Richard Caponetti_Gods_12_Second_Kings

Gods, Issue Twelve

The Second Book of

Kings

Richard F. R. Caponetti (571) 215-6643

[email protected]

2014 Richard F. R. Caponetti

2

PAGE ONE

Splash: Close up on Fehd’s stern face.

Fehd: Who’s Japteth?

PAGE TWO

Panel One: Inside the examination room from the last issue. Fehd sits in a chair, looking up to

Rhasspu’Tehn as Rhasspu’Tehn paces uncomfortably around the room. Rhasspu’Tehn closes his

eyes and taps his forehead, searching for the right words to say.

Fehd: Kehtri.

Panel Two: Rhasspu’Tehn looks back to Fehd.

Fehd: Who’s Japteth?

Panel Three: Small panel. Close up on Rhasspu’Tehn’s close-eyed face as he draws a slow,

deep breath.

Panel Four: Small panel. Same as previous panel, but with Rhasspu’Tehn’s eyes open as he

exhales.

Rhasspu’Tehn: Okay.

Panel Five: Rhasspu’Tehn grabs the back of a chair and begins to sit down.

Rhasspu’Tehn: Okay.

Panel Six: The men turn to the door as they hear a knock.

Special Effect: Knk-knkk

PAGE THREE

Panel One: Rhasspu’Tehn exits the room to find Lydyaa standing patiently in the hallway,

waiting for him.

Panel Two: Rhasspu’Tehn closes the door behind him.

Panel Three: Rhasspu’Tehn and Lydyaa look at each other and speak.

Rhasspu’Tehn: Yeah. What’s up, Lyd?

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Lydyaa: Well … got some news. Good and bad. The door’s still messed up, but we

managed to pull Mikal and J’hames in with a winch. So they’re getting treated now –

they’re all right.

Rhasspu’Tehn: Good.

Panel Four: A multi-armed, remote-controlled machine welds and re-wires the unguarded and

damaged security door from the previous issue.

Lydyaa Off Panel: But the damage to the … door is severe. There’s no in or out. At all.

Panel Five: Technicians watch a video display of the previous panel. A group of workers

manipulate joysticks and buttons, etc., to operate the remote machine. Their supervisor looks

down at the closest worker with crossed arms and a grave expression on his face. He fingers his

lip. The closest worker looks up at the supervisor with shrugged shoulders and a defensive

countenance.

Lydyaa Off Panel: So … we’re going to have to warehouse at least tomorrow’s staff.

Panel Six: Return to Rhasspu’Tehn and Lydyaa.

Rhasspu’Tehn: What about defenses?

Lydyaa: No, Rhass, that’s what I’m saying. There’s nothing working. There’s no auto.

Fehd shorted out the whole … uhh … array …

Panel Seven: Flashback to Issue 11, Page 14, Panel Five.

Lydyaa Off Panel: … when he took out that left panel. The whole thing went down a

second after that, pretty much.

PAGE FOUR

Panel One: Rhasspu’Tehn’s face shows composed anger. Lydyaa shrugs her shoulders

sympathetically.

Rhasspu’Tehn: So, we have no security, then.

Lydyaa: Well, we have that … perimeter in place. And everyone’s been told to keep

away – been keeping away, so …

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Panel Two: Rhasspu’Tehn scratches his head and politely but impatiently waves Lydyaa on.

Rhasspu’Tehn: Okay. What else?

Panel Three: Rhasspu’Tehn and Lydyaa speak superimposed over the following image: Two

research doctors in a lab. One doctor looks through a microscope at a sample of Fehd’s blood.

The other doctor stands to his left and looks on anxiously. A projection of the blood is shown on

the wall before them.

Lydyaa: We’re having trouble clearing Fehd’s blood. It won’t upload.

Microscope Doctor: Nope.

Rhasspu’Tehn: What, is the … uhh … sample too old?

Lydyaa: We don’t know … but we’re probably going to have to take another one from

him.

Panel Four: Rhasspu’Tehn closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose while sighing.

Rhasspu’Tehn: -- Sigh -- Fine. But just see what you can do … before you go down

that route.

Panel Five: Inside the examination room. Fehd sits in his chair impatiently. He folds his arms

and mumbles to himself.

Fehd Small Font: Motherfucker …

Panel Six: Fehd looks up at the silent weapons camera in the corner of the room, afraid that his

curse may have activated it.

