Naklah

My name is Naklah. Its my name and its the name all who are like meand our
house is also Naklah. What is it? Its everything.
You will not understand unless sink to your level, so Ill simplify my message and use
earthly terminology. I separate from Naklah. I name myself Rad. I am a human just like you,
physically identical, but in Naklah that does not matter.
To allow you to understand, I have to begin with ancient times, and you must listen
and wait for enlightenment to dawn. Be patient as I am patient, because I am not subject to
time. Time does not exist in Naklah, but you are so concerned with it, always in a hurry, you
want to know everything at once. Cherish each moment, savour each oneevery minute,
every hour. Me, RadIve forgotten about time, but I understand your urge, because once I
lived here too, just like you, though, now I live in Naklah. I am older than Baal or any of its
ancestors. And before me I have infinity. My lifespan is unlimitedmine and the lives of
those who are like me.
***
He warms up the tomato soup and cooks some rice. When he hears Naklah, he puts
the spoon away, approaches Alexander, and looks at the picture. Naklah. He knows this
wordhe must have heard it before. His grandson repeats it with satisfaction, smacks the
drawing with his hand. On the sheet of paper he can see a web of lines that turn sharply in
different directions, some tear through the paper, others are barely visible. Some have jumped
off the page and onto the table. At the places where the lines cross, Alexander has drawn
things that look like wheels or bolts. The spaces between them are very nearly equal. The boy
is three years old, but hes measured out the exact same lengthstrange. Maybe the pen is

running dry and only draws these little, short lines? Frederick shrugs. Naklah is cool, but he
has to feed the kid and then put him to sleep.
He puts the soup on the table and Mana comes into the kitchen, tempted by the smell
of it. She stops in the doorway and stares at the spoon that Aleksanders using.
Youve already had your food, Frederick reminds her.
I ate? Impossibledont remember it at all! the dog seems to say. She trots closer, her
claws tapping on the linoleum. She sits down next to Alexander, who often drops food. The
boy pours a spoonful of soup on the floor.
For Mana, he says. Frederick isnt angryit doesnt matter. Its good that
Alexander pays attention to the needs of the others rather than resembling his self-centred
father. Son of a bitch, Im sorry, Frederick thinks. He apologizes to Teresa, whos always said
that they should leave Charles alone, leave Sylvia aloneits none of their business how they
choose to live. Although his wife died four years ago, he still remembersword for word
the arguments they had about their daughter. Hed insisted that he needed to do something
talk to her, talk to him, talk to God knows to whoever else. Shes their daughter, and Charles
is a sadist. Teresa disagreed, saying that interfering would only make matters worse. That
Charles would separate Sylvia from them for good, close her up in their beautiful house with
its tower, the way Gothel imprisoned Rapunzel on account of some stupid lettuce. So in the
end they did nothing, and then Teresa died suddenly.
For four years, Frederick hasnt been able to make up his mind whether to do as shed
said or to slap Charles in the face. For now hes waiting, watching him carefully, because his
son-in-laws behaviour has improved. He travels a bit more now and Alexander lives in peace.
Sylvia got her way, not sending the boy to school yet, instead asked Frederick to take care of
him. She works at the Institute of the World Economy, where her father worked before he
retired. Frederick hopes to live long enough to see her get a professorship. He, himself, never

got onethe things he espoused aroused indignation rather than admiration. If he hadnt
insisted on publishing the results of the research hed run for several yearswhich serious
scientific journals consistently rejectedmaybe the establishment would have forgotten about
his theory and forgiven him. But he made a deal with a popular science magazine, which had
added provocative comments to his work, and Frederick had ended his career with a stupid
doctorate. He was lucky not to have lost his job.
He helps Sylvia as much as he can, taking care of Alexander, and from time to time
checking her students work. Charles, meanwhile, does his CEO jobmaking visits, issuing
orders, and travelling all over Poland. And when hes not working, he needs to relax, and
doesnt want to listen to his child squeaking and chattering, so Aleksander lives more or less
permanently with his grandfather.
Mana moved in before him. Charles bought her as a gift for Sylvia, to whom he had to
apologize once more, without thinking it through, then gave the dog away once she proved to
be a burden. For Frederick shes no trouble, and has been rather a good company, especially
since Teresa died. If not for Mana, immediately after the funeral he would simply have hung
himself. But she barked, jumped up on him, nagged at him to stop. Hed had get down from
the stool and gave up the idea of the suicide. And so he lived on, and lived to see Alexander.
He wonders what else will happen in his life.
Alexander finishes his meal. Frederick eats the rest of the soup, though he is not
actually hungry, and cleans up the kitchen. They both wash their hands and go to bed.
Frederick covers the childs legs with a thin blanketits warm right now, and the windows
face south. The green curtains are half closed, and in this light it feels as if theyve dived
under the surface of the lake. He tells a story, holding Alexanders small hand in his own,
stroking the childs smooth forehead. Draws the eighths between the boys eyes, and

