Beyond The Thick Wall || Hive Book Club Contest. Lostintranslation.

Hello Bibliophiles, today I write in response to the Hive Book Club Community Contest which is organized by the amazing admins of the communities. This contest is different from the other contests we have done in the past and I consider this particular contest quite interesting. This contest involves reading comprehension, language learning and literary appreciation if you are an ESL.

For this contest, @litguru's work is featured for us to read, pick 10 most difficult English words, translate them to your native language and use it to write a fictional story. @litguru is an amazing creative fiction writer who you might have seen his works several times here on Hive. For more information about the contest, head on to the contest post here.

My native language is Yoruba language which is one of the three major languages in Nigeria. So the 10 words I selected are below with their translations and coupled with a story that was inspired by them. Happy reading!

Translation Done Using Translatiz.

Bonkers = asiwere
Reversible = yipada
Regulated = Ilana
Antiquated = Atijo
Trajectory = Itọpa
Cessation = Idaduro
Curiosity = Iwariiri
Diversion = Iyapa
Deteriorating = ti n bajẹ
Amusement = iṣere

---

Beyond The Thick Wall.

I was born into a world where vibrant colours are taboos, emotions are masked, and anyone caught displaying emotions is considered Bonkers, broken and in need of fixing or reformation.

From the age of five, children are detached from their parents so that no emotional bond is formed. Children are taken to facilities structured to train them to be cold and detached. This training is regulated by the government and powerful people in the society.

When these children get to age eighteen, they are released into society as adults and given every opportunity to forge their path in life, including change of names, or careers.

During my training, I was taught that emotions are diseases that must be effaced if caught. I was silenced emotionally, heightened mentally with elements of psychic abilities, and combat trained.

Each training pushed us to our limit. Some crossed the line into insanity and never returned. They were sent to Rehabilitation and the damage were not reversible

Every day and night I watched people walk the streets with stone faces, but their irises revealed their invisible battles within. They wore mostly monochrome clothings.

Deep down inside, I grappled with long-buried emotions and felt them about to erupt. My curiosity became undeniable.

My name is Klena. I am twenty years old, the youngest captain in our military force and people call me Grim Shot. My team and I are the last hope for our people.

---

A month ago, one of my team members didn't return to base from patrolling the edge of the City where a thick wall separated us from the unknown. We had been told that beyond the wall was dangerous, full of incurable diseases and therefore, off limits. A few people had journeyed beyond and never returned.

Mack was on Wall patrol and she never returned. Immediately we began our search for her only for the government to shut us down two weeks later without concrete reason. Mack was family, a part of my team and though we couldn't display emotions, we never gave up on each other.

One night, my team and I caused a diversion in the City so as to slip out unnoticed by the government. We journeyed to the Wall in search of Mack. We had nothing to lose as we were not bonded to family or anyone. I knew we were risking our lives, but my team wouldn't give up on Mack.

Using the antiquated tunnels below the City, we found our way to the Wall. We calculated the route and climbed over the Wall. Reaching the flat top, we accidentally set off a sensory alarm system which we were unaware of. All the alarm systems in the City blared and trained armed troops came after us.

Immediately, we let loose our climbing ropes to the other side of the Wall. As I was securing my rope around my torso, a bullet brushed whispered past my ear. We were under attack.

One by one my team descended down the other side of the Wall. Raph and I were the last to jump down. Then I saw a muzzle flash on his torso. Without a thought, I slammed into him and pushed him off the wall. The bullet meant for him pierced my thigh and I fell off the Wall. As I fell, pain shut up my spine. I grunted and fell unconscious for a moment.

"Grim Shot, come in," a voice boomed from my radio bringing me back to reality.

I grabbed my rope mid-air in an attempt to control my descent velocity but it didn't make my landing any easier. Grunting to mask my excruciating pain from my team before they got to me, I tried getting up but couldn't.

"I need help. Over." I spoke into my radio.

"I've got her." Raph's voice boomed in response.

Not long Raph got to me and helped me up before other team members came. Lila, our team medical personnel, rushed over to treat my deteriorating bullet wound.

"It went through clean. I'll have to use the hemostasis serum before you get infected," Lila said.

"Do it. We can't afford to slow down now that we're successfully over the wall." I clenched my jaw when the serum met my open flesh wound.

"Look at that," Ralph gasped, his eyes wide and glowing. "This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

We followed his gaze and were stunned speechless. A magical forest housing unfamiliar trees, plants and animals stood openly before us. The forest seemed alive as the trees emit bioluminescent light. Raph's eyes jumped with amusement for the first time as he began to walk into the forest like he was drawn to it.

I froze, my head seeming to split in different directions at once. Raph just displayed the emotions of joy and happiness, and so did the rest of my teammates as they walked into the forest. I followed cautiously.

As we stepped into the forest, our radio comms gave off harsh supersonic sounds. We hurriedly removed them from our ears and threw them away.

"Finally, you all made it." A familiar voice said. Then a young woman came out from behind a giant tree. It was Mack, our long lost team member.

"Mack, is that really you?" I said, unsure if my eyesight deceived me.

Mack ran to me and crushed me to her body. Unconsciously, my arms went around her. This embrace felt strange but I craved it like the air I breathe. I waved over my team members into a group hug until Mack whispered, "Now, you know what physical touch feels like."

"What? Wait, physical touch?" Raph asked.

Mack threw back her head in a laugh and within seconds, we made the strangest sounds called laughter. Our cheeks crinkled and stretched painfully and we didn't mind. It was the best feeling in the world.

"What is this place, Mack?" I asked with a smile.

"Freedom. The cessation of our old lives here conversely marks a new beginning." Mack declared.

The image above is created by nightcafe ai

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