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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/8735-h.zip b/8735-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba1776f --- /dev/null +++ b/8735-h.zip diff --git a/8735-h/8735-h.htm b/8735-h/8735-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..efde1dc --- /dev/null +++ b/8735-h/8735-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5519 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +blockquote {font-size:14pt} +P {font-size:14pt} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Revolutions of Time, by Jonathan Dunn + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most +other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of +the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: The Revolutions of Time + +Author: Jonathan Dunn + +Posting Date: February 14, 2015 [EBook #8735] +Release Date: August, 2005 +First Posted: August 6, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Dunn + + + + + +</pre> + + +<center> +<h2>THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME</h2> + +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>By Jonathan Dunn</h3> +</center> + +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<p style="text-align: center">Note to the reader:</p> + +<p>The manuscript for this book was found in a weather-beaten +stone box on an island in the Pacific Ocean. Its contents were +written in an ancient form of Latin, which was translated and +edited by Jonathan Dunn.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<p style="text-align: center">Dedicated to Bernibus,</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><em>amicus certus in re incerta +cernitur.</em></p> + +<p><strong>Table of Contents:</strong></p> + +<p>Chapter 1: <a href="#chap01">Past and Present</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 2: <a href="#chap02">Predestined Deja Vu</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 3: <a href="#chap03">Zards and Canitaurs</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 4: <a href="#chap04">Onan, Lord of the Past</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 5: <a href="#chap05">The Treeway</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 6: <a href="#chap06">The Fiery Lake</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 7: <a href="#chap07">Down to Nunami</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 8: <a href="#chap08">The Temple of Time</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 9: <a href="#chap09">Mutually Assured Deception</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 10: <a href="#chap10">Devolution</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 11: <a href="#chap11">The Land Across the Sea</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 12: <a href="#chap12">The White Eagle</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 13: <a href="#chap13">The Big Bang</a></p> + +<p>Chapter 14: <a href="#chap14">Past and Future</a></p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<p>...The very men who claimed mental superiority because they +were free from superstitions and divine disillusionment were +themselves victims of their own sophism, and while they thought +themselves crowned with enlightenment, it was naught but the +Phrygian caps of their prejudices toward the material state.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><em>- Jehu, the Kinsman +Redeemer</em></p> + +<p>The physical manifestation of the spiritual force is not the +spiritual force at all, only a bland deception. If you only focus +on what you can see directly, than you chase after only the +representation and not the object desired. If a bird is flying +through the sky at noontime, casting a shadow on the ground below +him, and a man comes along, and in the hope of catching the bird +chases after its shadow, it is evident that he will never catch +it, for when he does reach it, he will find that there is nothing +there at all, only the shadow of what it was he desired. So it is +with the spiritual!</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><em>- Onan, Lord of the +Past</em></p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap01"></a>Chapter 1: Past and Present</h3> + +<p>My name is Jehu. Most probably it sounds foreign and +unfamiliar to you, devoid of the qualities of affection and +personality which give character to a name. It is a harsh name, +cold and inhuman, like something out of the night, an unwelcome +intruder into the warmth of familiarity. It inspires no blissful +memories, nor does it kindle fond feelings in the bosom of the +hearer, instead the heart is hardened to it like the feathers of +a duck to water, repulsing it, leaving it to run off into the +ditches and by-ways of the long forgotten past, to trickle +dejectedly into those stagnant ponds where so many words of +wisdom are imprisoned: out of sight, out of mind, out of heart, +out of history. Yet while history is forgotten and misconstrued, +it is repeated, for what is life without water, which nourishes +and sustains it, and what is life without wisdom, which protects +and cultivates it?</p> + +<p>Jehu is my name, though it no longer brings the quickened +pulse and keen anticipation of happiness to the hearts of any, +not even my own. For what deference can be given to a name, +though not in itself a thing of dishonor, which represents the +failure to derail the evitable fate which wrecks the race of man +again and again. Not that I myself embody such a failure, nor +even that I gave birth to the dreaded fate’s latest +momentum, but as is seen time and again throughout history, one +name is brought to represent the tide of change, for better or +worse, the doer of deeds which were done not by him, but by a +mass of independent doers, yet it is written in the annals of +history as the deeds of but one man.</p> + +<p>While I had little to do, consciously, with the doom of the +earth, I will always be fingered as the villain, as the ambitious +Napoleon or the barbaric Atilla, the arrogant Augustus or the +fearful Cyrus. Someone has to bear the burden of shame on the +pages of history for the people of his time, and in that sense, +maybe I truly can be called their kinsman redeemer. Perhaps it is +my fate to bear witness to the wrongs of a people, of which even +you are not wholly innocent.</p> + +<p>And yet can an individual be blamed for the faults of a +society, can personal responsibility be extended to the members +of an unknown multitude? How the enjoined conscience of one longs +to say no, but in good faith it cannot be said, for in this case +the mask of ignorance cannot supersede the face of guilt. Indeed, +ignorance in this case only adds to the shame of the guilty, this +being a crime not of misdeeds but of negligence, twisted together +with the vices of humanity into a thick and sturdy cord, a rope +that cannot be pulled apart and individually examined, yet must +be taken as a whole. Insularly, the strand of ignorance could be +easily snapped, remedied by but a little education, yet when +woven together by one’s own hands with prides and +prejudices, it forms an unbreakable rope, which is placed about +our neck to hang us: through means of our own doing is our fate +foretold. If but one or two of the strands were omitted, the +result would be a feeble rope, easily broken, and we would live. +But by our own vices is our mortality made manifest, by our own +wrongs are we wronged.</p> + +<p>By now you may be beginning to feel the impulses of +indignation arising in your breast, for who am I, the admittedly +despicable Jehu, to group you as my fellow convicts, my +co-conspirators, in a sense? And you are right, for I am not your +judge and neither do I wish to be.</p> + +<p>Having said that, I now request of you to put down the book +and discontinue reading.</p> + +<p>“Surely,” you say to yourself, “He is +mentally deranged, for what author in his right mind would +encourage his readers to disperse, what writer does not thrive on +the digestion of his words by an eager audience?”</p> + +<p>Here I must make a revelation to you: if my manuscript has +indeed been found, then I have long since been dead; and I assure +you that in whatever form my existence takes in the present, I +have little desire for your intrigue or goodwill. Do you think +Melville is consoled in death of his miserable life by the +vainglorious praises of the living? Or do you think that Poe is +comforted by such avid attentions in his present abode? In truth, +Melville’s only rivalry is now within, and Poe’s only +raven that daunting memory of those truths which had escaped him +in life, but which now are opened to you.</p> + +<p>More importantly, if this manuscript has been found, it proves +that what is contained herein is the unerring truth. I do not +write this to exonerate myself, however let me say here that I am +more the Andre’ than the Arnold, for I was but the emissary +of history, not the traitor to humanity, and if not me then some +other would have filled the void. Let it be remembered that it +was Andre’ who gave his life for his deeds, and yet it is +Andre’ who is recollected with a sweet sorrow, and though +Arnold lived, he had no peace. Yet while history is vivid and +encyclopedic, in itself a living organism, it can speak only +through the mouths of men, who often misrepresent it for their +own partisan and prejudiced plans. It is strong and steadfast, +though, and in time is always victorious over its menial +opposition, for what is history but the past tense of truth, and +it is justly said that <em>veritas numquam perit</em>, truth +never dies.</p> + +<p>Going back to what I said before, namely that at my +manuscript’s discovery my demise will itself be history: I +am assured that such is true, for even now as I write this my +death is near at hand. How wide the abyss of time that separates +us is I cannot tell, but I do know that it is beyond the +reckoning of men, such an unknown barrage of hollow, formless +years. Yet as you read this it is as if I were speaking directly +to you, despite all of the desolation between our times. That is +what makes history an organic being, and by history I mean all of +the past, or all of the future, depending on your viewpoint.</p> + +<p>A book is a connection between times and peoples, more so than +any other medium. As I put these words down in writing, it is as +if I am imparting my very self into the pages. And as you read +them, the name Jehu slowly forms into an image, into a +personality, and from the empty word Jehu comes the great well of +affection springing from a personal intimacy. A book is an enigma +in which no time exists, and as it is read it brings the reader +into its eternal being, for while it sits closed on a shelf it is +no more than a forgotten memory, yet when it is opened its +contents come to life and its characters and locations are once +more existent in the same state as when they were written, the +story becomes once more reality.</p> + +<p>While I have long been deceased, when you read this I am +brought to life once more, and with my rebirth I tell you my +story, and make known to you the truths contained therein. The +words of this book are a rune gate, a portal to the past, and as +you read them, your present fades away and you are drawn into my +present, this very moment in which I now write. Then you connect +with me intimately, and for a brief time the gulf of mortality is +transcended and the depths of my being are laid open to you. We +commune together and you eat of my flesh and drink of my blood, +merging your existence with mine.</p> + +<p>Come to me now, my friend, come to me across the gulf of +mortality, for I await you. Come, and in your spiritual +peregrination meet with me, in this land of the past which is so +foreign and unfamiliar to you, but which will become for a time +your home. Come to me, my friend, and let me tell you my +story.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap02"></a>Chapter 2: Predestined Deja Vu</h3> + +<p>It was in the last stages of sleep that I began to feel the +warm morning sun strike my face, and hear the pleasant chirping +of birds and crickets. I rolled slowly over, stretched my legs +and my back, and stood up, with the last remnants of a dream +playing quietly in my mind. But as I came to my feet and got a +clear view of where I was, I realized it was not a dream that I +had had at all, but something far more sobering. I found myself +somewhere in the center of a very large prairie which covered the +land for many miles around. From the sun’s lowly position +on the eastern horizon, it was evident to me that the new day was +just dawning, casting a golden hue on the grasses that covered +the prairie’s surface.</p> + +<p>Around the distant outskirts of the plain I could make out a +ring of trees circumventing the whole, waving almost +imperceptibly to and fro in the light breeze that was blowing. A +few miles to the southwest there was a group of odd looking trees +stretching up over the horizon to a considerable height. They +were closer than the outer ring, which kept a uniform girth +around the prairie, but somehow they looked very peculiar and +foreboding, and I got one of those sobering feelings which I like +to call predestined deja vu. What I mean is that I got a sense of +deja vu, but instead of the past converging with the present into +one thought, the present seemed to converge with the future, and +the result was a mysterious foreboding of something, though I +couldn’t tell what. That is the sensation that I had when I +saw what I assumed to be a small grouping of trees somewhere in +the southwestern portion of the savanna, though that was merely a +guess, for in the distance I could only make out several dark +forms rising out of the grassland like trees, or possibly +buildings, one of them being a great deal taller than the others, +with a spherical shape on top that only faintly resembled a +tree’s crown. If it was indeed a tree, it was the largest +that I have ever seen, for it looked to be upwards of 800 feet +tall.</p> + +<p>My mental warning bells were ringing quite loudly, and I +endeavored to silence them by extreme exertions of the will, but +they would not be subdued. I assumed that they were not at all +correct, much like the fearful expectancy some have while +swimming in the ocean, out of sight of all land, of being +attacked by an enormous leviathan of the deep. As unfounded as +the fear is, it places one into a frenzy of dubious thoughts that +inspire equally frantic and anarchist actions. Because of this, I +thought that my ideas were naught but superstitious fancies, yet +try as I might, I could not rid myself of them.</p> + +<p>Instead, I made up my mind to set off in the opposite +direction, north, and to advance at a double march until I should +reach the woody border, which looked to present shelter not only +from the southern apparitions, but also from the shielded +underworld of the grasses, in which also dwelt the mysterious +sense of fear and predestined deja vu. It was slightly chilly, +but beyond that nothing defaced the temperate beauty of the day, +and even that promised to soon dissipate with the continual +strengthening of the sun’s warmth. As I walked, or rather, +trotted along, it did just that, and in the growing warmth of the +day the sweet fragrances of the many various grasses rose to the +surface, delighting my odor perceiving sensors with their earthy +simplicity.</p> + +<p>The day marched on, and with it I, and the distant wall of +trees began to slowly grow closer. At length, I found myself at +their edge, at around the noon hour, and as I came upon the first +of them, I leaned against the trunk of a large, thickset tree for +a moment of repose and reflection in its shade. It was by all +appearances an ancient wood, for the line between it and the +prairie was distinct, appearing as if the shrubs and lesser flora +had acquiesced to fate and retreated beyond the forest’s +claimed boundaries, rather than continue for countless ages to +charge and then be pushed back, to gain a foothold only to be +thrown out a year or two later. The trees themselves were mighty +pinions of strength, tall and of great girth, and spread far +apart from one another, leaving wide open spaces between their +towering trunks. A short, soft grass clothed the land that +stretched on in their midst, joined in its solitude by a hearty +looking moss that stretched itself out on the trunks of the trees +and on the rocks and boulders that lay scattered here and there +among the open spaces. Far above, the trees’ great branches +spread out a thick canopy, covering the whole of the forest area +in a relaxing and invigorating twilight, rendering itself homely +and quaint. After a few moments of enjoying that most pleasing +scene, I roused and extricated myself unwillingly from its +enchanted depths and set off once more into the heart of the +woods, having no where else to go.</p> + +<p>After a time, I cannot say how long, I came upon a small, +trickling stream which flowed deeper into the woods, that +direction being northward. A short walk along its path, after +refreshing myself to content with its pure waters, brought me to +its destination: a large lake into which the forest opened. Its +banks were very gradual and the grass of the woodland led right +up to the water’s edge. The surface of the water itself was +smooth and delicate.</p> + +<p>Amidst the pleasantness of the scene, there was something +missing from the feel of the area: inhabitants. There was an +abundance of wild life of all kinds, and much organic life as +well, but something greater than flora or fauna was missing: +people. I had traveled so far, and without any sighting of a +person. It was a lonely and desolate feeling which prevailed, +despite the abundances of life. Novelties soon grow worthless +with no one to share them with, ideas become meaningless if not +communicated timely, emotions grow boisterous and uncontrollable +with no end to receive them.</p> + +<p>I was quite alone, unfortunately, and it dampened my spirits +considerably. Feeling despondent, I turned and walked sullenly +from the lake’s edge into the woodland once more, with no +definite purpose in mind, only a meandering thought of my dismal +situation. My thoughts morphed, in succession, from anxiety to +despair, to anger, to frustration, and in my frustration I knelt +down and picked up a fallen branch from the ground, walked to the +nearest tree, and eyed a strange, protruding knob that stuck out +from the trunk. I held the branch at shoulder’s length and +swung it at the knob with all the force of my built up emotions. +It hit with a crash and a hollow thud, leaving the branch broken +and my arm sore, but the knob undamaged.</p> + +<p>But then something unexpected happened: with a grating noise, +a small hole appeared part way up the trunk, coming from what +looked to be solid wood, for no sign was seen before of its +having an opening. From the newly opened hole was then thrust out +a head, hairy and with a short snout-like edifice for a nose and +mouth. Its eyes and the furry hair which covered its face were +brown, and a few wily whiskers protruded from its snout. With a +look of utter surprise, as if it had not expected me as much as I +had not expected it, it eyed me closely for a moment and then +looked anxiously from side to side and told me to come in.</p> + +<p>When those words passed its lips, or whatever artifice it +spoke from, a great weight fell from my shoulders. After a short +moment, quickened by my relief, a door appeared in the trunk of +the tree, its edges previously hidden behind the thick mosses. +Swinging inwards, it opened and revealed the creature standing +there, beckoning me to enter. I did, and the door shut behind me, +leaving me in the darkness of the hollow tree.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap03"></a>Chapter 3: Zards and Canitaurs</h3> + +<p>My eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, and once they did I +saw that the trunk was hollowed out to the extent of eight feet +in diameter, with two stairways, one up and another down, filling +either corner of the small entry room in which I found myself. +Observing that my vision was returned enough to see, the strange +creature which had greeted me led me down the descending +staircase for a short way, until we came into a cavern which was +delved beneath the roots of the tree.</p> + +<p>The walls and floor of the cavern, or more accurately, the +sitting room, for such it appeared to be, were paneled with a +thick, heavy wood with an almost artificially symmetric grain, +and the ceiling was done in diagonal boards of the same. Sitting +in the center of the room was a brick-laid pit in which burned an +illuminating fire, and around it was placed an odd covering frame +that caught up the smoke and channeled it via underground +passages to some distant wilderness, where its sightless remnants +would dissipate into the atmosphere unnoticed. On the near side +of the fire was a round table flanked by four large, comfortable +chairs, padded by cushions made from the same material as the +various carpets and tapestries around the room.</p> + +<p>There were two more of the strange creatures seated at the +table, called Canitaurs as I later found out, and as they are +closely entwined with my story, being prominent participants, I +will describe them in some detail here. They stood erect like a +man, yet were quite contrasted in appearance. Their skin for one +was covered in a thick, impenetrable coat of hair, much like a +dog or a bear’s. Their hands, also, were less distinct in +the fingers, though but slightly, and their limbs were a little +longer and thicker than a man’s. The two most notable +differences, however, were the formation of their shoulders and +chest, which were very pronounced and muscular, and their faces. +The latter’s features were brought to a point in the short +snout, or muzzle, that formed their nose and mouth, taking their +chins with it and leaving a long line from their neck to their +chest open. Humanity prevailed in the rest of their features, +though, giving them the look of a man and canine hybrid.</p> + +<p>By then I had overcome my initial perplexion at the sight of +the Canitaurs, and I endeavored to put a strong check over my +emotions in order to prevent another outbreak of panic and to +remain cool and candid, come what would. Yet it was, ironically, +the product of my rashness that I had found their habitation at +all. This I successfully did, and as I entered the room, led by +the Canitaur who was on watch, the others stood politely and +greeted me with an apparent intrigue.</p> + +<p>Our conversation proceeded at follows:</p> + +<p>“I am Wagner of the Canitaurs, my friend,” said +the one who appeared to be the leader, “And these are +Taurus and Bernibus,” the latter being the one who had led +me down. “Welcome to Daem.”</p> + +<p>“I am Jehu,” I told them, “It is a pleasure +to meet you.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, and under such circumstances as well. Tell me, +how did you come to be here?”</p> + +<p>Here I smiled nervously, and replied, “I am a traveler +from a distant land, and came here by the advice of a +friend.”</p> + +<p>At this somewhat false answer, more in character than in +content, Wagner looked at me wonderingly, as if detecting my +falsehood, but did not follow his look with any probing +questions, to my great relief. In order to steer the conversation +away from this point, I added quickly, “I am not at all +disappointed, either, for the landscape is beautiful and the +trees and foliage are wondrously large, but I was surprised to +find that, from the prairie to the lake, I saw no one living +among these quaint locations.”</p> + +<p>Wagner looked at me closely, with a hint of almost reverencing +respect and said, “You were very fortunate in your travels, +I assure you, for had you arrived at any other time, you would +have fallen into fouler hands than ours by far.”</p> + +<p>“I do not understand what you mean,” I said.</p> + +<p>“Of course not, I am forgetting your new arrival has +left you unacquainted with affairs that I am faced with everyday. +Let me explain: we, that is, the Canitaurs, have been in open +hostilities with the other group of people on this island, the +Zards, for as long as we can remember. They have great military +superiority in this section of Daem, and when we come here we are +forced to live in hiding, in outposts such as this +one.”</p> + +<p>“Why not just make peace?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Because it is our ideologies that conflict, neither +group of us will yield, and the solution can only be decided by +force, military force. It is fortunate that you have come among +us first, for they would have mistreated you.”</p> + +<p>“So you have said, though I do not see why I was not +captured by them on my journey through the plains, if they are as +powerful in this quarter as you say,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“As I said, the timing of your arrival was very +fortunate,” he said, “At any other time you would +have surely been caught, and then your fate would have been +uncertain, but yesterday was the Zard’s new year, the +Kootch Patah, on which they spend all night in celebrations and +revelries. Because of this, they were all soundly asleep on your +trip through the prairie, very possibly laying at your feet, +covered by the tall grasses.”</p> + +<p>So my fears were not as unfounded as I had thought, was my +predestined deja vu, then, real as well? Only time would +tell.</p> + +<p>“I am indeed lucky then, as you have said, not only in +the Zard’s unattentiveness, but also in finding of your +secreted habitation, as well as your friendly welcoming of +me,” I said.</p> + +<p>“I must confess,” he chuckled, “It is not +merely from a one-sided hospitality that you are +welcomed.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed?” I said.</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” he answered, “For your appearance +and the circumstances of your arrival are almost uncannily the +realizations of one of our most ancient prophesies, one which we +have longed to have fulfilled.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” I rhetorically asked.</p> + +<p>“Surely it is,” he said with a smile, though from +happiness or humor I could not tell. He went on soberly, saying: +“The prophecy is concerning the kinsman redeemer, one of +the ancients sent by Onan, the Lord of the Past, to redeem us +from the destruction of this polluted world.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by ‘one of the +ancients’?” I interjected questioningly.</p> + +<p>“Exactly what I said,” Wagner replied with a light +hearted smile, “Let me explain.”</p> + +<p>But before he could, we were interrupted by a violent +scratching and pounding at the door, along with some grunting +voices which I could not understand. The Canitaur’s ears, +which were quite large, though more erect and postured than +floppy, quickly rose to attention, and they had spent not a +moment listening when they uniformly chorused, +“Zards,” in a hoarse whisper. My earlier fear, then +mysterious but now understood, returned in full force, and my +face writhed in horror as I ejaculated remorsely, “Then we +are lost.”</p> + +<p>Wagner turned gravely towards me and said, “Perhaps, but +there is still hope. Come, follow me,” and rising from his +chair he led the way to the furthest corner of the room. A +primitive tapestry was hanging there, and Wagner lifted it up +while Bernibus and Taurus hit two hidden switches, one being on +either extremity of the room, to avoid discovery. That unlocked +the wall behind the tapestry. It opened along lines previously +concealed by the wood’s grain and revealed a small +cubbyhole built into the wall, probably meant for its present +use, concealment. Wagner led us into it and no sooner was the +door, or wall, latched again than the Zards, having broken down +the outside door by brute strength, flooded into the room.</p> + +<p>We could see them as they did, for the wall that concealed us +had many small holes, and the tapestry as well, so that on the +inside we could see all that happened in the well lit room, while +they could not see us, as there was no light to reveal us. +Indeed, I had been sitting facing the hidden compartment during +our brief dialog and had not detected it at all. The situation +was quite different at that time, though, for the Zards were +actively looking for us, whereas I was merely glancing +occasionally at the wall.</p> + +<p>Now that they were closer, I could easily understand their +conversation:</p> + +<p>“Blast it, they aren’t here,” said one,</p> + +<p>“Probably deserted the place after Garlop saw them, he +should have kept watch.”</p> + +<p>“Why? He couldn’t have stopped a group of them, +and they’re too keen to be followed.”</p> + +<p>“Aye, he did right to hurry off, but it would be a shame +if they escaped,” another joined.</p> + +<p>“The King is here though, and there’s no fooling +him.</p> + +<p>“Hear ye, hear ye,” the others assented, that +being a common phrase among them which was the equivalent of an +‘I agree’ or ‘Amen’.</p> + +<p>A larger, more commanding Zard, whom the others looked in +deference to, then came down the stairs, saying as he entered the +room, “Let us not celebrate prematurely, gentlemen. There +is nothing of interest above, so we will have to search carefully +down here.”</p> + +<p>“Sir, is it true it was a hairless one he saw?” +one asked him.</p> + +<p>“We are all hairless here,” he said, laughing with +the others, “But yes, it is reported that Garlop saw one of +the ancients, and with his sharp eyes and knowledge of history, +it is assumed to be true. I need not remind you, then, the need +to find them before they are too far away, it is imperative to +the cause that the ancient is not brought to the hidden fortress +of our adversaries.”</p> + +<p>The Zards then set to work with great assiduity searching for +any clues of the Canitaur’s whereabouts, examining +everything meticulously, yet quickly. They tore the furniture +apart to look for hidden compartments, followed the smoke pipes +through the ground to their outlets, tore off the floor boards to +look for secret passages, and did the same to the ceiling.</p> + +<p>Before I continue with my story, let me pause for a moment to +describe to you the appearance of the Zards, for you are probably +curious as to what they look like.</p> + +<p>Quite different from the Canitaurs, they were, in fact, +completely hairless, being almost lizard-like. They stood erect, +about the same height as a man, that is, about six feet or a +little over that, and their bodies resembled those of alligators, +with short, thickset legs, stout arms, and a long body with a +tail draping down to the ground, looking like a giant tongue, +though covered, of course, in scales. Their heads were small, +having a little skull on which were the eyes and ears and with a +long snout that, like the Canitaurs’, held their noses, +mouths, and chin. Huge, sharp teeth filled their mouths and gave +them an odd, fiercely sophisticated look. Their hands were thick +with long fingers, and though their overall appearance had an air +of awkwardness about it, they set to their tasks with great +dexterity, though if it was natural or the result of their +excited state, I could not tell. Indeed, I began to grow worried +when the Zard who was removing the walls, to check for holes or +tunnels, drew near to us as he methodically pried off the panels +with a metal bar and looked for anything suspicious.</p> + +<p>He moved along quickly and was just about to put the bar to +our covering and pull when another Zard, on the other end of the +room, held aloft a piece of paper, calling the attentions of the +others to it. Our almost discoverer went himself to the other +Zard, and we were, for a moment at least, saved from being +exposed. Having read the paper, the taller Zard, the King, said +to the others, “Well done, lads. We have here a map to the +Canitaur’s hidden fortress. Let us go to Nunami, gather +some troops, and surprise them. Today may prove victorious, so +let us hurry.”</p> + +<p>The others assented and as a body they went up the stairs and +out the door, hurrying forth, it seemed, to do their dastardly +deeds, and in their ardor not leaving behind even a single one to +guard the hideout. Despite our good fortunes, my spirits were +damp, for my sorrow of the Canitaur’s ill fate was as a +wound in my bosom, knowing that I had been the sole reason for +their discovery. What a good kinsman redeemer, I thought, for my +coming may have ended the wars, or put its completion in motion, +yet not in the favor of my hosts.</p> + +<p>To my chagrin, however, the Canitaurs, led by Wagner, were +buxom, seeming to find great humor in what had happened. Turning +to them in a zealous perplexity, I said spiritedly, “How +can you laugh? You may have escaped, but your brethren are +doomed, and you yourselves will not last long around enemies +without the protection of the other Canitaurs.”</p> + +<p>But my rebuke only seemed to make their laughter and mirth +more hearty, and they raged on without ceasing for a time. After +a while, when they were reduced to a smiling remnant of their +former pleasure, Wagner turned gravely towards me and said, +“Forgive me, Jehu, for not explaining it to you. You are +right to chastise us, but the situation is not as you seem to +think it, for the map they found was a fake, and will lead them +to nowhere of importance, while we affect our escape. We are +lucky that they left no guard, but come, let us not tempt fate +and remain any longer in this compromised outpost, to the +fortress we go!”</p> + +<p>He finished and met with the approbations of the others, and +accordingly, we exited the cubby hole and made our way through +the rummaged room, up the stairs, and out of the tree. It was now +early evening, and the temperance of twilight, with its soft and +mellow splendors, only increased the pleasantness of the area. A +slight breeze prevailed and rustled the leaves and boughs of the +giant trees just enough to render it pacifying and comforting. +Being quickened by the breeze, the lake danced on in its earlier +smoothness, only in a faster tempo, improving the ruggedness of +the watery wrinkles. The last visiting rays from the sun were +congregated on the eastern shores, saying their good-byes to the +glowing trees, and giving their parting respects before being +whisked away to their native lands of fire, to come again in +great numbers on the morrow.</p> + +<p>We set off around the lake, making our way northward towards +the rugged mountains rising before us in a grand show of might. +Wagner and Taurus walked before and behind us, respectively, +Wagner leading the way and Taurus erasing the marks of our +passing, and both watching for any signs of ambush. Bernibus +walked abreast of myself, keeping me in pleasant company, for he +was a very enjoyable companion.</p> + +<p>During our walk, Bernibus and I had an insightful +conversation, of which I will relate to you the following, as you +may find it interesting:</p> + +<p>“Tell me,” I said to him, “You seem to be a +jovial people, despite the war that you find yourselves in, but +are all of your people of the same attitude?”</p> + +<p>“Very nearly, yes,” he replied, “For though +we do not wish war, the principles at stake here are important +enough for us to sacrifice an easy life for them. We’ve +grown used to it, everything is done in such a way as to promote +secrecy and stealth, those being our main advantages in the +conflict. Out of hundreds of outposts like the one we were just +in, for example, only four others have ever been discovered, and +the Zards still have no clue where our fortress is.” This +he said in a boastful manner, but as he did a faint spirit of +sorrow spread across his face for an instant, as if in memory of +one of the raids of previous times.</p> + +<p>“That explains their rapture when they found the false +map,” I returned, “But I must admit that I am still +ignorant of the cause of the wars. It was said that it was +conflicting ideologies, yet that is self-evident, as all conflict +is at heart just that. I don’t mean, either, the actions +that caused the most recent inflammation, but what exactly your +conflicting ideologies are? What is it that keeps you from +harmony?”</p> + +<p>“You have a knack for hard questions,” he said +with a smile. Then he paused for a moment to collect his +thoughts. At length, he continued, “The Canitaurs have a +profound respect for all that has gone before us, we honor the +traditions of our ancestors and revere their beliefs and their +ideas of truth. The past, in the guise of history, is the key to +the future, we believe, and we hold strictly to the worship of +Onan, the Lord of the Past,” at this my attention was +perked. He continued, “Our adherence to the ways of our +ancestors is based on the idea that what has continued throughout +the ages has continued because it is right, that it has remained +steadfast because it is based on the immovable foundations of +reality. We follow Onan because he is real, because the past has +existed, and it is certain that it will continue to exist, and +because that existence dictates the operation of the present. +Although we may seem ritualistic and entrenched in tradition to +the outside observer, we enjoy the comforts of knowing that we +are on a well tread path, that we are not alone in time but in +company with our forebears. We are called the Pastites because of +our beliefs, because of our tradition based lives that instill in +us a reliance on history, on the events of the past as a light by +which to guide our own actions, as a road paved by the flesh and +blood of our forefathers which leads to happiness and +peace.”</p> + +<p>Bernibus paused for another moment, as if in contemplation +once again, before he continued, saying, “The Zards are +followers of the future, or Futurists as they are called. They +believe that the past is just that, the past: the ignorant and +selfish times of the unenlightened who were too shrouded by +prejudices to understand the world clearly. Instead they place +their faith in the scientific and philosophical ideas of the day, +believing that while history and the past were delegated to the +control of the unsophisticated whose ways were superstitious and +outdated, the present contains truth in its pure form. Reform and +revolution are their watchwords, for they tinker with the very +foundations of society and life in an attempt to cultivate it. +Zimri is their Lord, of the Future, and they follow him loosely, +for he doesn’t require the strict adhesion that Onan does, +which suits their independent and relaxed world view very +well.”</p> + +<p>He went on, in summary, “In a word, the Pastites believe +that history, the reality of the past, governs the present and +the future, while the Futurists believe that the future defines +the present and the past.”</p> + +<p>“I begin to see the differences,” I replied in a +humble, questioning manner, “And yet they seem to me to be +passive, secondary differences, the kind that result in a +conflict of subtle disagreements here and there, argued over +dessert like tariffs or taxes, not at all violent. How is it that +they take such a prominent role in everyday life that they can +only be resolved by force? What is it that takes it from the +fireside to the battlefield?”</p> + +<p>Here I was slightly taken aback by the expression on +Bernibus’ face, it was one of surprise mingled with +apprehension and questioning. He said, “Then you do not +know?”</p> + +<p>“Know what?”</p> + +<p>He laughed, “I take it you do not.” Becoming +solemn again, he continued, “Our land, Daem is on the edge +of ruin, and has been for all of my life and those of many +generations before me. About 530 years ago there was a great war +on earth, one in which no restraint was used, no mutually assured +destruction, for nuclear weapons came into the hands of those who +cared not for any life, not even their own. Tensions were high +for a decade, and in the following segregation, the peoples of +the earth lost their personal connection with their enemies, and, +as always happens, ceased to view them as equals, but instead as +evil ones bent on their destruction. Things came to such a crisis +that at last a little flame was lit and it grew and grew until it +became a full scale nuclear war. The destruction was total: no +one was exempt, as almost everything, and everyone, was +destroyed. The only surviving place was this island, which is the +sole habitat of the delcator beetle, a small insect that digests +nuclear waste and neutralizes it. The first few decades were +horrible, before the atmosphere recovered enough to return to +normal, and in that time things mutated and grew gigantic. The +trees and foliage, as you see, are an example of this, even the +redwood trees of old were nothing compared to the trees of Daem. +And the Zards and Canitaurs grew and changed as well, and, as we +lived on either ends of the island, as we do now, our forms +morphed into the separate forms that they now take.</p> + +<p>“And that is where our conflict turned violent,” +he continued, “For it is our desire, on both sides, to +return the earth to its previous state. The Pastites want to +return through time and stop the destruction before it happens, +because we believe that the past is what must be changed in order +to change the present and future. It is the actions of the past +that brought about the present woes, and it is they that must be +undone. For their part, the Futurists want to change the present +through the future, to go into the future and bring back its +completion, in the form of restored RNA cells, which is congruent +with their belief that the past is the past and all that matters +is that which is yet to come, that which still has the hope of +existence.”</p> + +<p>I looked at him as he finished and said, “But, why not +do both. Wouldn’t that be more effective than fighting each +other? How can continued destruction revert previous destruction +inflicted in the same manner? Could not both ideas be +tried?”</p> + +<p>“If only they could,” he replied. “It goes +back to Onan and Zimri, you see, for we ourselves cannot do such +things, but the gods whom we follow can. Shortly after the +worldwide destruction, we, meaning both the Zards and the +Canitaurs, received the prophesy of the kinsman redeemer, who +would be sent to help us change the earth to its former majesty. +He was to be one from the time right before the beginning of the +final firefight, one of the ancients who still kept the pure +human form. Our hostilities broke out in an attempt to control +the entire island, so that when he should come, the dominant +force would have him. Each side was convinced that theirs was the +right way, the only way through which the end of restoring the +earth’s ecosystem could be reached. You are the kinsman +redeemer, Jehu, for you fit the prophecy perfectly, and I am glad +that you have fallen in with us.”</p> + +<p>After his discourse, Bernibus fell into a silent meditation, +as did I, and the rest of our walk through the now dark +wilderness was one of silence and solitude. Given the cessation +of action in my narrative, I will take this opportunity to +describe the circumstances of my arrival on the island of Daem, +about which you are no doubt wondering.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap04"></a>Chapter 4: Onan, Lord of the Past</h3> + +<p>Not wishing to delve too far into my past or relate what would +be mundane and disconnected with my story, I will summarize with +brevity what my situation was. I was a military man, an Air force +pilot to be exact, and was on active duty patrolling the no-fly +zones off the coast of China, it being, at that time, an area of +very high tensions. The situation was grim, as any small incident +promised to set the pendulums of war into motion, but the worst +had subsided, and things were beginning to look as if that +incendiary incident wouldn’t come after all. The main part +of my story begins on a cloudy night of what was to me just a few +weeks back, though it seems like many ages ago now, and indeed, +it was.</p> + +<p>I was flying over an area that was littered with small +volcanic islands, the type that rise above or fall below sea +level continually, so that what one year is above water is later +below. Some of them have even been known to only rise above the +waves for a short time, and then vanish from the sea completely, +worn down by wind and waves. The night was murky, and the air was +thick with water and dust, the result being that there was no +natural light whatsoever, and any artificial light that could be +mustered was largely reduced to nothing, visibility being no more +than twenty feet.</p> + +<p>The wind was calm and the flying, though strenuous from lack +of sight, was without turbulence. I was doing well, until out of +nowhere I heard a loud crack of thunder, followed by a bolt of +lightning that hit the plane. At once I lost all of the +instruments, excepting the actual control of the plane in manual, +meaning that the radar and all the guidance systems were +crippled, and I could see nothing. Not knowing what to do, and +not being able to radio for help, I pulled down and slowed until +I was just barely remaining airborne, and began looking for an +island to land on.</p> + +<p>Once below 200 feet, the clouds gave way and I saw an island. +I aimed for it and slowed more, preparing to land on it. I did, +though just barely, for it was extremely small, being one of +those inconsistent volcanic islands. Getting out of the plane, I +was greeted by a strong blast of wind that was dripping water +from its cold grip, and I was instantly chilled to the bone. +There was nothing on the island at all, except for the hole in +its center, from which, no doubt, came the lava that had formed +it. It was on a slightly elevated hill, and looked as if it had +not erupted for many thousands of years. With nothing to do at +that moment except to get an idea of the island that I had landed +on, I walked over to it and knelt down beside it, peering blankly +into its depths. It seemed to be absolutely devoid of light, and, +as often happens, its darkness was mysterious to me, for I +wondered what lay hidden in it, and my curiosity got the better +of my common sense. I leaned slowly forward. Then, as I did so, I +heard a loud and terrible voice, personified in the crashing of +the waves and the moaning of the wind, and it said in a +monotonous and unending refrain, “Enter.” Nothing +more nor less than the continual repetition of that word. This +alarmed me, and as I did not want to do that, I began to stand +upright and back away from it, to return to my plane. But as I +raised my knee from the ground in order to stand, my other knee +slipped under the increased pressure, and in the ensuing +instability, I completely lost my balance and fell forward into +the hole.</p> + +<p>There are certain events in our lives that change the whole +course of our existence, and falling forward into the hole was +one for me. Its immediate effects weren’t injurious to me +at all, but it matured with time, like a good wine, and grew +until it overcame me, starting the chain of events which would +result in my demise. Yet not only mine, but that of everyone.</p> + +<p>Let me continue, though, and I will explain what I mean and +not confuse you more. I landed with a thud on a pile of soft dirt +some twenty feet down, in a dark place which seemed open, not +cavernous and cramped as I would have expected. My eyes adjusted +to the darkness, and as they did, I realized it was not now +totally lightless, for there was a faint glow coming from +somewhere in the distance. Looking up through the passage I had +come down, I saw that there was no way to climb up it, and, +accordingly, set off to find the source of the faint light that +came from the distance. After walking cautiously through the +darkness, I reached a curve and then a tunnel-like exit to the +spacious cavern that I was in, and as I turned it I saw the +source of the light: lava flows. The room, or area, I had entered +was rather thin and round, with a river of lava flowing downwards +and a small ledge of rock winding along its edge. Together they +descended spirally downwards at a gentle angle, taking the form +of an intelligently designed ramp. As I followed it down I soon +broke out in a sweat, for the gurgling, fiery plasma heated the +area up to a warm degree.</p> + +<p>I found myself looking intently at the flowing fire beside +which I walked, its strangeness stealing my meditations from +other things, and I looked at it absorbingly, not paying +attention to the path that I walked on, so entranced was I with +the feeling that its boiling character gave to me.</p> + +<p>As I walked along the lava preoccupied with my meditations and +not paying conscious attention to the path, my subconscious was +carefully monitoring my way, and when once my eyes glanced +upward, I quickly saw that my surroundings had changed. The +narrow, spiral descending tunnel had given way to a very +cavernous area where the lava flow formed a large lake of fire. A +domed ceiling crowned this great room, though not exact and +polished, having instead a rough appearance as it stretched from +wall to wall, a semi-chasm of a hundred yards, more or less, with +its uppermost height being not less than twenty yards. On the far +walls were two lava falls, trickling from raised tunnels in the +wall into the body of lava, which covered the whole bottom of the +room. There was a platform that sat in the middle of the fiery +lake, connected to the tunnel I had come from by a walkway of +stone. This room was different than the other two, also, in its +fashion, for while the previous had vague evidences of +intelligent design, this one was very obviously artificially +decorated. The walkway above mentioned was of ornate stone with +an intricate design of circles, squares, and triangles carved +into it, and on each corner of the center stage was a long pillar +that reached from floor to ceiling, each carved like a totem +pole, with a variety of animals and shapes stacked upon one +another. The dome was done ornately as well, for I saw as I +walked further into the room that what I had thought had been +imperfections in the dome proved to be an elaborate three +dimensional sculpture that stuck out from the ceiling, depicting +an intricate scene of figures and telling a story of some great +saga of war and peace, pride and prejudice, love and hate, faith +and betrayal, all combined to make the greatest mural: history, +the story of time itself.</p> + +<p>As I looked in awe upon its beauty, I was startled by a voice +coming from an unseen figure somewhere on the center platform. It +said, “Jehu, you have come at last. Welcome.”</p> + +<p>The voice was very gentle and pleasing to the ears, slowly and +confidently spoken, meticulously articulated. I looked around in +its direction and saw a short, elderly gnome with a long white +beard reaching to his chest and a short crop of hair on his +oblong head, which was outfitted with a sharp, angular nose, a +pair of sparkling eyes, and two protruding ears. He was no more +than four feet tall, and no less than three, with a dignified +poise to him, and was dressed in a dark robe with a black and +gold design on it. We looked at each other for a moment, he +smiling pleasantly and me expressionless, for though I felt that +I should be surprised, or at least bewildered, at the sight of a +gnome in an underground cavern, I was not, it was as if I had +almost been expecting it to happen, as if in the back of my mind +I had already been there and done that. Perhaps it was only a +case of predestined deja vu, or maybe it was something less +tangible. Either way, the gnome then broke the silence again, +saying:</p> + +<p>“Let me introduce myself, Jehu. I am Onan, the Lord of +the Past, and these are the Chambers of History.”</p> + +<p>He then paused for a moment, waiting for my reaction, which +was, again, not too much surprised, but rather complacent, +thought I didn’t look bored or snobbish, as is sometimes +the case in that situation. Instead I became as genial as +possible, realizing that whatever force was behind this, it was +greater than I.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Onan, it is pleasure to meet you,” I said, +advancing with a proffered hand extended towards him, which I +realized belatedly made me appear oafish, but he took it +good-naturedly, and with his pleasantness eliminated my unease at +shaking the hand of one half my size. He then beckoned for me to +follow him, and turned and walked to the center of the platform, +where he unexpectedly laid down on his back, facing the muraled +dome. I did the same, somewhat hesitantly, though I found it to +be quite comfortable once I was down. He saw my sluggishness and +by way of explanation said to me:</p> + +<p>“Do not be troubled, my dear Jehu, for we lie on our +backs to bring about clarity of mind.”</p> + +<p>Then he continued speaking, calling my attention to the +sculptured dome:</p> + +<p>“That is history,” he said.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean,” I asked, “I’ve +always viewed history as an organic being, constantly growing as +it devours the present.”</p> + +<p>“It is an organic being,” he replied, “A +monstrous beast of sorts. But that (meaning the mural on the +dome), my friend, is the genetics of history, its code that +dictates what it is and what it will become, the master +plan.”</p> + +<p>Allow me to take a moment to describe the mural for you. +Firstly, its form: it was spread out across the dome like the +painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, its whole being a broad, +harmonious picture that complimented itself, telling a story +throughout its united branches. It was much more than a painting, +though, because it stood out from the dome like a group of +completely independent sculptures, but placed so as to tell the +combined story with a sort of native ease, not stressed or +artificial, yet seeming as natural and beautiful as water in its +flowing grace. Now I will endeavor to describe its content, +though I realize that in this case the picture must be worth many +millions of words.</p> + +<p>The center of the mural was its beginning, and there a man was +standing proudly upright, dressed in splendid clothes of fine +linens. He held in his hand a magnificent cup of gold with a row +each of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and pearls running along its +breadth. It contained a dark red liquid, which appeared to be +boiling, and the man was holding it out to a fierce lion whose +shoulders were four feet across and whose mouth was like a +cavern, with stalactites and stalagmites of the most terrifying +nature. With an evil glare in its eyes toward the man, the lion +drank thirstily from the cup. Around the man and the lion there +was a ring of blazing fire, leaping out of the dome like great +pillars of flame, entrapping them within its narrow circle. On +the outside of the fire was a group of mighty lizards and beasts, +the smallest of which was larger than several elephants. Their +whole attention was paid to a great fight in which they were +engaged, yet their foe was naught but the reflections of +themselves on the great sea which surrounded the island that held +these strange sights. Several of them were dead or severely +wounded at having been accidentally mauled by their fighting +brethren. Across the ocean from the island there was another +landmass, whose far edges were not in sight. On it were many +ape-men bowing down in worship of a gigantic White Eagle which +was soaring far above them with a multitude of lords and ladies +gripped in its massive talons. The lords were dressed in silken +robes and adorned with many pieces of fine jewelry, and the +ladies were clothed in skirts of crimson; both groups had upon +their faces looks of pleasure, and contempt towards those far +below them.</p> + +<p>Onan continued speaking, “You see, Jehu, the whole of +history, both that now written and that yet to come, is planned, +executed according to its own power, for the course of time is +marked as clearly as the tides: by its own coming and going it is +revealed. Revealed, however, only in an abstract and undefined +manner, so that while its marks are clearly seen, it is only by +special revelations that it is shown in a comprehensive and +detailed light. And that is why I have summoned you here, my dear +Jehu, for you are the chosen one, summoned to help me.”</p> + +<p>I was skeptical and asked him, “You summoned me? But +how, I was to forced to crash land on the island by the weather, +and accidentally fell into the volcano’s mouth. It was by +my own freewill decisions that the circumstances of my arrival +here were fulfilled.”</p> + +<p>Onan laughed quietly and said, “History is not an +unstoppable machine, allied with fate to control the destiny of +all things past and future, nor does it nullify the power of +man’s freewill, yet the force that acts upon the minds of +men to form them is history itself. You see, men are not the +opponents of history and fate, for they do not impede its +progress with their freewill decisions, instead they are its +minions, its slaves, building up its strength and carrying out +its dictates by its influence, so that they become history as +they serve it, adding to its organism their own consciouses. +While you were brought to these Chambers by circumstances of your +own choosing, your desires in choosing those circumstances were +dictated by the experiences of the past. But never mind how I +summoned you, for you are here now.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” I said, not wishing to disagree with +the Lord of the Past. Still, I was in a stubborn frame of mind, +and asked, “But if the past is as powerful as you construe +it to be, then why does the Lord of the Past need the help of a +mere mortal like myself? Or do you mean you need a more direct +agent than those you control only by influence?”</p> + +<p>“Something like that,” he answered. “You +see, there was a great disaster once, which was blamed on me, and +in order to atone for it, I promised to send a kinsman redeemer +before anything so devastating happened again, and I believe you +are the perfect choice.”</p> + +<p>“What devastating event hasn’t been blamed on the +past in one form or another?” I said, “But why not +just go yourself?”</p> + +<p>“It is against the rules,” Onan told me.</p> + +<p>“How typical.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, I sometimes wonder what good it is to be a +god if you can’t do anything yourself,” he said with +a sigh.</p> + +<p>“What do you want me to do there, then?”</p> + +<p>“I cannot tell you, unfortunately.”</p> + +<p>“Against the rules?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Very much so. All that I can do is send an agent with a +slight understanding of the situation of history and physical +existence to the people, but he must make the judgments of how to +proceed all on his own. If I did tell you, it wouldn’t be +much different than going myself, and then there would be no +human resolution to human problems.”</p> + +<p>“Our lives serve as a spectator sport to the gods, +then?” I inquired of him.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid not,” he said, “It is much more +serious than that. The Greeks were not all wrong, you +know.”</p> + +<p>“Who else, I wonder.”</p> + +<p>“Not many,” he sighed, “But tell me, are you +ready?”</p> + +<p>“As I’ll ever be.”</p> + +<p>“Then I will begin. The understanding of life begins +with the understanding of physical existence,” Onan said, +“And by physical existence I mean the quality of being +materially animated. Not to confuse it with consciousness, which +is the ability to think and reason, it is rather the realm in +which one has substance and continuity. I will call the elements +of physical being time and matter, those words representing +widely known concepts. Matter provides the raw substance and time +gives those lifeless objects a plane of being to exist in. +Without time, matter can do nothing except sit in a sterile +state, in a vacuum in which nothing could occur; and without +matter, time would flow, but nothing would move with it. Thus, +the basis of physical existence is time and matter, each being +useless separately, yet together being the perfect combination of +a tangible object and the fluid, forward movement to animate it. +Imagine it as a three-dimensional painting, matter given depth by +time.”</p> + +<p>“Not so complicated,” I said cheerfully.</p> + +<p>“Not yet, you mean,” he laughed.</p> + +<p>“Exactly, tell me more.”</p> + +<p>“Not just yet, Jehu. First you must help me.”</p> + +<p>“The time to begin has come then?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you must go now,” he said, “And +remember, I’ll be watching. Good-bye.”</p> + +<p>And with that, not even standing up, Onan put me into a deep +state of comatose and sent me through time to the unknown lands +and people whom I was to deliver. I awoke, as you will remember, +in the center of the savanna. Now that you know the circumstances +of my arrival on Daem, I will go back to where I was before: on +the way to the Canitaur’s hidden fortress.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap05"></a>Chapter 5: The Treeway</h3> + +<p>I was walking in silence through the rugged forests of +northern Daem alongside Bernibus the Canitaur, with his fellows +Wagner and Taurus before and behind us, respectively, the former +leading the way, the latter covering our tracks, and both on the +lookout for an ambush. An entire lifetime of guerrilla warfare +and privations of all kinds had instilled in the Canitaurs a +strong and prevailing sense of caution, which sometimes rendered +their lighthearted and almost spiritually frivolous nature to the +casual observer a dense, deceiving demeanor used to conceal their +true selves. But that was not the case, I believe, for they were, +or at least Bernibus was, truly amorous in personality.</p> + +<p>The sky was then in its deepest dark, and in the few breaks in +the canopy above large enough to be seen through, there were few +celestial lights to illuminate the depths of that mountainous +forest. The forest itself sprawled like a great metropolis along +the lands above the large central lake of Daem, Lake Umquam +Renatusum, which was close beside the Canitaur outpost where we +had narrowly escaped discovery and capture. However deficient in +sight the forest was, it was abounding with sounds, everything +from the call of the owl to groan of the bull frog, it was as if +the whole of the forest had congregated about us, drawn to us by +some unknown scent of interest and intrigue.</p> + +<p>Continuing on for some time in the same way, I found myself +growing weary, nodding my head slowly towards the oblivion of +sleep, until I was brought to an instant liveliness by +Wagner’s announcement that we had reached our destination. +I looked around carefully, yet I saw nothing at all to indicate +the entrance to a large, covert military establishment, much to +my companions delight. Their whimsical sense of humor surfaced +once again as they laughed with seemingly infinite pleasure, both +at my wondering expression and with a sense of satisfaction at +their own cleverness. After the outburst had been subdued and a +certain level of solemnity had been reached, Wagner approached +the nearest tree and knocked on it with a rhythmic +rut-tut-tut.</p> + +<p>Expecting their old trick to be replayed, I waited for the +tree to open, but to my surprise, it didn’t, instead a +strong rope ladder dropped down from a tree several yards to the +east. This we climbed, and I found that I had been mistaken as to +the height of the ancient wooden towers, for they proved to be +even loftier in dimensions than I had imagined. Accordingly, it +took us a good five minutes to reach its top at a quick and +steady pace, and all through the climb I was terrified at the +long drop, from which the ladder offered no protections. Yet I +made it to the top safely, and found that there was a large +platform built securely among its upper branches, with enough +room to hold a few dozen persons, and there was even comfortable +seating in the center. There were four guards stationed on the +platform, each equipped with a long bow and a quiver of metal +tipped arrows, and though they were hardly visible through the +dim light emitted from the covered lantern that lit the platform, +I could see them quietly conversing with Wagner and Taurus while +Bernibus and myself reposed on the seats provided for that very +purpose.</p> + +<p>They conversed for awhile, though I could not hear them, nor +could I see them well enough to judge their facial expressions, +but Bernibus waylaid any anxious thoughts I had with his +encouraging tone, and also by giving me a drought of ale and a +loaf of bread to overcome my fatigue and hunger, both of which I +quickly consumed. He gave me more bread, but wouldn’t allow +me another glass of ale, for safety’s sake. At first I +thought he deemed me easily overcome by spirits, but I soon +discovered his reasons and thanked him.</p> + +<p>Wagner returned from the guards and, finding that we were +ready to proceed, led us to the far corner of the platform, where +we were joined by Taurus. We then set off on a road that ran +above the lower levels of the canopy, made from jointed platforms +that were attached to the massive limbs of the trees, meeting the +branches of the next tree half way across, forming a continuous, +snaking path far above the ground. Traveling on those paths we +made our way criss-crossingly to the west. The walking was no +more difficult than on the ground, for the boards were firmly +secured to the great branches, which were at least five or six +feet wide, and there were short rails as well.</p> + +<p>After no more than half an hour of travel on the +‘Treeway’, we reached another large platform in the +center of a great tree which was very much like the first one, +excepting that the trunk of the tree came up through its center +and there was a door leading into the trunk. There were eight +guards on this platform, but they let us pass without more than a +friendly gesture, their scouts having, no doubt, seen us long +before and ascertained our identity and intentions. They seemed +to have been expecting the return of Wagner’s group, though +the addition of me they appeared to eye curiously.</p> + +<p>Wagner led us directly to the door, which opened into a set of +circular stairs that wound down the inside of the tree like the +insides of an old world lighthouse tower. The stairs descended +further than the tree ascended, wrapping around almost +infinitely, at least to my wearied senses, which were depleted of +vividness by the treacherous toils of the proceeding day. Down, +down, down went the stairs, until at length we reached the bottom +and found ourselves in a cave, the stairs ending in a small foyer +area which opened out into the cave, it being delved into the +bedrock layer, indicating that we had indeed passed below the +surface on our descent. The passage was really a narrow defile +with high walls on either side, impenetrable due to the fact that +they were the foundations of the earth above. It stretched on for +a ways, its whole length commanded by little, turret like +stations which stuck out from the upper wall, in which were +stationed groups of archers, and though they now stood in a +solemn, dignified manner, any opposition that attempted to force +a way through would have been decimated. Yet they stood at +attention and made no noise or movement at our passing, instead +being the essence of well disciplined soldiery.</p> + +<p>This narrow chasm led onward for about three hundred yards, +the walls stretching upwards in such a fashion that it brought to +mind images of Moses crossing the Red Sea, with great walls of +water suspended in air on either side, ready at any moment to +come crashing down upon them, their lives in the hands of +another. So did I then feel, the Canitaur guards being able to +slay me on the slightest whim of fancy that struck their minds +into a sadistic mood. Yet I was not afraid, instead I was +overcome by a feeling of relaxation, where all cares and worries +are given up as frivolous burdens, not necessary and not helpful, +being, in fact, harmful to the mind.</p> + +<p>The defile, or narrow passage, led to a great abyss, crossable +only by a drawbridge controlled on the other side, which was at +this time lowered and ready for us to cross, which we did, +accompanied by four honor guards who were dressed in all the pomp +and pleasantry known by the Canitaurs. It was a custom among them +to greet newcomers with an honor guard which escorted them to the +body of dignitaries and aristocrats that would be waiting to +welcome them in style. This was done for us, and we were led into +the fortress’ great room, which was used for discussions +and debates, via another winding stairway that took us even +further below the surface. It was a splendid room, equipped with +all kinds of luxuries and embellishments and spreading out like a +quarter circle around a central stage with a podium upon it. +Seats were arranged in arching rows, with a sort of cluster of +seats around a wooden desk being allotted to each of the members +of the council and his aide de camps; there were two hundred such +clusters. Sitting there like they had been woken from sleep to +attend to us were the delegates, looking tired and untidy, a rare +state for a Canitaur to be in, with their clothes ruffled, their +hair uncombed, and their eyes glazed with a discordant state of +mind.</p> + +<p>Wagner, who turned out to be a high official among them, led +me to the top of the stage where the podium was, with a sofa, +desk, and several chairs behind it, concealed from the council by +the raised floor and walls that formed the base of the podium, +creating a small, private anteroom for those at the podium. I +laid myself down tiredly on the sofa to rest while Wagner took +the stage and began to speak.</p> + +<p>“Friends, comrades, associates,” he said to the +council, “I thank you for neglecting your beds at this late +hour to join with us here in the Hall of Meeting, for there is +something very important to be shared. You are all no doubt +familiar with the ancient prophecy of the Externus Miraculum: +long ago it was told that in our extreme need, when hope no +longer exists in the hearts of many, an ancient would be sent by +Onan our lord to redeem and deliver us from the evils of this +world, for as our doom was wrought in their times, so would our +hope originate. The past cannot be changed except by those who +first made it, and our present is dictated by the happenings of +the past, so that for a better future the past must be changed, +and only then will we be freed from the burdens of +history.”</p> + +<p>He continued, “We have therefore long awaited the +arrival of our kinsman redeemer, who will change the past and +prevent the cause of our current woes from happening, for without +its roots, what evil can grow and flourish? Our redeemer was to +come on the Kootch Patah, when our adversaries the Zards are not +watchful, being drunk with celebrations at the turning of the +year. Myself, Taurus and Bernibus went to the shores of Lake +Umquam Renatusum, as is our custom, to watch for the coming of +the promised one, and this time we were not disappointed, for he +came to us, even as the prophecy says, as we sat hidden in the +living tower. Seen by the Zards, we were almost discovered, until +the promise of the hidden fortress drew them away, even as the +prophecy says. And now we are here, delegates of the Canitaurian +people, safely within our fortress with our kinsman redeemer, so +what shall be done? Let us decide.”</p> + +<p>At this point he cast a glance towards me, as if desiring me +to speak before the council, but I was in the last throes of +wakefulness, where sleep has crept so far upon you that arrival +in the land of dreams is only a matter of moments, and +wakefulness is not desired, nor is anything else. I looked at him +with my eyes glazed with that sweet, savory taste of sleep, and +though I was conscious, I was not in control, only an audience to +actions of my subconscious whims, and even that passed beyond my +reach as my eyes fell shut, isolating me in the realm where +worldly concerns mean nothing. And so I was when my exhaustion +overtook me, leaving me sound asleep on the sofa behind the +podium.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap06"></a>Chapter 6: The Fiery Lake</h3> + +<p>When I woke I was no longer in that room but in another, a +small homely room where I was laid on a bed, the room being +located, as I found out later, not too far from the Hall of +Meeting. Though the depth of the fortress prevented me from +knowing the time, it felt to be early afternoon by that strange +internal clock that so seldom errs. It was correct, as usual. +There was a quaint fireplace on the far wall of the room with a +small, unadorned and unpretentious mantle, decorated like the +rest of the fortress in a practical and experienced way, finding +just the right flavor between the ornate, the practical, and the +quaint, and avoiding all the while the clutter brought by +superfluous material possessions. A table in the center of the +room was furnished with a steaming meal, beside which sat my new +friend Bernibus, smiling on me with a benevolent and almost +paternal affection.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, Jehu,” he said, “Or should I +say afternoon, for the morning has quite passed by +already.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and it has left in me a great appetite, my good +man.”</p> + +<p>“As is shown clearly in your eyes,” he jested, +“Come and eat.”</p> + +<p>Needing no further urging, I leapt from my bed, sat down +across from him at the table, and began partaking greedily of the +hearty breakfast of hash browns and pancakes, which were pleasing +to my mouth and stomach, for the tastes in food are controlled +more by the condition of the body than by the time of day. When I +had satisfied my needs, we reclined in our chairs and began +conversing:</p> + +<p>“Tell me,” I said, “Did my untimely slumber +yester eve cause any irritated prides?”</p> + +<p>“Quite to the contrary, the council was well humored and +followed your lead to their bed chambers.”</p> + +<p>“I am relieved to hear it, for I was anxious of +appearing lax in ardor or animation.”</p> + +<p>“Not so, my friend, you are quite exonerated from +doubtful thoughts. There is a session planned for this evening +though, so may yet feel yourself put on trial.”</p> + +<p>“Unfortunate,” said I, “But surely they can +mean no harm, am I not the kinsman redeemer, after +all?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you are,” Bernibus said with a look of +subdued apprehension, “We have an end in view, though the +means are as yet not wholly decided. It is a complicated +situation.”</p> + +<p>I smiled softly, “So is always the case.”</p> + +<p>“In truth it is: time reveals all things yet do all +things reveal time?”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” I asked him.</p> + +<p>“Our situation is complicated by differing views of +time, and I was wondering aloud if history and the present +reality disclose the truth about time in the same way that time +reveals the truth of the present. If our way were more +illuminated, the journey would be easier.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps that is why men look to the well lit paths of +history, or to the dim conjectures of the future rather than the +dark, yet detailed ways of present.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” he said, “But the present is so +fleeting that it holds little intrigue.”</p> + +<p>“Even so, it is the stage, not still waiting behind the +curtain, nor already performed.”</p> + +<p>“Yet the past controls by influences and prejudices, +justified or not, and it will doubtless be the view of the +council that the past must be redone, that the problems be +addressed at the source,” Bernibus replied.</p> + +<p>“I am still in the dark about all your +inferences,” I said.</p> + +<p>“My apologies, I forget myself. But let us not dwell on +subjects which may become quite exhausted in the near future, for +better or worse,” he told me.</p> + +<p>“Fair enough,” I returned, acceding to the subject +change, and jumping on the opportunity to steer it in a different +direction, “I know little of you, Bernibus, so tell me +all.”</p> + +<p>“There isn’t much to tell,” he coyly +responded.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense, Bernibus, tell me or I shall get very +angry,” I jested, imitating some mythological god’s +wrath.</p> + +<p>He smiled discreetly and yielded to my request, “Very +well, I will tell you. I was born in the year 490 D.V. (that is, +Durante Vita), to a poor couple from the northernmost pier of +Daem, the Gog.”</p> + +<p>“Wait a moment, Bernibus,” I interrupted, “I +didn’t mean in that fashion, for when I say I know little +of you, it is because I literally know little of +‘you’, not the circumstances that make up your past. +I guess it goes back to the interpretation of the past and its +powers, and since we can’t seem to escape discussing it, +lets embrace it willingly. You seem to believe that the events of +your life have shaped you in such a profound way that their mere +description is sufficient to explain your personality; I will +grant that their influence has effected you subtly, but history +is not the scapegoat of the present. The circumstances do more to +define the character of an individual than to shape it, for even +siblings with the exact same experiences can be greatly different +in personality and achievements. But what I mean is this: your +past has influenced your present, yet it is gone and your present +remains, show me Bernibus, not his previous forms.”</p> + +<p>You, who are now reading this, may think this statement of +mine to Bernibus to be hypocritical, in light of the very purpose +and intent of these memoirs. You may be thinking that I am +relating this whole happening in order to justify my actions and +decisions. But that is not the case, for I understand that you +have no power over me, I have long been dead in your present and +your sentiments mean naught to me. In fact, I wish to tell of the +circumstances I found myself in as much as of myself, so that you +may have a retrospective clarity in visions of the future. You +will understand that statement later on, but for now let me say +that I wished to know the essence, the person, the consciousness +of Bernibus, whereas I wish to impart to you my story, though ere +its end you may come also to know me. I have no ambitions of +material immortality.</p> + +<p>Bernibus understood my meaning, and though he disagreed with +its theoretical imputations, he humored me and did as I +suggested. He pulled back his brow in a reflective demeanor, +brought his eyes to mine and began:</p> + +<p>“You desire me to tell you about myself without +literally telling you of myself. I suppose you mean that we +discourse on some variety of subjects, so that you can see who I +am discreetly,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Exactly,” I replied, “You say it better +than I.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it is for the best, as you will draw your own +conclusions rather than be given mine, and instead of my telling +you what I would like to think I am, you would see what I am in +truth. Strange, isn’t it, that though we think we know +ourselves, we very much do not, and it is only the unbiased +observer who sees us as we are. You know, I was once thinking of +writing my memoirs, and I would have, except that I was afraid +that if I read them afterward I would be forced to see myself as +I am and be horrified at the truth.”</p> + +<p>“Damn the truth,” I said.</p> + +<p>“You’re starting to sound like a +philosopher,” he laughed.</p> + +<p>“And you a psychologist,” I rejoined.</p> + +<p>“And where would that place us on the scale of +artificial intelligence,” Bernibus jested.</p> + +<p>“Following the footsteps of Jeroboam,” I +returned.</p> + +<p>“Hmm?</p> + +<p>“Oh, nothing. Tell me,” I asked more solemnly, +“What position does Wagner hold among the +Canitaurs?”</p> + +<p>“He is the Khedive Kibitzer, our ruler in that he leads +the council.”</p> + +<p>“And you?”</p> + +<p>“I am his brother-in-law, a relationship that our +culture places great importance on, especially as he has no blood +brothers. I become, in effect, his partner, though he +doesn’t accept me emotionally as one, only in +etiquette.”</p> + +<p>“Why is that?” I inquired.</p> + +<p>“Because, I am of weak heritage. His sister loved me, +and I her, but to him there is no such thing as love, only +business, the destruction of the Zards at any cost. No price is +too high,” he told me with almost a vengeful scowl on his +usually pleasant features, it soon passed, though, and left no +trace when it had.</p> + +<p>“You sound bitter, Bernibus.”</p> + +<p>“My feelings betray me, yet I am not bitter, only +disillusioned.”</p> + +<p>“You sympathize with the Zards, then?”</p> + +<p>“Not at all, I do sympathize, however, with peaceful +solutions,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Which is why Wagner disapproves of you, no +doubt.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, mainly, but don’t misunderstand me. I am not +a closet Futurist, nor am I a strict pacifist, I just can’t +help feeling that there is another way. But I understand the +selection of ideologies, how the stronger breaks the weaker to +submission, and while one flourishes, the other diminishes, and I +understand focus points, but I cannot justify their +marriage.”</p> + +<p>“What you mean by focus points?