Alexander breathes more slowly. Mana comes in from the kitchen and carefully crawls onto
the blanket, lying down slowly so as not to poke the child.
Sleep well, Frederick whispers to her and to the child. Alexander closes and opens
his eyeshe is almost asleep. Frederick decides that he will sleep too, then gets up to have a
second course. Later theyll go to the playground to see the other kids. The children will play
together, and then theyll go to the plot to collect raspberries. Hell make juice, he knows how
and he likes doing ithes been making jams and compotes ever since he found himself
alone, without Theresa. The juice is thick, gelatinousyou have to smack the bottom of the
bottle to get it to pour into a glass. Frederick drinks it with waterAlexander eats it with a
spoon. Soon it will be time for marinated peppers. He gave them to Alexander last year and
the boy got an awful stomachache, but maybe now hes old enough to eat them. The
cucumbers are ready. Cabbage. Beetroot. Some compotes. The entire basement is filled to the
ceiling with provisions. Frederick liked looking at themthe shelves bending, loaded with
jarsand calculating how long he could survive with what he has here. Sometimes, as a child,
he was badly starved, with sores on his back from the hunger, though he does not tell anyone
about ittheres no need. He falls asleep. He has a dream, the dream in which someone
repeats only one word, like a kind of spell. Naklah.
#
You people know as much about Natufian culture, which left its traces in the valley of
the Tigris and Euphrates, as youve managed to dig out of the land. As much as your
scientists have interpreted, deducing from small pieces of information, after examining bellied
statues of the Mother Goddess. They gave the findings their own meaning, imposed their own
beliefs, and ignored some facts. So you know as much as they made up, to put it simply.
Thats your knowledge, based on what they found and put together into what you call history.

We blurred our tracks, but youve still guessed that in addition to the people settling
on the fertile landstrying to grow wild plants that now you can modify genetically, breeding
wild animals that today are domesticatedthere must have been somebody else. Something
that prompted them to stop wandering, living by foraging and hunting. You say the reason
was climate change, or favourable local conditions, but none of this provides a satisfactory,
complete explanation. You still lack some link, you say to yourselves. You look for it, you
have hypotheses. And youre right, you are missing certain information. There was something
elseus, the highest caste. Naklah.
To this day, you subconsciously realize that we exist, that there is Naklah. You see
Naklah in your dreams, the word Naklah sounds familiarand Alexander draws Naklah. You
know our language, given to you by us, imprinted in your genes. You cant speak it, but when
you hear it, you understand.
The ones whose traces you found on the top of Har HaKarmel knew this language as
well. The ones with the vineyard godgod is us. It is we who initiated the neolithic
revolution and ordered these people to end their journey through the worldto begin to shape
it instead. Because of us, they cultivated the first field. On our advice, they caught and bred
animals. They proceeded slowlythey were simple people, your ancestors, living nine
thousand years before the era of Christ, according to the local calendar. We needed much time
and patience to teach them. We do not lack patience. We are persistent.
The millennia have passed, and they came to understand more and more. They learned
to construct buildings and set temples for us. Tall, resembling pyramidsfor those who come
from the sky. Even then we managed to travel beyond Earths orbit and explore the cosmos
at least nearby areasand come back with metals and stones they did not know. We taught
them how to handle those gifts, how to craft unusual objects. We taught them about their
value and how to exchange themthey had trouble with the idea of money, but we were

patient. We taught them how to accumulate wealth. Wealth that gives power, and which
should serve everyone, not just individual interests. It should mean peacethat was our goal.
We wanted you to live in peace. We wanted to create a perfect world. For you, since we love
you. They accepted these teachings reluctantly. Focusing on overall, social well-being rather
than personal gain is difficult for youso difficult. Have we made a mistake creating you? I
do not know.
Going back to the Euphrates, no need to talk any more: humans had learned a lot. To
worship Naklah and irrigate the fields. To use metal instead of stone, the power of animals
instead of human labor. Levers and wheels. And above all they learned to work together and
created Sumer, the first nation in the world. We were proud of them, though aware that this
was only a beginning and that we had a long way to go.
Sumer was not uniformit consisted of many city-states, which gained power only to
squander it again a while later. Even then we noticed that power is intoxicating for youit
limits your vision, drives you insane. This was why Enmebaragesi, the ruler of Kish, and
Gilgamesh in Uruk, lost their advantageand not just them, but also subsequent kings,
fighting with other kings, smaller or bigger. Time, we thought. They need time to understand
that this is not the way, to stop choking on the power, this is so new for them.
Around two thousand and three hundred years before the time of Christ, there
appeared one who gave us hope that the warring would finally end. Sargon the Akkadian,
called the Great. Sarru-kin, the rightful king. Creator of the first empire in the history of the
world, covering the area of Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and further, all the way to the sea.
According to legend he floated upon the river, put into a basket by the immaculate mother,
who sent him away to do great things. This is not truehe was an ordinary human, like you,
and was born just like you. He ruled Akkad, a new town, built according to our plan. It was