Rhasspu’Tehn Off Panel: He’s not going to want to hear that.

Panel Seven: A male and female doctor pass between Lydyaa and Fehd.

Lydyaa: I’ll see what we can do. How are his … how’s he handling all this, by the way?

Rhasspu’Tehn: He’s getting impatient. He wants to know about Japteth. He’s getting

pretty insistent … you know … about knowing about Japteth. And why he’s here.

Panel Eight: Lydyaa absentmindedly plays with a bracelet on her left hand. She wears a

wedding ring. Rhasspu’Tehn shrugs his shoulders and tilts his head impatiently at her.

Lydyaa: Well, Rhass, until he’s cleared, I don’t think you can …

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Rhasspu’Tehn: Well, if I don’t tell him something soon, he’s going to just totally erupt

…

PAGE FIVE

Panel One: Back to the examination room. Fehd stands on his tippy toes below the camera,

straining to look directly into its eye.

Rhasspu’Tehn Off Panel Text Box: “… and get his head blown off, Lyd, so …”

Panel Two: Return to Lydyaa and Rhasspu’Tehn. Lydyaa gently grabs Rhasspu’Tehn’s

shoulder to reassure him.

Lydyaa: No, Rhass … I know. I’m …

Rhasspu’Tehn: So you guys gotta … you know. You gotta do what you can.

Lydyaa: I know, Rhass. And we are. But, until then … if you have to tell him

something …

Panel Three: Small panel. Close up on Lydyaa’s kind but serious face.

Lydyaa: … just make sure it’s nothing that he can’t understand right now, okay?

Panel Four: Rhasspu’Tehn turns and reaches for the door. Lydyaa stands still.

Lydyaa: And if we absolutely have to … we’ll prepare a sedative.

Rhasspu’Tehn: Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

Panel Five: Rhasspu’Tehn enters the examination room. Lydyaa watches him enter. Fehd

remains examining the camera with his back to Rhasspu’Tehn.

Fehd: Who’s Japteth?

Panel Six: Rhasspu’Tehn closes the door on Lydyaa, who smiles sympathetically and nods.

Panel Seven: Sitting with crossed arms and a stoic countenance, Rhasspu’Tehn slides a chair

closer to Fehd with his foot. Fehd looks over his shoulder at Rhasspu’Tehn.

Panel Eight: Rhasspu’Tehn and Fehd sit opposite each other. Rhasspu’Tehn hangs his head and

rubs his forehead uncomfortably. Impatient, Fehd crosses his arms and waves Rhasspu’Tehn on.

Rhasspu’Tehn: Okay. Okay. It is … very important that you know this. It’s very

important to Ba’lam that you know this. This is very important to Ba’lam, so …

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Fehd: So then stop wasting time and just fucking tell me, man. Who. Is. Japteth?

PAGE SIX

Note: Sections of this chapter are completely written in Kelep. Subtitles boxes are to be

used in each panel containing Kelep. In panels featuring two or more characters speaking

Kelep, speakers’ names are to be written preceding their dialogue.

Panel One: The past. Noon. Outside a wealthy and heavily-guarded Kittmian estate that is

situated on the desert border of Kittim and Eretz.

Caption: Kana-Viits, Kittim. A secluded town of wealth and power where even the

servants speak Kelep, the nation’s aristocratic tongue.

(The language has since gone defunct, along with its aristocratic class.)

Eighty years ago. The estate of Saramae Maldivi.

Panel Two: Inside the estate’s kitchen. Well dressed maids prepare a lunchtime meal. One

servant, a chubby woman of 60 years named Kahnetchna Savinch, grows happily impatient with

the house’s three year old boy, Japteth, who scrambles around her, playing noisily with two

action figures.

Kahnetchna: JAPTETH!

Panel Three: Japteth smashes the two toys together in his hands.

Kahnetchna: Shalput!

Japteth Sings: ♫ Zhale! Zhale! Gezh fedrich zhale! ♫

SUBTITLES

Kahnetchna: Scram!

Japteth: Fly! Fly! The eagle flies!

Panel Four: Japteth holds both toys, preparing to dive bomb one into the other.

Japteth Sings: ♪ Gezh papich fetuun … ♫

SUBTITLE

The baby cheers …

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Panel Five: Japteth lands one toy on another. Kahnetchna smiles lovingly at him.

