto the ground, hair sliding into my face and my bag spilling open, pouring my papers all over the sidewalk.
"Oh, miss, I'm so sorry!" said I voice I knew. I looked up into the brightest green eyes I had ever seen and gasped.
"Cedric?" I asked without thinking. The young man blinked, and smiled that silly smile.
"Do I know you?" he asked, holding his hand out. I took it and he helped me to my feet.
"Not quite," I said, smiling. "I'm Penelope,"
He shook the hand he already held. "You sure? You look awful familiar Penelope," he said. He let go of my hand and knelt down, gathering my papers into a neat stack.
I shook my head. "I'm not sure of anything today," he stood and handed the papers back to me. "Nothing except you, Cedric." He smiled even more, making the look even sillier.
"How so?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you,"
"You should try anyway," Cedric said, his face lighting up with a smile. "I'm very gullible,"