white and full of towers pointing to the sky, with one central templea place where we could
land. You have never found this cityit was destroyed.
Sargon understood that bloodshed is not enough to keep an empire. He understood our
idea. Together with territorial advantage, he gained the upper hand economically. He had
access to wood and metals. To agricultural land. To the wealth of the lands through which he
took his empire-building offensive. He did not destroy them, he preferred to co-operate
thats what we told him: do not destroy. He had us as advisors and benefited from our
knowledge. We were pleased with his achievements.
Through his officials he made other cities subordinate, celebrating the power from
Akkad, and this power was strong, lasting even after his death. Unfortunately, when he died
no one appeared who could make use of our teachings the way that Sargon had. Successive
rulers were too stupid, too self-centeredonce again in love with their own might, which is
the eclipse of the mind. The empire recovered its former splendour for a moment in the time
of Naram-Sin, but then, attacked by nomadic tribes and troubled by internal disputes, it
disappeared. We disappeared as well. There was no point in staying. They still could not
understand.
Today Madan, the Marsh Arabs, see themselves as descendants of the ancient
Sumerians. They are as frail as their ancestors. They resist to resist. They fight to fight.
Behind their uproar there is nothing, no greater purpose. We made the right decision leaving
that project behind, despite of one thousand years of work. We had another place to start. It
had already begun to sprout shoots, and there we flew.
#
He wakes up and remembers only an odd echo. Alexander is hungry. Frederick warms
up the stew and boils a handful of pasta in the shapes of letters. A, Z, B, Y, A, H, and N

coalesce on the boiling surface, arranged into a word with no meaning. What was it he had
dreamed about? What was it? He cant remember.
Alexander eats the pasta willinglyeven the salad with carrots, which he doesnt
likedropping nothing on the floor. Manas not happy about it. She walks around the kitchen,
searching for food in corners, checking if there are any old crumbs. The ringing of the leash
distracts her from this activity. She runs to the door, but tries not to let herself goshe knows
that if she jumps like shes possessed, everything will take longer.
They ride downstairs in the elevator, which smells of burnt plastic. The child and the
dog watch the floors as they pass, looking through the narrow window. They disembark at the
first floor to look down at the playground. Nobodys there. They walk down to the ground
floor and decide that theyll go straight to the plot instead, but they take the long way and
drop by the lake. The lake was created by flooding the hole that remained behind after a small
sand mining facility closed up. Initially fairly clean, it quickly became overgrown with weeds
and turned into a natural pond, a habitat for frogs and leeches. Sometimes anglers come here,
though Frederick doesnt know why. They built a short bridge, from which Alexander likes to
throw pebbles into the water, and thats where they go now.
Frederick unleashes Mana. The bitch dives into the grass to chase rodents and
disappears. Shell come back reluctantly when Frederick calls her. Alexander goes onto the
bridge and stops close to the edge, but not too close because hes not allowed.
Give a pebble, he orders, and Frederick bends down, looks around, and picks up a
couple of stones. He gives them to the boy and Alexander checks them out. Then he picks the
one he wants and throws it. Another one, throws it. The third one. Give a pebble! he repeats.
Hes used them all.
He cant see any more pebbleshe collected the obvious ones the first time. There
might be onenot enough. Frederick goes several steps away, picks up three more. He

promises himself that the next time hell gather stones along the way. He straightens up. At
the same time he hears a splash. He looks up. The boy is gone.
Alexander! he cries, throwing the stones in the grass and running.
He comes to the end of the bridge and jumps into the water.
Alexander, Alexander! he calls, moving water with his hands. He gulps some air,
dives. He opens his eyes under water, but he cant see anything but duckweed dancing in the
depths. Frederick surfaces. Mana, where is he? he asks the dog, who sensed trouble and
came running. Mana doesnt know. Frederick dives again. Surfaces again, feeling like crying.
He cant find Alexander in this cursed, swampy water. Has the mud covered him? Or has
some water demon kidnapped the boy? Alexander! he calls again. A flock of angry crows
starts to caw, disturbed by his screams. Alexander! He dives again, looks around, again
sweeps the water with his arms. I beg you God, help me! he prays. Mana barks.
At that moment, right next to the dog, something blinks. From the air, from the earth,
emergessomething. It is huge and blue, shining, pointy. Made of sharp lines, bonded with
something like bolts. Fractal, angular. It reminds him of pictures his students drew during
exams, repeatedly revised charts of currency exchange rate fluctuations. Why is he thinking
about ridiculous drawings at a time like this? He should dive, get Alexander!
Naklah, Frederick says in a whisper. He cant turn his eyes away, cant help staring
at Naklah. Mana jumps, but bounces off Naklah, looking as if she were knocking at its door.
Then the door opens. Someone comes out.
Good morning, he saysnot in Polish, in some other language, but Frederick
understands. Mana sits on her haunches and stares at the newcomer. Frederick, get out of the
pond, he says. Alexander, get out of the pond, he says. And suddenly everything changes.
Time goes backwardssmears. Frederick feels as if something has exploded right beside
him, like when he was with the guerrillas, during the war, the same deafness. Stop. Alexander

is back on the bridge, Frederick is looking for stones in the grass, Mana is looking for mice,
and Naklah... isnt here. It has disappeared.
#
Naklah, Naklah, Frederick repeats, pulling Mana by the leash and the child by the
handneither of them wants to go back home, but they have to. The dog resists, stops with its
paws dug into the ground, lies down on the belly, and Aleksander cries. Naklah! Frederick
says to them. Naklah!
At home, he doesnt even take his shoes off. Lets Mana go, dragging the leash behind
her, bribes Alexander with chips. Turns the computer onwhy does Windows always take so
long to start? Maybe its the equipment.