Japteth Sings: ♪ “Tesh balan ikth!” ♪

SUBTITLE

“Bird catches fish!”

Panel Six: Kahnetchna playfully spanks Japteth on the butt as Japteth runs past her smiling and

laughing.

Kahnetchna: Shpaht!

Japteth Sings: ♫ Leyzánuch pastiche shuul patnuk! ♫

SUBTITLES

Kahnetchna: Go!

Japteth: Lucifer protects his children!

PAGE SEVEN

Panel One: Japteth knocks over a dish of food as he runs from the kitchen. Kahnetchna attempts

to catch the dish as it falls.

Kahnetchna: Kalish!

SUBTITLE

Shoot!

Panel Two: Small panel. The dish breaks against the floor.

Special Effect: Crzzsh!

Panel Three: Kahnetchna smiles as she bends over and wipes up the mess. Japteth runs into a

beautiful marble foyer. To his right, a pretty servant girl named Shpaka Shenvalinep opens the

front door to greet a well-dressed man of 65 years named Kelchut Fenemits. He is accompanied

by two large bodyguards.

Japteth: Shalligth, Kahnetchna!

Kahnetchna: Yon – ha ha – fanel booth, Japteth!

Shpaka: Kete, Shabo Fenemits. Zhup bánae fon dit.

SUBTITLES

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Japteth: Sorry, Kahnetchna!

Kahnetchna: Oh – ha ha – for crying out loud, Japteth!

Shpaka: Good day, Mr. Fenemits. Please come in.

Panel Four: Shpaka motions respectfully for Kelchut and his guards to follow her down the

hallway.

Shpaka: Gelk vassat, zhup.

SUBTITLE

This way, please.

Panel Six: Shpaka opens an oak door to a comfortable home office. The office is dimly lit by

the daylight that pours in from large windows in the rear of the room. Sharat Maldivi sits at a

desk in the center of the room; his younger brother, Shalleth, stands with his arms folded. They

watch as Kelchut and guards enter. Sharat smiles warmly. Shalleth smiles reservedly. There are

three chairs on the front side of the desk. There is an additional chair behind and beside Sharat.

Shpaka: Zem banam fon dit.

Sharat: Kelchut!

SUBTITLE

Here we are.

PAGE EIGHT

Panel One: Kelchut is displeased to see that Sharat and Shalleth are meeting with him, instead

of Saramae, their father. Shalleth wipes his hand on his trousers, preparing it to shake hands

with Kelchut. Sharat begins to rise from his seat.

Kelchut: Selt Saramae banan? Ze crinot vek Saramae Maldivi, kut shuul patnithi.

SUBTITLE

Where is Saramae? I came to see Saramae Maldivi, not his sons.

Panel Two: Kelchut walks past Shalleth, who holds out his hand to shake. Kelchut’s guards

follow close behind. Shalleth is surprised at Kelchut’s show of disrespect. Sharat, halfway risen

from his chair, motions for Kelchut and his guards to sit down.

Sharat: Bansa sved, Shabo Fenemits … cas zel vovont banan pu zent fug rupek valesthi.

Zhup … láelae nel.

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SUBTITLE

I’m sorry, Mr. Fenemits … but my father is still too sick to be receiving guests. Please

… sit down.

Panel Three: Kelchut begins to sit. His guards remain standing on either side of him. Shalleth

whispers to Shpaka, who nods.

Shalleth Small Font: Zee. Vuda mos, Shpaka.

Shpaka Small Font: Mey sult, ley Shalleth.

SUBTITLE

Shalleth: Yes. Thank you, Shpaka.

Shpaka: As you wish, master Shalleth.

Panel Four: Kelchut is seated with a grave posture. He stares at Sharat, who smiles.

Panel Five: Sharat leans forward with his hands clasped atop his desk. Kelchut holds up his

hand to stave off Sharat’s small talk. Shalleth walks toward the window behind his brother.

Sharat: Pes … lisa Ze rupmo u zin? Miat mi shuek? Mi … ?

Kelchut: Bansa keln. Vuda mos. Kut. Kinikt.

SUBTITLES

Sharat: So … can I get you anything? To eat or drink? Or … ?

Kelchut: I’m fine. Thank you. No. Nothing.

