SHORT STORIES

Hexaflexagon 8191 (2004) Published 2004 in Bewildering Stories, issue 101. A Swedish version was published in the fantasy magazine Mitrania 1/2004.

Deal!  (2004)  was published in Twilight Times ezine in october. A Swedish version was published in the SF/fantasy magazine Enhörningen 10/2004.

THE REASON WHY THE STORY BELOW IS SO ANNOYING FOR YIMBOUKS:

As you know, four of the main species in Rim are Yimbouks, Rowanwomen, Shazes and Foxmen. However, these four species are in a way three, since Yimbouks are shapechangers who mate with Rowanwomen. If a Rowanwoman meets a Yimbouk in a forest, and if she can make him change into a Rowanman, then the two of them become lovers for the rest of the Rowanwoman's life, which is considerably shorter than that of the Yimbouk. These love meetings are sacred, even inviolable, to a Yimbouk. He is deeply and immutably in love with each new Rowanwoman. And he absolutely hates it when witty Foxmen laugh their heads off while telling stories like the one that follows. (Shazes just smile a little, since they are a quiet kind who don't have much sense of humour. As for Humans, the story has no point whatsoever.)

THE STORY:

There were a Shaz, a Foxman and a Yimbouk who wanted to share a pot of rowan-honey. They went off to a wood where they knew a Rowanwoman was living alone in a house. They were young and self-assured, and the Shaz and the Foxman in particular considered that persuading the Rowanwoman to serve them rowan-honey, maybe even honeywine, would be a piece of cake.


"She will fall for my looks and my intelligence," said the young Shaz, who was very handsome, his hair smooth and black and his eyes dark.


"A beautiful appearance must be combined with a pleasant and entertaining manner, as in my case," said the Foxman, making a funny little jump to amuse his comrades, being considerate as Foxmen always are.

The Yimbouk said nothing, since he was ugly and greyish and wrinkled like all Yimbouks. His manners were laconic and blunt. In addition he was rather selfish and boastful as Yimbouks usually are.


At last they came to a clearing in the wood. There was the house of the Rowanwoman standing in a beautiful meadow, lots of bees buzzing in the air. The Shaz was the first to enter the house but after only a minute he fled from it, followed by an angry swarm of bees.


"It's sad having to say this, but Shazes have no charm. She most certainly was annoyed, what with you being such a stiff bore," said the Foxman to his friend the Shaz.


He entered the house himself, but in even less time than the Shaz he flew out through the door in a wide arc, landing on the meadow outside the house. Rowanwomen, you see, are strong creatures, although you can't tell this merely by looking at them.


Now the Yimbouk was the only one left. He went into the house and disappeared. Both the Shaz and the Foxman went away after waiting for many hours. A long time later they met the Yimbouk, who was looking very pleased with himself.


"Did you get any honey?" asked the Shaz.


"Yes, and not only honey," the Yimbouk answered complacently.


"Why did she serve you rowan-honey and not us?" asked the Foxman.


"Because," answered the Yimbouk, "a Foxman is not a Rowanman."


(The end)