Its old, barely able to run the software that

Frederick uses for data modelling.

Naklah, he types into the browser.
Theres a Naklah on Facebook. Frederick clicks the link, views a few photographs. A
swarthy man, who knows where fromthat information isnt publicly available. Theres also
a female Nakla. Frederick checks her out, but its nothing, a German woman. Instagram,
Pinterest, there are a few Naklahsa painter, some ordinary guy, a model. No, thats not it!
He turns on Google Maps and enters Naklah.
Unable to display results for the query Naklah, he reads aloud. Puts on his glasses,
he can barely see the letters.
He searches for blue ball, ball of fire, bullet brightness, and similar phrases, but
all that comes up are pages about God, which sound more or less fanatical. Or he could read
about omens, which also comes up a lot. He changes queries, browses more pages, until he
gets tired. He doesnt understand why he cant find anything. But he knows this word. He
knows what it is. He understands. He just cant remember.
#

10

Then there was Kemet, Black Earth. You know, its Egypt, youve been to Egypt.
With Teresa. Youve also been to Mexico, again with her. Something pushes you to search
among the ruins of old civilizations, whether youre searching for answers at a site or in the
pages of a book. You can feel that theres something to discoverthat is why I am talking to
you right now. Do I know Teresa? I know. I saw her, I heard her, I know her thoughts. Naklah
sees everything.
As I said, Kemet had just started to grow when we lived in Akad, roughly four
thousand years before your era. The Amratian Culture, with no involvement on our part, had
begun to develop a society, already known in Sumer. The residents of Kemet not only lived in
settlements instead of wandering, but had also begun to construct buildings, develop tools,
produce cultural goods. This need to create is hidden somewhere deep within youyou
inherited it from us. Do not destroy but createand most especially, create beauty. Will this
need ever prevail so that eventually you will be like us? I do not know. We had been watching
the Amratian people carefully, so when we lost Sumer we moved there.
We appeared there during the second transitional periodthis is how you describe this
era in the history of Egypt. It was an important moment: either the country would fall apart, or
it would be unified. We helped it to grow, we helped Amhose, the ruler at the time, who in
our opinion was worthy of our support. We are the reason he was able to defeat and expel the
Asian tribes, take over the Avaris fortress, and end the time of political turmoil and
disintegrationand that brought the country into a single unit. Amhose introduced a strong
central authority, whose foundation was a common religion. His authority did not mean a
wave of terror, but a culture based around water, which Egypt was eager forthe pharaohs
insisted on carrying out irrigation works and supervising them. Because of us, he was a
supporter of culture, which is why ancient Egypt was able to furnish almost all the major
museums in the world with monuments, which nobody had ever seen before.

11

Pharaohs died and new ones were born, but each successive one listened to us, to those
who come from the sky. There is no point in naming all the kings of Egypt one by onethe
point is that during the nineteenth dynasty Egypt became the leading world power. There was
no other state with such advanced technology, such resources, such organization. It seemed
that everything was on track and soon Egypt would impose its authority on others, and in so
doing share its knowledge and enlighten the societies that fell in with it. But that did not
happen.
The reason was the gods. Religion often causes conflicts amongst you, or at least its a
justification that no one dares to question. The priests of the Hidden God gathered around
Thebes, creating an independent state.

They separated themselves from the main land,

wanting to rule on their own. What did they plan to do? I do not know, because the Assyrians
invaded Egypt, and Memphis overtook Thebes as well. Psametych tried to unite the state
again, but its collapse was already a fact. And again, we had to go away, fly away and wait
until we could find a place where we could start from scratch and find a man who would be
able to carry out our plan.
We did not have to wait long. Right beside Egypt was Macedonia, a strong state with a
well-organized administration and military. This country was inherited by Alexander the
Great, and we made use of him. I do need to tell you how far he went in his drive to extend
his power over neighboring areas. Charisma, physical strength, tenacity, an analytical mind
he had everything, and it allowed him to push and push, further and further, to expand the
empire, often shedding blood. But sometimes blood must be shed in order to introduce peace.
So it was in Sumer and so it was in Egypt. This is the price.
Alexander had a chance to fill the gap left after the collapse of Egypt, where he also
went by the way. From our point of view, the situation was perfectly arranged. But the power
he had made him so blind, so big-headed, that the same happened as with the others. When, in