PAGE NINE

Panel One: Sharat leans back slightly in his chair. He smiles. Shalleth stands facing the

window. He looks over his shoulder, waiting for Sharat to speak. Kelchut sits impatiently.

Panel Two: Sharat speaks. Kelchut holds his hand up again to announce his impatience.

Shalleth stands as he was in the previous panel.

Sharat: Pes … fanitsa, Ze nelmo otik luk banan velnus luk vovont slup … zom leg …

kukinityum …

Kelchut: Zhup. Prinis mut venvat zizeyaun.

SUBTITLES

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Sharat: Well … first, I want to just say how much my father and … all of us …

appreciate …

Kelchut: Please. Let’s just get down to business.

Panel Three: Kelchut scratches the side of his face. Shalleth pulls a chair from the corner of the

room. Sharat awkwardly apologizes.

Sharat: Zee. Pint. Shalligth … Ze …

SUBTITLE

Yes. Of course. I’m sorry … I …

Panel Four: Similar to previous panel, but with Shalleth sitting.

Sharat: Zem neloom poos kwarnok. Zem ranasam luk wa’banan u … venk supinimots

…

SUBTITLE

We want to clear the air. We feel that there has been a … grave misunderstanding …

Panel Five: Kelchut smirks in disbelief.

Kelchut: U supinimots? Kuka mos selnioynos zen? Mey vovont njez mut pestnuun

mosh zizeyaun – mosh iutnupsat – slup mos otis luk banan u supinimots? Zhup malnis

zen mos belnis.

SUBTITLE

A misunderstanding? Are you fucking kidding me? Your father almost single

handedly destroys our business – our livelihood – and you say this is a

misunderstanding? Please tell me you are joking.

Panel Six: Sharat closes his eyes and hangs his head low. Shalleth looks closely at Kelchut’s

guards.

Sharat: Kelchu – Shabo Fenemits, zhup. Zel vovont venvant u supvono …

Kelchut: Bánae leykut fon mey vovont venvant u supvono!

SUBTITLES

Sharat: Kelchu – Mr. Fenemits, please. My father made a mistake …

Kelchut: You’re goddamn right your father made a mistake!

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Panel Seven: Flashback. Slave traders drive an open-air cattle car of captive children down a

dimly lit underground tunnel. The children are chained to each other and to the car. The car is

seized by the Eretzian National Guard.

Kelchut Off Panel Text Box: Luk leykut … fizintgig nala suunatant zey – leg p’zey!

Slup luk pu lianya venvat mut luk, Sharat!

SUBTITLE

That goddamn pipeline nearly ruined us – all of us! And it still might do just that,

Sharat!

PAGE TEN

Panel One: Sharat pleads with Kelchut. Kelchut pounds his fist on finger on the desk.

Sharat: Ze pikmo … zhup, zel vovont banan velnus sved. Shabo Fenemits, zhup … mos

seris luk zel vovontsut salenmakthi …

Kelchut:

Mey vovontsut salenmakthi biantat kosnikok shinokithi chon zen fon zint p’zizeyaun,

didi!

SUBTITLES

Sharat: I know … please, my father is very sorry. Mr. Fenemits, please … you have to

believe that my father’s intentions …

Kelchut: Your father’s intentions were to drive handlers like me straight out of business,

boy!

Panel Two: Sharat shakes his head. Kelchut motions angrily at Sharat. Shalleth looks on.

Sharat: Zhup … kut. Kut luk banan luk …

Kelchut: Delk? Zom biantat banat u pochtu? Vanit fhanbesimits? Kut seseliknos zen,

patni!

SUBTITLES

Sharat: Please … no. That’s not what …

Kelchut: What? There was going to be a cut? Equal participation? Don’t bullshit me,

son!

12

Panel Three: Shalleth speaks up. Kelchut turns his angry attention to him. Sharat closes his

eyes and slaps his forehead in response to Shalleth’s outburst.

Shalleth: Zel vovont friuunt vafanat leg p’mos, Kelchut.

Sharat: Shugmip, zhup!

Kelchut: Slup zem ottoom omk kut kosnikok luk put. Zem ottoom omk slup om vrentilet

… slup lut om prinet seilo mosh koinraythi!

Shalleth: Mut ronok mos luk banant bersanta.

