“The Hagen were here when the first ships arrived, not on every island, but on many of them. They were loosely organized in a tribal system with a tradition of inter-tribal marriage. They traveled between islands in long dug-out canoes, trading or warring. Conflicts between the tribes appeared to be more the result of crimes of passion, rather than an inter tribal feud. Large scale wars did break out, with casualties on both sides, and then they would pass. Trading would resume with little memory of what caused the problem. These people lived on the beaches or in caves, building temporary shelters as conditions demanded. They had a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, living in small groups, and coming together occasionally for tribal gatherings.

When the mining interests arrived they saw the Hagen as a readily available labor force. But that didn’t work out so well at first. Fights broke out between the older and newer populations over things such as showing up late for work or who needed a beachside fishing spot. These were treated as crimes by the new comers though the Hagen didn’t see what the big deal was.

The two populations sort of drifted apart and left each other alone for a while. Eventually some of the Hagen would work in the mines or the city. The Hagen (a few of them) were educated in the ways of law, modern machinery and other civilized subjects. As the first generation passed on some of the colonists even joined the Hagen in their more primitive lifestyle.

When war broke out between the colonies the Hagen were angry about the death and destruction. Then after the conflagration they withdrew completely. Mother Nature was badly injured, but by no means dead. The Hagen would have done OK if it weren’t for the mutants. Apparently nobody knows if they were the result of some freak mutation or a mad scientist, but they prospered and propagated. Around a hundred years after the missiles came, the Hagen met the mutants on the field of battle. The mutants owned the day, and every Hagen there would surely have perished if not for the defenders.

For years after that the defenders and the Hagen worked side by side to defeat the common enemy. Much was forgiven, although they still keep lots of secrets from each other. Instead of instantly fighting, warriors and soldiers can now sit and have a drink. Then they share situational information and part ways.

Apparently, there is an island called Gotfyr located about a thousand miles northwest of Farside. Gotfyr has always been considered to be a holy place, and it is left alone by miners and defenders alike. A few Hagen from the other islands have made the pilgrimage to Gotfyr, always returning changed after a few years absence.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Now, not counting Gotfyr, most of the Hagen population is concentrated here in Andar, followed by Atil, northwest of where we are now. Very few Hagen remain on the defender’s island or Vakum. It seems that not much information is available concerning Calo.”

“Where did they come from?” Roquette asked. “I haven’t seen any mammals here, except humans. Are they human?”

“There were tests done to determine that,” Telini answered. “The results were positive on the second question, but as for the first question it’s all debate and speculation.”

“They sure did show some flexibility in their organization,” Gomez offered. “When I told Mama about Captain Gibbons and his questions, I’ll bet they were out of town inside of fifteen minutes. I mean, they had people scattered all over, but when Mama decided to leave and they were gone too.”

“Derrik?” Lewis asked.

“Yes sir?”

“Do you have anything to add?”

“Not really, sir. I mean I was young when I left home,” Derrick said. “All I ever heard was that they were dirty and untrustworthy, you know, just savages.”

“Have you met any since then?” Roquette asked him.

“A few, here and there.”

“Did they do something savage or to prove themselves untrustworthy in some way?” Roquette leaned forward, looking intently at Derrik.

Derrik looked very uncomfortable. “Nothing that I can think of.”

“My parents fought long and hard to eliminate that kind of thinking. When you make blanket statements such as that about a whole race of people, I think it lowers the intelligence of the entire universe.”

Derrick opened his mouth to say something, but Lewis cut him off.

“That may be a fascinating aspect, but it is not what we came here to discuss,” Lewis told them. “What’s their overall fighting ability?”

“Not much about that in the stuff I read,” Telini replied.

“Do you know anything about their cousins on the other side of the world?” Lewis asked.

“Nothing there,” Telini answered.

They talked for a while about what each of them had done that day and then they retired.