12

the three hundred and thirty-third year BC the oracle in Egypt told him that he was the son of
Zeus, Alexander went completely mad. People laughed at him, and he drank and eventually
died. His empire was divided due to wars that followed, and so it disappeared. Naklah were
left with nothing. Again.
#
Time passes and Frederick performs his various duties according to the seasons. Not
mechanically, but they are by their nature repetitive. Chestnut picking, feeding hummingbirds,
spring wading in the mud, dealing with Manas cough, treating Alexanders cold. There are
several disputes between Sylvia and Charles, but once again he doesnt intervene. Let them
settle matters. More time passes.
He remembers Naklah and thinks it must have been a daydream. He laughs at himself,
but hes also a little afraid. He has hallucinations that remind him of the war, of being a
guerrilla, of all the teenage boys who died around him, of all the children without mothers and
the mothers without husbands, villages without people, Jews without life. The incident with
Alexander in the water isnt a memory, thoughits something created by his mind. He
hopes hes not going crazy. Alexander doesnt remember any of it, including Naklah, so it
must have been a fantasy. Hes often worried about his grandson and his daughter, because of
Charles, and this stress must have induced the hallucination. He thinks he should deal with
Charles, do something.
One Wednesday he walks Mana at the meadow by the lake. He plans to visit the plot.
Alexanders not staying overnight tonight, so he might pick something, clean up, rake, burn
leavestheres always something to do. But in the end he gives up the idea. He arranges
with a neighbour, with whom he shares the plot, to do it the following Saturday. He goes for a
walk instead.

13

Mana pokes around in the leaves. Frederick drops the leash, walking slowly behind the
dog, picks a blade of grass. He stops by the wild pear tree, which is barely standing. There are
some blue flowers under it. Between them are thistles, and Mana keeps away from them,
jumping over them and running further along. Rustling sounds, and then a hare jumps from
behind a bush, putting his ears back and running away. Mana chases him for a while, but she
knows that its futileshe wont catch the hare on account of her age, and eventually she
stops. Frederick looks at the meadow and thinks Naklah. He hasnt thought of it in a long
time. And when he thinks it, Naklah appears.
Frederick crouches, impressed. Naklah emerges from the air, settles on the meadow,
its fractal ends shining, looking like a blue sun. At the same time, it doesnt look like the sun
at all. It opens like a chestnut shell. Wide. A light glows from inside. Someone comes out.
Hello, he says. Im Rad. I come from Naklah
#
We have been waiting for the next man for a long time, carefully searching for
someone strong enoughwe did not want the history to repeat again. We were patient. We
waited and waited for over a thousand years, apart from a few episodes about which I will not
speak. It turned out the same as in Sumer and Egyptthe same force that drove Alexander to
his downfall infected our next chosen ones, and we were disappointed. Therefore, much time
had to pass before we decided to support the Aztecs. The Tira de Peregrinacion says that the
Aztecs came across the talking head of Huitzilopochtli in the jungle, and it promised them
that if they would take it with them, it would help them to become the rulers of Mexico. There
was no head, believe me. We were the only ones there. Naklah.
Do you think that the Aztecs who were considered savages in the place where they
arrived, could have constructed Tenochtitlan without us? Developed it from a fishing village
into a powerful city? Form a Triple Alliance, leading to a regional power? You explored their

14

economies and the way they used the ores and gems and shared the goods among members of
their society. You believed their economy was extremely advanced. But they did not invent
these things themselves. That happened with our help, according to our hints, with our
blessing, because we wanted to give them enlightenment, just as wanted to enlighten the
previous societies where we intervened. And we wanted them to have a power that would
allow them bring peace. Forever. Fix what we did wrong in creating you. We are your creator.
We feel as responsible for you as you are responsible for your dog.
They respected us. So much so, that they imposed their belief in those who come from
the sky on tribes they subordinated. Your books say that it is difficult to determine what they
believed in. Huitzilopochtli, Ometeotl, the sun. Each of these idols is just us. Us, the ones who
come from the sky, saying that the Aztecs were a chosen nation.
#
Once he got home from his meeting with Rad, he couldnt remember which route hed
taken or how long it had taken him. Naklah had confirmed a theory that had cost him years of
work, his research career, and contracts as well-paid business consultanteveryone knew he
had strange ideas. What remained were the memories of his trips to Egypt and Mexico, he
went to both places with Teresa, driven by a premonition. He visited only those two places
for everything else his studies were based on the literature. They accused him of choosing
crazy, florid elements from the work of Erich von Daeniken, and then using them to develop a
theory combining alternate history and economics.
People fight for resources, he said. They dont fight because there isnt enough for
everyone, but because some have surpluses and others have deficits. Example? Americans
throw away about forty per cent of their food. One hundred and sixty-five billion dollars
annually ends up in the trash. The other end of the equation? Africa.

