A Different Onionskin, A Different Light by Chipka

Photography • Atmosphere/Mood • posted on Jul 23, 2011

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Description

1: “The Finder of Names”: an onion grown in red soil. —The Dictionary (Last Ůtōrō Edition.) 2: “The Finder of Names”: identified in The Old Lands as an onion grown in red soil, characterized by the significance of such a plant on the First Naming Day of a child, or the consumption of such a god-plant’s bulb by the leader of a scientific, military, or colonial expedition. In contemporary use, the term commonly refers to a priest-historian, especially one of Ůt’ōé lineage; most Ůt’ōé live in the northern coastal lands and have been peacefully assimilated into the city-cultures of Elül and Ii. The title, Finder of Names serves to colloquially-identify any Elül or Ii dwelling priest-historians, though any priest historian may carry the title. —The Dictionary (Harthan Lay Version, Eighth Edition, revised.) * * * “I don’t know my name any more,” he said, quietly and as if at some great and incomprehensible distance. “Your name is Hej,” I said, thinking he’d decided to challenge me with a riddle. He shook his head. “No. Hej is a man who never took another Human life. I have killed a man, and so I am not Hej.” Though I claim to understand my adopted people, there are times when their logic confounds me. I tried to find the reason in his thoughts, some pattern in his gaze. I saw only the greenish brown color of his eyes, the expression of withered defeat masking his features, his hair, unbraided and tousled by the softest of desert breezes. It was hot. Sweat beaded on his forehead like salty gems. I touched his hand, the strong, delicate fingers of a desertman who can braid leather or husk the smallest and most delicate of onions without the aid of a knife…the hand I saw—once—beside a vessel in which to make Šáia…the hand of my brother/husband who never used hard words tinged with cruelty, or clumsy words in the presence of the wives we share, the wives he dotes over, spoiling with gifts and with compliments and with songs plucked from the strings of a lyre: dragon songs and comedic songs, and complicated songs of wit and candor. Those are his own inventions, plucked from his grandmother’s lyre by fingers as gentle and deft as they are strong. I saw him catch an invader fly in our house with the hand I touched; he’d simply snatched it from the air and threw it (buzzing and undoubtedly confused) from the window with a yellow rush mat beneath his naked feet and hair like spun gold in sunlight spilled through that same window. “I must find a priest,” he said quietly. “A finder?” I asked. I knew of such men; old, eccentric priests steeped in their worship of onions in faraway lands. Hej nodded. “If I have a name now, they will know it.” I nodded, clenching his fingers. I watched him close his eyes as wind played through his hair. “I know such men,” I told him. “I know good ones.” “You will take me to them?” I heard fear in his voice, and I thought—perhaps—it was fear of Elül itself. It was, after all, a strange and bewildering city to him. I nodded. “I will take you,” I said. * * * I’m sure there’s more to this story, and I’m sure that in time, I may find new ways to photograph the husks of new onions. I took this particular photo on Corey’s balcony, with the aid of a flashlight. The onion has since been eaten. In a salad, but I am happy for one good capture. I suspect that Hej might find his lost name within it. As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great weekend.

Comments (27)

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Sea_Dog

6:16PM | Sat, 23 July 2011

Nice work - the imagine is spectacular, your lighting is spot on.

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Orinoor

6:35PM | Sat, 23 July 2011

I really like this. It's odd, sometimes, the way we react to things thrown at us, it can make us look at ourselves in an entirely different light. Great bit of writing.

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Lashia

7:15PM | Sat, 23 July 2011

Great light and shadow study. I like the lines and textures in this shot- thanks for sharing! :-)

Selina Photography™

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mbz2662

7:38PM | Sat, 23 July 2011

An onion light bulb ;) Such a cool shot~

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wotan

8:01PM | Sat, 23 July 2011

Beautiful contrast light/shadows... very creative artwork. Excellent!

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NefariousDrO

8:41PM | Sat, 23 July 2011

Ooh, the picture captivated me right off, but then I read your story... I'm lost in another world, now. I can really relate to your finders, funny that the description of them isn't too far removed from the character I created for this year's renfest garb, even. Your characters are always so rich and fascinating, and I really like how you make an amazing world, but the focus of the story isn't that world, but the characters in that world, and how the relate and interact with each other as well as that larger world. Great reading, wonderful photo.

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beachzz

9:46PM | Sat, 23 July 2011

Looks like a teeny little hot air balloon--love the light!~!

whaleman

12:48AM | Sun, 24 July 2011

This almost looks like the woodlice had a go at it as well, ha ha!

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Feliciti

1:13AM | Sun, 24 July 2011

looks fantastic with this lighting !!cool idea too!!

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durleybeachbum

2:20AM | Sun, 24 July 2011

I felt a slight temporary shock when I got to "The onion has since been eaten."! Most enjoyable.

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dreampaint

2:53AM | Sun, 24 July 2011

excellent, very nice idea.

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fallen21

4:16AM | Sun, 24 July 2011

Fantastic photo!

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IO4

6:50AM | Sun, 24 July 2011

Fantastic shot! It reminds me a little of a hot air balloon:). The lighting is superb.

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flavia49

8:15AM | Sun, 24 July 2011

fascinating!!

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Sepiasiren

10:07AM | Sun, 24 July 2011

Oh wow now this is the kewlist of the onion series (kinda reminds me of a light bulb)--very very nice--you must have the patience of a Saint for all the time took to get this shot just right

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MrsRatbag

11:09AM | Sun, 24 July 2011

what a tantalizing snippet, as well as a wonderful new onion shell!

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RodS Online Now!

12:19PM | Sun, 24 July 2011

I'm at a loss for words - this is amazing! A common onion skin and a flashlight, and an excellent story. Brilliant, Chip!

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auntietk

1:27PM | Sun, 24 July 2011

In comparison to previous onions, this one seems somehow soiled to me. To Hej as well, I think. I do hope you'll continue the story, even in the absence of new onion photos. You have me wondering about children, for some reason. Are they gifted at birth with pearl onions? Rather than a baby shower, are moms-to-be presented with bundles of chives or scallions? Alium flowers? Hmmmmm ... These are not questions that need to be answered, only contemplated, but I thought I'd share them with you, nonetheless.

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