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“They are the culmination of conflict, where two sides +meet and the battle takes place, not meaning necessarily an +important or strategic military, civil, or commercial place, but +one on which the fighting occurs, the result ending in the defeat +or victory of the whole campaign. The focus point of the Zards +and the Canitaurs exists both on the philosophical and martial +levels. On the philosophical level, it is the question as to what +is the proper solution for remedying our current catastrophic +situation. On one side the Pastites wish to correct the root of +the problem by stopping its realization in the past, the +Futurists, however, would venture into the future and brings its +stabilization and completion back. On the military level, our +forces collide in the forests around Lake Umquam Renatusum, the +northern mountains belonging to us and the southern plains to +them. The lake itself is of little importance, yet whoever +conquers it will conquer all.”</p> + +<p>“Interesting,” I said, “But I do not +understand how you seem to imply that I am your ancestor, while +Onan seemed to mean the opposite, that you are my +ancestors.”</p> + +<p>“It is strange and complex, and we understand very +little of it, ourselves. The time for the council has come +though, for our talk has dwindled away the afternoon. Perhaps +some of your questions will there be answered. But come, let us +go.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” I said, “Take me to your +leaders.”</p> + +<p>From that room, the one I had awoken in, it wasn’t very +far to the council room. Exiting it, we turned down a short, +closed hallway that opened into the concealed area behind the +podium that I spoke of earlier. On the sofa where I had fallen +asleep was seated Wagner and on a circle of smaller chairs around +the edges of the area were seated about ten stately looking +Canitaurs, clean and well dressed, according to their customs. +They greeted me amorously, with a mixture of eagerness, +excitement, and hope painted on their purloined countenances, +taken from the sleepless spirits of several departed generations +of war-hardened veterans.</p> + +<p>Standing as we entered, they greeted me cordially, and, once +the formal greeting of a short bow and a blessing was finished, +we all sat down, they in their previous seats, I next to Wagner, +and Bernibus in a small chair in the corner, away from the circle +of the delegates. He, that is, Wagner, then opened our +dialog:</p> + +<p>“Welcome to the council, Jehu,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I was under the impression that the council was much +larger,” I replied candidly.</p> + +<p>“It is, but this is the leadership; we felt that the +clamors of a full legislature would be overwhelming to you at +first. I know it still overwhelms me sometimes,” he +laughed, and the others with him. That explanation sufficed at +the time, but I later found that Wagner had taken control of the +council himself, and that it had no real power: it never met for +more than ceremonial matters, the Khedive Kibitzer, Wagner, +controlling the rest. But I get ahead of myself.</p> + +<p>One of the others then interjected, “Our purpose now, +Jehu, is not so much to make decisions as to inform you of the +decisions we have already made, not that we mean to exclude you +from our counsels, but we’ve been preparing for this +moment, your arrival, for many years, since it was foretold long +ago.”</p> + +<p>“Decisions with what end?” I asked of them.</p> + +<p>“The reestablishing of an efficient and healthy climate, +both naturally and philosophically, one in which tradition, +history, and experience reign supreme,” Wagner said in such +a way that I couldn’t help but think that it had served as +an idiom of his for many years.</p> + +<p>“A termination of the Zardovian conflict, +then?”</p> + +<p>“Essentially, but not wholly, as there are other, more +complicated ends in view, less integrated with the format of a +completely ideological conflict.”</p> + +<p>“Meaning?”</p> + +<p>“Meaning that we wish to return to our original +forms,” Wagner said.</p> + +<p>“Those being, I assume, the same as my own.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you see after the Great War, the atmosphere was so +filled with radioactive materials that all life was destroyed, +except for that on Daem, which was protected because of our +distant and isolated location, and the presence of a group of +insects that neutralize radiation. They were overwhelmed in the +first few decades, for though they were able to reduce the amount +to make it habitable, we degenerated into what we are now, Zards +and Canitaurs, based on our habitats, we being mountainous, +forest dwelling folk, and they plains people. At first our +ancestors grew to immense proportions, as did the vegetation on +Daem, but we slowly returned to normal size as the radioactive +material was consumed. I am surprised that Onan did not tell you +about it all,” he said, looking at me with a slight tinge +of confusion creeping into his wayward eyes, formerly filled only +with hope and excitement.</p> + +<p>“I wish he would have,” I responded, “But he +said that it was against the rules.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, yes, I forgot about the rules there for a +moment,” he laughed, his countenance returning to its +former gleeful appearance.</p> + +<p>“A foolish law, no doubt, and from whom?” I said, +availing of the apparent intra-personal deja vu, that is, the +converging of the presents of our two minds into one idea, +between Wagner and myself to cultivate a bit of sympathy in my +difficult situation. But there would be no harvest, for Wagner +checked his mirth and said:</p> + +<p>“It was necessary, and the Council of the Gods did well +to govern themselves more strictly.”</p> + +<p>“How so?”</p> + +<p>“Well, during the Homeric period the gods really went at +it, using humanity as players in their battles, like a game of +chess, actually. Come to think of it, chess did originate in the +realm of the gods after the laws. Things were quite a mess back +then, though, with a whole horde of demi-gods walking the earth, +and it ended up snuffing out the first flames of democracy and +leaving monarchies for the longest time.”</p> + +<p>“Homer’s stories were true, then?” I +asked.</p> + +<p>“Very much so, but after the laws of physical abstinence +were adopted things mellowed out considerably, and men went back +to their self-obsession, their material minds weren’t yet +weaned from the physical realm.”</p> + +<p>“So the very men who claimed mental superiority because +they were free from superstitions and divine disillusionment were +themselves victims of their own sophism, and while they thought +themselves crowned with enlightenment, it was naught but the +Phrygian caps of their prejudices toward the material +state?” I asked, with more than the average dose of irony +and feeling, both for my subjects and myself.</p> + +<p>“Exactly, upon disinterested examination one finds the +theater of human history to be one defined by a ludicrous +melodramaticy, the soap opera of the gods,” he answered. +“But we digress far from our point, Jehu, which is a +discussion concerning the implementation of our plans of action +formed in preparation of our current situation.”</p> + +<p>“So I had surmised,” I smiled at the reminder, +“But tell me, what are your plans, and what is the current +situation?”</p> + +<p>“This is a time of fulfillment, with the events of many +of our prophecies coming to pass. Now is a time of action and of +hope. You, our kinsman redeemer, have come, and the time is ripe +for victory and domination, ripe, in short, for a return to +natural existence, harmony between forces interior and exterior. +Our plan, my dear Jehu, is to attack the Zards swiftly and +fiercely and break their strongholds like the walls of Jericho, +literally.”</p> + +<p>“It sounds daring, certainly,” I said, “But +is it not overly so? I was under the impression that the Zards +were much superior in force than the Canitaurs.”</p> + +<p>“In the southern regions, where you landed, yes, they +are, but we rule the northern sphere of action. Our forces +actually form a soft equilibrium that keeps fate’s pendulum +from straying from its neutral position, so that a military +action previously would not have been predictable, with either +side being capable of winning. Under such conditions war is +avoided, but now you have arrived. The Zards, as well as +ourselves, have been expecting a kinsman redeemer, you see, and +our war has been kept from raging by the belief of each side that +their god would propel them to victory with certainty by the +sending of one such as yourself. Your arrival changes things, it +marks the beginning of our dominance,” he told me +vaingloriously.</p> + +<p>“The muted felicity I have witnessed about my arrival is +explained, then,” I ventured, “Excitement that the +end is near and victory close at hand, yet that feeling subdued +by the realization that a period of deeper darkness must first be +gone through.”</p> + +<p>“Your words are true,” Wagner replied, “And +yet I have a great confidence in our plans, which have been +matured through many years of careful deliberation. As the time +will never be more ready than at the present, in the present we +must act.”</p> + +<p>“What is your plan, then?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“It is calculated to end in the conquering of the Zards, +and as such, only an unexpected and unrelenting attack at the +very heart of their strength will succeed. Anything less will +only bring them to a full alert, and then any battle will have to +be drawn out with excessive casualties on both sides. Therefore, +we have decided upon an attack on Nunami, their capital city and +main strength, being the center and majority of both their +population and economy. Yet an outright siege of the city is +impossible for those very reasons, it being so self-contained +that it can resist bitterly, and its military is so clustered +that it can be brought into action almost instantly.</p> + +<p>“Considering those problems, it was deemed necessary to +draw the Zards away from the city and destroy it in their +absence, so that they are left destitute of the means of war and +sustenance, and rendered weak. To do this, we have spent the last +several years stockpiling huge quantities of liquid fervidus +flamma, an extremely combustible substance. It is stored in an +underground reservoir in the foothills of the mountains, +connected via aqueduct to Lake Umquam Renatusum. When the time is +ripe, we will empty it into the lake and set it aflame, and our +calculations show the flames reaching a height of five miles for +a length of six hours, which should be enough to gain the +Zard’s preponderance,” Wagner explained.</p> + +<p>“But wouldn’t it catch the forest on fire and burn +down your whole empire in the process?” I asked, alarmed at +his apparent lack of vigilance.</p> + +<p>“We have been treating the trees on a ten mile radius +with an anti-flammatory solution for several years as well, and +it is quite impossible to set them on fire.”</p> + +<p>“Which explains why you dared to have a fire pit in the +trunk of a tree outpost.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he laughed, “We aren’t so +foolhardy as we may seem. Appearances can be +deceiving.”</p> + +<p>“The exodus of the Zards from Nunami is almost +guaranteed by the mortal’s natural curiosity and delight in +the calamities of others,” I said, “But how do you +plan on leveling the town before the remnant raise the alarm and +the mass of the people return?”</p> + +<p>“Atomic anionizers,” he returned.</p> + +<p>“Which are what? They sound like they are beyond my +level of understanding.”</p> + +<p>“Not at all,” Wagner told me, “Do not be +fooled by the technically complex sounding name. An atom is the +smallest form into which matter can be broken down into while +still retaining its identity, and an anion is a positively +charged ion, or in other words, an instance of an atom in which +there are more electrons than protons, resulting in a charge of +negative electricity. An atomic anionizer is just what its name +would imply: a device that morphs normal atoms into atoms with an +extreme negative charge by emitting massive amounts, to the tune +of many millions of moles, of solitary electrons into the air +through a bombing device.”</p> + +<p>He went on, explaining the consequences of the weapon, +“An atom, and therefore all matter, which is made up of +atoms, is engaged in a constant revolution around the nucleus, in +the same way in which our solar system revolves around our sun, +and our sun around the black hole in the center of the galaxy. +This revolving motion is the basis for the formation of all +matter that we know of, both in its smallest form, like the atom, +or its larger forms, like the galaxy. The electrons emitted from +the atomic anionizer are drawn into an orbit around the nuclei of +the atoms of all the matter near which they are detonated, much +like the way planets catch satellites and space debris into +revolving rings around them. This addition of electrons gives the +atoms such a powerful negative charge that the poles of the atom, +which regulate its rotations in much the same way that the +earth’s axis, or poles, regulate its rotations, are thrown +from their natural equilibrium, causing the poles to reverse. +This, in turn, changes the direction in which the atoms rotate, +and in the brief instant in which the force of the revolving +movement, or gravity, is not strong enough to retain the +atom’s shape, it lapses, bringing the materials they make +up crashing down in disarray.</p> + +<p>“We will plant some of these ‘atomic bombs’ +inside the city of Nunami, and when they go off, the buildings +themselves will implode and tumble to the ground. One hand-sized +capsule can easily level almost ten square miles, and we have +enough of them to bring the Zards to their knees, with plenty to +spare for any circumstance.”</p> + +<p>“Wouldn’t the bombs kill those who set them off, +though?” I asked him anxiously.</p> + +<p>“We have electron deflecting suits that negate the +effects of the anionizers.”</p> + +<p>“I’m glad to hear it.”</p> + +<p>“And well you should be,” he grinned, which, as +out of place as it would seem, looked completely natural on his +countenance, “For you and I shall be among the bombers. Our +meeting must end here, though, my dear Jehu, for we each have +things to attend to in preparation for the attack on Nunami. I +will see you soon, until then, farewell.”</p> + +<p>“Farewell, Wagner,” I replied, and we each stood +and bowed as we prepared to depart, each to our own +occupations.</p> + +<p>With that our council ended, and, in the company of Bernibus, +I was sent to another area of the fortress to be measured for an +anti-electron suit, in order to protect me from the effects of +reverse revolution. We didn’t converse in the beginning of +our walk, for my mind was too busy subconsciously thinking over +what Wagner had said to have any conscious meditations.</p> + +<p>We walked through the fortress towards the northern section, +which held the technological rooms, so as to get an anti-electron +suit in the making for myself. Realizing that the fortress has +been little described, I will do so now. It was broken into six +different sub-divisions, each branching from the only entrance, +which was in the center of them all, the different divisions +connecting to it through long, narrow defiles, or gorges, like +the one at the entrance. This was for security, each area being +independently contained within the whole. The six areas, or +departments, as they were called, were as follows: the Northern +was the technological and industrial research and production +facilities; the Eastern was the residential department, +containing also the civil services, such as medical care and +distribution centers; the Southern was the agricultural and other +food production areas, though there was little besides +agricultural, for the Canitaurs were strict vegetarians; the +Western was for mining minerals and other raw materials to be +used by the other departments. The other two departments were +below the others, being differentiated between by the names Left +and Right, the Left being the governmental offices, and the Right +the military headquarters, providing protections both civil and +foreign (this was, incidentally, the beginning of the expression +of the terms Left and Right to denote ideological preferences, +but I digress). Uniform in all the fortress was the architecture, +it being a strange mix between elegant and gentle arches and +curves and brute practicality, for while the ceilings were high +and open, and the walls wide, they were rendered homely by their +plain surfaces and the absence of small triflings, conditions +that were necessitated because of its identity: an impregnable +fortress containing a highly organized and self-sufficient +governmental society, each citizen having a particular duty for +the common good, and each kept from an unfarcical personal +identity by the means of a statist society.</p> + +<p>From the lower, governmental offices we went up a flight of +stairs that wrapped round and round a tower-like tunnel, and soon +reached the departmental portal. Once there, we took the northern +tunnel, which opened into a large hall that stretched on almost +endlessly, with hordes of tunnels branching off to the various +agencies. There were a great many Canitaurs working busily, +preparing for the attack on Nunami and its possible results, +which, though long prepared for, had a few last moment components +to be finished. Walking down the central through way, we went to +the far end of the hall, which, as it was a walk of at least two +miles, afforded plenty of time for observation and reflecting, +two things that I am naturally given to. Accordingly, I turned to +my companion, Bernibus, and offered in an almost philosophical +way:</p> + +<p>“Your society seems to be flourishing, though I am not +surprised, as you all seem vigorously industrious. I am amazed, +however, that no one shirks from their job, no matter how menial +or trifling.”</p> + +<p>“We all have our assigned jobs, and all know that one +slovenly job may cost us dearly,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I suppose I am prejudiced by my conceptions of personal +liberty, but it is contrary to my conscience that the state +should have more duty than to enforce the individual liberties by +common force.”</p> + +<p>“But we are at war, and we must do as we do, or be +trampled underfoot.”</p> + +<p>“If all states went no further than justice permits, +namely the protection by common force the rights of +individuality, liberty, and property, than there would be no room +for conflict between states, and hence, no war.”</p> + +<p>“Yet it is our ideologies that bring war, besides, do +not the ends justify the means?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Your ideologies may cause conflict, yet it seems that +your behemoth states facilitate it into war. About the ends and +the means, I don’t know: I am no philosopher,” I +answered.</p> + +<p>I sighed and was silent for a moment as we walked along, then, +after a moment or so, I said quietly to myself, “I’m +not much of a kinsman redeemer, either.”</p> + +<p>We continued on through the hall without further conversation, +and I paid little attention to my surroundings, so that while my +eyes saw and my mind displayed, my subconscious was not present +in the effort, and thereby no memory was retained. This may seem +to be the plot of an unimaginative writer to escape the use of +that faculty, but as these are nothing but my written memories, +and I make no claims of producing good fiction, I will leave that +hall primarily to the minds of the reader.</p> + +<p>Soon after, we arrived at our destination, which was very +nearly at the end of the hall, and entered to find that we were +expected and a space open for my fitting, which was soon +accomplished, and my suit promised to be at my quarters the next +morning. That would be just in time for the departure of the +raiding party, which was set to cut out and embark for Nunami a +little after that, in order to be in place in the hidden treetop +posts surrounding the city before nighttime, as the operation was +to begin at midnight. At first I thought that the attack was +pushed forward in haste, but as I came to realize that my coming +had been prophesied and a great amount of time had been spent +preparing for this day, it seemed only natural that they should +want to bring the hostilities to a close after such a long time. +There were other considerations as well. The weather, for one, +had to be dry and not at all windy for the fire to be safely +attempted, and also the possibility of the Zards making the first +offensive could not be ignored, for they had knowledge of my +arrival and may have felt forced to act to prevent the very type +of thing that we were about to attempt.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap07"></a>Chapter 7: Down to Nunami</h3> + +<p>When I awoke the next morning I found Bernibus and Wagner +conversing quietly in the corner of my bed chambers, and as I +first opened my eyes I saw Wagner looking at me with a blank, +glazed expression, while Bernibus’ was one of apprehension, +apparently on my behalf. It seemed odd to me, but as Wagner +became livid again quickly after his split-second lapse and gave +me a hearty “Good morning”, I thought nothing more of +it. After his greeting, he continued:</p> + +<p>“The day is ripe for victory, my friend, and the time is +come for battle. We both have some preparations to complete, and +so must separate, but we will meet again at noon in the entrance +hall. Farewell until then,” and with that he quit the +room.</p> + +<p>I looked at Bernibus, yet before either of us could speak, we +heard a low, hollow grumbling, like the shaking of some building +or foundation. He looked in my direction for a moment with an +alarmed countenance, before I said defensively, “Tis but my +stomach.”</p> + +<p>“Then we must get you some victuals,” he laughed, +“And I have just the thing to satisfy you and keep you so +for a day or more: some mirus. It is our traditional energy food, +for though its taste is bitter, its after-life is +pleasant.”</p> + +<p>“And what is food except a servant to the body?” I +said, “Let us eat.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” he replied.</p> + +<p>And eat we did, for it was brought by a food service Canitaur +on a tray, and I was surprised to see that it was a mixture of +broccoli, spinach, and mushrooms, with a flavorless, glowing +sauce. He was right, incidentally, for it was both bitter before +and pleasant after its consumption.</p> + +<p>“I know of the solids, but what is this sauce?” I +asked of him.</p> + +<p>“Carbon,” he replied.</p> + +<p>I looked at him and questioned, “Pure carbon? I have +never heard of its having this use before.”</p> + +<p>“Your civilization was long ago and had not developed it +yet.”</p> + +<p>“That has perplexed me, now that you mention it,” +I said, “Onan seemed to mean that I was going back in time +to help my ancestors, but you say that I went forward, that I am +one of the ancients.”</p> + +<p>He was wary for a moment, though if it was because of the +apparent conflict, or because I was on a first name basis with +his god I couldn’t tell. He soon recovered his countenance +and said, “It is a complicated question, and I believe you +should ask Wagner the next time you see him, after the raid +though, of course. The time of departure is nigh now, however, so +you should put on your anti-electron suit,” he said as he +picked it up from the corner and brought it to me.</p> + +<p>It was a subtle dark brown and looked more like a normal suit +of clothes than an electron reflecting suit, but then again, I +thought, why would it be a strange looking apparatus? Why would +an advanced technological age necessarily be devoid of any sense +of fashion, although that would be assuming that any civilization +had ever had one. Fashion is more a characterization of a culture +than a basic and unchanging principle, for a desert people would +wear clothes that would be most uncomfortable to a people who +lived in the snow. Clothes may not make the man, but the man +certainly makes the clothes, and you can judge a person by what +they wear so far as it is in their power to decide what that +is.</p> + +<p>After putting on the suit I found that it fit perfectly, and +above that, I found it to be very comfortable, including the head +piece, which formed closely around the skull and was not at all +noticeable or obscuring. In fact, as it was made of a plasma that +allowed everything through except lone particles, it was so +uninhibiting that a moment after I had put mine on I had +completely forgotten about it. The only other part of the suit +that stood out at all was the long, metallic buckle that secured +the belt, it having a bowie knife hidden within it in an +unnoticeable and inconspicuous manner. Bernibus had put on his as +I had put on mine, and as I looked away from the mirror that was +opposite the door, I saw him dressed the same as myself, yet +because the suit so blended with his fur, it was hard to tell +which ended where.</p> + +<p>Finding that we were both ready, we repaired to the entrance +hall. Along the way I asked Bernibus of his wife, Wagner’s +sister, of whom I had heard little and seen nothing. He was quiet +for a pause, and then said:</p> + +<p>“She was an angel, what else can be said?”</p> + +<p>“Was?” I asked hesitantly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she was killed by the Zards on a border raid, as +we were at that time living apart from the Canitaur mass with a +few friends. She was less aggressive than her brother, and, much +to his disapprobation, we lived with a group of separatists, +believing that war, physical conflict, is never the right answer +to ideological conflict. Wagner excommunicated us in his anger, +though his sister was very dear to him, and after she died he was +struck with remorse and made me his deputy Kibitzer. He felt that +it would somehow do her honor, as it would recognize us as having +been married and make me his brother-in-law, which is an +important relationship traditionally, as he has no other +siblings. So here I am, technically second-in-command, but +because of my soft lining, I have no real command.”</p> + +<p>“You would not attack Nunami, then?” I asked.</p> + +<p>He chose his words carefully, saying, “More pain will +not negate the pain already in existence, yet war is not always +avoidable, and sometimes it is even necessary.”</p> + +<p>When we reached the entrance hall, where the raiding party was +to meet, we found that there was already assembled a majority of +the force, including Wagner. The party was only twenty strong, as +the atomic anionizers were to do the main work and the planned +raid required stealth and secrecy, not force or might. Within a +quarter of an hour all the stragglers had arrived and all the +anionizers were accounted for, so Wagner gave a short debriefing +to ensure that all the members were on the same page. We were to +sneak into the city when the populous was distracted by the fire +on Lake Umquam Renatusum, which was to be started at midnight. We +would plant the atomic anionizers at the right spacing so as to +bring down the whole city once we were escaped, using the remote +control provided for that very purpose. The suits would protect +us from the blasts, and, as a precaution, the remote had an +automatic five second delay between being pressed and exploding +the bombs, though it was more for form than practicality. After +he finished we set off, being arranged two abreast per row, there +being ten rows. Bernibus and myself were partners, for we had +become close friends in the few days that I had spent among the +Canitaurs, while Wagner was once again the leading guide and +Taurus the rearguard.</p> + +<p>After crossing the chasm that separated the hall and the +entrance tunnel, we came to the long defile that formed the +latter and passed through it swiftly, the lofty archer guards +remaining as stern and immovable as when I had first come +through. We then came to the winding stairs that occupied the +hollowed innards of a massive and ancient tree, of which kind +many were to be found in Daem, being at least fifty feet thick +and 700 feet high, such gigantic trees that were never seen +elsewhere, yet constituted the whole forests of the northern +lands. I found that the stairs were as long as I had remembered, +taking us a great while to ascend to the top of the tree, and +when we had made it, we, especially myself, were dazzled by the +effulgent light of midday. After having been out of the +sun’s reach for the last few days I was completely +unprepared, though the shock helped me by curing me of the +disillusionment that comes from not seeing sun, moon, or stars +for any length of time. Taking a rest for a few moments on the +seats on the platform, we collected our strength. After our brief +repose was completed, we set off again with renewed vigor across +the treeway on which I had first come to the Canitaur’s +fortress. You will remember that the road was made by the +securing of five or six foot platforms to the intertwined +branches of those great trees, over which one could travel with +ease and be safe from exposure to those below by the thick +foliage that grew on the trees and was carefully manicured for +that very purpose.</p> + +<p>Soon we reached the first platform I had seen, which we had +come upon from below, but we did not descend there, instead +keeping on by the treeway in the direction from which we had come +that night, that being southward, towards the lake, the savanna, +and the Zardovian capital, Nunami. The air was warm, with a +slight breeze as we went along, and that, mixed with the +plentiful flora about us and the songs of the treetop dwellers, +rendered the whole feeling of the walk peaceful and happy, though +its end was not to be such. I soon forgot the worldly concerns +that plagued me as I was soaking in the simplicity of nature, not +a simplicity of form, for all things are incomprehensively +complex, but simplicity of meaning.</p> + +<p>After a time I began noticing changes in our surroundings that +indicated we were drawing nearer to our goal, namely, the trees +lessening in proportions, the terrain becoming flatter, and the +air growing moister and more vibrant. Still, the trees continued +to spring up from the ground like great earthen tentacles, for +while their size diminished, it was not by enough to change their +demeanor, the trees anywhere on Daem being great in size.</p> + +<p>The sun journeyed with us, and by the time we reached Lake +Umquam Renatusum, twilight’s last agony was being performed +in the heavenly theater, and the rippling waters mirrored it, +adding only a strange, flowing texture. The lake’s current +caught my eye with its subtle oddity, for it was amiss and it +appeared upon close inspection that there was an undertow, as if +there was an underground river flowing into the lake and bringing +about its swirling currents.</p> + +<p>Bernibus saw me looking down at the waters from the lofty road +with a puzzled look, and asked me if I was wondering about the +water’s current. I replied that I was, and he told me that +it was the fervidus flamma being pumped into the lake through the +underground aqueducts, which, of course, was for the purpose of +igniting it to decoy for our raid. Once it was explained it made +sense, yet I looked at it anyway, for it was still a gorgeous and +inspiring view.</p> + +<p>We were moving quickly, however, and it soon was out of sight, +and I again turned towards our destination with apprehensions of +failure. They seemed to place great faith in my presence, as the +emissary of Onan, and while I was, I was also Jehu, and I +wasn’t confident with my own abilities. But it was upon +those the situation mostly rested, it being the resolve of the +gods after the Homeric period to take a more removed role in the +lives of men. I wonder how many from my own times were divine +agents, for better or worse. Either way, my main concern then was +making the correct decisions, for I rightly believed that my +involvement would decide the matter, although not in the manner I +had anticipated. As I looked about myself to reconnoiter the +feelings of my comrades I was fruitless, for they all wore +impermeable countenances, though that was itself an indicator of +their resolve.</p> + +<p>Within an hour after the fall of darkness we reached the +outskirts of Nunami, or rather, its edge, for it was walled in +with massive stone walls and battlements, with a sturdy gate of +twenty foot width being placed at the northern, southern, +eastern, and western ends. The trees hung right over the walls, +and as such we were able to take positions from which we could +descend into the city when the time to do so came. Yet we were +still rendered invisible by the thick foliage.</p> + +<p>Night’s zenith blew in slowly on the wind like the +belabored breaths of a dying man, and after a period of worry, it +came: midnight, the appointed hour. No sooner had the moon +reached its utmost height, shrouding the lands in a shadowless +vortex, than a great blaze erupted from the northern lands, and +it rose almost instantly to its estimated height of five miles. +It was a terrible sight to behold, for any flame is a captivating +display of inorganic life, but a pillar of flame several miles +high is more than just an enlarged specimen, for it plays host to +a great horde of phantasmal apparitions that wrestle ferociously +with one another. As the flame shot upwards it cast a great light +down on everything that rivaled the illumination of midday. At +first I feared lest the light should show our silhouettes to the +Zards, as we were between them and it, but it did not, or at +least they took no notice of it if it did, for we were quite +undetected in our hiding place.</p> + +<p>Our worries were far from over though, for now came the +crucial point in our plans: in order for our small force to +infiltrate the city and place the atomic anionizers, the Zards +must not only have been distracted and preoccupied with the +blaze, but they had also to leave the city almost empty and go to +the lake itself, for if a cry was raised, or any substantial +resistance attempted, the complex procedures to detonate the +anionizers properly, so as to level the city but not the +surrounding country, may have been hindered. There were several +factors on our side though, the element of surprise being the +foremost, for in their excitement the Zardovian resistance would +likely mistake us for a regular sized army and flee in fear at +our supposed superiority, especially since the presence of me, +the kinsman redeemer, was known to the Zards. Also, the Zards +were known to be curious and careless and ruled by the desire for +excitement, meaning that if an entertaining undertaking was +possible, they would pursue it, no matter how dangerous or +ill-advised.</p> + +<p>Within a moment after the flame was lit, all of the Zards +outside, which were many, were gazing with silent wonder at it, +and in the second moment, all the rest had joined them in their +confused contemplation. But the third moment witnessed a drastic +change in their behavior, for their initial bewilderment wore off +and suddenly, with a united prelude of the drawing in of a +breath, they all began speaking at once, resulting in a clamorous +din that lasted for a few moments, before things hushed again and +we could hear a few individual voices discussing loudly. Though +we couldn’t make out their exact words, they were +apparently conferring with one another about what action to take. +Our breathing became slow and heavy and our brows were knit +tensely, for we knew that the fate of our mission rested on what +they did then, whether or not the long planned decoy would +work.</p> + +<p>It was an anxious moment, and one with a heavy burden attached +to it. Fortunately, though, as our fate was decided, it was done +so in our favor, for the Zards began exiting the city in a great +multitude of scales that swept along the savanna like a tidal +wave over a sandy coast. They came out fast and strong, and +through each of the four gates, though only the northern was +fully visible to us, the others being too far to be seen +distinctly. Still, we could see them rushing out of Nunami at a +quick pace, not hurried, as if frightened or finicky, nor slow as +in deliberation and meditation, instead it was a steady trot that +they took, allowing them to move safely and swiftly.</p> + +<p>The tide of Zards swept steadily past us, and it was a good +half an hour later that the final ones had left the gates and the +city far behind. Most had taken some type of weapon, a pitchfork +or club or occasionally a sword, for the threat of war was a +constant, but none of them had any idea that their only danger +was behind them. It was not all in the clear though, for a patrol +of guards equipped with long spears and clothed with a tough, +leathery armor were making their way to and fro along the tops of +the walls, where there was a platform of about five feet across +that served as a road to the soldiers in their watches. It was +evident by their countenances, though, that the guards now on +duty were more interested in the fire than in their immediate +vicinity, thinking, no doubt, that the laurels were to be won +there and not at Nunami, and as such, they paid little heed to +the walls, instead walking with their necks craned precariously +to the north.</p> + +<p>We were able to jump unto the wall silently from our concealed +roost on the treeway when the nearest patrol had passed by. From +there we went along the wall a short way until we came to a +battlement, there taking the downward leading steps that brought +us to the ground. Once there we were pleased and hopeful at what +we saw: everything was abandoned, and no Zards were in sight save +those on the walls, whose gaze was cast elsewhere. We set to +work, then, according to our preset plan, which was to break up +into groups of two and cover the city with our atomic anionizers, +so as to spread the destruction as evenly as possible. Wagner and +myself were partners, and we took the central district, near the +government’s center, the palace, and the Temple of Time, +which rose above the city like a great tree amidst a desert. It +was, in fact, the very structure that had so stood out to me +during my journey through the prairie upon my arrival, and once +again its sobering sensation struck me, and I found myself +staring up at its top, a full 800 feet high, the bottom being an +ornate and elaborate temple. The middle, which supplied most of +its height, was a long, round tower, and at top there was a +spherical pinnacle which had what looked to be a room in it.</p> + +<p>Wagner soon called my attention back to our work, and we +busied ourselves with planting a bomb at the base of the palace, +using a smaller type anionizer, which, I noticed, was set just +right so that while all of Nunami would be leveled, the temple +with its great tower would be beyond the impact and left +standing. Just as we had set it correctly, we heard a +high-pitched whistle, which was the preconcerted signal among the +raiders to use if any danger was nigh. We looked up directly and +saw its reason: a squadron of Zards had been garrisoned inside +the palace and had not left like the others, apparently because +its sole purpose was to protect their king, who did not leave the +city, being preoccupied with business and not seeing the flames. +When he did go to the window, he saw the fire, and rushed to see +what was about, but instead of finding out, he ran into us, who +were right outside the palace.</p> + +<p>Wagner dashed wildly through the streets in an impressive show +of dexterity, and did a wall-jump between two lofty buildings to +gain the wall. The others had done likewise, having been trained +by a lifetime of conflict to have nerves of lightning speed and +earthly strength. Their instincts had come in subconsciously when +they had seen the cause of the alarm and they escaped, without +thinking of me in the critical moment. I lacked such strength and +speed of mind and was caught as soon as I had seen the squadron, +aided, probably, by the fact that upon seeing me the king had +become excited and rushed at me with great speed. When Wagner had +first turned around and saw me their prisoner, he looked +crestfallen and hopeless, for he had no way to rescue me. He held +the remote control for the atomic anionizers in his hand and was +about to set them off and make good the plan, but before he +could, our eyes met for an instant, and we connected beyond time +and space, experiencing a strange intra-personal deja vu. All was +silent and still in that instant, and I saw him struggling +inwardly: would he detonate the anionizers and make good his long +awaited plan, or would he retreat and leave the city unharmed, +for though I was wearing the electron reflecting suit, the +collapse of all the high rise buildings would litter the ground +with debris from them, and all on the ground would be crushed. +Would he spare me from death, or his people? In that instant his +face spoke more than many others’ do in their entire +lifetime. It was cut through with a contrasting countenance, and +yet inside of his eyes there was something foreign to them +shining through, something that I had never seen on his fretless +features before: evil intent. I could not tell if it was natural +to them and simply well hidden, or if it was an alien expression, +but it was fearfully expressed, and his eyes seemed to say, even +at that great distance, that he took a third course, that he +would save me, but not for my sake, instead for his +peoples’. And then it passed, for he looked away, replaced +the remote to his belt, and leapt to the ground, where the other +Canitaurs were awaiting him. I saw him no more until the +situation was much changed.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap08"></a>Chapter 8: The Temple of Time</h3> + +<p>I turned slowly away from where Wagner had disappeared over +the side of the wall and faced my captors, the Zards. Chief among +them was the King, he being a foot or two taller than the others, +with a graceful and powerful pose that struck awe into the eyes +of the beholder with its innate command and dignity, both of +which flowed from it as naturally as water from a well. There +were about twenty guards in the squadron that protected the King, +but it was not so much from the terror of them that the Canitaurs +fled, nor was it because of the guards that patrolled the walls +and were sure to join any fray attempted, it was instead an +apparent fear of the King, and rightly so, for his demeanor was +fierce and sophisticated, as if he were not just a warrior nor +solely a scholar, but a mixture of the two that gave him an aura +that inspired fear, some unseen presence that filled the air +around him and sent his neighbors into a reverencing awe +reminiscent of a lover’s sacred euphoria, intangible yet +undeniable.</p> + +<p>As I turned to him, he smiled and greeted me softly and +pleasantly, in such a way that seemed contrary to his nature. +Instead of being terrible and glorious like the crash of thunder +or the din of waves, his voice was melodious, subtly so, like a +soft summer rain affecting the dreams of a slumbering child as it +falls gently on his face. There was a rhythm that ran through it, +like poetry, yet not like average poetry, where the rhythm is +forced and the lines deformed to its ungainly warble, but like +heavenly poetry, where the rhythm is beyond the conscious and +into the subconscious, where it inspires a feeling of quaint +remembrance of itself, as if it were there and not there at the +same time. And while it was soft and pleasant, it was not +feminine, for it was a strong baritone, reinforced by its own +superiority and strengthened by its wit and sobriety.</p> + +<p>“Greetings, o’ chosen one,” he said to me, +“I see that you have arrived safely.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, quite soundly,” I replied, a little taken +aback on two fronts: firstly that he was not angry or indignant +that I had attempted to destroy his kingdom and take his life in +the process, and secondly that he seemed to expect me, as if I +were his midday tea partner.</p> + +<p>“I am glad, for I would wish you no harm, though your +Canitaurian friends obviously felt no such concern. But just as +well, for they always were unpredictable. I’m sorry that +there is no one here at the moment, or we should have a great +welcoming parade for our newly arrived kinsman redeemer, but they +are off at the lake, inspecting the fire I suppose. I must admit +it caught me off guard for a moment or two, and at first I was +actually quite surprised. I soon remembered, though, that our +friends the Canitaurs would have gotten some notions in their +heads of a battle, at your arrival. It must be a grand sight in +any case, and not one to miss.”</p> + +<p>I gave him a strange look, for I was a bit confused myself at +the attitude he donned towards me, very friendly, as was Wagner, +as I recalled, though it seemed as contrary to his nature as it +did to the King’s. He saw the expression of my eyes, and +seemed to read right through my thoughts and see my apprehension +of punishment, for he beckoned to his guards to leave us alone. +They moved quickly and uniformly, a well-trained unit, and +positioned themselves in a line formation along the street. The +King and I then strolled down their midst, they walking along +with us at a distance of a few yards, which was all that the +closely built buildings would permit. In a moment or two we +reached the Temple of Time, which was on the far side of a large +square plaza that opened up between it, the palace, and the +government center. Once we reached it, he led me inside and the +guards took up post around its outside.</p> + +<p>“You need not fear,” he told me when we were +alone, “You are among friends here. You see, the Canitaurs +were not the only ones waiting for a kinsman redeemer, the Zards +were as well. That day that you were seen going into the +Canitaur’s outpost was a big disappointment for us, I had +almost begun to think that you were beyond our reach. I am sure +you know all about the conflict between us, and the circumstances +of your time that brought its beginning about?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do,” I responded as we walked through the +great entry hall of the temple, lined with bookshelves and a rich +red carpeting. He was silent for another moment as we crossed +into another room that led to a chamber with a long table in its +center and a great many statues and works of art scattered +throughout its whole. There was an altar at the far end, built +into a giant statue of a White Eagle that graced the entire wall, +it holding the altar in its giant claws.</p> + +<p>He saw me look at it and told me, “This is the Hall of +Time, and that is the altar to Temis, the God of Time. It is a +very sacred place, to both us and the Canitaurs, for it was built +by Temis himself, before the race of man inhabited the earth. By +the time any men came to live on Daem, it had been buried by the +dirt and debris of thousands of years, but when the Great War +took place, the shock uncovered it and revealed it to men, a sort +of revelation that came only as it was needed the most. +Daem’s war started over the control of it, and to a point +still is. To a certain extent is has helped us greatly, since the +Canitaurs are afraid to lay siege to us in the regular fashion, +for fear that it will be laid to ruin, and then our fate sealed +in flesh and bone as well as earth and stone. But come, there is +something I want to show you,” he told me.</p> + +<p>With that he started over to a door in the wall adjacent to +the entrance, which, as there were only two doors, was the only +other exit. It led to a long, winding stair that went up to the +top of the tower that I had seen from below. We walked up it in +silence, more from awe of its magnificent construction on my part +than fatigue in climbing its steep stairs, which wound on and on +almost indefinitely. There were no windows in the tower, and only +a few paintings to liven up the sparsely decorated walls, yet +they needed no adornments, for they were beautifully constructed +from a strange stone that split and colored in a marvelous +twisting pattern.</p> + +<p>At last we came to the top. It was much like it had appeared +to be from below, for it was a large glass sphere that sat on the +tower, like the dome on top of a light pole. It was divided in +two, and the stairs went right through the bottom half and opened +into a circular foyer that then had a small flight of stairs +running up to the main room. There were little closets and such +in the empty spaces on the bottom floor. The upper room was a +good thirty feet in diameter, and the walls and ceiling were all +made of glass, very sturdy and insulating, yet completely +transparent. On the floor was an odd carpet that was smooth and +thin, like a silk or fine linen, yet very strong. There was a +rounded table on the side of the entrance hole opposite the +stairs, and a curved couch that sat against the wall behind it, +cut perfectly to its circular outline. Two cushioned chairs sat +at the table and a small end table leaned up against the couch, +on top of which there was a medium sized spyglass, that is, a +telescope.</p> + +<p>The sun was just coming up and shining its golden hues on the +surrounding lands, which were beginning to darken as the fires of +Lake Umquam Renatusum died down to a faint glow in the center of +the forests of the near-north. It was the first time that I had +gotten a bird’s eye view of Daem, and I was amazed at its +beauty. The plains stretched on one side of Nunami like a broad +field of gold in the morning light, its dew drizzled grasses +waving in a solemn and dignified manner to and fro like the +constant beating of the earth’s heart, and when looked upon +abstractly it moved as if one great beast of benevolence, holding +itself in unison as it chorused back the silent tones of life. +Its edges draped down to the ocean like a curtain of woven +sunlight on the eastern and southern sides of the island of Daem, +and on the western side of Nunami the great forest came up right +to its edge. There was a little of the forest between the ocean +and the city on that side, while to the north there was a great +stretch of trees, all the way until the ocean again came into +sight in the far, far north. On the ground the trees of Daem +seemed like mighty towers and battlements of nature, and on the +treeway one felt suspended in air hundreds of feet above the +ground on a cloud of green and growing foliage, but from afar and +above they were revealed in their true splendor, shooting up from +the earth as if they were the arms of the ground itself, grasping +huge clusters of leaves and branches far above in their tightened +fists. Some way into the forest, the ground sprang up into +mountains that were as fierce and behemoth as the trees that +clothed them. They were terrible to the eye and mind, as +evidences of the power that exists outside of oneself.</p> + +<p>The city of Nunami was also revealed to me for the first time +in depth. As I have said, it was surrounded by a thick, tall wall +made of stones and precious jewels, with four gates, one at the +furthest extreme in each direction. It was a circular city, made +mostly of the same materials as the wall and temple, which were a +plain, silvery stone; a dark rock with inherent patterns; a +mixture of cobblestone and a colorful compositor rock; and a vast +array of metals, everything from brass to silver to platinum. +Made in an ancient style, the buildings were tall, the average +being what was equivalent to at least a dozen or two stories in +the pre-desolation times, and they were close together, built +along roads paved with cobblestone and lined with trees whose +girth, though not as monstrous as those in the wild, was still +great. There were farm fields and vineyards and orchards and +meadows for grazing animals all within the city walls, and not +just congregated around the outside, for there were buildings all +around the wall’s perimeter, but scattered among the other +buildings in a natural and pleasing way. In the southern part +there was a lake that was of fair size, and a fleet of fishing +boats anchored at its shore showed that it did its part to +contribute to the city’s well-being. Several of the trees +throughout the city were especially conspicuous in their +grandeur, for they rose hundreds of feet from the ground and had +great waterfalls flowing down from their tops, as if they were +crying great torrents of tears down from their aged faces, though +if in sadness or joy, I couldn’t tell.</p> + +<p>To the east there was land visible from the height at which I +found myself, though in the distance it became hazy and I could +not make out its distinct features. It was evidentially +corrupted, however, for it had an uneasy look about it, as did +the ocean, which was a faint, pale shadow of the rich blue it was +in my childhood days. The sky as well was tainted, and it looked +to be filled with the accumulated atrocities of countless +generations. The clouds were thick and bluish, and the spherical +mural of the sky itself had been greatly dried, cracked, and +crumbled since my time, for it bore the marks of pain, the marks +of the labor pains of the earth’s last gestating doom. And +well they should, I thought, for in the years since my natural +life it had seen much suffering and much destruction.</p> + +<p>The King broke the silence, saying, “Lovely, isn’t +it, Jehu? And it is all yours for the taking.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean,” I asked him.</p> + +<p>“Exactly what I said, the whole world is yours, if you +want it.”</p> + +<p>“But how?”</p> + +<p>“All you have to do is join us, the Futurists, and we +will reward you with all the power and glory that you can +imagine.”</p> + +<p>At that I sobered up and replied, “But what of Onan, of +my quest to stop the doom of humanity from materializing in this +final juncture. He is the one who sent me, and he is the Lord of +the Past, whom the Canitaurs follow. I am his agent, why would I +turn from him to serve mere mortals?”</p> + +<p>He laughed a slight, sarcastic laugh, “Tell me, Jehu, to +whom did he send you, your ancestors or your +offspring?”</p> + +<p>“To my ancestors,” I said slowly, “Though +the Canitaurs seemed to imply that my time was long ago. To be +candid, I do not understand.”</p> + +<p>“Of course you do not understand, and how could you, +when no one has told you? You see, Jehu, the question of time is +not so linear as you would think. You know full well that the +conflict between the Zards and Canitaurs is over how to address +the renewing of the earth: they would send you, our kinsman +redeemer, back into time to prevent the nuclear wars, while we +would send you to the future to bring back its completion. They +hold to traditions as if they were the foundation of life, while +our people have no traditions in the traditional sense, if I may +use that oxymoronic phrase, but we look to what will come instead +of what has passed. History is unimportant to the present, Jehu, +because we have advanced to the point that we do not make the +same mistakes as our ancestors. In the past, they waged war +needlessly and did so in the name of humanitarian deeds. But +today, we are advanced enough that we use peaceful and just means +to reach our ends. In your day there were many absurd beliefs, +for example the so-called ‘fats’ that were so +vehemently avoided, are actually quite healthy, while on the +other hand, protectionism and socialism are quite absurd ideas, +and yet they were held dear. But today we have no such +presuppositions, today we understand the world and know justice +where your society knew only its shadows. We do not need to be +bound by the mistakes of yesterday, for we have the enlightenment +of today, and while the Canitaurs cling to the old time’s +ways, we have progressed to the point where we have no need of +such traditions.”</p> + +<p>He continued, “It may seem to you foolish to follow +Zimri instead of Onan, because Onan’s realm has already +been established and grows greater everyday, while Zimri’s +doesn’t exist and never will, but you miss a very important +point in the understanding of these matters. For, as you probably +know, time and matter are the foundations of physical existence, +and while the two components are independent, they are also +parallel. Matter is always revolving, from its simplest form in +the atom to its greatest in the universe, everything is revolving +and rotating. So is time. Imagine time as a galaxy, revolving +continually around the black hole at its center, that is, an +enigma that is actually devoid of all matter. Time is revolving +around a great enigma as well, which is devoid of time, that +enigma being eternity. Eternity is not a place where there is +infinite time, but rather a place where there is simply no time, +it is the counter-part in the temporal realm of a black hole in +the material realm. And just as a galaxy in the material realm +revolves around the black hole at its center, in the temporal +realm, the flow of time itself revolves around eternity. That +means that time repeats itself over and over again, just as on +earth a year is the amount of time it takes the earth to revolve +around the sun once, in the temporal realm, an age is the amount +of time that it takes the time continuum to revolve once around +eternity. Just as every year the climate on the earth is similar, +every particular day having its usual temperature and weather, +and every general period having the same seasons, so is time. +While every age is completely new and original, they all follow +the same pattern, and through every age the same general events +happen, though a few of the small details change from one time to +the next.</p> + +<p>“So you see, it is true that Onan sent you to both the +past and the future of your original time. The Pastites would say +that you were sent forward in time, because you existed in our +past, while the Futurists would say that you were sent backwards +in time because you existed in our future. While this would seem +an unimportant question, it is not, for we have to choose one or +the other. You, the kinsman redeemer have to choose one or the +other. That is why you were sent, you have to decide. Our fate +must be decided by a mortal because the gods have vowed to never +interfere directly in our ways again. You must decide, Jehu, for +you hold the fate of humanity in your hands: in all the other +ages before us, the wrong decision was made, and every time some +great calamity came that somehow threw the earth into a great ice +age that destroyed all life for many millenniums. We know that +the wrong decision was made, but we cannot tell what it was that +was done. Tell me Jehu, will you join the Futurists? Surely you +can see that the Pastites are just that, stuck in the past, with +their obsession with traditions and legends. They are of the +past, but we are of the future, we are the progressive ones. Dear +Jehu, choose the future, and when the earth is spared from the +great impending doom, we will set you up as ruler of the world to +show our gratitude. Will you join us, friend?” he asked me +with the most entreating eyes, though of somewhat doubtful +sincerity.</p> + +<p>There was a deathly silence that followed, for I was thinking +long and hard about what I should do, until at last I spoke, +“Your majesty, I am afraid that I will have to turn you +down and remain with the Pastites. Onan sent me, and it is Onan +whom I shall follow.”</p> + +<p>The King shook his head and sighed dejectedly, for a moment he +looked disheartened and crestfallen, but then he again resumed +his former prideful pose and said to me, less humbly and +entreating than before, “Very well, I was afraid that you +would do that. I have no choice now but to keep you here +indefinitely as a prisoner, until such time as you realize the +error of your ways and repent. It may seem improper to refuse the +decision of the kinsman redeemer, but I must, for I will not +allow my people to be destroyed by your ignorance.”</p> + +<p>With that he turned and walked quickly down the stairs to the +door, turning to me just as he reached it and adding with an +almost spiteful intonation, “But then again, what clarity +of mind can be expected from someone from the unenlightened +past.” He then left the room, closing the door with a +powerful thud, after which I heard a small metallic click and his +strong, commanding footsteps fading down the long stairway. As +soon as the sound had died away and he was no more to be heard, I +ran down to the door and tried to open it, but to no avail, for +it was locked. There was no way to escape: I was a prisoner of +the Zards.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap09"></a>Chapter 9: Mutually Assured Deception</h3> + +<p>The light of the newborn sun rose that instant far enough +above the horizon to shine directly into the tower’s upper +dome-like room, and I was awe struck by the texture that the +lights created on the glass of the walls, for when it shone +through at just the right height, a previously invisible picture +came to view. It was of a towering clipper ship with sails that +stretched across their masts like skin over the bones of a +pleasantly plump fellow, the wind billowing them about at a +leisurely rate. Waves broke gently upon the ship’s side as +the crew rested peacefully on the various cables and nets, all +except for the one-legged captain who was busy looking at the map +and accompanying charts. It was a quaint and beautiful scene, +though it soon passed away as the sun moved upwards in the sky, +and I wouldn’t have mentioned it, except that as it +disappeared, I found myself looking at where it had been, but +instead of the ship, I saw directly through the glass the +inhabitants of Nunami arising and beginning their daily business, +a scene which I might have missed since I was previously wholly +absorbed by the picturesqueness of the sky.</p> + +<p>Usually the Zards would arise before dawn and be about their +business, but because of the great flames of the night before, +they had no doubt had trouble sleeping, and therefore slept later +than usual when they finally did fall into the lands beyond +consciousness. They hustled and bustled about the streets of +Nunami, each doing their own business, and there was much +business to be done in a city in which all provisions are +provided internally, with no trade or commerce outside +whatsoever. There were merchants and stores still, yet they were +not traders but producers, each making their own wares as they +sold ones they had already made. Butchers sat in their shops with +their blood-stained aprons already donned, cobblers and tailors +were busy with the day’s repairs and new creations, the +milkmen paraded the streets slowly and methodically, somehow +getting their products to the citizens before 8 AM. The farmers +and herdsmen were also at work in the fields that were spread +throughout the city, plowing and sowing, and being joined by +those who had just finished distributing the milk.</p> + +<p>All was commonplace and normal, I thought, and I was +surprised, for the Zards were not at all martially minded, a +great contrast to their Canitaurian brethren. Of course, I had +never actually met any of the Canitaurian commoners. It seems to +me that the only ones who really are martially minded are the +leaders and politicians, everyone else seems to mind their own +business, and sometimes I wonder if there would even be any wars +if there weren’t any governments with the power to wage +one. There was a group of Zards by the government center, which +was close to my involuntary quarters, and they were leaning over +an opening in the aqueduct that ran down into the lake in the +southern section of the city, branching off from there into all +the various sectors. They were dumping a barrel of a fine, white +powder into the water that was running down into the lake, and +after the first had been poured in, they added another and +another until they had put a good five barrels into the water +source. Once they had finished, they took the empty barrels to a +large cage that was down the road a bit, inside of a small grove +of trees and shrubs. Inside the cage was a multitude of little +beetles that crawled around every which way and were evidentially +feasting on a large chunk of glowing material. For a moment I was +surprised, and wondered what it was they were doing, but then it +hit me: they were the delcator beetles that Bernibus had told me +of earlier, the ones that absorbed the radioactive material and +stabilized it. As I learned later, they had two good uses, one +was that they consumed the unstable materials and neutralized +them, but the other was that their droppings, when mixed into the +water supply, also gave all that consumed them a greater +tolerance for nuclear material. It was almost ironic that their +whole way of life was dependent on the feces of another life +form, but I will refrain from turning it into a metaphor.</p> + +<p>The female Zards wore a black headpiece that mostly covered +their faces, and at first I found it strange that for all his +talk of progress, the King’s people still oppressed their +women, perhaps there wasn’t as much progress as he had +boasted, or, more likely, he was unaware that there was no such +thing as progress, just different manifestations of oppression. +History repeats itself, they say, and indeed it does, both +literally and figuratively.</p> + +<p>There suddenly arose a great commotion in the square between +the Temple and the palace, and as I looked, I was surprised to +see that there was a large crowd gathered. In the middle of the +square there were two groups of ten Zards facing each other, with +a single Zard in between them, and around the outside of the +plaza area stood a hundred or so spectators, apparently watching +those in the middle. A moment after I started watching, the +solitary Zard, the referee as I found out, walked to the edge, +and each of the groups walked to one of the opposing sides and +then turned about to face the other. The referee let out a loud +yell and in a flash, the two teams ran at each other headlong, +until converging somewhere in the center of the field. As they +met they dived upon one another and pushed and shoved until the +left team had isolated one of the right’s players, who was +the only one on his team wearing an orange jersey. They dived on +him and jumped until the whole field was piled high with them, +and then they slowly began to disembark. Once all of the opposing +team’s players were off of the orange shirted Zard, all was +silent and still as the referee held his hand aloft and began +counting with his fingers. Everyone held their breathe and stood +tensely by as they watched. Just before the referee’s tenth +and final finger was counted, the orange shirted player rose from +the ground, amidst the screams of joy from his team and about +half of the crowd, apparently their fans. The two teams then +returned to their respective sides, and again the referee yelled +loudly, signaling them to rush at each other once more, and more +of the same ensued, this time it being the other team’s +orange shirted player to get pounced on. Once again there was a +high pile on top of him, and once again, as they crawled off and +he was exposed, the referee began to count. Except that this time +the orange shirted one never got up. The other team cheered again +and so did the other half of the crowd. The referee went to a +pole on the sidelines and put up the number ‘1’ on it +while a few bystanders picked the Zard up and carried him off the +field. They continued to play in this fashion for awhile, going +until one team or the other had no longer any players to be +jumped upon, but I was too disgusted at their violent nature to +watch, and instead walked over to the end table and picked up the +telescope, taking back as I did my thoughts about the innocence +and gentleness of the common folk.</p> + +<p>With the telescope in hand I went over to the eastern side of +the room and began to closely inspect the savanna in an attempt +to get a bird’s eye view of the point of my entrance in +Daem. It looked rather the same from above as it did from below, +though the smells and sounds were missing, and I found that it +was rather bland once the initial excitement, surprise, and +respect of its novelty had worn off. Indeed, it was quite too +dull for me, even in my state of boredom as a prisoner, though I +suppose that that isn’t a proper description of my +feelings, for I wasn’t free from excitement or intriguing +events, but rather, I was in the middle of a campaign of new and +anticipated things, but simply unable to participate. Stuck in a +room 800 feet from the ground with walls of glass that allowed +observation of the whole island of Daem, which I assumed to be +the only civilization in the world, while great events unfolded +around me, of which I was supposed to be the primary actor, was +very disconcerting, though I find in retrospect that fate worked +so mysteriously in my situation that it is quite puzzling to +think about, meaning, of course, my relationship with the doom of +humanity as preventer and provoker, as savior and condemner.</p> + +<p>My writing of this manuscript may be considered quite a big +cheat, as it details my direct involvement with Onan, the Lord of +the Past, and the general circumstances of the end of life on +earth, for the current age at least, but still I am allowed to +write it. Onan told me just a few moments ago that I could write +it and tell all that I want, to which I was taken aback. When I +asked why he would allow me to break the law of the council of +the gods, he replied that there was no rule against a human agent +from detailing his involvement in the actions of the divines. It +was allowed, he told me, because it would never make a mite of a +difference, for even if it were able to survive the bitter ice +ages and all the evolutionary periods in this TAB (Temporal +Anomaly Box, which I will explain later, since I get ahead of +myself and have not told of them yet), and even if it is found by +humans, and even if they are capable of understanding the text +contained within it, even then they will take no gain from it. I +was again taken aback when he said this, for though I know humans +to be stubborn and foolish, in general, I would think that they +would at least mind the warning when the conditions of its +completion came to pass. But he dissuaded me, telling me that my +coevals of the next age would no doubt take it as a novel.</p> + +<p>At this I took your defense quite personally upon myself, and +demanded in as not so humble a tone as would be thought proper, +though as I am about to die within the next day or two, I have to +admit that I don’t give much of a damn for politics or +manners. And yet, with all my ardor I was quickly subdued by a +curt rebuke by my interlocutors (for Zimri was there as well), +which was, quite simply, that you hadn’t taken Homer for +any more than a creative poet, even after a few thousand years of +study, so why should my meager manuscript make such a large +impact. At that, I acquiesced to them and admitted that on that +end my attempt to save humanity one way or another was +contemptible, but I still write, as you see, for the +story’s sake, and possibly for my own material immortality. +But never mind that, for it is high time that I went back to my +story.</p> + +<p>I was looking through the spyglass at the various areas of +Daem where my adventures had so far taken me. After I had +examined them all for a few moments, I felt a strange urge to use +the telescope to look closely at the mainland that I had seen +before, to see what the effects of the Great War had been there. +As I turned the telescope’s sights toward it, I was at once +surprised and flabbergasted at what caught my eye. There were +living beings on the mainland, not too far from the coast. And +not only that, but they were standing upright, though stooped, as +if by weariness and the wiles of life, and they seemed, in +general, to resemble humans, not directly, but as much as the +Zards and Canitaurs did, and with the effects of the radioactive +instability greater on the mainlands, it would seem natural that +they would be further removed from normality than those on Daem. +The land itself was barren and flat, with sparse vegetation in +the forms of small, deformed shrubs and a short, weak looking +grass. As I looked closer I saw that there were about six of the +strange, stooped humanoids, and they were gathering the fruits of +some of the shrubs for consumption. In a few moments they +finished their task and began to walk further inland, and I +followed their progress with interest until they finally +disappeared behind some of the small plateaus that were scattered +here and there among the wastelands.</p> + +<p>Putting the telescope down, I walked over to the couch and +laid down on it, with indignation filling my every move, for I +was almost enraged that the Zards and Canitaurs both should fail +to tell me, whom they claimed to respect as kinsman redeemer and +whose decisions would seal their fate for good or ill, that there +were other survivors from the Great Wars. I was also shocked by +their selfishness, for while they fought pettily amongst +themselves over how they would change their lands for the better, +a seemingly important question about past and future, they +completely ignored the sufferings of other humanoids, to whom +their way of living no doubt seemed like a paradise. But there +they were, stuck across the sea on their desolate lands, unable +to cross to Daem and enjoy its plentiful resources and luxuries, +yet not at all unaware of them, for as they labored in their +hopeless ways, they could see Daem shining like a heavenly vision +before them, one which they were not able to touch or grasp, but +instead one that must infuriate them to no end in their heart, at +the knowledge of fate’s unfairness and their utter +hopelessness and complete poverty, not because of their laziness +or their ignorance or anything involving their actions +whatsoever, but simply because they had been born on the wrong +side of the sea.</p> + +<p>At that moment I was embittered against both the Zards and the +Canitaurs for their selfishness and their pretensions of +morality. There is no morality where one sees another starving +and suffering and does not help, when one sees a whole race of +people living on a land where nothing but sorrows dwell, but will +not let them share the wealth that was given one by no doing of +oneself. There is no morality in selfishness, and when I saw +those wretched people, I no longer felt like redeeming those on +Daem from the impending doom of humanity. Whatever plans they had +for me they never told, I sensed, for there was something deeply +wrong about the way they looked at me and talked about me, +something deeply wrong about the way they patronized me and +treated me like a silly child, while I was the one who was to +decide their fate. The Canitaurs and the Zards both looked at me +with a subtle sense of deceit and ill will, all that is, except +Bernibus, which is why our friendship flourished so swiftly. As I +laid there with thoughts of Onan and the decision that I was to +make, and of all the responsibility that was put upon me +involuntarily, as I thought of the conflict of past and future at +the neglect of the present, as I thought about the self-obsession +and overindulgence that come with wealth, and the desire for +still more that accompanies it, I fell to sleep and into a place +where no troubles lay, for my long day and night had left in me +no energy for dreams.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap10"></a>Chapter 10: Devolution</h3> + +<p>When I awoke the sun was once more out in its morning glory, +at the height it assumes at about the 9 o’clock hour, and +the room was warm and cozy because of it, as it shone in through +the glass walls. My first sensation upon waking was one of peace +and bliss, the feeling experienced when you wake up late to a +nice warm resting place, especially so when all the rest of the +world is hard at work and you are not. I breathed in the air +deeply and contentedly while stretching my arms, legs, and back +in a most relieving fashion, and then turned towards the table in +the center of the room, from whence I smelled an extremely +appealing smell, that of a hearty breakfast.</p> + +<p>As I did so, however, my joy was sent to a bitter, premature +death, for there sitting at the table and smiling sardonically at +me was the King, arrayed in all his pomp and splendor with his +powerful pose, which, while it had impressed, and even to a point +overwhelmed me, before, did no such thing to me now, for I was +fresh with indignation at the exclusion of the humanoids across +the sea from the paradise of Daem.</p> + +<p>He saluted me in a polite manner, and I him, though there was +little affection behind it. Then, without any more ceremony, I +sat down and began to eat, repulsing any attempt of his to start +a conversation with persistent vigor, until I had finished, when +I stood and demanded where exactly I was to make my toiletry. He +laughed and said that he was wondering how long I would last, but +as I was still too unpleasant to respond with any familiarity, he +showed me to a little room that was tucked off of the side of the +bell that formed the entrance to the domed chambers of the upper +tower. The top of the tower itself was a half complete sphere, +while the room only occupied the upper half, so that the bottom +was divided between the entry way and the toiletry room. I spent +a few moments grooming and washing myself and preparing for the +day, and then rejoined him in the room. He was still sitting on +his chair and I took the other. The meal had been carried +away.</p> + +<p>He began the conversation by saying, “My dear Jehu, I +must apologize for keeping you in this position, but you must +understand that the outcome of this war is very serious, and I +will not risk it to your sensationalism.”</p> + +<p>“Sensationalism!” returned I, “Is that how +you would describe a touch of humanity?”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” he questioned, apparently +interested in what I said.</p> + +<p>“Well,” I began, regaining myself, my former +indignation being exhausted by the spirit of my opening comments, +and my normal sober reasoning returning, “I have been +observing your society, which you suppose to be enlightened, but +I have seen some things, which, I am afraid, are evidences of the +opposite.”</p> + +<p>“Go on,”</p> + +<p>“For one, your common folk engage in the most violent +entertainment. I saw a vicious game being played not far from +here, in the plaza below. There were two sides, and they rushed +at each other in a rage and clashed when they met until one side +tackled the other. This went on for some time, the evident point +of the sport being to gain points by making it so that one of the +opposing players cannot get up at the end of a round. It was so +brutal that I was disgusted and could watch no more.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I see what you mean,” the King replied, +“I myself would much rather that such games would be +forsaken, but the people really enjoy it. I must remind you, as +well, that your society had the same type of thing, as did every +other before it. It was football for you, gladiators for the +Romans, and so forth.”</p> + +<p>“But I thought that you had no traditions? That you were +more enlightened than those of the past? You can hardly excuse +your misconduct by reminding one of the misconduct of another, +especially when you claim to disclaim the errors of history, or +at least, that altered and redefined thing that you call +history.”</p> + +<p>“You are right, I have to admit,” he conceded, +“But let me remind you that it is a static characteristic +of humanity to confuse the ends with the means. When an intense +effort is applied, the melodramatic tendency is to honor that +effort, despite its uselessness, instead of honoring the product +of the effort rather than the effort itself. But, you are right, +I admit, for we have still a few places left to refine in the +common folk.”</p> + +<p>Feeling vainglorious at my victory, I pursued him further, +“I also observed that your womenfolk wear face coverings in +public, which is most certainly a thing of the past.”</p> + +<p>“I must disagree with you there Jehu,” he said, +evidentially regaining his confidence and sense of moral footing, +“For even in your own time the womenfolk all wore masks and +face coverings.”</p> + +<p>I was taken aback and cried, “Most certainly they did +not, your history books may say so, but I, dear sir, was alive +and would know best!”</p> + +<p>“What, then,” he coolly replied, with a sharp grin +that reeked of self-confidence, “Would you call all the +messes of make-up and perfume and other such things which they +were virtually forced to wear? I see nothing different between +wearing face coverings and transplanting an entirely new face, +hair, and body on oneself everyday. In fact, our women got +together and decided voluntarily to do so, for the very reason +that if an artificial covering must be put on, it might as well +be one that is easy, for why spend an hour or more a day to +change one’s appearance, when it can be done in moments +with a head covering? That is a great time saver for us. And why +spend the resources to research, produce, and market massive +amounts of facial paint to cover up the face when it is possible +to put a covering on and get the same effect much, much easier? +It is only logical.</p> + +<p>“And in general, Jehu,” he pursued, warming to the +subject matter, “I find the oppression of women in your +time to be quite appalling. You seemed to think that the +liberation of women consisted in transforming them into loveless, +materialistic thugs, into workaholics whose only desire is +wealth, into aggression driven beings that possessed little shred +of real humanity, into, in a word, men. I think it would have +been a much better endeavor to have attempted to change men into +women.”