SUBTITLES

Shalleth: My father tried to include you all, Kelchut.

Sharat: Little brother, please!

Kelchut: And we told your father not to go forward on it! We told him and he agreed …

and then he went behind our backs!

Shalleth: Only to show you that it was feasible.

Panel Four: Kelchut rises in anger and yells at Shalleth.

Kelchut: Seselik, vontve!

SUBTITLE

Bullshit, smaller one!

Panel Five: Sharat rises to plead with Kelchut. Kelchut turns his attention to Sharat, pointing his

finger at him.

Sharat: Shabo Fenemits … zhup gáogae li zen …

Kelchut: Kut, didi! Mos gáogae li zen! Mey vovont banan selnert banat vana … pes,

kuren seselik!

SUBTITLES

Sharat: Mr. Fenemits … please listen to me …

Kelchut: No, boy! You listen to me! Your father is lucky to be fucking alive … so, no

more bullshit!

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PAGE 11

Panel One: Sharat begins to sit down. Kelchut remains standing.

Kelchut: Slup mos fondit váenvae tel u leykut shvensi fug omk zepik res … kuka fon dit!

SUBTITLE

And you better come up with a damn good reason for keeping him that way … fucking

right now!

Panel Two: Sharat holds his head low and rubs his brow.

Panel Three: Kelchut pounds the desk.

Kelchut: Leykutuun, didi!

SUBTITLE

God damn it, boy!

Panel Four: Kelchut and guards begin to storm out of the room. Sharat remains in the same

position he was in last panel. Shalleth is taken aback by Sharat’s offer.

Sharat: Ust peg.

Shalleth: Delk?!

SUBTITLES

Sharat: Fifty percent.

Shalleth: What?!

Panel Five: Kelchut and guards return to Sharat’s desk. Kelchut motions for Shalleth to shut up.

Sharat: Ust peg.

Shalleth: Gezh kuka, Sharat?!?

Kelchut: Vul, didi!

SUBTITLES

Sharat: Fifty percent.

Shalleth: The fuck, Sharat?!?

Kelchut: Quiet, boy!

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PAGE 12

Panel One: Kelchut begins to sit down. The exasperated Sharat explains his offer.

Sharat: Ust peg … mos rohthi sepiekvat luk mirb mos nielik luk.

Kelchut: Shevreth?

Sharat: Zee, fug dit.

SUBTITLES

Sharat: Fifty percent … you guys divide it however you want.

Kelchut: In perpetuity?

Sharat: Yes, for now.

Panel Two: Kelchut raises his eyebrows and cocks his head to remind Sharat that he has little

bartering power here. Sharat motions apologetically. Shalleth looks on, pissed.

Sharat: Zee, zee. Fug legdut mirb luk shayan. Mirb luk shayan, zee. Pint.

SUBTITLE

Yes, yes. For as long as it takes. As long as it takes, yes. Of course.

Panel Three: Kelchut makes another demand. Sharat gives in to the demand.

Kelchut: Slup kuren fizintgigthi.

Sharat: Kuren fizintgigthi.

Kelchut: Legfenkat. Rut.

Sharat: Zee, zee. Kut fizintgigthi legkat. Kul rut zleip.

SUBTITLES

Kelchut: And no more pipelines.

Sharat: No more pipelines.

Kelchut: Anywhere. Ever.

Sharat: Yes, yes. No pipelines anywhere. None ever again.

15

Panel Four: Kelchut scratches his knee while looking serious. Sharat nervously asks Kelchut a

question.

Kelchut: Keln.

Sharat: L-leg? Banan intsha?

Kelchut: Kut. Riupika zel fancha, cas luk kut matanvarenyan lonikt jurelthi vienvata

mirb.

SUBTITLES

Kelchut: Good.

Sharat: I-is that it? Is that enough?

Kelchut: No. You’ll have my endorsement, but there’s no guarantee that any of the

others will go for it.

Panel Five: Kelchut leans forward and presses his index finger into the desk. Sharat avoids eye

contact with Kelchut by scratching his forehead.

Sharat: Kut, kut … pint kut …

Kelchut: Slup vahnchis fizt zem ba’vrentiloom put luk, nelooma u dasimvet.

SUBTITLES

Sharat: No, no … of course not …

Kelchut: And understand that even if we do agree on this, we’ll want collateral.