15

If people dealt wisely with the resources that the planet offers, there would be enough
for all. A surplus even! Farmlands would have a chance to take a break. Mines, power plants,
and factories could slow down. Overfished seas would have a chance to recover.
Since goods would be shared according to central planning, money would lose its
raison d'tre. The economy would return to barter trade, but not quiteit would no longer be
about the exchange of something for something, but simply the distribution of common goods,
to which no one had a sole right and everyone has access. So, no money. The next step would
be the elimination of the stateit would share the fate of the money.
The key, however, would be a system of sharing of goods. This would be introduced
and, for a period of time, adjusted and fine-tuned using a firm hand. Dictatorship. Dictatorship
is efficient. Frederick hadnt meant the blood and gore of a dictatorial state, but economic
violence, central management of production, storage and distribution of goods. It would be
painful.
But once the period during which coercive power was needed has ended, it could be
eliminated. The world would learn and become a self-regulating mechanism, inhabited by
citizens sharing goods and co-operating to meet everyones needs. The problem until now has
been that we humans never grew beyond the stage of dictatorship, he explains to Mana as he
puts the key in the lock. Turns it. It isnt locked. Didnt he lock the door? Sylvia?
Sylvia. Shes sitting at the table in the kitchen, covering her face with a bag of frozen
peas. Frederick looks at her and everything inside him screams. He wants to overturn
furniture, smash plates, then chase Charles, grab him and tear his heart from his chest, just as
the Aztecs tore out the hearts of their victims. Hed throw it away, though, because it would
never be suitable for the atonement of the sunits black and foul.
He goes into the living room and kisses Alexander. His grandson is playing with
blocks and toy cars, sitting on the carpet and muttering to himself. Mana accompanies him,

16

pokes her face into the bucket of toys just in case Aleksander is eating something and has a
little food to spare. Frederick returns to his daughterhes determined that its now time to
stand up for her.
Ill leave Mana here, he says. He goes out. In the bus, he drums his fingers on the
window. He walks quickly to the house, rings the doorbell, and as soon as his son-in-law
opens the door, hits Charles in the face with all his might. Blood gushes from Charless nose,
spraying Fredericks clothes, and a few warm drops fall on his face. He feels satisfaction.
Blood is good.
#
The Aztecs were doing better and better. They gained power over a large area,
extending the range of their governance, but I was worriedI and the others like meabout
the fact that they needed so much blood. We could not eradicate their stubborn faith in the
idea that, as the chosen ones, they must satiate the sun, that the sun must eat from
cuauhxicallithe stone bowl. If it is hungry, it will not rise, and it is never entirely satisfied.
The Aztecs killed more and more prisoners to ensure its favours. Four men grabbed the victim,
and the priest cut into his or her body and slipped his hand through the ribs to snatch the
beating heart. He raised it above his head, sprinkling the blood on his face and on the face of
Huitzilopochtli, stone and unshakable.
They did not want to stop, even when we explained them that the sun was a star. They
would not understand, were not mature enough to accept the knowledge. So we agreed to the
spilling of blood, patiently waiting until they could understand our lessons on this point, the
same way they had understood technical issues. We did not expect that there would be more
blood.
#

17

Frederick is interfering.

He says that Sylvia should move out, that Alexander

complains that Charles shouts, that he has told the boy that he would spank him. Hes abusing
herthis isnt the first time. They live in fear, and while its good that his grandson so often
stays with him, she should too.
Sylvia doesnt want to listen, or maybe Frederick doesnt know how to talk to her,
because whatever he says just makes her angry. She says that shell talk with Charles and it
wont happen again. She tells him to stop talking about Alexander, but Frederick doesnt want
to stop and it annoys her. His daughter gets up, says that Alexander has his own house, his
father and his mother. Frederick objects, she gets irritated. She says that theyre going
homeshes had enough of the lectures.
Alexander is cryinghe wants to be with his grandfather.
Grandpa, Grandpa! he sobs when Sylvia carries him to the elevator. Why is she so
stubborn? Frederick follows her, and behind him trots Mana. He asks Sylvia to reconsider.
Theres no need to argue, let Alexander stay.
Sylvia doesnt answer, just casts him an angry look. Her eyes say its Fredericks fault
that the boy is cryinghe shouldnt interfere. She gets into the elevator. Alexander looks at
Frederick with tearful eyes. He disappears.
Frederick doesnt know what to do. Slams the door. Rushes down the stairs. Stops for
a moment on the first floor, looks out of the window. He sees his daughter getting into the car.
Maybe shes right wanting to sort things out? He walks slowly downstairs. Mana follows him,
he hadnt noticed that she was there.
Come on, lets walk, he says to the bitch. Mana wags.
They go on the plot. Along the way, Frederick picks a stick and uses it to mow down
the weeds growing on the sides of the path.
#

18

In a similar way, Cortez cut his way through the jungle. With his sword, he slashed out
a path to the riches he expected to find. Possessed by a vision of gold, which he and his
soldiers will to wear. There werent many of them, but they wanted victory so much that they
pushed on anyway. Delving deeper and deeper into the jungle, they came to the Aztecs
fortress.
Montezuma should have asked us for help, but he thought we had lied to him.
You did not come from heaven, but he didlook at the animals he is leading, look at
the blood he sheds. Look at the signs, everything indicates that he is a god, not Naklah! he
said. Here comes the god, we honour him! he said. Bring the prisoners, let them die for the
new god
He murdered hundreds of people to appease Cortez, the embodiment of the Winged
Serpent as Montezuma thought. And in this way he gave Cortez a way to exterminate the
Aztecs, the barbarians. Montezuma did not understand, did not know where he had made a
mistake, why his new god was so enraged with him. He decided that Cortez was angry
because of us.
He turned against us. We had a choice: either to withdraw or to destroy them. We
chose the former and flew away. Over the years, weve waited for someone who would be
able to bear the burden of the salvation of mankind, and all the while you have lived here as
Aztecs did, killing and fighting over territory, while we looked for a good place. We stayed in
several before we found one that was perfect. There we settled. We improved our technology.
Enhanced our knowledge so much that it makes no sense to drill down furtherwe wont
learn anything new. On such foundations we built NaklahNaklah, the union of our minds.
We waited and we had almost lost the hope. Why didnt we send someone here who
was tailor-made for our purpose? One of us, perhaps? But that would make no sense. We