</p> + +<p>I was taken aback by his eloquent defense of the treatment of +women in his society, and felt, I must admit, a little impressed +by his arguments, seeing as how it did make more sense to wear a +head covering than to paint on a face every morning. Still, I +desired to let him see that traditions aren’t all that bad, +just as they aren’t all that good, and, as I had still won +one point out of two so far, I felt it safe to move on to my main +argument against his humanistic preponderance.</p> + +<p>“You are right there, I admit, but tell me, your +majesty,” I said with a slow, scoffing voice, meant to show +that I had a powerful point to make, and as if I had to go slow +enough for him to comprehend the eloquence of my speech, +“Why, if you are so enlightened and progressive, so +humanitarian and merciful, why do you keep a whole race of +people, of human beings, stranded on the far shore, able to see +the goodness of Daem’s plush lands, but unable to visit +them? How can you justify the keeping of people in such +conditions when it is in your power to relieve them?”</p> + +<p>He sobered up more than he already was and answered in his +most dignified voice, one calculated to stop opposition by its +very graces, “Their plight is unfortunate, but as they are +not my subjects, it is none of my concern.”</p> + +<p>“So you knew of them, but did not care. How typical of +powerful men. What are they called?”</p> + +<p>“Munams,” he answered, “Is what we call +them, though people of your time had a different name for them, +Neanderthal, if I am correct.”</p> + +<p>My intrigue superseded my conviction and I asked interestedly, +“But, how is that possible? The Neanderthals were the +ancestors of men in my time, and the men of my time were the +ancestors of the men of this time, how could they be living +now?”</p> + +<p>“Very simply, for your scientists and philosophers did +not understand the revolution of time, and what they thought was +evolution was in fact devolution. You see, when they found all +the fossils and other such evidence for evolution, they +interpreted it to mean that they had evolved from lesser +organisms. Since they didn’t know that time repeats itself +over and over again, ages of time being like the years of the +earth, it was actually the remains of the age before them that +they thought were the remains of their ancestors. In truth, +instead of a great comet hitting the earth and destroying the +dinosaurs and many other living beings, it was the Great Wars, +the nuclear wars, that caused all the damage. And since their +perception of the events was backward, instead of the blasts +destroying the dinosaurs and the wholly mammoths, it was what +actually created them, for, you see, after the nuclear weapons +had all been used, everything in the world died, or came very +close to it, all that is, except Daem, which thrived, because of +the delcator beetles.</p> + +<p>“There were no ‘dinosaurs’, only Zards, for +when the radiation levels were still high and unstable, we grew +to enormous sizes, and likewise there were no wholly mammoths, +but Canitaurs. And the Neanderthals that appeared shortly after +were not the precursors to humans at all, but the Munams, who +survived on the mainland near Daem because of the corrected +atmosphere, but who were mutilated more than we by the increased +corruption across the sea. The Ice Ages, also, were not as you +thought, but instead mark the position in the last age after the +doom of humanity was played out and everything destroyed. The Big +Bang, also, was not at the beginning, but at the very end, being +somehow related to the onset of the Ice Ages. Your evolutionary +theories were close, but the time tables were rearranged to fit +the facts, since time was thought to be linear.</p> + +<p>“That is where our main trouble lies, Jehu, for through +geological and biological evidences, even more advanced than +those collected during your times, we can tell that something +happens at this very period of history that will wipe all life +from the face of the earth for a long period of time, many +thousands of years, until somehow they start to reproduce and +grow once more into what they are now. Something very powerful +happens, even more devastating than the nuclear wars, when all +the nations of the world used their entire stock of weapons. Our +problem is how to prevent it, and a great problem it presents, +indeed. You see, while we would wish to be confident of success, +since we know generally what to expect, we know through research +that there have been many, many ages before us in which the same +thing has happened. That is why the geological layers have always +been found to be strangely misaligned, with fossils from an +earlier period here and with a later period there. That is why +things like tree fossils are found in coal mines, where they +shouldn’t be, and why in general, the evidence found in the +ground doesn’t fit a consistent pattern.”</p> + +<p>As he finished, I could say nothing, for his revelation was +sobering to me, bringing me suddenly back to the realization that +our doom was impending, that every decision I made had the +potential to either bring us to safety, or to supply the +necessary force to hurl us viscously off the cliff of mortality. +He was silent as well and allowed me a few moments of meditation +to turn his speech in my mind. As is my tendency, I looked +abstractly out the window as I thought, fixing my subconscious +focus on the road that ran from the northern gate down through +the city, the road which formed half of the plaza beneath the +temple. A moment or two passed like a solemn parade of mourning, +then, suddenly, or at least quite unexpected by myself, a party +of Canitaurs came walking down the northern road, unharassed and +unescorted through the heart of the city. Since they came freely, +I knew that they were not prisoners, but still I was perplexed at +how a party of them came to be allowed in Nunami at all under +such pretexts, especially as they had attempted to bring it to +ruin but a few days before.</p> + +<p>The King saw their coming and my interest in them, and said in +a way of explanation, “There is to be a council today +between the Zards and Canitaurs, with you present, of course. Our +war has rampaged for quite some time, but we are forced to peace +in light of our impending doom, brought by circumstances outside +of ourselves. We will decide tonight, or tomorrow, what action to +take. It is a grim time, you can be sure, my dear Jehu, when +Zards and Canitaurs meet in peace, a grim time indeed.”</p> + +<p>He said that very importantly, with an air of fright in his +voice, as one who knows his end is near, for both him and his +loved ones. There was another moment of silence as he reflected +on the meaning of his words, and then he rose and beckoned me to +follow him. We made our way through the bottom half of the room +and down the long flight of stairs that wound down the great +tower in the Temple of Time. When we reached the bottom, we went +again into the long room with the bookshelves, the table, and the +altar to Temis. Already there waiting for us were the Canitaur +emissaries, Wagner and Bernibus.</p> + +<p>They rose to greet me, bowing low in a deferential manner, +more out of forced respect than awe, at least on Wagner’s +part, and after the customary blessing that followed, we all sat +down at the long wooden table that stretched lengthwise through +the room. Wagner and Bernibus took their chairs on one side and +the King and myself on the other, he and Wagner being opposite +each other, and Bernibus and me being the same; the King and I +were facing the altar and the White Eagle that held it.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence as we took our seats, and it +continued for another moment as everyone sat in an awkward +situation. As there was no one else in the room besides the four +of us, and as Wagner seemed disinclined to begin, the King opened +up our conference with the following statement:</p> + +<p>“Well, dear sirs, what can I say, except that I am glad +that you have finally condescended to seek a mutual agreement on +the actions which are about to ensue, and that I hope that our +conference will be productive and informative. Before we begin, I +will outline the rules of the debate and of the conference, which +were agreed upon before the military action of the recent +past,” here he looked at Wagner with the look of a judge +who supposes himself morally superior to the criminal in his +holding, “And by which we will still govern the council, +despite the sudden change in circumstances. The rules are as +follows: The decision shall be made by the votes of the three +parties involved, namely the Zards, the Canitaurs, and Jehu, the +kinsman redeemer. A majority of two votes is required to decide +which of the paths will be taken: the Futurist or the Pastite. As +is clearly obvious, my dear Jehu, I shall vote Futurist, and +Wagner shall vote Pastite, and it is up to you to cast the +decisive vote. You are the kinsman redeemer, and for all intents +and purposes, you will be the sole decider of the fate of +humanity. It is a great responsibility, but one that you were +chosen for by the child of Temis, the God of Time. Wagner and +myself will each make our cases, though you know them by now, and +then you will have all night to decide and you will tell us your +decision in the morning,” thus concluded the King’s +opening address.</p> + +<p>Before anyone else could follow it up, I interjected, +“But I was sent by Onan to do his work on earth, +wouldn’t it only make sense for me to choose the way of +Onan?”</p> + +<p>The King answered me, saying, “You were sent by Temis, +the God of Time, Jehu, for Onan and Zimri are his children who do +his work for him, but they only have the powers that he gave +them. Onan is the only one able to speak to mortals, for he is in +the past, while Zimri is in the future, but Onan also speaks for +Zimri, because he is told what to say by Temis, whose agents they +both are as much as you are Onan’s. Isn’t that so, +Wagner?”</p> + +<p>Wagner sighed in the affirmative, and when he had done so, I +asked him pointedly, “Why didn’t you tell me? You led +me to believe that Onan was the one who sent me, and by his own +power.”</p> + +<p>Here the King put in, “He merely wanted to prejudice you +to his own side, Jehu. He attempted to by-pass our peace treaty +of long ago when he tried to attack us and capture this very +temple for his own plans. We agreed twenty-five years ago to do +it this way, because enough blood had been shed, and no good had +come from it. He violated it when he took you into hiding, using +our pursuit after his treachery as justification. But come, in +the face of impending doom we cannot squabble over past wrongs, +but must move to prevent future disaster from +striking.”</p> + +<p>“What is so important about this Temple of Time, +though?” I asked.</p> + +<p>Wagner and the King mumbled together that “It was an +essential part of the restoration of Daem”, but would not +elaborate, saying that it was unimportant to the present +troubles. They looked guilty as they said it, though of what I +did not know. I was reminded of my indignation at their ignoring +of the sufferings of the Munams and became once more impatient +with their self-importance, so I yielded the floor and they began +to make their cases. In order to decide who went first, they drew +lots, and as the shorter was drawn by Wagner, he went first. His +speech is as follows:</p> + +<p>“The past is constant, Jehu. It has happened and is +secure in its place, explored and known. The traditions and +customs of our people are steadfast and immovable, for they have +survived the ages like a mountain that is untouched by the +weather. They have lasted so long not because of the mere +namesake of tradition, but because they work, because they have +worked thousands of times before, and because we know they will +work a thousand times in the future. What was good enough for the +generations before us is good enough for us and our children. A +tradition, or taboo, is not formed by the decision of some +contemporary council as a means to control others via social +restrictions, for if it was it would never have lasted, instead +it is formed because of experience, because when something goes +beyond it the result is temporary pleasure, the nectar of the +fruits of rebellion, but when the rebellious desires have faded, +what is left is rotten and decayed.</p> + +<p>“It brings only more desires for rebellion and more +thirst for the forsaking of traditions, and it will not be +satisfied. Then another taboo will be broken, but this also will +not quench the desires of the rebellious, who do what they do not +for any independent purpose, but only from a desire to break +traditions and taboos and to be different than their forebears. +But there is no satisfaction in rebellion, only in obedience. +Obedience not to some alien divinity, not to some social +supremest, not to the blind devotion of parental mandates, but +obedience to common sense, to practicality, to morality. For a +taboo is not formed by any one person, instead it is slowly built +up upon the experiences of many, experiences which show that when +one thing is done, suffering is what follows, and when another +thing is done, happiness is what follows. Of course there are a +few, isolated taboos that are based instead on human prejudices, +but that doesn’t translate into the abandonment of all the +experience of precedents. What comes when there are no longer any +taboos and traditions to break? Destruction. For as is seen time +and again, the rebellion of societies gains momentum, and while +their consequences are slow in gathering, in the end they +multiply and force those societies over the edge of power, +bringing only suffering and ruin.</p> + +<p>“And not only are the experiences of the past wielded +together into that euphoria that eludes the rebellious - wisdom - +but its constant state controls the present and the future. What +men have seen in the past leads them in their future actions, and +as a result, it is not the future that controls the present and +defines the past, but it is the past which controls the present +and defines the future. What sense is there in abandoning the +mountain of wisdom that the past has built up and leaping blindly +into hazy, unknown actions and institutions? The past is steady, +Jehu, and it is known; it is the only sensible way.” Thus +spoke Wagner.</p> + +<p>It was then the King’s turn, and he said as follows:</p> + +<p>“The past is the past, not the present nor the future, +its time has been spent, its part in the theater of life is over, +it is extinct. Jehu, Wagner speaks of us as rebelliously breaking +taboos that were formed by our forefathers, but that is not true. +In the present more is known than was known in the past, they had +outdated views and opinions, and their ideologies were vulgar and +unsophisticated. At present we are more knowledgeable, more +refined than what has gone before. The people of the past waged +unjust wars. They had superstition and prejudices that clouded +their visions of morality, and the product of that is a large +amount of taboos and precedents and traditions that are immoral +or meaningless. Now is the age of enlightenment, now and never +before is the future at hand, mixing with the present as we learn +more and more about our world. We are progressive, learning and +growing in philosophy and lifestyle.</p> + +<p>“If those of the past were so upright and wise, than why +are they not still among the living? If they were so powerful, +then why are they now extinct? The past is gone, but the future +is yet to come, it still holds tangible pleasures, not memories, +it has promise and potential, while the past is only the ruins of +the same. When the past is looked back upon, it is small and +immaterial, it is like time crumpled up into a wad of memories, +and a time yesterday or a thousand years ago looks the same, for +it is past, it is no more. Life is not short, but in retrospect +it seems to be, and its memories are distant, as they float like +fish in the oceans of time, lacking both definition and scale, +and hanging lifelessly around in random arrays. Every moment is +of the same length, but a moment in the past is nothing, its +thoughts and emotions are nothing, they are gone and useless to +the present, while a moment in the future is long and touchable. +A thought that is past is as nothing, and it is forgotten, for +the past and the future are like a one-way mirror, you can look +forward into the future, but looking into the past you can see +only the present reflected back at you. What good are the joys or +sorrows of yesterday? They are as far removed as those of a +thousand years ago, but it is the joys and sorrows of tomorrow +that loom the largest. Why look into the past for completion, +when it is found only in the future?” Thus spoke the +King.</p> + +<p>Once both of them had finished there was a short pause, each +reflective and absorbed with his own thoughts. At last the King +broke through the still waters of the moment and sent his +rippling voice across its formless surface, which revived at once +and was joined by many others, until the outward expression of +consciousness sent the waters of the mind again into their +complex and interwoven dances. He spoke in the department of host +and concluded the short session with these words, “Now the +cases are stated, though but briefly, for they were already +well-known. As planned prior to the infractions of the treaty, we +will adjourn for the night, and in the morning Jehu will deliver +his verdict, whether we undo our problem through the future, or +through the past.”</p> + +<p>We all rose and Bernibus, my only friend on the island, came +up to me and warmly embraced me, while Wagner and the King +conversed formally a few yards away. When they were not looking +and our backs were turned to them, Bernibus slipped me a piece of +paper that was rolled up into a tight scroll. Seeing his caution +and secrecy, I quickly stashed it in the inside of my shirt, +where it could not be seen. I was alarmed at the momentary +expression of his face, which showed that he was greatly worried +about me, and made me very interested in what the paper would +contain. His face quickly returned to its original countenance, +an impermeable barrier to his insides, and no one except myself +had any inclination about what had happened. The other two turned +towards us, and quickly made their farewells, Wagner and Bernibus +departing for their quarters, and the King to escort me back to +my prison.</p> + +<p>He took my arm in his genially, though only superficially so, +for he still had a subdued sense of distrust about him, and we +went through the door to the long, circling stairway from whence +we had come. As we ascended we engaged in small talk, the usual +meaningless pleasantry, which I assume you have probably had +enough of in your experiences to allow me to dispense with +relating it, for it was of no weight in any of the circumstances +that I found myself in, and I especially was not interested in +it, as the paper given to me by Bernibus claimed my whole +attention, and filled me with an anticipation and mystery of what +it might contain. I kept up the small talk with the King merely +to allay any suspicions he might have had, though he had none. +After a seeming eternity we reached the top, and once there I +stepped into my chambers, as the King jestingly called them. We +bade each other goodnight, which was followed by the metallic +click of the door locking, and the sound his footsteps as he +descended and made his way to his palace.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap11"></a>Chapter 11: The Land Across the Sea</h3> + +<p>I waited reluctantly with my ear against the door until his +footsteps could no longer be heard, and then waited for fifteen +minutes more, listening carefully for any noises. There were +none, and once I had convinced myself that I was completely +alone, I dashed swiftly up the stairs and jumped onto the couch. +My sudden movements caused the top-heavy tower to sway slightly +for a few moments, giving me quite the scare, for I didn’t +realize what it was at first. But then my pilot’s instinct +kicked in and I mentally calculated the height and width of the +tower and the mass of the dome that rested upon it, and came to +the conclusion that it was stable, for while a swift movement +caused it to sway, it would take a prolonged and deliberate +pendulum-like motion to cause any real damage, and even the +fiercest wind would not upset it, for it would only blow in a +single direction at a time, and only a rocking motion must be +feared.</p> + +<p>Confident once more of my safety, I took the rolled piece of +paper from the folds of my clothing and opened it carefully. +Inside was a note from Bernibus, written in a legible cursive +that flowed from an obviously educated hand. It read as +follows:</p> + +<p>“My Dear Jehu, it is I, Bernibus, your friend and +comrade, who writes to you. Wagner and myself are soon to set off +for Nunami for a council with the Zards about the resolution of +our conflict. It was decided in a cease fire treaty twenty-some +years ago that whomever first came upon the kinsman redeemer was +to have a council with the other side and the ancient one to +decide which course to take, since either course needs the +support of both the Zards and the Canitaurs to succeed. When you +first came among us, Wagner seemed to break the terms of the +treaty and keep you with us in an attempt carry out our plans +independently of the Zards, using an attack plan that had been +held in readiness since the treaty, to ensure a defense if things +went wrong. When the Zards attempted to capture us upon your +arrival, Wagner declared the treaty violated, and I assumed that +it was to be entirely abandoned. I was under this impression when +I befriended you, and once our friendship had strengthened, I had +no fears for you, thinking as I did that new methods were to be +tried.</p> + +<p>“After the attack on Nunami failed and the council was +once again to be held, each having violated it equally, my fears +were suddenly aroused on your behalf. It was only then that I saw +that it was the intention of Wagner not only to destroy Nunami +and the Zards, but to capture the Temple of Time, which was the +only part of the city to be left intact. When I confronted my +brother-in-law about this, he only laughed at me scornfully and +told me that I was soft, that I was a fool to put one man’s +life ahead of the salvation of the whole earth. I was filled with +wrath at him and still am, but I have decided that it was better +to feign compliance and let you know by letter what it was that +is being planned for you. I am only sorry that it should come to +you at so late an hour, when I could have warned and helped you +before if I had only known. There is not much that you can do +now, but still I must warn you, for whatever it is worth, if only +to prove my affections.</p> + +<p>“You see, my dear Jehu, the Pastites and Futurists +interpret the prophecy to mean that the kinsman redeemer has come +to renew the earth, as you have no doubt heard, although there is +strong evidences to the contrary. I myself have been brought up +to this interpretation, as it is more acceptable than the +alternate theories that exist, though I have been for a time now +doubting its accuracy. According to the Externus Miraculum view, +the Temple of Time is crucial to the implementation of either +plan, in fact it is the crux of them both, the one issue that it +is of as great importance, or greater, than the presence of you, +the kinsman redeemer. There is an altar in the center room of the +temple, a great diamond White Eagle that is grasping an ordinary +altar in its talons, and this altar is where the kinsman redeemer +is to be sacrificed. If only I had suspected so before and could +have warned when there was yet time!</p> + +<p>“But there is no time now for such reflections, so I +will continue. The method of sending you back or forward in time +is to sacrifice you on the altar of Temis, the God of Time. It is +not a traditional, atonement sacrifice, nor of any kind that +involves the cutting of the flesh with a knife. Instead it is a +molecular one. You are to be set on the altar and then the White +Eagle will start to spew forth either protons or electrons, +depending on which is chosen, past or future. When your +body’s cells absorb all of the floating matter, they will +be either positively or negatively charged to such an extent that +their revolutions will be rapidly accelerated. According to +theory, the increased speed of the revolutions would cause a rift +in the time continuum, or in other words, would change the +proportion between your existence in the temporal and material +realms and change your location in time, thereby propelling you +into the past or the future, depending upon which was chosen, +electron or proton, past or future.</p> + +<p>“There has been much experimentation with this process, +each person sent through time being equipped with a matter-proof +box that is basically an advanced time capsule, lasting for +millions of years. Into this box (or TAB, Temporal Anomaly Box) +each person was supposed to write an account of their temporal +journey and leave it on the island that is presently Daem, at +specific locations decided on for that purpose. We would search +for those boxes in the present, to see if they had been +delivered. None have yet been found, though there are other +possible reasons than death, such as a failure to find the +island, or the box’s removal by someone in an intervening +time. Still, I am greatly afraid for your life Jehu, especially +so after what I discovered just hours ago in the classified +archives of the Canitaurs: there was strong evidence that the +process simply disintegrated those upon whom it was tried, +instead of sending them through time. This was kept from the +public, and was forcefully forgotten by those who knew, their +reason being that Temis would guide your travel better than the +others who were not called as his servants. If it were anyone but +you, Jehu, I would probably have deceived myself in the same way, +but I cannot let you be destroyed like this. You must escape and +not let them throw away our only chance of salvation in such a +way. I only wish that I had known sooner, I only wish that there +was a chance that you could escape,</p> + +<p>“Your Devoted Friend, Bernibus”</p> + +<p>For a moment I could do nothing except sit in silence and +ponder over this new revelation. After I had reread the letter +twice, so as to be thoroughly familiar with its contents, I ate +it, so that if I did escape, or was apprehended doing so, +Bernibus would not be found out and suffer because of it, though +I doubt not that he would have gladly done so. When I had done +that, I ran down to the door and attempted to force it open, but +to no avail. Neither could it be picked. And even if it had, it +would have done me no good, for there were at least two guards +always stationed at the foot of the stairs, and many more between +them and the temple entrance, and even if, by some miraculous +intervention, I made it that far, that left me stranded +conspicuously in the center of Nunami. My only hope was to escape +from the island completely, for I would be found soon enough by +the cooperating inhabitants if I remained upon their own +lands.</p> + +<p>The land across the sea then entered my mind, and its +degenerate inhabitants, but that was across a wide channel that +would be hard to cross even if I had infinite time, freedom, and +materials to make a boat which would withstand the waves, and I +had none of the three. What little hope I had, then, was out of +reach, lost to me like the golden days of the past. It was then +that I was overcome by despondency, the hopelessness of my +situation weighing my spirits down. It is a peculiar trait of +mine that in times of distress and in situations that seem to +have no possible favorable outcome I act rashly and without +reason. You will remember how I leaned forward and peered into +the dark hole when I was stranded on the tiny island in the sea, +and how I struck the tree with a limb on the shores of Lake +Umquam Renatusum. Likewise, I again did something which would +seem illogical and vain: in my frustration, I pushed the table +that I happened to be standing against with as much force as I +could muster. It slid softly along the carpeting before coming to +a halt a few inches from the glass wall. It made no noise or +jarring of the floor, but the sudden shifting of weight in the +room caused the tower to sway once more, as it had when I had run +up the stairs to the couch.</p> + +<p>And, as had happened on the previous occasions, the result of +my senseless actions was good, as if guided by some external +force, for an idea came suddenly to my mind that would not have +been there otherwise, an idea that was outlandish and +far-fetched, but was at the time my only hope.</p> + +<p>I lost no time on preparing my efforts, for there was none to +be lost, and set out immediately to remove the carpeting from the +floor. Upon examination I found that it was not attached to the +ground at all, but only fastened into a wooden frame at the walls +that held it tightly in place. It stretched in a circular fashion +around the whole of the room and into the center until it came to +the stairs that led downward, so that once removed it formed a +circle about thirty feet in diameter with a three foot circular +hole in its center. In case I haven’t mentioned the type of +the carpet yet, which I must confess that I cannot remember, I +will do so here: it was not a traditional carpet, that form being +apparently lost after the great wars, instead it was a silky +sheet-like carpet, no more than a quarter inch thick, and in fact +greatly resembling the sail of an old clipper ship, the painting +on the glass that I saw earlier probably attesting to the fact +that it had been designed with that appearance in mind. Like its +prototype, the sail, it caught a lot of wind and acted in the +same general manner.</p> + +<p>Using the bowie knife that was built into the large frontal +buckle of the anti-electron suit, which, by the way, I was still +entirely wearing, I cut the carpet down its center, making two +semi-circular pieces, each with a moon shaped appearance, much +like a wing. I based my idea in part on the observation that the +Canitaurs and Zards had apparently lost, or disregarded, the +springs of my time and instead used a hammock of springy, elastic +cords that spread across the face of the furniture. Simply put, +they stretched elastic ropes across an empty frame, almost like a +trampoline made of individual cords. This created a very +comfortable springing feel, for they gave enough bounce to render +the surface pliable, but not overly soft. Taking the bowie knife +again, I thrust it into the couch, and cut away the cushioning to +reveal the support. To my great relief, I found that it was +constructed in a manner similar to the other couches that I had +seen. There were about two score of the cords, each being between +three and four feet long. These I unattached and laid them down +in a pile.</p> + +<p>Next, I took the four main support beams for the couch, one +running along each side and two down the center in a crescent +shape, with the same curve and slope as the carpet, as they were +designed to contour the same wall. Then I disassembled the table +and took from it two of its main beams, which were about a foot +shorter than their curved counterparts. These I did not fully +remove, instead loosening their screws and swiveling them to +extend outwards from the table at a right angle, tightening them +again afterwards so that they were secure.</p> + +<p>Once that was accomplished, I went to the frame that had held +the carpet down and took the pins and fasteners which were used +to secure it. These I placed on the crescent beams from the +couch, which used the same standard size. Once I had secured the +carpet sections to the beams, I attached the couch’s beams, +via the cords, to the long beams sticking outward from the table, +running the ends of all the cords through another cord that +could, upon being pulled, adjust their height by pulling or +releasing, thus controlling the distance between the upper and +the lower beams, and changing the amount of slack in the carpet +that was stretched between them. I then removed the legs from the +tabletop, leaving just it and the beams together, the carpet +being attached to the beams.</p> + +<p>Thus my plan was completed, it being, in case you hadn’t +guessed, a primitive hang glider, the carpet being a sail and the +beams the wings, the whole being steerable by either raising or +lowering one side or the other, and the altitude being adjustable +by raising or lowering the two simultaneously. I felt keen joy at +my skills in air travel at that moment, and as I stepped back to +admire my work, I felt that peculiar satisfaction of having made +something and finding that it was good.</p> + +<p>But that moment was short lived, for another problem quickly +presented itself, namely, how would I remove the hang-glider from +the tower and launch it. It was far too large to go down the +stairs and needed to be propelled to a high speed or dropped from +a high altitude to become airborne. Since I had no way of +propelling it, I needed to launch it from the top of the tower, +which provided plenty of altitude, but then the problem of how to +remove it from the tower arose. For a moment I was stumped and +almost admitted defeat, but then it came to me.</p> + +<p>The tower’s only weakness was in its lack of protection +against a deliberate rocking motion. If I was able to swing it +back and forth fast enough by slowly gaining speed and +multiplying the momentum, it would be possible to get it to lean +far enough that the dome would snap off, leaving the room open to +the air. This was possible, though rather unlikely. But I tried +anyway.</p> + +<p>Starting on one side I began to move from one edge to the +other until a faint rocking motion could be felt. Then I +increased my speed in proportion to the speed of the tower +itself. It was a slow start, but the momentum began to grow, and +as it did each successive sway became faster and faster. Soon it +was going so fast that I began to have unstable footing, the +whole tower creaking like a tree that it is blown by a heavy +wind. The speed kept increasing until it reached its fastest, +swooshing to and fro with all of its accumulated force.</p> + +<p>It was then that the break happened, for on one of the thrusts +the top snapped off and the upper dome was flung downwards to the +ground. As soon as it was off I shoved the hang-glider with all +the force I could muster towards the edge. At first it fell, but +a few feet from the edge its wings caught the wind and it was +brought up to a stable soar, and just at that instant I landed on +it, for I had jumped right after it. I hit with a thud and felt +the craft bounce downwards a little as I hit, but it soon +regained its stability and sped on through the air as behind me I +heard a great crashing sound.</p> + +<p>I pulled the left wing down and the glider began to turn in +that direction. Since I had launched into the opposite direction +of the mainland, I needed to wheel around completely, and as such +I held the wing down until I had done an about face towards the +east. What I saw was a striking picture: the sun had just begun +to rise, and under the influence of its soft textures the city of +Nunami looked as it had before: quaint, picturesque, and +inviting. But there was a great difference now, for the tower +itself had completely collapsed under the momentum, and its ruins +had fallen down upon the Temple of Time, demolishing it and +leaving only ruins. It had also fallen on a strip of the city, +taking with it several buildings and leaving only rubble. The +King, Wagner, and Bernibus could just barely be seen amongst the +crowds that had dashed out of doors to see what was going on, and +I could tell that Bernibus was smiling at my escape as he looked +at my wind sailor a thousand feet in the air. A friend who +rejoices in your advancement, even at his own cost, is rare +indeed.</p> + +<p>Turning my gaze upwards, I left Nunami and its troubles behind +me and looked ahead to my promised land, and though it was barren +and devoid of any significant foliage, it still held something +equally dear to me as landscape: safety. The wind currents were +strong and my speed was about 30 miles per hour. Great expanses +of grassland sped by below me like the memories of yesteryear, +and within half an hour I found myself over the ocean.</p> + +<p>There is something very refreshing about the sunrise that +correlated very well with my present feeling of emancipation, for +it is a symbol of the new and fresh, and of the forgetting of the +troubles of the past. This was true in my case, at least, for I +was soon carefree once more, secure in my freedom. As the wind +rushed across my body, I was relaxed in my adopted element, air, +though it was slightly difficult to keep myself firmly on the +glider, as I was lying unfastened to the tabletop. Below me +passed the ocean, looking generally the same as ever, though +paler and less alive, like a ghost of its former self, but still +close enough to bring the calm of reminiscing.</p> + +<p>Soon even the ocean began to give way to the fast approaching +mainland, and I abandoned my restive meditations to solve the +problem of how to land. I had not made any contraptions for that +purpose, having not thought about it in the hurry to leave my +prison. I decided to use a traditional circling approach, in the +same way scavenging birds descend on their prey. When I was a +mile or so inland, I began to circle about in wide spirals, +narrowing them as I drew closer to the ground. In this way I had +slowed down enough by the time I made contact with the ground +that neither I nor my craft was injured in the landing.</p> + +<p>The terrain proved to be as desolate as it had appeared from +the distance, for the main vegetation was a weakly sprouting +grass that was only a few inches high, though not mowed or chewed +down. Every few dozen yards there was a single stunted shrub or +small tree, or in some cases a group of the same, and the spaces +between these was littered with scattered rocks and occasionally +a smaller, flowering plant. The topography of the land was mostly +flat, though not in the sense of a plain or savanna, instead it +was merely a gentle slope, so that the immediate area seemed +flat, but in the distance it was seen to rise considerably. There +were also a few small hills that were no more than twenty feet +high across their whole length, but in the obtuse slopes of the +land, even that seemed to be almost mountainous. Brown was the +prevailing color of it all for as far as my eye could see, though +I cannot say if that condition prevailed inland further, since I +had forgotten the telescope, which would probably have proved a +useful tool.</p> + +<p>A slight wind blew from seaward, scattering the dry top soil +about like a cloud of gnats, though there were very few actual +insects, and no animals that I could see. The only sound that I +could hear was that of the wind howling gently past my ears. I +had landed in a sort of valley, which, though not at all deep, +was surrounded on all sides by slight hills that prevented me +from getting an extensive look at the landscape beyond. Before +making any decisions as to which direction to set off, I decided +to climb to the top of one of these hills to ascertain my exact +situation, and although I was generally reluctant to start off +into unfamiliar territory, I also wanted to put as many miles +between me and the coast as possible, in case the Zards and +Canitaurs came after me, which was still a cause of great anxiety +to me.</p> + +<p>As I rounded the top of the hill that was directly east of my +landing point, I suddenly came face to face with two small +people, gnomes by appearance, one of whom I recognized as being +Onan, the Lord of the Past. He greeted me familiarly as ‘My +Dear Jehu’, and introduced me to his partner, who turned +out to be Zimri, the Lord of the Future. Onan was dressed the +same as when I had last seen him, and Zimri was close in +appearance, though his hair was long and his beard short, while +Onan’s were the opposite. Zimri wore a little blue-green +frock that fit rather snuggly but not enough to be considered +tight. I started our ensuing dialog by saying this:</p> + +<p>“I am more than a little surprised to see you upon such +good terms with your rival, Onan,” giving Zimri an +inquisitive glance as I did. “I had just assumed that you +two would be bitter enemies, as your followers on Daem seem to +be, but I can tell now that that is not at all the +case.”</p> + +<p>He laughed, as did Zimri, and replied, “We are brothers, +and as such there is always a strong rivalry, but at the same +time there is the closest bond. There is no real conflict between +us, but only a trivial and jovial mock conflict, the kind that +means no harm and does none, to those involved, but rubs off on +others who are less informed, who take it seriously and have a +real conflict.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by that illustration?” I +asked.</p> + +<p>“Nothing. Nothing at all,” he sighed, “I +have said too much already, it is against the rules, you +know.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, the rules. Tell me, though, how would you say +I am doing so far, am I at least doing fairly?”</p> + +<p>“Of course, Jehu, you are doing excellently.”</p> + +<p>“Is it true about the revolutions of time and matter, +then?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, in fact, it goes even further than that... Say, +Zimri, do you think it is allowable to tell him about the +physical and the spiritual realms?”</p> + +<p>Zimri said nothing, for he can say nothing, but he did nod his +head in the affirmative. Thus sanctioned by his brother, Onan +continued to speak, “Well, you know that physical existence +is comprised of time and matter, and that both of these are +involved in a revolving motion, from the minutest foundations to +the largest additions. While they both are revolving within +themselves, they are also revolving together, around an enigma +which, as other of the centers, is completely devoid of the thing +which revolves around it, but is found plentifully in them. In +the case of matter, it revolves around a black hole, in which +there is not found any matter, but there are places of emptiness +inside of the matter, in fact, most of an atom is empty space. In +the case of time, it revolves around eternity, an enigma where +there is no such thing as time, even as there are certain areas +where no time exists in physical existence, such as a book. +Likewise, physical existence, which is a combination of time and +matter, revolves around a place in which there is no physical +existence, namely, the spiritual realm. There is no physical in +the spiritual, but there is spiritual in the physical. Physical +existence is not whole without the spiritual, which binds it +together in such a way that gives it life, the ability to think +and reason.</p> + +<p>“There is spiritual matter in everything, but it cannot +be seen or sensed physically unless it is revealed to one by a +force on the spiritual side. Or rather, it cannot be understood +unless revealed, for it can always be seen through its effects. +By this I mean that it leaves a trace in the physical realm, like +a jellyfish that leaves a glowing trail in its wake. When the +brain of a human thinks, it is not the actual brain that is +thinking, instead it is the spiritual matter that exists in the +brain, and this spiritual matter leaves a trail where it goes of +electric signals and such. When someone feels a certain emotion, +such as love or depression, it is felt in the spiritual realm, +but its traces are seen in the physical, such as certain +chemicals, but these are not the cause of the emotion, only the +effect of them. It is possible, through certain drugs, to induce +varying emotions, such as happiness or laughter, but these are +not the actual emotions, only their physical counterparts, so +that while it appears to be happiness, it is not, like the shadow +of a man in a field: his form keeps the light from striking the +ground beside him, but the shadow is not him, only the trace of +him. Making a shadow like the man does not make the man, only the +appearance of the man. While the how of a situation may be +inferred through physical means, the why is an entirely spiritual +matter, and any attempt to observe life without taking into +account the spiritual matter behind it will end in the same +result as evolution, as the scientists of your day generally +imagined it, but which was, in fact, devolution.</p> + +<p>“The laws of the physical realm are called science, such +as the fact that energy and matter are neither created or +destroyed in any natural or artificial process, or that +everything left to itself tends toward disorder, or that life +cannot come from non-life by natural or artificial processes. The +laws of the spiritual realm are called morality. You have no +doubt observed that when one does a certain thing, the end result +is always good, and when one does something else, the end result +is always bad. That is because there are spiritual laws that +govern life, and just as there is gravity on the earth that +always pulls things down to it, so there is a spiritual law that +whenever someone steals something, the result is suffering for +both of the parties involved. Just as it is a physical law that +man must have oxygen to live, so it is a spiritual law that when +someone murders another the end result is always suffering. Why +is this, one may ask, but that is a foolish question, or at least +a pointless one, for the law of gravity states that on the earth, +all things fall downward towards the center of gravity, there is +no reason why, except that it is, for it is observed continually +to be the case.</p> + +<p>“Since men cannot accept that there is a power over +them, they deny it, and in the process they misinterpret the +various things of life as physical things, not the spiritual +things that they represent. For instance, love: men in many +“advanced,” that is to say, self-obsessed, +civilizations, view it only in its physical materializations, but +not in its spiritual context. When they see the results of love, +romance especially, they do not understand that the romance is +only the fruit of the spiritual essence of love, but instead +think that the romance is love. There can be so-called romance on +the physical level without its spiritual counterpart, but it is +only the shadow of love, which will never fulfill and will never +be complete, because, by definition, it is only a mocking of the +true force of love. On the other hand, true romance is not, as +some would seem to think, a certain action or set of actions, +such as the gift of a precious metal or some colorful piece of +foliage, instead it is whatever is the result of the spiritual +love, for the physical manifestation of the spiritual essence of +love is not confined to certain objects or actions, but to any +that are sanctioned with its blessings. The daily toil of a poor +man shows far more love than a lavish gift from a rich +man.”</p> + +<p>When he had finished, I gave him a big grin and thanked him +for his lecture, and then asked him how it was that this did not +break the rules, but other things did. To this he replied that it +affected my task only indirectly, while the other things were all +direct concomitants. Then he asked me if I had any other +questions for him, and I replied that I did indeed have one. +Which was as follows, “I know that there was a great war +directly after my departure from my native temporal zone, and +that it was very devastating in its reach and effect, and while I +know that the situation was very tense at the time, I was under +the impression that it was starting to cool down once more. What +was it that set it all off?”</p> + +<p>“The disappearance of an American fighter jet off the +coast of China,” he replied straight-forwardly.</p> + +<p>My interest was suddenly aroused, for that was the very +section where my squadron was stationed, and anyone who was lost +would have been a close friend of mine. “Go on,” I +told him.</p> + +<p>“The Americans claimed that it was shot down by the +Chinese, and demanded an official apology. That the Chinese would +not do, insisting that they had done no such thing, and instead +of the whole situation diffusing, as you thought it would, both +sides proceeded to war stubbornly, each thinking itself in the +moral superiority. But that is as always.”</p> + +<p>“Do you have any idea whose ship it was that went down? +They were all my comrades,” I said.</p> + +<p>“Of course I know, Jehu, for it was your +plane.”</p> + +<p>“But how? I wasn’t shot down, I crash landed on an +island.”</p> + +<p>“But you came to me and I sent you here, and since your +radios went out, they had no idea that you were safely +landed.”</p> + +<p>“Still, they must have found the plane!”</p> + +<p>“No, you know perfectly well that those islands are +brought above and below sea level at different times. After you +left, the island was brought below the water, and your plane was +lost in the sea, no traces were found.”</p> + +<p>I was confused, “Onan, does that mean that I was the +cause of the war?”</p> + +<p>“From a certain point of view, yes.”</p> + +<p>He was about to say something else to me when we saw in the +distance a group of about ten Munams coming toward us, being at +that time a few miles away. He then told me that he must leave me +again for the present, as he could not interfere directly with my +mission. They bid me goodbye and I did the same to them, and then +they walked down the opposite side of the hill that the Munams +were approaching from. As they walked, they slowly disappeared, +until they were gone without a trace, for even their footprints +had faded to nothing.</p> + +<p>During the time between Onan and Zimri’s departure and +the Munam’s arrival, I was left to myself for a period of +inward meditation, an activity that you have probably concluded +that I am often given to, which is entirely the case. This new +revelation was very troubling to me, that somehow I was the very +cause of the destruction of humanity during the great wars, while +also the kinsman redeemer over 500 years later, who was +prophesied to be the one to bring humanity back into balance with +nature, or to thrust it forever off the edge of existence into +the damnation of the ice ages. As I told you in the beginning, I +am written in the pages of history as the destroyer of humanity, +though if it is just or not, I am not able to judge. The name of +Jehu will forever be a ripple on the surface of the waters of +life, and when it is heard or spoken, the only feeling that it +will bring will be hatred and disgust. If only mortals could see +below the surface of the waters of life, for just as the ocean +can be deceiving on its surface, so can life. Time is like an +ocean, but when one looks upon it, what often happens is that all +one sees is the present reflected back in its surface, and the +eyes are shielded from what lies below, focusing instead on the +surface, which is so trivial compared to the abyss which supports +it. When one only sees the surface reflected back, then history +and its wisdom lose their meaning, and one sees not the past but +only the present. What I mean is this: if you look to the past to +justify your actions rather than to guide them, you will not see +the truths contained therein, but only what your presuppositions +already were before you looked, and your ignorance will be +reinforced rather than repudiated. Wisdom is the ability to see +the past separate from the present, but when one sees the +destruction of humanity, he will see only me, his vision being +shielded from the true cause of it all, history.</p> + +<p>The actions or inactions of one solitary soul cannot bring the +end of life, only the accumulation of the wrongs and injustices +of a whole race, the human race. Forever I will be eyed as the +assassin of humanity, and yet that is not the truth at all, for I +am the father of humanity, I am the beginning as well as the end. +If you view me only as one or the other, you do not see me at +all, but only a pale shadow of my true self. I am Jehu, past, +present, and future, I am the concentration of humanity in all +its forms and reproductions, I am the creator and destroyer of +every age of this temporal maze. Why am I the defender and +executioner of the race of men? Why am I the protagonist and +antagonist of humanity? Why am I the father and the son, the +beginning and the end? Such a question is futile to ask in the +physical realm, for here there are no answers to the why’s, +they are only to be found in the spiritual realm. The physical +realm is left only with the how’s, and it is those which I +am attempting to clarify.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap12"></a>Chapter 12: The White Eagle</h3> + +<p>It was only a few moments after Onan and Zimri left me that +the Munams arrived, for they had run, spurred on, apparently, by +their great desire to meet me. In appearance they were like I had +seen from afar: hairy and stooped, almost using their arms as +legs, but not entirely. Their skulls were large and oddly shaped +and their mouths were pushed out from their faces like an +ape’s. A limp, furry tail hung down from their lower backs, +and their hands had a tough, leathery appearance.</p> + +<p>There were eight of them, and when they drew near, the +foremost hailed me with an eager gleam in his eyes, like one who +has long hoped and long been denied. His voice was low and +gravelly, but not at all uncivilized sounding, as one would have +expected by his appearance, and his facial expressions were +equally as livid and distinctly humanoid. He began:</p> + +<p>“Hail, the White Eagle, sent by the gods to deliver us! +Hail the redemption from paradise, coming to bring us +home.” With that he held out his arms and embraced me in a +very warm, heartfelt manner.</p> + +<p>“Hello,” I replied, somewhat embarrassed by my +lack of authority.</p> + +<p>“I am Ramma, leader of the Munams,” he told me, +“And I welcome you in the name of us all.”</p> + +<p>“Greetings, Ramma,” I replied, “I am +Jehu.”</p> + +<p>“We are joyous at your arrival, oh Jehu of the White +Eagle.”</p> + +<p>When he said this I had a flashback, a moment of memorial deja +vu, when the present and the past are morphed together by one +thought, when one idea from the past and the present exists in +such a way as to connect the two times around it, forming a nexus +between the two moments. I was brought back to two separate +times, the first being my initial meeting with Onan, when I saw +the muraled dome, the genetics of history, and its depiction of +the events which were symbolically representative of Daem: the +deformed man, the warring races, the worshipers of the White +Eagle. The other was my arrival in the Temple of Time, when the +King showed me the altar to Temis, the God of Time, depicted as a +great White Eagle, wrought in diamond and grasping the altar in +its talons. There was something about the White Eagle that +connected itself to me inseparably, something that converged us +into one form. I had a sense that it was somehow a key to the +mystery of the end times, but I could not make the connection. I +thought back to what Onan had said to me just a few moments +before, that he and Zimri were close friends, and not enemies at +all, while those on earth believed their rivalry was a serious +conflict. Yet while I had two separate memorial deja vu’s, +I could not make the connection between them to figure out what +they meant.</p> + +<p>“Tell me,” I asked of Ramma, “What do you +mean when you call me the White Eagle?”</p> + +<p>“The prophecy said that our kinsman redeemer, who would +bring us out of the lands of desolation and into paradise, who +would come to us like a giant eagle, soaring high above the sea. +Across the ocean there,” he said, pointing to Daem, +“Is Daem, the paradise land, wherein dwell our enemies the +Zards and Canitaurs. They keep us off of the island and on the +mainland by force, and here we have suffered ever since the great +wars, in these desolate and barren wastelands, where there is +neither life nor death, but only a hazy in between. An ancient +one with wings like an eagle was to come and rescue us, the White +Eagle, and under his guidance we are to be led to victory against +our enemies.</p> + +<p>“To them he would be sent first, humbly he would come to +redeem them from the woes of their own causing, but they would +receive him not. Instead they cast him away, and he was to come +to us, to bring us to the promised land. What a blessed sight it +was when we saw you soaring through the sky on your white wings, +and now you have come, my dear Jehu, you have come at last, in +the hour of our greatest need. Come, oh White Eagle, and let us +go to Kalr, our city. Tonight is the Feast of the Hershonites, +celebrating the night that the prophecy was received, and on the +same day shall it be fulfilled!”</p> + +<p>With that he turned and set off with a step of exuberance to +the northwest, the other Munams and myself following him. He +walked quickly, and it was all that I could do to match his pace, +so that I was left without breath enough to ask any more +questions. From what I saw on our journey, the landscape was the +same across the whole mainland that was near to the coast, and +there was neither change enough nor any landmark conspicuous +enough for me to take any bearings. Without the Munam’s +company, I would have been lost.</p> + +<p>Ramma led us on a straight course for about half an hour, +there being nothing to steer around, and when that time had +elapsed, we found ourselves in a small, battered city. There were +no great buildings or infrastructure like in Nunami, nor any +complex labyrinths like the Canitaur’s military base. +Instead there were only weak, unsound huts, built with a +framework of oddly shaped driftwood and covered with a thick +layer of insulating sod. A road ran through the center of the +city, only distinguishable because it was packed down by constant +use, and on either side were groupings of the huts in +semi-circular patterns, with no space between them left unfilled +by soil. This created a wind barrier, preventing the strong winds +that whipped across the desert lands from harassing the +inhabitants as they worked and played in their communal yards. +Each such grouping had a field of a strange, potato-like plant +that spread across the back ends of the houses, where the fierce +winds piled up loads of nutrient rich top soil from miles and +miles around. In the center of the protected areas, each of the +communities, for such they were called, had a well that reached +hundreds of feet downwards, bringing them almost unlimited +supplies of fresh water. Using these two major systems, they were +able to live in a comfortable manner, not comfortable in a sense +of comparison with the Zards or Canitaurs, but comfortable in the +sense that they had food to eat, clothes to wear, and shelter to +protect them. Under such conditions humanity can thrive, for +happiness is not found in the accumulation of excess comforts, +but in the accumulation of excess love. This the Munams had +plenty of, and from that point of view were more the evolutionary +form of humanity than the devolutionary.</p> + +<p>The Munams all wore a sort of close fitting frock, a plain +colored one piece suit that displayed their practicality and +modesty. It is a hobby of mine to observe the clothing worn by +different groups of people and compare it to their +characteristics. As I have said before, clothes do not make the +man, but the man certainly makes the clothes, and it is possible +to judge a person’s character by the type of attire that +they wear, in that it is an expression of their tastes. The +Munams were shown by their clothing to be a very friendly people, +for their frocks were hung gently about the body in a manner that +was at once both carefree and conservative. This is perfectly +analogous to their personalities.</p> + +<p>When we came down through the center street, which was really +the whole city, for there were no other roads, the people rushed +out to meet us, and when they were told that it was the White +Eagle, they began to dance joyously about in the streets. There +was laughter and play going on all at once, and it was like a +great burden lifted from my heart to see them rejoicing, for it +almost reconciled their sufferings with the Zard’s and +Canitaur’s ease of life, in that they seemed to be much +more happy, in spite of the circumstances.</p> + +<p>Ramma gave a short speech to the people, in which he detailed +the prophecy and its fulfillment and, in general, encouraged +everyone to hope for what was to come. When it was over, he and I +retired to his home, which was rather larger than the others and +formed its own semi-circle, containing as it did both his private +quarters and the official offices of the government, which, while +extremely limited in number, were well outfitted. The door of +this building opened into a short hallway that had several doors +adjacent to it. He led me down one of these and it proved to be a +dining hall, though it was not as commodious as most, with only a +round wooden table with a few chairs around it and some cupboards +and cabinets.</p> + +<p>Pulling my chair out for me to sit in, Ramma went through all +the normal duties of host with great ease, and within a few +moments we were eating heartily from a great dish of boiled +potatoes that had been brought in by a servant, or rather, a +deputy minister of state, for such was his title. We did little +talking before we ate, because I was greatly famished and as such +was ill-inclined to be jovial, not that I was sullen, but I found +it hard to be completely relaxed without a full stomach. Yet when +that was remedied and I found myself satisfied and comfortable in +a warm dwelling, I opened up to Ramma and we had a long and +entertaining discussion, some of which I will record here, as it +shines a little more light upon the mysteries of my story:</p> + +<p>“So, my dear Jehu,” Ramma began, “I trust +your stay on Daem has so far been enjoyable.”</p> + +<p>I chuckled quietly and told him, “No, not entirely, for +there is a war afoot on Daem, or at least there seemed to be, and +it made quite a bit of trouble for me.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry to hear that,” he replied, +“But also gratified, for it will help us in our offensive +if they are against each other as well as us. Still, it will be +hard.”</p> + +<p>“What offensive is that?” I asked, my interest +being perked.</p> + +<p>“Our jihad, to capture the lands which were meant for us +and reclaim them from the filth that now inhabit them. You are +our kinsman redeemer, Jehu, but it is not with your presence +alone that we will be brought victory, for we also must act. Ever +since the prophecy was given we have been preparing for a strike +that will catch the Zards and Canitaurs by surprise, for those +are our only advantages: time and surprise. The carrying out of +the surprise attack is the hardest part, and we decided long ago +to dig a tunnel under the sea to bridge Daem and the mainland, +for if we had made a fleet of ships, or attempted anything on the +surface, they would have seen and known what we intended to do. +The tunnel is very long, and it was an arduous task to undertake, +but with much patience we prevailed, and now it is complete. In +fact, it was only completed yesterday, though it was started more +than 500 years ago.”</p> + +<p>“How is it that you started so long ago and only +finished just before I arrived? I asked.</p> + +<p>“Fate,” he answered, “All the happenings of +the world are controlled by a force much greater than us, and it +brings everything into completion when it is needed, no sooner +and no later. Many civilizations try to out wit fate, but they +cannot, and in the end they do its bidding. Not, however, in the +way they had planned, and with more consequences than they would +like, at which point they try to change fate again and undo those +consequences, and soon they are in a downward spiral of such +deeds. We recognize that we are controlled by fate, and instead +of fighting it, we go along with it. We know that things will +happen as they are meant to happen, and we knew that 500 years +ago, so it was no great trial for us to work at our task for so +long and not to know when things would be brought to completion. +You see, if we had worried about it and attempted to change to +course of events that history dictated, than we would have only +given ourselves more work for the same end. Stress is the only +thing that is created when you try to alter fate, so it is our +philosophy to take things as they come and trust to the powers +that be. You may think it unsophisticated, but that is just as +well, for what matters is not appearances, but reality, and we +have the two things that matter most in life: peace and +joy.”</p> + +<p>I agreed with him, for I had found the same to be true in my +own experiences. I then asked him, “When will this grand +offensive be undertaken?”</p> + +<p>“Tomorrow,” he said bluntly.</p> + +<p>“Tomorrow? Isn’t that rather soon?”</p> + +<p>“Why? Fate has been fulfilled so far, why wait when it +is time to act? Maybe you misunderstood my meaning: it is not our +philosophy to simply let things go as they will. Instead we relax +and let things take their course when it is not in our power to +do anything effective, but when the time comes to act, we act +swiftly and do not delay. In a word, we do not force fate, either +by forcing action where patience is needed, nor by forcing +patience where action is needed.”</p> + +<p>“That sounds well enough,” I said, “But the +difficulty lies in the correct classification of the situation, +or in other words, deciding if patience or action is +needed.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course, but in this case it has been decided to +attack tomorrow, and there is nothing left to do but to attack +tomorrow. But do not yet let your spirits be dampened by the +onset of war, for tonight is the Feast of the Hershonites, and +there will be great celebrating and rejoicing this evening. +Forget about the troubles of tomorrow and enjoy the celebrations +of today, as I always say. And it is now time for the celebrating +to begin, so let us be off.”</p> + +<p>And with that we both rose and took our plates into the +kitchen that was connected to the dining hall on the opposite +side as the hallway and deposited our plates to be cleaned later +(for even the leaders of a society must do their fair share of +the work). Then we walked back through the dining hall, down the +hallway, and out the door.</p> + +<p>Outside we found that the people had already began to assemble +on the road in front of their communities and were preparing for +the festival by chattering with one another as loudly as one +would think possible. A hush began to fall upon them like a +descending fog when we came out, though, and within a few moments +it had died down to a ghostly silence, for all that could be +heard was the wind’s constant blowing. Ramma took the head +of the procession of Munams that had formed on the road, and I +took the place next to him. With a sort of quiet anticipation of +the joys to come, there was little movement, and what little +there was, was hushed by a sense of subdued excitement. Then, +with a somber gait, Ramma began the parade down the road, in the +opposite direction as we had come from, that being northwest, and +all followed him as he did.</p> + +<p>The sun at that time was just beginning to set, and once we +had crossed one of the larger hills we came face to face with the +coast, the sun’s great red form half sunken beneath its +surface. A faint cloud layer floated by and was illuminated by +the twilight so that it stretched haphazardly across the face of +the sun. Never have I seen so profound a scene as that which then +presented itself, with the desert sands and the ocean’s +still surface reflecting the last agonies of the sun’s +descent into the underworld with such a subtle emotional +undertone so as to render it a subconscious delight. Its +recognized superiority to mortal life forms left us all mute and +somber, but at the same time the freedom felt from the same gave +us joy beyond reckoning.</p> + +<p>The march to the sea was slow and steady, and when we finally +reached its shores it was just at the change of day and night. +Several large bonfires were lit and by their light a great +communal dance began, everyone jumping around, running, and doing +whatever their lighthearted desire may have been. Under stars +that shone like the twinkling in a newborn’s eye, we had +such a joyous time that it can hardly be described. We were no +longer within the reach of civility or social duty, but without +it we were not mean nor hurtful to one another, but were playful +and joyous, like children without a care in the world. Our little +games and frolics cannot be described with any accuracy, because +outside of the moment’s happiness, they cannot be +understood, as it was a spiritual happiness, existing only in the +spiritual realm. All that could be described is the physical +actions that were taken because of that spiritual enjoyment, but +that would do nothing to describe the feeling of the night. It +was one filled with more joy than anything I have known as an +adult, because we became as children in our trusting to fate, and +it was natural, befitting to our natures. Man is not meant to +worry, man is meant to be free from all boundaries, inward and +outward, man is meant to be ruled by only one desire: love of +others.</p> + +<p>As the night dwindled away, we grew tired, but instead of +returning to the city, we laid down wherever we were when we felt +that we could remain awake no longer, and fell to sleep instantly +when we did. It was not at all uncomfortable, for the sand was +soft and a warm breeze blew in from the water, and though as an +adult I would have feared sleeping so openly in the unknown, I +was not at that time an adult.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap13"></a>Chapter 13: The Big Bang</h3> + +<p>The Munams and I were all awoken at the same time late the +next morning by a loud trumpet blast that shook the very air +around us with its intense bass. For the first moment of our +consciousness we were all dazed and could not fully comprehend +the situation, and for a brief time we all sat unsteadily around +the beach where we had fallen asleep. As we grew more awake, we +began to understand what had happened, or at least I did, and I +was frightened when I looked around and saw where the trumpet +blast had come from: the entire Zardovian and Canitaurian armies +were assembled around us, having somehow crossed over to the +mainland in the night, while we slept peacefully, unaware of +their presence.</p> + +<p>My first thought was for myself, and what would become of me +in the wrath brought on by my escape, but that soon vanished when +I thought of the Munams, for they were the enemies of those on +Daem, even more so than those on Daem were to each other. We were +completely surrounded, with the ocean on one side and the Zards +and Canitaurs circling us in the front, the former on the left +and the latter on the right. All of them were equipped for war, +with swords, spears, and shields held firmly in their hands, and +thick, leather armor stretched across their chests. The Canitaurs +had especially come prepared, for they had brought all of their +atomic anionizers with them, enough combined fire power to level +the entire world several times over.</p> + +<p>Within five minutes, all of the Munams had assembled behind me +and Ramma, who stood between them and the Daemians. They huddled +closely together and quaked slightly in fear, for they evidently +thought that their plans had been discovered and their enemies +had come for revenge. I, myself, thought that they had come for +me, and Ramma’s opinion could not be guessed, for he was a +statesman first and foremost, and when his people were in need he +rose to the occasion with all the power and grace allotted to +mortal beings.</p> + +<p>Wagner and Bernibus broke the Canitaur’s ranks and drew +near to us in the center, as did the King from the Zard’s. +They reached us in silence, and for a long moment there was no +talking, for all present knew that something grave was about to +happen, something that would decide the fate of the men of this +age, whether they would pass or fail the test. Bernibus looked at +me with entreating eyes, showing his sorrow at my recapture and +asking for forgiveness, but I had none to give him, for he had +done no wrong to need it. He had no power among the Canitaurs, +but was only a titled commoner, more like Wagner’s groom +than counsel.</p> + +<p>I noticed that the Canitaurs were not wearing their +anti-electron suits, which was strange, for they had brought a +few hundred atomic anionizers, though I didn’t question +them about it, for the answer was evident enough when I had given +it some thought: the Zards had no such suits, and were afraid +that the Canitaurs would destroy them and Munams at the same +time, for while they were allies against foreigners, they still +did not trust each other. I still wore my suit given me for the +raid on Nunami, though I had forgotten about it due to its +comfort. That made me the only person on the earth still wearing +one, the only one safe from the anionizers.</p> + +<p>It was an overcast morning, and the air was damp with a cold, +wet wind that blew in forlornly. The ocean’s steady swoosh +added to the scene, making it as depressing as the night before +was joyous, and in the bluish half light all was colorless and +hopeless. At length the King spoke, saying, “My dear Jehu, +I am very disappointed in you. Not only did you flee from us +irresponsibly, but you destroyed the Temple of Time and the altar +to Temis. Without the White Eagle, the prophecy says that there +is no hope for humanity.”</p> + +<p>Wagner added, “And now the only way left to bring about +the completion of the world once more is to sacrifice you using +the old methods.” This he said with evident pleasure, no +longer feigning to be my friend.</p> + +<p>Here Bernibus entered the dialog, throwing away his timidness +with one quick motion and saying to Wagner, “You scoundrel! +You said that we came to retrieve Jehu, not to sacrifice him. How +is it that you lied to me in such a manner?”</p> + +<p>“You fool,” Wagner said, “If I had had my +way, you would have been dead long ago. You have no authority +here, so begone.”</p> + +<p>Bernibus grew angrier, a terrifying state for a Canitaur to be +in, and he was a strong and powerful one at that, though his meek +nature had hidden it before. “You would never dare to kill +me in the open, you coward, the council would banish you,” +he said.</p> + +<p>Here the King joined in once more, laughing, “He +wouldn’t, no, but I would. Do you really think that we +found your outpost on our own, oh Bernibus the ‘deputy +kibitzer’? You know that we have no tracking ability, and +least of all in your own territory.”</p> + +<p>Bernibus grew more enraged, and the King was spurred on by +it.</p> + +<p>“Oh yes, you know what I speak of. Your brother-in-law +told us where you and your wife were living, and not only that, +for he also told us when you would be there.”</p> + +<p>Bernibus became even more flushed with anger and vehemently +asked Wagner, “Why, you heartless brute? What could you +possibly value more than your own sister’s life?”</p> + +<p>“It was a pledge to the Zards of our intention to abide +by the agreement, what more precious thing could I give then my +own sister?” He spoke calmly and spitefully, enjoying the +end of his long charade of nicety, “Besides, the council +was falling for her peace talk, as they always give great heed to +every member of the royal family, and I was not strong enough at +that time to control them, as I do now. Unfortunately for me you +were out at the moment of the attack and able to escape, but +still it was a favorable outcome,” Wagner said, sneering at +Bernibus’ outrage.</p> + +<p>But Bernibus was not to be taken lightly, and neither was he +to let the love of his life go undefended. He leapt at Wagner and +grabbed the remote to the atomic anionizers from his belt, where +it was always clipped. Wagner tried to get it back, but Bernibus +was too strong and hurled him to the ground. Then he took a few +steps backwards and stood his ground far enough from everyone to +have at least a moment to react before they could reach him. He +held the remote out towards Wagner, pointing it at him as if it +were itself a weapon, with his thumb and forefinger in position +to set it off at a moment’s notice.</p> + +<p>“Bow before me now, Wagner, or I shall destroy us +all,” he demanded with a grim smile that showed his +resolution.</p> + +<p>Wagner did as he commanded and fell to his knees in front of +Bernibus, saying in the same gentle, appeasing voice that he had +first used on me, “My dear Bernibus, do not be rash, do not +act in anger. Let’s talk this over, and see ... and see if +we can’t find a peaceful solution,” his fear of death +evidently caused him to stammer.</p> + +<p>“You fool, do you think that I haven’t heard that +voice a thousand times before? Do you think that I will fall for +your same trick once more?”</p> + +<p>Wagner put his face to the ground and groveled like the filthy +swine that he was, for he knew full well that if Bernibus set off +the atomic anionizers he would die. His life was completely out +of his hands and there was nothing that he could do to reclaim +it, except to beg for forgiveness. This he did, saying, +“Bernibus, you do not understand, the situation was more +complex than you realize, and I had no choice but to act as I +did. Do you not think that it was as hard on me as yourself? She +was my sister, my only sibling. But there was no other way, I had +to put the advancement of our people over the life of anyone, +even my own sister, as you must do now, putting the advancement +of our people over petty differences.”</p> + +<p>Here the King interjected, “Bernibus, do not act rashly, +I beg of you, for if you set off the anionizers, than all is +lost. Do you not realize that if you do that, all that we have +worked for all of our lives is lost?”</p> + +<p>It was Bernibus’ turn to sneer, and he did, raising the +skin above his teeth and scowling fiercely at the King. +“What is it that we have worked for all of our lives? Do +you still not understand? You and Wagner plot to return the world +to its former glory, each by his own way, but take a look around +you. The trees on Daem are taller and stronger than any known +before, the grasses are thicker and livelier, the waters are +purer and cleaner, the wind is fresher. You know no suffering. +The prophecy had nothing to do with you, and nothing at all to do +with the restoration of the world! Can you not see that what you +have is far more than you have need of, that there is no desire +left unfilled in your lives, except that of ultimate power? This +world does not need to be restored. Only your hearts have need of +that.</p> + +<p>“The prophecy was given for the Munams, who were left +stranded here in this desert wasteland, while across the ocean +they could see the great paradise of Daem, the great paradise +that you took for granted. There is to be no restoration of Daem +to its original form, but a restoration of the Munams to Daem. +You struggle to restore Daem, but have no compassion for the +suffering of humanity across the sea. You are the fools, not me, +and you are the ones who have brought us all to the very brink of +destruction, to the ice ages which you have tried so hard to +prevent. Do you not see that Daem is already the paradise, that +the only thing that it needs for completion is the residence of +the Munams? Jehu is not our kinsman redeemer at all, he is +theirs.” Here Bernibus seemed to lose his anger and passion +and become meek once more, saying humbly, “You have +destroyed the life of one whom I held more dear than myself, but +that is past, and I will not destroy us all for vengeance.</p> + +<p>“Zards, Canitaurs, and Munams, hear me now and listen to +my words,” he continued, speaking to the amassed groups of +the armies that had been listening closely to his words, +“We are not separate people at all, we are not different +races. We are not Zards, or Canitaurs, or Munams, we are +Daemians, and it is time that we came together, to help each +other instead of hindering. Look at how much blood has been shed, +how many lives have been lost, must we all be drowned in the +blood of our brothers before we realize that we are one people? +Must we suffer more than we already have in an attempt to undo +what has already been done? More pain will not negate the pain +that has already been felt, it will only result in more suffering +than we have known up to this time. My friends, we need not look +for our redemption in the past, for it has gone and though it +influences us, we are not bound to its suffering. And we need not +look for our redemption in the future, for it is not yet here, +and when it comes it will only be what we make it. Instead let us +look for our redemption in the present, where it can be found, +let us put aside our hate and our divisions and become one flesh +and blood, one body. People of Daem, let us live in peace!” +As he said this, the Zards and the Canitaurs and the Munams all +let out a joyous shout of agreement, and there was seen on every +face a remnant of the happiness that had so long alluded them in +their wars.</p> + +<p>To emphasize his point of harmony and trust, Bernibus dropped +the remote to the atomic anionizers to the ground. But it would +never land. Wagner leapt forward from his groveling position and +grabbed for it as it fell, reaching out with all his strength. +There was a sudden silence that overtook everyone as they saw +what was happening. Bernibus looked down and saw Wagner leap, but +he was too late to prevent him from reaching the remote. There +was no noise at all, for everyone looked in horror at +Wagner’s plunging form. As if in slow motion, his hand +wrapped around the remote and he squeezed it so as not to let it +go. But as he did so, there was a loud beeping sound that came +from his fist: he had triggered the anionizers.