The Transall Saga

Mark is taught how to fight by the executioner Sarbo—including how to ride, how to fight with a crossbow, and how to fight with a sword. His injuries heal, and he begins to feel stronger. He is often visited by Barow, whom he teaches how to read and write. Barow tells Mark that the great Merkon will be attending the feast to celebrate Mark’s new status as a warrior.

Leeta is at Mark’s hut, having cooked for him. She asks why he and Megaan are always arguing. She tells Mark that she once heard about the blue light from a shaman; the shaman told her that the light moves, and that it is dangerous. Leeta also warns Mark not to trust the Tsook, reminding him that they enslaved them.

Mark asks Dagon about the Merkon. Dagon explains that the Merkon is essentially the leader of Transall; all of the Tsook towns pay tribute to him each year. He unites the Tsook in conquering “nonpersons” (such as Leeta’s tribe).

Megaan and Leeta present handmade clothing to Mark. He washes himself and puts on the new clothing. He believes Megaan will not be able to find fault with him, and wonders why he cares about her opinion. Mark considers the possibility of leaving to search for the light, but now that his life in the town is good, he is tempted to stay.

Mark sits with the masked Merkon at the feast, and finds him intense. He returns to his hut, still unsettled. Megaan comes to find him, and Mark admits that he’s thinking about leaving. She becomes angry and leaves.

The Tsook continue to celebrate Mark’s courage at the feast, referring to his defeat of the Howling Thing as well as his courage in combating the Rawhaz men. Mark still feels uncomfortable around the Merkon.

Mark retires to his hut to sleep. Later, he wakes with a start, as the Merkon is sitting at his table. The Merkon tells Mark that he knows of his mission to find the blue light; he suggests that Mark accompany him to Trisad, where a shaman lives, to find out more about the location and nature of the light.

The next morning, a race is held. Mark, Sarbo, and many other men mount beasts to race to a designated tree; there, they are given a fruit that they must hold in their mouths for the ride back. Mark and Sarbo make a bet on which of them will win. Sarbo beats Mark, but he drops his fruit, disqualifying him. During the race, someone pushes Mark and he is almost trampled. Sarbo reassures him that it was probably an act of competitiveness rather than anything personal.

The Tsook men play another game in which a pig’s head must be taken to an assigned spot while others try to wrestle it away. Mark plays half-heartedly, and Sarbo wins. He notices that Megaan isn’t watching. He learns from Barow that Megaan isn’t feeling well and is crying in their hut. Mark goes to see her. He learns that Megaan and Barow’s grandmother told the Merkon about the blue light and his quest to return to his home planet.

Mark explains to Megaan that he will be traveling to Trisad with the Merkon. Megaan says that there is no shaman in Trisad. Mark asks Megaan if she will come to his ceremony that night. She relents with a smile.

Sarbo wins the buffalo-riding and ax-throwing contests. At the ceremony that evening, Dagon inducts Mark into the tribe of the Tsook. Mark, who is still called Kakon by everyone, is received with enthusiastic cheers. Mark’s hand is ceremonially cut open; he shakes hands with many Tsook men who volunteer their own hands to be cut. The Tsook men shake bloodied hands and vow to protect Mark.

Many people—including Dagon, Sarbo, and Tybor the blacksmith—present Mark with gifts to celebrate his induction. Mark is moved by the gestures. Barow presents Mark with a gift, but Leeta tells Barow that he must go home; Mark assures Barow that they will open the gift together the next day. Mark notices that Megaan did not attend the ceremony. The men dance.

Mark packs for the trip to Trisad. Sarbo volunteers to accompany him; Mark is pleased, as the Merkon and his men still unsettle him. On the other hand, the Merkon seems displeased that Sarbo is accompanying his men. Megaan comes to see Mark off; she presents him with a handmade pair of moccasins. Barow explains that she measured his footprint in the dirt in order to find out his size. Finally, Mark opens Barow’s present—and is shocked to see that it is a glass Coca-Cola bottle.