19

wanted you to change, not to subordinate you to our will by force. We believe that you can be
good. This faith had almost died when you showed up.
A community, fully egalitarian, where everyone gets what they need. You say this as a
scientistyou say what we say. No money, no state. The transition period, and then peace.
Humanity needs a strong man who will carry out the necessary changes and ensure that no
one returns to the old-fashioned way of doing things. To fighting over goods, to the madness
about money, to dividing the world with borders.
I want to use your knowledge. Help us. Help us. Become our chosen one. Youre not
too oldwe can give you an eternal life. Well give you everything you need to fix this place.
You have a plan. We agree with it, humans no longer need war. They need an economic
advantage, not a military one, to bring peace. Well give it to you. We will create a project
that will develop into the worlds largest conglomerate and impose its way of thinking on
others. Slowly, it will start to rule over the worldand when it does, it will make it a perfect
place. Frederick, please help us.
#
Sylvia comes back to Frederick a month after their big argument. During those weeks
they spoke almost not at all. She was still furious about what hed said about Charles, so she
dropped off Alexander and picked him up again, little more. And then suddenly, at eleven
oclock in the evening, she came to him. With the boy, with a bag full of stuff.
She had decided that there was no point to continue with Charles. She had moved out.
The house belonged to Charles, which he took to mean that he could therefore make her do
anything he wanted. He had been calm and pleasant for about ten days, then hed returned to
his old habits. She hesitated for a moment, once again wanting to save the relationship, the
family. But eventually she decided that something had to be done before it was too late,
before someone got seriously hurt.

20

Can we stay with you for a while? she asked, and he agreed. He agreed without
hesitation. He took Alexander in his arms and carried him to the bedroom. His grandson was
sleeping, and he put him cautiously on the bed, like a fragile treasure. He wanted to cry.
Im going out for a moment with the dog, he said. He didnt want her to see him
crying. A father needs to be strong.
He went in the direction of the allotments and meadowswhere he had met Rad,
where Rad had told him his story. He knew that he would find Rad there, and Rad waited, and
as usual stroked Mana. The dog circled, following her tail, then fell asleep at Rads feet. As
always.
Are you all right? asked Rad when he saw Frederick was crying. She came back?
Yes, said Frederick. Very good. All good
So you can go with me, said Rad.
Hed suggested it before, but Frederick hadnt wanted to talk about it. Here he had his
his dutiesimportant matters. He couldnt just walk away, become the chosen one.
But why do you want to save us? Let them kill each other! he said to Rad.
Do not turn your eyes away from the suffering.
I dont care about that.
You do.
Youre wrong!
Come with me, Rad repeated. Create a new world. A good world for Alexander
think about that. Dont you want to give him a new world?
#
My name is Naklah. I am Naklah, and the others like me have the same name
everyone is Naklah, and our home is Naklah. I drift in the space and observe the Earth.

21

I used to beFrederick. Sometimes I remember my old name, and I long for

something Ive lost. Aleksander. Mana. I do not know who they are, but it hurts when I think
about it. I forget.
Once I used to live on the Earth, but the plan failed. Economic pressure was not
enough, I had to use violence. It was necessary to calibrate the system of distribution for
goods and resources, but people kept fighting over themthey burned warehouses, attacked
factories. I defended myself. And finally, for a moment, I had the power. I had control and
could impose the things I wanted. Then I lost it, lost everythingas soon as I felt
indestructible, it became impossible to resist the madness. The flavor of authority
overwhelmed me. And violence that I could use whenever I wanted to. And blood.
I flew off to Naklah, they took me with them when the Earth went dark. The darkness
destroyed my family, my home. There will be no light for a long, long time. I ran away, and
for a long time I had to beg Naklah to take me with themthey said I was as stupid as my
predecessors. Self-assured, I argued that I would fix everything.
Im waiting for a right moment, but it hasnt come. No hurryI am eternal. I do not
want to live forever. Its a curse. But it is too late. My name is Naklah.

