Saga "No Good Deed" -- (Gungan experiences during the Trade Federation Invasion of Naboo)

Well, I could sneak the next installment in early.....


....like, say, Monday or Tuesday? One of the advantages of having the story done completely before you start posting!

 

Those were good posts. Keep it up!

 

Well, I could sneak the next installment in early.....

Whatever Milady Authoress desires. I'm sure I can manage if I have to. And of course, if you post early then it will eventually be over that much sooner too... I tend to read a book in one sitting if I start it. So I am a very bad person to ask.

kd

 

Okay, I've got a few moments this morning where there's not enough time to get writing, so let's see how much I can review.

Oooh, yeah! The Gungans take on the maccaneeks and two tanks as well! Woo-hoo! Great action here. Loved the way some of the Gungans just shot up out of the water with their irduul-buumas. Good use of the Gungans' amphibian capabilities.

The way that many of the Gungans were injured and some were killed was quite realistic and showed that they were willing to make these sacrifices for the good of others. Wern's death was very touching. I liked the idea of the Gungans looking to the spirits of the deceased for help and guidance (and luck), and the way that Tarpals told Wern not to forget her family.

Edvic sounds like a typical teen -- always wanting action and adventure, not willing to wait, flitting around on that STAP. Actually, he sounds like Luke Skywalker, come to think of it. "Never his mind on where -- he -- is!" poke "What he -- is -- doing!" poke Okay, enough Luke. Edvic really does need to learn to follow the rules, though.

Loved the part about Rell Iss' kaadu complaining about him!

Great part about the Gungans helping Zanté to get over her fear of the tanks, and showing her that everybody is together and safe and happy while inside. It seems that they've taken over being her family ... I like it, but I do wonder why Brandes or the other humans don't try harder with Zanté. Or do they see that she trusts the Gungans more?

Loved the way Saché and Yané decided not to tell Captain Panaka about the second rule of the Third Patrol, for fear he might actually adopt it! I love subtle humour like that.

Oh, Herns is thawing out! So that's why he was so prickly before. I'd be resentful, too, if some species thought I was primitive and stupid! Good explanation, and a good Gungan saying -- leave it alone or bite it first.

Nice scene between Tarpals and Brandes, and the explanations of Gungan clans and families.

Wonderful idea with Peskis doing "droid talk!" Good idea to take the tanks, but what happens when your enemies think you're on their side? Great situation, and the Gungans seem to be rising to the challenge.

Oh, powerful scene there, with Zanté calling out silently, and then seeing her Gungan family caught by droids just as her human family was! And saved by Kimma at the very last possible moment. Wow!

Oops, gotta go now. Looking forward to the next installment, whenever you want to post it.

 

Wow! Thanks, everyone. I'm posting this a day early -- it's a little longer than average, but worth the extra space (I hope).

Keeper of Swords: Nice to hear from you again!

KD: I also have this annoying tendency to pick up a book and keep reading until it's done, resulting in my being up until the small hours of the morning. I really should't do that, especially when I have to go to work the next day....

Jane: You're supposed to be writing.... ! However, I'm still please to have your invaluable input.

I do wonder why Brandes or the other humans don't try harder with Zanté. Or do they see that she trusts the Gungans more? This is one of those cases where I'm not sure what exactly why the characters are doing what they're doing, even though the story is finished. We'll find out what happened to Zanté's parents in the next segment. I suspect Zanté is looking for a protector, and she's certainly found several. Or perhaps I'm just being unrealistic here and Zanté is merely echoing my own desire to spend time with a Gungan family.

I liked the idea of the Gungans looking to the spirits of the deceased for help and guidance (and luck).... I'd love to take credit for that, but it came up in my research. I'm not sure whether it came from the Secrets of Naboo role-playing manual, or the Databank at the official site, but I know I've read it somewhere. I'll have to publish a bibliography at the end of this, I suppose....


On with the story:


________



?These primitives are going to be harder to subdue than the humans,? Rune Haako remarked. He and Nute Gunray, two of the Neimoidians overseeing the occupation of Naboo, were sitting comfortably in a palace meeting room in Theed, watching the battle on a vid screen. The droid forces had finally cornered a group of those annoying resistance fighters, humans who were foolish enough to think they stood a chance against the Trade Federation?s army. Now, suddenly, a group of primitives had appeared from nowhere and fallen upon the droid battalion. Fortunately, the whole battle was taking place far enough away so the Neimoidians themselves were in no danger.