PAGE 13

Panel One: Sharat gestures his consent. Kelchut gets mad and issues another demand. Shalleth

is confused and questions Kelchut’s demand.

Sharat: Res. Zee. Pint. Zem manam u zin …

Kelchut: Kut. U zin kut ba’mianat mos. Mosh kosnik banan fon.

Shalleth: Chon seris u dasimvet telka fanitsa seris u vrentil?

SUBTITLES

Sharat: Fine. Yes. Of course. We’ll work something out …

Kelchut: No. There’s no working anything out. We know what we want.

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Shalleth: How can you have collateral without having an agreement first?

Panel Two: Kelchut turns to Shalleth in anger. Sharat shrugs pleadingly.

Kelchut: Tuleg gezh vrentil … snipiksa mos luk banan mirb zem prinoom tel mos.

Smelizh luk wa’banan tukosnik.

Sharat: Delk? Luk bana … mos fusoopthim chon?

SUBTITLES

Kelchut: No matter the agreement … you’re giving us what we tell you. It’s already

been decided.

Sharat: What? What is it … what do you want?

Panel Four: Kelchut explains his demand authoritatively. Sharat is shocked and confused.

Shalleth is quiet and angry. He absentmindedly rubs his jaw.

Kelchut: Gezh didi. Saramaesut vontmip.

Sharat: Zel shug? Sáultae puk … Japteth?

Kelchut: Luk sipalan. Gezh sutu hamroea gezh didi.

SUBTITLES

Kelchut: The boy. Saramae’s youngest.

Sharat: My brother? You want … Japteth?

Kelchut: That’s the deal. The boy will be sold at auction.

Panel Four: Sharat is pissed. He yells at Kelchut. Kelchut rises from his chair and yells back.

Sharat: Kut! Kut flibsaya fon zel shug li mos kuka … zekitlathi!

Kelchut: Zel flibusahntthi kut bianat zekitlathi! Kut kosniknios fon shom zekmanthi!

SUBTITLES

Sharat: No! I will not hand my brother over to your fucking … rapists!

Kelchut:

My clients are not rapists! They do not force themselves on their partners!

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Panel Five: Sharat explodes in anger and is restrained by Shalleth. Kelchut’s guards reach for

their guns. Kelchut signals for them to keep their guns holstered.

Sharat: Mos … kuka!

Shalleth: Sharat – kut!

SUBTITLES

Sharat: You … fuck!

Shalleth: Sharat – no!

PAGE 14

Panel One: Kelchut folds his arms and holds up an index finger to underscore his point.

Kelchut: Zut zem vrentiloom slup zut mey vovont zepe fon gezh vrentil, gezh didi kut

sulea. Cas vanchis luk hamroea gezh didi slup om zemananya.

SUBTITLE

If we agree and if your father keeps to the agreement, the boy won’t be harmed. But

understand that the boy will be sold and he will serve.

Panel Two: Close up on Kelchut.

Kelchut: Slup omk mos zhon elieknosé zleip.

SUBTITLE

And you will never see him again.

Panel Three: Close up on Shalleth and Sharat. Sharat is angry, but no longer struggling against

his brother, who still holds him.

Kelchut: Kut mut u vrentil. Tel luk gugmontuun.

SUBTITLE

This isn’t just an agreement. This is punishment, too.

Panel Four: Japteth smiles as he attempts, and fails, to eavesdrop on the men through the thick

office doors.

Kelchut Off Panel: Seris gusrik-ey duchthi.

SUBTITLE

You have twenty-four hours.

18

Panel Four: Kelchut and guards exit the room and enter the hallway. Japteth runs away from

them mischievously. They pay him no mind. Shalleth and Sharat watch the men leave. Sharat

sees Japteth and is heartbroken. Shalleth is stoic.

PAGE 15

Panel One: Sharat, Shalleth, Shalleth’s wife, Pellish, and the men’s mother, Erec, drink after-

dinner coffee inside their quiet dinning room.

Caption: Velnus mit.

Caption Translation: Later.

Sharat: Trimo … trimo otsipyama. Liam rsokok u vassat venvat luk telka ba’flibam fon

Japteth.

SUBTITLE

I think … I think we can negotiate. We can find a way to do this without giving up

Japteth.

Panel Two: Japteth stands in the shadows outside the dining room, nervously eavesdropping on

the adults.

