STORIES FROM NOWHERE ISLAND
CONT Page 4
Page 8
Page 12
Free
The Seed by S e r e n Pascoe Davis
The Ri to Inclu by S o p Troczy
by B e t h i e Helliewell
TENTS
2
Right be uded y h i e ynska
Page 18
Page 22
T h e Right to Respect by Hannah Pollard
P i n k Bird and Red Bird by E r v i n Martini
Edited by Caroline Mawdsley and Laura Denning Design by Ali Donkin
FR
By Be Helli
EE
ethie iwell
It is said that when the ice to the north is at it’s worst it is like being trapped, with pressure ridges greater than eighty feet tall. Steering your course is said to be impossible when clouds hid the southernly sun and stars are hidden for many eighteen-hour nights on end. This is understood more than anyone by Akna, a low ranking girl within the nomadic tribe of Svalbard. She has falling in love with Iluak, the son of their tribes Kaskae (Chief) and now carries his child. ‘If only we could be free’ she thinks as she looks up in wonder into the Kinguyakkii (The Northen Lights), as she often does to escape from her shame. “Close your eyes and shelter!!” a woman shouts from behind. Akna turns around to see the wise old woman, Tootega” gazing at her, wide eyes of worry. Tootega explains “if a pregnant female looks up high into the Kinguyakkii it will cause great harm and suffering to her unborn child”. As Akna is carrying the future leader of their tribe there is outrage and she is called before Kaskae, the chief, who deems her the life of a Wolf, once the baby is born she and the baby must leave the tribe and never return. Iluak pleads with his father to change his mind and let his young family stay with the tribe but Kaskae holds to his word. In the middle of the following night Iluak approaches Akna as she is gazing at the Tlate Hiin (twinkle upon the water) upon the sea at the edge of their tribes border. To Akna it seems like Iluak has the weight of the world upon his shoulders. He holds her arms and explains “We must leave, I have collected the boat, we must head to Sirmiq, before the sun reaches the ice”. “Sirmiq is disappearing, it is a refuge for no one, we will melt away with the ice” she replies. “I know this to be true, but think bravely Akna and imagine with me what might lie in its path” Iluak says shouting in whispers. She looks into his eyes and understands This is the only way for them, the only way they can find peace for them and their unborn child, a new start upon the sea. Akna sits pulling her blankets around her in the little rowing boat as Iluak pushes off from the ice. As time passes they both tire of paddling and fall asleep in the boat. Waves carry them along the ocean away from their troubled land. When she awakens she see’s their boat is stuck against hard rocks. She is stricken with a sense of ownership, of which she has never felt before. Akna wakes up Iluak in excitement. “We have found our land”. Iluak awakes quickly and looks around in astonishment, then rushes to Akna embracing her and their unborn child. He steps of the boat, pulling Akna gently with him, “Our own land”. However the realisation of their situation is occurring to Akna and she starts to worry “but we are nowhere, with nothing”. Illuak turns to face her and looks her reassuringly “but don’t you see we have everything, a new beginning, our freedom, this is our NOWEHEREISLAND”. Within the next couple of days Akna gives birth to a beautiful healthy baby, which they call Annakpok, meaning ‘free’. They make a promise upon this birth to create their own settlement, to create a nation with inclusive laws, where people respect one another and no one is left to flee for their lives as outcasts.