?Perhaps. I was thinking we should try to capture some of them. There are many people who would pay good money for such fighters. It might making keeping them alive worth the trouble.? Gunray peered thoughtfully at the picture on the screen.

The primitives? charge had carried them over the hill, away from the humans? position. As the Neimoidians watched, their two remaining assault vehicles glided to the top of the hill in pursuit of the primitives, who even now scrambled to protect a long, low transport that had halted partway down the other side of the hill.

Gunray leaned forward. The transport contained a number of the primitives, but something else was moving out of the vehicle as well. A human girl sprinted after a small primitive. Humans? And primitives? Together? Gunray and Haako watched as the girl and two immature primitives were confronted by one of the battle droids. The droids had been ordered to capture any and all humans alive if possible, unless the humans offered armed resistance. The primitives, however, were almost too dangerous to keep alive, as Gunray had learned after dealing with several of them as prisoners.

?Get the camera closer on that one,? Gunray ordered, pointing to a tan-and-blue figure in the midst of a knot of droids. The camera panned in, revealing a Gungan in dark brown leather, a long pole in its hands. The Gungan speared one droid and lifted it, smashing it into a second. Another unfortunate droid took the butt of the Gungan?s pole in the face; as the droid staggered, the Gungan dropped the spear, seized the droid by the arm, and flung it into the path of a blaster bolt. The Gungan snatched its pole up and stood snarling at the camera as a second Gungan and a human woman broke from the protection of the transport and sprinted to assist.

?Isn?t that woman one of the Na

 

Waaaaah

That's all the intellegent commentary I can mange right now. Except, thanks for Lt. Typho. I've enjoyed the work of the actor that plays him since he was on Xena. Are you going to explain the eye patch?

KD

 

I realised a few days ago that I have rather had my head in the swamp waters about something and it is time I faced up to it. The phrase "No good deed..." finishes "goes unpunished" in the most popular hits (Thanks to Clare Booth Luce. Who is full of snappy quotes to use for fic titles it appears to me. bunnies galore from that page.) So now I am really really worried about the rest of the Gunguns. I have a bad feeling about this.

KD

 

Don't worry, KD -- I don't write tragedies; folks in my fics generally get out of them all right. Although the Third Mounted Patrol does end up at the center of the Gungan offensive, come to think of it.... [face_shocked]

Does Clare Booth Luce have a webpage we could see?

 

KD: Are you going to explain the eye patch? No, I'm afraid not. My theory is that it happened during the infiltration of Theed Palace after the Queen returned, and of course the Gungans weren't present for that. Besides, this way I can leave that particular story to someone else to tell. (So feel free!) Lt. Typho really only puts in a brief appearance here, so on to the next sequence....


_____

Typho, supervising the loading of supplies into a trio of speeders, turned to face the Gungans approaching him. He had yet to learn the names of the rest of Tarpals?s command, but he recognized the adult Gungans as belonging to some sort of family unit. He nodded politely to them.

?The little-un, Zanté,? said the closest Gungan in a female voice. ?Yousa knowin? any?ting ?bout hersa fam?ly?? She indicated the girl, who sat in the grass with Arlan and the two Gungan children, the older of whom still bore a bruise on the side of his face. The youngsters had been given several toys and other items salvaged from some of the houses, with the instructions to keep busy and out of the way as the adults and older children packed supplies.

The human lieutenant shook his head. ?I?m sorry. All we know is that they?re not here. If she was being transported somewhere by droids, her parents are probably prisoners in one of the internment camps. Right now, we have no way of finding out.?

?Wesa talked it over,? the female continued, glancing to either side of her at the other two Gungans. ?Wesa want to tekk hersa wit? ussan.?

Typho stared at her. ?You can?t be serious. She?s not a Gungan,? he pointed out. ?She belongs here, with her people. We?ll do our best to find her parents if we can.?