</p> + +<p>The eager faces of everyone there, of everyone alive on the +earth, was turned towards Wagner. The remote had a five second +delay built into it, and those five seconds were the longest of +my life. Bernibus’ eyes met mine, and we experienced an +intra-personal deja vu, the converging of the presents of two +minds. His face showed the depths of his being in that split +second, and he was peaceful. Though he was about to be destroyed, +he had no fear, no regrets, and in those five seconds, while +Wagner and the King were frightened and frantic at their +impending doom, Bernibus was as calm as ever. As I looked +Bernibus in the eyes, I could hear Wagner break the dead silence +with a shrill scream that echoed across the horizon and ripped +through the hearts of every hearer. When faced with death he had +no courage, no strength to face the unknown beyond the veil that +separates life from death.</p> + +<p>As I turned and cast my eyes across the horizon, I saw the +faces of hundreds of men, whether Zard, Canitaur, or Munam, and +written on everyone of them was a great despair, for they stood +unprotected in the presence of death. It was like the calm before +the storm, those five seconds, and through them time seemed to +stop, to be non-existent, and there was not a sound to be heard, +except for Wagner’s scream. Oh, what anguish was written on +the faces of all around, standing defenselessly before the end +with neither will nor way to stop its terrible approach, oh, what +fear filled their eyes as their mortality was made manifest +before them like a vulture’s approach, oh, the pain, as +fate stood before their distraught faces and silently whispered, +“And to dust shalt thou return.”</p> + +<p>But then even that was silenced. There was no noise. As I +looked upon them they were destroyed, before my very eyes they +breathed their last and were no more. One moment they were normal +and healthy, and the next they disintegrated, falling into little +heaps of limp skin and bones. In that moment I felt a horror such +as I have never felt before, a complete loneliness, like a night +that never ends. There was no one, nothing, around me. The force +of the blast had leveled the already flat terrain completely. The +ocean was suddenly solidified into the same lifeless, inorganic +mass that the land had become. Across the channel, Daem was no +more. There were no more trees, no more grasses, no more cities, +no more mountains, everything was leveled, decimated. The sky +began to turn a dark, bloody red, and the sun was hidden behind +it. Like a disease it spread across the horizon, devouring the +light hearted blue and leaving only red: lifeless, deathless red. +There was no wind, no sound. I was all alone, I alone had +survived the blast because of my anti-electron suit. I gazed in +absolute horror across the field where only seconds before +thousands souls had been congregated. I looked at its emptiness +and I saw nothing, for there was nothing. They were all dead. +Every single one of them.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3><a name="chap14"></a>Chapter 14: Past and Future</h3> + +<p>I have no recollection of how long I stood there staring +blankly into the void, for the sun was hidden behind the darkened +sky. I have no memory of that period until I saw two short forms +coming towards me in the distance. They walked slowly and +methodically, as if they were not hurried on by any physical +concerns. As they drew near, I saw them to be Onan and Zimri, the +Lords of Past and Future. When they arrived I was awakened from +the trance that I had fallen into, and I gave them a slight bow, +for I was still standing upright. The look on their faces was one +of sorrow, for no matter how many times they had seen the +destruction of humanity, each time it brought only fresh, +poignant sorrow.</p> + +<p>Onan was the first to speak, breaking the silence with a long, +hopeless sigh, “My dear Jehu,” he said, “This +age has come to a close.”</p> + +<p>I could say nothing, for Bernibus’ face was still gazing +at me in my memory.</p> + +<p>“Do not be saddened by grief or guilt, Jehu, for it is +what has always happened. It is not your fault, for the events +that you have witnessed do not have their roots in your time or +in this one, but in the very foundation of the world. It is not +your actions that caused this, but rather the accumulated +momentum of all the ages of humanity, for they are history, and +history reigns by influence. There were no right choices and no +wrong choices for you, for the power of the kinsman redeemer is +not in himself, but in the way that those around him react to +what he signifies. In every age before this you have done the +same, as you will in every age after this as well. You were +humanity’s last chance, yet it is not up to you to change +their course: it is up to them to change their own.”</p> + +<p>Here I raised my head from its dull droop and looked +questioningly into his eyes. “What do you mean,” I +asked, “That I did not prevent it in any of the other ages? +How could I exist in any other age but this?”</p> + +<p>“Then you do not understand?”</p> + +<p>“Why else would I ask?” I faintly smiled.</p> + +<p>“These are the Ice Ages, the end of an age of history. +Every time that the temporal continuum revolves around eternity, +it has a new age, much like the years of the earth as it revolves +around the sun. When the atomic anionizers went off, they did on +a large scale what they were designed to do on a small scale: +reverse the poles through an extreme electric charge, by +injecting countless solitary electrons into the atoms. But with +so many of them exploded at once, they did this to the earth +itself, reversing its poles. It was a theory at your time that +the poles reversed about every 170,000 years, this is because +that is how long an age is.</p> + +<p>“When the earth’s poles were reversed, it brought +all to desolation, excepting you, for you were protected by the +suit. But while this is the ending of all life on earth, in a way +it is also the beginning, for you see, Jehu, you have just +witnessed the Big Bang. In a few days, at the longest, you will +die yourself, for there is no food or water for you here, but +inside of your anti-electron suit, your remains will be +protected. Slowly the earth will regenerate, and when conditions +suitable for life have been once more returned, your suit will be +blown against a rock somewhere and broken open. From that little +hole, the atoms of life, your life, will escape into the +atmosphere and grow and evolve until they become like what things +were before you were born. Then the process will be repeated. You +are not only the one who symbolizes the destruction of humanity, +but also the one who symbolizes the rebirth of humanity. You are +the beginning and the end, in a sense, a descendant of yourself, +simultaneously the father and the son. You will be born again +through your own descendants, and will once again become the +kinsman redeemer. It is your destiny, there is no other way. You +are the White Eagle.”</p> + +<p>“You only confuse me more, what is this White +Eagle?”</p> + +<p>“Do you remember when we first met, in the Chambers of +History? On the dome of the ceiling there was a sculpture mural, +and in it was a White Eagle, holding many lords and ladies in its +talons while it soared far above the lands, and those on the land +were worshiping it. You are the White Eagle. You hold all of +humanity in your hands, for you are the father of all men, they +all descend from you, including you, yourself. You were the White +Eagle, for the altar had no power, the power was only in you.</p> + +<p>“Those who worshiped you were those who worship time, in +either of its forms, past or future. Those who worship the past +recognize the influence of history, and they understand that +there are taboos and traditions created through mutual +experience. These traditions reign in humanity by keeping men +from actions that lead to pain and suffering. But they do not +understand that while it influences mankind, the past does not +control them, for it is gone, and it will never come again. In +their strict keeping of traditions, they focus on the physical +act of the tradition, while neglecting the spiritual principle +behind the tradition. If you keep only the physical form of the +principle, you have nothing.</p> + +<p>“On the other hand, those who worship the future neglect +the past and the valuable lessons that it teaches. They believe +that there is some moral advancement that places them above those +that have come before, they believe that the people of the past +were blinded to the truth, and that the revelation of the truth +in the present supersedes the traditions of the past. But they +are wrong as well, for humanity is humanity, and those of the +past were no more ignorant than those at present. The people of +the past fell into the same traps as the those in the present, +and both suffer the same consequences.</p> + +<p>“While one group remembers only the physical display of +the spiritual truth, the other rejects the spiritual truth +because of its physical display. Those who worship the future +break taboos because they recognize that the mere physical +manifestation of the truths is not their entire essence, but they +reject the spiritual truth as well. When taboos are broken, there +is nothing gained, but everything lost, for the physical +traditions at least lead to the knowledge of the spiritual laws +to those who seek such wisdom. One taboo is broken, but as there +is no satisfaction in the breaking of taboos, every one of them +is broken in succession. Then there is no limit to the immorality +that is left to freely roam the hearts of men, and when +immorality, the breaking of the spiritual laws, is widely +propagated, there is spiritual suffering. When this spiritual +suffering begins to accumulate and is translated into physical +suffering, the people see what is happening, how their very +society is crumbling to ruin around them. Yet instead of +recognizing the truth of what is happening, they see the +traditions of the past as the cause of their problems, and +continue to make their plight worse. This downward spiral +continues until at last we find ourselves where we are now, at +the end of an age.”</p> + +<p>“But what else is there to do?” I asked Onan, +‘If both the past and the future lead to ruin?”</p> + +<p>“The answer is in the present, my dear Jehu, for if one +focuses on the spiritual laws that bring good or evil, and acts +according to them, instead of their physical counterparts and +manifestations, then things will thrive and become prosperous. +What is evil brings evil consequences, and what is good brings +good consequences, over time. The ends define the means, just as +the fruit shows the tree to be either good or bad. These +spiritual laws become known and remembered, not why they are so, +but simply that they are so. No one can question why, for +morality is observed through its effects, just as science is. +When people observe that one thing brings good and another bad, +they remember to stay away from the bad things and cling to the +good. Over time these evolve into taboos and social restrictions, +not meaningless laws enforced by tyrants for their own reasons, +but rules that are observed by all because the are the laws of +the spiritual realm and govern physical life. But when the people +forget what the traditions represent, then all is lost, and +either of the two paths that present themselves lead to +ruin.”</p> + +<p>“But why do not men see?”</p> + +<p>“Because they are rooted too strongly in the physical +realm, and cannot, or will not, see the spiritual. What they see +as happiness is not the spiritual matter that is happiness, but +the physical actions the represent happiness. What they see as +love is not love in the spiritual sense, only its manifestation +in the physical realm. When they see the happiness that comes +from a spiritual connection, they seek after it. But they do not +seek after the actual essence of the spiritual connection, yet +after its physical counterpart, marriage. This they take and +defile, and when they go through the physical actions of the +spiritual marriage but forsake the very thing that makes it bring +happiness, they are left without any real sense of satisfaction, +without any real happiness.</p> + +<p>“You must understand that the physical manifestation of +the spiritual force is not the spiritual force at all, only a +bland deception. If you only focus on what you can see directly, +than you chase after only the representation and not the object +desired. If a bird is flying through the sky at noontime, casting +a shadow on the ground below him, and a man comes along, and in +the hope of catching the bird chases after its shadow, it is +evident that he will never catch it, for when he does reach it, +he will find that there is nothing there at all, only the shadow +of what it was he desired. So it is with the +spiritual!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think that I am beginning to +understand.”</p> + +<p>“Excellent. If only I could tell you more, but I must +go, my dear Jehu, for Father Temis is in mourning for his +children, and I must go to comfort him.”</p> + +<p>“I thought that you and Zimri were his children?” +I asked.</p> + +<p>“You are all his children. He is patient, ever so +patient, but still they fall by the wayside, too caught up in +their false perception to rest in him. Fare thee well, Jehu, may +you be blessed ere you must die.”</p> + +<p>And with that, Onan and Zimri turned and walked away in the +other direction, never to be seen by me again, in this age. I +took a look around me, and could not bear to remain any longer in +a place of such ill remembrance. Turning slowly and despondently +to the westward, I began to walk over the lifeless mass of what +had been the ocean not too long ago. For how long I walked, I +could not tell, but in due time I reached Daem, though it was no +more hospitable than the mainlands, for all was laid to ruin by +the Big Bang, all was equally devoid of life.</p> + +<p>When I came to what had been the center of the savanna, I came +across something that had survived the blast, being unearthed +from its previous burial hole by the force of the +anionizer’s explosion. It was a two foot by two foot box, +made of a strange metallic substance with an intricate etching +along its top. Written there in its center were these words:</p> + +<p>“Temporal Anomaly Box, Number 12, Location: Central +Savanna”</p> + +<p>I took the lid off carefully, though it was in perfect +condition and I did not need to treat it so, and looked inside of +it. There was a notebook and a pen there, both capable of +producing a large of amount of enduring text. This was one of the +boxes that had been taken back through time in the experiments of +the Zards and Canitaurs, designed to withstand any conditions, +and to hold its contents for countless ages, until they should be +retrieved and studied. I sat down on the ground and began to +write my story down, in order to assist whoever takes the job of +kinsman redeemer in the next age. I knew that it would have all +been forgotten, so I made sure to carefully record it, for it +could mean the difference between the life and death of +humanity.</p> + +<p>This was only hours ago, and now I have reached the end my +tale. If by any chance you come upon this in some subsequent age, +I beg you to take heed, for what I have written will surely come +to pass once more if something is not done to prevent it. There +is nothing else for me to say, for this is the end of my story, +and within the next day I will also pass over to the spiritual +realm. What, then, can I say to bring this to a close, for this +is neither the end nor the beginning. I suppose all that can be +said is this:</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><strong>DEJA VU (THE +END)</strong></p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Revolutions of Time, by Jonathan Dunn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME *** + +***** This file should be named 8735-h.htm or 8735-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/7/3/8735/ + +Produced by Jonathan Dunn +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have +to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. + +Title: The Revolutions of Time + +Author: Jonathan Dunn + +Posting Date: February 14, 2015 [EBook #8735] +Release Date: August, 2005 +First Posted: August 6, 2003 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Dunn + + + + + + + + + +THE +REVOLUTIONS +OF +TIME + +By Jonathan Dunn + + +Note to the reader: The manuscript for this book was found in a +weather-beaten stone box on an island in the Pacific Ocean. Its contents +were written in an ancient form of Latin, which was translated and +edited by Jonathan Dunn. + + +Dedicated to Bernibus, +amicus certus in re incerta cernitur. + + +Table of Contents: +Chapter 1: Past and Present +Chapter 2: Predestined Deja Vu +Chapter 3: Zards and Canitaurs +Chapter 4: Onan, Lord of the Past +Chapter 5: The Treeway +Chapter 6: The Fiery Lake +Chapter 7: Down to Nunami +Chapter 8: The Temple of Time +Chapter 9: Mutually Assured Deception +Chapter 10: Devolution +Chapter 11: The Land Across the Sea +Chapter 12: The White Eagle +Chapter 13: The Big Bang +Chapter 14: Past and Future + + +...The very men who claimed mental superiority because they were free +from superstitions and divine disillusionment were themselves victims of +their own sophism, and while they thought themselves crowned with +enlightenment, it was naught but the Phrygian caps of their prejudices +toward the material state. + +--Jehu, the Kinsman Redeemer + +The physical manifestation of the spiritual force is not the spiritual +force at all, only a bland deception. If you only focus on what you can +see directly, than you chase after only the representation and not the +object desired. If a bird is flying through the sky at noontime, casting +a shadow on the ground below him, and a man comes along, and in the hope +of catching the bird chases after its shadow, it is evident that he will +never catch it, for when he does reach it, he will find that there is +nothing there at all, only the shadow of what it was he desired. So it +is with the spiritual! + +--Onan, Lord of the Past + + + + + +Chapter 1: Past and Present + + + +My name is Jehu. Most probably it sounds foreign and unfamiliar to you, +devoid of the qualities of affection and personality which give +character to a name. It is a harsh name, cold and inhuman, like +something out of the night, an unwelcome intruder into the warmth of +familiarity. It inspires no blissful memories, nor does it kindle fond +feelings in the bosom of the hearer, instead the heart is hardened to it +like the feathers of a duck to water, repulsing it, leaving it to run +off into the ditches and by-ways of the long forgotten past, to trickle +dejectedly into those stagnant ponds where so many words of wisdom are +imprisoned: out of sight, out of mind, out of heart, out of history. Yet +while history is forgotten and misconstrued, it is repeated, for what is +life without water, which nourishes and sustains it, and what is life +without wisdom, which protects and cultivates it? + +Jehu is my name, though it no longer brings the quickened pulse and keen +anticipation of happiness to the hearts of any, not even my own. For +what deference can be given to a name, though not in itself a thing of +dishonor, which represents the failure to derail the evitable fate which +wrecks the race of man again and again. Not that I myself embody such a +failure, nor even that I gave birth to the dreaded fate's latest +momentum, but as is seen time and again throughout history, one name is +brought to represent the tide of change, for better or worse, the doer +of deeds which were done not by him, but by a mass of independent doers, +yet it is written in the annals of history as the deeds of but one man. + +While I had little to do, consciously, with the doom of the earth, I +will always be fingered as the villain, as the ambitious Napoleon or the +barbaric Atilla, the arrogant Augustus or the fearful Cyrus. Someone has +to bear the burden of shame on the pages of history for the people of +his time, and in that sense, maybe I truly can be called their kinsman +redeemer. Perhaps it is my fate to bear witness to the wrongs of a +people, of which even you are not wholly innocent. + +And yet can an individual be blamed for the faults of a society, can +personal responsibility be extended to the members of an unknown +multitude? How the enjoined conscience of one longs to say no, but in +good faith it cannot be said, for in this case the mask of ignorance +cannot supersede the face of guilt. Indeed, ignorance in this case only +adds to the shame of the guilty, this being a crime not of misdeeds but +of negligence, twisted together with the vices of humanity into a thick +and sturdy cord, a rope that cannot be pulled apart and individually +examined, yet must be taken as a whole. Insularly, the strand of +ignorance could be easily snapped, remedied by but a little education, +yet when woven together by one's own hands with prides and prejudices, +it forms an unbreakable rope, which is placed about our neck to hang us: +through means of our own doing is our fate foretold. If but one or two +of the strands were omitted, the result would be a feeble rope, easily +broken, and we would live. But by our own vices is our mortality made +manifest, by our own wrongs are we wronged. + +By now you may be beginning to feel the impulses of indignation arising +in your breast, for who am I, the admittedly despicable Jehu, to group +you as my fellow convicts, my co-conspirators, in a sense? And you are +right, for I am not your judge and neither do I wish to be. + +Having said that, I now request of you to put down the book and +discontinue reading. + +"Surely," you say to yourself, "He is mentally deranged, for what author +in his right mind would encourage his readers to disperse, what writer +does not thrive on the digestion of his words by an eager audience?" + +Here I must make a revelation to you: if my manuscript has indeed been +found, then I have long since been dead; and I assure you that in +whatever form my existence takes in the present, I have little desire +for your intrigue or goodwill. Do you think Melville is consoled in +death of his miserable life by the vainglorious praises of the living? +Or do you think that Poe is comforted by such avid attentions in his +present abode? In truth, Melville's only rivalry is now within, and +Poe's only raven that daunting memory of those truths which had escaped +him in life, but which now are opened to you. + +More importantly, if this manuscript has been found, it proves that what +is contained herein is the unerring truth. I do not write this to +exonerate myself, however let me say here that I am more the Andre' than +the Arnold, for I was but the emissary of history, not the traitor to +humanity, and if not me then some other would have filled the void. Let +it be remembered that it was Andre' who gave his life for his deeds, and +yet it is Andre' who is recollected with a sweet sorrow, and though +Arnold lived, he had no peace. Yet while history is vivid and +encyclopedic, in itself a living organism, it can speak only through the +mouths of men, who often misrepresent it for their own partisan and +prejudiced plans. It is strong and steadfast, though, and in time is +always victorious over its menial opposition, for what is history but +the past tense of truth, and it is justly said that veritas numquam +perit, truth never dies. + +Going back to what I said before, namely that at my manuscript's +discovery my demise will itself be history: I am assured that such is +true, for even now as I write this my death is near at hand. How wide +the abyss of time that separates us is I cannot tell, but I do know that +it is beyond the reckoning of men, such an unknown barrage of hollow, +formless years. Yet as you read this it is as if I were speaking +directly to you, despite all of the desolation between our times. That +is what makes history an organic being, and by history I mean all of the +past, or all of the future, depending on your viewpoint. + +A book is a connection between times and peoples, more so than any other +medium. As I put these words down in writing, it is as if I am imparting +my very self into the pages. And as you read them, the name Jehu slowly +forms into an image, into a personality, and from the empty word Jehu +comes the great well of affection springing from a personal intimacy. A +book is an enigma in which no time exists, and as it is read it brings +the reader into its eternal being, for while it sits closed on a shelf +it is no more than a forgotten memory, yet when it is opened its +contents come to life and its characters and locations are once more +existent in the same state as when they were written, the story becomes +once more reality. + +While I have long been deceased, when you read this I am brought to life +once more, and with my rebirth I tell you my story, and make known to +you the truths contained therein. The words of this book are a rune +gate, a portal to the past, and as you read them, your present fades +away and you are drawn into my present, this very moment in which I now +write. Then you connect with me intimately, and for a brief time the +gulf of mortality is transcended and the depths of my being are laid +open to you. We commune together and you eat of my flesh and drink of my +blood, merging your existence with mine. + +Come to me now, my friend, come to me across the gulf of mortality, for +I await you. Come, and in your spiritual peregrination meet with me, in +this land of the past which is so foreign and unfamiliar to you, but +which will become for a time your home. Come to me, my friend, and let +me tell you my story. + + + + + + +Chapter 2: Predestined Deja Vu + + + +It was in the last stages of sleep that I began to feel the warm morning +sun strike my face, and hear the pleasant chirping of birds and +crickets. I rolled slowly over, stretched my legs and my back, and stood +up, with the last remnants of a dream playing quietly in my mind. But as +I came to my feet and got a clear view of where I was, I realized it was +not a dream that I had had at all, but something far more sobering. I +found myself somewhere in the center of a very large prairie which +covered the land for many miles around. From the sun's lowly position on +the eastern horizon, it was evident to me that the new day was just +dawning, casting a golden hue on the grasses that covered the prairie's +surface. + +Around the distant outskirts of the plain I could make out a ring of +trees circumventing the whole, waving almost imperceptibly to and fro in +the light breeze that was blowing. A few miles to the southwest there +was a group of odd looking trees stretching up over the horizon to a +considerable height. They were closer than the outer ring, which kept a +uniform girth around the prairie, but somehow they looked very peculiar +and foreboding, and I got one of those sobering feelings which I like to +call predestined deja vu. What I mean is that I got a sense of deja vu, +but instead of the past converging with the present into one thought, +the present seemed to converge with the future, and the result was a +mysterious foreboding of something, though I couldn't tell what. That is +the sensation that I had when I saw what I assumed to be a small +grouping of trees somewhere in the southwestern portion of the savanna, +though that was merely a guess, for in the distance I could only make +out several dark forms rising out of the grassland like trees, or +possibly buildings, one of them being a great deal taller than the +others, with a spherical shape on top that only faintly resembled a +tree's crown. If it was indeed a tree, it was the largest that I have +ever seen, for it looked to be upwards of 800 feet tall. + +My mental warning bells were ringing quite loudly, and I endeavored to +silence them by extreme exertions of the will, but they would not be +subdued. I assumed that they were not at all correct, much like the +fearful expectancy some have while swimming in the ocean, out of sight +of all land, of being attacked by an enormous leviathan of the deep. As +unfounded as the fear is, it places one into a frenzy of dubious +thoughts that inspire equally frantic and anarchist actions. Because of +this, I thought that my ideas were naught but superstitious fancies, yet +try as I might, I could not rid myself of them. + +Instead, I made up my mind to set off in the opposite direction, north, +and to advance at a double march until I should reach the woody border, +which looked to present shelter not only from the southern apparitions, +but also from the shielded underworld of the grasses, in which also +dwelt the mysterious sense of fear and predestined deja vu. It was +slightly chilly, but beyond that nothing defaced the temperate beauty of +the day, and even that promised to soon dissipate with the continual +strengthening of the sun's warmth. As I walked, or rather, trotted +along, it did just that, and in the growing warmth of the day the sweet +fragrances of the many various grasses rose to the surface, delighting +my odor perceiving sensors with their earthy simplicity. + +The day marched on, and with it I, and the distant wall of trees began +to slowly grow closer. At length, I found myself at their edge, at +around the noon hour, and as I came upon the first of them, I leaned +against the trunk of a large, thickset tree for a moment of repose and +reflection in its shade. It was by all appearances an ancient wood, for +the line between it and the prairie was distinct, appearing as if the +shrubs and lesser flora had acquiesced to fate and retreated beyond the +forest's claimed boundaries, rather than continue for countless ages to +charge and then be pushed back, to gain a foothold only to be thrown out +a year or two later. The trees themselves were mighty pinions of +strength, tall and of great girth, and spread far apart from one +another, leaving wide open spaces between their towering trunks. A +short, soft grass clothed the land that stretched on in their midst, +joined in its solitude by a hearty looking moss that stretched itself +out on the trunks of the trees and on the rocks and boulders that lay +scattered here and there among the open spaces. Far above, the trees' +great branches spread out a thick canopy, covering the whole of the +forest area in a relaxing and invigorating twilight, rendering itself +homely and quaint. After a few moments of enjoying that most pleasing +scene, I roused and extricated myself unwillingly from its enchanted +depths and set off once more into the heart of the woods, having no +where else to go. + +After a time, I cannot say how long, I came upon a small, trickling +stream which flowed deeper into the woods, that direction being +northward. A short walk along its path, after refreshing myself to +content with its pure waters, brought me to its destination: a large +lake into which the forest opened. Its banks were very gradual and the +grass of the woodland led right up to the water's edge. The surface of +the water itself was smooth and delicate. + +Amidst the pleasantness of the scene, there was something missing from +the feel of the area: inhabitants. There was an abundance of wild life +of all kinds, and much organic life as well, but something greater than +flora or fauna was missing: people. I had traveled so far, and without +any sighting of a person. It was a lonely and desolate feeling which +prevailed, despite the abundances of life. Novelties soon grow worthless +with no one to share them with, ideas become meaningless if not +communicated timely, emotions grow boisterous and uncontrollable with no +end to receive them. + +I was quite alone, unfortunately, and it dampened my spirits +considerably. Feeling despondent, I turned and walked sullenly from the +lake's edge into the woodland once more, with no definite purpose in +mind, only a meandering thought of my dismal situation. My thoughts +morphed, in succession, from anxiety to despair, to anger, to +frustration, and in my frustration I knelt down and picked up a fallen +branch from the ground, walked to the nearest tree, and eyed a strange, +protruding knob that stuck out from the trunk. I held the branch at +shoulder's length and swung it at the knob with all the force of my +built up emotions. It hit with a crash and a hollow thud, leaving the +branch broken and my arm sore, but the knob undamaged. + +But then something unexpected happened: with a grating noise, a small +hole appeared part way up the trunk, coming from what looked to be solid +wood, for no sign was seen before of its having an opening. From the +newly opened hole was then thrust out a head, hairy and with a short +snout-like edifice for a nose and mouth. Its eyes and the furry hair +which covered its face were brown, and a few wily whiskers protruded +from its snout. With a look of utter surprise, as if it had not expected +me as much as I had not expected it, it eyed me closely for a moment and +then looked anxiously from side to side and told me to come in. + +When those words passed its lips, or whatever artifice it spoke from, a +great weight fell from my shoulders. After a short moment, quickened by +my relief, a door appeared in the trunk of the tree, its edges +previously hidden behind the thick mosses. Swinging inwards, it opened +and revealed the creature standing there, beckoning me to enter. I did, +and the door shut behind me, leaving me in the darkness of the hollow +tree. + + + + + + +Chapter 3: Zards and Canitaurs + + + +My eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, and once they did I saw that +the trunk was hollowed out to the extent of eight feet in diameter, with +two stairways, one up and another down, filling either corner of the +small entry room in which I found myself. Observing that my vision was +returned enough to see, the strange creature which had greeted me led me +down the descending staircase for a short way, until we came into a +cavern which was delved beneath the roots of the tree. + +The walls and floor of the cavern, or more accurately, the sitting room, +for such it appeared to be, were paneled with a thick, heavy wood with +an almost artificially symmetric grain, and the ceiling was done in +diagonal boards of the same. Sitting in the center of the room was a +brick-laid pit in which burned an illuminating fire, and around it was +placed an odd covering frame that caught up the smoke and channeled it +via underground passages to some distant wilderness, where its sightless +remnants would dissipate into the atmosphere unnoticed. On the near side +of the fire was a round table flanked by four large, comfortable chairs, +padded by cushions made from the same material as the various carpets +and tapestries around the room. + +There were two more of the strange creatures seated at the table, called +Canitaurs as I later found out, and as they are closely entwined with my +story, being prominent participants, I will describe them in some detail +here. They stood erect like a man, yet were quite contrasted in +appearance. Their skin for one was covered in a thick, impenetrable coat +of hair, much like a dog or a bear's. Their hands, also, were less +distinct in the fingers, though but slightly, and their limbs were a +little longer and thicker than a man's. The two most notable +differences, however, were the formation of their shoulders and chest, +which were very pronounced and muscular, and their faces. The latter's +features were brought to a point in the short snout, or muzzle, that +formed their nose and mouth, taking their chins with it and leaving a +long line from their neck to their chest open. Humanity prevailed in the +rest of their features, though, giving them the look of a man and canine +hybrid. + +By then I had overcome my initial perplexion at the sight of the +Canitaurs, and I endeavored to put a strong check over my emotions in +order to prevent another outbreak of panic and to remain cool and +candid, come what would. Yet it was, ironically, the product of my +rashness that I had found their habitation at all. This I successfully +did, and as I entered the room, led by the Canitaur who was on watch, +the others stood politely and greeted me with an apparent intrigue. + +Our conversation proceeded at follows: + +"I am Wagner of the Canitaurs, my friend," said the one who appeared to +be the leader, "And these are Taurus and Bernibus," the latter being the +one who had led me down. "Welcome to Daem." + +"I am Jehu," I told them, "It is a pleasure to meet you." + +"Indeed, and under such circumstances as well. Tell me, how did you come +to be here?" + +Here I smiled nervously, and replied, "I am a traveler from a distant +land, and came here by the advice of a friend." + +At this somewhat false answer, more in character than in content, Wagner +looked at me wonderingly, as if detecting my falsehood, but did not +follow his look with any probing questions, to my great relief. In order +to steer the conversation away from this point, I added quickly, "I am +not at all disappointed, either, for the landscape is beautiful and the +trees and foliage are wondrously large, but I was surprised to find +that, from the prairie to the lake, I saw no one living among these +quaint locations." + +Wagner looked at me closely, with a hint of almost reverencing respect +and said, "You were very fortunate in your travels, I assure you, for +had you arrived at any other time, you would have fallen into fouler +hands than ours by far." + +"I do not understand what you mean," I said. + +"Of course not, I am forgetting your new arrival has left you +unacquainted with affairs that I am faced with everyday. Let me explain: +we, that is, the Canitaurs, have been in open hostilities with the other +group of people on this island, the Zards, for as long as we can +remember. They have great military superiority in this section of Daem, +and when we come here we are forced to live in hiding, in outposts such +as this one." + +"Why not just make peace?" I asked. + +"Because it is our ideologies that conflict, neither group of us will +yield, and the solution can only be decided by force, military force. It +is fortunate that you have come among us first, for they would have +mistreated you." + +"So you have said, though I do not see why I was not captured by them on +my journey through the plains, if they are as powerful in this quarter +as you say," I replied. + +"As I said, the timing of your arrival was very fortunate," he said, "At +any other time you would have surely been caught, and then your fate +would have been uncertain, but yesterday was the Zard's new year, the +Kootch Patah, on which they spend all night in celebrations and +revelries. Because of this, they were all soundly asleep on your trip +through the prairie, very possibly laying at your feet, covered by the +tall grasses." + +So my fears were not as unfounded as I had thought, was my predestined +deja vu, then, real as well? Only time would tell. + +"I am indeed lucky then, as you have said, not only in the Zard's +unattentiveness, but also in finding of your secreted habitation, as +well as your friendly welcoming of me," I said. + +"I must confess," he chuckled, "It is not merely from a one-sided +hospitality that you are welcomed." + +"Indeed?" I said. + +"Indeed," he answered, "For your appearance and the circumstances of +your arrival are almost uncannily the realizations of one of our most +ancient prophesies, one which we have longed to have fulfilled." + +"Is that so?" I rhetorically asked. + +"Surely it is," he said with a smile, though from happiness or humor I +could not tell. He went on soberly, saying: "The prophecy is concerning +the kinsman redeemer, one of the ancients sent by Onan, the Lord of the +Past, to redeem us from the destruction of this polluted world." + +"What do you mean by 'one of the ancients'?" I interjected +questioningly. + +"Exactly what I said," Wagner replied with a light hearted smile, "Let +me explain." + +But before he could, we were interrupted by a violent scratching and +pounding at the door, along with some grunting voices which I could not +understand. The Canitaur's ears, which were quite large, though more +erect and postured than floppy, quickly rose to attention, and they had +spent not a moment listening when they uniformly chorused, "Zards," in a +hoarse whisper. My earlier fear, then mysterious but now understood, +returned in full force, and my face writhed in horror as I ejaculated +remorsely, "Then we are lost." + +Wagner turned gravely towards me and said, "Perhaps, but there is still +hope. Come, follow me," and rising from his chair he led the way to the +furthest corner of the room. A primitive tapestry was hanging there, and +Wagner lifted it up while Bernibus and Taurus hit two hidden switches, +one being on either extremity of the room, to avoid discovery. That +unlocked the wall behind the tapestry. It opened along lines previously +concealed by the wood's grain and revealed a small cubbyhole built into +the wall, probably meant for its present use, concealment. Wagner led us +into it and no sooner was the door, or wall, latched again than the +Zards, having broken down the outside door by brute strength, flooded +into the room. + +We could see them as they did, for the wall that concealed us had many +small holes, and the tapestry as well, so that on the inside we could +see all that happened in the well lit room, while they could not see us, +as there was no light to reveal us. Indeed, I had been sitting facing +the hidden compartment during our brief dialog and had not detected it +at all. The situation was quite different at that time, though, for the +Zards were actively looking for us, whereas I was merely glancing +occasionally at the wall. + +Now that they were closer, I could easily understand their conversation: + + +"Blast it, they aren't here," said one, + +"Probably deserted the place after Garlop saw them, he should have kept +watch." + +"Why? He couldn't have stopped a group of them, and they're too keen to +be followed." + +"Aye, he did right to hurry off, but it would be a shame if they +escaped," another joined. + +"The King is here though, and there's no fooling him. + +"Hear ye, hear ye," the others assented, that being a common phrase +among them which was the equivalent of an 'I agree' or 'Amen'. + +A larger, more commanding Zard, whom the others looked in deference to, +then came down the stairs, saying as he entered the room, "Let us not +celebrate prematurely, gentlemen. There is nothing of interest above, so +we will have to search carefully down here." + +"Sir, is it true it was a hairless one he saw?" one asked him. + +"We are all hairless here," he said, laughing with the others, "But yes, +it is reported that Garlop saw one of the ancients, and with his sharp +eyes and knowledge of history, it is assumed to be true. I need not +remind you, then, the need to find them before they are too far away, it +is imperative to the cause that the ancient is not brought to the hidden +fortress of our adversaries." + +The Zards then set to work with great assiduity searching for any clues +of the Canitaur's whereabouts, examining everything meticulously, yet +quickly. They tore the furniture apart to look for hidden compartments, +followed the smoke pipes through the ground to their outlets, tore off +the floor boards to look for secret passages, and did the same to the +ceiling. + +Before I continue with my story, let me pause for a moment to describe +to you the appearance of the Zards, for you are probably curious as to +what they look like. + +Quite different from the Canitaurs, they were, in fact, completely +hairless, being almost lizard-like. They stood erect, about the same +height as a man, that is, about six feet or a little over that, and +their bodies resembled those of alligators, with short, thickset legs, +stout arms, and a long body with a tail draping down to the ground, +looking like a giant tongue, though covered, of course, in scales. Their +heads were small, having a little skull on which were the eyes and ears +and with a long snout that, like the Canitaurs', held their noses, +mouths, and chin. Huge, sharp teeth filled their mouths and gave them an +odd, fiercely sophisticated look. Their hands were thick with long +fingers, and though their overall appearance had an air of awkwardness +about it, they set to their tasks with great dexterity, though if it was +natural or the result of their excited state, I could not tell. Indeed, +I began to grow worried when the Zard who was removing the walls, to +check for holes or tunnels, drew near to us as he methodically pried off +the panels with a metal bar and looked for anything suspicious. + +He moved along quickly and was just about to put the bar to our covering +and pull when another Zard, on the other end of the room, held aloft a +piece of paper, calling the attentions of the others to it. Our almost +discoverer went himself to the other Zard, and we were, for a moment at +least, saved from being exposed. Having read the paper, the taller Zard, +the King, said to the others, "Well done, lads. We have here a map to +the Canitaur's hidden fortress. Let us go to Nunami, gather some troops, +and surprise them. Today may prove victorious, so let us hurry." + +The others assented and as a body they went up the stairs and out the +door, hurrying forth, it seemed, to do their dastardly deeds, and in +their ardor not leaving behind even a single one to guard the hideout. +Despite our good fortunes, my spirits were damp, for my sorrow of the +Canitaur's ill fate was as a wound in my bosom, knowing that I had been +the sole reason for their discovery. What a good kinsman redeemer, I +thought, for my coming may have ended the wars, or put its completion in +motion, yet not in the favor of my hosts. + +To my chagrin, however, the Canitaurs, led by Wagner, were buxom, +seeming to find great humor in what had happened. Turning to them in a +zealous perplexity, I said spiritedly, "How can you laugh? You may have +escaped, but your brethren are doomed, and you yourselves will not last +long around enemies without the protection of the other Canitaurs." + +But my rebuke only seemed to make their laughter and mirth more hearty, +and they raged on without ceasing for a time. After a while, when they +were reduced to a smiling remnant of their former pleasure, Wagner +turned gravely towards me and said, "Forgive me, Jehu, for not +explaining it to you. You are right to chastise us, but the situation is +not as you seem to think it, for the map they found was a fake, and will +lead them to nowhere of importance, while we affect our escape. We are +lucky that they left no guard, but come, let us not tempt fate and +remain any longer in this compromised outpost, to the fortress we go!" + +He finished and met with the approbations of the others, and +accordingly, we exited the cubby hole and made our way through the +rummaged room, up the stairs, and out of the tree. It was now early +evening, and the temperance of twilight, with its soft and mellow +splendors, only increased the pleasantness of the area. A slight breeze +prevailed and rustled the leaves and boughs of the giant trees just +enough to render it pacifying and comforting. Being quickened by the +breeze, the lake danced on in its earlier smoothness, only in a faster +tempo, improving the ruggedness of the watery wrinkles. The last +visiting rays from the sun were congregated on the eastern shores, +saying their good-byes to the glowing trees, and giving their parting +respects before being whisked away to their native lands of fire, to +come again in great numbers on the morrow. + +We set off around the lake, making our way northward towards the rugged +mountains rising before us in a grand show of might. Wagner and Taurus +walked before and behind us, respectively, Wagner leading the way and +Taurus erasing the marks of our passing, and both watching for any signs +of ambush. Bernibus walked abreast of myself, keeping me in pleasant +company, for he was a very enjoyable companion. + +During our walk, Bernibus and I had an insightful conversation, of which +I will relate to you the following, as you may find it interesting: + +"Tell me," I said to him, "You seem to be a jovial people, despite the +war that you find yourselves in, but are all of your people of the same +attitude?" + +"Very nearly, yes," he replied, "For though we do not wish war, the +principles at stake here are important enough for us to sacrifice an +easy life for them. We've grown used to it, everything is done in such a +way as to promote secrecy and stealth, those being our main advantages +in the conflict. Out of hundreds of outposts like the one we were just +in, for example, only four others have ever been discovered, and the +Zards still have no clue where our fortress is." This he said in a +boastful manner, but as he did a faint spirit of sorrow spread across +his face for an instant, as if in memory of one of the raids of previous +times. + +"That explains their rapture when they found the false map," I returned, +"But I must admit that I am still ignorant of the cause of the wars. It +was said that it was conflicting ideologies, yet that is self-evident, +as all conflict is at heart just that. I don't mean, either, the actions +that caused the most recent inflammation, but what exactly your +conflicting ideologies are? What is it that keeps you from harmony?" + +"You have a knack for hard questions," he said with a smile. Then he +paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. At length, he continued, +"The Canitaurs have a profound respect for all that has gone before us, +we honor the traditions of our ancestors and revere their beliefs and +their ideas of truth. The past, in the guise of history, is the key to +the future, we believe, and we hold strictly to the worship of Onan, the +Lord of the Past," at this my attention was perked. He continued, "Our +adherence to the ways of our ancestors is based on the idea that what +has continued throughout the ages has continued because it is right, +that it has remained steadfast because it is based on the immovable +foundations of reality. We follow Onan because he is real, because the +past has existed, and it is certain that it will continue to exist, and +because that existence dictates the operation of the present. Although +we may seem ritualistic and entrenched in tradition to the outside +observer, we enjoy the comforts of knowing that we are on a well tread +path, that we are not alone in time but in company with our forebears. +We are called the Pastites because of our beliefs, because of our +tradition based lives that instill in us a reliance on history, on the +events of the past as a light by which to guide our own actions, as a +road paved by the flesh and blood of our forefathers which leads to +happiness and peace." + +Bernibus paused for another moment, as if in contemplation once again, +before he continued, saying, "The Zards are followers of the future, or +Futurists as they are called. They believe that the past is just that, +the past: the ignorant and selfish times of the unenlightened who were +too shrouded by prejudices to understand the world clearly. Instead they +place their faith in the scientific and philosophical ideas of the day, +believing that while history and the past were delegated to the control +of the unsophisticated whose ways were superstitious and outdated, the +present contains truth in its pure form. Reform and revolution are their +watchwords, for they tinker with the very foundations of society and +life in an attempt to cultivate it. Zimri is their Lord, of the Future, +and they follow him loosely, for he doesn't require the strict adhesion +that Onan does, which suits their independent and relaxed world view +very well." + +He went on, in summary, "In a word, the Pastites believe that history, +the reality of the past, governs the present and the future, while the +Futurists believe that the future defines the present and the past." + +"I begin to see the differences," I replied in a humble, questioning +manner, "And yet they seem to me to be passive, secondary differences, +the kind that result in a conflict of subtle disagreements here and +there, argued over dessert like tariffs or taxes, not at all violent. +How is it that they take such a prominent role in everyday life that +they can only be resolved by force? What is it that takes it from the +fireside to the battlefield?" + +Here I was slightly taken aback by the expression on Bernibus' face, it +was one of surprise mingled with apprehension and questioning. He said, +"Then you do not know?" + +"Know what?" + +He laughed, "I take it you do not." Becoming solemn again, he continued, +"Our land, Daem is on the edge of ruin, and has been for all of my life +and those of many generations before me. About 530 years ago there was a +great war on earth, one in which no restraint was used, no mutually +assured destruction, for nuclear weapons came into the hands of those +who cared not for any life, not even their own. Tensions were high for a +decade, and in the following segregation, the peoples of the earth lost +their personal connection with their enemies, and, as always happens, +ceased to view them as equals, but instead as evil ones bent on their +destruction. Things came to such a crisis that at last a little flame +was lit and it grew and grew until it became a full scale nuclear war. +The destruction was total: no one was exempt, as almost everything, and +everyone, was destroyed. The only surviving place was this island, which +is the sole habitat of the delcator beetle, a small insect that digests +nuclear waste and neutralizes it. The first few decades were horrible, +before the atmosphere recovered enough to return to normal, and in that +time things mutated and grew gigantic. The trees and foliage, as you +see, are an example of this, even the redwood trees of old were nothing +compared to the trees of Daem. And the Zards and Canitaurs grew and +changed as well, and, as we lived on either ends of the island, as we do +now, our forms morphed into the separate forms that they now take. + +"And that is where our conflict turned violent," he continued, "For it +is our desire, on both sides, to return the earth to its previous state. +The Pastites want to return through time and stop the destruction before +it happens, because we believe that the past is what must be changed in +order to change the present and future. It is the actions of the past +that brought about the present woes, and it is they that must be undone. +For their part, the Futurists want to change the present through the +future, to go into the future and bring back its completion, in the form +of restored RNA cells, which is congruent with their belief that the +past is the past and all that matters is that which is yet to come, that +which still has the hope of existence." + +I looked at him as he finished and said, "But, why not do both. Wouldn't +that be more effective than fighting each other? How can continued +destruction revert previous destruction inflicted in the same manner? +Could not both ideas be tried?" + +"If only they could," he replied. "It goes back to Onan and Zimri, you +see, for we ourselves cannot do such things, but the gods whom we follow +can. Shortly after the worldwide destruction, we, meaning both the Zards +and the Canitaurs, received the prophesy of the kinsman redeemer, who +would be sent to help us change the earth to its former majesty. He was +to be one from the time right before the beginning of the final +firefight, one of the ancients who still kept the pure human form. Our +hostilities broke out in an attempt to control the entire island, so +that when he should come, the dominant force would have him. Each side +was convinced that theirs was the right way, the only way through which +the end of restoring the earth's ecosystem could be reached. You are the +kinsman redeemer, Jehu, for you fit the prophecy perfectly, and I am +glad that you have fallen in with us." + +After his discourse, Bernibus fell into a silent meditation, as did I, +and the rest of our walk through the now dark wilderness was one of +silence and solitude. Given the cessation of action in my narrative, I +will take this opportunity to describe the circumstances of my arrival +on the island of Daem, about which you are no doubt wondering. + + + + + + +Chapter 4: Onan, Lord of the Past + + + +Not wishing to delve too far into my past or relate what would be +mundane and disconnected with my story, I will summarize with brevity +what my situation was. I was a military man, an Air force pilot to be +exact, and was on active duty patrolling the no-fly zones off the coast +of China, it being, at that time, an area of very high tensions. The +situation was grim, as any small incident promised to set the pendulums +of war into motion, but the worst had subsided, and things were +beginning to look as if that incendiary incident wouldn't come after +all. The main part of my story begins on a cloudy night of what was to +me just a few weeks back, though it seems like many ages ago now, and +indeed, it was. + +I was flying over an area that was littered with small volcanic islands, +the type that rise above or fall below sea level continually, so that +what one year is above water is later below. Some of them have even been +known to only rise above the waves for a short time, and then vanish +from the sea completely, worn down by wind and waves. The night was +murky, and the air was thick with water and dust, the result being that +there was no natural light whatsoever, and any artificial light that +could be mustered was largely reduced to nothing, visibility being no +more than twenty feet. + +The wind was calm and the flying, though strenuous from lack of sight, +was without turbulence. I was doing well, until out of nowhere I heard a +loud crack of thunder, followed by a bolt of lightning that hit the +plane. At once I lost all of the instruments, excepting the actual +control of the plane in manual, meaning that the radar and all the +guidance systems were crippled, and I could see nothing. Not knowing +what to do, and not being able to radio for help, I pulled down and +slowed until I was just barely remaining airborne, and began looking for +an island to land on. + +Once below 200 feet, the clouds gave way and I saw an island. I aimed +for it and slowed more, preparing to land on it. I did, though just +barely, for it was extremely small, being one of those inconsistent +volcanic islands. Getting out of the plane, I was greeted by a strong +blast of wind that was dripping water from its cold grip, and I was +instantly chilled to the bone. There was nothing on the island at all, +except for the hole in its center, from which, no doubt, came the lava +that had formed it. It was on a slightly elevated hill, and looked as if +it had not erupted for many thousands of years. With nothing to do at +that moment except to get an idea of the island that I had landed on, I +walked over to it and knelt down beside it, peering blankly into its +depths. It seemed to be absolutely devoid of light, and, as often +happens, its darkness was mysterious to me, for I wondered what lay +hidden in it, and my curiosity got the better of my common sense. I +leaned slowly forward. Then, as I did so, I heard a loud and terrible +voice, personified in the crashing of the waves and the moaning of the +wind, and it said in a monotonous and unending refrain, "Enter." Nothing +more nor less than the continual repetition of that word. This alarmed +me, and as I did not want to do that, I began to stand upright and back +away from it, to return to my plane. But as I raised my knee from the +ground in order to stand, my other knee slipped under the increased +pressure, and in the ensuing instability, I completely lost my balance +and fell forward into the hole. + +There are certain events in our lives that change the whole course of +our existence, and falling forward into the hole was one for me. Its +immediate effects weren't injurious to me at all, but it matured with +time, like a good wine, and grew until it overcame me, starting the +chain of events which would result in my demise. Yet not only mine, but +that of everyone. + +Let me continue, though, and I will explain what I mean and not confuse +you more. I landed with a thud on a pile of soft dirt some twenty feet +down, in a dark place which seemed open, not cavernous and cramped as I +would have expected. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, and as they did, +I realized it was not now totally lightless, for there was a faint glow +coming from somewhere in the distance. Looking up through the passage I +had come down, I saw that there was no way to climb up it, and, +accordingly, set off to find the source of the faint light that came +from the distance. After walking cautiously through the darkness, I +reached a curve and then a tunnel-like exit to the spacious cavern that +I was in, and as I turned it I saw the source of the light: lava flows. +The room, or area, I had entered was rather thin and round, with a river +of lava flowing downwards and a small ledge of rock winding along its +edge. Together they descended spirally downwards at a gentle angle, +taking the form of an intelligently designed ramp. As I followed it down +I soon broke out in a sweat, for the gurgling, fiery plasma heated the +area up to a warm degree. + +I found myself looking intently at the flowing fire beside which I +walked, its strangeness stealing my meditations from other things, and I +looked at it absorbingly, not paying attention to the path that I walked +on, so entranced was I with the feeling that its boiling character gave +to me. + +As I walked along the lava preoccupied with my meditations and not +paying conscious attention to the path, my subconscious was carefully +monitoring my way, and when once my eyes glanced upward, I quickly saw +that my surroundings had changed. The narrow, spiral descending tunnel +had given way to a very cavernous area where the lava flow formed a +large lake of fire. A domed ceiling crowned this great room, though not +exact and polished, having instead a rough appearance as it stretched +from wall to wall, a semi-chasm of a hundred yards, more or less, with +its uppermost height being not less than twenty yards. On the far walls +were two lava falls, trickling from raised tunnels in the wall into the +body of lava, which covered the whole bottom of the room. There was a +platform that sat in the middle of the fiery lake, connected to the +tunnel I had come from by a walkway of stone. This room was different +than the other two, also, in its fashion, for while the previous had +vague evidences of intelligent design, this one was very obviously +artificially decorated. The walkway above mentioned was of ornate stone +with an intricate design of circles, squares, and triangles carved into +it, and on each corner of the center stage was a long pillar that +reached from floor to ceiling, each carved like a totem pole, with a +variety of animals and shapes stacked upon one another. The dome was +done ornately as well, for I saw as I walked further into the room that +what I had thought had been imperfections in the dome proved to be an +elaborate three dimensional sculpture that stuck out from the ceiling, +depicting an intricate scene of figures and telling a story of some +great saga of war and peace, pride and prejudice, love and hate, faith +and betrayal, all combined to make the greatest mural: history, the +story of time itself. + +As I looked in awe upon its beauty, I was startled by a voice coming +from an unseen figure somewhere on the center platform. It said, "Jehu, +you have come at last. Welcome." + +The voice was very gentle and pleasing to the ears, slowly and +confidently spoken, meticulously articulated. I looked around in its +direction and saw a short, elderly gnome with a long white beard +reaching to his chest and a short crop of hair on his oblong head, which +was outfitted with a sharp, angular nose, a pair of sparkling eyes, and +two protruding ears. He was no more than four feet tall, and no less +than three, with a dignified poise to him, and was dressed in a dark +robe with a black and gold design on it. We looked at each other for a +moment, he smiling pleasantly and me expressionless, for though I felt +that I should be surprised, or at least bewildered, at the sight of a +gnome in an underground cavern, I was not, it was as if I had almost +been expecting it to happen, as if in the back of my mind I had already +been there and done that. Perhaps it was only a case of predestined deja +vu, or maybe it was something less tangible. Either way, the gnome then +broke the silence again, saying: + +"Let me introduce myself, Jehu. I am Onan, the Lord of the Past, and +these are the Chambers of History." + +He then paused for a moment, waiting for my reaction, which was, again, +not too much surprised, but rather complacent, thought I didn't look +bored or snobbish, as is sometimes the case in that situation. Instead I +became as genial as possible, realizing that whatever force was behind +this, it was greater than I. + +"Hello, Onan, it is pleasure to meet you," I said, advancing with a +proffered hand extended towards him, which I realized belatedly made me +appear oafish, but he took it good-naturedly, and with his pleasantness +eliminated my unease at shaking the hand of one half my size. He then +beckoned for me to follow him, and turned and walked to the center of +the platform, where he unexpectedly laid down on his back, facing the +muraled dome. I did the same, somewhat hesitantly, though I found it to +be quite comfortable once I was down. He saw my sluggishness and by way +of explanation said to me: + +"Do not be troubled, my dear Jehu, for we lie on our backs to bring +about clarity of mind." + +Then he continued speaking, calling my attention to the sculptured dome: + + +"That is history," he said. + +"What do you mean," I asked, "I've always viewed history as an organic +being, constantly growing as it devours the present." + +"It is an organic being," he replied, "A monstrous beast of sorts. But +that (meaning the mural on the dome), my friend, is the genetics of +history, its code that dictates what it is and what it will become, the +master plan." + +Allow me to take a moment to describe the mural for you. Firstly, its +form: it was spread out across the dome like the painted ceiling of the +Sistine Chapel, its whole being a broad, harmonious picture that +complimented itself, telling a story throughout its united branches. It +was much more than a painting, though, because it stood out from the +dome like a group of completely independent sculptures, but placed so as +to tell the combined story with a sort of native ease, not stressed or +artificial, yet seeming as natural and beautiful as water in its flowing +grace. Now I will endeavor to describe its content, though I realize +that in this case the picture must be worth many millions of words. + +The center of the mural was its beginning, and there a man was standing +proudly upright, dressed in splendid clothes of fine linens. He held in +his hand a magnificent cup of gold with a row each of diamonds, rubies, +sapphires, and pearls running along its breadth. It contained a dark red +liquid, which appeared to be boiling, and the man was holding it out to +a fierce lion whose shoulders were four feet across and whose mouth was +like a cavern, with stalactites and stalagmites of the most terrifying +nature. With an evil glare in its eyes toward the man, the lion drank +thirstily from the cup. Around the man and the lion there was a ring of +blazing fire, leaping out of the dome like great pillars of flame, +entrapping them within its narrow circle. On the outside of the fire was +a group of mighty lizards and beasts, the smallest of which was larger +than several elephants. Their whole attention was paid to a great fight +in which they were engaged, yet their foe was naught but the reflections +of themselves on the great sea which surrounded the island that held +these strange sights. Several of them were dead or severely wounded at +having been accidentally mauled by their fighting brethren. Across the +ocean from the island there was another landmass, whose far edges were +not in sight. On it were many ape-men bowing down in worship of a +gigantic White Eagle which was soaring far above them with a multitude +of lords and ladies gripped in its massive talons. The lords were +dressed in silken robes and adorned with many pieces of fine jewelry, +and the ladies were clothed in skirts of crimson; both groups had upon +their faces looks of pleasure, and contempt towards those far below +them. + +Onan continued speaking, "You see, Jehu, the whole of history, both that +now written and that yet to come, is planned, executed according to its +own power, for the course of time is marked as clearly as the tides: by +its own coming and going it is revealed. Revealed, however, only in an +abstract and undefined manner, so that while its marks are clearly seen, +it is only by special revelations that it is shown in a comprehensive +and detailed light. And that is why I have summoned you here, my dear +Jehu, for you are the chosen one, summoned to help me." + +I was skeptical and asked him, "You summoned me? But how, I was to +forced to crash land on the island by the weather, and accidentally fell +into the volcano's mouth. It was by my own freewill decisions that the +circumstances of my arrival here were fulfilled." + +Onan laughed quietly and said, "History is not an unstoppable machine, +allied with fate to control the destiny of all things past and future, +nor does it nullify the power of man's freewill, yet the force that acts +upon the minds of men to form them is history itself. You see, men are +not the opponents of history and fate, for they do not impede its +progress with their freewill decisions, instead they are its minions, +its slaves, building up its strength and carrying out its dictates by +its influence, so that they become history as they serve it, adding to +its organism their own consciouses. While you were brought to these +Chambers by circumstances of your own choosing, your desires in choosing +those circumstances were dictated by the experiences of the past. But +never mind how I summoned you, for you are here now." + +"Very well," I said, not wishing to disagree with the Lord of the Past. +Still, I was in a stubborn frame of mind, and asked, "But if the past is +as powerful as you construe it to be, then why does the Lord of the Past +need the help of a mere mortal like myself? Or do you mean you need a +more direct agent than those you control only by influence?" + +"Something like that," he answered. "You see, there was a great disaster +once, which was blamed on me, and in order to atone for it, I promised +to send a kinsman redeemer before anything so devastating happened +again, and I believe you are the perfect choice." + +"What devastating event hasn't been blamed on the past in one form or +another?" I said, "But why not just go yourself?" + +"It is against the rules," Onan told me. + +"How typical." + +"Yes, indeed, I sometimes wonder what good it is to be a god if you +can't do anything yourself," he said with a sigh. + +"What do you want me to do there, then?" + +"I cannot tell you, unfortunately." + +"Against the rules?" I asked. + +"Very much so. All that I can do is send an agent with a slight +understanding of the situation of history and physical existence to the +people, but he must make the judgments of how to proceed all on his own. +If I did tell you, it wouldn't be much different than going myself, and +then there would be no human resolution to human problems." + +"Our lives serve as a spectator sport to the gods, then?" I inquired of +him. + +"I am afraid not," he said, "It is much more serious than that. The +Greeks were not all wrong, you know." + +"Who else, I wonder." + +"Not many," he sighed, "But tell me, are you ready?" + +"As I'll ever be." + +"Then I will begin. The understanding of life begins with the +understanding of physical existence," Onan said, "And by physical +existence I mean the quality of being materially animated. Not to +confuse it with consciousness, which is the ability to think and reason, +it is rather the realm in which one has substance and continuity. I will +call the elements of physical being time and matter, those words +representing widely known concepts. Matter provides the raw substance +and time gives those lifeless objects a plane of being to exist in. +Without time, matter can do nothing except sit in a sterile state, in a +vacuum in which nothing could occur; and without matter, time would +flow, but nothing would move with it. Thus, the basis of physical +existence is time and matter, each being useless separately, yet +together being the perfect combination of a tangible object and the +fluid, forward movement to animate it. Imagine it as a three-dimensional +painting, matter given depth by time." + +"Not so complicated," I said cheerfully. + +"Not yet, you mean," he laughed. + +"Exactly, tell me more." + +"Not just yet, Jehu. First you must help me." + +"The time to begin has come then?" I asked. + +"Yes, you must go now," he said, "And remember, I'll be watching. +Good-bye." + +And with that, not even standing up, Onan put me into a deep state of +comatose and sent me through time to the unknown lands and people whom I +was to deliver. I awoke, as you will remember, in the center of the +savanna. Now that you know the circumstances of my arrival on Daem, I +will go back to where I was before: on the way to the Canitaur's hidden +fortress. + + + + + + +Chapter 5: The Treeway + + + +I was walking in silence through the rugged forests of northern Daem +alongside Bernibus the Canitaur, with his fellows Wagner and Taurus +before and behind us, respectively, the former leading the way, the +latter covering our tracks, and both on the lookout for an ambush. An +entire lifetime of guerrilla warfare and privations of all kinds had +instilled in the Canitaurs a strong and prevailing sense of caution, +which sometimes rendered their lighthearted and almost spiritually +frivolous nature to the casual observer a dense, deceiving demeanor used +to conceal their true selves. But that was not the case, I believe, for +they were, or at least Bernibus was, truly amorous in personality. + +The sky was then in its deepest dark, and in the few breaks in the +canopy above large enough to be seen through, there were few celestial +lights to illuminate the depths of that mountainous forest. The forest +itself sprawled like a great metropolis along the lands above the large +central lake of Daem, Lake Umquam Renatusum, which was close beside the +Canitaur outpost where we had narrowly escaped discovery and capture. +However deficient in sight the forest was, it was abounding with sounds, +everything from the call of the owl to groan of the bull frog, it was as +if the whole of the forest had congregated about us, drawn to us by some +unknown scent of interest and intrigue. + +Continuing on for some time in the same way, I found myself growing +weary, nodding my head slowly towards the oblivion of sleep, until I was +brought to an instant liveliness by Wagner's announcement that we had +reached our destination. I looked around carefully, yet I saw nothing at +all to indicate the entrance to a large, covert military establishment, +much to my companions delight. Their whimsical sense of humor surfaced +once again as they laughed with seemingly infinite pleasure, both at my +wondering expression and with a sense of satisfaction at their own +cleverness. After the outburst had been subdued and a certain level of +solemnity had been reached, Wagner approached the nearest tree and +knocked on it with a rhythmic rut-tut-tut. + +Expecting their old trick to be replayed, I waited for the tree to open, +but to my surprise, it didn't, instead a strong rope ladder dropped down +from a tree several yards to the east. This we climbed, and I found that +I had been mistaken as to the height of the ancient wooden towers, for +they proved to be even loftier in dimensions than I had imagined. +Accordingly, it took us a good five minutes to reach its top at a quick +and steady pace, and all through the climb I was terrified at the long +drop, from which the ladder offered no protections. Yet I made it to the +top safely, and found that there was a large platform built securely +among its upper branches, with enough room to hold a few dozen persons, +and there was even comfortable seating in the center. There were four +guards stationed on the platform, each equipped with a long bow and a +quiver of metal tipped arrows, and though they were hardly visible +through the dim light emitted from the covered lantern that lit the +platform, I could see them quietly conversing with Wagner and Taurus +while Bernibus and myself reposed on the seats provided for that very +purpose. + +They conversed for awhile, though I could not hear them, nor could I see +them well enough to judge their facial expressions, but Bernibus waylaid +any anxious thoughts I had with his encouraging tone, and also by giving +me a drought of ale and a loaf of bread to overcome my fatigue and +hunger, both of which I quickly consumed. He gave me more bread, but +wouldn't allow me another glass of ale, for safety's sake. At first I +thought he deemed me easily overcome by spirits, but I soon discovered +his reasons and thanked him. + +Wagner returned from the guards and, finding that we were ready to +proceed, led us to the far corner of the platform, where we were joined +by Taurus. We then set off on a road that ran above the lower levels of +the canopy, made from jointed platforms that were attached to the +massive limbs of the trees, meeting the branches of the next tree half +way across, forming a continuous, snaking path far above the ground. +Traveling on those paths we made our way criss-crossingly to the west. +The walking was no more difficult than on the ground, for the boards +were firmly secured to the great branches, which were at least five or +six feet wide, and there were short rails as well. + +After no more than half an hour of travel on the 'Treeway', we reached +another large platform in the center of a great tree which was very much +like the first one, excepting that the trunk of the tree came up through +its center and there was a door leading into the trunk. There were eight +guards on this platform, but they let us pass without more than a +friendly gesture, their scouts having, no doubt, seen us long before and +ascertained our identity and intentions. They seemed to have been +expecting the return of Wagner's group, though the addition of me they +appeared to eye curiously. + +Wagner led us directly to the door, which opened into a set of circular +stairs that wound down the inside of the tree like the insides of an old +world lighthouse tower. The stairs descended further than the tree +ascended, wrapping around almost infinitely, at least to my wearied +senses, which were depleted of vividness by the treacherous toils of the +proceeding day. Down, down, down went the stairs, until at length we +reached the bottom and found ourselves in a cave, the stairs ending in a +small foyer area which opened out into the cave, it being delved into +the bedrock layer, indicating that we had indeed passed below the +surface on our descent. The passage was really a narrow defile with high +walls on either side, impenetrable due to the fact that they were the +foundations of the earth above. It stretched on for a ways, its whole +length commanded by little, turret like stations which stuck out from +the upper wall, in which were stationed groups of archers, and though +they now stood in a solemn, dignified manner, any opposition that +attempted to force a way through would have been decimated. Yet they +stood at attention and made no noise or movement at our passing, instead +being the essence of well disciplined soldiery. + +This narrow chasm led onward for about three hundred yards, the walls +stretching upwards in such a fashion that it brought to mind images of +Moses crossing the Red Sea, with great walls of water suspended in air +on either side, ready at any moment to come crashing down upon them, +their lives in the hands of another. So did I then feel, the Canitaur +guards being able to slay me on the slightest whim of fancy that struck +their minds into a sadistic mood. Yet I was not afraid, instead I was +overcome by a feeling of relaxation, where all cares and worries are +given up as frivolous burdens, not necessary and not helpful, being, in +fact, harmful to the mind. + +The defile, or narrow passage, led to a great abyss, crossable only by a +drawbridge controlled on the other side, which was at this time lowered +and ready for us to cross, which we did, accompanied by four honor +guards who were dressed in all the pomp and pleasantry known by the +Canitaurs. It was a custom among them to greet newcomers with an honor +guard which escorted them to the body of dignitaries and aristocrats +that would be waiting to welcome them in style. This was done for us, +and we were led into the fortress' great room, which was used for +discussions and debates, via another winding stairway that took us even +further below the surface. It was a splendid room, equipped with all +kinds of luxuries and embellishments and spreading out like a quarter +circle around a central stage with a podium upon it. Seats were arranged +in arching rows, with a sort of cluster of seats around a wooden desk +being allotted to each of the members of the council and his aide de +camps; there were two hundred such clusters. Sitting there like they had +been woken from sleep to attend to us were the delegates, looking tired +and untidy, a rare state for a Canitaur to be in, with