Monsuta li moli e jan 500M, li pini

This is a short history, and a celebration, of the elimination of smallpox. This monster, which killed five hundred million people, is no more. Jai wrote the original text. I’ve translated it from English into Toki Pona.

The text below is available in either the sitelen pona writing system, or latin characters. You can read an English translation side-by-side if you select the checkbox.

tenpo ale la, mi ken ala sona e nimi ona.

tenpo ale la zz mi ken ala sona e nimi ona

We will never know their names.

jan ala li ken sitelen e jan moli nanpa wan, tan ni: tenpo ni la, toki sitelen li lon ala. jan ni li jo e kulupu. mama ona li lon. jan pona ona li lon. jan ante li olin e ona. jan pi kama moli li pilin ike mute. nena ike li lon selo ona. ona li nasa, li pilin monsuta, li sona ala e ni: ike ni li tan seme? ike ni la, ona li ken seme? ike ni li sama sewi nasa ike, li sama sewi pi wile ike. tenpo ni la, jan ale li ken ala utala e ike. jan ale li wawa ala, li sona ala. jan ale li ken ala lukin e monsuta ike la, jan ale li ken ala utala e ona.

jan ala li ken sitelen e jan moli nanpa wan zz tan ni
tenpo ni la zz toki sitelen li lon ala
jan ni^ li jo e kulupu zz mama ona li lon zz jan+pona ona li lon zz jan ante li olin e ona
jan pi (kama moli) li pilin+ike mute
nena+ike li lon selo ona
ona li nasa zz li pilin monsuta zz li sona ala e ni
ike ni^ li tan seme zz ike ni^ la ona li ken seme
ike ni^ li sama sewi nasa ike zz li sama sewi pi (wile ike)
tenpo ni la zz jan ale li ken ala utala e ike
jan ale li wawa ala zz li sona ala
jan ale li ken ala lukin e monsuta ike la zz jan ale li ken ala utala e ona

The first victim could not have been recorded, for there was no written language to record it. They were someone’s daughter, or son, and someone’s friend, and they were loved by those around them. And they were in pain, covered in rashes, confused, scared, not knowing why this was happening to them or what they could do about it — victims of a mad, inhuman god. There was nothing to be done — humanity was not strong enough, not aware enough, not knowledgeable enough, to fight back against a monster that could not be seen.

tenpo pini weka la, monsuta li lon ma Masu. ona li utala e jan anpa e jan lawa. ma Loma la, ona li moli e jan utala mute kepeken tenpo lili. ona li moli e jan pi ma Sulija. ona li moli e jan pi ma Losi. ma Palata la, jan 5M li moli. ma Elopa la, jan 1000 li moli lon tenpo suno wan. ma Amelika la, jan 10M li moli. tenpo utala majuna pi ma Peleponesija la, monsuta li lon. tenpo utala sin pi ma Mewika la, monsuta li lon kin. jan utala li moli e jan mute la, monsuta li moli e jan pi mute suli. (jan nasa ike li toki insa e ni: monsuta li ilo utala wawa. mi ken anpa e jan ante kepeken ona.)

tenpo pini weka la zz monsuta li lon ma [ma . suli .]
ona li utala e jan anpa zz e jan lawa
ma [lon . ma .] la zz ona li moli e jan utala mute kepeken tenpo lili
ona li moli e jan pi ma [suli : jan .]
ona li moli e jan pi ma [lon . sin .]
ma [pali . laso . tawa .] la zz jan 5M li moli
ma [e lon . pali .] la zz jan 1000 li moli lon tenpo suno wan
ma [ante meli : kasi .] la zz jan 10M li moli
tenpo utala majuna pi ma [pimeja e len . pona . nena . sijelo . jan .] la zz monsuta li lon
tenpo utala sin pi ma [meli . wile . kalama .] la zz monsuta li lon kin
jan utala li moli e jan mute la zz monsuta li moli e jan pi (mute suli)
jan nasa ike li toki insa e ni
zz monsuta li ilo utala wawa zz mi ken anpa e jan ante kepeken ona