?Shesa belongin? where shesa wanted,? the female argued. ?Wesa willin? to tekk care?n hersa, give hersa fam?ly.? She pointed to Typho. ?Yousan all goin? to find place to hide, mebbe attack the maccaneeks again. Wesan ?? here she indicated the other two adults with her ??goin? to Sacred Place ? diss?n safest place anywhere. Wesan tekk Zanté ?way from danger.?

Typho hesitated. One of the other Gungans cocked its head, then turned toward the group of children and suddenly whistled through its teeth. The children all looked up (as did the other humans in the area); the Gungan pointed at Zanté, and then made a couple of gestures. The girl rose and walked over to him; Plirri toddled over after her, Temmis trailing behind. The Gungan crouched down to her eye level, and then made a series of gestures with its hand. The girl watched solemnly, then nodded. As the Gungan straightened, the human reached up to take its hand and stood blinking at Typho.

?What was that all about?? the lieutenant asked.

The female replied, ?Hesa h?asked her iff?n she wanted to come with ussan. Shesa ?greed.?

?She?s not old enough to make that decision,? Typho said.

?Den mebbe wesa h?ask Rep Brand-ess, yiss?? the female suggested.


~*~*~*~


?Are you coming with us?? asked Arlan. He was lying on his stomach in the grass, looking up at Peskis, who was bending over him.

?Yiss, the kippton said my?m allowed to stay wit? yousan,? Peksis told him. He tilted his head to study the boy?s actions. ?What do yousa hev dere??

?They?re coloring sticks. I found them in one of the houses,? Arlan replied. ?You draw pictures with them. See?? He held up a thin, flat material; the picture showed three figures that had ovals for ears and long faces ? Gungans. The three seemed to be standing on the top of a mountain. One of the figures held a cup and was pouring a blue liquid out of it. ?The Captain told us the story about how A?Pensik made the water spill so it would fill up most of Naboo!? Arlan explained.

Peskis laughed. ?Yiss, yiss, A?Pensik, hesa allus meddling. Inna ever?t?ing. Kipps ever?one?s life interestin?, even the Naaboo. When the fust Naaboo kemm to diss world, A?Pensik went to meet dem. Wanted to see what deysa wuss. But da Naaboo, deysa frighted of hissan

 

Huh? No comment from the other Gunguns about Zante or am I just blind? I did read through the arrival at the Sacred Place twice trying to see if I missed something about her being tucked away or her being commented on or something. She went with Kimma and her family right? Or are Gunguns too polite to comment about people where they can hear them? No, or Herns among others would not have said what they did. Besides High Gungun would be safe enough. Hmmm. Oh well.

As usual a lovely post and a nice calm way for things to wind down at least a bit. And I must confess to relief that I needn't fear too much more death and destruction.

KD

 

KD: Huh? No comment from the other Gunguns about Zante or am I just blind? [snip] She went with Kimma and her family right? Or are Gunguns too polite to comment about people where they can hear them?

No, you're right, nowhere in the narrative does anyone comment about Zanté. And there are plenty of Gungans who think nothing of speaking their minds, as we all know by now. I didn't include a description of the last leg of the journey to the Sacred Place (by the time I had gotten to this part of the story, I really just wanted to get finished, already! [face_shocked]), so comments might have been made there, although most of the Gungans riding with Tarpals were around when the decision was made, and are probably used to the idea that Zanté's been "adopted" by now. Ceel's aides most likely wouldn't have said anything in front of a superior officer, and Ceel himself might not have even noticed her, since he was busy with Tarpals most of the time.

That's my best estimation, anyway....

After this, I have two more segments to post, and then an author's note describing where some of the ideas came from. I want to thank everyone who's stayed with the story this far, especially Knight_Dilettante for taking the time to comment throughout the entire narrative.

And we continue....


___________


Late afternoon sun filtered through the leaves as Tarpals made his way to his meeting with the Governors and command staff.

Otoh Gunga?s shrine, filled with shallow pools and hillocks, covered an area as large as the city itself. Mysterious stones, carved in the likeness of enormous faces, reared up out of the pools and ground. Around, and sometimes upon, these stones grew slender trees with their broad, flat leaves, as well as thin reeds and grasses. The leaf canopy overhead allowed only intermittent rays of sunlight through ? this was one place that was safe from the maccaneeks? spy equipment, at least for now. The humid air was full of the sounds of wildlife and the scents of dozens of plants.

