Wankh

Wankh (original title Serving off the Wankh , then The Wannek in the integral version) is a novel of Science-fiction writes in 1969 by the American Jack Vance and published author in France in 1971. This novel is the second volume of the Cycle of Tschaï, after Chasch.

Argument

Adam Reith, Land failed on the Tschaï planet, always seeks the means of chartering a spaceship to regain the planet Ground. By accompanying back Fleur de Cath in her native land, he thinks of succeeding in gaining the confidence of his father, a rich person Seigneur Yao, who could then help it to carry out his project…

The novel

The world of Tschaï

Summary

Ylin-Ylan wishes to return in its country of Cath and ensures Adam Reith of the eternal gratitude of his/her father if it accompanies it. Adam Reith, Traz Onmale , Anacho and Ylin-Ylan thus leave towards the east, cross the Died Steppe, the steppe of Aman, the forest of Daduz and join the port of Coad. In the maritime city, the group becomes acquainted with the gentleman yao Dordolio Or and Cornaline which was in the search of Fleur de Cath.

All the five embark on the Vargaz , felouque, to cross the ocean Draschade in direction of Settra, a city of the Yao country. The boat makes a stopover in the island of Gozed and takes again the sea. After a kiss stolen by Adam Reith with the one of the young girls present at edge and because of the shame undergone by Dordolio at the time of a duel at the sword against the Land one, Ylin-Ylan attacks all the crew of the boat with a scraping-knife, then is thrown rageusement to the sea, where she dies drowned.

Off the coasts, Adam Reith locates spacecrafts stationed in Ao Hidis, the Wankh city, and cherishes the project of going to subtilize one of them. The boat accosts in Verdoveï and the group goes to Settra to meet the father of Ylin-Ylan there. With the castle of blue Jade, Adam Reith is initially received by the aide-de-camp of the Seigneur Cizante , then by the Lord himself. He tells with the two men the circumstances of died of Ylin-Ylan and refuses the promised reward. Adam Reith is accompanied by Helsse d' Izam , the aide-de-camp of the Lord, at the “Burning Wait and see advocator”, a sect which thinks that the Men come from a remote planet called the “native World”. After having escaped with several attempted murders, Adam Reith accepts the offer of the Cizante Lord: its departure of Settra against a money large sum. With this sum, Adam Reith thinks of being able to pay a team of Lokhars having worked in the workshops of Wankh and which will be able to help it to fly and to control a Wankh spaceship.

The group leaves with Lokhar Zarfo Detwiler for Kabasas, city located at the North-East. They are helped by the lake people of Hoch Hars which helps them to cross the Jinga river. During the crossing, Helsse d' Izam disappears mysteriously. The group takes then the road of Smargash, the city of Lokhars, to recruit technicians there. They take a boat, where they escape an ambush, then call upon the services of a caravan. Arrived at Smargash, they find Helsse d' Izam, in a state of semi-conscience. They call upon a Dugbo bonesetter to know what arrived to him: it was poisoned, only a pinching of nose makes him take again conscience. Having joined together enough fellow-members, the troop sets out again for the city Wankh d' Ao Hidis. The men penetrate in the city and locate three vessels stationed and not kept. They seize the rocket-cargo liner, but are surprised by Wankh which they are obliged to take along with them. This vessel of last generation appears difficult to control and is crushed on the lake Falas. Wankh escapes then from the stroke.

The crew of fortune is stopped by the Men-Wankh who lead them in the fortress of Wankhs. They are questioned by Wankhs whose remarks are translated by the Men-Wankh, but Adam Reith and Zarfo Detwiler realize that their remarks are distorted by the Men-Wankh who betray their thoughts. They succeed in making so that Helsse d' Izam, which was in fact a Man-Wankh, translates the true contents of their remarks. They denounce the imposture of the Men-Wankh who handle Wankhs since generations. They teach them that they are the Men-Wankh who made bombard the Yao cities for fear the worship of the “Burning Wait and see advocator” is not spread on the continent and which maintain the balance of terror between Wankhs and Dirdirs. Surprised by these revelations, Wankhs return the Men-Wankh of their cities.

Always without spacecraft, Adam Reith seeks new solutions to get one of them. Anacho, the Man-Dirdir, speaks to him then about the Building sites Astronautics of the town of Sivishe, on the Kislovan continent, in Dirdir country, a city where one can buy wrecks and to repair them with the assistance of specialized technicians. But where to find the money to finance the operation?

Wankh

Argument

The novel

The world of Tschaï

Summary

Main characters

Supporting characters

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