their clothes +ruffled, their hair uncombed, and their eyes glazed with a discordant +state of mind. + +Wagner, who turned out to be a high official among them, led me to the +top of the stage where the podium was, with a sofa, desk, and several +chairs behind it, concealed from the council by the raised floor and +walls that formed the base of the podium, creating a small, private +anteroom for those at the podium. I laid myself down tiredly on the sofa +to rest while Wagner took the stage and began to speak. + +"Friends, comrades, associates," he said to the council, "I thank you +for neglecting your beds at this late hour to join with us here in the +Hall of Meeting, for there is something very important to be shared. You +are all no doubt familiar with the ancient prophecy of the Externus +Miraculum: long ago it was told that in our extreme need, when hope no +longer exists in the hearts of many, an ancient would be sent by Onan +our lord to redeem and deliver us from the evils of this world, for as +our doom was wrought in their times, so would our hope originate. The +past cannot be changed except by those who first made it, and our +present is dictated by the happenings of the past, so that for a better +future the past must be changed, and only then will we be freed from the +burdens of history." + +He continued, "We have therefore long awaited the arrival of our kinsman +redeemer, who will change the past and prevent the cause of our current +woes from happening, for without its roots, what evil can grow and +flourish? Our redeemer was to come on the Kootch Patah, when our +adversaries the Zards are not watchful, being drunk with celebrations at +the turning of the year. Myself, Taurus and Bernibus went to the shores +of Lake Umquam Renatusum, as is our custom, to watch for the coming of +the promised one, and this time we were not disappointed, for he came to +us, even as the prophecy says, as we sat hidden in the living tower. +Seen by the Zards, we were almost discovered, until the promise of the +hidden fortress drew them away, even as the prophecy says. And now we +are here, delegates of the Canitaurian people, safely within our +fortress with our kinsman redeemer, so what shall be done? Let us +decide." + +At this point he cast a glance towards me, as if desiring me to speak +before the council, but I was in the last throes of wakefulness, where +sleep has crept so far upon you that arrival in the land of dreams is +only a matter of moments, and wakefulness is not desired, nor is +anything else. I looked at him with my eyes glazed with that sweet, +savory taste of sleep, and though I was conscious, I was not in control, +only an audience to actions of my subconscious whims, and even that +passed beyond my reach as my eyes fell shut, isolating me in the realm +where worldly concerns mean nothing. And so I was when my exhaustion +overtook me, leaving me sound asleep on the sofa behind the podium. + + + + + + +Chapter 6: The Fiery Lake + + + +When I woke I was no longer in that room but in another, a small homely +room where I was laid on a bed, the room being located, as I found out +later, not too far from the Hall of Meeting. Though the depth of the +fortress prevented me from knowing the time, it felt to be early +afternoon by that strange internal clock that so seldom errs. It was +correct, as usual. There was a quaint fireplace on the far wall of the +room with a small, unadorned and unpretentious mantle, decorated like +the rest of the fortress in a practical and experienced way, finding +just the right flavor between the ornate, the practical, and the quaint, +and avoiding all the while the clutter brought by superfluous material +possessions. A table in the center of the room was furnished with a +steaming meal, beside which sat my new friend Bernibus, smiling on me +with a benevolent and almost paternal affection. + +"Good morning, Jehu," he said, "Or should I say afternoon, for the +morning has quite passed by already." + +"Yes, and it has left in me a great appetite, my good man." + +"As is shown clearly in your eyes," he jested, "Come and eat." + +Needing no further urging, I leapt from my bed, sat down across from him +at the table, and began partaking greedily of the hearty breakfast of +hash browns and pancakes, which were pleasing to my mouth and stomach, +for the tastes in food are controlled more by the condition of the body +than by the time of day. When I had satisfied my needs, we reclined in +our chairs and began conversing: + +"Tell me," I said, "Did my untimely slumber yester eve cause any +irritated prides?" + +"Quite to the contrary, the council was well humored and followed your +lead to their bed chambers." + +"I am relieved to hear it, for I was anxious of appearing lax in ardor +or animation." + +"Not so, my friend, you are quite exonerated from doubtful thoughts. +There is a session planned for this evening though, so may yet feel +yourself put on trial." + +"Unfortunate," said I, "But surely they can mean no harm, am I not the +kinsman redeemer, after all?" + +"Yes, you are," Bernibus said with a look of subdued apprehension, "We +have an end in view, though the means are as yet not wholly decided. It +is a complicated situation." + +I smiled softly, "So is always the case." + +"In truth it is: time reveals all things yet do all things reveal time?" + + +"What do you mean?" I asked him. + +"Our situation is complicated by differing views of time, and I was +wondering aloud if history and the present reality disclose the truth +about time in the same way that time reveals the truth of the present. +If our way were more illuminated, the journey would be easier." + +"Perhaps that is why men look to the well lit paths of history, or to +the dim conjectures of the future rather than the dark, yet detailed +ways of present." + +"Perhaps," he said, "But the present is so fleeting that it holds little +intrigue." + +"Even so, it is the stage, not still waiting behind the curtain, nor +already performed." + +"Yet the past controls by influences and prejudices, justified or not, +and it will doubtless be the view of the council that the past must be +redone, that the problems be addressed at the source," Bernibus replied. + + +"I am still in the dark about all your inferences," I said. + +"My apologies, I forget myself. But let us not dwell on subjects which +may become quite exhausted in the near future, for better or worse," he +told me. + +"Fair enough," I returned, acceding to the subject change, and jumping +on the opportunity to steer it in a different direction, "I know little +of you, Bernibus, so tell me all." + +"There isn't much to tell," he coyly responded. + +"Nonsense, Bernibus, tell me or I shall get very angry," I jested, +imitating some mythological god's wrath. + +He smiled discreetly and yielded to my request, "Very well, I will tell +you. I was born in the year 490 D.V. (that is, Durante Vita), to a poor +couple from the northernmost pier of Daem, the Gog." + +"Wait a moment, Bernibus," I interrupted, "I didn't mean in that +fashion, for when I say I know little of you, it is because I literally +know little of 'you', not the circumstances that make up your past. I +guess it goes back to the interpretation of the past and its powers, and +since we can't seem to escape discussing it, lets embrace it willingly. +You seem to believe that the events of your life have shaped you in such +a profound way that their mere description is sufficient to explain your +personality; I will grant that their influence has effected you subtly, +but history is not the scapegoat of the present. The circumstances do +more to define the character of an individual than to shape it, for even +siblings with the exact same experiences can be greatly different in +personality and achievements. But what I mean is this: your past has +influenced your present, yet it is gone and your present remains, show +me Bernibus, not his previous forms." + +You, who are now reading this, may think this statement of mine to +Bernibus to be hypocritical, in light of the very purpose and intent of +these memoirs. You may be thinking that I am relating this whole +happening in order to justify my actions and decisions. But that is not +the case, for I understand that you have no power over me, I have long +been dead in your present and your sentiments mean naught to me. In +fact, I wish to tell of the circumstances I found myself in as much as +of myself, so that you may have a retrospective clarity in visions of +the future. You will understand that statement later on, but for now let +me say that I wished to know the essence, the person, the consciousness +of Bernibus, whereas I wish to impart to you my story, though ere its +end you may come also to know me. I have no ambitions of material +immortality. + +Bernibus understood my meaning, and though he disagreed with its +theoretical imputations, he humored me and did as I suggested. He pulled +back his brow in a reflective demeanor, brought his eyes to mine and +began: + +"You desire me to tell you about myself without literally telling you of +myself. I suppose you mean that we discourse on some variety of +subjects, so that you can see who I am discreetly," he said. + +"Exactly," I replied, "You say it better than I." + +"Perhaps it is for the best, as you will draw your own conclusions +rather than be given mine, and instead of my telling you what I would +like to think I am, you would see what I am in truth. Strange, isn't it, +that though we think we know ourselves, we very much do not, and it is +only the unbiased observer who sees us as we are. You know, I was once +thinking of writing my memoirs, and I would have, except that I was +afraid that if I read them afterward I would be forced to see myself as +I am and be horrified at the truth." + +"Damn the truth," I said. + +"You're starting to sound like a philosopher," he laughed. + +"And you a psychologist," I rejoined. + +"And where would that place us on the scale of artificial intelligence," +Bernibus jested. + +"Following the footsteps of Jeroboam," I returned. + +"Hmm? + +"Oh, nothing. Tell me," I asked more solemnly, "What position does +Wagner hold among the Canitaurs?" + +"He is the Khedive Kibitzer, our ruler in that he leads the council." + +"And you?" + +"I am his brother-in-law, a relationship that our culture places great +importance on, especially as he has no blood brothers. I become, in +effect, his partner, though he doesn't accept me emotionally as one, +only in etiquette." + +"Why is that?" I inquired. + +"Because, I am of weak heritage. His sister loved me, and I her, but to +him there is no such thing as love, only business, the destruction of +the Zards at any cost. No price is too high," he told me with almost a +vengeful scowl on his usually pleasant features, it soon passed, though, +and left no trace when it had. + +"You sound bitter, Bernibus." + +"My feelings betray me, yet I am not bitter, only disillusioned." + +"You sympathize with the Zards, then?" + +"Not at all, I do sympathize, however, with peaceful solutions," he +said. + +"Which is why Wagner disapproves of you, no doubt." + +"Yes, mainly, but don't misunderstand me. I am not a closet Futurist, +nor am I a strict pacifist, I just can't help feeling that there is +another way. But I understand the selection of ideologies, how the +stronger breaks the weaker to submission, and while one flourishes, the +other diminishes, and I understand focus points, but I cannot justify +their marriage." + +"What you mean by focus points?" I asked. + +"They are the culmination of conflict, where two sides meet and the +battle takes place, not meaning necessarily an important or strategic +military, civil, or commercial place, but one on which the fighting +occurs, the result ending in the defeat or victory of the whole +campaign. The focus point of the Zards and the Canitaurs exists both on +the philosophical and martial levels. On the philosophical level, it is +the question as to what is the proper solution for remedying our current +catastrophic situation. On one side the Pastites wish to correct the +root of the problem by stopping its realization in the past, the +Futurists, however, would venture into the future and brings its +stabilization and completion back. On the military level, our forces +collide in the forests around Lake Umquam Renatusum, the northern +mountains belonging to us and the southern plains to them. The lake +itself is of little importance, yet whoever conquers it will conquer +all." + +"Interesting," I said, "But I do not understand how you seem to imply +that I am your ancestor, while Onan seemed to mean the opposite, that +you are my ancestors." + +"It is strange and complex, and we understand very little of it, +ourselves. The time for the council has come though, for our talk has +dwindled away the afternoon. Perhaps some of your questions will there +be answered. But come, let us go." + +"Very well," I said, "Take me to your leaders." + +From that room, the one I had awoken in, it wasn't very far to the +council room. Exiting it, we turned down a short, closed hallway that +opened into the concealed area behind the podium that I spoke of +earlier. On the sofa where I had fallen asleep was seated Wagner and on +a circle of smaller chairs around the edges of the area were seated +about ten stately looking Canitaurs, clean and well dressed, according +to their customs. They greeted me amorously, with a mixture of +eagerness, excitement, and hope painted on their purloined countenances, +taken from the sleepless spirits of several departed generations of +war-hardened veterans. + +Standing as we entered, they greeted me cordially, and, once the formal +greeting of a short bow and a blessing was finished, we all sat down, +they in their previous seats, I next to Wagner, and Bernibus in a small +chair in the corner, away from the circle of the delegates. He, that is, +Wagner, then opened our dialog: + +"Welcome to the council, Jehu," he said. + +"I was under the impression that the council was much larger," I replied +candidly. + +"It is, but this is the leadership; we felt that the clamors of a full +legislature would be overwhelming to you at first. I know it still +overwhelms me sometimes," he laughed, and the others with him. That +explanation sufficed at the time, but I later found that Wagner had +taken control of the council himself, and that it had no real power: it +never met for more than ceremonial matters, the Khedive Kibitzer, +Wagner, controlling the rest. But I get ahead of myself. + +One of the others then interjected, "Our purpose now, Jehu, is not so +much to make decisions as to inform you of the decisions we have already +made, not that we mean to exclude you from our counsels, but we've been +preparing for this moment, your arrival, for many years, since it was +foretold long ago." + +"Decisions with what end?" I asked of them. + +"The reestablishing of an efficient and healthy climate, both naturally +and philosophically, one in which tradition, history, and experience +reign supreme," Wagner said in such a way that I couldn't help but think +that it had served as an idiom of his for many years. + +"A termination of the Zardovian conflict, then?" + +"Essentially, but not wholly, as there are other, more complicated ends +in view, less integrated with the format of a completely ideological +conflict." + +"Meaning?" + +"Meaning that we wish to return to our original forms," Wagner said. + +"Those being, I assume, the same as my own." + +"Yes, you see after the Great War, the atmosphere was so filled with +radioactive materials that all life was destroyed, except for that on +Daem, which was protected because of our distant and isolated location, +and the presence of a group of insects that neutralize radiation. They +were overwhelmed in the first few decades, for though they were able to +reduce the amount to make it habitable, we degenerated into what we are +now, Zards and Canitaurs, based on our habitats, we being mountainous, +forest dwelling folk, and they plains people. At first our ancestors +grew to immense proportions, as did the vegetation on Daem, but we +slowly returned to normal size as the radioactive material was consumed. +I am surprised that Onan did not tell you about it all," he said, +looking at me with a slight tinge of confusion creeping into his wayward +eyes, formerly filled only with hope and excitement. + +"I wish he would have," I responded, "But he said that it was against +the rules." + +"Ah, yes, I forgot about the rules there for a moment," he laughed, his +countenance returning to its former gleeful appearance. + +"A foolish law, no doubt, and from whom?" I said, availing of the +apparent intra-personal deja vu, that is, the converging of the presents +of our two minds into one idea, between Wagner and myself to cultivate a +bit of sympathy in my difficult situation. But there would be no +harvest, for Wagner checked his mirth and said: + +"It was necessary, and the Council of the Gods did well to govern +themselves more strictly." + +"How so?" + +"Well, during the Homeric period the gods really went at it, using +humanity as players in their battles, like a game of chess, actually. +Come to think of it, chess did originate in the realm of the gods after +the laws. Things were quite a mess back then, though, with a whole horde +of demi-gods walking the earth, and it ended up snuffing out the first +flames of democracy and leaving monarchies for the longest time." + +"Homer's stories were true, then?" I asked. + +"Very much so, but after the laws of physical abstinence were adopted +things mellowed out considerably, and men went back to their +self-obsession, their material minds weren't yet weaned from the physical +realm." + +"So the very men who claimed mental superiority because they were free +from superstitions and divine disillusionment were themselves victims of +their own sophism, and while they thought themselves crowned with +enlightenment, it was naught but the Phrygian caps of their prejudices +toward the material state?" I asked, with more than the average dose of +irony and feeling, both for my subjects and myself. + +"Exactly, upon disinterested examination one finds the theater of human +history to be one defined by a ludicrous melodramaticy, the soap opera +of the gods," he answered. "But we digress far from our point, Jehu, +which is a discussion concerning the implementation of our plans of +action formed in preparation of our current situation." + +"So I had surmised," I smiled at the reminder, "But tell me, what are +your plans, and what is the current situation?" + +"This is a time of fulfillment, with the events of many of our +prophecies coming to pass. Now is a time of action and of hope. You, our +kinsman redeemer, have come, and the time is ripe for victory and +domination, ripe, in short, for a return to natural existence, harmony +between forces interior and exterior. Our plan, my dear Jehu, is to +attack the Zards swiftly and fiercely and break their strongholds like +the walls of Jericho, literally." + +"It sounds daring, certainly," I said, "But is it not overly so? I was +under the impression that the Zards were much superior in force than the +Canitaurs." + +"In the southern regions, where you landed, yes, they are, but we rule +the northern sphere of action. Our forces actually form a soft +equilibrium that keeps fate's pendulum from straying from its neutral +position, so that a military action previously would not have been +predictable, with either side being capable of winning. Under such +conditions war is avoided, but now you have arrived. The Zards, as well +as ourselves, have been expecting a kinsman redeemer, you see, and our +war has been kept from raging by the belief of each side that their god +would propel them to victory with certainty by the sending of one such +as yourself. Your arrival changes things, it marks the beginning of our +dominance," he told me vaingloriously. + +"The muted felicity I have witnessed about my arrival is explained, +then," I ventured, "Excitement that the end is near and victory close at +hand, yet that feeling subdued by the realization that a period of +deeper darkness must first be gone through." + +"Your words are true," Wagner replied, "And yet I have a great +confidence in our plans, which have been matured through many years of +careful deliberation. As the time will never be more ready than at the +present, in the present we must act." + +"What is your plan, then?" I asked. + +"It is calculated to end in the conquering of the Zards, and as such, +only an unexpected and unrelenting attack at the very heart of their +strength will succeed. Anything less will only bring them to a full +alert, and then any battle will have to be drawn out with excessive +casualties on both sides. Therefore, we have decided upon an attack on +Nunami, their capital city and main strength, being the center and +majority of both their population and economy. Yet an outright siege of +the city is impossible for those very reasons, it being so +self-contained that it can resist bitterly, and its military is so +clustered that it can be brought into action almost instantly. + +"Considering those problems, it was deemed necessary to draw the Zards +away from the city and destroy it in their absence, so that they are +left destitute of the means of war and sustenance, and rendered weak. To +do this, we have spent the last several years stockpiling huge +quantities of liquid fervidus flamma, an extremely combustible +substance. It is stored in an underground reservoir in the foothills of +the mountains, connected via aqueduct to Lake Umquam Renatusum. When the +time is ripe, we will empty it into the lake and set it aflame, and our +calculations show the flames reaching a height of five miles for a +length of six hours, which should be enough to gain the Zard's +preponderance," Wagner explained. + +"But wouldn't it catch the forest on fire and burn down your whole +empire in the process?" I asked, alarmed at his apparent lack of +vigilance. + +"We have been treating the trees on a ten mile radius with an +anti-flammatory solution for several years as well, and it is quite +impossible to set them on fire." + +"Which explains why you dared to have a fire pit in the trunk of a tree +outpost." + +"Yes," he laughed, "We aren't so foolhardy as we may seem. Appearances +can be deceiving." + +"The exodus of the Zards from Nunami is almost guaranteed by the +mortal's natural curiosity and delight in the calamities of others," I +said, "But how do you plan on leveling the town before the remnant raise +the alarm and the mass of the people return?" + +"Atomic anionizers," he returned. + +"Which are what? They sound like they are beyond my level of +understanding." + +"Not at all," Wagner told me, "Do not be fooled by the technically +complex sounding name. An atom is the smallest form into which matter +can be broken down into while still retaining its identity, and an anion +is a positively charged ion, or in other words, an instance of an atom +in which there are more electrons than protons, resulting in a charge of +negative electricity. An atomic anionizer is just what its name would +imply: a device that morphs normal atoms into atoms with an extreme +negative charge by emitting massive amounts, to the tune of many +millions of moles, of solitary electrons into the air through a bombing +device." + +He went on, explaining the consequences of the weapon, "An atom, and +therefore all matter, which is made up of atoms, is engaged in a +constant revolution around the nucleus, in the same way in which our +solar system revolves around our sun, and our sun around the black hole +in the center of the galaxy. This revolving motion is the basis for the +formation of all matter that we know of, both in its smallest form, like +the atom, or its larger forms, like the galaxy. The electrons emitted +from the atomic anionizer are drawn into an orbit around the nuclei of +the atoms of all the matter near which they are detonated, much like the +way planets catch satellites and space debris into revolving rings +around them. This addition of electrons gives the atoms such a powerful +negative charge that the poles of the atom, which regulate its rotations +in much the same way that the earth's axis, or poles, regulate its +rotations, are thrown from their natural equilibrium, causing the poles +to reverse. This, in turn, changes the direction in which the atoms +rotate, and in the brief instant in which the force of the revolving +movement, or gravity, is not strong enough to retain the atom's shape, +it lapses, bringing the materials they make up crashing down in +disarray. + +"We will plant some of these 'atomic bombs' inside the city of Nunami, +and when they go off, the buildings themselves will implode and tumble +to the ground. One hand-sized capsule can easily level almost ten square +miles, and we have enough of them to bring the Zards to their knees, +with plenty to spare for any circumstance." + +"Wouldn't the bombs kill those who set them off, though?" I asked him +anxiously. + +"We have electron deflecting suits that negate the effects of the +anionizers." + +"I'm glad to hear it." + +"And well you should be," he grinned, which, as out of place as it would +seem, looked completely natural on his countenance, "For you and I shall +be among the bombers. Our meeting must end here, though, my dear Jehu, +for we each have things to attend to in preparation for the attack on +Nunami. I will see you soon, until then, farewell." + +"Farewell, Wagner," I replied, and we each stood and bowed as we +prepared to depart, each to our own occupations. + +With that our council ended, and, in the company of Bernibus, I was sent +to another area of the fortress to be measured for an anti-electron +suit, in order to protect me from the effects of reverse revolution. We +didn't converse in the beginning of our walk, for my mind was too busy +subconsciously thinking over what Wagner had said to have any conscious +meditations. + +We walked through the fortress towards the northern section, which held +the technological rooms, so as to get an anti-electron suit in the +making for myself. Realizing that the fortress has been little +described, I will do so now. It was broken into six different +sub-divisions, each branching from the only entrance, which was in the +center of them all, the different divisions connecting to it through +long, narrow defiles, or gorges, like the one at the entrance. This was +for security, each area being independently contained within the whole. +The six areas, or departments, as they were called, were as follows: the +Northern was the technological and industrial research and production +facilities; the Eastern was the residential department, containing also +the civil services, such as medical care and distribution centers; the +Southern was the agricultural and other food production areas, though +there was little besides agricultural, for the Canitaurs were strict +vegetarians; the Western was for mining minerals and other raw materials +to be used by the other departments. The other two departments were +below the others, being differentiated between by the names Left and +Right, the Left being the governmental offices, and the Right the +military headquarters, providing protections both civil and foreign +(this was, incidentally, the beginning of the expression of the terms +Left and Right to denote ideological preferences, but I digress). +Uniform in all the fortress was the architecture, it being a strange mix +between elegant and gentle arches and curves and brute practicality, for +while the ceilings were high and open, and the walls wide, they were +rendered homely by their plain surfaces and the absence of small +triflings, conditions that were necessitated because of its identity: an +impregnable fortress containing a highly organized and self-sufficient +governmental society, each citizen having a particular duty for the +common good, and each kept from an unfarcical personal identity by the +means of a statist society. + +From the lower, governmental offices we went up a flight of stairs that +wrapped round and round a tower-like tunnel, and soon reached the +departmental portal. Once there, we took the northern tunnel, which +opened into a large hall that stretched on almost endlessly, with hordes +of tunnels branching off to the various agencies. There were a great +many Canitaurs working busily, preparing for the attack on Nunami and +its possible results, which, though long prepared for, had a few last +moment components to be finished. Walking down the central through way, +we went to the far end of the hall, which, as it was a walk of at least +two miles, afforded plenty of time for observation and reflecting, two +things that I am naturally given to. Accordingly, I turned to my +companion, Bernibus, and offered in an almost philosophical way: + +"Your society seems to be flourishing, though I am not surprised, as you +all seem vigorously industrious. I am amazed, however, that no one +shirks from their job, no matter how menial or trifling." + +"We all have our assigned jobs, and all know that one slovenly job may +cost us dearly," he said. + +"I suppose I am prejudiced by my conceptions of personal liberty, but it +is contrary to my conscience that the state should have more duty than +to enforce the individual liberties by common force." + +"But we are at war, and we must do as we do, or be trampled underfoot." + +"If all states went no further than justice permits, namely the +protection by common force the rights of individuality, liberty, and +property, than there would be no room for conflict between states, and +hence, no war." + +"Yet it is our ideologies that bring war, besides, do not the ends +justify the means?" he asked. + +"Your ideologies may cause conflict, yet it seems that your behemoth +states facilitate it into war. About the ends and the means, I don't +know: I am no philosopher," I answered. + +I sighed and was silent for a moment as we walked along, then, after a +moment or so, I said quietly to myself, "I'm not much of a kinsman +redeemer, either." + +We continued on through the hall without further conversation, and I +paid little attention to my surroundings, so that while my eyes saw and +my mind displayed, my subconscious was not present in the effort, and +thereby no memory was retained. This may seem to be the plot of an +unimaginative writer to escape the use of that faculty, but as these are +nothing but my written memories, and I make no claims of producing good +fiction, I will leave that hall primarily to the minds of the reader. + +Soon after, we arrived at our destination, which was very nearly at the +end of the hall, and entered to find that we were expected and a space +open for my fitting, which was soon accomplished, and my suit promised +to be at my quarters the next morning. That would be just in time for +the departure of the raiding party, which was set to cut out and embark +for Nunami a little after that, in order to be in place in the hidden +treetop posts surrounding the city before nighttime, as the operation +was to begin at midnight. At first I thought that the attack was pushed +forward in haste, but as I came to realize that my coming had been +prophesied and a great amount of time had been spent preparing for this +day, it seemed only natural that they should want to bring the +hostilities to a close after such a long time. There were other +considerations as well. The weather, for one, had to be dry and not at +all windy for the fire to be safely attempted, and also the possibility +of the Zards making the first offensive could not be ignored, for they +had knowledge of my arrival and may have felt forced to act to prevent +the very type of thing that we were about to attempt. + + + + + + +Chapter 7: Down to Nunami + + + +When I awoke the next morning I found Bernibus and Wagner conversing +quietly in the corner of my bed chambers, and as I first opened my eyes +I saw Wagner looking at me with a blank, glazed expression, while +Bernibus' was one of apprehension, apparently on my behalf. It seemed +odd to me, but as Wagner became livid again quickly after his +split-second lapse and gave me a hearty "Good morning", I thought +nothing more of it. After his greeting, he continued: + +"The day is ripe for victory, my friend, and the time is come for +battle. We both have some preparations to complete, and so must +separate, but we will meet again at noon in the entrance hall. Farewell +until then," and with that he quit the room. + +I looked at Bernibus, yet before either of us could speak, we heard a +low, hollow grumbling, like the shaking of some building or foundation. +He looked in my direction for a moment with an alarmed countenance, +before I said defensively, "Tis but my stomach." + +"Then we must get you some victuals," he laughed, "And I have just the +thing to satisfy you and keep you so for a day or more: some mirus. It +is our traditional energy food, for though its taste is bitter, its +after-life is pleasant." + +"And what is food except a servant to the body?" I said, "Let us eat." + +"Very well," he replied. + +And eat we did, for it was brought by a food service Canitaur on a tray, +and I was surprised to see that it was a mixture of broccoli, spinach, +and mushrooms, with a flavorless, glowing sauce. He was right, +incidentally, for it was both bitter before and pleasant after its +consumption. + +"I know of the solids, but what is this sauce?" I asked of him. + +"Carbon," he replied. + +I looked at him and questioned, "Pure carbon? I have never heard of its +having this use before." + +"Your civilization was long ago and had not developed it yet." + +"That has perplexed me, now that you mention it," I said, "Onan seemed +to mean that I was going back in time to help my ancestors, but you say +that I went forward, that I am one of the ancients." + +He was wary for a moment, though if it was because of the apparent +conflict, or because I was on a first name basis with his god I couldn't +tell. He soon recovered his countenance and said, "It is a complicated +question, and I believe you should ask Wagner the next time you see him, +after the raid though, of course. The time of departure is nigh now, +however, so you should put on your anti-electron suit," he said as he +picked it up from the corner and brought it to me. + +It was a subtle dark brown and looked more like a normal suit of clothes +than an electron reflecting suit, but then again, I thought, why would +it be a strange looking apparatus? Why would an advanced technological +age necessarily be devoid of any sense of fashion, although that would +be assuming that any civilization had ever had one. Fashion is more a +characterization of a culture than a basic and unchanging principle, for +a desert people would wear clothes that would be most uncomfortable to a +people who lived in the snow. Clothes may not make the man, but the man +certainly makes the clothes, and you can judge a person by what they +wear so far as it is in their power to decide what that is. + +After putting on the suit I found that it fit perfectly, and above that, +I found it to be very comfortable, including the head piece, which +formed closely around the skull and was not at all noticeable or +obscuring. In fact, as it was made of a plasma that allowed everything +through except lone particles, it was so uninhibiting that a moment +after I had put mine on I had completely forgotten about it. The only +other part of the suit that stood out at all was the long, metallic +buckle that secured the belt, it having a bowie knife hidden within it +in an unnoticeable and inconspicuous manner. Bernibus had put on his as +I had put on mine, and as I looked away from the mirror that was +opposite the door, I saw him dressed the same as myself, yet because the +suit so blended with his fur, it was hard to tell which ended where. + +Finding that we were both ready, we repaired to the entrance hall. Along +the way I asked Bernibus of his wife, Wagner's sister, of whom I had +heard little and seen nothing. He was quiet for a pause, and then said: + +"She was an angel, what else can be said?" + +"Was?" I asked hesitantly. + +"Yes, she was killed by the Zards on a border raid, as we were at that +time living apart from the Canitaur mass with a few friends. She was +less aggressive than her brother, and, much to his disapprobation, we +lived with a group of separatists, believing that war, physical +conflict, is never the right answer to ideological conflict. Wagner +excommunicated us in his anger, though his sister was very dear to him, +and after she died he was struck with remorse and made me his deputy +Kibitzer. He felt that it would somehow do her honor, as it would +recognize us as having been married and make me his brother-in-law, +which is an important relationship traditionally, as he has no other +siblings. So here I am, technically second-in-command, but because of my +soft lining, I have no real command." + +"You would not attack Nunami, then?" I asked. + +He chose his words carefully, saying, "More pain will not negate the +pain already in existence, yet war is not always avoidable, and +sometimes it is even necessary." + +When we reached the entrance hall, where the raiding party was to meet, +we found that there was already assembled a majority of the force, +including Wagner. The party was only twenty strong, as the atomic +anionizers were to do the main work and the planned raid required +stealth and secrecy, not force or might. Within a quarter of an hour all +the stragglers had arrived and all the anionizers were accounted for, so +Wagner gave a short debriefing to ensure that all the members were on +the same page. We were to sneak into the city when the populous was +distracted by the fire on Lake Umquam Renatusum, which was to be started +at midnight. We would plant the atomic anionizers at the right spacing +so as to bring down the whole city once we were escaped, using the +remote control provided for that very purpose. The suits would protect +us from the blasts, and, as a precaution, the remote had an automatic +five second delay between being pressed and exploding the bombs, though +it was more for form than practicality. After he finished we set off, +being arranged two abreast per row, there being ten rows. Bernibus and +myself were partners, for we had become close friends in the few days +that I had spent among the Canitaurs, while Wagner was once again the +leading guide and Taurus the rearguard. + +After crossing the chasm that separated the hall and the entrance +tunnel, we came to the long defile that formed the latter and passed +through it swiftly, the lofty archer guards remaining as stern and +immovable as when I had first come through. We then came to the winding +stairs that occupied the hollowed innards of a massive and ancient tree, +of which kind many were to be found in Daem, being at least fifty feet +thick and 700 feet high, such gigantic trees that were never seen +elsewhere, yet constituted the whole forests of the northern lands. I +found that the stairs were as long as I had remembered, taking us a +great while to ascend to the top of the tree, and when we had made it, +we, especially myself, were dazzled by the effulgent light of midday. +After having been out of the sun's reach for the last few days I was +completely unprepared, though the shock helped me by curing me of the +disillusionment that comes from not seeing sun, moon, or stars for any +length of time. Taking a rest for a few moments on the seats on the +platform, we collected our strength. After our brief repose was +completed, we set off again with renewed vigor across the treeway on +which I had first come to the Canitaur's fortress. You will remember +that the road was made by the securing of five or six foot platforms to +the intertwined branches of those great trees, over which one could +travel with ease and be safe from exposure to those below by the thick +foliage that grew on the trees and was carefully manicured for that very +purpose. + +Soon we reached the first platform I had seen, which we had come upon +from below, but we did not descend there, instead keeping on by the +treeway in the direction from which we had come that night, that being +southward, towards the lake, the savanna, and the Zardovian capital, +Nunami. The air was warm, with a slight breeze as we went along, and +that, mixed with the plentiful flora about us and the songs of the +treetop dwellers, rendered the whole feeling of the walk peaceful and +happy, though its end was not to be such. I soon forgot the worldly +concerns that plagued me as I was soaking in the simplicity of nature, +not a simplicity of form, for all things are incomprehensively complex, +but simplicity of meaning. + +After a time I began noticing changes in our surroundings that indicated +we were drawing nearer to our goal, namely, the trees lessening in +proportions, the terrain becoming flatter, and the air growing moister +and more vibrant. Still, the trees continued to spring up from the +ground like great earthen tentacles, for while their size diminished, it +was not by enough to change their demeanor, the trees anywhere on Daem +being great in size. + +The sun journeyed with us, and by the time we reached Lake Umquam +Renatusum, twilight's last agony was being performed in the heavenly +theater, and the rippling waters mirrored it, adding only a strange, +flowing texture. The lake's current caught my eye with its subtle +oddity, for it was amiss and it appeared upon close inspection that +there was an undertow, as if there was an underground river flowing into +the lake and bringing about its swirling currents. + +Bernibus saw me looking down at the waters from the lofty road with a +puzzled look, and asked me if I was wondering about the water's current. +I replied that I was, and he told me that it was the fervidus flamma +being pumped into the lake through the underground aqueducts, which, of +course, was for the purpose of igniting it to decoy for our raid. Once +it was explained it made sense, yet I looked at it anyway, for it was +still a gorgeous and inspiring view. + +We were moving quickly, however, and it soon was out of sight, and I +again turned towards our destination with apprehensions of failure. They +seemed to place great faith in my presence, as the emissary of Onan, and +while I was, I was also Jehu, and I wasn't confident with my own +abilities. But it was upon those the situation mostly rested, it being +the resolve of the gods after the Homeric period to take a more removed +role in the lives of men. I wonder how many from my own times were +divine agents, for better or worse. Either way, my main concern then was +making the correct decisions, for I rightly believed that my involvement +would decide the matter, although not in the manner I had anticipated. +As I looked about myself to reconnoiter the feelings of my comrades I +was fruitless, for they all wore impermeable countenances, though that +was itself an indicator of their resolve. + +Within an hour after the fall of darkness we reached the outskirts of +Nunami, or rather, its edge, for it was walled in with massive stone +walls and battlements, with a sturdy gate of twenty foot width being +placed at the northern, southern, eastern, and western ends. The trees +hung right over the walls, and as such we were able to take positions +from which we could descend into the city when the time to do so came. +Yet we were still rendered invisible by the thick foliage. + +Night's zenith blew in slowly on the wind like the belabored breaths of +a dying man, and after a period of worry, it came: midnight, the +appointed hour. No sooner had the moon reached its utmost height, +shrouding the lands in a shadowless vortex, than a great blaze erupted +from the northern lands, and it rose almost instantly to its estimated +height of five miles. It was a terrible sight to behold, for any flame +is a captivating display of inorganic life, but a pillar of flame +several miles high is more than just an enlarged specimen, for it plays +host to a great horde of phantasmal apparitions that wrestle ferociously +with one another. As the flame shot upwards it cast a great light down +on everything that rivaled the illumination of midday. At first I feared +lest the light should show our silhouettes to the Zards, as we were +between them and it, but it did not, or at least they took no notice of +it if it did, for we were quite undetected in our hiding place. + +Our worries were far from over though, for now came the crucial point in +our plans: in order for our small force to infiltrate the city and place +the atomic anionizers, the Zards must not only have been distracted and +preoccupied with the blaze, but they had also to leave the city almost +empty and go to the lake itself, for if a cry was raised, or any +substantial resistance attempted, the complex procedures to detonate the +anionizers properly, so as to level the city but not the surrounding +country, may have been hindered. There were several factors on our side +though, the element of surprise being the foremost, for in their +excitement the Zardovian resistance would likely mistake us for a +regular sized army and flee in fear at our supposed superiority, +especially since the presence of me, the kinsman redeemer, was known to +the Zards. Also, the Zards were known to be curious and careless and +ruled by the desire for excitement, meaning that if an entertaining +undertaking was possible, they would pursue it, no matter how dangerous +or ill-advised. + +Within a moment after the flame was lit, all of the Zards outside, which +were many, were gazing with silent wonder at it, and in the second +moment, all the rest had joined them in their confused contemplation. +But the third moment witnessed a drastic change in their behavior, for +their initial bewilderment wore off and suddenly, with a united prelude +of the drawing in of a breath, they all began speaking at once, +resulting in a clamorous din that lasted for a few moments, before +things hushed again and we could hear a few individual voices discussing +loudly. Though we couldn't make out their exact words, they were +apparently conferring with one another about what action to take. Our +breathing became slow and heavy and our brows were knit tensely, for we +knew that the fate of our mission rested on what they did then, whether +or not the long planned decoy would work. + +It was an anxious moment, and one with a heavy burden attached to it. +Fortunately, though, as our fate was decided, it was done so in our +favor, for the Zards began exiting the city in a great multitude of +scales that swept along the savanna like a tidal wave over a sandy +coast. They came out fast and strong, and through each of the four +gates, though only the northern was fully visible to us, the others +being too far to be seen distinctly. Still, we could see them rushing +out of Nunami at a quick pace, not hurried, as if frightened or finicky, +nor slow as in deliberation and meditation, instead it was a steady trot +that they took, allowing them to move safely and swiftly. + +The tide of Zards swept steadily past us, and it was a good half an hour +later that the final ones had left the gates and the city far behind. +Most had taken some type of weapon, a pitchfork or club or occasionally +a sword, for the threat of war was a constant, but none of them had any +idea that their only danger was behind them. It was not all in the clear +though, for a patrol of guards equipped with long spears and clothed +with a tough, leathery armor were making their way to and fro along the +tops of the walls, where there was a platform of about five feet across +that served as a road to the soldiers in their watches. It was evident +by their countenances, though, that the guards now on duty were more +interested in the fire than in their immediate vicinity, thinking, no +doubt, that the laurels were to be won there and not at Nunami, and as +such, they paid little heed to the walls, instead walking with their +necks craned precariously to the north. + +We were able to jump unto the wall silently from our concealed roost on +the treeway when the nearest patrol had passed by. From there we went +along the wall a short way until we came to a battlement, there taking +the downward leading steps that brought us to the ground. Once there we +were pleased and hopeful at what we saw: everything was abandoned, and +no Zards were in sight save those on the walls, whose gaze was cast +elsewhere. We set to work, then, according to our preset plan, which was +to break up into groups of two and cover the city with our atomic +anionizers, so as to spread the destruction as evenly as possible. +Wagner and myself were partners, and we took the central district, near +the government's center, the palace, and the Temple of Time, which rose +above the city like a great tree amidst a desert. It was, in fact, the +very structure that had so stood out to me during my journey through the +prairie upon my arrival, and once again its sobering sensation struck +me, and I found myself staring up at its top, a full 800 feet high, the +bottom being an ornate and elaborate temple. The middle, which supplied +most of its height, was a long, round tower, and at top there was a +spherical pinnacle which had what looked to be a room in it. + +Wagner soon called my attention back to our work, and we busied +ourselves with planting a bomb at the base of the palace, using a +smaller type anionizer, which, I noticed, was set just right so that +while all of Nunami would be leveled, the temple with its great tower +would be beyond the impact and left standing. Just as we had set it +correctly, we heard a high-pitched whistle, which was the preconcerted +signal among the raiders to use if any danger was nigh. We looked up +directly and saw its reason: a squadron of Zards had been garrisoned +inside the palace and had not left like the others, apparently because +its sole purpose was to protect their king, who did not leave the city, +being preoccupied with business and not seeing the flames. When he did +go to the window, he saw the fire, and rushed to see what was about, but +instead of finding out, he ran into us, who were right outside the +palace. + +Wagner dashed wildly through the streets in an impressive show of +dexterity, and did a wall-jump between two lofty buildings to gain the +wall. The others had done likewise, having been trained by a lifetime of +conflict to have nerves of lightning speed and earthly strength. Their +instincts had come in subconsciously when they had seen the cause of the +alarm and they escaped, without thinking of me in the critical moment. I +lacked such strength and speed of mind and was caught as soon as I had +seen the squadron, aided, probably, by the fact that upon seeing me the +king had become excited and rushed at me with great speed. When Wagner +had first turned around and saw me their prisoner, he looked crestfallen +and hopeless, for he had no way to rescue me. He held the remote control +for the atomic anionizers in his hand and was about to set them off and +make good the plan, but before he could, our eyes met for an instant, +and we connected beyond time and space, experiencing a strange +intra-personal deja vu. All was silent and still in that instant, and I +saw him struggling inwardly: would he detonate the anionizers and make +good his long awaited plan, or would he retreat and leave the city +unharmed, for though I was wearing the electron reflecting suit, the +collapse of all the high rise buildings would litter the ground with +debris from them, and all on the ground would be crushed. Would he spare +me from death, or his people? In that instant his face spoke more than +many others' do in their entire lifetime. It was cut through with a +contrasting countenance, and yet inside of his eyes there was something +foreign to them shining through, something that I had never seen on his +fretless features before: evil intent. I could not tell if it was +natural to them and simply well hidden, or if it was an alien +expression, but it was fearfully expressed, and his eyes seemed to say, +even at that great distance, that he took a third course, that he would +save me, but not for my sake, instead for his peoples'. And then it +passed, for he looked away, replaced the remote to his belt, and leapt +to the ground, where the other Canitaurs were awaiting him. I saw him no +more until the situation was much changed. + + + + + + +Chapter 8: The Temple of Time + + + +I turned slowly away from where Wagner had disappeared over the side of +the wall and faced my captors, the Zards. Chief among them was the King, +he being a foot or two taller than the others, with a graceful and +powerful pose that struck awe into the eyes of the beholder with its +innate command and dignity, both of which flowed from it as naturally as +water from a well. There were about twenty guards in the squadron that +protected the King, but it was not so much from the terror of them that +the Canitaurs fled, nor was it because of the guards that patrolled the +walls and were sure to join any fray attempted, it was instead an +apparent fear of the King, and rightly so, for his demeanor was fierce +and sophisticated, as if he were not just a warrior nor solely a +scholar, but a mixture of the two that gave him an aura that inspired +fear, some unseen presence that filled the air around him and sent his +neighbors into a reverencing awe reminiscent of a lover's sacred +euphoria, intangible yet undeniable. + +As I turned to him, he smiled and greeted me softly and pleasantly, in +such a way that seemed contrary to his nature. Instead of being terrible +and glorious like the crash of thunder or the din of waves, his voice +was melodious, subtly so, like a soft summer rain affecting the dreams +of a slumbering child as it falls gently on his face. There was a rhythm +that ran through it, like poetry, yet not like average poetry, where the +rhythm is forced and the lines deformed to its ungainly warble, but like +heavenly poetry, where the rhythm is beyond the conscious and into the +subconscious, where it inspires a feeling of quaint remembrance of +itself, as if it were there and not there at the same time. And while it +was soft and pleasant, it was not feminine, for it was a strong +baritone, reinforced by its own superiority and strengthened by its wit +and sobriety. + +"Greetings, o' chosen one," he said to me, "I see that you have arrived +safely." + +"Yes, quite soundly," I replied, a little taken aback on two fronts: +firstly that he was not angry or indignant that I had attempted to +destroy his kingdom and take his life in the process, and secondly that +he seemed to expect me, as if I were his midday tea partner. + +"I am glad, for I would wish you no harm, though your Canitaurian +friends obviously felt no such concern. But just as well, for they +always were unpredictable. I'm sorry that there is no one here at the +moment, or we should have a great welcoming parade for our newly arrived +kinsman redeemer, but they are off at the lake, inspecting the fire I +suppose. I must admit it caught me off guard for a moment or two, and at +first I was actually quite surprised. I soon remembered, though, that +our friends the Canitaurs would have gotten some notions in their heads +of a battle, at your arrival. It must be a grand sight in any case, and +not one to miss." + +I gave him a strange look, for I was a bit confused myself at the +attitude he donned towards me, very friendly, as was Wagner, as I +recalled, though it seemed as contrary to his nature as it did to the +King's. He saw the expression of my eyes, and seemed to read right +through my thoughts and see my apprehension of punishment, for he +beckoned to his guards to leave us alone. They moved quickly and +uniformly, a well-trained unit, and positioned themselves in a line +formation along the street. The King and I then strolled down their +midst, they walking along with us at a distance of a few yards, which +was all that the closely built buildings would permit. In a moment or +two we reached the Temple of Time, which was on the far side of a large +square plaza that opened up between it, the palace, and the government +center. Once we reached it, he led me inside and the guards took up post +around its outside. + +"You need not fear," he told me when we were alone, "You are among +friends here. You see, the Canitaurs were not the only ones waiting for +a kinsman redeemer, the Zards were as well. That day that you were seen +going into the Canitaur's outpost was a big disappointment for us, I had +almost begun to think that you were beyond our reach. I am sure you know +all about the conflict between us, and the circumstances of your time +that brought its beginning about?" + +"Yes, I do," I responded as we walked through the great entry hall of +the temple, lined with bookshelves and a rich red carpeting. He was +silent for another moment as we crossed into another room that led to a +chamber with a long table in its center and a great many statues and +works of art scattered throughout its whole. There was an altar at the +far end, built into a giant statue of a White Eagle that graced the +entire wall, it holding the altar in its giant claws. + +He saw me look at it and told me, "This is the Hall of Time, and that is +the altar to Temis, the God of Time. It is a very sacred place, to both +us and the Canitaurs, for it was built by Temis himself, before the race +of man inhabited the earth. By the time any men came to live on Daem, it +had been buried by the dirt and debris of thousands of years, but when +the Great War took place, the shock uncovered it and revealed it to men, +a sort of revelation that came only as it was needed the most. Daem's +war started over the control of it, and to a point still is. To a +certain extent is has helped us greatly, since the Canitaurs are afraid +to lay siege to us in the regular fashion, for fear that it will be laid +to ruin, and then our fate sealed in flesh and bone as well as earth and +stone. But come, there is something I want to show you," he told me. + +With that he started over to a door in the wall adjacent to the +entrance, which, as there were only two doors, was the only other exit. +It led to a long, winding stair that went up to the top of the tower +that I had seen from below. We walked up it in silence, more from awe of +its magnificent construction on my part than fatigue in climbing its +steep stairs, which wound on and on almost indefinitely. There were no +windows in the tower, and only a few paintings to liven up the sparsely +decorated walls, yet they needed no adornments, for they were +beautifully constructed from a strange stone that split and colored in a +marvelous twisting pattern. + +At last we came to the top. It was much like it had appeared to be from +below, for it was a large glass sphere that sat on the tower, like the +dome on top of a light pole. It was divided in two, and the stairs went +right through the bottom half and opened into a circular foyer that then +had a small flight of stairs running up to the main room. There were +little closets and such in the empty spaces on the bottom floor. The +upper room was a good thirty feet in diameter, and the walls and ceiling +were all made of glass, very sturdy and insulating, yet completely +transparent. On the floor was an odd carpet that was smooth and thin, +like a silk or fine linen, yet very strong. There was a rounded table on +the side of the entrance hole opposite the stairs, and a curved couch +that sat against the wall behind it, cut perfectly to its circular +outline. Two cushioned chairs sat at the table and a small end table +leaned up against the couch, on top of which there was a medium sized +spyglass, that is, a telescope. + +The sun was just coming up and shining its golden hues on the +surrounding lands, which were beginning to darken as the fires of Lake +Umquam Renatusum died down to a faint glow in the center of the forests +of the near-north. It was the first time that I had gotten a bird's eye +view of Daem, and I was amazed at its beauty. The plains stretched on +one side of Nunami like a broad field of gold in the morning light, its +dew drizzled grasses waving in a solemn and dignified manner to and fro +like the constant beating of the earth's heart, and when looked upon +abstractly it moved as if one great beast of benevolence, holding itself +in unison as it chorused back the silent tones of life. Its edges draped +down to the ocean like a curtain of woven sunlight on the eastern and +southern sides of the island of Daem, and on the western side of Nunami +the great forest came up right to its edge. There was a little of the +forest between the ocean and the city on that side, while to the north +there was a great stretch of trees, all the way until the ocean again +came into sight in the far, far north. On the ground the trees of Daem +seemed like mighty towers and battlements of nature, and on the treeway +one felt suspended in air hundreds of feet above the ground on a cloud +of green and growing foliage, but from afar and above they were revealed +in their true splendor, shooting up from the earth as if they were the +arms of the ground itself, grasping huge clusters of leaves and branches +far above in their tightened fists. Some way into the forest, the ground +sprang up into mountains that were as fierce and behemoth as the trees +that clothed them. They were terrible to the eye and mind, as evidences +of the power that exists outside of oneself. + +The city of Nunami was also revealed to me for the first time in depth. +As I have said, it was surrounded by a thick, tall wall made of stones +and precious jewels, with four gates, one at the furthest extreme in +each direction. It was a circular city, made mostly of the same +materials as the wall and temple, which were a plain, silvery stone; a +dark rock with inherent patterns; a mixture of cobblestone and a +colorful compositor rock; and a vast array of metals, everything from +brass to silver to platinum. Made in an ancient style, the buildings +were tall, the average being what was equivalent to at least a dozen or +two stories in the pre-desolation times, and they were close together, +built along roads paved with cobblestone and lined with trees whose +girth, though not as monstrous as those in the wild, was still great. +There were farm fields and vineyards and orchards and meadows for +grazing animals all within the city walls, and not just congregated +around the outside, for there were buildings all around the wall's +perimeter, but scattered among the other buildings in a natural and +pleasing way. In the southern part there was a lake that was of fair +size, and a fleet of fishing boats anchored at its shore showed that it +did its part to contribute to the city's well-being. Several of the +trees throughout the city were especially conspicuous in their grandeur, +for they rose hundreds of feet from the ground and had great waterfalls +flowing down from their tops, as if they were crying great torrents of +tears down from their aged faces, though if in sadness or joy, I +couldn't tell. + +To the east there was land visible from the height at which I found +myself, though in the distance it became hazy and I could not make out +its distinct features. It was evidentially corrupted, however, for it +had an uneasy look about it, as did the ocean, which was a faint, pale +shadow of the rich blue it was in my childhood days. The sky as well was +tainted, and it looked to be filled with the accumulated atrocities of +countless generations. The clouds were thick and bluish, and the +spherical mural of the sky itself had been greatly dried, cracked, and +crumbled since my time, for it bore the marks of pain, the marks of the +labor pains of the earth's last gestating doom. And well they should, I +thought, for in the years since my natural life it had seen much +suffering and much destruction. + +The King broke the silence, saying, "Lovely, isn't it, Jehu? And it is +all yours for the taking." + +"What do you mean," I asked him. + +"Exactly what I said, the whole world is yours, if you want it." + +"But how?" + +"All you have to do is join us, the Futurists, and we will reward you +with all the power and glory that you can imagine." + +At that I sobered up and replied, "But what of Onan, of my quest to stop +the doom of humanity from materializing in this final juncture. He is +the one who sent me, and he is the Lord of the Past, whom the Canitaurs +follow. I am his agent, why would I turn from him to serve mere +mortals?" + +He laughed a slight, sarcastic laugh, "Tell me, Jehu, to whom did he +send you, your ancestors or your offspring?" + +"To my ancestors," I said slowly, "Though the Canitaurs seemed to imply +that my time was long ago. To be candid, I do not understand." + +"Of course you do not understand, and how could you, when no one has +told you? You see, Jehu, the question of time is not so linear as you +would think. You know full well that the conflict between the Zards and +Canitaurs is over how to address the renewing of the earth: they would +send you, our kinsman redeemer, back into time to prevent the nuclear +wars, while we would send you to the future to bring back its +completion. They hold to traditions as if they were the foundation of +life, while our people have no traditions in the traditional sense, if I +may use that oxymoronic phrase, but we look to what will come instead of +what has passed. History is unimportant to the present, Jehu, because we +have advanced to the point that we do not make the same mistakes as our +ancestors. In the past, they waged war needlessly and did so in the name +of humanitarian deeds. But today, we are advanced enough that we use +peaceful and just means to reach our ends. In your day there were many +absurd beliefs, for example the so-called 'fats' that were so vehemently +avoided, are actually quite healthy, while on the other hand, +protectionism and socialism are quite absurd ideas, and yet they were +held dear. But today we have no such presuppositions, today we +understand the world and know justice where your society knew only its +shadows. We do not need to be bound by the mistakes of yesterday, for we +have the enlightenment of today, and while the Canitaurs cling to the +old time's ways, we have progressed to the point where we have no need +of such traditions." + +He continued, "It may seem to you foolish to follow Zimri instead of +Onan, because Onan's realm has already been established and grows +greater everyday, while Zimri's doesn't exist and never will, but you +miss a very important point in the understanding of these matters. For, +as you probably know, time and matter are the foundations of physical +existence, and while the two components are independent, they are also +parallel. Matter is always revolving, from its simplest form in the atom +to its greatest in the universe, everything is revolving and rotating. +So is time. Imagine time as a galaxy, revolving continually around the +black hole at its center, that is, an enigma that is actually devoid of +all matter. Time is revolving around a great enigma as well, which is +devoid of time, that enigma being eternity. Eternity is not a place +where there is infinite time, but rather a place where there is simply +no time, it is the counter-part in the temporal realm of a black hole in +the material realm. And just as a galaxy in the material realm revolves +around the black hole at its center, in the temporal realm, the flow of +time itself revolves around eternity. That means that time repeats +itself over and over again, just as on earth a year is the amount of +time it takes the earth to revolve around the sun once, in the temporal +realm, an age is the amount of time that it takes the time continuum to +revolve once around eternity. Just as every year the climate on the +earth is similar, every particular day having its usual temperature and +weather, and every general period having the same seasons, so is time. +While every age is completely new and original, they all follow the same +pattern, and through every age the same general events happen, though a +few of the small details change from one time to the next. + +"So you see, it is true that Onan sent you to both the past and the +future of your original time. The Pastites would say that you were sent +forward in time, because you existed in our past, while the Futurists +would say that you were sent backwards in time because you existed in +our future. While this would seem an unimportant question, it is not, +for we have to choose one or the other. You, the kinsman redeemer have +to choose one or the other. That is why you were sent, you have to +decide. Our fate must be decided by a mortal because the gods have vowed +to never interfere directly in our ways again. You must decide, Jehu, +for you hold the fate of humanity in your hands: in all the other ages +before us, the wrong decision was made, and every time some great +calamity came that somehow threw the earth into a great ice age that +destroyed all life for many millenniums. We know that the wrong decision +was made, but we cannot tell what it was that was done. Tell me Jehu, +will you join the Futurists? Surely you can see that the Pastites are +just that, stuck in the past, with their obsession with traditions and +legends. They are of the past, but we are of the future, we are the +progressive ones. Dear Jehu, choose the future, and when the earth is +spared from the great impending doom, we will set you up as ruler of the +world to show our gratitude. Will you join us, friend?" he asked me with +the most entreating eyes, though of somewhat doubtful sincerity. + +There was a deathly silence that followed, for I was thinking long and +hard about what I should do, until at last I spoke, "Your majesty, I am +afraid that I will have to turn you down and remain with the Pastites. +Onan sent me, and it is Onan whom I shall follow." + +The King shook his head and sighed dejectedly, for a moment he looked +disheartened and crestfallen, but then he again resumed his former +prideful pose and said to me, less humbly and entreating than before, +"Very well, I was afraid that you would do that. I have no choice now +but to keep you here indefinitely as a prisoner, until such time as you +realize the error of your ways and repent. It may seem improper to +refuse the decision of the kinsman redeemer, but I must, for I will not +allow my people to be destroyed by your ignorance." + +With that he turned and walked quickly down the stairs to the door, +turning to me just as he reached it and adding with an almost spiteful +intonation, "But then again, what clarity of mind can be expected from +someone from the unenlightened past." He then left the room, closing the +door with a powerful thud, after which I heard a small metallic click +and his strong, commanding footsteps fading down the long stairway. As +soon as the sound had died away and he was no more to be heard, I ran +down to the door and tried to open it, but to no avail, for it was +locked. There was no way to escape: I was a prisoner of the Zards. + + + + + + +Chapter 9: Mutually Assured Deception + + + +The light of the newborn sun rose that instant far enough above the +horizon to shine directly into the tower's upper dome-like room, and I +was awe struck by the texture that the lights created on the glass of +the walls, for when it shone through at just the right height, a +previously invisible picture came to view. It was of a towering clipper +ship with sails that stretched across their masts like skin over the +bones of a pleasantly plump fellow, the wind billowing them about at a +leisurely rate. Waves broke gently upon the ship's side as the crew +rested peacefully on the various cables and nets, all except for the +one-legged captain who was busy looking at the map and accompanying +charts. It was a quaint and beautiful scene, though it soon passed away +as the sun moved upwards in the sky, and I wouldn't have mentioned it, +except that as it disappeared, I found myself looking at where it had +been, but instead of the ship, I saw directly through the glass the +inhabitants of Nunami arising and beginning their daily business, a +scene which I might have missed since I was previously wholly absorbed +by the picturesqueness of the sky. + +Usually the Zards would arise before dawn and be about their business, +but because of the great flames of the night before, they had no doubt +had trouble sleeping, and therefore slept later than usual when they +finally did fall into the lands beyond consciousness. They hustled and +bustled about the streets of Nunami, each doing their own business, and +there was much business to be done in a city in which all provisions are +provided internally, with no trade or commerce outside whatsoever. There +were merchants and stores still, yet they were not traders but +producers, each making their own wares as they sold ones they had +already made. Butchers sat in their shops with their blood-stained +aprons already donned, cobblers and tailors were busy with the day's +repairs and new creations, the milkmen paraded the streets slowly and +methodically, somehow getting their products to the citizens before 8 +AM. The farmers and herdsmen were also at work in the fields that were +spread throughout the city, plowing and sowing, and being joined by +those who had just finished distributing the milk. + +All was commonplace and normal, I thought, and I was surprised, for the +Zards were not at all martially minded, a great contrast to their +Canitaurian brethren. Of course, I had never actually met any of the +Canitaurian commoners. It seems to me that the only ones who really are +martially minded are the leaders and politicians, everyone else seems to +mind their own business, and sometimes I wonder if there would even be +any wars if there weren't any governments with the power to wage one. +There was a group of Zards by the government center, which was close to +my involuntary quarters, and they were leaning over an opening in the +aqueduct that ran down into the lake in the southern section of the +city, branching off from there into all the various sectors. They were +dumping a barrel of a fine, white powder into the water that was running +down into the lake, and after the first had been poured in, they added +another and another until they had put a good five barrels into the +water source. Once they had finished, they took the empty barrels to a +large cage that was down the road a bit, inside of a small grove of +trees and shrubs. Inside the cage was a multitude of little beetles that +crawled around every which way and were evidentially feasting on a large +chunk of glowing material. For a moment I was surprised, and wondered +what it was they were doing, but then it hit me: they were the delcator +beetles that Bernibus had told me of earlier, the ones that absorbed the +radioactive material and stabilized it. As I learned later, they had two +good uses, one was that they consumed the unstable materials and +neutralized them, but the other was that their droppings, when mixed +into the water supply, also gave all that consumed them a greater +tolerance for nuclear material. It was almost ironic that their whole +way of life was dependent on the feces of another life form, but I will +refrain from turning it into a metaphor. + +The female Zards wore a black headpiece that mostly covered their faces, +and at first I found it strange that for all his talk of progress, the +King's people still oppressed their women, perhaps there wasn't as much +progress as he had boasted, or, more likely, he was unaware that there +was no such thing as progress, just different manifestations of +oppression. History repeats itself, they say, and indeed it does, both +literally and figuratively. + +There suddenly arose a great commotion in the square between the Temple +and the palace, and as I looked, I was surprised to see that there was a +large crowd gathered. In the middle of the square there were two groups +of ten Zards facing each other, with a single Zard in between them, and +around the outside of the plaza area stood a hundred or so spectators, +apparently watching those in the middle. A moment after I started +watching, the solitary Zard, the referee as I found out, walked to the +edge, and each of the groups walked to one of the opposing sides and +then turned about to face the other. The referee let out a loud yell and +in a flash, the two teams ran at each other headlong, until converging +somewhere in the center of the field. As they met they dived upon one +another and pushed and shoved until the left team had isolated one of +the right's players, who was the only one on his team wearing an orange +jersey. They dived on him and jumped until the whole field was piled +high with them, and then they slowly began to disembark. Once all of the +opposing team's players were off of the orange shirted Zard, all was +silent and still as the referee held his hand aloft and began counting +with his fingers. Everyone held their breathe and stood tensely by as +they watched. Just before the referee's tenth and final finger was +counted, the orange shirted player rose from the ground, amidst the +screams of joy from his team and about half of the crowd, apparently +their fans. The two teams then returned to their respective sides, and +again the referee yelled loudly, signaling them to rush at each other +once more, and more of the same ensued, this time it being the other +team's orange shirted player to get pounced on. Once again there was a +high pile on top of him, and once again, as they crawled off and he was +exposed, the referee began to count. Except that this time the orange +shirted one never got up. The other team cheered again and so did the +other half of the crowd. The referee went to a pole on the sidelines and +put up the number '1' on it while a few bystanders picked the Zard up +and carried him off the field. They continued to play in this fashion +for awhile, going until one team or the other had no longer any players +to be jumped upon, but I was too disgusted at their violent nature to +watch, and instead walked over to the end table and picked up the +telescope, taking back as I did my thoughts about the innocence and +gentleness of the common folk. + +With the telescope in hand I went over to the eastern side of the room +and began to closely inspect the savanna in an attempt to get a bird's +eye view of the point of my entrance in Daem. It looked rather the same +from above as it did from below, though the smells and sounds were +missing, and I found that it was rather bland once the initial +excitement, surprise, and respect of its novelty had worn off. Indeed, +it was quite too dull for me, even in my state of boredom as a prisoner, +though I suppose that that isn't a proper description of my feelings, +for I wasn't free from excitement or intriguing events, but rather, I +was in the middle of a campaign of new and anticipated things, but +simply unable to participate. Stuck in a room 800 feet from the ground +with walls of glass that allowed observation of the whole island of +Daem, which I assumed to be the only civilization in the world, while +great events unfolded around me, of which I was supposed to be the +primary actor, was very disconcerting, though I find in retrospect that +fate worked so mysteriously in my situation that it is quite puzzling to +think about, meaning, of course, my relationship with the doom of +humanity as preventer and provoker, as savior and condemner. + +My writing of this manuscript may be considered quite a big cheat, as it +details my direct involvement with Onan, the Lord of the Past, and the +general circumstances of the end of life on earth, for the current age +at least, but still I am allowed to write it. Onan told me just a few +moments ago that I could write it and tell all that I want, to which I +was taken aback. When I asked why he would allow me to break the law of +the council of the gods, he replied that there was no rule against a +human agent from detailing his involvement in the actions of the +divines. It was allowed, he told me, because it would never make a mite +of a difference, for even if it were able to survive the bitter ice ages +and all the evolutionary periods in this TAB (Temporal Anomaly Box, +which I will explain later, since I get ahead of myself and have not +told of them yet), and even if it is found by humans, and even if they +are capable of understanding the text contained within it, even then +they will take no gain from it. I was again taken aback when he said +this, for though I know humans to be stubborn and foolish, in general, I +would think that they would at least mind the warning when the +conditions of its completion came to pass. But he dissuaded me, telling +me that my coevals of the next age would no doubt take it as a novel. + +At this I took your defense quite personally upon myself, and demanded +in as not so humble a tone as would be thought proper, though as I am +about to die within the next day or two, I have to admit that I don't +give much of a damn for politics or manners. And yet, with all my ardor +I was quickly subdued by a curt rebuke by my interlocutors (for Zimri +was there as well), which was, quite simply, that you hadn't taken Homer +for any more than a creative poet, even after a few thousand years of +study, so why should my meager manuscript make such a large impact. At +that, I acquiesced to them and admitted that on that end my attempt to +save humanity one way or another was contemptible, but I still write, as +you see, for the story's sake, and possibly for my own material +immortality. But never mind that, for it is high time that I went back +to my story. + +I was looking through the spyglass at the various areas of Daem where my +adventures had so far taken me. After I had examined them all for a few +moments, I felt a strange urge to use the telescope to look closely at +the mainland that I had seen before, to see what the effects of the +Great War had been there. As I turned the telescope's sights toward it, +I was at once surprised and flabbergasted at what caught my eye. There +were living beings on the mainland, not too far from the coast. And not +only that, but they were standing upright, though stooped, as if by +weariness and the wiles of life, and they seemed, in general, to +resemble