Chapter 29: A tour of Pahuna

The strange domed roof of the city changes colour as the day progresses. The false sky, which was predominantly black with small pinpricks of fake starlight at night, changes colour as the day progresses. Different hues of blue in the morning give way to reds in the afternoon. I suppose it is possible to tell the time of day by observing the colour of the false sky.

Pahuna is a hive of activity during the day. Tambara is quite proud of her city and delights in telling us how it works. The technology they use is impressive. The lights work using something Tambara calls tricity, which is created in a huge factory and conveyed using metal ropes.

The city’s social structure operates on a caste system. Tambara is a member of the highest caste, the Kwanza. Selected members of the Kwanza rule the city, although not the outdoor settlements beyond the surrounding farms. Tambara admits that one of the reasons some Merope choose to move away from Pahuna is to live free of the Merope caste system.

The tradespeople, teachers and educated citizens form the second level caste, the Pili. They enjoy privileges such as living in larger and better maintained housing than those of the third caste. Tambara estimates there are about one hundred Kwanza, and six hundred Pili, among the city’s thirty thousand population.

At the bottom of the hierarchy are those of the third level caste, the Tatu. It’s the Tatu who do all the menial tasks and hard labouring. Few Tatu receive more than a basic education, yet they form over ninety-seven percent of Pahuna’s population. Unlike the Kwanza and Pili, the members of the Tatu are only allowed to enter the zones reserved for the higher castes in order to perform their work.

Ikaroa and Ihapera are shocked at the social inequalities apparent in the city’s lifestyle. Makareta and Defina35 are less surprised having experienced a similar hierarchy in Thurn. What seems strange is that Whina and Emere are also unmoved by the inequality they see around them. However, I recall that they have experienced the falseness of Atenex social equality. It is clear that they were expelled from their village under a thinly disguised ploy to rid the village of any potential troublemakers. Atenex are allowed to question the wisdom of their leaders as long as such questions can be safely ignored. Both Whina and Emere show a tenacity that would mark them as a danger to their village leaders’ grip on power.

“The Merope have technology that would greatly benefit Thurn,” observes Cassandra. “Their use of tricity is impressive, and their steam powered vehicles are a miracle of transportation.”

“Hmm. We could propose a trading arrangement to gain knowledge of the technology,” I reply. “But what has Thurn to offer in exchange?”

“Metalwork,” says Defina35, who has been listening to our conversation. “The machines in the workshop we stayed in last night are made of poor quality metal. It wouldn’t surprise me if most of those machines are broken. I don’t think the horseless wagons you have been marvelling over are as reliable as out hosts would like us to believe. Look at the state of that one over there.”

I know relatively little about the finer arts of metalwork. However, Defina35 is highly skilled in the trade. Although the work Defina35 did in Thurn was decorative jewellery, body ornaments and trinkets, I don’t doubt that she could manufacture something much larger given the right metals and tools. Thurn’s factories can produce machines that are well made. If nothing else, it at least provides us with something to offer in exchange ... assuming the Merope are interested in a trade agreement.

“Why is Pahuna built underground?” I ask Tambara.

“A combination of ancient lore and practical need,” replies Tambara. “Those who were roused from the hibernation chambers came from a world plagued by fierce storms and extreme weather, so they decided to build underground. Also, our technology works better if it is sheltered from the rain. Unfortunately, the metal ropes used to transport tricity need to be kept dry. Of course, not everything can be provided without sunlight or rain, so we have encouraged our younger population to venture outside. Some even prefer to live outside despite the danger from wild beasts and the elements.”