It was in Ancient Egypt, where it attacked slave and pharaoh alike. In Rome, it effortlessly decimated armies. It killed in Syria. It killed in Moscow. In India, five million dead. It killed a thousand Europeans every day in the 18th century. It killed more than ten million Native Americans. From the Peloponnesian War to the Civil War, it slew more soldiers and civilians than any weapon, any soldier, any army. (Not that this stopped the most foolish and empty souls from attempting to harness the demon as a weapon against their enemies.)

nasin kulupu mute li kama, li tawa. monsuta taso li awen. lawa ma mute li sewi, li anpa. monsuta taso li kama wawa. nasin sona mute li kama suli, li kama lili. monsuta li pilin ala tan ona. o moli. o pakala. o kama mute. monsuta li sama sewi majuna, li sama sewi pi pilin ike. jan li ken ala lukin e ona, li ken ala utala e ona, li ken ala luka e ona, li ken ala sona a e ona. monsuta ni li monsuta wan ala. taso monsuta ale la, monsuta ni li wawa nanpa wan.

nasin kulupu mute li kama zz li tawa zz monsuta taso li awen
lawa ma mute li sewi zz li anpa zz monsuta taso li kama wawa
nasin sona mute li kama suli zz li kama lili zz monsuta li pilin ala tan ona
o moli zz o pakala zz o kama mute
monsuta li sama sewi majuna zz li sama sewi pi (pilin ike)
jan li ken ala lukin e ona zz li ken ala utala e ona zz li ken ala luka e ona zz li ken ala sona a e ona
monsuta ni li monsuta wan ala zz taso monsuta ale la zz monsuta ni li wawa nanpa wan

Cultures grew and faltered, and it remained. Empires rose and fell, and it thrived. Ideologies waxed and waned, but it did not care. Kill. Maim. Spread. An ancient, mad god, hidden from view, that could not be fought, could not be confronted, could not even be comprehended. Not the only one of its kind, but the most devastating.

tenpo suli la, jan ale li sona ala e pona kama — jan mute lili taso li jo e wawa awen, tan ni: monsuta li pakala e ona, li moli ala e ona.

tenpo suli la zz jan ale li sona ala e pona kama
jan mute lili taso li jo e wawa awen zz tan ni
zz monsuta li pakala e ona zz li moli ala e ona

For a long time, there was no hope — only the bitter, hollow endurance of survivors.

ma Sonko la, tenpo sike 100 nanpa 15 la, jan li open utala e monsuta.

ma [sona .. ko :] la zz tenpo sike 100 nanpa 15 la
zz jan li open utala e monsuta

In China, in the 15th century, humanity began to fight back.

jan li lukin e ni: monsuta ike li moli ala e jan lon tenpo nanpa wan la, monsuta li ken ala pakala e jan ni lon tenpo sin. jan ni li kama jo e wawa. wawa ni li awen e jan tan monsuta. kin la, jan ante li moku e selo pakala pi jan wawa la, jan ante li ken kama jo e wawa sama. jan ni li kama wawa kepeken utala. utala li ike. taso, ni li ike lili. monsuta li utala e jan la, ni li ike suli.

jan li lukin e ni
monsuta ike li moli ala e jan lon tenpo nanpa wan la
zz monsuta li ken ala pakala e jan ni<^ lon tenpo sin
jan ni^> li kama jo e wawa zz wawa ni< li awen e jan tan monsuta
kin la zz jan ante li moku e selo pakala pi (jan wawa) la
zz zz zz jan ante li ken kama jo e wawa sama
jan ni^> li kama wawa kepeken utala zz utala li ike
taso ni^> li ike lili zz monsuta li utala e jan la zz ni< li ike suli

It was observed that survivors of the mad god’s curse would never be touched again: They had taken a portion of that power into themselves, and were so protected from it. Not only that, but this power could be shared by consuming a remnant of the wounds. There was a price, for you could not take the god’s power without first defeating it — but a smaller battle, on humanity’s terms.

tenpo sike 100 nanpa 16 la, nasin ni li kama lon ma Palata. tan ma Palata la, ona li kama lon ma suli Asija. tan ma Asija la, tenpo sike 100 nanpa 18 la, ona li kama lon ma suli Elopa. tenpo sike 1796 la, jan Etuwa Jene li pali e nasin sin. nasin ni li misikeke wawa.