humans, not directly, but as much as the Zards and Canitaurs +did, and with the effects of the radioactive instability greater on the +mainlands, it would seem natural that they would be further removed from +normality than those on Daem. The land itself was barren and flat, with +sparse vegetation in the forms of small, deformed shrubs and a short, +weak looking grass. As I looked closer I saw that there were about six +of the strange, stooped humanoids, and they were gathering the fruits of +some of the shrubs for consumption. In a few moments they finished their +task and began to walk further inland, and I followed their progress +with interest until they finally disappeared behind some of the small +plateaus that were scattered here and there among the wastelands. + +Putting the telescope down, I walked over to the couch and laid down on +it, with indignation filling my every move, for I was almost enraged +that the Zards and Canitaurs both should fail to tell me, whom they +claimed to respect as kinsman redeemer and whose decisions would seal +their fate for good or ill, that there were other survivors from the +Great Wars. I was also shocked by their selfishness, for while they +fought pettily amongst themselves over how they would change their lands +for the better, a seemingly important question about past and future, +they completely ignored the sufferings of other humanoids, to whom their +way of living no doubt seemed like a paradise. But there they were, +stuck across the sea on their desolate lands, unable to cross to Daem +and enjoy its plentiful resources and luxuries, yet not at all unaware +of them, for as they labored in their hopeless ways, they could see Daem +shining like a heavenly vision before them, one which they were not able +to touch or grasp, but instead one that must infuriate them to no end in +their heart, at the knowledge of fate's unfairness and their utter +hopelessness and complete poverty, not because of their laziness or +their ignorance or anything involving their actions whatsoever, but +simply because they had been born on the wrong side of the sea. + +At that moment I was embittered against both the Zards and the Canitaurs +for their selfishness and their pretensions of morality. There is no +morality where one sees another starving and suffering and does not +help, when one sees a whole race of people living on a land where +nothing but sorrows dwell, but will not let them share the wealth that +was given one by no doing of oneself. There is no morality in +selfishness, and when I saw those wretched people, I no longer felt like +redeeming those on Daem from the impending doom of humanity. Whatever +plans they had for me they never told, I sensed, for there was something +deeply wrong about the way they looked at me and talked about me, +something deeply wrong about the way they patronized me and treated me +like a silly child, while I was the one who was to decide their fate. +The Canitaurs and the Zards both looked at me with a subtle sense of +deceit and ill will, all that is, except Bernibus, which is why our +friendship flourished so swiftly. As I laid there with thoughts of Onan +and the decision that I was to make, and of all the responsibility that +was put upon me involuntarily, as I thought of the conflict of past and +future at the neglect of the present, as I thought about the +self-obsession and overindulgence that come with wealth, and the desire +for still more that accompanies it, I fell to sleep and into a place +where no troubles lay, for my long day and night had left in me no energy +for dreams. + + + + + + +Chapter 10: Devolution + + + +When I awoke the sun was once more out in its morning glory, at the +height it assumes at about the 9 o'clock hour, and the room was warm and +cozy because of it, as it shone in through the glass walls. My first +sensation upon waking was one of peace and bliss, the feeling +experienced when you wake up late to a nice warm resting place, +especially so when all the rest of the world is hard at work and you are +not. I breathed in the air deeply and contentedly while stretching my +arms, legs, and back in a most relieving fashion, and then turned +towards the table in the center of the room, from whence I smelled an +extremely appealing smell, that of a hearty breakfast. + +As I did so, however, my joy was sent to a bitter, premature death, for +there sitting at the table and smiling sardonically at me was the King, +arrayed in all his pomp and splendor with his powerful pose, which, +while it had impressed, and even to a point overwhelmed me, before, did +no such thing to me now, for I was fresh with indignation at the +exclusion of the humanoids across the sea from the paradise of Daem. + +He saluted me in a polite manner, and I him, though there was little +affection behind it. Then, without any more ceremony, I sat down and +began to eat, repulsing any attempt of his to start a conversation with +persistent vigor, until I had finished, when I stood and demanded where +exactly I was to make my toiletry. He laughed and said that he was +wondering how long I would last, but as I was still too unpleasant to +respond with any familiarity, he showed me to a little room that was +tucked off of the side of the bell that formed the entrance to the domed +chambers of the upper tower. The top of the tower itself was a half +complete sphere, while the room only occupied the upper half, so that +the bottom was divided between the entry way and the toiletry room. I +spent a few moments grooming and washing myself and preparing for the +day, and then rejoined him in the room. He was still sitting on his +chair and I took the other. The meal had been carried away. + +He began the conversation by saying, "My dear Jehu, I must apologize for +keeping you in this position, but you must understand that the outcome +of this war is very serious, and I will not risk it to your +sensationalism." + +"Sensationalism!" returned I, "Is that how you would describe a touch of +humanity?" + +"What do you mean?" he questioned, apparently interested in what I said. + + +"Well," I began, regaining myself, my former indignation being exhausted +by the spirit of my opening comments, and my normal sober reasoning +returning, "I have been observing your society, which you suppose to be +enlightened, but I have seen some things, which, I am afraid, are +evidences of the opposite." + +"Go on," + +"For one, your common folk engage in the most violent entertainment. I +saw a vicious game being played not far from here, in the plaza below. +There were two sides, and they rushed at each other in a rage and +clashed when they met until one side tackled the other. This went on for +some time, the evident point of the sport being to gain points by making +it so that one of the opposing players cannot get up at the end of a +round. It was so brutal that I was disgusted and could watch no more." + +"Yes, I see what you mean," the King replied, "I myself would much +rather that such games would be forsaken, but the people really enjoy +it. I must remind you, as well, that your society had the same type of +thing, as did every other before it. It was football for you, gladiators +for the Romans, and so forth." + +"But I thought that you had no traditions? That you were more +enlightened than those of the past? You can hardly excuse your +misconduct by reminding one of the misconduct of another, especially +when you claim to disclaim the errors of history, or at least, that +altered and redefined thing that you call history." + +"You are right, I have to admit," he conceded, "But let me remind you +that it is a static characteristic of humanity to confuse the ends with +the means. When an intense effort is applied, the melodramatic tendency +is to honor that effort, despite its uselessness, instead of honoring +the product of the effort rather than the effort itself. But, you are +right, I admit, for we have still a few places left to refine in the +common folk." + +Feeling vainglorious at my victory, I pursued him further, "I also +observed that your womenfolk wear face coverings in public, which is +most certainly a thing of the past." + +"I must disagree with you there Jehu," he said, evidentially regaining +his confidence and sense of moral footing, "For even in your own time +the womenfolk all wore masks and face coverings." + +I was taken aback and cried, "Most certainly they did not, your history +books may say so, but I, dear sir, was alive and would know best!" + +"What, then," he coolly replied, with a sharp grin that reeked of +self-confidence, "Would you call all the messes of make-up and perfume +and other such things which they were virtually forced to wear? I see +nothing different between wearing face coverings and transplanting an +entirely new face, hair, and body on oneself everyday. In fact, our +women got together and decided voluntarily to do so, for the very reason +that if an artificial covering must be put on, it might as well be one +that is easy, for why spend an hour or more a day to change one's +appearance, when it can be done in moments with a head covering? That is +a great time saver for us. And why spend the resources to research, +produce, and market massive amounts of facial paint to cover up the face +when it is possible to put a covering on and get the same effect much, +much easier? It is only logical. + +"And in general, Jehu," he pursued, warming to the subject matter, "I +find the oppression of women in your time to be quite appalling. You +seemed to think that the liberation of women consisted in transforming +them into loveless, materialistic thugs, into workaholics whose only +desire is wealth, into aggression driven beings that possessed little +shred of real humanity, into, in a word, men. I think it would have been +a much better endeavor to have attempted to change men into women." + +I was taken aback by his eloquent defense of the treatment of women in +his society, and felt, I must admit, a little impressed by his +arguments, seeing as how it did make more sense to wear a head covering +than to paint on a face every morning. Still, I desired to let him see +that traditions aren't all that bad, just as they aren't all that good, +and, as I had still won one point out of two so far, I felt it safe to +move on to my main argument against his humanistic preponderance. + +"You are right there, I admit, but tell me, your majesty," I said with a +slow, scoffing voice, meant to show that I had a powerful point to make, +and as if I had to go slow enough for him to comprehend the eloquence of +my speech, "Why, if you are so enlightened and progressive, so +humanitarian and merciful, why do you keep a whole race of people, of +human beings, stranded on the far shore, able to see the goodness of +Daem's plush lands, but unable to visit them? How can you justify the +keeping of people in such conditions when it is in your power to relieve +them?" + +He sobered up more than he already was and answered in his most +dignified voice, one calculated to stop opposition by its very graces, +"Their plight is unfortunate, but as they are not my subjects, it is +none of my concern." + +"So you knew of them, but did not care. How typical of powerful men. +What are they called?" + +"Munams," he answered, "Is what we call them, though people of your time +had a different name for them, Neanderthal, if I am correct." + +My intrigue superseded my conviction and I asked interestedly, "But, how +is that possible? The Neanderthals were the ancestors of men in my time, +and the men of my time were the ancestors of the men of this time, how +could they be living now?" + +"Very simply, for your scientists and philosophers did not understand +the revolution of time, and what they thought was evolution was in fact +devolution. You see, when they found all the fossils and other such +evidence for evolution, they interpreted it to mean that they had +evolved from lesser organisms. Since they didn't know that time repeats +itself over and over again, ages of time being like the years of the +earth, it was actually the remains of the age before them that they +thought were the remains of their ancestors. In truth, instead of a +great comet hitting the earth and destroying the dinosaurs and many +other living beings, it was the Great Wars, the nuclear wars, that +caused all the damage. And since their perception of the events was +backward, instead of the blasts destroying the dinosaurs and the wholly +mammoths, it was what actually created them, for, you see, after the +nuclear weapons had all been used, everything in the world died, or came +very close to it, all that is, except Daem, which thrived, because of +the delcator beetles. + +"There were no 'dinosaurs', only Zards, for when the radiation levels +were still high and unstable, we grew to enormous sizes, and likewise +there were no wholly mammoths, but Canitaurs. And the Neanderthals that +appeared shortly after were not the precursors to humans at all, but the +Munams, who survived on the mainland near Daem because of the corrected +atmosphere, but who were mutilated more than we by the increased +corruption across the sea. The Ice Ages, also, were not as you thought, +but instead mark the position in the last age after the doom of humanity +was played out and everything destroyed. The Big Bang, also, was not at +the beginning, but at the very end, being somehow related to the onset +of the Ice Ages. Your evolutionary theories were close, but the time +tables were rearranged to fit the facts, since time was thought to be +linear. + +"That is where our main trouble lies, Jehu, for through geological and +biological evidences, even more advanced than those collected during +your times, we can tell that something happens at this very period of +history that will wipe all life from the face of the earth for a long +period of time, many thousands of years, until somehow they start to +reproduce and grow once more into what they are now. Something very +powerful happens, even more devastating than the nuclear wars, when all +the nations of the world used their entire stock of weapons. Our problem +is how to prevent it, and a great problem it presents, indeed. You see, +while we would wish to be confident of success, since we know generally +what to expect, we know through research that there have been many, many +ages before us in which the same thing has happened. That is why the +geological layers have always been found to be strangely misaligned, +with fossils from an earlier period here and with a later period there. +That is why things like tree fossils are found in coal mines, where they +shouldn't be, and why in general, the evidence found in the ground +doesn't fit a consistent pattern." + +As he finished, I could say nothing, for his revelation was sobering to +me, bringing me suddenly back to the realization that our doom was +impending, that every decision I made had the potential to either bring +us to safety, or to supply the necessary force to hurl us viscously off +the cliff of mortality. He was silent as well and allowed me a few +moments of meditation to turn his speech in my mind. As is my tendency, +I looked abstractly out the window as I thought, fixing my subconscious +focus on the road that ran from the northern gate down through the city, +the road which formed half of the plaza beneath the temple. A moment or +two passed like a solemn parade of mourning, then, suddenly, or at least +quite unexpected by myself, a party of Canitaurs came walking down the +northern road, unharassed and unescorted through the heart of the city. +Since they came freely, I knew that they were not prisoners, but still I +was perplexed at how a party of them came to be allowed in Nunami at all +under such pretexts, especially as they had attempted to bring it to +ruin but a few days before. + +The King saw their coming and my interest in them, and said in a way of +explanation, "There is to be a council today between the Zards and +Canitaurs, with you present, of course. Our war has rampaged for quite +some time, but we are forced to peace in light of our impending doom, +brought by circumstances outside of ourselves. We will decide tonight, +or tomorrow, what action to take. It is a grim time, you can be sure, my +dear Jehu, when Zards and Canitaurs meet in peace, a grim time indeed." + +He said that very importantly, with an air of fright in his voice, as +one who knows his end is near, for both him and his loved ones. There +was another moment of silence as he reflected on the meaning of his +words, and then he rose and beckoned me to follow him. We made our way +through the bottom half of the room and down the long flight of stairs +that wound down the great tower in the Temple of Time. When we reached +the bottom, we went again into the long room with the bookshelves, the +table, and the altar to Temis. Already there waiting for us were the +Canitaur emissaries, Wagner and Bernibus. + +They rose to greet me, bowing low in a deferential manner, more out of +forced respect than awe, at least on Wagner's part, and after the +customary blessing that followed, we all sat down at the long wooden +table that stretched lengthwise through the room. Wagner and Bernibus +took their chairs on one side and the King and myself on the other, he +and Wagner being opposite each other, and Bernibus and me being the +same; the King and I were facing the altar and the White Eagle that held +it. + +There was a moment of silence as we took our seats, and it continued for +another moment as everyone sat in an awkward situation. As there was no +one else in the room besides the four of us, and as Wagner seemed +disinclined to begin, the King opened up our conference with the +following statement: + +"Well, dear sirs, what can I say, except that I am glad that you have +finally condescended to seek a mutual agreement on the actions which are +about to ensue, and that I hope that our conference will be productive +and informative. Before we begin, I will outline the rules of the debate +and of the conference, which were agreed upon before the military action +of the recent past," here he looked at Wagner with the look of a judge +who supposes himself morally superior to the criminal in his holding, +"And by which we will still govern the council, despite the sudden +change in circumstances. The rules are as follows: The decision shall be +made by the votes of the three parties involved, namely the Zards, the +Canitaurs, and Jehu, the kinsman redeemer. A majority of two votes is +required to decide which of the paths will be taken: the Futurist or the +Pastite. As is clearly obvious, my dear Jehu, I shall vote Futurist, and +Wagner shall vote Pastite, and it is up to you to cast the decisive +vote. You are the kinsman redeemer, and for all intents and purposes, +you will be the sole decider of the fate of humanity. It is a great +responsibility, but one that you were chosen for by the child of Temis, +the God of Time. Wagner and myself will each make our cases, though you +know them by now, and then you will have all night to decide and you +will tell us your decision in the morning," thus concluded the King's +opening address. + +Before anyone else could follow it up, I interjected, "But I was sent by +Onan to do his work on earth, wouldn't it only make sense for me to +choose the way of Onan?" + +The King answered me, saying, "You were sent by Temis, the God of Time, +Jehu, for Onan and Zimri are his children who do his work for him, but +they only have the powers that he gave them. Onan is the only one able +to speak to mortals, for he is in the past, while Zimri is in the +future, but Onan also speaks for Zimri, because he is told what to say +by Temis, whose agents they both are as much as you are Onan's. Isn't +that so, Wagner?" + +Wagner sighed in the affirmative, and when he had done so, I asked him +pointedly, "Why didn't you tell me? You led me to believe that Onan was +the one who sent me, and by his own power." + +Here the King put in, "He merely wanted to prejudice you to his own +side, Jehu. He attempted to by-pass our peace treaty of long ago when he +tried to attack us and capture this very temple for his own plans. We +agreed twenty-five years ago to do it this way, because enough blood had +been shed, and no good had come from it. He violated it when he took you +into hiding, using our pursuit after his treachery as justification. But +come, in the face of impending doom we cannot squabble over past wrongs, +but must move to prevent future disaster from striking." + +"What is so important about this Temple of Time, though?" I asked. + +Wagner and the King mumbled together that "It was an essential part of +the restoration of Daem", but would not elaborate, saying that it was +unimportant to the present troubles. They looked guilty as they said it, +though of what I did not know. I was reminded of my indignation at their +ignoring of the sufferings of the Munams and became once more impatient +with their self-importance, so I yielded the floor and they began to +make their cases. In order to decide who went first, they drew lots, and +as the shorter was drawn by Wagner, he went first. His speech is as +follows: + +"The past is constant, Jehu. It has happened and is secure in its place, +explored and known. The traditions and customs of our people are +steadfast and immovable, for they have survived the ages like a mountain +that is untouched by the weather. They have lasted so long not because +of the mere namesake of tradition, but because they work, because they +have worked thousands of times before, and because we know they will +work a thousand times in the future. What was good enough for the +generations before us is good enough for us and our children. A +tradition, or taboo, is not formed by the decision of some contemporary +council as a means to control others via social restrictions, for if it +was it would never have lasted, instead it is formed because of +experience, because when something goes beyond it the result is +temporary pleasure, the nectar of the fruits of rebellion, but when the +rebellious desires have faded, what is left is rotten and decayed. + +"It brings only more desires for rebellion and more thirst for the +forsaking of traditions, and it will not be satisfied. Then another +taboo will be broken, but this also will not quench the desires of the +rebellious, who do what they do not for any independent purpose, but +only from a desire to break traditions and taboos and to be different +than their forebears. But there is no satisfaction in rebellion, only in +obedience. Obedience not to some alien divinity, not to some social +supremest, not to the blind devotion of parental mandates, but obedience +to common sense, to practicality, to morality. For a taboo is not formed +by any one person, instead it is slowly built up upon the experiences of +many, experiences which show that when one thing is done, suffering is +what follows, and when another thing is done, happiness is what follows. +Of course there are a few, isolated taboos that are based instead on +human prejudices, but that doesn't translate into the abandonment of all +the experience of precedents. What comes when there are no longer any +taboos and traditions to break? Destruction. For as is seen time and +again, the rebellion of societies gains momentum, and while their +consequences are slow in gathering, in the end they multiply and force +those societies over the edge of power, bringing only suffering and +ruin. + +"And not only are the experiences of the past wielded together into that +euphoria that eludes the rebellious--wisdom--but its constant state +controls the present and the future. What men have seen in the past +leads them in their future actions, and as a result, it is not the +future that controls the present and defines the past, but it is the +past which controls the present and defines the future. What sense is +there in abandoning the mountain of wisdom that the past has built up +and leaping blindly into hazy, unknown actions and institutions? The +past is steady, Jehu, and it is known; it is the only sensible way." +Thus spoke Wagner. + +It was then the King's turn, and he said as follows: + +"The past is the past, not the present nor the future, its time has been +spent, its part in the theater of life is over, it is extinct. Jehu, +Wagner speaks of us as rebelliously breaking taboos that were formed by +our forefathers, but that is not true. In the present more is known than +was known in the past, they had outdated views and opinions, and their +ideologies were vulgar and unsophisticated. At present we are more +knowledgeable, more refined than what has gone before. The people of the +past waged unjust wars. They had superstition and prejudices that +clouded their visions of morality, and the product of that is a large +amount of taboos and precedents and traditions that are immoral or +meaningless. Now is the age of enlightenment, now and never before is +the future at hand, mixing with the present as we learn more and more +about our world. We are progressive, learning and growing in philosophy +and lifestyle. + +"If those of the past were so upright and wise, than why are they not +still among the living? If they were so powerful, then why are they now +extinct? The past is gone, but the future is yet to come, it still holds +tangible pleasures, not memories, it has promise and potential, while +the past is only the ruins of the same. When the past is looked back +upon, it is small and immaterial, it is like time crumpled up into a wad +of memories, and a time yesterday or a thousand years ago looks the +same, for it is past, it is no more. Life is not short, but in +retrospect it seems to be, and its memories are distant, as they float +like fish in the oceans of time, lacking both definition and scale, and +hanging lifelessly around in random arrays. Every moment is of the same +length, but a moment in the past is nothing, its thoughts and emotions +are nothing, they are gone and useless to the present, while a moment in +the future is long and touchable. A thought that is past is as nothing, +and it is forgotten, for the past and the future are like a one-way +mirror, you can look forward into the future, but looking into the past +you can see only the present reflected back at you. What good are the +joys or sorrows of yesterday? They are as far removed as those of a +thousand years ago, but it is the joys and sorrows of tomorrow that loom +the largest. Why look into the past for completion, when it is found +only in the future?" Thus spoke the King. + +Once both of them had finished there was a short pause, each reflective +and absorbed with his own thoughts. At last the King broke through the +still waters of the moment and sent his rippling voice across its +formless surface, which revived at once and was joined by many others, +until the outward expression of consciousness sent the waters of the +mind again into their complex and interwoven dances. He spoke in the +department of host and concluded the short session with these words, +"Now the cases are stated, though but briefly, for they were already +well-known. As planned prior to the infractions of the treaty, we will +adjourn for the night, and in the morning Jehu will deliver his verdict, +whether we undo our problem through the future, or through the past." + +We all rose and Bernibus, my only friend on the island, came up to me +and warmly embraced me, while Wagner and the King conversed formally a +few yards away. When they were not looking and our backs were turned to +them, Bernibus slipped me a piece of paper that was rolled up into a +tight scroll. Seeing his caution and secrecy, I quickly stashed it in +the inside of my shirt, where it could not be seen. I was alarmed at the +momentary expression of his face, which showed that he was greatly +worried about me, and made me very interested in what the paper would +contain. His face quickly returned to its original countenance, an +impermeable barrier to his insides, and no one except myself had any +inclination about what had happened. The other two turned towards us, +and quickly made their farewells, Wagner and Bernibus departing for +their quarters, and the King to escort me back to my prison. + +He took my arm in his genially, though only superficially so, for he +still had a subdued sense of distrust about him, and we went through the +door to the long, circling stairway from whence we had come. As we +ascended we engaged in small talk, the usual meaningless pleasantry, +which I assume you have probably had enough of in your experiences to +allow me to dispense with relating it, for it was of no weight in any of +the circumstances that I found myself in, and I especially was not +interested in it, as the paper given to me by Bernibus claimed my whole +attention, and filled me with an anticipation and mystery of what it +might contain. I kept up the small talk with the King merely to allay +any suspicions he might have had, though he had none. After a seeming +eternity we reached the top, and once there I stepped into my chambers, +as the King jestingly called them. We bade each other goodnight, which +was followed by the metallic click of the door locking, and the sound +his footsteps as he descended and made his way to his palace. + + + + + + +Chapter 11: The Land Across the Sea + + + +I waited reluctantly with my ear against the door until his footsteps +could no longer be heard, and then waited for fifteen minutes more, +listening carefully for any noises. There were none, and once I had +convinced myself that I was completely alone, I dashed swiftly up the +stairs and jumped onto the couch. My sudden movements caused the +top-heavy tower to sway slightly for a few moments, giving me quite the +scare, for I didn't realize what it was at first. But then my pilot's +instinct kicked in and I mentally calculated the height and width of the +tower and the mass of the dome that rested upon it, and came to the +conclusion that it was stable, for while a swift movement caused it to +sway, it would take a prolonged and deliberate pendulum-like motion to +cause any real damage, and even the fiercest wind would not upset it, +for it would only blow in a single direction at a time, and only a +rocking motion must be feared. + +Confident once more of my safety, I took the rolled piece of paper from +the folds of my clothing and opened it carefully. Inside was a note from +Bernibus, written in a legible cursive that flowed from an obviously +educated hand. It read as follows: + + +"My Dear Jehu, it is I, Bernibus, your friend and comrade, who writes to +you. Wagner and myself are soon to set off for Nunami for a council with +the Zards about the resolution of our conflict. It was decided in a +cease fire treaty twenty-some years ago that whomever first came upon +the kinsman redeemer was to have a council with the other side and the +ancient one to decide which course to take, since either course needs +the support of both the Zards and the Canitaurs to succeed. When you +first came among us, Wagner seemed to break the terms of the treaty and +keep you with us in an attempt carry out our plans independently of the +Zards, using an attack plan that had been held in readiness since the +treaty, to ensure a defense if things went wrong. When the Zards +attempted to capture us upon your arrival, Wagner declared the treaty +violated, and I assumed that it was to be entirely abandoned. I was +under this impression when I befriended you, and once our friendship had +strengthened, I had no fears for you, thinking as I did that new methods +were to be tried. + +"After the attack on Nunami failed and the council was once again to be +held, each having violated it equally, my fears were suddenly aroused on +your behalf. It was only then that I saw that it was the intention of +Wagner not only to destroy Nunami and the Zards, but to capture the +Temple of Time, which was the only part of the city to be left intact. +When I confronted my brother-in-law about this, he only laughed at me +scornfully and told me that I was soft, that I was a fool to put one +man's life ahead of the salvation of the whole earth. I was filled with +wrath at him and still am, but I have decided that it was better to +feign compliance and let you know by letter what it was that is being +planned for you. I am only sorry that it should come to you at so late +an hour, when I could have warned and helped you before if I had only +known. There is not much that you can do now, but still I must warn you, +for whatever it is worth, if only to prove my affections. + +"You see, my dear Jehu, the Pastites and Futurists interpret the +prophecy to mean that the kinsman redeemer has come to renew the earth, +as you have no doubt heard, although there is strong evidences to the +contrary. I myself have been brought up to this interpretation, as it is +more acceptable than the alternate theories that exist, though I have +been for a time now doubting its accuracy. According to the Externus +Miraculum view, the Temple of Time is crucial to the implementation of +either plan, in fact it is the crux of them both, the one issue that it +is of as great importance, or greater, than the presence of you, the +kinsman redeemer. There is an altar in the center room of the temple, a +great diamond White Eagle that is grasping an ordinary altar in its +talons, and this altar is where the kinsman redeemer is to be +sacrificed. If only I had suspected so before and could have warned when +there was yet time! + +"But there is no time now for such reflections, so I will continue. The +method of sending you back or forward in time is to sacrifice you on the +altar of Temis, the God of Time. It is not a traditional, atonement +sacrifice, nor of any kind that involves the cutting of the flesh with a +knife. Instead it is a molecular one. You are to be set on the altar and +then the White Eagle will start to spew forth either protons or +electrons, depending on which is chosen, past or future. When your +body's cells absorb all of the floating matter, they will be either +positively or negatively charged to such an extent that their +revolutions will be rapidly accelerated. According to theory, the +increased speed of the revolutions would cause a rift in the time +continuum, or in other words, would change the proportion between your +existence in the temporal and material realms and change your location +in time, thereby propelling you into the past or the future, depending +upon which was chosen, electron or proton, past or future. + +"There has been much experimentation with this process, each person sent +through time being equipped with a matter-proof box that is basically an +advanced time capsule, lasting for millions of years. Into this box (or +TAB, Temporal Anomaly Box) each person was supposed to write an account +of their temporal journey and leave it on the island that is presently +Daem, at specific locations decided on for that purpose. We would search +for those boxes in the present, to see if they had been delivered. None +have yet been found, though there are other possible reasons than death, +such as a failure to find the island, or the box's removal by someone in +an intervening time. Still, I am greatly afraid for your life Jehu, +especially so after what I discovered just hours ago in the classified +archives of the Canitaurs: there was strong evidence that the process +simply disintegrated those upon whom it was tried, instead of sending +them through time. This was kept from the public, and was forcefully +forgotten by those who knew, their reason being that Temis would guide +your travel better than the others who were not called as his servants. +If it were anyone but you, Jehu, I would probably have deceived myself +in the same way, but I cannot let you be destroyed like this. You must +escape and not let them throw away our only chance of salvation in such +a way. I only wish that I had known sooner, I only wish that there was a +chance that you could escape, + +"Your Devoted Friend, +"Bernibus" + + +For a moment I could do nothing except sit in silence and ponder over +this new revelation. After I had reread the letter twice, so as to be +thoroughly familiar with its contents, I ate it, so that if I did +escape, or was apprehended doing so, Bernibus would not be found out and +suffer because of it, though I doubt not that he would have gladly done +so. When I had done that, I ran down to the door and attempted to force +it open, but to no avail. Neither could it be picked. And even if it +had, it would have done me no good, for there were at least two guards +always stationed at the foot of the stairs, and many more between them +and the temple entrance, and even if, by some miraculous intervention, I +made it that far, that left me stranded conspicuously in the center of +Nunami. My only hope was to escape from the island completely, for I +would be found soon enough by the cooperating inhabitants if I remained +upon their own lands. + +The land across the sea then entered my mind, and its degenerate +inhabitants, but that was across a wide channel that would be hard to +cross even if I had infinite time, freedom, and materials to make a boat +which would withstand the waves, and I had none of the three. What +little hope I had, then, was out of reach, lost to me like the golden +days of the past. It was then that I was overcome by despondency, the +hopelessness of my situation weighing my spirits down. It is a peculiar +trait of mine that in times of distress and in situations that seem to +have no possible favorable outcome I act rashly and without reason. You +will remember how I leaned forward and peered into the dark hole when I +was stranded on the tiny island in the sea, and how I struck the tree +with a limb on the shores of Lake Umquam Renatusum. Likewise, I again +did something which would seem illogical and vain: in my frustration, I +pushed the table that I happened to be standing against with as much +force as I could muster. It slid softly along the carpeting before +coming to a halt a few inches from the glass wall. It made no noise or +jarring of the floor, but the sudden shifting of weight in the room +caused the tower to sway once more, as it had when I had run up the +stairs to the couch. + +And, as had happened on the previous occasions, the result of my +senseless actions was good, as if guided by some external force, for an +idea came suddenly to my mind that would not have been there otherwise, +an idea that was outlandish and far-fetched, but was at the time my only +hope. + +I lost no time on preparing my efforts, for there was none to be lost, +and set out immediately to remove the carpeting from the floor. Upon +examination I found that it was not attached to the ground at all, but +only fastened into a wooden frame at the walls that held it tightly in +place. It stretched in a circular fashion around the whole of the room +and into the center until it came to the stairs that led downward, so +that once removed it formed a circle about thirty feet in diameter with +a three foot circular hole in its center. In case I haven't mentioned +the type of the carpet yet, which I must confess that I cannot remember, +I will do so here: it was not a traditional carpet, that form being +apparently lost after the great wars, instead it was a silky sheet-like +carpet, no more than a quarter inch thick, and in fact greatly +resembling the sail of an old clipper ship, the painting on the glass +that I saw earlier probably attesting to the fact that it had been +designed with that appearance in mind. Like its prototype, the sail, it +caught a lot of wind and acted in the same general manner. + +Using the bowie knife that was built into the large frontal buckle of +the anti-electron suit, which, by the way, I was still entirely wearing, +I cut the carpet down its center, making two semi-circular pieces, each +with a moon shaped appearance, much like a wing. I based my idea in part +on the observation that the Canitaurs and Zards had apparently lost, or +disregarded, the springs of my time and instead used a hammock of +springy, elastic cords that spread across the face of the furniture. +Simply put, they stretched elastic ropes across an empty frame, almost +like a trampoline made of individual cords. This created a very +comfortable springing feel, for they gave enough bounce to render the +surface pliable, but not overly soft. Taking the bowie knife again, I +thrust it into the couch, and cut away the cushioning to reveal the +support. To my great relief, I found that it was constructed in a manner +similar to the other couches that I had seen. There were about two score +of the cords, each being between three and four feet long. These I +unattached and laid them down in a pile. + +Next, I took the four main support beams for the couch, one running +along each side and two down the center in a crescent shape, with the +same curve and slope as the carpet, as they were designed to contour the +same wall. Then I disassembled the table and took from it two of its +main beams, which were about a foot shorter than their curved +counterparts. These I did not fully remove, instead loosening their +screws and swiveling them to extend outwards from the table at a right +angle, tightening them again afterwards so that they were secure. + +Once that was accomplished, I went to the frame that had held the carpet +down and took the pins and fasteners which were used to secure it. These +I placed on the crescent beams from the couch, which used the same +standard size. Once I had secured the carpet sections to the beams, I +attached the couch's beams, via the cords, to the long beams sticking +outward from the table, running the ends of all the cords through +another cord that could, upon being pulled, adjust their height by +pulling or releasing, thus controlling the distance between the upper +and the lower beams, and changing the amount of slack in the carpet that +was stretched between them. I then removed the legs from the tabletop, +leaving just it and the beams together, the carpet being attached to the +beams. + +Thus my plan was completed, it being, in case you hadn't guessed, a +primitive hang glider, the carpet being a sail and the beams the wings, +the whole being steerable by either raising or lowering one side or the +other, and the altitude being adjustable by raising or lowering the two +simultaneously. I felt keen joy at my skills in air travel at that +moment, and as I stepped back to admire my work, I felt that peculiar +satisfaction of having made something and finding that it was good. + +But that moment was short lived, for another problem quickly presented +itself, namely, how would I remove the hang-glider from the tower and +launch it. It was far too large to go down the stairs and needed to be +propelled to a high speed or dropped from a high altitude to become +airborne. Since I had no way of propelling it, I needed to launch it +from the top of the tower, which provided plenty of altitude, but then +the problem of how to remove it from the tower arose. For a moment I was +stumped and almost admitted defeat, but then it came to me. + +The tower's only weakness was in its lack of protection against a +deliberate rocking motion. If I was able to swing it back and forth fast +enough by slowly gaining speed and multiplying the momentum, it would be +possible to get it to lean far enough that the dome would snap off, +leaving the room open to the air. This was possible, though rather +unlikely. But I tried anyway. + +Starting on one side I began to move from one edge to the other until a +faint rocking motion could be felt. Then I increased my speed in +proportion to the speed of the tower itself. It was a slow start, but +the momentum began to grow, and as it did each successive sway became +faster and faster. Soon it was going so fast that I began to have +unstable footing, the whole tower creaking like a tree that it is blown +by a heavy wind. The speed kept increasing until it reached its fastest, +swooshing to and fro with all of its accumulated force. + +It was then that the break happened, for on one of the thrusts the top +snapped off and the upper dome was flung downwards to the ground. As +soon as it was off I shoved the hang-glider with all the force I could +muster towards the edge. At first it fell, but a few feet from the edge +its wings caught the wind and it was brought up to a stable soar, and +just at that instant I landed on it, for I had jumped right after it. I +hit with a thud and felt the craft bounce downwards a little as I hit, +but it soon regained its stability and sped on through the air as behind +me I heard a great crashing sound. + +I pulled the left wing down and the glider began to turn in that +direction. Since I had launched into the opposite direction of the +mainland, I needed to wheel around completely, and as such I held the +wing down until I had done an about face towards the east. What I saw +was a striking picture: the sun had just begun to rise, and under the +influence of its soft textures the city of Nunami looked as it had +before: quaint, picturesque, and inviting. But there was a great +difference now, for the tower itself had completely collapsed under the +momentum, and its ruins had fallen down upon the Temple of Time, +demolishing it and leaving only ruins. It had also fallen on a strip of +the city, taking with it several buildings and leaving only rubble. The +King, Wagner, and Bernibus could just barely be seen amongst the crowds +that had dashed out of doors to see what was going on, and I could tell +that Bernibus was smiling at my escape as he looked at my wind sailor a +thousand feet in the air. A friend who rejoices in your advancement, +even at his own cost, is rare indeed. + +Turning my gaze upwards, I left Nunami and its troubles behind me and +looked ahead to my promised land, and though it was barren and devoid of +any significant foliage, it still held something equally dear to me as +landscape: safety. The wind currents were strong and my speed was about +30 miles per hour. Great expanses of grassland sped by below me like the +memories of yesteryear, and within half an hour I found myself over the +ocean. + +There is something very refreshing about the sunrise that correlated +very well with my present feeling of emancipation, for it is a symbol of +the new and fresh, and of the forgetting of the troubles of the past. +This was true in my case, at least, for I was soon carefree once more, +secure in my freedom. As the wind rushed across my body, I was relaxed +in my adopted element, air, though it was slightly difficult to keep +myself firmly on the glider, as I was lying unfastened to the tabletop. +Below me passed the ocean, looking generally the same as ever, though +paler and less alive, like a ghost of its former self, but still close +enough to bring the calm of reminiscing. + +Soon even the ocean began to give way to the fast approaching mainland, +and I abandoned my restive meditations to solve the problem of how to +land. I had not made any contraptions for that purpose, having not +thought about it in the hurry to leave my prison. I decided to use a +traditional circling approach, in the same way scavenging birds descend +on their prey. When I was a mile or so inland, I began to circle about +in wide spirals, narrowing them as I drew closer to the ground. In this +way I had slowed down enough by the time I made contact with the ground +that neither I nor my craft was injured in the landing. + +The terrain proved to be as desolate as it had appeared from the +distance, for the main vegetation was a weakly sprouting grass that was +only a few inches high, though not mowed or chewed down. Every few dozen +yards there was a single stunted shrub or small tree, or in some cases a +group of the same, and the spaces between these was littered with +scattered rocks and occasionally a smaller, flowering plant. The +topography of the land was mostly flat, though not in the sense of a +plain or savanna, instead it was merely a gentle slope, so that the +immediate area seemed flat, but in the distance it was seen to rise +considerably. There were also a few small hills that were no more than +twenty feet high across their whole length, but in the obtuse slopes of +the land, even that seemed to be almost mountainous. Brown was the +prevailing color of it all for as far as my eye could see, though I +cannot say if that condition prevailed inland further, since I had +forgotten the telescope, which would probably have proved a useful tool. + + +A slight wind blew from seaward, scattering the dry top soil about like +a cloud of gnats, though there were very few actual insects, and no +animals that I could see. The only sound that I could hear was that of +the wind howling gently past my ears. I had landed in a sort of valley, +which, though not at all deep, was surrounded on all sides by slight +hills that prevented me from getting an extensive look at the landscape +beyond. Before making any decisions as to which direction to set off, I +decided to climb to the top of one of these hills to ascertain my exact +situation, and although I was generally reluctant to start off into +unfamiliar territory, I also wanted to put as many miles between me and +the coast as possible, in case the Zards and Canitaurs came after me, +which was still a cause of great anxiety to me. + +As I rounded the top of the hill that was directly east of my landing +point, I suddenly came face to face with two small people, gnomes by +appearance, one of whom I recognized as being Onan, the Lord of the +Past. He greeted me familiarly as 'My Dear Jehu', and introduced me to +his partner, who turned out to be Zimri, the Lord of the Future. Onan +was dressed the same as when I had last seen him, and Zimri was close in +appearance, though his hair was long and his beard short, while Onan's +were the opposite. Zimri wore a little blue-green frock that fit rather +snuggly but not enough to be considered tight. I started our ensuing +dialog by saying this: + +"I am more than a little surprised to see you upon such good terms with +your rival, Onan," giving Zimri an inquisitive glance as I did. "I had +just assumed that you two would be bitter enemies, as your followers on +Daem seem to be, but I can tell now that that is not at all the case." + +He laughed, as did Zimri, and replied, "We are brothers, and as such +there is always a strong rivalry, but at the same time there is the +closest bond. There is no real conflict between us, but only a trivial +and jovial mock conflict, the kind that means no harm and does none, to +those involved, but rubs off on others who are less informed, who take +it seriously and have a real conflict." + +"What do you mean by that illustration?" I asked. + +"Nothing. Nothing at all," he sighed, "I have said too much already, it +is against the rules, you know." + +"Yes, yes, the rules. Tell me, though, how would you say I am doing so +far, am I at least doing fairly?" + +"Of course, Jehu, you are doing excellently." + +"Is it true about the revolutions of time and matter, then?" + +"Yes, in fact, it goes even further than that... Say, Zimri, do you +think it is allowable to tell him about the physical and the spiritual +realms?" + +Zimri said nothing, for he can say nothing, but he did nod his head in +the affirmative. Thus sanctioned by his brother, Onan continued to +speak, "Well, you know that physical existence is comprised of time and +matter, and that both of these are involved in a revolving motion, from +the minutest foundations to the largest additions. While they both are +revolving within themselves, they are also revolving together, around an +enigma which, as other of the centers, is completely devoid of the thing +which revolves around it, but is found plentifully in them. In the case +of matter, it revolves around a black hole, in which there is not found +any matter, but there are places of emptiness inside of the matter, in +fact, most of an atom is empty space. In the case of time, it revolves +around eternity, an enigma where there is no such thing as time, even as +there are certain areas where no time exists in physical existence, such +as a book. Likewise, physical existence, which is a combination of time +and matter, revolves around a place in which there is no physical +existence, namely, the spiritual realm. There is no physical in the +spiritual, but there is spiritual in the physical. Physical existence is +not whole without the spiritual, which binds it together in such a way +that gives it life, the ability to think and reason. + +"There is spiritual matter in everything, but it cannot be seen or +sensed physically unless it is revealed to one by a force on the +spiritual side. Or rather, it cannot be understood unless revealed, for +it can always be seen through its effects. By this I mean that it leaves +a trace in the physical realm, like a jellyfish that leaves a glowing +trail in its wake. When the brain of a human thinks, it is not the +actual brain that is thinking, instead it is the spiritual matter that +exists in the brain, and this spiritual matter leaves a trail where it +goes of electric signals and such. When someone feels a certain emotion, +such as love or depression, it is felt in the spiritual realm, but its +traces are seen in the physical, such as certain chemicals, but these +are not the cause of the emotion, only the effect of them. It is +possible, through certain drugs, to induce varying emotions, such as +happiness or laughter, but these are not the actual emotions, only their +physical counterparts, so that while it appears to be happiness, it is +not, like the shadow of a man in a field: his form keeps the light from +striking the ground beside him, but the shadow is not him, only the +trace of him. Making a shadow like the man does not make the man, only +the appearance of the man. While the how of a situation may be inferred +through physical means, the why is an entirely spiritual matter, and any +attempt to observe life without taking into account the spiritual matter +behind it will end in the same result as evolution, as the scientists of +your day generally imagined it, but which was, in fact, devolution. + +"The laws of the physical realm are called science, such as the fact +that energy and matter are neither created or destroyed in any natural +or artificial process, or that everything left to itself tends toward +disorder, or that life cannot come from non-life by natural or +artificial processes. The laws of the spiritual realm are called +morality. You have no doubt observed that when one does a certain thing, +the end result is always good, and when one does something else, the end +result is always bad. That is because there are spiritual laws that +govern life, and just as there is gravity on the earth that always pulls +things down to it, so there is a spiritual law that whenever someone +steals something, the result is suffering for both of the parties +involved. Just as it is a physical law that man must have oxygen to +live, so it is a spiritual law that when someone murders another the end +result is always suffering. Why is this, one may ask, but that is a +foolish question, or at least a pointless one, for the law of gravity +states that on the earth, all things fall downward towards the center of +gravity, there is no reason why, except that it is, for it is observed +continually to be the case. + +"Since men cannot accept that there is a power over them, they deny it, +and in the process they misinterpret the various things of life as +physical things, not the spiritual things that they represent. For +instance, love: men in many "advanced," that is to say, self-obsessed, +civilizations, view it only in its physical materializations, but not in +its spiritual context. When they see the results of love, romance +especially, they do not understand that the romance is only the fruit of +the spiritual essence of love, but instead think that the romance is +love. There can be so-called romance on the physical level without its +spiritual counterpart, but it is only the shadow of love, which will +never fulfill and will never be complete, because, by definition, it is +only a mocking of the true force of love. On the other hand, true +romance is not, as some would seem to think, a certain action or set of +actions, such as the gift of a precious metal or some colorful piece of +foliage, instead it is whatever is the result of the spiritual love, for +the physical manifestation of the spiritual essence of love is not +confined to certain objects or actions, but to any that are sanctioned +with its blessings. The daily toil of a poor man shows far more love +than a lavish gift from a rich man." + +When he had finished, I gave him a big grin and thanked him for his +lecture, and then asked him how it was that this did not break the +rules, but other things did. To this he replied that it affected my task +only indirectly, while the other things were all direct concomitants. +Then he asked me if I had any other questions for him, and I replied +that I did indeed have one. Which was as follows, "I know that there was +a great war directly after my departure from my native temporal zone, +and that it was very devastating in its reach and effect, and while I +know that the situation was very tense at the time, I was under the +impression that it was starting to cool down once more. What was it that +set it all off?" + +"The disappearance of an American fighter jet off the coast of China," +he replied straight-forwardly. + +My interest was suddenly aroused, for that was the very section where my +squadron was stationed, and anyone who was lost would have been a close +friend of mine. "Go on," I told him. + +"The Americans claimed that it was shot down by the Chinese, and +demanded an official apology. That the Chinese would not do, insisting +that they had done no such thing, and instead of the whole situation +diffusing, as you thought it would, both sides proceeded to war +stubbornly, each thinking itself in the moral superiority. But that is +as always." + +"Do you have any idea whose ship it was that went down? They were all my +comrades," I said. + +"Of course I know, Jehu, for it was your plane." + +"But how? I wasn't shot down, I crash landed on an island." + +"But you came to me and I sent you here, and since your radios went out, +they had no idea that you were safely landed." + +"Still, they must have found the plane!" + +"No, you know perfectly well that those islands are brought above and +below sea level at different times. After you left, the island was +brought below the water, and your plane was lost in the sea, no traces +were found." + +I was confused, "Onan, does that mean that I was the cause of the war?" + +"From a certain point of view, yes." + +He was about to say something else to me when we saw in the distance a +group of about ten Munams coming toward us, being at that time a few +miles away. He then told me that he must leave me again for the present, +as he could not interfere directly with my mission. They bid me goodbye +and I did the same to them, and then they walked down the opposite side +of the hill that the Munams were approaching from. As they walked, they +slowly disappeared, until they were gone without a trace, for even their +footprints had faded to nothing. + +During the time between Onan and Zimri's departure and the Munam's +arrival, I was left to myself for a period of inward meditation, an +activity that you have probably concluded that I am often given to, +which is entirely the case. This new revelation was very troubling to +me, that somehow I was the very cause of the destruction of humanity +during the great wars, while also the kinsman redeemer over 500 years +later, who was prophesied to be the one to bring humanity back into +balance with nature, or to thrust it forever off the edge of existence +into the damnation of the ice ages. As I told you in the beginning, I am +written in the pages of history as the destroyer of humanity, though if +it is just or not, I am not able to judge. The name of Jehu will forever +be a ripple on the surface of the waters of life, and when it is heard +or spoken, the only feeling that it will bring will be hatred and +disgust. If only mortals could see below the surface of the waters of +life, for just as the ocean can be deceiving on its surface, so can +life. Time is like an ocean, but when one looks upon it, what often +happens is that all one sees is the present reflected back in its +surface, and the eyes are shielded from what lies below, focusing +instead on the surface, which is so trivial compared to the abyss which +supports it. When one only sees the surface reflected back, then history +and its wisdom lose their meaning, and one sees not the past but only +the present. What I mean is this: if you look to the past to justify +your actions rather than to guide them, you will not see the truths +contained therein, but only what your presuppositions already were +before you looked, and your ignorance will be reinforced rather than +repudiated. Wisdom is the ability to see the past separate from the +present, but when one sees the destruction of humanity, he will see only +me, his vision being shielded from the true cause of it all, history. + +The actions or inactions of one solitary soul cannot bring the end of +life, only the accumulation of the wrongs and injustices of a whole +race, the human race. Forever I will be eyed as the assassin of +humanity, and yet that is not the truth at all, for I am the father of +humanity, I am the beginning as well as the end. If you view me only as +one or the other, you do not see me at all, but only a pale shadow of my +true self. I am Jehu, past, present, and future, I am the concentration +of humanity in all its forms and reproductions, I am the creator and +destroyer of every age of this temporal maze. Why am I the defender and +executioner of the race of men? Why am I the protagonist and antagonist +of humanity? Why am I the father and the son, the beginning and the end? +Such a question is futile to ask in the physical realm, for here there +are no answers to the why's, they are only to be found in the spiritual +realm. The physical realm is left only with the how's, and it is those +which I am attempting to clarify. + + + + + + +Chapter 12: The White Eagle + + + +It was only a few moments after Onan and Zimri left me that the Munams +arrived, for they had run, spurred on, apparently, by their great desire +to meet me. In appearance they were like I had seen from afar: hairy and +stooped, almost using their arms as legs, but not entirely. Their skulls +were large and oddly shaped and their mouths were pushed out from their +faces like an ape's. A limp, furry tail hung down from their lower +backs, and their hands had a tough, leathery appearance. + +There were eight of them, and when they drew near, the foremost hailed +me with an eager gleam in his eyes, like one who has long hoped and long +been denied. His voice was low and gravelly, but not at all uncivilized +sounding, as one would have expected by his appearance, and his facial +expressions were equally as livid and distinctly humanoid. He began: + +"Hail, the White Eagle, sent by the gods to deliver us! Hail the +redemption from paradise, coming to bring us home." With that he held +out his arms and embraced me in a very warm, heartfelt manner. + +"Hello," I replied, somewhat embarrassed by my lack of authority. + +"I am Ramma, leader of the Munams," he told me, "And I welcome you in +the name of us all." + +"Greetings, Ramma," I replied, "I am Jehu." + +"We are joyous at your arrival, oh Jehu of the White Eagle." + +When he said this I had a flashback, a moment of memorial deja vu, when +the present and the past are morphed together by one thought, when one +idea from the past and the present exists in such a way as to connect +the two times around it, forming a nexus between the two moments. I was +brought back to two separate times, the first being my initial meeting +with Onan, when I saw the muraled dome, the genetics of history, and its +depiction of the events which were symbolically representative of Daem: +the deformed man, the warring races, the worshipers of the White Eagle. +The other was my arrival in the Temple of Time, when the King showed me +the altar to Temis, the God of Time, depicted as a great White Eagle, +wrought in diamond and grasping the altar in its talons. There was +something about the White Eagle that connected itself to me inseparably, +something that converged us into one form. I had a sense that it was +somehow a key to the mystery of the end times, but I could not make the +connection. I thought back to what Onan had said to me just a few +moments before, that he and Zimri were close friends, and not enemies at +all, while those on earth believed their rivalry was a serious conflict. +Yet while I had two separate memorial deja vu's, I could not make the +connection between them to figure out what they meant. + +"Tell me," I asked of Ramma, "What do you mean when you call me the +White Eagle?" + +"The prophecy said that our kinsman redeemer, who would bring us out of +the lands of desolation and into paradise, who would come to us like a +giant eagle, soaring high above the sea. Across the ocean there," he +said, pointing to Daem, "Is Daem, the paradise land, wherein dwell our +enemies the Zards and Canitaurs. They keep us off of the island and on +the mainland by force, and here we have suffered ever since the great +wars, in these desolate and barren wastelands, where there is neither +life nor death, but only a hazy in between. An ancient one with wings +like an eagle was to come and rescue us, the White Eagle, and under his +guidance we are to be led to victory against our enemies. + +"To them he would be sent first, humbly he would come to redeem them +from the woes of their own causing, but they would receive him not. +Instead they cast him away, and he was to come to us, to bring us to the +promised land. What a blessed sight it was when we saw you soaring +through the sky on your white wings, and now you have come, my dear +Jehu, you have come at last, in the hour of our greatest need. Come, oh +White Eagle, and let us go to Kalr, our city. Tonight is the Feast of +the Hershonites, celebrating the night that the prophecy was received, +and on the same day shall it be fulfilled!" + +With that he turned and set off with a step of exuberance to the +northwest, the other Munams and myself following him. He walked quickly, +and it was all that I could do to match his pace, so that I was left +without breath enough to ask any more questions. From what I saw on our +journey, the landscape was the same across the whole mainland that was +near to the coast, and there was neither change enough nor any landmark +conspicuous enough for me to take any bearings. Without the Munam's +company, I would have been lost. + +Ramma led us on a straight course for about half an hour, there being +nothing to steer around, and when that time had elapsed, we found +ourselves in a small, battered city. There were no great buildings or +infrastructure like in Nunami, nor any complex labyrinths like the +Canitaur's military base. Instead there were only weak, unsound huts, +built with a framework of oddly shaped driftwood and covered with a +thick layer of insulating sod. A road ran through the center of the +city, only distinguishable because it was packed down by constant use, +and on either side were groupings of the huts in semi-circular patterns, +with no space between them left unfilled by soil. This created a wind +barrier, preventing the strong winds that whipped across the desert +lands from harassing the inhabitants as they worked and played in their +communal yards. Each such grouping had a field of a strange, potato-like +plant that spread across the back ends of the houses, where the fierce +winds piled up loads of nutrient rich top soil from miles and miles +around. In the center of the protected areas, each of the communities, +for such they were called, had a well that reached hundreds of feet +downwards, bringing them almost unlimited supplies of fresh water. Using +these two major systems, they were able to live in a comfortable manner, +not comfortable in a sense of comparison with the Zards or Canitaurs, +but comfortable in the sense that they had food to eat, clothes to wear, +and shelter to protect them. Under such conditions humanity can thrive, +for happiness is not found in the accumulation of excess comforts, but +in the accumulation of excess love. This the Munams had plenty of, and +from that point of view were more the evolutionary form of humanity than +the devolutionary. + +The Munams all wore a sort of close fitting frock, a plain colored one +piece suit that displayed their practicality and modesty. It is a hobby +of mine to observe the clothing worn by different groups of people and +compare it to their characteristics. As I have said before, clothes do +not make the man, but the man certainly makes the clothes, and it is +possible to judge a person's character by the type of attire that they +wear, in that it is an expression of their tastes. The Munams were shown +by their clothing to be a very friendly people, for their frocks were +hung gently about the body in a manner that was at once both carefree +and conservative. This is perfectly analogous to their personalities. + +When we came down through the center street, which was really the whole +city, for there were no other roads, the people rushed out to meet us, +and when they were told that it was the White Eagle, they began to dance +joyously about in the streets. There was laughter and play going on all +at once, and it was like a great burden lifted from my heart to see them +rejoicing, for it almost reconciled their sufferings with the Zard's and +Canitaur's ease of life, in that they seemed to be much more happy, in +spite of the circumstances. + +Ramma gave a short speech to the people, in which he detailed the +prophecy and its fulfillment and, in general, encouraged everyone to +hope for what was to come. When it was over, he and I retired to his +home, which was rather larger than the others and formed its own +semi-circle, containing as it did both his private quarters and the +official offices of the government, which, while extremely limited in +number, were well outfitted. The door of this building opened into a +short hallway that had several doors adjacent to it. He led me down +one of these and it proved to be a dining hall, though it was not as +commodious as most, with only a round wooden table with a few chairs +around it and some cupboards and cabinets. + +Pulling my chair out for me to sit in, Ramma went through all the normal +duties of host with great ease, and within a few moments we were eating +heartily from a great dish of boiled potatoes that had been brought in +by a servant, or rather, a deputy minister of state, for such was his +title. We did little talking before we ate, because I was greatly +famished and as such was ill-inclined to be jovial, not that I was +sullen, but I found it hard to be completely relaxed without a full +stomach. Yet when that was remedied and I found myself satisfied and +comfortable in a warm dwelling, I opened up to Ramma and we had a long +and entertaining discussion, some of which I will record here, as it +shines a little more light upon the mysteries of my story: + +"So, my dear Jehu," Ramma began, "I trust your stay on Daem has so far +been enjoyable." + +I chuckled quietly and told him, "No, not entirely, for there is a war +afoot on Daem, or at least there seemed to be, and it made quite a bit +of trouble for me." + +"I'm sorry to hear that," he replied, "But also gratified, for it will +help us in our offensive if they are against each other as well as us. +Still, it will be hard." + +"What offensive is that?" I asked, my interest being perked. + +"Our jihad, to capture the lands which were meant for us and reclaim +them from the filth that now inhabit them. You are our kinsman redeemer, +Jehu, but it is not with your presence alone that we will be brought +victory, for we also must act. Ever since the prophecy was given we have +been preparing for a strike that will catch the Zards and Canitaurs by +surprise, for those are our only advantages: time and surprise. The +carrying out of the surprise attack is the hardest part, and we decided +long ago to dig a tunnel under the sea to bridge Daem and the mainland, +for if we had made a fleet of ships, or attempted anything on the +surface, they would have seen and known what we intended to do. The +tunnel is very long, and it was an arduous task to undertake, but with +much patience we prevailed, and now it is complete. In fact, it was only +completed yesterday, though it was started more than 500 years ago." + +"How is it that you started so long ago and only finished just before I +arrived? I asked. + +"Fate," he answered, "All the happenings of the world are controlled by +a force much greater than us, and it brings everything into completion +when it is needed, no sooner and no later. Many civilizations try to out +wit fate, but they cannot, and in the end they do its bidding. Not, +however, in the way they had planned, and with more consequences than +they would like, at which point they try to change fate again and undo +those consequences, and soon they are in a downward spiral of such +deeds. We recognize that we are controlled by fate, and instead of +fighting it, we go along with it. We know that things will happen as +they are meant to happen, and we knew that 500 years ago, so it was no +great trial for us to work at our task for so long and not to know when +things would be brought to completion. You see, if we had worried about +it and attempted to change to course of events that history dictated, +than we would have only given ourselves more work for the same end. +Stress is the only thing that is created when you try to alter fate, so +it is our philosophy to take things as they come and trust to the powers +that be. You may think it unsophisticated, but that is just as well, for +what matters is not appearances, but reality, and we have the two things +that matter most in life: peace and joy." + +I agreed with him, for I had found the same to be true in my own +experiences. I then asked him, "When will this grand offensive be +undertaken?" + +"Tomorrow," he said bluntly. + +"Tomorrow? Isn't that rather soon?" + +"Why? Fate has been fulfilled so far, why wait when it is time to act? +Maybe you misunderstood my meaning: it is not our philosophy to simply +let things go as they will. Instead we relax and let things take their +course when it is not in our power to do anything effective, but when +the time comes to act, we act swiftly and do not delay. In a word, we do +not force fate, either by forcing action where patience is needed, nor +by forcing patience where action is needed." + +"That sounds well enough," I said, "But the difficulty lies in the +correct classification of the situation, or in other words, deciding if +patience or action is needed." + +"Yes, of course, but in this case it has been decided to attack +tomorrow, and there is nothing left to do but to attack tomorrow. But do +not yet let your spirits be dampened by the onset of war, for tonight is +the Feast of the Hershonites, and there will be great celebrating and +rejoicing this evening. Forget about the troubles of tomorrow and enjoy +the celebrations of today, as I always say. And it is now time for the +celebrating to begin, so let us be off." + +And with that we both rose and took our plates into the kitchen that was +connected to the dining hall on the opposite side as the hallway and +deposited our plates to be cleaned later (for even the leaders of a +society must do their fair share of the work). Then we walked back +through the dining hall, down the hallway, and out the door. + +Outside we found that the people had already began to assemble on the +road in front of their communities and were preparing for the festival +by chattering with one another as loudly as one would think possible. A +hush began to fall upon them like a descending fog when we came out, +though, and within a few moments it had died down to a ghostly silence, +for all that could be heard was the wind's constant blowing. Ramma took +the head of the procession of Munams that had formed on the road, and I +took the place next to him. With a sort of quiet anticipation of the +joys to come, there was little movement, and what little there was, was +hushed by a sense of subdued excitement. Then, with a somber gait, Ramma +began the parade down the road, in the opposite direction as we had come +from, that being northwest, and all followed him as he did. + +The sun at that time was just beginning to set, and once we had crossed +one of the larger hills we came face to face with the coast, the sun's +great red form half sunken beneath its surface. A faint cloud layer +floated by and was illuminated by the twilight so that it stretched +haphazardly across the face of the sun. Never have I seen so profound a +scene as that which then presented itself, with the desert sands and the +ocean's still surface reflecting the last agonies of the sun's descent +into the underworld with such a subtle emotional undertone so as to +render it a subconscious delight. Its recognized superiority to mortal +life forms left us all mute and somber, but at the same time the freedom +felt from the same gave us joy beyond reckoning. + +The march to the sea was slow and steady, and when we finally reached +its shores it was just at the change of day and night. Several large +bonfires were lit and by their light a great communal dance began, +everyone jumping around, running, and doing whatever their lighthearted +desire may have been. Under stars that shone like the twinkling in a +newborn's eye, we had such a joyous time that it can hardly be +described. We were no longer within the reach of civility or social +duty, but without it we were not mean nor hurtful to one another, but +were playful and joyous, like children without a care in the world. Our +little games and frolics cannot be described with any accuracy, because +outside of the moment's happiness, they cannot be understood, as it was +a spiritual happiness, existing only in the spiritual realm. All that +could be described is the physical actions that were taken because of +that spiritual enjoyment, but that would do nothing to describe the +feeling of the night. It was one filled with more joy than anything I +have known as an adult, because we became as children in our trusting to +fate, and it was natural, befitting to our natures. Man is not meant to +worry, man is meant to be free from all boundaries, inward and outward, +man is meant to be ruled by only one desire: love of others. + +As the night dwindled away, we grew tired, but instead of returning to +the city, we laid down wherever we were when we felt that we could +remain awake no longer, and fell to sleep instantly when we did. It was +not at all uncomfortable, for the sand was soft and a warm breeze blew +in from the water, and though as an adult I would have feared sleeping +so openly in the unknown, I was not at that time an adult. + + + + + + +Chapter 13: The Big Bang + + + +The Munams and I were all awoken at the same time late the next morning +by a loud trumpet blast that shook the very air around us with its +intense bass. For the first moment of our consciousness we were all +dazed and could not fully comprehend the situation, and for a brief time +we all sat unsteadily around the beach where we had fallen asleep. As we +grew more awake, we began to understand what had happened, or at least I +did, and I was frightened when I looked around and saw where the trumpet +blast had come from: the entire Zardovian and Canitaurian armies were +assembled around us, having somehow crossed over to the mainland in the +night, while we slept peacefully, unaware of their presence. + +My first thought was for myself, and what would become of me in the +wrath brought on by my escape, but that soon vanished when I thought of +the Munams, for they were the enemies of those on Daem, even more so +than those on Daem were to each other. We were completely surrounded, +with the ocean on one side and the Zards and Canitaurs circling us in +the front, the former on the left and the latter on the right. All of +them were equipped for war, with swords, spears, and shields held firmly +in their hands, and thick, leather armor stretched across their chests. +The Canitaurs had especially come prepared, for they had brought all of +their atomic anionizers with them, enough combined fire power to level +the entire world several times over. + +Within five minutes, all of the Munams had assembled behind me and +Ramma, who stood between them and the Daemians. They huddled closely +together and quaked slightly in fear, for they evidently thought that +their plans had been discovered and their enemies had come for revenge. +I, myself, thought that they had come for me, and Ramma's opinion could +not be guessed, for he was a statesman first and foremost, and when his +people were in need he rose to the occasion with all the power and grace +allotted to mortal beings. + +Wagner and Bernibus broke the Canitaur's ranks and drew near to us in +the center, as did the King from the Zard's. They reached us in silence, +and for a long moment there was no talking, for all present knew that +something grave was about to happen, something that would decide the +fate of the men of this age, whether they would pass or fail the test. +Bernibus looked at me with entreating eyes, showing his sorrow at my +recapture and asking for forgiveness, but I had none to give him, for he +had done no wrong to need it. He had no power among the Canitaurs, but +was only a titled commoner, more like Wagner's groom than counsel. + +I noticed that the Canitaurs were not wearing their anti-electron suits, +which was strange, for they had brought a few hundred atomic anionizers, +though I didn't question them about it, for the answer was evident +enough when I had given it some thought: the Zards had no such suits, +and were afraid that the Canitaurs would destroy them and Munams at the +same time, for while they were allies against foreigners, they still did +not trust each other. I still wore my suit given me for the raid on +Nunami, though I had forgotten about it due to its comfort. That made me +the only