COMMENTARY ON THE GREAT TONAZAN
The remains of this journal were burned, alongside all of his possessions, however the 5 scripts which approximately take up 12-13 pages are a good enough material which help us better understand The Great Tonazan, and with what he struggled. Unfortunately, his theological and scholarly writings were unsalvagable, and we are left in a void when it comes to his teachings about the understanding and interpretation of Great Kalizukai's writings and the rest of the Books which cover up the Zefushu:pon:sesa or ZPS. However, it does help us better understand his political positions and what shaped his agenda. He was already a notorious journalist after the war, writing for TKN Papers about the corruption which mainly came from the WPS, arguing against their use of power for political advancements, rather than focusing on what is truly of greater importance (state of soul, morals, ethics, sun etc.).
During his scripts we can acknowledge that his style of writing greatly changes, as he was trying to persuade us that he was writing not just a memoire, but a work to be published amongst the Great Academia, for the learned and the faithful alike to study. Contrary to his intentions, we can deduce that even though that was his preliminary intention, the tone of his writings changed, and it became a journal through which he wrote in anger, love, hope and despair.
Fortunately, many witnesses, mainly friends and family, still remember Tonazan and what his life was before he became a Sesa:zoshi (a sanctified person). We took it upon ourselves to interview some of these people, so that we can better understand Tonazan and his motivations, as his status as a Sesa:zoshi, sanctified by both the True Believers of the Velvet Honey and His Gifts (shorter TBV, a schismatic religious movement for which Tonazan himself was indirectly responsible) and the Taradokka, had great influence on the current situation in the known world.
What follows is among the few testimonies, shedding light on the man behind his Sesa.
THE GREAT TONAZAN AND HIS CONTEMPORARIES
INTERVIEW 1
The following interview was conducted in the summer of 1014 GKE.
Transcribed by Kalina Mutsi, from a zlurzlæer recording.
Interviewee: Mr. Zvazan Schrepni, Mr. Frisch's colleague at the Tsekue New Knowledge Papers, 71 summers old.
Note: Interviewee showed early signs of dementia. This testimony should be read with caution.
Q:So, Mr. Schrepni, can you tell me how did you came to know Tonazan, formerly known as Frisch Allupi?
A: Well, we first met at the TNK Papers. I believe now it's called Nova Munda Papiria. Voch… (chuckle) that place was a mess. I never really liked working there, and the first two summers were really boring, but it's what kept the family going, you know. The war has basically destroyed the economy, inflation was on the rise; and that was the only place that offered pay in Kurra. If you got paid in Dorina, well… you know, good luck with that. You probably don't remember, your generation didn't go through that. And the TNK offered a position for a journalist and I signed up. After around two summers of working there, Frisch came, or Tonazain, or however you call him now.
Q:Did he speak about his family? His wife, friends, kids perhaps?
A: I don't know much about his family or his friends. He didn't have kids if I remember correctly, and he certainly didn't strike me as a family man to begin with. He did hold a Kepapiria of his wife on his desk though. Pretty thing, that woman. Every moon he would change a kepa for a new one; not really sure where he got that kind of money for his wife to be taking kepas during that time you know. Times were rough…
Q: And he never spoke about her?
A: He talked about her. But only sometimes, you know. He avoided that kind of… (cough) pardon, he avoided any kind of talk in general. For what a famous guy he was around the office, he sure did reserve himself from chatting with others working there.
But anyway, I did manage to get him to open up once. He came one day, Goldday I think it was. Everyone was high up in their spirits when Goldday came; finishing up all their stuff that they had to do so that they could get home early, or get wasted afterwards. Voch, I miss those days. But, yeah.
Anyway, one Goldday as I was saying, Frisch came all sullen, like a cat that was in the rain the whole day. And of course, everyone noticed. I'm a cheery fellow, you know. Always were, even during school, and then Academia. I was a people's person, one could say. Could've talked to anyone. However, Frisch was somewhat of an intraverta. So, I came up to him that one time, like "Hey man, what's going on? Didn't win the lottery last night?", and such. Was trying to lighten him up. Unexpectedly, he asked whether I wanted to share a cigarra with him on the balcony. Man, I was surprised, alright. I never saw that fellow smoke, much less ask anyone for help. He was very self-sufficient. Did all tasks, wrote all papers, managed all his stuff by himself.
