Fifth Excerpt
My latest novel, A Diamond Found on Paradise, was released last month. Here’s another excerpt.
from Chapter V
After exchanging hellos, William sat on a chair and Mrenep sat on an avnome, which was a low platform gladifers used instead of a chair. Mrenep said, “I have been hearing reports of the found diamond.”
“It’s a lrye situation. The girl will not give the diamond to us.”
“The young woman claims that giving the diamond is lrye.”
“Do you think that’s true?”
“I am not sure. Yeot is defined relative to each person’s culture and mindset.”
“I assure you, with respect to our culture giving the diamond is ye.”
“There are many human cultures.”
“This is true, but selfishness is lrye with respect to all cultures.”
Mrenep didn’t say anything at first. William could see that he was thinking about what he’d said. Then Mrenep said, “My viewpoint does not agree. Everyone can do ye things, because it is no one’s opinion that he is a villain.”
“Are those ye things truly ye?”
“Yes.”
It was William’s turn to think. “If that’s true, can anyone disagree on yeot?”
“Yes, but the disagreement is more about viewpoint than yeot.”
“That’s dependent on a correct understanding of Gladilatian.”
“That is true.”
“The woman is not very understanding of Gladilatian. When she uses the words vra and ye, she doesn’t understand their true meaning.”
“When she spoke to me, I thought she used the word vra correctly.”
“You spoke to her?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I talk to her for the same reason I talk to you. I am a student of humans.”
“What is the reason for your claim that the woman’s use of vra is correct?”
“She said that her wearing the diamond is vra because wearing it is the completion of the happy chance of its discovery.”
“Are you in agreement with the woman’s claim?”
“She found the diamond; she was not looking for a diamond; she sometimes wears diamonds; the diamond is significant. How is wearing the diamond not vra?”
William didn’t have an answer. “I need to think about this.”
“We are all seeking the truth by the light of stars.”