person on the earth still wearing one, the only one safe from +the anionizers. + +It was an overcast morning, and the air was damp with a cold, wet wind +that blew in forlornly. The ocean's steady swoosh added to the scene, +making it as depressing as the night before was joyous, and in the +bluish half light all was colorless and hopeless. At length the King +spoke, saying, "My dear Jehu, I am very disappointed in you. Not only +did you flee from us irresponsibly, but you destroyed the Temple of Time +and the altar to Temis. Without the White Eagle, the prophecy says that +there is no hope for humanity." + +Wagner added, "And now the only way left to bring about the completion +of the world once more is to sacrifice you using the old methods." This +he said with evident pleasure, no longer feigning to be my friend. + +Here Bernibus entered the dialog, throwing away his timidness with one +quick motion and saying to Wagner, "You scoundrel! You said that we came +to retrieve Jehu, not to sacrifice him. How is it that you lied to me in +such a manner?" + +"You fool," Wagner said, "If I had had my way, you would have been dead +long ago. You have no authority here, so begone." + +Bernibus grew angrier, a terrifying state for a Canitaur to be in, and +he was a strong and powerful one at that, though his meek nature had +hidden it before. "You would never dare to kill me in the open, you +coward, the council would banish you," he said. + +Here the King joined in once more, laughing, "He wouldn't, no, but I +would. Do you really think that we found your outpost on our own, oh +Bernibus the 'deputy kibitzer'? You know that we have no tracking +ability, and least of all in your own territory." + +Bernibus grew more enraged, and the King was spurred on by it. + +"Oh yes, you know what I speak of. Your brother-in-law told us where you +and your wife were living, and not only that, for he also told us when +you would be there." + +Bernibus became even more flushed with anger and vehemently asked +Wagner, "Why, you heartless brute? What could you possibly value more +than your own sister's life?" + +"It was a pledge to the Zards of our intention to abide by the +agreement, what more precious thing could I give then my own sister?" He +spoke calmly and spitefully, enjoying the end of his long charade of +nicety, "Besides, the council was falling for her peace talk, as they +always give great heed to every member of the royal family, and I was +not strong enough at that time to control them, as I do now. +Unfortunately for me you were out at the moment of the attack and able +to escape, but still it was a favorable outcome," Wagner said, sneering +at Bernibus' outrage. + +But Bernibus was not to be taken lightly, and neither was he to let the +love of his life go undefended. He leapt at Wagner and grabbed the +remote to the atomic anionizers from his belt, where it was always +clipped. Wagner tried to get it back, but Bernibus was too strong and +hurled him to the ground. Then he took a few steps backwards and stood +his ground far enough from everyone to have at least a moment to react +before they could reach him. He held the remote out towards Wagner, +pointing it at him as if it were itself a weapon, with his thumb and +forefinger in position to set it off at a moment's notice. + +"Bow before me now, Wagner, or I shall destroy us all," he demanded with +a grim smile that showed his resolution. + +Wagner did as he commanded and fell to his knees in front of Bernibus, +saying in the same gentle, appeasing voice that he had first used on me, +"My dear Bernibus, do not be rash, do not act in anger. Let's talk this +over, and see ... and see if we can't find a peaceful solution," his +fear of death evidently caused him to stammer. + +"You fool, do you think that I haven't heard that voice a thousand times +before? Do you think that I will fall for your same trick once more?" + +Wagner put his face to the ground and groveled like the filthy swine +that he was, for he knew full well that if Bernibus set off the atomic +anionizers he would die. His life was completely out of his hands and +there was nothing that he could do to reclaim it, except to beg for +forgiveness. This he did, saying, "Bernibus, you do not understand, the +situation was more complex than you realize, and I had no choice but to +act as I did. Do you not think that it was as hard on me as yourself? +She was my sister, my only sibling. But there was no other way, I had to +put the advancement of our people over the life of anyone, even my own +sister, as you must do now, putting the advancement of our people over +petty differences." + +Here the King interjected, "Bernibus, do not act rashly, I beg of you, +for if you set off the anionizers, than all is lost. Do you not realize +that if you do that, all that we have worked for all of our lives is +lost?" + +It was Bernibus' turn to sneer, and he did, raising the skin above his +teeth and scowling fiercely at the King. "What is it that we have worked +for all of our lives? Do you still not understand? You and Wagner plot +to return the world to its former glory, each by his own way, but take a +look around you. The trees on Daem are taller and stronger than any +known before, the grasses are thicker and livelier, the waters are purer +and cleaner, the wind is fresher. You know no suffering. The prophecy +had nothing to do with you, and nothing at all to do with the +restoration of the world! Can you not see that what you have is far more +than you have need of, that there is no desire left unfilled in your +lives, except that of ultimate power? This world does not need to be +restored. Only your hearts have need of that. + +"The prophecy was given for the Munams, who were left stranded here in +this desert wasteland, while across the ocean they could see the great +paradise of Daem, the great paradise that you took for granted. There is +to be no restoration of Daem to its original form, but a restoration of +the Munams to Daem. You struggle to restore Daem, but have no compassion +for the suffering of humanity across the sea. You are the fools, not me, +and you are the ones who have brought us all to the very brink of +destruction, to the ice ages which you have tried so hard to prevent. Do +you not see that Daem is already the paradise, that the only thing that +it needs for completion is the residence of the Munams? Jehu is not our +kinsman redeemer at all, he is theirs." Here Bernibus seemed to lose his +anger and passion and become meek once more, saying humbly, "You have +destroyed the life of one whom I held more dear than myself, but that is +past, and I will not destroy us all for vengeance. + +"Zards, Canitaurs, and Munams, hear me now and listen to my words," he +continued, speaking to the amassed groups of the armies that had been +listening closely to his words, "We are not separate people at all, we +are not different races. We are not Zards, or Canitaurs, or Munams, we +are Daemians, and it is time that we came together, to help each other +instead of hindering. Look at how much blood has been shed, how many +lives have been lost, must we all be drowned in the blood of our +brothers before we realize that we are one people? Must we suffer more +than we already have in an attempt to undo what has already been done? +More pain will not negate the pain that has already been felt, it will +only result in more suffering than we have known up to this time. My +friends, we need not look for our redemption in the past, for it has +gone and though it influences us, we are not bound to its suffering. And +we need not look for our redemption in the future, for it is not yet +here, and when it comes it will only be what we make it. Instead let us +look for our redemption in the present, where it can be found, let us +put aside our hate and our divisions and become one flesh and blood, one +body. People of Daem, let us live in peace!" As he said this, the Zards +and the Canitaurs and the Munams all let out a joyous shout of +agreement, and there was seen on every face a remnant of the happiness +that had so long alluded them in their wars. + +To emphasize his point of harmony and trust, Bernibus dropped the remote +to the atomic anionizers to the ground. But it would never land. Wagner +leapt forward from his groveling position and grabbed for it as it fell, +reaching out with all his strength. There was a sudden silence that +overtook everyone as they saw what was happening. Bernibus looked down +and saw Wagner leap, but he was too late to prevent him from reaching +the remote. There was no noise at all, for everyone looked in horror at +Wagner's plunging form. As if in slow motion, his hand wrapped around +the remote and he squeezed it so as not to let it go. But as he did so, +there was a loud beeping sound that came from his fist: he had triggered +the anionizers. + +The eager faces of everyone there, of everyone alive on the earth, was +turned towards Wagner. The remote had a five second delay built into it, +and those five seconds were the longest of my life. Bernibus' eyes met +mine, and we experienced an intra-personal deja vu, the converging of +the presents of two minds. His face showed the depths of his being in +that split second, and he was peaceful. Though he was about to be +destroyed, he had no fear, no regrets, and in those five seconds, while +Wagner and the King were frightened and frantic at their impending doom, +Bernibus was as calm as ever. As I looked Bernibus in the eyes, I could +hear Wagner break the dead silence with a shrill scream that echoed +across the horizon and ripped through the hearts of every hearer. When +faced with death he had no courage, no strength to face the unknown +beyond the veil that separates life from death. + +As I turned and cast my eyes across the horizon, I saw the faces of +hundreds of men, whether Zard, Canitaur, or Munam, and written on +everyone of them was a great despair, for they stood unprotected in the +presence of death. It was like the calm before the storm, those five +seconds, and through them time seemed to stop, to be non-existent, and +there was not a sound to be heard, except for Wagner's scream. Oh, what +anguish was written on the faces of all around, standing defenselessly +before the end with neither will nor way to stop its terrible approach, +oh, what fear filled their eyes as their mortality was made manifest +before them like a vulture's approach, oh, the pain, as fate stood +before their distraught faces and silently whispered, "And to dust shalt +thou return." + +But then even that was silenced. There was no noise. As I looked upon +them they were destroyed, before my very eyes they breathed their last +and were no more. One moment they were normal and healthy, and the next +they disintegrated, falling into little heaps of limp skin and bones. In +that moment I felt a horror such as I have never felt before, a complete +loneliness, like a night that never ends. There was no one, nothing, +around me. The force of the blast had leveled the already flat terrain +completely. The ocean was suddenly solidified into the same lifeless, +inorganic mass that the land had become. Across the channel, Daem was no +more. There were no more trees, no more grasses, no more cities, no more +mountains, everything was leveled, decimated. The sky began to turn a +dark, bloody red, and the sun was hidden behind it. Like a disease it +spread across the horizon, devouring the light hearted blue and leaving +only red: lifeless, deathless red. There was no wind, no sound. I was +all alone, I alone had survived the blast because of my anti-electron +suit. I gazed in absolute horror across the field where only seconds +before thousands souls had been congregated. I looked at its emptiness +and I saw nothing, for there was nothing. They were all dead. Every +single one of them. + + + + + + +Chapter 14: Past and Future + + + +I have no recollection of how long I stood there staring blankly into +the void, for the sun was hidden behind the darkened sky. I have no +memory of that period until I saw two short forms coming towards me in +the distance. They walked slowly and methodically, as if they were not +hurried on by any physical concerns. As they drew near, I saw them to be +Onan and Zimri, the Lords of Past and Future. When they arrived I was +awakened from the trance that I had fallen into, and I gave them a +slight bow, for I was still standing upright. The look on their faces +was one of sorrow, for no matter how many times they had seen the +destruction of humanity, each time it brought only fresh, poignant +sorrow. + +Onan was the first to speak, breaking the silence with a long, hopeless +sigh, "My dear Jehu," he said, "This age has come to a close." + +I could say nothing, for Bernibus' face was still gazing at me in my +memory. + +"Do not be saddened by grief or guilt, Jehu, for it is what has always +happened. It is not your fault, for the events that you have witnessed +do not have their roots in your time or in this one, but in the very +foundation of the world. It is not your actions that caused this, but +rather the accumulated momentum of all the ages of humanity, for they +are history, and history reigns by influence. There were no right +choices and no wrong choices for you, for the power of the kinsman +redeemer is not in himself, but in the way that those around him react +to what he signifies. In every age before this you have done the same, +as you will in every age after this as well. You were humanity's last +chance, yet it is not up to you to change their course: it is up to them +to change their own." + +Here I raised my head from its dull droop and looked questioningly into +his eyes. "What do you mean," I asked, "That I did not prevent it in any +of the other ages? How could I exist in any other age but this?" + +"Then you do not understand?" + +"Why else would I ask?" I faintly smiled. + +"These are the Ice Ages, the end of an age of history. Every time that +the temporal continuum revolves around eternity, it has a new age, much +like the years of the earth as it revolves around the sun. When the +atomic anionizers went off, they did on a large scale what they were +designed to do on a small scale: reverse the poles through an extreme +electric charge, by injecting countless solitary electrons into the +atoms. But with so many of them exploded at once, they did this to the +earth itself, reversing its poles. It was a theory at your time that the +poles reversed about every 170,000 years, this is because that is how +long an age is. + +"When the earth's poles were reversed, it brought all to desolation, +excepting you, for you were protected by the suit. But while this is the +ending of all life on earth, in a way it is also the beginning, for you +see, Jehu, you have just witnessed the Big Bang. In a few days, at the +longest, you will die yourself, for there is no food or water for you +here, but inside of your anti-electron suit, your remains will be +protected. Slowly the earth will regenerate, and when conditions +suitable for life have been once more returned, your suit will be blown +against a rock somewhere and broken open. From that little hole, the +atoms of life, your life, will escape into the atmosphere and grow and +evolve until they become like what things were before you were born. +Then the process will be repeated. You are not only the one who +symbolizes the destruction of humanity, but also the one who symbolizes +the rebirth of humanity. You are the beginning and the end, in a sense, +a descendant of yourself, simultaneously the father and the son. You +will be born again through your own descendants, and will once again +become the kinsman redeemer. It is your destiny, there is no other way. +You are the White Eagle." + +"You only confuse me more, what is this White Eagle?" + +"Do you remember when we first met, in the Chambers of History? On the +dome of the ceiling there was a sculpture mural, and in it was a White +Eagle, holding many lords and ladies in its talons while it soared far +above the lands, and those on the land were worshiping it. You are the +White Eagle. You hold all of humanity in your hands, for you are the +father of all men, they all descend from you, including you, yourself. +You were the White Eagle, for the altar had no power, the power was only +in you. + +"Those who worshiped you were those who worship time, in either of its +forms, past or future. Those who worship the past recognize the +influence of history, and they understand that there are taboos and +traditions created through mutual experience. These traditions reign in +humanity by keeping men from actions that lead to pain and suffering. +But they do not understand that while it influences mankind, the past +does not control them, for it is gone, and it will never come again. In +their strict keeping of traditions, they focus on the physical act of +the tradition, while neglecting the spiritual principle behind the +tradition. If you keep only the physical form of the principle, you have +nothing. + +"On the other hand, those who worship the future neglect the past and +the valuable lessons that it teaches. They believe that there is some +moral advancement that places them above those that have come before, +they believe that the people of the past were blinded to the truth, and +that the revelation of the truth in the present supersedes the +traditions of the past. But they are wrong as well, for humanity is +humanity, and those of the past were no more ignorant than those at +present. The people of the past fell into the same traps as the those in +the present, and both suffer the same consequences. + +"While one group remembers only the physical display of the spiritual +truth, the other rejects the spiritual truth because of its physical +display. Those who worship the future break taboos because they +recognize that the mere physical manifestation of the truths is not +their entire essence, but they reject the spiritual truth as well. When +taboos are broken, there is nothing gained, but everything lost, for the +physical traditions at least lead to the knowledge of the spiritual laws +to those who seek such wisdom. One taboo is broken, but as there is no +satisfaction in the breaking of taboos, every one of them is broken in +succession. Then there is no limit to the immorality that is left to +freely roam the hearts of men, and when immorality, the breaking of the +spiritual laws, is widely propagated, there is spiritual suffering. When +this spiritual suffering begins to accumulate and is translated into +physical suffering, the people see what is happening, how their very +society is crumbling to ruin around them. Yet instead of recognizing the +truth of what is happening, they see the traditions of the past as the +cause of their problems, and continue to make their plight worse. This +downward spiral continues until at last we find ourselves where we are +now, at the end of an age." + +"But what else is there to do?" I asked Onan, 'If both the past and the +future lead to ruin?" + +"The answer is in the present, my dear Jehu, for if one focuses on the +spiritual laws that bring good or evil, and acts according to them, +instead of their physical counterparts and manifestations, then things +will thrive and become prosperous. What is evil brings evil +consequences, and what is good brings good consequences, over time. The +ends define the means, just as the fruit shows the tree to be either +good or bad. These spiritual laws become known and remembered, not why +they are so, but simply that they are so. No one can question why, for +morality is observed through its effects, just as science is. When +people observe that one thing brings good and another bad, they remember +to stay away from the bad things and cling to the good. Over time these +evolve into taboos and social restrictions, not meaningless laws +enforced by tyrants for their own reasons, but rules that are observed +by all because the are the laws of the spiritual realm and govern +physical life. But when the people forget what the traditions represent, +then all is lost, and either of the two paths that present themselves +lead to ruin." + +"But why do not men see?" + +"Because they are rooted too strongly in the physical realm, and cannot, +or will not, see the spiritual. What they see as happiness is not the +spiritual matter that is happiness, but the physical actions the +represent happiness. What they see as love is not love in the spiritual +sense, only its manifestation in the physical realm. When they see the +happiness that comes from a spiritual connection, they seek after it. +But they do not seek after the actual essence of the spiritual +connection, yet after its physical counterpart, marriage. This they take +and defile, and when they go through the physical actions of the +spiritual marriage but forsake the very thing that makes it bring +happiness, they are left without any real sense of satisfaction, without +any real happiness. + +"You must understand that the physical manifestation of the spiritual +force is not the spiritual force at all, only a bland deception. If you +only focus on what you can see directly, than you chase after only the +representation and not the object desired. If a bird is flying through +the sky at noontime, casting a shadow on the ground below him, and a man +comes along, and in the hope of catching the bird chases after its +shadow, it is evident that he will never catch it, for when he does +reach it, he will find that there is nothing there at all, only the +shadow of what it was he desired. So it is with the spiritual!" + +"Yes, I think that I am beginning to understand." + +"Excellent. If only I could tell you more, but I must go, my dear Jehu, +for Father Temis is in mourning for his children, and I must go to +comfort him." + +"I thought that you and Zimri were his children?" I asked. + +"You are all his children. He is patient, ever so patient, but still +they fall by the wayside, too caught up in their false perception to +rest in him. Fare thee well, Jehu, may you be blessed ere you must die." + + +And with that, Onan and Zimri turned and walked away in the other +direction, never to be seen by me again, in this age. I took a look +around me, and could not bear to remain any longer in a place of such +ill remembrance. Turning slowly and despondently to the westward, I +began to walk over the lifeless mass of what had been the ocean not too +long ago. For how long I walked, I could not tell, but in due time I +reached Daem, though it was no more hospitable than the mainlands, for +all was laid to ruin by the Big Bang, all was equally devoid of life. + +When I came to what had been the center of the savanna, I came across +something that had survived the blast, being unearthed from its previous +burial hole by the force of the anionizer's explosion. It was a two foot +by two foot box, made of a strange metallic substance with an intricate +etching along its top. Written there in its center were these words: + +"Temporal Anomaly Box, Number 12, Location: Central Savanna" + +I took the lid off carefully, though it was in perfect condition and I +did not need to treat it so, and looked inside of it. There was a +notebook and a pen there, both capable of producing a large of amount of +enduring text. This was one of the boxes that had been taken back +through time in the experiments of the Zards and Canitaurs, designed to +withstand any conditions, and to hold its contents for countless ages, +until they should be retrieved and studied. I sat down on the ground and +began to write my story down, in order to assist whoever takes the job +of kinsman redeemer in the next age. I knew that it would have all been +forgotten, so I made sure to carefully record it, for it could mean the +difference between the life and death of humanity. + +This was only hours ago, and now I have reached the end my tale. If by +any chance you come upon this in some subsequent age, I beg you to take +heed, for what I have written will surely come to pass once more if +something is not done to prevent it. There is nothing else for me to +say, for this is the end of my story, and within the next day I will +also pass over to the spiritual realm. What, then, can I say to bring +this to a close, for this is neither the end nor the beginning. I +suppose all that can be said is this: + + + +DEJA VU (THE END) + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Revolutions of Time, by Jonathan Dunn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME *** + +***** This file should be named 8735.txt or 8735.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/8/7/3/8735/ + +Produced by Jonathan Dunn +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Revolutions of Time + +Author: Jonathan Dunn + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8735] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 6, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Dunn + + + + +THE +REVOLUTIONS +OF +TIME + +By Jonathan Dunn + + +Note to the reader: The manuscript for this book was found in a weather- +beaten stone box on an island in the Pacific Ocean. Its contents were +written in an ancient form of Latin, which was translated and edited by +Jonathan Dunn. + + +Dedicated to Bernibus, +amicus certus in re incerta cernitur. + + +Table of Contents: +Chapter 1: Past and Present +Chapter 2: Predestined Deja Vu +Chapter 3: Zards and Canitaurs +Chapter 4: Onan, Lord of the Past +Chapter 5: The Treeway +Chapter 6: The Fiery Lake +Chapter 7: Down to Nunami +Chapter 8: The Temple of Time +Chapter 9: Mutually Assured Deception +Chapter 10: Devolution +Chapter 11: The Land Across the Sea +Chapter 12: The White Eagle +Chapter 13: The Big Bang +Chapter 14: Past and Future + + +...The very men who claimed mental superiority because they were free +from superstitions and divine disillusionment were themselves victims of +their own sophism, and while they thought themselves crowned with +enlightenment, it was naught but the Phrygian caps of their prejudices +toward the material state. + +--Jehu, the Kinsman Redeemer + +The physical manifestation of the spiritual force is not the spiritual +force at all, only a bland deception. If you only focus on what you can +see directly, than you chase after only the representation and not the +object desired. If a bird is flying through the sky at noontime, casting +a shadow on the ground below him, and a man comes along, and in the hope +of catching the bird chases after its shadow, it is evident that he will +never catch it, for when he does reach it, he will find that there is +nothing there at all, only the shadow of what it was he desired. So it +is with the spiritual! + +--Onan, Lord of the Past + + + + + +Chapter 1: Past and Present + + + +My name is Jehu. Most probably it sounds foreign and unfamiliar to you, +devoid of the qualities of affection and personality which give +character to a name. It is a harsh name, cold and inhuman, like +something out of the night, an unwelcome intruder into the warmth of +familiarity. It inspires no blissful memories, nor does it kindle fond +feelings in the bosom of the hearer, instead the heart is hardened to it +like the feathers of a duck to water, repulsing it, leaving it to run +off into the ditches and by-ways of the long forgotten past, to trickle +dejectedly into those stagnant ponds where so many words of wisdom are +imprisoned: out of sight, out of mind, out of heart, out of history. Yet +while history is forgotten and misconstrued, it is repeated, for what is +life without water, which nourishes and sustains it, and what is life +without wisdom, which protects and cultivates it? + +Jehu is my name, though it no longer brings the quickened pulse and keen +anticipation of happiness to the hearts of any, not even my own. For +what deference can be given to a name, though not in itself a thing of +dishonor, which represents the failure to derail the evitable fate which +wrecks the race of man again and again. Not that I myself embody such a +failure, nor even that I gave birth to the dreaded fate's latest +momentum, but as is seen time and again throughout history, one name is +brought to represent the tide of change, for better or worse, the doer +of deeds which were done not by him, but by a mass of independent doers, +yet it is written in the annals of history as the deeds of but one man. + +While I had little to do, consciously, with the doom of the earth, I +will always be fingered as the villain, as the ambitious Napoleon or the +barbaric Atilla, the arrogant Augustus or the fearful Cyrus. Someone has +to bear the burden of shame on the pages of history for the people of +his time, and in that sense, maybe I truly can be called their kinsman +redeemer. Perhaps it is my fate to bear witness to the wrongs of a +people, of which even you are not wholly innocent. + +And yet can an individual be blamed for the faults of a society, can +personal responsibility be extended to the members of an unknown +multitude? How the enjoined conscience of one longs to say no, but in +good faith it cannot be said, for in this case the mask of ignorance +cannot supersede the face of guilt. Indeed, ignorance in this case only +adds to the shame of the guilty, this being a crime not of misdeeds but +of negligence, twisted together with the vices of humanity into a thick +and sturdy cord, a rope that cannot be pulled apart and individually +examined, yet must be taken as a whole. Insularly, the strand of +ignorance could be easily snapped, remedied by but a little education, +yet when woven together by one's own hands with prides and prejudices, +it forms an unbreakable rope, which is placed about our neck to hang us: +through means of our own doing is our fate foretold. If but one or two +of the strands were omitted, the result would be a feeble rope, easily +broken, and we would live. But by our own vices is our mortality made +manifest, by our own wrongs are we wronged. + +By now you may be beginning to feel the impulses of indignation arising +in your breast, for who am I, the admittedly despicable Jehu, to group +you as my fellow convicts, my co-conspirators, in a sense? And you are +right, for I am not your judge and neither do I wish to be. + +Having said that, I now request of you to put down the book and +discontinue reading. + +"Surely," you say to yourself, "He is mentally deranged, for what author +in his right mind would encourage his readers to disperse, what writer +does not thrive on the digestion of his words by an eager audience?" + +Here I must make a revelation to you: if my manuscript has indeed been +found, then I have long since been dead; and I assure you that in +whatever form my existence takes in the present, I have little desire +for your intrigue or goodwill. Do you think Melville is consoled in +death of his miserable life by the vainglorious praises of the living? +Or do you think that Poe is comforted by such avid attentions in his +present abode? In truth, Melville's only rivalry is now within, and +Poe's only raven that daunting memory of those truths which had escaped +him in life, but which now are opened to you. + +More importantly, if this manuscript has been found, it proves that what +is contained herein is the unerring truth. I do not write this to +exonerate myself, however let me say here that I am more the Andre' than +the Arnold, for I was but the emissary of history, not the traitor to +humanity, and if not me then some other would have filled the void. Let +it be remembered that it was Andre' who gave his life for his deeds, and +yet it is Andre' who is recollected with a sweet sorrow, and though +Arnold lived, he had no peace. Yet while history is vivid and +encyclopedic, in itself a living organism, it can speak only through the +mouths of men, who often misrepresent it for their own partisan and +prejudiced plans. It is strong and steadfast, though, and in time is +always victorious over its menial opposition, for what is history but +the past tense of truth, and it is justly said that veritas numquam +perit, truth never dies. + +Going back to what I said before, namely that at my manuscript's +discovery my demise will itself be history: I am assured that such is +true, for even now as I write this my death is near at hand. How wide +the abyss of time that separates us is I cannot tell, but I do know that +it is beyond the reckoning of men, such an unknown barrage of hollow, +formless years. Yet as you read this it is as if I were speaking +directly to you, despite all of the desolation between our times. That +is what makes history an organic being, and by history I mean all of the +past, or all of the future, depending on your viewpoint. + +A book is a connection between times and peoples, more so than any other +medium. As I put these words down in writing, it is as if I am imparting +my very self into the pages. And as you read them, the name Jehu slowly +forms into an image, into a personality, and from the empty word Jehu +comes the great well of affection springing from a personal intimacy. A +book is an enigma in which no time exists, and as it is read it brings +the reader into its eternal being, for while it sits closed on a shelf +it is no more than a forgotten memory, yet when it is opened its +contents come to life and its characters and locations are once more +existent in the same state as when they were written, the story becomes +once more reality. + +While I have long been deceased, when you read this I am brought to life +once more, and with my rebirth I tell you my story, and make known to +you the truths contained therein. The words of this book are a rune +gate, a portal to the past, and as you read them, your present fades +away and you are drawn into my present, this very moment in which I now +write. Then you connect with me intimately, and for a brief time the +gulf of mortality is transcended and the depths of my being are laid +open to you. We commune together and you eat of my flesh and drink of my +blood, merging your existence with mine. + +Come to me now, my friend, come to me across the gulf of mortality, for +I await you. Come, and in your spiritual peregrination meet with me, in +this land of the past which is so foreign and unfamiliar to you, but +which will become for a time your home. Come to me, my friend, and let +me tell you my story. + + + + + + +Chapter 2: Predestined Deja Vu + + + +It was in the last stages of sleep that I began to feel the warm morning +sun strike my face, and hear the pleasant chirping of birds and +crickets. I rolled slowly over, stretched my legs and my back, and stood +up, with the last remnants of a dream playing quietly in my mind. But as +I came to my feet and got a clear view of where I was, I realized it was +not a dream that I had had at all, but something far more sobering. I +found myself somewhere in the center of a very large prairie which +covered the land for many miles around. From the sun's lowly position on +the eastern horizon, it was evident to me that the new day was just +dawning, casting a golden hue on the grasses that covered the prairie's +surface. + +Around the distant outskirts of the plain I could make out a ring of +trees circumventing the whole, waving almost imperceptibly to and fro in +the light breeze that was blowing. A few miles to the southwest there +was a group of odd looking trees stretching up over the horizon to a +considerable height. They were closer than the outer ring, which kept a +uniform girth around the prairie, but somehow they looked very peculiar +and foreboding, and I got one of those sobering feelings which I like to +call predestined deja vu. What I mean is that I got a sense of deja vu, +but instead of the past converging with the present into one thought, +the present seemed to converge with the future, and the result was a +mysterious foreboding of something, though I couldn't tell what. That is +the sensation that I had when I saw what I assumed to be a small +grouping of trees somewhere in the southwestern portion of the savanna, +though that was merely a guess, for in the distance I could only make +out several dark forms rising out of the grassland like trees, or +possibly buildings, one of them being a great deal taller than the +others, with a spherical shape on top that only faintly resembled a +tree's crown. If it was indeed a tree, it was the largest that I have +ever seen, for it looked to be upwards of 800 feet tall. + +My mental warning bells were ringing quite loudly, and I endeavored to +silence them by extreme exertions of the will, but they would not be +subdued. I assumed that they were not at all correct, much like the +fearful expectancy some have while swimming in the ocean, out of sight +of all land, of being attacked by an enormous leviathan of the deep. As +unfounded as the fear is, it places one into a frenzy of dubious +thoughts that inspire equally frantic and anarchist actions. Because of +this, I thought that my ideas were naught but superstitious fancies, yet +try as I might, I could not rid myself of them. + +Instead, I made up my mind to set off in the opposite direction, north, +and to advance at a double march until I should reach the woody border, +which looked to present shelter not only from the southern apparitions, +but also from the shielded underworld of the grasses, in which also +dwelt the mysterious sense of fear and predestined deja vu. It was +slightly chilly, but beyond that nothing defaced the temperate beauty of +the day, and even that promised to soon dissipate with the continual +strengthening of the sun's warmth. As I walked, or rather, trotted +along, it did just that, and in the growing warmth of the day the sweet +fragrances of the many various grasses rose to the surface, delighting +my odor perceiving sensors with their earthy simplicity. + +The day marched on, and with it I, and the distant wall of trees began +to slowly grow closer. At length, I found myself at their edge, at +around the noon hour, and as I came upon the first of them, I leaned +against the trunk of a large, thickset tree for a moment of repose and +reflection in its shade. It was by all appearances an ancient wood, for +the line between it and the prairie was distinct, appearing as if the +shrubs and lesser flora had acquiesced to fate and retreated beyond the +forest's claimed boundaries, rather than continue for countless ages to +charge and then be pushed back, to gain a foothold only to be thrown out +a year or two later. The trees themselves were mighty pinions of +strength, tall and of great girth, and spread far apart from one +another, leaving wide open spaces between their towering trunks. A +short, soft grass clothed the land that stretched on in their midst, +joined in its solitude by a hearty looking moss that stretched itself +out on the trunks of the trees and on the rocks and boulders that lay +scattered here and there among the open spaces. Far above, the trees' +great branches spread out a thick canopy, covering the whole of the +forest area in a relaxing and invigorating twilight, rendering itself +homely and quaint. After a few moments of enjoying that most pleasing +scene, I roused and extricated myself unwillingly from its enchanted +depths and set off once more into the heart of the woods, having no +where else to go. + +After a time, I cannot say how long, I came upon a small, trickling +stream which flowed deeper into the woods, that direction being +northward. A short walk along its path, after refreshing myself to +content with its pure waters, brought me to its destination: a large +lake into which the forest opened. Its banks were very gradual and the +grass of the woodland led right up to the water's edge. The surface of +the water itself was smooth and delicate. + +Amidst the pleasantness of the scene, there was something missing from +the feel of the area: inhabitants. There was an abundance of wild life +of all kinds, and much organic life as well, but something greater than +flora or fauna was missing: people. I had traveled so far, and without +any sighting of a person. It was a lonely and desolate feeling which +prevailed, despite the abundances of life. Novelties soon grow worthless +with no one to share them with, ideas become meaningless if not +communicated timely, emotions grow boisterous and uncontrollable with no +end to receive them. + +I was quite alone, unfortunately, and it dampened my spirits +considerably. Feeling despondent, I turned and walked sullenly from the +lake's edge into the woodland once more, with no definite purpose in +mind, only a meandering thought of my dismal situation. My thoughts +morphed, in succession, from anxiety to despair, to anger, to +frustration, and in my frustration I knelt down and picked up a fallen +branch from the ground, walked to the nearest tree, and eyed a strange, +protruding knob that stuck out from the trunk. I held the branch at +shoulder's length and swung it at the knob with all the force of my +built up emotions. It hit with a crash and a hollow thud, leaving the +branch broken and my arm sore, but the knob undamaged. + +But then something unexpected happened: with a grating noise, a small +hole appeared part way up the trunk, coming from what looked to be solid +wood, for no sign was seen before of its having an opening. From the +newly opened hole was then thrust out a head, hairy and with a short +snout-like edifice for a nose and mouth. Its eyes and the furry hair +which covered its face were brown, and a few wily whiskers protruded +from its snout. With a look of utter surprise, as if it had not expected +me as much as I had not expected it, it eyed me closely for a moment and +then looked anxiously from side to side and told me to come in. + +When those words passed its lips, or whatever artifice it spoke from, a +great weight fell from my shoulders. After a short moment, quickened by +my relief, a door appeared in the trunk of the tree, its edges +previously hidden behind the thick mosses. Swinging inwards, it opened +and revealed the creature standing there, beckoning me to enter. I did, +and the door shut behind me, leaving me in the darkness of the hollow +tree. + + + + + + +Chapter 3: Zards and Canitaurs + + + +My eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, and once they did I saw that +the trunk was hollowed out to the extent of eight feet in diameter, with +two stairways, one up and another down, filling either corner of the +small entry room in which I found myself. Observing that my vision was +returned enough to see, the strange creature which had greeted me led me +down the descending staircase for a short way, until we came into a +cavern which was delved beneath the roots of the tree. + +The walls and floor of the cavern, or more accurately, the sitting room, +for such it appeared to be, were paneled with a thick, heavy wood with +an almost artificially symmetric grain, and the ceiling was done in +diagonal boards of the same. Sitting in the center of the room was a +brick-laid pit in which burned an illuminating fire, and around it was +placed an odd covering frame that caught up the smoke and channeled it +via underground passages to some distant wilderness, where its sightless +remnants would dissipate into the atmosphere unnoticed. On the near side +of the fire was a round table flanked by four large, comfortable chairs, +padded by cushions made from the same material as the various carpets +and tapestries around the room. + +There were two more of the strange creatures seated at the table, called +Canitaurs as I later found out, and as they are closely entwined with my +story, being prominent participants, I will describe them in some detail +here. They stood erect like a man, yet were quite contrasted in +appearance. Their skin for one was covered in a thick, impenetrable coat +of hair, much like a dog or a bear's. Their hands, also, were less +distinct in the fingers, though but slightly, and their limbs were a +little longer and thicker than a man's. The two most notable +differences, however, were the formation of their shoulders and chest, +which were very pronounced and muscular, and their faces. The latter's +features were brought to a point in the short snout, or muzzle, that +formed their nose and mouth, taking their chins with it and leaving a +long line from their neck to their chest open. Humanity prevailed in the +rest of their features, though, giving them the look of a man and canine +hybrid. + +By then I had overcome my initial perplexion at the sight of the +Canitaurs, and I endeavored to put a strong check over my emotions in +order to prevent another outbreak of panic and to remain cool and +candid, come what would. Yet it was, ironically, the product of my +rashness that I had found their habitation at all. This I successfully +did, and as I entered the room, led by the Canitaur who was on watch, +the others stood politely and greeted me with an apparent intrigue. + +Our conversation proceeded at follows: + +"I am Wagner of the Canitaurs, my friend," said the one who appeared to +be the leader, "And these are Taurus and Bernibus," the latter being the +one who had led me down. "Welcome to Daem." + +"I am Jehu," I told them, "It is a pleasure to meet you." + +"Indeed, and under such circumstances as well. Tell me, how did you come +to be here?" + +Here I smiled nervously, and replied, "I am a traveler from a distant +land, and came here by the advice of a friend." + +At this somewhat false answer, more in character than in content, Wagner +looked at me wonderingly, as if detecting my falsehood, but did not +follow his look with any probing questions, to my great relief. In order +to steer the conversation away from this point, I added quickly, "I am +not at all disappointed, either, for the landscape is beautiful and the +trees and foliage are wondrously large, but I was surprised to find +that, from the prairie to the lake, I saw no one living among these +quaint locations." + +Wagner looked at me closely, with a hint of almost reverencing respect +and said, "You were very fortunate in your travels, I assure you, for +had you arrived at any other time, you would have fallen into fouler +hands than ours by far." + +"I do not understand what you mean," I said. + +"Of course not, I am forgetting your new arrival has left you +unacquainted with affairs that I am faced with everyday. Let me explain: +we, that is, the Canitaurs, have been in open hostilities with the other +group of people on this island, the Zards, for as long as we can +remember. They have great military superiority in this section of Daem, +and when we come here we are forced to live in hiding, in outposts such +as this one." + +"Why not just make peace?" I asked. + +"Because it is our ideologies that conflict, neither group of us will +yield, and the solution can only be decided by force, military force. It +is fortunate that you have come among us first, for they would have +mistreated you." + +"So you have said, though I do not see why I was not captured by them on +my journey through the plains, if they are as powerful in this quarter +as you say," I replied. + +"As I said, the timing of your arrival was very fortunate," he said, "At +any other time you would have surely been caught, and then your fate +would have been uncertain, but yesterday was the Zard's new year, the +Kootch Patah, on which they spend all night in celebrations and +revelries. Because of this, they were all soundly asleep on your trip +through the prairie, very possibly laying at your feet, covered by the +tall grasses." + +So my fears were not as unfounded as I had thought, was my predestined +deja vu, then, real as well? Only time would tell. + +"I am indeed lucky then, as you have said, not only in the Zard's +unattentiveness, but also in finding of your secreted habitation, as +well as your friendly welcoming of me," I said. + +"I must confess," he chuckled, "It is not merely from a one-sided +hospitality that you are welcomed." + +"Indeed?" I said. + +"Indeed," he answered, "For your appearance and the circumstances of +your arrival are almost uncannily the realizations of one of our most +ancient prophesies, one which we have longed to have fulfilled." + +"Is that so?" I rhetorically asked. + +"Surely it is," he said with a smile, though from happiness or humor I +could not tell. He went on soberly, saying: "The prophecy is concerning +the kinsman redeemer, one of the ancients sent by Onan, the Lord of the +Past, to redeem us from the destruction of this polluted world." + +"What do you mean by 'one of the ancients'?" I interjected +questioningly. + +"Exactly what I said," Wagner replied with a light hearted smile, "Let +me explain." + +But before he could, we were interrupted by a violent scratching and +pounding at the door, along with some grunting voices which I could not +understand. The Canitaur's ears, which were quite large, though more +erect and postured than floppy, quickly rose to attention, and they had +spent not a moment listening when they uniformly chorused, "Zards," in a +hoarse whisper. My earlier fear, then mysterious but now understood, +returned in full force, and my face writhed in horror as I ejaculated +remorsely, "Then we are lost." + +Wagner turned gravely towards me and said, "Perhaps, but there is still +hope. Come, follow me," and rising from his chair he led the way to the +furthest corner of the room. A primitive tapestry was hanging there, and +Wagner lifted it up while Bernibus and Taurus hit two hidden switches, +one being on either extremity of the room, to avoid discovery. That +unlocked the wall behind the tapestry. It opened along lines previously +concealed by the wood's grain and revealed a small cubbyhole built into +the wall, probably meant for its present use, concealment. Wagner led us +into it and no sooner was the door, or wall, latched again than the +Zards, having broken down the outside door by brute strength, flooded +into the room. + +We could see them as they did, for the wall that concealed us had many +small holes, and the tapestry as well, so that on the inside we could +see all that happened in the well lit room, while they could not see us, +as there was no light to reveal us. Indeed, I had been sitting facing +the hidden compartment during our brief dialog and had not detected it +at all. The situation was quite different at that time, though, for the +Zards were actively looking for us, whereas I was merely glancing +occasionally at the wall. + +Now that they were closer, I could easily understand their conversation: + + +"Blast it, they aren't here," said one, + +"Probably deserted the place after Garlop saw them, he should have kept +watch." + +"Why? He couldn't have stopped a group of them, and they're too keen to +be followed." + +"Aye, he did right to hurry off, but it would be a shame if they +escaped," another joined. + +"The King is here though, and there's no fooling him. + +"Hear ye, hear ye," the others assented, that being a common phrase +among them which was the equivalent of an 'I agree' or 'Amen'. + +A larger, more commanding Zard, whom the others looked in deference to, +then came down the stairs, saying as he entered the room, "Let us not +celebrate prematurely, gentlemen. There is nothing of interest above, so +we will have to search carefully down here." + +"Sir, is it true it was a hairless one he saw?" one asked him. + +"We are all hairless here," he said, laughing with the others, "But yes, +it is reported that Garlop saw one of the ancients, and with his sharp +eyes and knowledge of history, it is assumed to be true. I need not +remind you, then, the need to find them before they are too far away, it +is imperative to the cause that the ancient is not brought to the hidden +fortress of our adversaries." + +The Zards then set to work with great assiduity searching for any clues +of the Canitaur's whereabouts, examining everything meticulously, yet +quickly. They tore the furniture apart to look for hidden compartments, +followed the smoke pipes through the ground to their outlets, tore off +the floor boards to look for secret passages, and did the same to the +ceiling. + +Before I continue with my story, let me pause for a moment to describe +to you the appearance of the Zards, for you are probably curious as to +what they look like. + +Quite different from the Canitaurs, they were, in fact, completely +hairless, being almost lizard-like. They stood erect, about the same +height as a man, that is, about six feet or a little over that, and +their bodies resembled those of alligators, with short, thickset legs, +stout arms, and a long body with a tail draping down to the ground, +looking like a giant tongue, though covered, of course, in scales. Their +heads were small, having a little skull on which were the eyes and ears +and with a long snout that, like the Canitaurs', held their noses, +mouths, and chin. Huge, sharp teeth filled their mouths and gave them an +odd, fiercely sophisticated look. Their hands were thick with long +fingers, and though their overall appearance had an air of awkwardness +about it, they set to their tasks with great dexterity, though if it was +natural or the result of their excited state, I could not tell. Indeed, +I began to grow worried when the Zard who was removing the walls, to +check for holes or tunnels, drew near to us as he methodically pried off +the panels with a metal bar and looked for anything suspicious. + +He moved along quickly and was just about to put the bar to our covering +and pull when another Zard, on the other end of the room, held aloft a +piece of paper, calling the attentions of the others to it. Our almost +discoverer went himself to the other Zard, and we were, for a moment at +least, saved from being exposed. Having read the paper, the taller Zard, +the King, said to the others, "Well done, lads. We have here a map to +the Canitaur's hidden fortress. Let us go to Nunami, gather some troops, +and surprise them. Today may prove victorious, so let us hurry." + +The others assented and as a body they went up the stairs and out the +door, hurrying forth, it seemed, to do their dastardly deeds, and in +their ardor not leaving behind even a single one to guard the hideout. +Despite our good fortunes, my spirits were damp, for my sorrow of the +Canitaur's ill fate was as a wound in my bosom, knowing that I had been +the sole reason for their discovery. What a good kinsman redeemer, I +thought, for my coming may have ended the wars, or put its completion in +motion, yet not in the favor of my hosts. + +To my chagrin, however, the Canitaurs, led by Wagner, were buxom, +seeming to find great humor in what had happened. Turning to them in a +zealous perplexity, I said spiritedly, "How can you laugh? You may have +escaped, but your brethren are doomed, and you yourselves will not last +long around enemies without the protection of the other Canitaurs." + +But my rebuke only seemed to make their laughter and mirth more hearty, +and they raged on without ceasing for a time. After a while, when they +were reduced to a smiling remnant of their former pleasure, Wagner +turned gravely towards me and said, "Forgive me, Jehu, for not +explaining it to you. You are right to chastise us, but the situation is +not as you seem to think it, for the map they found was a fake, and will +lead them to nowhere of importance, while we affect our escape. We are +lucky that they left no guard, but come, let us not tempt fate and +remain any longer in this compromised outpost, to the fortress we go!" + +He finished and met with the approbations of the others, and +accordingly, we exited the cubby hole and made our way through the +rummaged room, up the stairs, and out of the tree. It was now early +evening, and the temperance of twilight, with its soft and mellow +splendors, only increased the pleasantness of the area. A slight breeze +prevailed and rustled the leaves and boughs of the giant trees just +enough to render it pacifying and comforting. Being quickened by the +breeze, the lake danced on in its earlier smoothness, only in a faster +tempo, improving the ruggedness of the watery wrinkles. The last +visiting rays from the sun were congregated on the eastern shores, +saying their good-byes to the glowing trees, and giving their parting +respects before being whisked away to their native lands of fire, to +come again in great numbers on the morrow. + +We set off around the lake, making our way northward towards the rugged +mountains rising before us in a grand show of might. Wagner and Taurus +walked before and behind us, respectively, Wagner leading the way and +Taurus erasing the marks of our passing, and both watching for any signs +of ambush. Bernibus walked abreast of myself, keeping me in pleasant +company, for he was a very enjoyable companion. + +During our walk, Bernibus and I had an insightful conversation, of which +I will relate to you the following, as you may find it interesting: + +"Tell me," I said to him, "You seem to be a jovial people, despite the +war that you find yourselves in, but are all of your people of the same +attitude?" + +"Very nearly, yes," he replied, "For though we do not wish war, the +principles at stake here are important enough for us to sacrifice an +easy life for them. We've grown used to it, everything is done in such a +way as to promote secrecy and stealth, those being our main advantages +in the conflict. Out of hundreds of outposts like the one we were just +in, for example, only four others have ever been discovered, and the +Zards still have no clue where our fortress is." This he said in a +boastful manner, but as he did a faint spirit of sorrow spread across +his face for an instant, as if in memory of one of the raids of previous +times. + +"That explains their rapture when they found the false map," I returned, +"But I must admit that I am still ignorant of the cause of the wars. It +was said that it was conflicting ideologies, yet that is self-evident, +as all conflict is at heart just that. I don't mean, either, the actions +that caused the most recent inflammation, but what exactly your +conflicting ideologies are? What is it that keeps you from harmony?" + +"You have a knack for hard questions," he said with a smile. Then he +paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. At length, he continued, +"The Canitaurs have a profound respect for all that has gone before us, +we honor the traditions of our ancestors and revere their beliefs and +their ideas of truth. The past, in the guise of history, is the key to +the future, we believe, and we hold strictly to the worship of Onan, the +Lord of the Past," at this my attention was perked. He continued, "Our +adherence to the ways of our ancestors is based on the idea that what +has continued throughout the ages has continued because it is right, +that it has remained steadfast because it is based on the immovable +foundations of reality. We follow Onan because he is real, because the +past has existed, and it is certain that it will continue to exist, and +because that existence dictates the operation of the present. Although +we may seem ritualistic and entrenched in tradition to the outside +observer, we enjoy the comforts of knowing that we are on a well tread +path, that we are not alone in time but in company with our forebears. +We are called the Pastites because of our beliefs, because of our +tradition based lives that instill in us a reliance on history, on the +events of the past as a light by which to guide our own actions, as a +road paved by the flesh and blood of our forefathers which leads to +happiness and peace." + +Bernibus paused for another moment, as if in contemplation once again, +before he continued, saying, "The Zards are followers of the future, or +Futurists as they are called. They believe that the past is just that, +the past: the ignorant and selfish times of the unenlightened who were +too shrouded by prejudices to understand the world clearly. Instead they +place their faith in the scientific and philosophical ideas of the day, +believing that while history and the past were delegated to the control +of the unsophisticated whose ways were superstitious and outdated, the +present contains truth in its pure form. Reform and revolution are their +watchwords, for they tinker with the very foundations of society and +life in an attempt to cultivate it. Zimri is their Lord, of the Future, +and they follow him loosely, for he doesn't require the strict adhesion +that Onan does, which suits their independent and relaxed world view +very well." + +He went on, in summary, "In a word, the Pastites believe that history, +the reality of the past, governs the present and the future, while the +Futurists believe that the future defines the present and the past." + +"I begin to see the differences," I replied in a humble, questioning +manner, "And yet they seem to me to be passive, secondary differences, +the kind that result in a conflict of subtle disagreements here and +there, argued over dessert like tariffs or taxes, not at all violent. +How is it that they take such a prominent role in everyday life that +they can only be resolved by force? What is it that takes it from the +fireside to the battlefield?" + +Here I was slightly taken aback by the expression on Bernibus' face, it +was one of surprise mingled with apprehension and questioning. He said, +"Then you do not know?" + +"Know what?" + +He laughed, "I take it you do not." Becoming solemn again, he continued, +"Our land, Daem is on the edge of ruin, and has been for all of my life +and those of many generations before me. About 530 years ago there was a +great war on earth, one in which no restraint was used, no mutually +assured destruction, for nuclear weapons came into the hands of those +who cared not for any life, not even their own. Tensions were high for a +decade, and in the following segregation, the peoples of the earth lost +their personal connection with their enemies, and, as always happens, +ceased to view them as equals, but instead as evil ones bent on their +destruction. Things came to such a crisis that at last a little flame +was lit and it grew and grew until it became a full scale nuclear war. +The destruction was total: no one was exempt, as almost everything, and +everyone, was destroyed. The only surviving place was this island, which +is the sole habitat of the delcator beetle, a small insect that digests +nuclear waste and neutralizes it. The first few decades were horrible, +before the atmosphere recovered enough to return to normal, and in that +time things mutated and grew gigantic. The trees and foliage, as you +see, are an example of this, even the redwood trees of old were nothing +compared to the trees of Daem. And the Zards and Canitaurs grew and +changed as well, and, as we lived on either ends of the island, as we do +now, our forms morphed into the separate forms that they now take. + +"And that is where our conflict turned violent," he continued, "For it +is our desire, on both sides, to return the earth to its previous state. +The Pastites want to return through time and stop the destruction before +it happens, because we believe that the past is what must be changed in +order to change the present and future. It is the actions of the past +that brought about the present woes, and it is they that must be undone. +For their part, the Futurists want to change the present through the +future, to go into the future and bring back its completion, in the form +of restored RNA cells, which is congruent with their belief that the +past is the past and all that matters is that which is yet to come, that +which still has the hope of existence." + +I looked at him as he finished and said, "But, why not do both. Wouldn't +that be more effective than fighting each other? How can continued +destruction revert previous destruction inflicted in the same manner? +Could not both ideas be tried?" + +"If only they could," he replied. "It goes back to Onan and Zimri, you +see, for we ourselves cannot do such things, but the gods whom we follow +can. Shortly after the worldwide destruction, we, meaning both the Zards +and the Canitaurs, received the prophesy of the kinsman redeemer, who +would be sent to help us change the earth to its former majesty. He was +to be one from the time right before the beginning of the final +firefight, one of the ancients who still kept the pure human form. Our +hostilities broke out in an attempt to control the entire island, so +that when he should come, the dominant force would have him. Each side +was convinced that theirs was the right way, the only way through which +the end of restoring the earth's ecosystem could be reached. You are the +kinsman redeemer, Jehu, for you fit the prophecy perfectly, and I am +glad that you have fallen in with us." + +After his discourse, Bernibus fell into a silent meditation, as did I, +and the rest of our walk through the now dark wilderness was one of +silence and solitude. Given the cessation of action in my narrative, I +will take this opportunity to describe the circumstances of my arrival +on the island of Daem, about which you are no doubt wondering. + + + + + + +Chapter 4: Onan, Lord of the Past + + + +Not wishing to delve too far into my past or relate what would be +mundane and disconnected with my story, I will summarize with brevity +what my situation was. I was a military man, an Air force pilot to be +exact, and was on active duty patrolling the no-fly zones off the coast +of China, it being, at that time, an area of very high tensions. The +situation was grim, as any small incident promised to set the pendulums +of war into motion, but the worst had subsided, and things were +beginning to look as if that incendiary incident wouldn't come after +all. The main part of my story begins on a cloudy night of what was to +me just a few weeks back, though it seems like many ages ago now, and +indeed, it was. + +I was flying over an area that was littered with small volcanic islands, +the type that rise above or fall below sea level continually, so that +what one year is above water is later below. Some of them have even been +known to only rise above the waves for a short time, and then vanish +from the sea completely, worn down by wind and waves. The night was +murky, and the air was thick with water and dust, the result being that +there was no natural light whatsoever, and any artificial light that +could be mustered was largely reduced to nothing, visibility being no +more than twenty feet. + +The wind was calm and the flying, though strenuous from lack of sight, +was without turbulence. I was doing well, until out of nowhere I heard a +loud crack of thunder, followed by a bolt of lightning that hit the +plane. At once I lost all of the instruments, excepting the actual +control of the plane in manual, meaning that the radar and all the +guidance systems were crippled, and I could see nothing. Not knowing +what to do, and not being able to radio for help, I pulled down and +slowed until I was just barely remaining airborne, and began looking for +an island to land on. + +Once below 200 feet, the clouds gave way and I saw an island. I aimed +for it and slowed more, preparing to land on it. I did, though just +barely, for it was extremely small, being one of those inconsistent +volcanic islands. Getting out of the plane, I was greeted by a strong +blast of wind that was dripping water from its cold grip, and I was +instantly chilled to the bone. There was nothing on the island at all, +except for the hole in its center, from which, no doubt, came the lava +that had formed it. It was on a slightly elevated hill, and looked as if +it had not erupted for many thousands of years. With nothing to do at +that moment except to get an idea of the island that I had landed on, I +walked over to it and knelt down beside it, peering blankly into its +depths. It seemed to be absolutely devoid of light, and, as often +happens, its darkness was mysterious to me, for I wondered what lay +hidden in it, and my curiosity got the better of my common sense. I +leaned slowly forward. Then, as I did so, I heard a loud and terrible +voice, personified in the crashing of the waves and the moaning of the +wind, and it said in a monotonous and unending refrain, "Enter." Nothing +more nor less than the continual repetition of that word. This alarmed +me, and as I did not want to do that, I began to stand upright and back +away from it, to return to my plane. But as I raised my knee from the +ground in order to stand, my other knee slipped under the increased +pressure, and in the ensuing instability, I completely lost my balance +and fell forward into the hole. + +There are certain events in our lives that change the whole course of +our existence, and falling forward into the hole was one for me. Its +immediate effects weren't injurious to me at all, but it matured with +time, like a good wine, and grew until it overcame me, starting the +chain of events which would result in my demise. Yet not only mine, but +that of everyone. + +Let me continue, though, and I will explain what I mean and not confuse +you more. I landed with a thud on a pile of soft dirt some twenty feet +down, in a dark place which seemed open, not cavernous and cramped as I +would have expected. My eyes adjusted to the darkness, and as they did, +I realized it was not now totally lightless, for there was a faint glow +coming from somewhere in the distance. Looking up through the passage I +had come down, I saw that there was no way to climb up it, and, +accordingly, set off to find the source of the faint light that came +from the distance. After walking cautiously through the darkness, I +reached a curve and then a tunnel-like exit to the spacious cavern that +I was in, and as I turned it I saw the source of the light: lava flows. +The room, or area, I had entered was rather thin and round, with a river +of lava flowing downwards and a small ledge of rock winding along its +edge. Together they descended spirally downwards at a gentle angle, +taking the form of an intelligently designed ramp. As I followed it down +I soon broke out in a sweat, for the gurgling, fiery plasma heated the +area up to a warm degree. + +I found myself looking intently at the flowing fire beside which I +walked, its strangeness stealing my meditations from other things, and I +looked at it absorbingly, not paying attention to the path that I walked +on, so entranced was I with the feeling that its boiling character gave +to me. + +As I walked along the lava preoccupied with my meditations and not +paying conscious attention to the path, my subconscious was carefully +monitoring my way, and when once my eyes glanced upward, I quickly saw +that my surroundings had changed. The narrow, spiral descending tunnel +had given way to a very cavernous area where the lava flow formed a +large lake of fire. A domed ceiling crowned this great room, though not +exact and polished, having instead a rough appearance as it stretched +from wall to wall, a semi-chasm of a hundred yards, more or less, with +its uppermost height being not less than twenty yards. On the far walls +were two lava falls, trickling from raised tunnels in the wall into the +body of lava, which covered the whole bottom of the room. There was a +platform that sat in the middle of the fiery lake, connected to the +tunnel I had come from by a walkway of stone. This room was different +than the other two, also, in its fashion, for while the previous had +vague evidences of intelligent design, this one was very obviously +artificially decorated. The walkway above mentioned was of ornate stone +with an intricate design of circles, squares, and triangles carved into +it, and on each corner of the center stage was a long pillar that +reached from floor to ceiling, each carved like a totem pole, with a +variety of animals and shapes stacked upon one another. The dome was +done ornately as well, for I saw as I walked further into the room that +what I had thought had been imperfections in the dome proved to be an +elaborate three dimensional sculpture that stuck out from the ceiling, +depicting an intricate scene of figures and telling a story of some +great saga of war and peace, pride and prejudice, love and hate, faith +and betrayal, all combined to make the greatest mural: history, the +story of time itself. + +As I looked in awe upon its beauty, I was startled by a voice coming +from an unseen figure somewhere on the center platform. It said, "Jehu, +you have come at last. Welcome." + +The voice was very gentle and pleasing to the ears, slowly and +confidently spoken, meticulously articulated. I looked around in its +direction and saw a short, elderly gnome with a long white beard +reaching to his chest and a short crop of hair on his oblong head, which +was outfitted with a sharp, angular nose, a pair of sparkling eyes, and +two protruding ears. He was no more than four feet tall, and no less +than three, with a dignified poise to him, and was dressed in a dark +robe with a black and gold design on it. We looked at each other for a +moment, he smiling pleasantly and me expressionless, for though I felt +that I should be surprised, or at least bewildered, at the sight of a +gnome in an underground cavern, I was not, it was as if I had almost +been expecting it to happen, as if in the back of my mind I had already +been there and done that. Perhaps it was only a case of predestined deja +vu, or maybe it was something less tangible. Either way, the gnome then +broke the silence again, saying: + +"Let me introduce myself, Jehu. I am Onan, the Lord of the Past, and +these are the Chambers of History." + +He then paused for a moment, waiting for my reaction, which was, again, +not too much surprised, but rather complacent, thought I didn't look +bored or snobbish, as is sometimes the case in that situation. Instead I +became as genial as possible, realizing that whatever force was behind +this, it was greater than I. + +"Hello, Onan, it is pleasure to meet you," I said, advancing with a +proffered hand extended towards him, which I realized belatedly made me +appear oafish, but he took it good-naturedly, and with his pleasantness +eliminated my unease at shaking the hand of one half my size. He then +beckoned for me to follow him, and turned and walked to the center of +the platform, where he unexpectedly laid down on his back, facing the +muraled dome. I did the same, somewhat hesitantly, though I found it to +be quite comfortable once I was down. He saw my sluggishness and by way +of explanation said to me: + +"Do not be troubled, my dear Jehu, for we lie on our backs to bring +about clarity of mind." + +Then he continued speaking, calling my attention to the sculptured dome: + + +"That is history," he said. + +"What do you mean," I asked, "I've always viewed history as an organic +being, constantly growing as it devours the present." + +"It is an organic being," he replied, "A monstrous beast of sorts. But +that (meaning the mural on the dome), my friend, is the genetics of +history, its code that dictates what it is and what it will become, the +master plan." + +Allow me to take a moment to describe the mural for you. Firstly, its +form: it was spread out across the dome like the painted ceiling of the +Sistine Chapel, its whole being a broad, harmonious picture that +complimented itself, telling a story throughout its united branches. It +was much more than a painting, though, because it stood out from the +dome like a group of completely independent sculptures, but placed so as +to tell the combined story with a sort of native ease, not stressed or +artificial, yet seeming as natural and beautiful as water in its flowing +grace. Now I will endeavor to describe its content, though I realize +that in this case the picture must be worth many millions of words. + +The center of the mural was its beginning, and there a man was standing +proudly upright, dressed in splendid clothes of fine linens. He held in +his hand a magnificent cup of gold with a row each of diamonds, rubies, +sapphires, and pearls running along its breadth. It contained a dark red +liquid, which appeared to be boiling, and the man was holding it out to +a fierce lion whose shoulders were four feet across and whose mouth was +like a cavern, with stalactites and stalagmites of the most terrifying +nature. With an evil glare in its eyes toward the man, the lion drank +thirstily from the cup. Around the man and the lion there was a ring of +blazing fire, leaping out of the dome like great pillars of flame, +entrapping them within its narrow circle. On the outside of the fire was +a group of mighty lizards and beasts, the smallest of which was larger +than several elephants. Their whole attention was paid to a great fight +in which they were engaged, yet their foe was naught but the reflections +of themselves on the great sea which surrounded the island that held +these strange sights. Several of them were dead or severely wounded at +having been accidentally mauled by their fighting brethren. Across the +ocean from the island there was another landmass, whose far edges were +not in sight. On it were many ape-men bowing down in worship of a +gigantic White Eagle which was soaring far above them with a multitude +of lords and ladies gripped in its massive talons. The lords were +dressed in silken robes and adorned with many pieces of fine jewelry, +and the ladies were clothed in skirts of crimson; both groups had upon +their faces looks of pleasure, and contempt towards those far below +them. + +Onan continued speaking, "You see, Jehu, the whole of history, both that +now written and that yet to come, is planned, executed according to its +own power, for the course of time is marked as clearly as the tides: by +its own coming and going it is revealed. Revealed, however, only in an +abstract and undefined manner, so that while its marks are clearly seen, +it is only by special revelations that it is shown in a comprehensive +and detailed light. And that is why I have summoned you here, my dear +Jehu, for you are the chosen one, summoned to help me." + +I was skeptical and asked him, "You summoned me? But how, I was to +forced to crash land on the island by the weather, and accidentally fell +into the volcano's mouth. It was by my own freewill decisions that the +circumstances of my arrival here were fulfilled." + +Onan laughed quietly and said, "History is not an unstoppable machine, +allied with fate to control the destiny of all things past and future, +nor does it nullify the power of man's freewill, yet the force that acts +upon the minds of men to form them is history itself. You see, men are +not the opponents of history and fate, for they do not impede its +progress with their freewill decisions, instead they are its minions, +its slaves, building up its strength and carrying out its dictates by +its influence, so that they become history as they serve it, adding to +its organism their own consciouses. While you were brought to these +Chambers by circumstances of your own choosing, your desires in choosing +those circumstances were dictated by the experiences of the past. But +never mind how I summoned you, for you are here now." + +"Very well," I said, not wishing to disagree with the Lord of the Past. +Still, I was in a stubborn frame of mind, and asked, "But if the past is +as powerful as you construe it to be, then why does the Lord of the Past +need the help of a mere mortal like myself? Or do you mean you need a +more direct agent than those you control only by influence?" + +"Something like that," he answered. "You see, there was a great disaster +once, which was blamed on me, and in order to atone for it, I promised +to send a kinsman redeemer before anything so devastating happened +again, and I believe you are the perfect choice." + +"What devastating event hasn't been blamed on the past in one form or +another?" I said, "But why not just go yourself?" + +"It is against the rules," Onan told me. + +"How typical." + +"Yes, indeed, I sometimes wonder what good it is to be a god if you +can't do anything yourself," he said with a sigh. + +"What do you want me to do there, then?" + +"I cannot tell you, unfortunately." + +"Against the rules?" I asked. + +"Very much so. All that I can do is send an agent with a slight +understanding of the situation of history and physical existence to the +people, but he must make the judgments of how to proceed all on his own. +If I did tell you, it wouldn't be much different than going myself, and +then there would be no human resolution to human problems." + +"Our lives serve as a spectator sport to the gods, then?" I inquired of +him. + +"I am afraid not," he said, "It is much more serious than that. The +Greeks were not all wrong, you know." + +"Who else, I wonder." + +"Not many," he sighed, "But tell me, are you ready?" + +"As I'll ever be." + +"Then I will begin. The understanding of life begins with the +understanding of physical existence," Onan said, "And by physical +existence I mean the quality of being materially animated. Not to +confuse it with consciousness, which is the ability to think and reason, +it is rather the realm in which one has substance and continuity. I will +call the elements of physical being time and matter, those words +representing widely known concepts. Matter provides the raw substance +and time gives those lifeless objects a plane of being to exist in. +Without time, matter can do nothing except sit in a sterile state, in a +vacuum in which nothing could occur; and without matter, time would +flow, but nothing would move with it. Thus, the basis of physical +existence is time and matter, each being useless separately, yet +together being the perfect combination of a tangible object and the +fluid, forward movement to animate it. Imagine it as a three-dimensional +painting, matter given depth by time." + +"Not so complicated," I said cheerfully. + +"Not yet, you mean," he laughed. + +"Exactly, tell me more." + +"Not just yet, Jehu. First you must help me." + +"The time to begin has come then?" I asked. + +"Yes, you must go now," he said, "And remember, I'll be watching. Good- +bye." + +And with that, not even standing up, Onan put me into a deep state of +comatose and sent me through time to the unknown lands and people whom I +was to deliver. I awoke, as you will remember, in the center of the +savanna. Now that you know the circumstances of my arrival on Daem, I +will go back to where I was before: on the way to the Canitaur's hidden +fortress. + + + + + + +Chapter 5: The Treeway + + + +I was walking in silence through the rugged forests of northern Daem +alongside Bernibus the Canitaur, with his fellows Wagner and Taurus +before