Wolfe Tone Tales (eBook)

UNU Universe

Noel McGrath (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2024 | 1. Auflage
900 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-4220-0 (ISBN)

'Hello reader. Yes I'm staring at you and speaking. You find it odd that I broke from the fourth wall, or what I personally consider a fourth set of eyes. My name's Abraham, and I'm a historian of my family's history. Now I wonder what a historian is doing, introducing you to this rabbit hole you're about to enter. I can think of no better choice as I regale you with stories of family members from the ancient past to the present day. You have a front row seat as we take a glimpse of the various long and complex history that makes up the UNU nation. Feel free to sit next to my thirty-two grandchildren and wonder about the lives ordinary people experienced in both mundane and interesting periods of the past. As you get a picture of how our nation rose to become the power it is today I ask you to remember one thing. We are not fictional characters, we are not here for your entertainment. We are real people trying to live our lives, I hope you see us as such, and care for us as the living individuals who stand right before you. For those of us on this side of the spectrum, we see you looking and wondering what we're thinking. We wonder and think what compelled you to sit down and listen to me ramble of times long past.' 'Grandfather... who are you talking to?' 'Manuel, you're here. Look very carefully and you can see the person who will be joining us on our history tour.' 'I don't see anyone. Can you please help us with our history project now? I'm still not sure which ancestor to choose for the ten-thousandth anniversary of the founding of the first galactic nation in.' 'Patience, lad, I've got plenty to discuss. And while I'm at it maybe try and spot the individual joining us with their fourth set of eyes.' 'I don't see anyone but us. I think you're going crazy.' 'Aww, I'm sure you'll figure it out in the epilogue. Join your siblings as I get ready. We have so many stories to discuss, from the first family refugees to the presidents of this great nation. Also take a l

"e;Hello reader. Yes I'm staring at you and speaking. You find it odd that I broke from the fourth wall, or what I personally consider a fourth set of eyes. My name's Abraham, and I'm a historian of my family's history. Now I wonder what a historian is doing, introducing you to this rabbit hole you're about to enter. I can think of no better choice as I regale you with stories of family members from the ancient past to the present day. You have a front row seat as we take a glimpse of the various long and complex history that makes up the UNU nation. Feel free to sit next to my thirty-two grandchildren and wonder about the lives ordinary people experienced in both mundane and interesting periods of the past. As you get a picture of how our nation rose to become the power it is today I ask you to remember one thing. We are not fictional characters, we are not here for your entertainment. We are real people trying to live our lives, I hope you see us as such, and care for us as the living individuals who stand right before you. For those of us on this side of the spectrum, we see you looking and wondering what we're thinking. We wonder and think what compelled you to sit down and listen to me ramble of times long past."e;"e;Grandfather... who are you talking to?"e;"e;Manuel, you're here. Look very carefully and you can see the person who will be joining us on our history tour."e;"e;I don't see anyone. Can you please help us with our history project now? I'm still not sure which ancestor to choose for the ten-thousandth anniversary of the founding of the first galactic nation in."e;"e;Patience, lad, I've got plenty to discuss. And while I'm at it maybe try and spot the individual joining us with their fourth set of eyes."e;"e;I don't see anyone but us. I think you're going crazy."e;"e;Aww, I'm sure you'll figure it out in the epilogue. Join your siblings as I get ready. We have so many stories to discuss, from the first family refugees to the presidents of this great nation. Also take a look at any objects or events you see around you. Just looking at the mundane... there is a story in history behind how it came into existence. There is a story of every little thing around you that created the UNU."e;"e;Like this sword and ring you're holding?"e;"e;Yes, these little objects... obscure now, but something that changed the course of history from our family's point of veiw. Everything I speak may not be accurate, as with all history it comes from a certain point of view... our family's history, our legacy, our stories."e;

Ch 1

Family Curse

Shimmel Smelyansky

1769

Hours of back breaking work later and all the family treasures were back in their original places. The children were all tired and wanted to rest. Abraham led them to his personal study, where shelves of electronic books, heirlooms, and knickknacks lined the walls. Flags and portraits of people decorated several areas of the study.

The children grabbed a drink and a snack as Abraham moved his chair away from his desk. He sat in front of the children and examined their tired expressions. When he felt relaxed He finally took a breath. “All that hard work paid off. Now if we are going to start off this history lesson we have to go way back to the earliest known Wolfe Tone we have records on. Did you know Wolfe Tone is not our original name? We were once called Smelyansky, and we use to live somewhere in Eastern Europe, probably Ukraine, the Urels or the Caucasus.”

“We never were called Wolfe Tones?” Manuel raised his hand. “So we’re originally from the gate between Europe and Asia?”

“Yes, but the few records we have are so sketchy you have to take the information with a grain of salt. Now The only Wolfe Tone we can use as a source is Shimmel Smelyansky. He left a couple items and oral tales, written later down by his grandchildren.”

“Why didn’t he write anything?” Esther, the second youngest, asked.

“Because back then poor and oppressed people couldn’t write.” Abraham leaned back in his chair and examined the ring again. “You know there is an interesting little story behind this ring. Most family members think it’s just a fairytale or rumor to explain our run of good and bad luck when it comes to romance, but whether you believe it or not it is a good story to tell.”

“But aren’t oral tales not very reliable if we’re researching our family history?” Augusto asked.