tenpo sike 100 nanpa 16 la zz nasin ni^ li kama lon ma [pan . lawa . tawa .]
tan ma [pan . lawa . tawa .] la
zz ona li kama lon ma suli [alasa sijelo . jan .]
tan ma [alasa sijelo . jan .] la zz tenpo sike 100 nanpa 18 la
zz ona li kama lon ma suli [e lon . pali .]
tenpo sike 1796 la
zz jan [e tu : wawa .] [jelo . nena .] li pali e nasin sin
zz nasin ni^> li misikeke wawa

By the 16th century, the technique spread to India, then across Asia, the Ottoman Empire and, in the 18th century, Europe. In 1796, a more powerful technique was discovered by Edward Jenner.

tenpo nanpa wan la, jan li toki insa e ni: ken la, ona li ken moli e monsuta majuna.

tenpo nanpa wan la zz jan li toki insa e ni
zz ken la zz ona li ken moli e monsuta majuna

An idea began to take hold: Perhaps the ancient god could be killed.

toki ni li toki lili, li toki pi kalama ala. toki ni li kama wawa lili, li kama kalama wawa. jan li toki e ni lon ma ale: mi o utala e monsuta. jan ale li kama kulupu tawa ni: ona li wile pana e misikeke tawa ma ale. kulupu li pana e jan pali pona tawa ma ale. jan ni li pana e misikeke tawa jan mute. jan li utala e jan ante la, ona tu li kama wan tawa ni: ona o utala e monsuta. jan lawa li toki e ni tawa jan pi ma ona: sina o awen e sina kepeken misikeke. jan wan li awen ala e sina la, jan mute li ken moli tan monsuta.

toki ni^ li toki lili zz li toki pi (kalama ala)
toki ni^ li kama wawa lili zz li kama kalama wawa
jan li toki e ni> lon ma ale zz mi o utala e monsuta
jan ale li kama kulupu tawa ni> zz ona li wile pana e misikeke tawa ma ale
kulupu li pana e jan pali pona tawa ma ale
jan ni^> li pana e misikeke tawa jan mute
jan li utala e jan ante la zz ona tu li kama wan tawa ni> zz ona o utala e monsuta
jan lawa li toki e ni> tawa jan pi (ma ona) zz sina o awen e sina kepeken misikeke
zz jan wan li awen ala e sina la zz jan mute li ken moli tan monsuta

A whisper became a voice; a voice became a call; a call became a battle cry, sweeping across villages, cities, nations. Humanity began to cooperate, spreading the protective power across the globe, dispatching masters of the craft to protect whole populations. People who had once been sworn enemies joined in a common cause for this one battle. Governments mandated that all citizens protect themselves, for giving the ancient enemy a single life would put millions in danger.

ni la, kepeken pali mute, jan ale li open weka e monsuta. tenpo pini la, ike mute li lon. jan pona mute li kalama ike. jan poka mute li jo e sijelo pakala. jan mama mute li pana e jan lili ona tawa insa ma. tenpo sin la, ike ale ni li mute lili.

ni la zz kepeken pali mute zz jan ale li open weka e monsuta
tenpo pini la zz ike mute li lon
zz zz zz jan pona mute li kalama ike
zz zz zz jan poka mute li jo e sijelo pakala
zz zz zz jan mama mute li pana e jan+lili ona tawa insa ma
tenpo sin la zz ike ale ni^ li mute lili

And, inch by inch, humanity drove its enemy back. Fewer friends wept; fewer neighbors were crippled; fewer parents had to bury their children.

tenpo sike 100 nanpa 20 li open la, tenpo nanpa wan la, jan ale li weka e monsuta tan ma suli. ni li pali suli. tenpo mute la, jan ale li jo ala e wawa tawa pali ni. taso jan li wawa. tenpo ale la, ona li awen utala. ona li toki insa pona e ni: mi wile e ni: tenpo ale la, ma ale la, jan ale li pilin ala monsuta. jan Wito Sutano li toki e ni: jan ale o kama wan. utala li pini lon tenpo kama poka la, o weka a e monsuta. jan Kale Lasika li jan pi lawa pona. ona li alasa e nasin utala. utala li pini lon tenpo kama poka la, jan Tona Enteson li lawa e utala.