Sharat: Selt Japteth banan, res?

Pellish: Om geghion selnoyuunt fos slup om kagijuunt. Res ruomot shuul gwon slup

omk timotmot rhab.

Erec: Vuda mos, Pellish.

SUBTITLES

Sharat: Where is Japteth, anyway?

Pellish: He played hard today and was very tired. So I gave him his bath and put him to

bed early.

Erec: Thank you, Pellish.

Panel Three: Erec brings her cup to her lips as she corrects Shalleth.

Shalleth: Kut liam otsipat, Shar. Kelchut prinet kwar. Mutel zepoom fon mirb

kosnikuun zey mi vovont kutne.

Erec: Zepoom fon mirb kosnikuun mi luk leg vonapat kutne, Shalleth.

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SUBTITLES

Shalleth: We can’t negotiate, Shar. Kelchut made that clear. We either do as he says or

father dies.

Erec: We do as they say or this whole family dies, Shalleth.

Panel Four: Shalleth turns to his mother and nods. Sharat rubs his troubled head.

Shalleth: Zee, nana. Pint.

Sharat: Kut, kut … luk kut ron …

SUBTITLES

Shalleth: Yes, mama. Of course.

Sharat: No, no … that won’t …

Panel Five: Pellish gently grabs Sharat’s arm.

Pellish: Nana-Erec prine fon, Shary. Zayam snipik li zam Japteth.

SUBTITLE

Mama-Erec is right, Shary. We must give them Japteth.

Panel Six: Sharat gently but angrily shrugs off Pellish.

Sharat: Pellish … mos gwánae zel shug. Omk timotis. Máulkae shuul saunt. Slup

sáultae zelzek omk luk banat fen rohansut juakon? Sáultae luk?

Pellish: Ze nanaksa mey shug chon Ze nanaksa mos, Shary … cas luk banan luk seroom

venvat.

SUBTITLE

Sharat: Pellish … you bathe my brother. Put him to bed. Kiss his head. And you want

to send him out to be some man’s whore? You want that?

Pellish: I love your brother like I love you, Shary … but this is something that we have

to do.

20

PAGE 16

Panel One: Erec motions her cup approvingly toward Pellish.

Erec: Gáogae li mey shana, Sharat. Fon. Uk’pikis zut seris u tep mey dius.

SUBTITLE

Listen to your brother’s wife, Sharat. She is right. You would know this if you had a

house of your own.

Panel Two: Japteth runs silently crying away from the parlor and down the dark hallway. No

one notices.

Erec: Puht patni kut giglokuun u vonapat – ilvelon vontmip.

Sharat: Na … chon láae otik luk … telka ba’tranávae lonikt jurel sedetthi?

Shalleth: Jurel sedetthi? Delk jurel sedetthi? Mosh vovont kutne? Mosh tep kutne?

Delk velt gretputyum? Gelkthi jurel sedetthi? Uk’pahnsunan vov lonikt p’zam?

SUBTITLE

Erec: One son means nothing to the strength of a family – especially the youngest one.

Sharat: Ma … how can you even say that without … considering any other options?

Shalleth: Other options? What other options? Our father dies? Our house dies? This

town we support? Are those our other options? Would dad choose any of them?

Panel Three: Sharat responds to Shalleth in anger, who responds to Sharat in kind. They are

superimposed over an image of a sick Saramae sleeping upstairs. He is hooked up to all sorts of

medical equipment. A young nurse sits by his side, paying no mind to him and reading a

paperback novel instead.

Sharat: Vov zhon uk’senrhan p’luk prinik!

SUBTITLE

Dad would never let any of this happen!

PAGE 17

Panel One: Shalleth yells at Sharat. Erec reprimands Shalleth.

Shalleth: Kuka senrhant luk prinik, Shar!

Erec: Shalleth!

21

SUBTITLES

He fucking did let this happen, Shar!

Panel Two: Shalleth turns to his mother.

Shalleth:

Kut, na … puchnalsa, cas venvant!

SUBTITLE

No, ma … I’m sorry, but he did!

Panel Three: Flashback. Return to the underground tunnel. The Eretzian National Guard takes

the slave driver into custody and releases the children from their bonds.

Shalleth Off Panel: Shuul sese, na! Om venvant luk! Shuul ses!