“Whether they are accurate or not the oral tradition reflects the nature and cultural relevance of our family history.” Abraham nodded and showed off the ring to the children. “Let’s begin the first lesson of our family history starting with ancient human history. As you all know our family is Jewish, and our ancestors lived in a time where humans made up a number of stupid excuses just to hate each other. Yes we humans use to persecute each other, and our family was a part of a group that was hated by so many we had to deal with it for countless generations. It’s why our family scattered across the Earth. And from what we found this little story tells you how our family begun their journey, from rags to riches.”

…

Shimmel’s legs were aching, the wagon hitched to the lone donkey, pulling what little valuables his family had. Holding onto his larger siblings’ hands he attempted to not lag behind as they walked along a field, on the outskirts of the local village. It was dangerous to go near a town, they risked death if they did. The Christians would probably accuse them for being greedy or killing the kids just to use the blood for their holidays. It scared him, and he couldn’t understand why they came up with these ideas.

“We’ll rest over there, in the forest. The local townsfolk won’t follow us there, they believe it is haunted.” An old woman said.

The old woman, whom Shimmel’s family had met a couple weeks ago, led the family as they tried to flee the turmoil from the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. There was talk of a place across the ocean, where a group of people just like them could find safety on an island, near an unknown continent of wealth.

“Have the boys collect firewood, and the girls prepare super, then you can rest.” The old woman said.

The old woman was a Romani, who lived by herself in an old carriage, she inherited from her late husband. It shocked Shimmel’s parents that she knew Yiddish, but were quick to accept her kindness and lead them to safety, in exchange for looking after her. The evening began to light up as the family sat down for a nice evening meal. The baby started to cry as Shimmel’s mother began to feed it. The girls were cleaning the few utensils they had. The father smoked his pipe, trying to think what to do next. “I need your advise, if you will let me. What should we do when we cross over to the Holy Roman Empire?”

“Change your name, being Jewish is bad enough, but also a Slav won’t help either.” The old woman said.

“Will you come with us, or will you split once we reach the Mediterranean Coast? I’d love to travel with you some more. You have been beyond helpful and we’d like to return the favor.” The mother asked.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to decline going any further. My husband is buried in this area and I wish to die right next to him in the same land. Oh how I loved that man, it saddens me to be apart from him. I await my fate just to see him again.”

The night was long as the adults talked and regaled each other with stories and conversation. After super the old woman changed into her sleeping clothes, and ordered one of the girls to fix her hair. The boys cleaned up the old woman’s wagon when Shimmel found an old ring in a bag. “Look what I found.”

One brother examined it. “Wow, if we sell this maybe we can get enough food for the rest of the trip.”

“Doesn’t it belong to the woman?” Shimmel asked.

“It’ll be fine. It’s not like she’ll notice, and besides we’re barley scrapping by ever since mum gave birth.” The first brother responded.

“Why so quick to jump to taking it?” Shimmel felt nervous.

“Didn’t you see that woman’s hand, she has several rings, I’m sure she’ll not miss this one.” The first brother waved the concern away.

After a little debate the boys placed the ring in one of the bags in the family cart. The next day as the family moved further into the forest the old woman seemed sad and distressed. She acted a little hysterical in the morning and remained lost the entire day. The girls conversed with her over something, showing a large degree of empathy and sadness. One of them called out to her after they passed a series of wilted trees. “Don’t worry we’ll find it for you, we owe you so much for helping us.”

Shimmel looked confused and asked one of his sister’s what they were promising. “She lost her most precious ring, the one her late husband gave her when they got married. It means more to her then anything else in the world.”

Shimmel felt uncomfortable upon hearing the news. He looked at his brothers and told them. They all gave each other an awkward look and wondered if they had taken her ring. “Ok, don’t tell anyone what we did.” The oldest said. “Right now we need to worry about getting to safety and finding food. We can talk about it once we’re safe.”

Despite trying to ignore his conciseness the guilt tore away at Shimmel until he decided he had to act. The next night he went over to the bag and searched through its contents to find the ring, but it was gone. Panicked Shimmel searched all the bags in the cart but found nothing. As he tried to ponder what to do next the old woman walked up behind him. “Gather all your brothers and meet me by the rocks.” She said in a low voice.

Shimmel did so without hesitation. All the children, accept the baby, gathered around the woman. Silence first called as the wind brushed along the leaves of the trees. “I know what you did, and now you betrayed the trust I placed in your family. I took you in, I helped you, I led you to safety, and you repay my kindness by taking what is most precious to me. I’m at least glad some of you have the decency to not break that commandment and shatter your elder’s heart.”

The boys remained silent. One of the girls chimed in. “I’m terribly sorry Ms. we’ll tell our parents and they can punish our brothers immediately.”

The old woman raised her hand. “No, they have been nothing but pure treasures, I don’t want to sadden their hearts. To think you boys would do such a terrible thing I will leave a most wretched punishment for your sins, but for you girls I see the noblest aspects of humanity which must be internally rewarded.”

“We’re sorry.” Shimmel and his brothers said weakly.

“Blame me.” The oldest said. “I was only thinking of finding food, and thought your ring could get us some supplies. I talked the rest into following me.”

“You are all equally guilty, so you all must bear your own burden.” The old woman said, then continued on. “You will all...

Erscheint lt. Verlag	20.1.2024
Sprache	englisch
Themenwelt	Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Science Fiction
ISBN-13	979-8-3509-4220-0 / 9798350942200

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