Ararah. Arararararh.

The semi swerved momentarily out of lane, engendering angry honks from a nearly sideswiped van. By the Orlando interchange, Frye had just about managed to forget what he had seen and heard and had invented a story about a cold little bitch, probably a lesbo, wouldn’t fuck her withyour dick…After that, without exchanging more than a dozen or so words, he took her all the way to Corpus Christi.

RUNIYA GLOSSARY

achaurit-lit. “the death,” but also the visible spirits seen accompanying the living

ajampik-the spirit world

aryu’t-spiritual wholeness, the quality of a real human being

assua-Paullinia sp.; a stimulant used in rituals

aysiri-a witch

chaikora-Cannabis sp.; a hypnotic

chinitxi-demons

hninxa-a sacrifice of a female child

iwai’chinix-lit. “calling spirits into life”; a kind of dream “therapy” of the Runiya

jampiri-animal spirit doctor; pl.jampirinan

Jan’ichupitaolik-Jesus Christ, lit. “he is dead and alive at the same time”

layqua-a spirit-catching box

mikur-ka’a-Petiveria sp.; guinea hen leaf, a plant used in medicine and magic

pa’hnixan-a sacrificial victim

pacu-a giant bluegill

pisco-cane liquor

Puxto-the region, the native reserve

Runiya-Moie’s people, lit. “speakers of language”

ry’uulu-mahogany

ryuxit-harmony; the life force

siwix-disharmonious, taboo

t’naicu-amulet

tayit-honorific title

tichiri-a guardian spirit inhabiting the dream world

tucunaré-the peacock bass

uassinai-a plant substance of unknown origin used with other hypnotics in ritual

unancha-a totem or clan symbol

unquayuvmaikat-lit. “the falling-down gift”; epilepsy

wai’ichuranan-the dead people, whites;wai’ichura (singular)

yana-hallucinatory snuff used in ceremonies

About the Author

Michael Gruber has a Ph.D. in marine biology from the University of Miami. He lives in Seattle, Washington, and is currently at work on another novel.

www.michaelgruberbooks.com