So, we go to the balcony, and we light one each. He held his cigarra very awkwardly, like he had never smoked before. But he didn't cough. That's what I expected him to do at least. So I ask him what's up. It took him a minute, but he started off a bit weird. He had a weird accent to begin with, but I was surprised when I heard him talk. He talked like one of the Dzana folk. For someone named Frisch, I did not expect that. But anyway, he starts off with "Hey, you know how you always asked me about my Kepapirias and who that was? Sorry for giving you such a cold shoulder." I did want to know who that was and asked him a couple of times before we had that talk, but he would always mutter "no one" or "don't worry about it". He wasn't rude or anything, even though he gave off this "don't come near me" attitude.
Now, when we started talking on the balcony, in the beginning he was very adamant on letting me know that he doesn't hate me and that he understood that he might have been a bit cold or uninterested in anyone in the office. I can't really remember the whole conversation, but after that, he briefly explained that his wife was very sick.
Q:Did he specify what she was sick from?
A: He said something, but I forgot. You know how it is, us old people can't remember everything, alright.
Q: Did you and Mr. Frisch form a friendship after that conversation by any chance?
A: Let's just say that we had started talking more casually, at least he did on his part. I was always casual, but as I was saying, a conversation would come up yes. Some days he looked a bit better, but some days he looked worse than that day we spoke on the balcony.
Q: You mentioned that he was famous at the TNK Papers. Why is that?
A: He covered a whole section of the paper which criticized the WPS, the government, and the former kuzans, if you know what they are. Do they teach that stuff at the school now? Yeah, but anyway. Frisch was restless, alright. He criticized, bashed, debunked anyone who had any smidge of corruption on their name. He wrote against the coalition, hell… he even went for some members of the Taradokka, you know, marrd. He was one of them, if I remember correctly. I never understood what's going on there, but he clearly did not fear for his life. Matter of fact, he did not fear anyone. Yeah, he was sullen, looked a bit depressed all the time, but man, he wrote like a spitfire. The guys from the editing were afraid of going against him. If he was assigned to write something meek, or interesting, or just regular news like most of us did, like sports, Academia stuff, global issues etc. he wasn't very proficient in that. But we had that little section on the paper called Virva, you know, fireworks. It was basically set up by our Chief, Wurn Maipa.
If I remember correctly, there was a small section on the paper which the editing team did not know what to do with most of the time. So, Mr. Maipa added it for fun. Frisch was alright when he came, however the first time he started writing for the Virva section, let me tell you, the 'fireworks' were real. People bought TNK paper everywhere, Kora, Tanzewa, all Ex-Zanmaku nations as well. Heck, I think even Denovrri read us. We were sold out, subscriptions just came in rolling.
Remember how I said the first two summers were boring. Well everything changed when Frisch came. He was a beast, and he made us all feel like our words were being read. In all honesty, the boom didn't last too long, and the words that were being read were probably his most of the time. But that was enough to motivate us, you know. We all became better at our jobs because of his 'fireworks'.
Q:And was he ever ostracized and/or persecuted by any party for his writings? Did the TNK suffer any consequences?
A: Marrnami!Kuma fuvese frav dema tamulskairache kra? Demagra deniur tagrænie fröis, vreelarr morra WPS, aza ex-kuzani populi, aza Tarradokka. Denovven fkoov dema tamulvreise olo, dræeleyata za Frisch. Demarr tasnue prema Frischgra grotta… marrd. I felt really sorry for that guy. He spoke the truth, and people just came banging on his door, and that was when his wife was really sick you know.
Q: I apologize, my Denovvri is a bit limited. You said that they came looking for him?
A: Hm? Oh… yeah, yes, yes, they did. Came right to his door, in the middle of the night. (pause) Heard it from some guy from editing if I remember correctly. I think he used to live next door… or in the same building, something like that. (coughs harshly) Excuse me… Shila! Braggefa za skama mediccina. Sorry, I got this thing in my lungs. All that chain smoking did something, alright.