THE
B SEREN PASC
SEED
By COE DAVIES
There was always the land. Ice covered it, and the water moved beneath it, and in the winter snow fell upon it, and kept life from its shores. One day, people came to live upon the land. They built villages on the beds of snow, hunted its animals and gathered together each night under its skies. They told stories of the Old Continents, where fruit grew and streams ran with fresh water. The land felt their footsteps moving on its back. It did not know what these new creatures were, so from beneath the sheet of snow it listened, and heard the stories the people told at night. It was taken aback by the beauty of the words. That night, the people went to sleep in their new homes upon the land’s back. And the land slept, and dreamed of fruit trees and streams of fresh water. But the people had not seen such things for a long time. This new land was unrewarding, cold and barren, and there were no plants to be found for when they were sick, and the animals became scarce. The land loved the men, and tried to make them happy. It pictured the stories of the Old Continents. But the snow kept falling, and it could not grow fruit on its back and make streams of fresh water. Soon, to the land’s horror, a change came over the people. When they were cold and hungry, it realized, they became strange. They no longer sat with each other and told each other stories. Their footsteps grew heavier and slower, and made the land ache and it could still bear no plants for them. And when they were at their coldest and hungriest, they became very strange. They would hurt one another. Throw cruel words at one another. Their thoughts were only of food and warmth, and until they could find some they had nothing to spare, not even kindness. One day, two men went out hunting. They walked to the edge of the land, to its very shore, to find food for the weakest and sickest of the village. For a while they walked in silence, until one of them began to speak. “Tell you what” said the first man “A person needs food to live, right? That’s a fact, isn’t it?” The second man agreed. “Yes, yes it is a fact.” “And no person is better than another person, right? That’s a fact as well, isn’t it?” “Yes, yes it is.” “Well then” said the first man “I don’t see why the food should have to go back to the village, since they’re no better or more important than us.” The second man agreed. They walked in silence again. “And speaking of which” said the first man again “It’s also a fact that a person needs a lot of food to keep going, and that you, by rights, are no better or more important than me. So why shouldn’t it be that I have all the food, and you can go back and get your own? After all, fair’s fair.” “Now hold on a minute” said the second man “If that’s true, why shouldn’t I have all the food and you can go and find your own since you’re no better or more important than me?” By now the two were angry. Their bones were sick with cold, but they began to run, racing each other. Both knew that they had to reach the food first. They ran all the way across the sheets of snow, the very edge of the land. And as they reached the shore, each no better than the other, they stopped at the same moment. They looked around them. Not a single animal remained. Panting, frozen and mad with hunger, the second man took his hunting knife, and stabbed the first in the heart. Suddenly, the land felt a terrible red rain spill upon it’s back. It was overcome by horror. But it loved the people, and could do nothing. So it let the snow fall again to cover the red body. And it spoke to the shore where the man had died. You did this, said the land. No, said the shore, the people did this. I did nothing. I love the people, said the land. I cannot punish them. The body is on your back. So I will punish you. And the snow ceased to fall on the shore. The winter chill faded from the air, and fierce heat came, and a rage overtook the land. No, cried out the shore. And the people came from the village, with axes and instruments to pierce the ice, and blazing torches, and the shore felt itself slipping from the land, away, into the dark water. No, cried out the shore. But it could not hear the land any more. It was cut from the belly of its mother, drifting in the chaos of the sea. It was barred on all side by solitude, and the body buried in snow. It had become a new land. A land without people or animals or trees. Only the movement of the waves, and the red body covered by snow. It was lost. A great sadness followed the new land, as it drifted. It prayed once again for the people to come to it, and promised it would feed them and look after them as it had failed to do before. But all the plants it tried to grow
on its back died beneath the snow. And soon it forgot its mother, and the stories of the Old Continent, which it had repeated to itself as it fell asleep, became lost to it in the black expanse of the ocean. It began to get smaller, and smaller, and lost itself to the water. The island and the body were alone. It did not feel, at first, the flicker of life deep beneath the snow. A seed. Clutched to the heart of the red body. The last of the Old Continent. He had kept it safe his entire life, knowing it would die planted in the bitter cold of the land. But his blood woke it, and it grew, searching for light. After many days, it burst through to the surface and felt the sting of the air. After many more days, it had become a tree. The island woke. It asked the roots pressed into its back “Who are you?” And the juniper tree said “The last of the Old Continent.” “And do you remember what it was like there?” asked the island “Yes” said the juniper tree “I do.” They sank together into the waves.