22

ABOUT ME
I was born and raised in the south of Poland, but a big part of my family lives
in the US and Canada. As a child, I always assumed that my English-speaking uncles and aunts must feel terribly lost in Poland, since speaking Polish
is something of a superpower. So, I resolved early on to master Englishthe
first word I learned was teddy bear.
I began my writing career in 2012, after leaving the IT industry. Several of my books were published in Polish, and were all successful and wellreceived. In 2015, I made the decision to switch to self-publishing and start
my international career. This was a tough decision, but I assumed that since
I can say much more now in English than just teddy bear, I might succeed.
My first book published in English was Absolute Sunset. I still wonder
how I managed to complete this projectI think it was a matter of meeting
the right people at the right time. I have always been lucky to meet people
who are really committed to their work. When I saw my book on Amazon

24
for the first time, I took a selfie with my computer screen in the background.
I look at it almost every day. Working on Absolute Sunset was a lot of fun,
so I decided to go ahead with translating and publishing all of my books in
English.
And, of course, I continue to write. I am seriously considering switching to writing directly in English. Ill probably give it a try, and my editor will
likely go crazy. But I have a strong need to keep moving forward, to learn,
to develop, to try things that at first glance seem impossible to accomplish.
This is probably why I love CrossFit and distance running. Im short
and thin, but I can lift heavy weights and finish a marathon with a pretty
good time. Im training to run a 100-miler next year, and Ill probably also
try a triathlon, and maybe something more extreme, like skydivingI love
to push the limits. Even better, all of my family members are willing to join
me. Our motto is Coollets give it a try!
When I write I like to push the limits too. I dont stick to one genreI
like to mix them to achieve the effect I want. I dare to do that because I have
my lucky sweater that I always wear when I work, even in summer. It is blue
and very thick. Whenever I leave the lucky sweater on a sofa or chair, my dog
Rafa uses it as a blanket. He is a small pinscher and loves warmth, so most
of the year he suffers and shakesPoland is really cold. His favorite place at
home is the floor in front of the fireplace. He also likes to step on my notes
and sometimes drinks tea from my cup. And eats my chocolates. He is not
a good assistant.
On the whole, I am a professional dreamer. What I want is to be able to
write till the end of my life. And to win a few awards, of course. I think one
should always dream big, it does no harm, and maybe one day the dream
can be achieved. I am steadfastI will keep on doing my job and keep on
dreaming.

25
Dont forget, you can visit me online at www.katamlek.com, where you can
catch up with my latest news on my blog.
You can also find me on:
t
Facebook at www.facebook.com/KataMlek,
t
Twitter at twitter.com/KataMlek,
t
Instagram at instagram.com/katamlek, and
t
Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/katamlek.
Stop by and let me know what you think of Absolute Sunset!

26

MY OTHER BOOKS
ONE GOD

Miran Zielinski has had enough of ethics and laws getting in the way of
progress. Nothingnot governments, not the church, and certainly not
lesser mencan hold back Mirans vision for humankind: immortality.
Miran will need wealth, brilliance, and ruthlessness to achieve his goal.
Andreas can provide wealth, but must be paid in his own currency, and his
price is high. Satia has brilliance and ruthlessness to match Miran, but their
mix is volatile.
Opposed on all sides, Miran will not waver from his goal of immortality.
The question is not whether he will succeed, but who will be left alive when
he does.
Based on real-world developments in biology and genetics, this sci-fi thriller
rolls relentlessly through unexpected twists and continuous shifts of power,
leading to a tempting, disturbing, and altogether-too-likely vision of the future,
where one corporation gains almost total control over the world.
Already a hit in Polish, the English edition will be published in 2016.
For updates visit www.katamlek.com/one-god or follow my blog.

LALIKI

Before the wind comes, you can feel in the air that something is going to
happen. When it rolls down the hills and races between the slopes, even a
tiny spark is enough to start fights between neighbors. The people are on
edge, animals are skittish, and plants wither and die.
Who is responsible? The one who rides the wind and comes to Laliki village
to trouble its citizens.

28
Is it possible to get rid of the devil, along with other problems, such as
nymphs, talking animals, cursed ponds, never-ending forests, demons, and
of course stubborn guys from Laliki? Youll have to read the book to find out.
A collection of short stories and folklore. Available in Polish, with an English
edition coming in 2016.
For updates visit katamlek.com/laliki or follow my blog.

LONG DREAM OF FALLING

Artists make poor mates. For example, take Kata and Lukeshe a writer, he
a photographer. Both married to non-artists, both emotionally dependent
yet completely self-absorbed. Both completely devoted to their craft, their
escape from reality.
Reality: the artists bane, banished by drinking, cocaine, and one-night
stands. Reality: constantly present in the forms of their stable, boring
spouses, whom they simultaneously need and betray.
Will Kata and Luke change their ways? Or will they sacrifice everything that
makes a person whole, in exchange for the freedom every artist needs?
A burning hot novel that gives an intimate glimpse into the life and work of
a writer and photographer; full of real-world events; following the lives of
extraordinary people who think they are worthless.
For updates visit katamlek.com/long-dream-of-falling or follow my blog.

THE 9TH OF JULY

Who can say if love is right or wrong?

Andrzej loves her daughter, to the exclusion of everything else. Helena loves
her son, although he is far from being a good man. Renata loves her dog
Orionshe has nobody else, and when Orion is gone, she plans to leave this
world as well. Antonina loves the arts more than people. Daniela loves her
dead husband.

29
And Janusz... and Ela... and others... All of them ordinary people, trying
hard to love in the right way.
Full of humor and unexpected twists, this novel explores what our lives are
really about. Through the eyes of different characters, it asks a simple question:
are we all the same? Do we all need love to survive?
For updates visit katamlek.com/the-9th-of-july or follow my blog.