The Governors had set up a place in the center of the shrine, a hilly circle surrounded by the statuary. The area was full of the Governors and their Rep Councilors, Generals and their staff members, and some of the more prominent Clan representatives. Tarpals grimaced inwardly; he?d made plenty of public presentations before, but that didn?t mean he had to like it. Nevertheless.....

Rugor Nass, Governor of Otoh Gunga and head of the Governors? Council, sat cross-legged on the ground before a partially buried statue. Beside him sat Rep Jidra Teers, Chief Engineer of Otoh Gungan, and Rep Ivor Been, Keeper of Records; behind them sat or stood the rest of the Rep Council. Ceel and a dozen of the army?s Generals stood off to the left; Governor Ossa Krenard of Otoh Dinistallis, the largest of the ocean cities, sat with the rest of the Governors on the right. Behind Tarpals, completing the circle, sat a group of Shrine Keepers, the spiritual guardians and advisors of the Gungans.

Ceel stepped down from his place in the circle. ?Honorable Governors, Advisors, Generals, and others, the remainder of the Third Mounted Patrol of Otoh Gunga has at last found its way to our Sacred Place. They have survived a difficult journey, and we are both relieved and gratified by their safe arrival. Captain Roos Tarpals, their commanding officer, is here to present his report of their travels.?

?Thank you, General,? Tarpals said gravely, and launched into a description of his Patrol?s activities. The group was silent through his account of the battle of Lake Paonga and the attack on the maccaneek transport. At Tarpals?s report of finding the Naaboo children and agreeing to escort them to Tendesay, many of the group members gasped, and murmurs of conversation ran along the circle. Tarpals continued with his account, describing the disagreements, struggles, adventures, training sessions, and the final battle outside the Naaboo town of Tendesay. By the time the narrative was

 

Lovely as usual. Loved the about face Herns makes. And Panaka's reactions struck me as perfect. Absolutely loved the last bit with Orrin. hehehehehe.

Poor Jar-Jar. I mean, he is annoying, true. But it must be hard being the Jerry Lewis character.

I can feel the end approaching and it's a bit sad. In the way I get when the credits roll on a movie that I really loved.

Well, back to work I'm afraid. So any more insightful comments I might be able to produce will have to come later.

KD

 

KD: Thank you for the comments. I really appreciate the fact that you've been here through the entire story, too. I owe you one of my hand-made counted cross-stitch bookmarks for perfect attendance.

I too feel sorry for Jar Jar, although I have a difficult time writing him in the exuberant, so-exited-that-I-trip-over-my-own-feet way that George Lucas portrayed him in Episode I. Jar Jar tends to be quite subdued in my stories, poor fellow. He's a topic of discussion in this next bit, but we don't seem much more of him face to face.

On with the show....

____________


The end result of the generals? planning session came as something of a shock.

?That?s it? That?s the battle plan? We?re going to stand in the middle of a field and let the maccaneeks shoot at us?!? exclaimed Artil.

?It?s my understanding we?re going to be allowed to shoot back,? Tarpals replied dryly. ?But, yes, that?s the plan. The Naaboo are going to attack the brain that makes the maccaneeks move and fight. If they can destroy it, the maccaneeks will stop working. In the meantime, however, it will be our job to keep the maccaneeks busy and out of the Naaboos? main city, by whatever means necessary.?

?Great, just great! Not only are we going to get slaughtered on the battlefield, we?re going to be led there by Jar Jar Binks! Binks! What ever possessed Nass to make him a general?!?

Tarpals folded his arms and scowled out into the leafy stillness of the Sacred Place. ?Do you want my honest opinion, or shall I just say ?capriciousness???

Artil stopped pacing and peered at him. ?What do you mean??

?I think that somewhere in the back of Nass?s mind is the idea that, since we?re going up against a superior force in what looks like a poor tactical move, there?s a very good chance that Binks is going to one of the casualties of the battle. That way, Binks dies a hero, which erases some of the embarrassment he?s caused his clan-family, and Nass is rid of him for good.?

Artil blinked several times, then comment wryly, ?You say that like it?s a bad thing.?