THE RIG be INCL
B SOP TROCZ
GHT to LUDED
By PHIE ZYNSKA
There were many different animals that co-inhabited the island together, and though they didn’t always get along with one another they could occasionally put aside their differences and enjoy a peaceful day together, even if there was the occasional squabble over someone’s eating habits or the amount of space someone just had to have on the island. It was early in the morning of what would be one of the warmer days of that summer that the animals started gathered together. The midnight sun was rising in the sky and the temperature warming with it. The rocky ground was scarce with vegetation with the odd bloom breaking through the landscape of the snow covered clearing, moving in the gentle breeze that wafted across the open plane. As the temperature increased an artic fox crawled out of its den, gently shaking its blue white fur before darting toward the clearing. Over a ridge towards the west a reindeer was slowly trotting eastwardly and upon entering the clearing greeted the artic fox who had entered from the east. Slowly the animals continued to arrive. Water droplets were dripping of the ends of a walrus’s tusks and whiskers as it was wiggling along the floor after lifting it’s self out of the freezing waters, as an artic hare hopped towards the gathering of animals from the north, and a little auk flew above the clearing before coming to a stop among the other animals. When they all had arrived they begun to talk and play together among the snow enjoying the company of the others before they went on their own way until the next gathering. The just over the ridge from the south a polar bear slowly stepped onto the island. Having travelled from other places among the Arctic Circle, its home wasn’t on the island but having wanted to explore different landscapes and different places, the polar bear journeyed around while looking for a place to be called home. Hearing a commotion to the north the polar bear decided to head towards the clearing to see what was occurring and upon entering the clearing stopped to observe the behaviour of the other animals playing together. Snow was flying at each of the animals as the arctic fox, reindeer, walrus and arctic hare flicked it towards one another with their paws, flippers and hooves, while the little auk was picking up the snow in its claws and was then dropping it onto other heads from above. It was the auk who first spotted the Polar Bear moving towards them from the edge of the clearing. “What are you doing standing there?” The auk called as it hovered above the others, bringing their attention to the polar bear. Startled from observing their behaviour the polar bear replied “I have been travelling to find a home and came upon this clearing”
“Well go away you’re not welcome here” the auk shouted back across the clearing. The other animals nodded in agreement and added shouts of “This is our home not yours” and “Leave” with a round of approval. As the polar bear went to walk away the other animals turned once more towards each other and continued with their games, gathering snow in to roundish piles before throwing them at one another. Rather than leaving the polar bear decided to continue to watch just from closer to the edge of the clearing. “Hey, look I’ve made an arctic hare” laughed the arctic fox, moving aback from where it had arranged three balls of snow. “Cool, I want to be made out of snow to” the reindeer said joining in the others laughing. Soon they were all trying to recreate each other out of snow some with more luck then others, forgetting about the polar bear who continued to watch in the distance. “That doesn’t look anything like me” the reindeer said to the arctic hare. “Well I know I can jump high but I can’t reach high enough to put the other balls of snow for the body and head” the arctic hare replied, to chuckles of the others. “We should see who can make the biggest ball of snow” said the reindeer and after a period of time called out “Ha I win” while standing in front of a large ball of snow “No I win” said the walrus those own pile was just as large even if it wasn’t completely round. “I think is should be how big it is in relation to ourselves” said the auk whose pile, while smaller than the first two was twice the size of itself. “But you and arctic hare are tiny and arctic fox isn’t much bigger” replied the walrus gaining reindeer’s agreement. “Let’s pile them up and see how high they are on top of one another” said the arctic fox. They started with the largest ball who everyone apart from the walrus agreed was the reindeers and then continued to pile them up biggest too smallest who belonged to the auk. As they tried to reach the top to put the auk’s snowball on top they realised that no one in their group could reach. Even with the arctic hare standing on the reindeer’s head and the auk trying to hold it from above.
“It’s no use were just not tall enough” said the walrus as they all looked down dejectedly. The polar bear who had watched them compete and had listened to their converstion started to walk towards them once more and upon reaching them said I “could reach and put the snow ball on top for you” “Why we told you to leave” said the arctic hare As the polar bear move forward and was lifting the ball into place the polar bear said “I have been traveling for a while searching for a place to call home and this seems like a nice place to be for a while. I saw you all together and would like to try and get along with some even if only for a small time.” They agreed to allow the polar bear to stay even if some were grump about losing some of their territory. “Can you put these stones in the top ball I feel that it should have eyes like our other snow creatures?” the walrus asked “Wouldn’t that be weird with just the eyes, what about arms and legs and paws?” said the arctic fox. “Not everyone has paws, you know” said the auk, “what about claws and a beak.” “And a tail” said the arctic hare “And antlers” said the reindeer “And flippers” said the walrus It would be really weird if it had all of those different qualities. The polar bear said. “What about if we put flippers at the bottom made out of snow like the walrus and add stones for eyes and some for a mouth for the ground where we live? We could add arms out of sticks; they look a bit like bird legs and claws as well as antlers. It’s already made out of snow and me arctic hare and arctic fox are that colour that way it might not look so weird while still representing apart of each of us. The others agreed and they were soon off to gather the different objects required. “I still think it looks weird, nothing could really look like that surly” said the arctic fox as they stood back to look upon their creation, causing the others laugh.