tenpo sike 100 nanpa 20 li open la zz tenpo nanpa wan la
zz jan ale li weka e monsuta tan ma suli
ni^> li pali suli
tenpo mute la zz jan ale li jo ala e wawa tawa pali ni^
zz zz zz zz taso jan li wawa
tenpo ale la zz ona li awen utala
ona li toki insa pona e ni> zz mi wile e ni
zz tenpo ale la zz ma ale la zz jan ale li pilin ala monsuta
jan [wile . toki .] [suli . tan : o] li toki e ni
zz jan ale o kama wan
zz utala li pini lon tenpo kama poka la zz o weka a e monsuta
jan [kala . lete .] [laso . sina . kama .] li jan pi (lawa pona)
zz ona li alasa e nasin utala
utala li pini lon tenpo kama poka la
zz jan [toki . nasin .] [en : telo . sona ..] li lawa e utala

At the dawn of the 20th century, for the first time, humanity banished the enemy from entire regions of the world. Humanity faltered many times in its efforts, but there were individuals who never gave up, who fought for the dream of a world where no child or loved one would ever fear the demon ever again. Viktor Zhdanov, who called for humanity to unite in a final push against the demon; the great tactician Karel Raška, who conceived of a strategy to annihilate the enemy; Donald Henderson, who led the efforts in those final days.

wawa monsuta li kama lili. mute pi jan moli li 1M, li kama 1000, li kama mute lili. tenpo ni la, monsuta li pakala e jan wan la, jan mute li kama utala e monsuta, li kama awen e jan ante tan monsuta.

wawa monsuta li kama lili
mute pi (jan moli) li 1M zz li kama 1000 zz li kama mute lili
tenpo ni la zz monsuta li pakala e jan wan la
zz jan mute li kama utala e monsuta zz li kama awen e jan ante tan monsuta

The enemy grew weaker. Millions became thousands, thousands became dozens. And then, when the enemy did strike, scores of humans came forth to defy it, protecting all those whom it might endanger.

tenpo sike 1977 la, monsuta li pakala e jan Ali Mo Malin. ni la, tenpo mun mute la, jan mute li alasa e monsuta. ona li lukin lon ma ale.

tenpo sike 1977 la
zz monsuta li pakala e jan [ale . ijo] [moku .] [ma : linja ..]
ni^> la zz tenpo mun mute la
zz jan mute li alasa e monsuta zz ona li lukin lon ma ale

The enemy’s last attack in the wild was on Ali Maow Maalin, in 1977. For months afterwards, dedicated humans swept the surrounding area, seeking out any last, desperate hiding place where the enemy might yet remain.

ona li lukin ala e monsuta. tenpo kama ale la, monsuta li moli ala e jan.

ona li lukin ala e monsuta
tenpo kama ale la zz monsuta li moli ala e jan

They found none.

tenpo suno nanpa 9, tenpo mun nanpa 12, tenpo sike 1979, jan ale li toki e ni: mi ale li anpa e monsuta.

tenpo suno nanpa 9 zz tenpo mun nanpa 12 zz tenpo sike 1979
zz jan ale li toki e ni> zz mi ale li anpa e monsuta

Thirty-five years ago, on December 9th, 1979, humanity declared victory.

ike ni li pini. ma ale la, tenpo pini ale la, ike li lon. taso, tenpo ni la, ike li pini. monsuta li moli e jan 500M, li pini.

ike ni li pini
ma ale la zz tenpo pini ale la zz ike li lon
zz zz taso zz tenpo ni la zz zz ike li pini
monsuta li moli e jan 500M zz li pini

This one evil, the horror from beyond memory, the monster that took 500 million people from this world, was destroyed.

jan ale li pali e ni. sina jan. o weka ala e sona ni: jan ale li kama wan la, jan ale li utala e ike la, mi mute li kama pona.

jan ale li pali e ni^
sina jan
o weka ala e sona ni
zz jan ale li kama wan la zz jan ale li utala e ike la
zz zz mi mute li kama pona

You are a member of the species that did that. Never forget what we are capable of when we band together and declare battle on what is broken in the world.

Like the English original, this translation is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.