?Ven, believe me, I?ll be the first to agree that Jar Jar Binks is a walking disaster looking for a place to happen, but no one deserves murder in the guise of altruism. I?m betting Nass knew exactly what he was doing when he gave Jar Jar his so-called promotion. Binks has barely the basic warrior skills.?

?Yeah, well....? Artil?s voice trailed off.

?Which is why he?s riding with us during the battle.?

Artil?s mouth fell open, then closed with a snap. ?Why am I really not surprised by this?? He peered at Tarpals, a puzzled expression on his face. ?What is it with you and Binks? Why do you keep defending him??

Tarpals?s gaze turned from the surrounding flora to the ground at his feet. ?Because I know what it?s like to grow up without a close family. To be shuffled from one relative to another, without any strong ties to any of them. Your children have you and your essoin, just as the Nril children have Kimma and Sen Tal and Hanar. Good, strong adults who take a genuine interest in them as an individual, not just as another resource or potential alliance-marriage prospect. The first time I felt that kind of closeness was when I took the initial warrior training as a child. The military became my family, more than my clan did. It was because of my military experience that I was adopted into the Zalaaca Clan. On behalf of my civilian clan-family, I pledged to two essoins.?

?But you pledged to the third one for love,? Artil finished for him.

Tarpals?s mouth twitched into an ironic smile. ?Well, they were hardly going to turn down the chance to gain the family a Shrine Keeper.? He glanced up as Rell Iss approached with of one of Ceel?s aides. ?Looks like the Generals are ready for our strategy presentation.?

As the two of them moved deeper into the Sacred Place, Artil ventured, ?The gods won?t let an

 

?It?s my understanding we?re going to be allowed to shoot back,? Tarpals replied dryly.

That nearly got me killed. I started reading for my mid-afternoon break and nearly choked on my juice. You'd think I would know better by now than to read your work anywhere other than a nice quiet private room with no food or drink to choke me when I hit a gem like that. (I know just what Artil means though. Similar thoughts ran through my brain when I saw the film the first time. That and the bit from the end of Blackadder goes Forth.

?I think that somewhere in the back of Nass?s mind is the idea that, since we?re going up against a superior force in what looks like a poor tactical move, there?s a very good chance that Binks is going to one of the casualties of the battle. That way, Binks dies a hero, which erases some of the embarrassment he?s caused his clan-family, and Nass is rid of him for good.? A harsh possibility but a definite one. I hadn't thought of that possibility.

?No. This was provided by a member of my temporarily expanded command, who is even now continuing to work behind enemy lines,? Tarpals responded, dead-pan. Off to one side, Rell Iss made a choking sound. Another LOL moment.

?Implicitly,? Artil replied. ?But that?s because I know a superior lifeform when I see one.? *snort* Yet another LOL but I'm learning. No food or drink until I finish reading.

I am glad that Treece was ok. (I hope I spelled Treece correctly though.) I do like Tarpals and I wanted him to find she was safe.

back to work

KD

 

KD: Sorry about the juice incident. I seem to do that to people a lot.

Treece is fine, thanks, and her arrival is quite fortuitous, as you'll see in this last installment.....

__________


On the morning after their arrival in the grasslands, Rell Iss busied himself in the welcome work of caring for the Third Mounted Patrol?s herd of kaadu. It was a familiar task and allowed him to politely ignore the throngs of Naaboo who seemed to have nothing better to do than come and gawk at the army.

So when yet another group of Naaboo approached, Rell Iss concentrated a little more closely than usual on scrubbing Artil?s mount, until a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

?There they are! Rell Iss, is that you??

Melni Bibble was picking her way across the field, followed by Arlan Hepell, Irric and Nalla Eckener, and a crowd of other Naaboo that Rell Iss assumed were either sightseers or family members. Bringing up the rear of the group was a kaadu in full tack; several of the Naaboo kept glancing over their shoulders at it.

Melni, dressed now in an ankle-length robe of some shimmering material, broke into a trot. Behind her, moving at a much more dignified pace, walked Saché, Yané, and Hela Brandes. The rest of the Naaboo children also broke into a run; for a moment Rell Iss was reminded forcibly of the kaadu and falumpaset stampede during their journey to Tendesay. Ven Artil poked his head around the kaadu to laugh at the knot of children surrounding Rell Iss and excitedly jabbering at him in greeting.