TH E R IG RE SP
B HANN POLL
G HT T O P ECT
By NNAH LARD
A long, long time ago, in the harsh, uninhabited, wintry lands of the High Arctic, lived a giant named Svalbard. Svalbard was a gentle giant, one who lived simply, one who was kind, yet enjoyed the solitude of the barren land on which he lived. He had always lived here, and loved it on this island, and felt that he always would. Svalbard had a cousin. A mischievous little, cousin called, Oy, who came to live with Svalbard when he found himself with nowhere else to go. Oy had no home, except for with Svalbard. Oy did not respect his home or others around him. All day long he would bother Svalbard, stealing his food, hiding his belongings, and making his home dirty. He would not ever help Svalbard, or listen to what he had to say. Oy was selfish and cruel, and did not care for Svalbard. The giant would have to work hard all day and all night, finding food to eat, preparing this food, cleaning, and caring for his cousin, to ensure their home was a happy one. This lack of respect made Svalbard very sad, as he loved Oy, and could not get him to change his ways; no matter how hard he tried. Svalbard kept his thoughts and frustrations to himself, so to not cause hostility, and with every tear he cried for Oy and his bad habits he would plead to his Kingdom, "show him the right we all have to respect" as he stared into the cold, calm sea. Svalbard did this every day for 80 days and 80 nights yet not one thing changed, Oy remained the same. One day Svalbard woke up to find his home empty and strangely silent. He walked all over the land, and his cousin was nowhere to be found. "Oy" he cried, "Oy, where are you?! You can come out now, stop hiding!" Svalbard could not find his cousin anywhere, and became angry at his tricks. He went down to the waters edge and once again pleaded furiously to the sea, "oh, please, show him the right to respect" and was frightened when he saw the sky grow dark and stormy, and the waves rose up more furiously than he had ever seen. Svalbard ran for cover, and was startled when he heard the reply, "do not worry gentle Svalbard, I have heard your cries. It is I, Vann, god of the water. I have sent your cousin away on an island, to travel the ocean, in order to help him change his ways, and to learn how to respect." Svalbard was so shocked and scared of this mighty voice that he ran all the way home, and did not come out for 14 days and nights. He prayed for his cousin’s safety, dreamt of the Godly voice of Vann, the terrifying, raging waters, and cried for his own lack of patience at his unruly cousin. He wished more than anything that he could take back what he had wished, and that Oy would return home. Svalbard continued, from day to day, keeping his home a clean, safe and welcoming place to live in, with the hope that his only friend, and cousin, would soon return to share it with him. One bright and sunny morning, Svalbard awoke to the sound of people, laughing and talking outside his home. He opened the door to see thousands of people creating a feast. "I must be dreaming" he thought to himself, as he rubbed his eyes. Sighing, he prepared himself for another lonely day of hard work and solitude. When he opened his eyes again, in front of him was Oy. He was smiling, and took his cousin in a warm embrace. "Svalbard" he said, "I have been on a journey. A journey that has taken me around the world. I have seen many things. I have laughed. I have cried. I have been lonely. I have made new friends. But mostly I have learnt. I have learnt, through these wonderful people, about respect. Vann sent me to all the countries of the world, and told me to gain the respect of the people who lived there, so that they would come and live with me on my island, teaching me to live peacefully with others. They did so, and now we return here, to our land, to live with you, and to bring you happiness. I promise you I will love and respect, both you, and our land, so that it may live on forever. I will never forget my time on that island. It took me nowhere. It took me everywhere. It took me to be alone to see what I have, right here." A single tear fell from Svalbard's eye as he looked around at all the smiling people, the waves crashing onto the land, and back at Oy, and replied "we all have the right to respect my cousin, and for you it has come to light, on your very own nowhereisland." From that day on, they lived together as one nation, separated by nothing, united by respect, and the power of the sea.
