The Call of Earth

Plot summary

After Nafai, Elemak, Issib, Mebbekew, Zdorab and their father Volemak depart for the desert, Elemak receives a dream from the Oversoul predicting that Volemak's sons will return to Basilica to obtain wives. The sons go to Rasa, mother of Nafai and Issib, who is trying to maintain order in the city. Hushidh, a raveler under Rasa's care, mistakenly severs the ties between Rashgallivak and his men, triggering widespread riots. General Moozh, leader of the Gorayni nation, sees an opportunity and marches with a thousand soldiers across the desert to conquer Basilica, helping quell the uprising and gradually taking control.

Nafai and his brothers seek wives; they end up under house arrest with Rasa. Elemak marries Eiadh, Mebbekew marries Dol, Nafai marries Luet the waterseer, Rasa and Hushidh agree to marry Volemak and Issib respectively, and geneticist Shedemei is brought along as a wife for Zdorab with plants and animals for repopulating Earth. Moozh plans to marry Hushidh for political reasons, but her mother arrives to stop the ceremony, revealing Hushidh is Moozh's daughter.

Nafai's group leaves the city with women and supplies. Moozh conquers the Gorayni, his Basilican second-in-command defends the city against Potokgavan, but Moozh is killed during an invasion and Basilica falls, scattering its citizens. The Oversoul had intended this dispersal to mix people with strong and weak connections to it, delaying its loss of control over Harmony.

Characters

General Vozmuzhalnoy Vozmozhno, called Moozh, leads the army of the Imperator. He takes over Basilica, freeing it from Gaballufix's men while advancing his own control, bringing short-term stability despite undermining the city's female-dominated structure. Moozh senses the Oversoul's communications but attributes them to God; the Oversoul uses reverse psychology to manipulate him. Thirsty, a desert holy woman and mother of Hushidh and Luet, follows the Oversoul's commands faithfully despite resentment.

After leaving her daughters with Rasa, she is later ordered back to reveal their father's identity and deliver the Oversoul's plan. General Plodorodnuy, called Plod, is Moozh's closest confidant but actually a spy for the Imperator; Moozh has him killed and uses the death to further his ambitions. Smelost, a Basilican guard sent to recruit Gorayni help, believes in Moozh's strategy and takes blame for Plod's murder, shouting for Gaballufix and against the Imperator, turning the Gorayni against Gaballufix.