?Rell Iss, you just know everyone all of a sudden, don?t you?? he drawled, and stepped around the kaadu to be introduced. When he came to Hela Brandes?s name, he made the finger-circle gesture at chest level and bowed. ?Rep Brand-ess, my?ve heard great deal ?bout yousa. Issa pleasure to meet yous.? He repeated the gesture to the elderly Naaboo introduced as Sio Bibble, Melni?s grahnd-faather.

Brandes reached out to take his hand in a Naaboo greeting. ?Captain Tarpals thinks very highly of you, Lieutenant. Is that the right rank? Did you know it took three people to do your job on our trip to Tendesay??

Artil made a modest gesture with one hand. ?Kippin? all?n dese pups out?n trouble issa tough job,? he remarked. ?But wesa manage.? Grinning he turned to Rell Iss. ?Go fetch the Captain. I suspect this is one group of Naaboo he?ll want to see.?

?How is Orrin?? asked Saché as the aide trotted off on his search.

Artil laughed. ?Shesa doin? grand. Kenn tell shesa bekk to full strength ? shesa givin? every?one hersa ?pinion, h?asked for or not. But mesa t?ink shesa be glad seein? yousa. Talks ?bout yousan a lot.?

"I don't suppose you'd know anything about Corporal Herns?" asked Brandes.

"Notta 'corp'ral' enny mo-ah," Artil replied. "Hesa wass wounded in the battle, but survived. Gen?ral Yoss hass given hims a battlefield p?romotion. Hesa ?pparently rallied half a cav?lry division during the battle and charged two of the maccaneek tahnks ? took them both out?n the fighting. The Gen?ral, shesa thinks hesa mebbe mekk an off?cer yet.?

"Well, good for him!" Brandes laughed. "I am glad -- he was prickly at first, but I guess the children won him over."

Tarpals appeared a few minutes later and offered the members of his expanded command a formal salute, then allowed them to introduce him to various family members.

?An? whosa thiss?? he asked, nodding at the kaadu.

Melni shot her grahnd-faather a sheepish look. ?I don?t know. It just showed up last night at our home, and was still there this morning. It followed us down here. I tried to get the tack off, but it?s tied on really tightly.?

?It won?t let anyone except Melni lead it,? Irric added. ?Not even Saché or Yané.?

?But at least it doesn?t run away from us, either,? Nalla added.

The animal looked disturbingly familiar. Tarpals walked up to the [

 

And now we've come to the end of the tale. Anyone wishing to continue on (brave souls! ) with the next story in the "series" is directed to "Something of Value", which is located at the TFN Archive. The link is in the first post on page one of this thread, and in my signature. It's much, much shorter than this piece, and basically deals with an adventure for both Tarpals and Panaka over an incident that follows the Trade Federation invasion.

In the next few days, I expect to post a small "author's note" outlining where some of my information came from and explaining where I found certain items or ideas that made their way into the story.

I do have several other stories in the works, but I don't know how soon any of them will be finished (although I've got one that's really almost done, I just need a couple of underwater scenes written and some loose ends tied up). As usual, I plan to have the story completely finished before I post any of it.

It's been a long journey, longer than I expected when I started posting this story back in October. (Five and a half months! No wonder I feel tired! ) Thank you to everyone who stuck with me through to the end; I hope you enjoyed the ride. (And KD, I meant it about the bookmark. PM me an address, okay?)

May you find good companions and plenty of good luck on your own personal journeys, wherever they take you.

 

I am scum, slime, the icky stuff that neither Naboo nor Gungun will eat.

I should have posted on Thursday my appreciation of the beautiful ending of this story. I love that Peskis was a God's secret name. I got the shiver down my spine the second Treece said that. Very nice indeed. I love the idea of the picture going with him too. Excellently played.

This story is so wonderful in so many ways it is going right onto the 'make sure to save a link to' list.

Words fail me. Which was part of the reason for the delay. The other part of the delay in replying was me succumbing to challenges again.

KD

 

KD: I am scum, slime, the icky stuff that neither Naboo nor Gungun will eat. I should have posted on Thursday my appreciation of the beautiful ending of this story.