PINK and BIR
B ERV MART
BIRD RED RD
By VIN TINI
Pink Bird and Red Bird returned home to their mother. The day had been clear and bright for the most part and although rather windy it did not stop there fun. They had decided to return home to their island after they noticed a rain cloud approaching, and anyway it was nearly almost their bedtime. The grey cloud was nearing the island as they arrived, their mother waiting for them. The island, a small broken piece of land, drifted slowly through the sea as it had done for months now. "Will there be a storm tonight?" said Pink Bird as they both landed. "No, just very rainy." said their mother, eyeing the nearing cloud.
Pink Bird a Bird
"Then you must tell us more stories for bedtime or we never fall asleep with all that noise." smiled Red Bird. "You two don't need to worry about the cloud," said their mother "all you two need to worry about is eating your food, brushing your beaks and getting a good night’s sleep." The birds ate their meals; worm soup, their favourite. They were very excited about the stories they would hear as they brushed their beaks and got into their pyjamas. As they got into bed they heard soft noises form outside, it had begun to rain. Their mother came into the room holding a candle in her right wing and a small blanket for herself in the left, she too heard the rain. "Where do you think our island will end up?" asked Pink Bird. "I'm not sure." answered their mother as she sat down. "I hope lots of people come to live on our island." said Red Bird. "People discovering and finding a new home is a very good thing," said their mother "however sometimes it's not." "How?" said Pink Bird. "Well," said their mother as she composed herself for the first story. "There once were a group of people who had been living on their island for a long time..." Her voice was soft and even as she spoke, and as she spoke the birds listened, listened about the people who lived on a island, and how after a time other people came. And how these others that came to the island brought with them disease which spread to the natives, how they brought with them weapons with which they killed the natives. She told them of how the native people became fewer and fewer, while the other people became more and more. And how soon after, it was not the native’s home anymore but the
Pink Bird a Bird Flying high i When the come Pink Bird a Bird Return home moth
and Red d
and Red d in the sky. e night es, and Red d e to their her.
other peoples, and the other people called it their home, and saw the natives as living on their home, their land. The birds were quiet and the rain was falling. "Why couldn't both the people live there both together?" said Pink Bird. "I'm not sure." said their mother. "Probably it’s very hard to share I think." said Red Bird. "Do you think if people come to live here, do you think they will take our home?" said Pink Bird. "I don't know." said their mother "but a home is not the worst thing someone could take." "How do you mean?" said Pink Bird. "Well this story is similar to the first." she said. She turned her head towards the window; the rain was falling harder now, falling on the tree leaves and on their brown wooden roof. She continued "There were a group of people who had been living on their hot and sunny island for a very long time; then others came...� Their mother spoke in the same soft voice and the birds listened more closely. She again told the birds how soon after the others came the natives lost their home. And so the island belonged to the other people now. Her voice remained soft as she told the birds of how the other people began taking the native children away from their parents, and how they said they were doing this to protect them. She told them of how people thought this was done not to protect the children but in the hope that the native people would fade away. And in fading away would not be a threat to the others who believed themselves to be the better people. The candle flickered and waves were heard in the room. "This was a very long time ago and things are very different now.� said their mother "Anyway that's enough stories for tonight, I'll tell you a funny joke and then both of you will go to sleep." "Ok." both said the birds. "Two worms are falling from the sky, falling and falling." said their mother "They look down and see the distant colours of pink and red. They fall and fall and land in the beaks of Pink Bird and Red Bird, who quickly scoff them down." The birds laughed, laughed at the unluckiness of the worms to land into their beaks and they soon feel asleep. Their mother was sat by a window staring out as the island slowly drifted through night, the rain had passed now. And as she stared out at the sea of darkness a small island came into view. She could see a faint orange glow and small sleeping lighthouse. She breathed softly and took a sip of her tea.
T HE EN D With thanks to Plymouth Arts Centre