Anyway, yeah. They even came to the TNK doors once, the WPS bunch. I saw them, white and black, long robes and shaven faces. Weird caps and all. Never really understood what they did, you know. The Velvet Honey this, Kali that. Not my thing, especially as my grandpa was a Denovrri. They didn't mix with the Dzana people. Unthinkable for them back then, but with my generation, you could date any gal you wanted. Times change faster than you'd think. Shila, my wife is half Dzana too. Beautiful people, that lot. Thanks putsa, bring me water as well please. Anyway, yeah. Where were we?
Q: Did they just come to threaten, or perhaps they used physical force?
A: They threatened him, alright. The time they came, I think they went into Mr. Maipa's office first, asking who Frisch was and where he was seated, I suppose. Soon after, Frisch was called to come meet them. I remember looking at his face, man… he was fearless. I saw that fire. It's the face he made when he wrote, that kind of feverish focus, you know? It was almost as if he'd been waiting for that moment all his life, just so he could say everything he'd ever written about.
Everyone stood up and tried to listen in to the conversation. We heard some murmurs mostly, but occasionally you'd hear a small bang, or a quick shout. Some marrd's and wufa's, if you know what I mean. I thought those WPS bunch spoke the Dzana language, what was it called… Dzekuwa, yeah you are right, whatever. They left pretty quickly. It looked like they weren't too satisfied with the answers they got. However, Frisch looked bad. He looked like he saw a ghost. All pale, even though he was already somewhat of a pale fellow.
Q: What happened afterwards? Did Mr. Frisch stop writing? Was he fired?
A: He wasn't fired, but Virva was shut down. He lost his platform. I assume that Mr. Maipa got into some trouble with the WPS, probably got threatened and got too afraid to continue with what made TNK Papers fresh and new to read. Of course, we never experienced such a boom after, and TNK became something of a liability to work at. I mostly wrote sports sections, so I got another offer soon after that incident. The Golden Gulballa League was organizing a press team that would cover the whole country. My wife's brother Fanzu worked in the industry as well so he recommended me.
Q: Did you by any chance happen to continue your relationship with Mr. Frisch afterwards?
A: No, I think I never saw him afterwards. Maybe on the street on my way to the store. But it was probably the "hey how've you been — fine yeah me too" type of situation. Nothing much that I remem… (heavy coughing)marrd. Shila, tyai mro virfame. Would you like some tea too, no? Okay, denovven za demarrven.
Q: Thank you so much, Mr. Schrepni. It was a pleasure to talk to you. If it would be alright, we will conclude the interview here.
A: Yeah, nothing. Thank you for coming. You are all very pleasant gentlemen and gentle-ladies, haha. How is Frisch by the way? I constantly heard you calling him Tonazan or something of the sorts earlier. Did that fellow get into yet another trouble? At this age? (chuckle, with coughing)
Q: Nothing of the sort. Here, this is a pamphlet for our research, with all of our contact information. If you do hear something about Mr. Frisch somewhere, we would gladly sit down and talk with you again Mr. Schrepni. He is mostly called Tonazan these days. Anyway, thank you for your time.
CONCLUSION: Mr. Zvazan Schrepni gave us more insight into many things which we already were familiar with, however he helped us understand that The Great Tonazan, before dedicating his life fully to Him Who Loves, was a person of strong writing capabilities, especially in the field of criticizing, which in fact was the main precursor of our current politico-religious situation in the Tsekue Delta. Just as we could've read in the journal that was discovered in his cabin before he left as a pilgrim on the Great Journey, his undying fight with the evil spirit Kunme was ever so present throughout his life.
We can acknowledge that a lot of what he wrote also came from love and appreciation for Him, but he was also tortured with anger, making him unable to forget, or to even forgive those whom he opposed so strongly. However, his words, both written and spoken were an indirect catalyst which in turn gave birth to the True Believer cult, currently trending among the youth and seniors alike, despite its controversial doctrines. We can conclude that Mr. Schrepni's version of Mr. Frisch was that of a man who fought for what he thought was right, and was not afraid to act in spite of the size of his adversaries. Even though we could not gather more substantial material, we decided to move on with the investigation with our next interviewee, Mafatofe Vruur.