Hey, you posted a reply before the thread was locked. That's timely enough for me! And thank you for responding, too. Do me a favor -- if you start posting another story and I don't pop up on the thread in a reasonable amount of time, send me a PM and let me know you're writing, okay? I'll do my best to return the favor of being a timely and thoughtful reviewer.


~*~*~*~


For anyone who's just dying to know where my background information on the Gungans can be found (oh, yeah, I'm sure everyone's just breathless with anticipation here... ), below is a bibliography of sources. I don't think this is an exhaustive list, but it covers the basics, anyway. I've included some of the Native American sources, so if you see anything below that looks out of place, that's probably why it's there.

While I would love to take credit for creating all of Peskis?s Gungan folk tales (only the story of the peko-peko is even remotely mine), I must admit to borrowing (in some cases heavily) from Native American legends. The story of Naa?a?orrek is a retelling of two versions of a story I read years ago; the best place to find it is probably The Windigo?s Return: a North Woods Story, by Douglas Wood, although I?ve seen it elsewhere. In my version it?s actually blended with a string story called ?The Mosquito?, which can be found (complete with do-it-yourself instructions) in a book called Story Vine.

Readers can decide for themselves who or what Peskis was (or wasn?t). Stories of the Trickster can be found all over the world in many different cultures. The Trickster appears as Anansi the Spider, Br?er Rabbit, Coyote, and Raven, to name a few. The Trickster often relies on wits and cleverness to overcome opponents or achieve his goals, but sometimes he outsmarts himself. One of the most intriguing views of the Trickster can be found in Andre Norton?s book Fur Magic. I?m not certain how authentic it is in terms of Native American legend, but her story reveals a somewhat darker side of Coyote, who calls himself The Changer. He is responsible for forming man, but by doing so changes the world in ways even he himself had not foreseen, thereby bringing about his own downfall.

Anyone interested in exploring adaptations of Native American legends can start with the works of two authors: Joseph Bruchac, who has adapted many tales of the Eastern Woodlands Indians, and Paul Goble? who works mostly with the tales of the Plains Indians. Any decent library or bookstore will have copies of at least some of their works. Mr. Goble won the 1973 Caldecott Award for his book The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses, which features the author?s distinctive artwork. There is also a ?Christmas story? called The Give-Away, written by Ray Buckley; it sounds a great deal like Peskis?s Bargain Story fragment. While this is not a traditional Native American legend or myth, it was written and illustrated by a man who is part Indian.

Many of the Gungans? survival skills are also drawn from historic Native American culture. The circular houses Orrin and the two Handmaidens create are based on wood and bark houses used by the Native Americans in parts of the northeastern United States before the European explorers arrived, as are the bark cups and plates, the cooking skin, and various herbal remedies.

The names of many of the animals in this story are taken from The Wildlife of Star Wars, one of my all-time favorite reference and coffee table books. (Yes, I really do have books like that out where everyone can see them. You should see the rest of my house....) The only creatures that are my own creation are the flittavenss; everything else is borrowed.

The competitions the Gungans hold at the beginning of the rainy season are loosely based on the concept of the Festival of War

 

I'm sure everyone's just breathless with anticipation here... My daddy done raised me truthful, so I gotta admit I was breathin' while I was a-waitin'. But I am thrilled to see all this fascinating research shared with us all so generously. Many thanks!

I have decided to reread this tale with the ending surprise in mind to see if the little bell that went off during one of Peskis' story telling sessions is really there. I forget which story it was (did he tell one about himself - assuming that he was in fact the God and not some poor disturbed person?) but I do remember thinking at the time that it had more immediacy - more of a "You Are There" (that old history tv show that they showed as film strips in my middle school) feeling than some of the others. I thought it was just the style of the story then but now I wonder....

I found this story to be much more than "moderately" entertaining. I learned things, was inspired to learn more things, and was highly entertained as well. So thank you very much for sharing it.

KD

 

OK now that the story's over I have no choice but to admit that I'm a lurker. I'm really really impressed by how much research went into this, it's really really cool! I loved the plot and the slow change in the attitudes toward the two species, and how you used children as a main part of the story. Nice story!