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Servants of the Rice Audrey Mccombs Iowa State University Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Graduate Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2016 Servants of the rice Audrey McCombs Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd Part of the Creative Writing Commons Recommended Citation McCombs, Audrey, "Servants of the rice" (2016). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 15065. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/15065 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Servants of the rice by Audrey McCombs A thesis submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF FINE ARTS Major: Creative Writing & Environment Program of Study Committee: K. L. Cook, Major Professor R. O. Tunde Adeleke Gloria Betcher David Zimmerman Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2016 Copyright © Audrey McCombs, 2016. All rights reserved ii DEDICATION To my family Bruce and Carolyn Doug and Melinda Amy, Brian, and Hunter And to Hannah – I think you would have liked this one iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION .............................................................................................................................................................................. ii HOW TO READ MALAGASY NAMES .............................................................................................................................. vii DRAMATIS PERSONAE .................................................................................................................................................. viii MAP OF MADAGASCAR 1830 ............................................................................................................................................ ix INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................................... x PROLOGUE .................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 …In which a decision is made CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 …In which we meet a traveler on the road, and find his place in the large, large world CHAPTER 2 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 18 …In which we meet the queen and her counselors, the executioner discusses foreign methods of execution, and a conversation about the nature of justice is diverted CHAPTER 3 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 41 …In which a rice farmer prepares for the harvest, and a man loses a wife CHAPTER 4 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 51 …In which the ravages of the fever threaten the missionary community, and the executioner makes new alliances CHAPTER 5 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 60 …In which we meet the court secretary, and learn of the manner in which King Radama died CHAPTER 6 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 70 …In which we meet a slave trader and his cargo, and more alliances are made CHAPTER 7 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 83 …In which the court secretary admires the queen's use of the written word, and we learn more of Radama's reign iv CHAPTER 8 .............................................................................................................................................................................. 91 …In which In which the executioner and the queen discuss the nature of her reign, and Ani gets to work CHAPTER 9 ........................................................................................................................................................................... 112 …In which we learn how Queen Ranavalona came to her throne CHAPTER 10 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 123 ... In which the idol's blessing is interrupted, and Ratiandrazana's army battles at Ikongo CHAPTER 11 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 144 …In which the consequences of several failures are revealed CHAPTER 12 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 161 …In which we learn of the coup's bloody aftermath, and the cleverness of Prince Ramanetaka CHAPTER 13 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 170 …In which the consequences of the battle of Ikongo are measured CHAPTER 14 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 186 …In which our characters prepare for a banquet CHAPTER 15 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 194 …In which a banquet is held to honor the court executioner, and news is received about the French CHAPTER 16 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 210 …In which a battle ensues between the French navy and the Merina forces on the east coast of Madagascar CHAPTER 17 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 233 …In which we learn of the origin of the Merina people, and an announcement is made by the queen CHAPTER 18 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 246 …In which the conflict between the executioner and the general is resolved CHAPTER 19 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 252 …In which a farmer prepares his fields for planting v CHAPTER 20 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 257 …In which we see the workings of an iron mine, and the general gives the queen a gift CHAPTER 21 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 271 …In which we eavesdrop on conversations, and the queen makes a proposal to the Arab trader CHAPTER 22 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 289 …In which we witness two rituals from somewhat unusual perspectives, and Andriamihaja journeys into the tsingy CHAPTER 23 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 306 …In which the Arab trader travels through the forest and makes a dangerous river crossing CHAPTER 24 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 325 …In which the farmers of Imerina plant rice, and we hear more of Iboina's exploits CHAPTER 25 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 329 …In which the bones of the dead are turned CHAPTER 26 ........................................................................................................................................................................ 344 … In which the Arab merchant continues his journey through the forest, a secret is revealed, and a promise is made CHAPTER 27 .......................................................................................................................................................................
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