SUBTITLE

This is his mess, ma! He did this! This is his mess!

Panel Four: Shalleth turns back to Sharat and shrugs his shoulders. Erec closes her eyes and

draws a quiet, deep breath.

Shalleth: Slup, Sharat, zeykut lianku rsokok u openukli vassat kosnikok luk … cas luk

kut banan u sedet dit!

SUBTITLE

And, Sharat, maybe he could find a better way to handle this … but that’s not an option

now!

PAGE 18

Panel One: Sharat closes his eyes, purses his lips and searches for a response.

Panel Two: Sharat questions his mother. She nods stoically.

Sharat: Nana. Res uk’váenvae luk? Uk’fláibae fon mey patni shpaht?

Erec: Omk uk’flibsa fon zelra fug purentrat gelk vonapat.

SUBTITLES

Sharat: Mama. You would really do this? You would give your son away?

Erec: I would hand him over myself to save this family.

22

Panel Three: Sharat regards his mother with restrained anger. Erec holds up her hand to calm

Sharat down and to emphasize her point.

Sharat: Uk vov?

Shalleth: Zhon pikea venvtam luk.

SUBTITLES

Sharat: Would dad?

Erec: He’ll never know that we did.

Panel Four: Sharat walks off. Erec sips her coffee.

Erec: Keln.

SUBTITLE

Good.

Panel Five: Erec points her cup at Shalleth as she addresses him. Shalleth nods.

Erec: Shalleth, shirokis luk paslu.

Shalleth: Zee, nana.

SUBTITLES

Erec: Shalleth, you handle this tomorrow.

Shalleth: Yes, mama.

PAGE 19

Panel One: Shalleth walks down the hall to Japteth’s room; its door is closed.

Panel Two: Japteth lies in his bed, clutching his sheets tightly to his chest and crying silently.

Panel Three: Sharat opens the door. Japteth closes his crying eyes tightly in fear.

Panel Four: Sharat approaches Japteth’s bed. Sharat begins to unbutton his shirt. Japteth’s eyes

are closed even tighter than before. His whole face prepares for pain.

Sharat: Japteth?

23

PAGE 20

Panel One: Sharat removes his shirt.

Panel Two: Sharat removes his pants and underwear.

Panel Three: The naked Sharat climbs into Japteth’s bed.

Panel Four: Sharat presses against Japteth’s body and molests Japteth’s penis beneath the

sheets. Japteth’s tearing eyes are open wide in fear and shock. He knows what comes next.

Sharat: Japteth?

PAGE 21

Splash: Return to the present. Reliving his painful memories, Japteth slumps in his dining room

chair and desperately rubs his closed-eyed, crying face. The brightly glowing apparition of a

male angel stands beside Japteth and rests its hand on Japteth’s shoulder. The angel’s face is not

shown.

Rhasspu’Tehn Off Panel Text Box: “It’s getting late.”

PAGE 22

Panel One: Return to Rhasspu’Tehn and Fehd inside the examination room. Rhasspu’Tehn

begins to rise from his chair. Fehd has a confused expression on his face?

Rhasspu’Tehn: It’s getting late. We’ll have quarters ready for you. And …

Panel Two: Rhasspu’Tehn stands, stretches and yawns.

Rhasspu’Tehn: -- Yawwn – Lord, I’m tired. We should both get some sleep, so …

Panel Three: Rhasspu’Tehn turns for the door and grabs its knob. Fehd grabs Rhasspu’Tehn’s

arm.

Rhasspu’Tehn: I’ll be right back.

Fehd: No. Rhass.

Panel Four: Rhasspu’Tehn holds the doorknob, turns back and looks inquisitively at Fehd.

Rhasspu’Tehn: What?

24

Fehd: This … story. You said it’s important to Ba’lam.

What does any of this have to do with Ba’lam?

Panel Five: Silent panel. Same as previous.

Panel Six: Rhasspu’Tehn faces the door as he opens it.

Rhasspu’Tehn: Trust me, Po.

Panel Seven: Images of Erec, Shalleth, and Pellish drinking coffee and Sharat molesting Japteth.

Caption Upper Left Corner: So we boiled my son …

Rhasspu’Tehn Off Panel: This has everything to do with Ba’lam.

Caption Lower Right Corner: … and ate him.—2 Kings 6:29