and behind us, respectively, the former leading the way, the +latter covering our tracks, and both on the lookout for an ambush. An +entire lifetime of guerrilla warfare and privations of all kinds had +instilled in the Canitaurs a strong and prevailing sense of caution, +which sometimes rendered their lighthearted and almost spiritually +frivolous nature to the casual observer a dense, deceiving demeanor used +to conceal their true selves. But that was not the case, I believe, for +they were, or at least Bernibus was, truly amorous in personality. + +The sky was then in its deepest dark, and in the few breaks in the +canopy above large enough to be seen through, there were few celestial +lights to illuminate the depths of that mountainous forest. The forest +itself sprawled like a great metropolis along the lands above the large +central lake of Daem, Lake Umquam Renatusum, which was close beside the +Canitaur outpost where we had narrowly escaped discovery and capture. +However deficient in sight the forest was, it was abounding with sounds, +everything from the call of the owl to groan of the bull frog, it was as +if the whole of the forest had congregated about us, drawn to us by some +unknown scent of interest and intrigue. + +Continuing on for some time in the same way, I found myself growing +weary, nodding my head slowly towards the oblivion of sleep, until I was +brought to an instant liveliness by Wagner's announcement that we had +reached our destination. I looked around carefully, yet I saw nothing at +all to indicate the entrance to a large, covert military establishment, +much to my companions delight. Their whimsical sense of humor surfaced +once again as they laughed with seemingly infinite pleasure, both at my +wondering expression and with a sense of satisfaction at their own +cleverness. After the outburst had been subdued and a certain level of +solemnity had been reached, Wagner approached the nearest tree and +knocked on it with a rhythmic rut-tut-tut. + +Expecting their old trick to be replayed, I waited for the tree to open, +but to my surprise, it didn't, instead a strong rope ladder dropped down +from a tree several yards to the east. This we climbed, and I found that +I had been mistaken as to the height of the ancient wooden towers, for +they proved to be even loftier in dimensions than I had imagined. +Accordingly, it took us a good five minutes to reach its top at a quick +and steady pace, and all through the climb I was terrified at the long +drop, from which the ladder offered no protections. Yet I made it to the +top safely, and found that there was a large platform built securely +among its upper branches, with enough room to hold a few dozen persons, +and there was even comfortable seating in the center. There were four +guards stationed on the platform, each equipped with a long bow and a +quiver of metal tipped arrows, and though they were hardly visible +through the dim light emitted from the covered lantern that lit the +platform, I could see them quietly conversing with Wagner and Taurus +while Bernibus and myself reposed on the seats provided for that very +purpose. + +They conversed for awhile, though I could not hear them, nor could I see +them well enough to judge their facial expressions, but Bernibus waylaid +any anxious thoughts I had with his encouraging tone, and also by giving +me a drought of ale and a loaf of bread to overcome my fatigue and +hunger, both of which I quickly consumed. He gave me more bread, but +wouldn't allow me another glass of ale, for safety's sake. At first I +thought he deemed me easily overcome by spirits, but I soon discovered +his reasons and thanked him. + +Wagner returned from the guards and, finding that we were ready to +proceed, led us to the far corner of the platform, where we were joined +by Taurus. We then set off on a road that ran above the lower levels of +the canopy, made from jointed platforms that were attached to the +massive limbs of the trees, meeting the branches of the next tree half +way across, forming a continuous, snaking path far above the ground. +Traveling on those paths we made our way criss-crossingly to the west. +The walking was no more difficult than on the ground, for the boards +were firmly secured to the great branches, which were at least five or +six feet wide, and there were short rails as well. + +After no more than half an hour of travel on the 'Treeway', we reached +another large platform in the center of a great tree which was very much +like the first one, excepting that the trunk of the tree came up through +its center and there was a door leading into the trunk. There were eight +guards on this platform, but they let us pass without more than a +friendly gesture, their scouts having, no doubt, seen us long before and +ascertained our identity and intentions. They seemed to have been +expecting the return of Wagner's group, though the addition of me they +appeared to eye curiously. + +Wagner led us directly to the door, which opened into a set of circular +stairs that wound down the inside of the tree like the insides of an old +world lighthouse tower. The stairs descended further than the tree +ascended, wrapping around almost infinitely, at least to my wearied +senses, which were depleted of vividness by the treacherous toils of the +proceeding day. Down, down, down went the stairs, until at length we +reached the bottom and found ourselves in a cave, the stairs ending in a +small foyer area which opened out into the cave, it being delved into +the bedrock layer, indicating that we had indeed passed below the +surface on our descent. The passage was really a narrow defile with high +walls on either side, impenetrable due to the fact that they were the +foundations of the earth above. It stretched on for a ways, its whole +length commanded by little, turret like stations which stuck out from +the upper wall, in which were stationed groups of archers, and though +they now stood in a solemn, dignified manner, any opposition that +attempted to force a way through would have been decimated. Yet they +stood at attention and made no noise or movement at our passing, instead +being the essence of well disciplined soldiery. + +This narrow chasm led onward for about three hundred yards, the walls +stretching upwards in such a fashion that it brought to mind images of +Moses crossing the Red Sea, with great walls of water suspended in air +on either side, ready at any moment to come crashing down upon them, +their lives in the hands of another. So did I then feel, the Canitaur +guards being able to slay me on the slightest whim of fancy that struck +their minds into a sadistic mood. Yet I was not afraid, instead I was +overcome by a feeling of relaxation, where all cares and worries are +given up as frivolous burdens, not necessary and not helpful, being, in +fact, harmful to the mind. + +The defile, or narrow passage, led to a great abyss, crossable only by a +drawbridge controlled on the other side, which was at this time lowered +and ready for us to cross, which we did, accompanied by four honor +guards who were dressed in all the pomp and pleasantry known by the +Canitaurs. It was a custom among them to greet newcomers with an honor +guard which escorted them to the body of dignitaries and aristocrats +that would be waiting to welcome them in style. This was done for us, +and we were led into the fortress' great room, which was used for +discussions and debates, via another winding stairway that took us even +further below the surface. It was a splendid room, equipped with all +kinds of luxuries and embellishments and spreading out like a quarter +circle around a central stage with a podium upon it. Seats were arranged +in arching rows, with a sort of cluster of seats around a wooden desk +being allotted to each of the members of the council and his aide de +camps; there were two hundred such clusters. Sitting there like they had +been woken from sleep to attend to us were the delegates, looking tired +and untidy, a rare state for a Canitaur to be in, with their clothes +ruffled, their hair uncombed, and their eyes glazed with a discordant +state of mind. + +Wagner, who turned out to be a high official among them, led me to the +top of the stage where the podium was, with a sofa, desk, and several +chairs behind it, concealed from the council by the raised floor and +walls that formed the base of the podium, creating a small, private +anteroom for those at the podium. I laid myself down tiredly on the sofa +to rest while Wagner took the stage and began to speak. + +"Friends, comrades, associates," he said to the council, "I thank you +for neglecting your beds at this late hour to join with us here in the +Hall of Meeting, for there is something very important to be shared. You +are all no doubt familiar with the ancient prophecy of the Externus +Miraculum: long ago it was told that in our extreme need, when hope no +longer exists in the hearts of many, an ancient would be sent by Onan +our lord to redeem and deliver us from the evils of this world, for as +our doom was wrought in their times, so would our hope originate. The +past cannot be changed except by those who first made it, and our +present is dictated by the happenings of the past, so that for a better +future the past must be changed, and only then will we be freed from the +burdens of history." + +He continued, "We have therefore long awaited the arrival of our kinsman +redeemer, who will change the past and prevent the cause of our current +woes from happening, for without its roots, what evil can grow and +flourish? Our redeemer was to come on the Kootch Patah, when our +adversaries the Zards are not watchful, being drunk with celebrations at +the turning of the year. Myself, Taurus and Bernibus went to the shores +of Lake Umquam Renatusum, as is our custom, to watch for the coming of +the promised one, and this time we were not disappointed, for he came to +us, even as the prophecy says, as we sat hidden in the living tower. +Seen by the Zards, we were almost discovered, until the promise of the +hidden fortress drew them away, even as the prophecy says. And now we +are here, delegates of the Canitaurian people, safely within our +fortress with our kinsman redeemer, so what shall be done? Let us +decide." + +At this point he cast a glance towards me, as if desiring me to speak +before the council, but I was in the last throes of wakefulness, where +sleep has crept so far upon you that arrival in the land of dreams is +only a matter of moments, and wakefulness is not desired, nor is +anything else. I looked at him with my eyes glazed with that sweet, +savory taste of sleep, and though I was conscious, I was not in control, +only an audience to actions of my subconscious whims, and even that +passed beyond my reach as my eyes fell shut, isolating me in the realm +where worldly concerns mean nothing. And so I was when my exhaustion +overtook me, leaving me sound asleep on the sofa behind the podium. + + + + + + +Chapter 6: The Fiery Lake + + + +When I woke I was no longer in that room but in another, a small homely +room where I was laid on a bed, the room being located, as I found out +later, not too far from the Hall of Meeting. Though the depth of the +fortress prevented me from knowing the time, it felt to be early +afternoon by that strange internal clock that so seldom errs. It was +correct, as usual. There was a quaint fireplace on the far wall of the +room with a small, unadorned and unpretentious mantle, decorated like +the rest of the fortress in a practical and experienced way, finding +just the right flavor between the ornate, the practical, and the quaint, +and avoiding all the while the clutter brought by superfluous material +possessions. A table in the center of the room was furnished with a +steaming meal, beside which sat my new friend Bernibus, smiling on me +with a benevolent and almost paternal affection. + +"Good morning, Jehu," he said, "Or should I say afternoon, for the +morning has quite passed by already." + +"Yes, and it has left in me a great appetite, my good man." + +"As is shown clearly in your eyes," he jested, "Come and eat." + +Needing no further urging, I leapt from my bed, sat down across from him +at the table, and began partaking greedily of the hearty breakfast of +hash browns and pancakes, which were pleasing to my mouth and stomach, +for the tastes in food are controlled more by the condition of the body +than by the time of day. When I had satisfied my needs, we reclined in +our chairs and began conversing: + +"Tell me," I said, "Did my untimely slumber yester eve cause any +irritated prides?" + +"Quite to the contrary, the council was well humored and followed your +lead to their bed chambers." + +"I am relieved to hear it, for I was anxious of appearing lax in ardor +or animation." + +"Not so, my friend, you are quite exonerated from doubtful thoughts. +There is a session planned for this evening though, so may yet feel +yourself put on trial." + +"Unfortunate," said I, "But surely they can mean no harm, am I not the +kinsman redeemer, after all?" + +"Yes, you are," Bernibus said with a look of subdued apprehension, "We +have an end in view, though the means are as yet not wholly decided. It +is a complicated situation." + +I smiled softly, "So is always the case." + +"In truth it is: time reveals all things yet do all things reveal time?" + + +"What do you mean?" I asked him. + +"Our situation is complicated by differing views of time, and I was +wondering aloud if history and the present reality disclose the truth +about time in the same way that time reveals the truth of the present. +If our way were more illuminated, the journey would be easier." + +"Perhaps that is why men look to the well lit paths of history, or to +the dim conjectures of the future rather than the dark, yet detailed +ways of present." + +"Perhaps," he said, "But the present is so fleeting that it holds little +intrigue" + +"Even so, it is the stage, not still waiting behind the curtain, nor +already performed." + +"Yet the past controls by influences and prejudices, justified or not, +and it will doubtless be the view of the council that the past must be +redone, that the problems be addressed at the source," Bernibus replied. + + +"I am still in the dark about all your inferences," I said. + +"My apologies, I forget myself. But let us not dwell on subjects which +may become quite exhausted in the near future, for better or worse," he +told me. + +"Fair enough," I returned, acceding to the subject change, and jumping +on the opportunity to steer it in a different direction, "I know little +of you, Bernibus, so tell me all." + +"There isn't much to tell," he coyly responded. + +"Nonsense, Bernibus, tell me or I shall get very angry," I jested, +imitating some mythological god's wrath. + +He smiled discreetly and yielded to my request, "Very well, I will tell +you. I was born in the year 490 D.V. (that is, Durante Vita), to a poor +couple from the northernmost pier of Daem, the Gog." + +"Wait a moment, Bernibus," I interrupted, "I didn't mean in that +fashion, for when I say I know little of you, it is because I literally +know little of 'you', not the circumstances that make up your past. I +guess it goes back to the interpretation of the past and its powers, and +since we can't seem to escape discussing it, lets embrace it willingly. +You seem to believe that the events of your life have shaped you in such +a profound way that their mere description is sufficient to explain your +personality; I will grant that their influence has effected you subtly, +but history is not the scapegoat of the present. The circumstances do +more to define the character of an individual than to shape it, for even +siblings with the exact same experiences can be greatly different in +personality and achievements. But what I mean is this: your past has +influenced your present, yet it is gone and your present remains, show +me Bernibus, not his previous forms." + +You, who are now reading this, may think this statement of mine to +Bernibus to be hypocritical, in light of the very purpose and intent of +these memoirs. You may be thinking that I am relating this whole +happening in order to justify my actions and decisions. But that is not +the case, for I understand that you have no power over me, I have long +been dead in your present and your sentiments mean naught to me. In +fact, I wish to tell of the circumstances I found myself in as much as +of myself, so that you may have a retrospective clarity in visions of +the future. You will understand that statement later on, but for now let +me say that I wished to know the essence, the person, the consciousness +of Bernibus, whereas I wish to impart to you my story, though ere its +end you may come also to know me. I have no ambitions of material +immortality. + +Bernibus understood my meaning, and though he disagreed with its +theoretical imputations, he humored me and did as I suggested. He pulled +back his brow in a reflective demeanor, brought his eyes to mine and +began: + +"You desire me to tell you about myself without literally telling you of +myself. I suppose you mean that we discourse on some variety of +subjects, so that you can see who I am discreetly," he said. + +"Exactly," I replied, "You say it better than I." + +"Perhaps it is for the best, as you will draw your own conclusions +rather than be given mine, and instead of my telling you what I would +like to think I am, you would see what I am in truth. Strange, isn't it, +that though we think we know ourselves, we very much do not, and it is +only the unbiased observer who sees us as we are. You know, I was once +thinking of writing my memoirs, and I would have, except that I was +afraid that if I read them afterward I would be forced to see myself as +I am and be horrified at the truth." + +"Damn the truth," I said. + +"You're starting to sound like a philosopher," he laughed. + +"And you a psychologist," I rejoined. + +"And where would that place us on the scale of artificial intelligence," +Bernibus jested. + +"Following the footsteps of Jeroboam," I returned. + +"Hmm? + +"Oh, nothing. Tell me," I asked more solemnly, "What position does +Wagner hold among the Canitaurs?" + +"He is the Khedive Kibitzer, our ruler in that he leads the council." + +"And you?" + +"I am his brother-in-law, a relationship that our culture places great +importance on, especially as he has no blood brothers. I become, in +effect, his partner, though he doesn't accept me emotionally as one, +only in etiquette." + +"Why is that?" I inquired. + +"Because, I am of weak heritage. His sister loved me, and I her, but to +him there is no such thing as love, only business, the destruction of +the Zards at any cost. No price is too high," he told me with almost a +vengeful scowl on his usually pleasant features, it soon passed, though, +and left no trace when it had. + +"You sound bitter, Bernibus." + +"My feelings betray me, yet I am not bitter, only disillusioned." + +"You sympathize with the Zards, then?" + +"Not at all, I do sympathize, however, with peaceful solutions," he +said. + +"Which is why Wagner disapproves of you, no doubt." + +"Yes, mainly, but don't misunderstand me. I am not a closet Futurist, +nor am I a strict pacifist, I just can't help feeling that there is +another way. But I understand the selection of ideologies, how the +stronger breaks the weaker to submission, and while one flourishes, the +other diminishes, and I understand focus points, but I cannot justify +their marriage." + +"What you mean by focus points?" I asked. + +"They are the culmination of conflict, where two sides meet and the +battle takes place, not meaning necessarily an important or strategic +military, civil, or commercial place, but one on which the fighting +occurs, the result ending in the defeat or victory of the whole +campaign. The focus point of the Zards and the Canitaurs exists both on +the philosophical and martial levels. On the philosophical level, it is +the question as to what is the proper solution for remedying our current +catastrophic situation. On one side the Pastites wish to correct the +root of the problem by stopping its realization in the past, the +Futurists, however, would venture into the future and brings its +stabilization and completion back. On the military level, our forces +collide in the forests around Lake Umquam Renatusum, the northern +mountains belonging to us and the southern plains to them. The lake +itself is of little importance, yet whoever conquers it will conquer +all." + +"Interesting," I said, "But I do not understand how you seem to imply +that I am your ancestor, while Onan seemed to mean the opposite, that +you are my ancestors." + +"It is strange and complex, and we understand very little of it, +ourselves. The time for the council has come though, for our talk has +dwindled away the afternoon. Perhaps some of your questions will there +be answered. But come, let us go." + +"Very well," I said, "Take me to your leaders." + +From that room, the one I had awoken in, it wasn't very far to the +council room. Exiting it, we turned down a short, closed hallway that +opened into the concealed area behind the podium that I spoke of +earlier. On the sofa where I had fallen asleep was seated Wagner and on +a circle of smaller chairs around the edges of the area were seated +about ten stately looking Canitaurs, clean and well dressed, according +to their customs. They greeted me amorously, with a mixture of +eagerness, excitement, and hope painted on their purloined countenances, +taken from the sleepless spirits of several departed generations of war- +hardened veterans. + +Standing as we entered, they greeted me cordially, and, once the formal +greeting of a short bow and a blessing was finished, we all sat down, +they in their previous seats, I next to Wagner, and Bernibus in a small +chair in the corner, away from the circle of the delegates. He, that is, +Wagner, then opened our dialog: + +"Welcome to the council, Jehu," he said. + +"I was under the impression that the council was much larger," I replied +candidly. + +"It is, but this is the leadership; we felt that the clamors of a full +legislature would be overwhelming to you at first. I know it still +overwhelms me sometimes," he laughed, and the others with him. That +explanation sufficed at the time, but I later found that Wagner had +taken control of the council himself, and that it had no real power: it +never met for more than ceremonial matters, the Khedive Kibitzer, +Wagner, controlling the rest. But I get ahead of myself. + +One of the others then interjected, "Our purpose now, Jehu, is not so +much to make decisions as to inform you of the decisions we have already +made, not that we mean to exclude you from our counsels, but we've been +preparing for this moment, your arrival, for many years, since it was +foretold long ago." + +"Decisions with what end?" I asked of them. + +"The reestablishing of an efficient and healthy climate, both naturally +and philosophically, one in which tradition, history, and experience +reign supreme," Wagner said in such a way that I couldn't help but think +that it had served as an idiom of his for many years. + +"A termination of the Zardovian conflict, then?" + +"Essentially, but not wholly, as there are other, more complicated ends +in view, less integrated with the format of a completely ideological +conflict." + +"Meaning?" + +"Meaning that we wish to return to our original forms," Wagner said. + +"Those being, I assume, the same as my own." + +"Yes, you see after the Great War, the atmosphere was so filled with +radioactive materials that all life was destroyed, except for that on +Daem, which was protected because of our distant and isolated location, +and the presence of a group of insects that neutralize radiation. They +were overwhelmed in the first few decades, for though they were able to +reduce the amount to make it habitable, we degenerated into what we are +now, Zards and Canitaurs, based on our habitats, we being mountainous, +forest dwelling folk, and they plains people. At first our ancestors +grew to immense proportions, as did the vegetation on Daem, but we +slowly returned to normal size as the radioactive material was consumed. +I am surprised that Onan did not tell you about it all," he said, +looking at me with a slight tinge of confusion creeping into his wayward +eyes, formerly filled only with hope and excitement. + +"I wish he would have," I responded, "But he said that it was against +the rules." + +"Ah, yes, I forgot about the rules there for a moment," he laughed, his +countenance returning to its former gleeful appearance. + +"A foolish law, no doubt, and from whom?" I said, availing of the +apparent intra-personal deja vu, that is, the converging of the presents +of our two minds into one idea, between Wagner and myself to cultivate a +bit of sympathy in my difficult situation. But there would be no +harvest, for Wagner checked his mirth and said: + +"It was necessary, and the Council of the Gods did well to govern +themselves more strictly." + +"How so?" + +"Well, during the Homeric period the gods really went at it, using +humanity as players in their battles, like a game of chess, actually. +Come to think of it, chess did originate in the realm of the gods after +the laws. Things were quite a mess back then, though, with a whole horde +of demi-gods walking the earth, and it ended up snuffing out the first +flames of democracy and leaving monarchies for the longest time." + +"Homer's stories were true, then?" I asked. + +"Very much so, but after the laws of physical abstinence were adopted +things mellowed out considerably, and men went back to their self- +obsession, their material minds weren't yet weaned from the physical +realm." + +"So the very men who claimed mental superiority because they were free +from superstitions and divine disillusionment were themselves victims of +their own sophism, and while they thought themselves crowned with +enlightenment, it was naught but the Phrygian caps of their prejudices +toward the material state?" I asked, with more than the average dose of +irony and feeling, both for my subjects and myself. + +"Exactly, upon disinterested examination one finds the theater of human +history to be one defined by a ludicrous melodramaticy, the soap opera +of the gods," he answered. "But we digress far from our point, Jehu, +which is a discussion concerning the implementation of our plans of +action formed in preparation of our current situation." + +"So I had surmised," I smiled at the reminder, "But tell me, what are +your plans, and what is the current situation?" + +"This is a time of fulfillment, with the events of many of our +prophecies coming to pass. Now is a time of action and of hope. You, our +kinsman redeemer, have come, and the time is ripe for victory and +domination, ripe, in short, for a return to natural existence, harmony +between forces interior and exterior. Our plan, my dear Jehu, is to +attack the Zards swiftly and fiercely and break their strongholds like +the walls of Jericho, literally." + +"It sounds daring, certainly," I said, "But is it not overly so? I was +under the impression that the Zards were much superior in force than the +Canitaurs." + +"In the southern regions, where you landed, yes, they are, but we rule +the northern sphere of action. Our forces actually form a soft +equilibrium that keeps fate's pendulum from straying from its neutral +position, so that a military action previously would not have been +predictable, with either side being capable of winning. Under such +conditions war is avoided, but now you have arrived. The Zards, as well +as ourselves, have been expecting a kinsman redeemer, you see, and our +war has been kept from raging by the belief of each side that their god +would propel them to victory with certainty by the sending of one such +as yourself. Your arrival changes things, it marks the beginning of our +dominance," he told me vaingloriously. + +"The muted felicity I have witnessed about my arrival is explained, +then," I ventured, "Excitement that the end is near and victory close at +hand, yet that feeling subdued by the realization that a period of +deeper darkness must first be gone through." + +"Your words are true," Wagner replied, "And yet I have a great +confidence in our plans, which have been matured through many years of +careful deliberation. As the time will never be more ready than at the +present, in the present we must act." + +"What is your plan, then?" I asked. + +"It is calculated to end in the conquering of the Zards, and as such, +only an unexpected and unrelenting attack at the very heart of their +strength will succeed. Anything less will only bring them to a full +alert, and then any battle will have to be drawn out with excessive +casualties on both sides. Therefore, we have decided upon an attack on +Nunami, their capital city and main strength, being the center and +majority of both their population and economy. Yet an outright siege of +the city is impossible for those very reasons, it being so self- +contained that it can resist bitterly, and its military is so clustered +that it can be brought into action almost instantly. + +"Considering those problems, it was deemed necessary to draw the Zards +away from the city and destroy it in their absence, so that they are +left destitute of the means of war and sustenance, and rendered weak. To +do this, we have spent the last several years stockpiling huge +quantities of liquid fervidus flamma, an extremely combustible +substance. It is stored in an underground reservoir in the foothills of +the mountains, connected via aqueduct to Lake Umquam Renatusum. When the +time is ripe, we will empty it into the lake and set it aflame, and our +calculations show the flames reaching a height of five miles for a +length of six hours, which should be enough to gain the Zard's +preponderance," Wagner explained. + +"But wouldn't it catch the forest on fire and burn down your whole +empire in the process?" I asked, alarmed at his apparent lack of +vigilance. + +"We have been treating the trees on a ten mile radius with an anti- +flammatory solution for several years as well, and it is quite +impossible to set them on fire." + +"Which explains why you dared to have a fire pit in the trunk of a tree +outpost." + +"Yes," he laughed, "We aren't so foolhardy as we may seem. Appearances +can be deceiving." + +"The exodus of the Zards from Nunami is almost guaranteed by the +mortal's natural curiosity and delight in the calamities of others," I +said, "But how do you plan on leveling the town before the remnant raise +the alarm and the mass of the people return?" + +"Atomic anionizers," he returned. + +"Which are what? They sound like they are beyond my level of +understanding." + +"Not at all," Wagner told me, "Do not be fooled by the technically +complex sounding name. An atom is the smallest form into which matter +can be broken down into while still retaining its identity, and an anion +is a positively charged ion, or in other words, an instance of an atom +in which there are more electrons than protons, resulting in a charge of +negative electricity. An atomic anionizer is just what its name would +imply: a device that morphs normal atoms into atoms with an extreme +negative charge by emitting massive amounts, to the tune of many +millions of moles, of solitary electrons into the air through a bombing +device." + +He went on, explaining the consequences of the weapon, "An atom, and +therefore all matter, which is made up of atoms, is engaged in a +constant revolution around the nucleus, in the same way in which our +solar system revolves around our sun, and our sun around the black hole +in the center of the galaxy. This revolving motion is the basis for the +formation of all matter that we know of, both in its smallest form, like +the atom, or its larger forms, like the galaxy. The electrons emitted +from the atomic anionizer are drawn into an orbit around the nuclei of +the atoms of all the matter near which they are detonated, much like the +way planets catch satellites and space debris into revolving rings +around them. This addition of electrons gives the atoms such a powerful +negative charge that the poles of the atom, which regulate its rotations +in much the same way that the earth's axis, or poles, regulate its +rotations, are thrown from their natural equilibrium, causing the poles +to reverse. This, in turn, changes the direction in which the atoms +rotate, and in the brief instant in which the force of the revolving +movement, or gravity, is not strong enough to retain the atom's shape, +it lapses, bringing the materials they make up crashing down in +disarray. + +"We will plant some of these 'atomic bombs' inside the city of Nunami, +and when they go off, the buildings themselves will implode and tumble +to the ground. One hand-sized capsule can easily level almost ten square +miles, and we have enough of them to bring the Zards to their knees, +with plenty to spare for any circumstance." + +"Wouldn't the bombs kill those who set them off, though?" I asked him +anxiously. + +"We have electron deflecting suits that negate the effects of the +anionizers." + +"I'm glad to hear it." + +"And well you should be," he grinned, which, as out of place as it would +seem, looked completely natural on his countenance, "For you and I shall +be among the bombers. Our meeting must end here, though, my dear Jehu, +for we each have things to attend to in preparation for the attack on +Nunami. I will see you soon, until then, farewell." + +"Farewell, Wagner," I replied, and we each stood and bowed as we +prepared to depart, each to our own occupations. + +With that our council ended, and, in the company of Bernibus, I was sent +to another area of the fortress to be measured for an anti-electron +suit, in order to protect me from the effects of reverse revolution. We +didn't converse in the beginning of our walk, for my mind was too busy +subconsciously thinking over what Wagner had said to have any conscious +meditations. + +We walked through the fortress towards the northern section, which held +the technological rooms, so as to get an anti-electron suit in the +making for myself. Realizing that the fortress has been little +described, I will do so now. It was broken into six different sub- +divisions, each branching from the only entrance, which was in the +center of them all, the different divisions connecting to it through +long, narrow defiles, or gorges, like the one at the entrance. This was +for security, each area being independently contained within the whole. +The six areas, or departments, as they were called, were as follows: the +Northern was the technological and industrial research and production +facilities; the Eastern was the residential department, containing also +the civil services, such as medical care and distribution centers; the +Southern was the agricultural and other food production areas, though +there was little besides agricultural, for the Canitaurs were strict +vegetarians; the Western was for mining minerals and other raw materials +to be used by the other departments. The other two departments were +below the others, being differentiated between by the names Left and +Right, the Left being the governmental offices, and the Right the +military headquarters, providing protections both civil and foreign +(this was, incidentally, the beginning of the expression of the terms +Left and Right to denote ideological preferences, but I digress). +Uniform in all the fortress was the architecture, it being a strange mix +between elegant and gentle arches and curves and brute practicality, for +while the ceilings were high and open, and the walls wide, they were +rendered homely by their plain surfaces and the absence of small +triflings, conditions that were necessitated because of its identity: an +impregnable fortress containing a highly organized and self-sufficient +governmental society, each citizen having a particular duty for the +common good, and each kept from an unfarcical personal identity by the +means of a statist society. + +From the lower, governmental offices we went up a flight of stairs that +wrapped round and round a tower-like tunnel, and soon reached the +departmental portal. Once there, we took the northern tunnel, which +opened into a large hall that stretched on almost endlessly, with hordes +of tunnels branching off to the various agencies. There were a great +many Canitaurs working busily, preparing for the attack on Nunami and +its possible results, which, though long prepared for, had a few last +moment components to be finished. Walking down the central through way, +we went to the far end of the hall, which, as it was a walk of at least +two miles, afforded plenty of time for observation and reflecting, two +things that I am naturally given to. Accordingly, I turned to my +companion, Bernibus, and offered in an almost philosophical way: + +"Your society seems to be flourishing, though I am not surprised, as you +all seem vigorously industrious. I am amazed, however, that no one +shirks from their job, no matter how menial or trifling." + +"We all have our assigned jobs, and all know that one slovenly job may +cost us dearly," he said. + +"I suppose I am prejudiced by my conceptions of personal liberty, but it +is contrary to my conscience that the state should have more duty than +to enforce the individual liberties by common force." + +"But we are at war, and we must do as we do, or be trampled underfoot." + +"If all states went no further than justice permits, namely the +protection by common force the rights of individuality, liberty, and +property, than there would be no room for conflict between states, and +hence, no war." + +"Yet it is our ideologies that bring war, besides, do not the ends +justify the means?" he asked. + +"Your ideologies may cause conflict, yet it seems that your behemoth +states facilitate it into war. About the ends and the means, I don't +know: I am no philosopher," I answered. + +I sighed and was silent for a moment as we walked along, then, after a +moment or so, I said quietly to myself, "I'm not much of a kinsman +redeemer, either." + +We continued on through the hall without further conversation, and I +paid little attention to my surroundings, so that while my eyes saw and +my mind displayed, my subconscious was not present in the effort, and +thereby no memory was retained. This may seem to be the plot of an +unimaginative writer to escape the use of that faculty, but as these are +nothing but my written memories, and I make no claims of producing good +fiction, I will leave that hall primarily to the minds of the reader. + +Soon after, we arrived at our destination, which was very nearly at the +end of the hall, and entered to find that we were expected and a space +open for my fitting, which was soon accomplished, and my suit promised +to be at my quarters the next morning. That would be just in time for +the departure of the raiding party, which was set to cut out and embark +for Nunami a little after that, in order to be in place in the hidden +treetop posts surrounding the city before nighttime, as the operation +was to begin at midnight. At first I thought that the attack was pushed +forward in haste, but as I came to realize that my coming had been +prophesied and a great amount of time had been spent preparing for this +day, it seemed only natural that they should want to bring the +hostilities to a close after such a long time. There were other +considerations as well. The weather, for one, had to be dry and not at +all windy for the fire to be safely attempted, and also the possibility +of the Zards making the first offensive could not be ignored, for they +had knowledge of my arrival and may have felt forced to act to prevent +the very type of thing that we were about to attempt. + + + + + + +Chapter 7: Down to Nunami + + + +When I awoke the next morning I found Bernibus and Wagner conversing +quietly in the corner of my bed chambers, and as I first opened my eyes +I saw Wagner looking at me with a blank, glazed expression, while +Bernibus' was one of apprehension, apparently on my behalf. It seemed +odd to me, but as Wagner became livid again quickly after his split- +second lapse and gave me a hearty "Good morning", I thought nothing more +of it. After his greeting, he continued: + +"The day is ripe for victory, my friend, and the time is come for +battle. We both have some preparations to complete, and so must +separate, but we will meet again at noon in the entrance hall. Farewell +until then," and with that he quit the room. + +I looked at Bernibus, yet before either of us could speak, we heard a +low, hollow grumbling, like the shaking of some building or foundation. +He looked in my direction for a moment with an alarmed countenance, +before I said defensively, "Tis but my stomach." + +"Then we must get you some victuals," he laughed, "And I have just the +thing to satisfy you and keep you so for a day or more: some mirus. It +is our traditional energy food, for though its taste is bitter, its +after-life is pleasant." + +"And what is food except a servant to the body?" I said, "Let us eat." + +"Very well," he replied. + +And eat we did, for it was brought by a food service Canitaur on a tray, +and I was surprised to see that it was a mixture of broccoli, spinach, +and mushrooms, with a flavorless, glowing sauce. He was right, +incidentally, for it was both bitter before and pleasant after its +consumption. + +"I know of the solids, but what is this sauce?" I asked of him. + +"Carbon" he replied. + +I looked at him and questioned, "Pure carbon? I have never heard of its +having this use before." + +"Your civilization was long ago and had not developed it yet." + +"That has perplexed me, now that you mention it," I said, "Onan seemed +to mean that I was going back in time to help my ancestors, but you say +that I went forward, that I am one of the ancients." + +He was wary for a moment, though if it was because of the apparent +conflict, or because I was on a first name basis with his god I couldn't +tell. He soon recovered his countenance and said, "It is a complicated +question, and I believe you should ask Wagner the next time you see him, +after the raid though, of course. The time of departure is nigh now, +however, so you should put on your anti-electron suit," he said as he +picked it up from the corner and brought it to me. + +It was a subtle dark brown and looked more like a normal suit of clothes +than an electron reflecting suit, but then again, I thought, why would +it be a strange looking apparatus? Why would an advanced technological +age necessarily be devoid of any sense of fashion, although that would +be assuming that any civilization had ever had one. Fashion is more a +characterization of a culture than a basic and unchanging principle, for +a desert people would wear clothes that would be most uncomfortable to a +people who lived in the snow. Clothes may not make the man, but the man +certainly makes the clothes, and you can judge a person by what they +wear so far as it is in their power to decide what that is. + +After putting on the suit I found that it fit perfectly, and above that, +I found it to be very comfortable, including the head piece, which +formed closely around the skull and was not at all noticeable or +obscuring. In fact, as it was made of a plasma that allowed everything +through except lone particles, it was so uninhibiting that a moment +after I had put mine on I had completely forgotten about it. The only +other part of the suit that stood out at all was the long, metallic +buckle that secured the belt, it having a bowie knife hidden within it +in an unnoticeable and inconspicuous manner. Bernibus had put on his as +I had put on mine, and as I looked away from the mirror that was +opposite the door, I saw him dressed the same as myself, yet because the +suit so blended with his fur, it was hard to tell which ended where. + +Finding that we were both ready, we repaired to the entrance hall. Along +the way I asked Bernibus of his wife, Wagner's sister, of whom I had +heard little and seen nothing. He was quiet for a pause, and then said: + +"She was an angel, what else can be said?" + +"Was?" I asked hesitantly. + +"Yes, she was killed by the Zards on a border raid, as we were at that +time living apart from the Canitaur mass with a few friends. She was +less aggressive than her brother, and, much to his disapprobation, we +lived with a group of separatists, believing that war, physical +conflict, is never the right answer to ideological conflict. Wagner +excommunicated us in his anger, though his sister was very dear to him, +and after she died he was struck with remorse and made me his deputy +Kibitzer. He felt that it would somehow do her honor, as it would +recognize us as having been married and make me his brother-in-law, +which is an important relationship traditionally, as he has no other +siblings. So here I am, technically second-in-command, but because of my +soft lining, I have no real command." + +"You would not attack Nunami, then?" I asked. + +He chose his words carefully, saying, "More pain will not negate the +pain already in existence, yet war is not always avoidable, and +sometimes it is even necessary." + +When we reached the entrance hall, where the raiding party was to meet, +we found that there was already assembled a majority of the force, +including Wagner. The party was only twenty strong, as the atomic +anionizers were to do the main work and the planned raid required +stealth and secrecy, not force or might. Within a quarter of an hour all +the stragglers had arrived and all the anionizers were accounted for, so +Wagner gave a short debriefing to ensure that all the members were on +the same page. We were to sneak into the city when the populous was +distracted by the fire on Lake Umquam Renatusum, which was to be started +at midnight. We would plant the atomic anionizers at the right spacing +so as to bring down the whole city once we were escaped, using the +remote control provided for that very purpose. The suits would protect +us from the blasts, and, as a precaution, the remote had an automatic +five second delay between being pressed and exploding the bombs, though +it was more for form than practicality. After he finished we set off, +being arranged two abreast per row, there being ten rows. Bernibus and +myself were partners, for we had become close friends in the few days +that I had spent among the Canitaurs, while Wagner was once again the +leading guide and Taurus the rearguard. + +After crossing the chasm that separated the hall and the entrance +tunnel, we came to the long defile that formed the latter and passed +through it swiftly, the lofty archer guards remaining as stern and +immovable as when I had first come through. We then came to the winding +stairs that occupied the hollowed innards of a massive and ancient tree, +of which kind many were to be found in Daem, being at least fifty feet +thick and 700 feet high, such gigantic trees that were never seen +elsewhere, yet constituted the whole forests of the northern lands. I +found that the stairs were as long as I had remembered, taking us a +great while to ascend to the top of the tree, and when we had made it, +we, especially myself, were dazzled by the effulgent light of midday. +After having been out of the sun's reach for the last few days I was +completely unprepared, though the shock helped me by curing me of the +disillusionment that comes from not seeing sun, moon, or stars for any +length of time. Taking a rest for a few moments on the seats on the +platform, we collected our strength. After our brief repose was +completed, we set off again with renewed vigor across the treeway on +which I had first come to the Canitaur's fortress. You will remember +that the road was made by the securing of five or six foot platforms to +the intertwined branches of those great trees, over which one could +travel with ease and be safe from exposure to those below by the thick +foliage that grew on the trees and was carefully manicured for that very +purpose. + +Soon we reached the first platform I had seen, which we had come upon +from below, but we did not descend there, instead keeping on by the +treeway in the direction from which we had come that night, that being +southward, towards the lake, the savanna, and the Zardovian capital, +Nunami. The air was warm, with a slight breeze as we went along, and +that, mixed with the plentiful flora about us and the songs of the +treetop dwellers, rendered the whole feeling of the walk peaceful and +happy, though its end was not to be such. I soon forgot the worldly +concerns that plagued me as I was soaking in the simplicity of nature, +not a simplicity of form, for all things are incomprehensively complex, +but simplicity of meaning. + +After a time I began noticing changes in our surroundings that indicated +we were drawing nearer to our goal, namely, the trees lessening in +proportions, the terrain becoming flatter, and the air growing moister +and more vibrant. Still, the trees continued to spring up from the +ground like great earthen tentacles, for while their size diminished, it +was not by enough to change their demeanor, the trees anywhere on Daem +being great in size. + +The sun journeyed with us, and by the time we reached Lake Umquam +Renatusum, twilight's last agony was being performed in the heavenly +theater, and the rippling waters mirrored it, adding only a strange, +flowing texture. The lake's current caught my eye with its subtle +oddity, for it was amiss and it appeared upon close inspection that +there was an undertow, as if there was an underground river flowing into +the lake and bringing about its swirling currents. + +Bernibus saw me looking down at the waters from the lofty road with a +puzzled look, and asked me if I was wondering about the water's current. +I replied that I was, and he told me that it was the fervidus flamma +being pumped into the lake through the underground aqueducts, which, of +course, was for the purpose of igniting it to decoy for our raid. Once +it was explained it made sense, yet I looked at it anyway, for it was +still a gorgeous and inspiring view. + +We were moving quickly, however, and it soon was out of sight, and I +again turned towards our destination with apprehensions of failure. They +seemed to place great faith in my presence, as the emissary of Onan, and +while I was, I was also Jehu, and I wasn't confident with my own +abilities. But it was upon those the situation mostly rested, it being +the resolve of the gods after the Homeric period to take a more removed +role in the lives of men. I wonder how many from my own times were +divine agents, for better or worse. Either way, my main concern then was +making the correct decisions, for I rightly believed that my involvement +would decide the matter, although not in the manner I had anticipated. +As I looked about myself to reconnoiter the feelings of my comrades I +was fruitless, for they all wore impermeable countenances, though that +was itself an indicator of their resolve. + +Within an hour after the fall of darkness we reached the outskirts of +Nunami, or rather, its edge, for it was walled in with massive stone +walls and battlements, with a sturdy gate of twenty foot width being +placed at the northern, southern, eastern, and western ends. The trees +hung right over the walls, and as such we were able to take positions +from which we could descend into the city when the time to do so came. +Yet we were still rendered invisible by the thick foliage. + +Night's zenith blew in slowly on the wind like the belabored breaths of +a dying man, and after a period of worry, it came: midnight, the +appointed hour. No sooner had the moon reached its utmost height, +shrouding the lands in a shadowless vortex, than a great blaze erupted +from the northern lands, and it rose almost instantly to its estimated +height of five miles. It was a terrible sight to behold, for any flame +is a captivating display of inorganic life, but a pillar of flame +several miles high is more than just an enlarged specimen, for it plays +host to a great horde of phantasmal apparitions that wrestle ferociously +with one another. As the flame shot upwards it cast a great light down +on everything that rivaled the illumination of midday. At first I feared +lest the light should show our silhouettes to the Zards, as we were +between them and it, but it did not, or at least they took no notice of +it if it did, for we were quite undetected in our hiding place. + +Our worries were far from over though, for now came the crucial point in +our plans: in order for our small force to infiltrate the city and place +the atomic anionizers, the Zards must not only have been distracted and +preoccupied with the blaze, but they had also to leave the city almost +empty and go to the lake itself, for if a cry was raised, or any +substantial resistance attempted, the complex procedures to detonate the +anionizers properly, so as to level the city but not the surrounding +country, may have been hindered. There were several factors on our side +though, the element of surprise being the foremost, for in their +excitement the Zardovian resistance would likely mistake us for a +regular sized army and flee in fear at our supposed superiority, +especially since the presence of me, the kinsman redeemer, was known to +the Zards. Also, the Zards were known to be curious and careless and +ruled by the desire for excitement, meaning that if an entertaining +undertaking was possible, they would pursue it, no matter how dangerous +or ill-advised. + +Within a moment after the flame was lit, all of the Zards outside, which +were many, were gazing with silent wonder at it, and in the second +moment, all the rest had joined them in their confused contemplation. +But the third moment witnessed a drastic change in their behavior, for +their initial bewilderment wore off and suddenly, with a united prelude +of the drawing in of a breath, they all began speaking at once, +resulting in a clamorous din that lasted for a few moments, before +things hushed again and we could hear a few individual voices discussing +loudly. Though we couldn't make out their exact words, they were +apparently conferring with one another about what action to take. Our +breathing became slow and heavy and our brows were knit tensely, for we +knew that the fate of our mission rested on what they did then, whether +or not the long planned decoy would work. + +It was an anxious moment, and one with a heavy burden attached to it. +Fortunately, though, as our fate was decided, it was done so in our +favor, for the Zards began exiting the city in a great multitude of +scales that swept along the savanna like a tidal wave over a sandy +coast. They came out fast and strong, and through each of the four +gates, though only the northern was fully visible to us, the others +being too far to be seen distinctly. Still, we could see them rushing +out of Nunami at a quick pace, not hurried, as if frightened or finicky, +nor slow as in deliberation and meditation, instead it was a steady trot +that they took, allowing them to move safely and swiftly. + +The tide of Zards swept steadily past us, and it was a good half an hour +later that the final ones had left the gates and the city far behind. +Most had taken some type of weapon, a pitchfork or club or occasionally +a sword, for the threat of war was a constant, but none of them had any +idea that their only danger was behind them. It was not all in the clear +though, for a patrol of guards equipped with long spears and clothed +with a tough, leathery armor were making their way to and fro along the +tops of the walls, where there was a platform of about five feet across +that served as a road to the soldiers in their watches. It was evident +by their countenances, though, that the guards now on duty were more +interested in the fire than in their immediate vicinity, thinking, no +doubt, that the laurels were to be won there and not at Nunami, and as +such, they paid little heed to the walls, instead walking with their +necks craned precariously to the north. + +We were able to jump unto the wall silently from our concealed roost on +the treeway when the nearest patrol had passed by. From there we went +along the wall a short way until we came to a battlement, there taking +the downward leading steps that brought us to the ground. Once there we +were pleased and hopeful at what we saw: everything was abandoned, and +no Zards were in sight save those on the walls, whose gaze was cast +elsewhere. We set to work, then, according to our preset plan, which was +to break up into groups of two and cover the city with our atomic +anionizers, so as to spread the destruction as evenly as possible. +Wagner and myself were partners, and we took the central district, near +the government's center, the palace, and the Temple of Time, which rose +above the city like a great tree amidst a desert. It was, in fact, the +very structure that had so stood out to me during my journey through the +prairie upon my arrival, and once again its sobering sensation struck +me, and I found myself staring up at its top, a full 800 feet high, the +bottom being an ornate and elaborate temple. The middle, which supplied +most of its height, was a long, round tower, and at top there was a +spherical pinnacle which had what looked to be a room in it. + +Wagner soon called my attention back to our work, and we busied +ourselves with planting a bomb at the base of the palace, using a +smaller type anionizer, which, I noticed, was set just right so that +while all of Nunami would be leveled, the temple with its great tower +would be beyond the impact and left standing. Just as we had set it +correctly, we heard a high-pitched whistle, which was the preconcerted +signal among the raiders to use if any danger was nigh. We looked up +directly and saw its reason: a squadron of Zards had been garrisoned +inside the palace and had not left like the others, apparently because +its sole purpose was to protect their king, who did not leave the city, +being preoccupied with business and not seeing the flames. When he did +go to the window, he saw the fire, and rushed to see what was about, but +instead of finding out, he ran into us, who were right outside the +palace. + +Wagner dashed wildly through the streets in an impressive show of +dexterity, and did a wall-jump between two lofty buildings to gain the +wall. The others had done likewise, having been trained by a lifetime of +conflict to have nerves of lightning speed and earthly strength. Their +instincts had come in subconsciously when they had seen the cause of the +alarm and they escaped, without thinking of me in the critical moment. I +lacked such strength and speed of mind and was caught as soon as I had +seen the squadron, aided, probably, by the fact that upon seeing me the +king had become excited and rushed at me with great speed. When Wagner +had first turned around and saw me their prisoner, he looked crestfallen +and hopeless, for he had no way to rescue me. He held the remote control +for the atomic anionizers in his hand and was about to set them off and +make good the plan, but before he could, our eyes met for an instant, +and we connected beyond time and space, experiencing a strange intra- +personal deja vu. All was silent and still in that instant, and I saw +him struggling inwardly: would he detonate the anionizers and make good +his long awaited plan, or would he retreat and leave the city unharmed, +for though I was wearing the electron reflecting suit, the collapse of +all the high rise buildings would litter the ground with debris from +them, and all on the ground would be crushed. Would he spare me from +death, or his people? In that instant his face spoke more than many +others' do in their entire lifetime. It was cut through with a +contrasting countenance, and yet inside of his eyes there was something +foreign to them shining through, something that I had never seen on his +fretless features before: evil intent. I could not tell if it was +natural to them and simply well hidden, or if it was an alien +expression, but it was fearfully expressed, and his eyes seemed to say, +even at that great distance, that he took a third course, that he would +save me, but not for my sake, instead for his peoples'. And then it +passed, for he looked away, replaced the remote to his belt, and leapt +to the ground, where the other Canitaurs were awaiting him. I saw him no +more until the situation was much changed. + + + + + + +Chapter 8: The Temple of Time + + + +I turned slowly away from where Wagner had disappeared over the side of +the wall and faced my captors, the Zards. Chief among them was the King, +he being a foot or two taller than the others, with a graceful and +powerful pose that struck awe into the eyes of the beholder with its +innate command and dignity, both of which flowed from it as naturally as +water from a well. There were about twenty guards in the squadron that +protected the King, but it was not so much from the terror of them that +the Canitaurs fled, nor was it because of the guards that patrolled the +walls and were sure to join any fray attempted, it was instead an +apparent fear of the King, and rightly so, for his demeanor was fierce +and sophisticated, as if he were not just a warrior nor solely a +scholar, but a mixture of the two that gave him an aura that inspired +fear, some unseen presence that filled the air around him and sent his +neighbors into a reverencing awe reminiscent of a lover's sacred +euphoria, intangible yet undeniable. + +As I turned to him, he smiled and greeted me softly and pleasantly, in +such a way that seemed contrary to his nature. Instead of being terrible +and glorious like the crash of thunder or the din of waves, his voice +was melodious, subtly so, like a soft summer rain affecting the dreams +of a slumbering child as it falls gently on his face. There was a rhythm +that ran through it, like poetry, yet not like average poetry, where the +rhythm is forced and the lines deformed to its ungainly warble, but like +heavenly poetry, where the rhythm is beyond the conscious and into the +subconscious, where it inspires a feeling of quaint remembrance of +itself, as if it were there and not there at the same time. And while it +was soft and pleasant, it was not feminine, for it was a strong +baritone, reinforced by its own superiority and strengthened by its wit +and sobriety. + +"Greetings, o' chosen one," he said to me, "I see that you have arrived +safely." + +"Yes, quite soundly," I replied, a little taken aback on two fronts: +firstly that he was not angry or indignant that I had attempted to +destroy his kingdom and take his life in the process, and secondly that +he seemed to expect me, as if I were his midday tea partner. + +"I am glad, for I would wish you no harm, though your Canitaurian +friends obviously felt no such concern. But just as well, for they +always were unpredictable. I'm sorry that there is no one here at the +moment, or we should have a great welcoming parade for our newly arrived +kinsman redeemer, but they are off at the lake, inspecting the fire I +suppose. I must admit it caught me off guard for a moment or two, and at +first I was actually quite surprised. I soon remembered, though, that +our friends the Canitaurs would have gotten some notions in their heads +of a battle, at your arrival. It must be a grand sight in any case, and +not one to miss." + +I gave him a strange look, for I was a bit confused myself at the +attitude he donned towards me, very friendly, as was Wagner, as I +recalled, though it seemed as contrary to his nature as it did to the +King's. He saw the expression of my eyes, and seemed to read right +through my thoughts and see my apprehension of punishment, for he +beckoned to his guards to leave us alone. They moved quickly and +uniformly, a well-trained unit, and positioned themselves in a line +formation along the street. The King and I then strolled down their +midst, they walking along with us at a distance of a few yards, which +was all that the closely built buildings would permit. In a moment or +two we reached the Temple of Time, which was on the far side of a large +square plaza that opened up between it, the palace, and the government +center. Once we reached it, he led me inside and the guards took up post +around its outside. + +"You need not fear," he told me when we were alone, "You are among +friends here. You see, the Canitaurs were not the only ones waiting for +a kinsman redeemer, the Zards were as well. That day that you were seen +going into the Canitaur's outpost was a big disappointment for us, I had +almost begun to think that you were beyond our reach. I am sure you know +all about the conflict between us, and the circumstances of your time +that brought its beginning about?" + +"Yes, I do," I responded as we walked through the great entry hall of +the temple, lined with bookshelves and a rich red carpeting. He was +silent for another moment as we crossed into another room that led to a +chamber with a long table in its center and a great many statues and +works of art scattered throughout its whole. There was an altar at the +far end, built into a giant statue of a White Eagle that graced the +entire wall, it holding the altar in its giant claws. + +He saw me look at it and told me, "This is the Hall of Time, and that is +the altar to Temis, the God of Time. It is a very sacred place, to both +us and the Canitaurs, for it was built by Temis himself, before the race +of man inhabited the earth. By the time any men came to live on Daem, it +had been buried by the dirt and debris of thousands of years, but when +the Great War took place, the shock uncovered it and revealed it to men, +a sort of revelation that came only as it was needed the most. Daem's +war started over the control of it, and to a point still is. To a +certain extent is has helped us greatly, since the Canitaurs are afraid +to lay siege to us in the regular fashion, for fear that it will be laid +to ruin, and then our fate sealed in flesh and bone as well as earth and +stone. But come, there is something I want to show you," he told me. + +With that he started over to a door in the wall adjacent to the +entrance, which, as there were only two doors, was the only other exit. +It led to a long, winding stair that went up to the top of the tower +that I had seen from below. We walked up it in silence, more from awe of +its magnificent construction on my part than fatigue in climbing its +steep stairs, which wound on and on almost indefinitely. There were no +windows in the tower, and only a few paintings to liven up the sparsely +decorated walls, yet they needed no adornments, for they were +beautifully constructed from a strange stone that split and colored in a +marvelous twisting pattern. + +At last we came to the top. It was much like it had appeared to be from +below, for it was a large glass sphere that sat on the tower, like the +dome on top of a light pole. It was divided in two, and the stairs went +right through the bottom half and opened into a circular foyer that then +had a small flight of stairs running up to the main room. There were +little closets and such in the empty spaces on the bottom floor. The +upper room was a good thirty feet in diameter, and the walls and ceiling +were all made of glass, very sturdy and insulating, yet completely +transparent. On the floor was an odd carpet that was smooth and thin, +like a silk or fine linen, yet very strong. There was a rounded table on +the side of the entrance hole opposite the stairs, and a curved couch +that sat against the wall behind it, cut perfectly to its circular +outline. Two cushioned chairs sat at the table and a small end table +leaned up against the couch, on top of which there was a medium sized +spyglass, that is, a telescope. + +The sun was just coming up and shining its golden hues on the +surrounding lands, which were beginning to darken as the fires of Lake +Umquam Renatusum died down to a faint glow in the center of the forests +of the near-north. It was the first time that I had gotten a bird's eye +view of Daem, and I was amazed at its beauty. The plains stretched on +one side of Nunami like a broad field of gold in the morning light, its +dew drizzled grasses waving in a solemn and dignified manner to and fro +like the constant beating of the earth's heart, and when looked upon +abstractly it moved as if one great beast of benevolence, holding itself +in unison as it chorused back the silent tones of life. Its edges draped +down to the ocean like a curtain of woven sunlight on the eastern and +southern sides of the island of Daem, and on the western side of Nunami +the great forest came up right to its edge. There was a little of the +forest between the ocean and the city on that side, while to the north +there was a great stretch of trees, all the way until the ocean again +came into sight in the far, far north. On the ground the trees of Daem +seemed like mighty towers and battlements of nature, and on the treeway +one felt suspended in air hundreds of feet above the ground on a cloud +of green and growing foliage, but from afar and above they were revealed +in their true splendor, shooting up from the earth as if they were the +arms of the ground itself, grasping huge clusters of leaves and branches +far above in their tightened fists. Some way into the forest, the ground +sprang up into mountains that were as fierce and behemoth as the trees +that clothed them. They were terrible to the eye and mind, as evidences +of the power that exists outside of oneself. + +The city of Nunami was also revealed to me for the first time in depth. +As I have said, it was surrounded by a thick, tall wall made of stones +and precious jewels, with four gates, one at the furthest extreme in +each direction. It was a circular city, made mostly of the same +materials as the wall and temple, which were a plain, silvery stone; a +dark rock with inherent patterns; a mixture of cobblestone and a +colorful compositor rock; and a vast array of metals, everything from +brass to silver to platinum. Made in an ancient style, the buildings +were tall, the average being what was equivalent to at least a dozen or +two stories in the pre-desolation times, and they were close together, +built along roads paved with cobblestone and lined with trees whose +girth, though not as monstrous as those in the wild, was still great. +There were farm fields and vineyards and orchards and meadows for +grazing animals all within the city walls, and not just congregated +around the outside, for there were buildings all around the wall's +perimeter, but scattered among the other buildings in a natural and +pleasing way. In the southern part there was a lake that was of fair +size, and a fleet of fishing boats anchored at its shore showed that it +did its part to contribute to the city's well-being. Several of the +trees throughout the city were especially conspicuous in their grandeur, +for they rose hundreds of feet from the ground and had great waterfalls +flowing down from their tops, as if they were crying great torrents of +tears down from their aged faces, though if in sadness or joy, I +couldn't tell. + +To the east there was land visible from the height at which I found +myself, though in the distance it became hazy and I could not make out +its distinct features. It was evidentially corrupted, however, for it +had an uneasy look about it, as did the ocean, which was a faint, pale +shadow of the rich blue it was in my childhood days. The sky as well was +tainted, and it looked to be filled with the accumulated atrocities of +countless generations. The clouds were thick and bluish, and the +spherical mural of the sky itself had been greatly dried, cracked, and +crumbled since my time, for it bore the marks of pain, the marks of the +labor pains of the earth's last gestating doom. And well they should, I +thought, for in the years since my natural life it had seen much +suffering and much destruction. + +The King broke the silence, saying, "Lovely, isn't it, Jehu? And it is +all yours for the taking." + +"What do you mean," I asked him. + +"Exactly what I said, the whole world is yours, if you want it." + +"But how?" + +"All you have to do is join us, the Futurists, and we will reward you +with all the power and glory that you can imagine." + +At that I sobered up and replied, "But what of Onan, of my quest to stop +the doom of humanity from materializing in this final juncture. He is +the one who sent me, and he is the Lord of the Past, whom the Canitaurs +follow. I am his agent, why would I turn from him to serve mere +mortals?" + +He laughed a slight, sarcastic laugh, "Tell me, Jehu, to whom did he +send you, your ancestors or your offspring?" + +"To my ancestors," I said slowly, "Though the Canitaurs seemed to imply +that my time was long ago. To be candid, I do not understand." + +"Of course you do not understand, and how could you, when no one has +told you? You see, Jehu, the question of time is not so linear as you +would think. You know full well that the conflict between the Zards and +Canitaurs is over how to address the renewing of the earth: they would +send you, our kinsman redeemer, back into time to prevent the nuclear +wars, while we would send you to the future to bring back its +completion. They hold to traditions as if they were the foundation of +life, while our people have no traditions in the traditional sense, if I +may use that oxymoronic phrase, but we look to what will come instead of +what has passed. History is unimportant to the present, Jehu, because we +have advanced to the point that we do not make the same mistakes as our +ancestors. In the past, they waged war needlessly and did so in the name +of humanitarian deeds. But today, we are advanced enough that we use +peaceful and just means to reach our ends. In your day there were many +absurd beliefs, for example the so-called 'fats' that were so vehemently +avoided, are actually quite healthy, while on the other hand, +protectionism and socialism are quite absurd ideas, and yet they were +held dear. But today we have no such presuppositions, today we +understand the world and know justice where your society knew only its +shadows. We do not need to be bound by the mistakes of yesterday, for we +have the enlightenment of today, and while the Canitaurs cling to the +old time's ways, we have progressed to the point where we have no need +of such traditions." + +He continued, "It may seem to you foolish to follow Zimri instead of +Onan, because Onan's realm has already been established and grows +greater everyday, while Zimri's doesn't exist and never will, but you +miss a very important point in the understanding of these matters. For, +as you probably know, time and matter are the foundations of physical +existence, and while the two components are independent, they are also +parallel. Matter is always revolving, from its simplest form in the atom +to its greatest in the universe, everything is revolving and rotating. +So is time. Imagine time as a galaxy, revolving continually around the +black hole at its center, that is, an enigma that is actually devoid of +all matter. Time is revolving around a great enigma as well, which is +devoid of time, that enigma being eternity. Eternity is not a place +where there is infinite time, but rather a place where there is simply +no time, it is the counter-part in the temporal realm of a black hole in +the material realm. And just as a galaxy in the material realm revolves +around the black hole at its center, in the temporal realm, the flow of +time itself revolves around eternity. That means that time repeats +itself over and over again, just as on earth a year is the amount of +time it takes the earth to revolve around the sun once, in the temporal +realm, an age is the amount of time that it takes the time continuum to +revolve once around eternity. Just as every year the climate on the +earth is similar, every particular day having its usual temperature and +weather, and every general period having the same seasons, so is time. +While every age is completely new and original, they all follow the same +pattern, and through every age the same general events happen, though a +few of the small details change from one time to the next. + +"So you see, it is true that Onan sent you to both the past and the +future of your original time. The Pastites would say that you were sent +forward in time, because you existed in our past, while the Futurists +would say that you were sent backwards in time because you existed in +our future. While this would seem an unimportant question, it is not, +for we have to choose one or the other. You, the kinsman redeemer have +to choose one or the other. That is why you were sent, you have to +decide. Our fate must be decided by a mortal because the gods have vowed +to never interfere directly in our ways again. You must decide, Jehu, +for you hold the fate of humanity in your hands: in all the other ages +before us, the wrong decision was made, and every time some great +calamity came that somehow threw the earth into a great ice age that +destroyed all life for many millenniums. We know that the wrong decision +was made, but we cannot tell what it was that was done. Tell me Jehu, +will you join the Futurists? Surely you can see that the Pastites are +just that, stuck in the past, with their obsession with traditions and +legends. They are of the past, but we are of the future, we are the +progressive ones. Dear Jehu, choose the future, and when the earth is +spared from the great impending doom, we will set you up as ruler of the +world to show our gratitude. Will you join us, friend?" he asked me with +the most entreating eyes, though of somewhat doubtful sincerity. + +There was a deathly silence that followed, for I was thinking long and +hard about what I should do, until at last I spoke, "Your majesty, I am +afraid that I will have to turn you down and remain with the Pastites. +Onan sent me, and it is Onan whom I shall follow." + +The King shook his head and sighed dejectedly, for a moment he looked +disheartened and crestfallen, but then he again resumed his former +prideful pose and said to me, less humbly and entreating than before, +"Very well, I was afraid that you would do that. I have no choice now +but to keep you here indefinitely as a prisoner, until such time as you +realize the error of your ways and repent. It may seem improper to +refuse the decision of the kinsman redeemer, but I must, for I will not +allow my people to be destroyed by your ignorance." + +With that he turned and walked quickly down the stairs to the door, +turning to me just as he reached it and adding with an almost spiteful +intonation, "But then again, what clarity of mind can be expected from +someone from the unenlightened past." He then left the room, closing the +door with a powerful thud, after which I heard a small metallic click +and his strong, commanding footsteps fading down the long stairway. As +soon as the sound had died away and he was no more to be heard, I ran +down to the door and tried to open it, but to no avail, for it was +locked. There was no way to escape: I was a prisoner of the Zards. + + + + + + +Chapter 9: Mutually Assured Deception + + + +The light of the newborn sun rose that instant far enough above the +horizon to shine directly into the tower's upper dome-like room, and I +was awe struck by the texture that the lights created on the glass of +the walls, for when it shone through at just the right height, a +previously invisible picture came to view. It was of a towering clipper +ship with sails that stretched across their masts like skin over the +bones of a pleasantly plump fellow, the wind billowing them about at a +leisurely rate. Waves broke gently upon the ship's side as the crew +rested peacefully on the various cables and nets, all except for the +one-legged captain who was busy looking at the map and accompanying +charts. It was a quaint and beautiful scene, though it soon passed away +as the sun moved upwards in the sky, and I wouldn't have mentioned it, +except that as it disappeared, I found myself looking at where it had +been, but instead of the ship, I saw directly through the glass the +inhabitants of Nunami arising and beginning their daily business, a +scene which I might have missed since I was previously wholly absorbed +by the picturesqueness of the sky. + +Usually the Zards would arise before dawn and be about their business, +but because of the great flames of the night before, they had no doubt +had trouble sleeping, and therefore slept later than usual when they +finally did fall into the lands beyond consciousness. They hustled and +bustled about the streets of Nunami, each doing their own business, and +there was much business to be done in a city in which all provisions are +provided internally, with no trade or commerce outside whatsoever. There +were merchants and stores still, yet they were not traders but +producers, each making their own wares as they sold ones they had +already made. Butchers sat in their shops with their blood-stained +aprons already donned, cobblers and tailors were busy with the day's +repairs and new creations, the milkmen paraded the streets slowly and +methodically, somehow getting their products to the citizens before 8 +AM. The farmers and herdsmen were also at work in the fields that were +spread throughout the city, plowing and sowing, and being joined by +those who had just finished distributing the milk. + +All was commonplace and normal, I thought, and I was surprised, for the +Zards were not at all martially minded, a great contrast to their +Canitaurian brethren. Of course, I had never actually met any of the +Canitaurian commoners. It seems to me that the only ones who really are +martially minded are the leaders and politicians, everyone else seems to +mind their own business, and sometimes I wonder if there would even be +any wars if there weren't any governments with the power to wage one. +There was a group of Zards by the government center, which was close to +my involuntary quarters, and they were leaning over an opening in the +aqueduct that ran down into the lake in the southern section of the +city, branching off from there into all the various sectors. They were +dumping a barrel of a fine, white powder into the water that was running +down into the lake, and after the first had been poured in, they added +another and another until they had put a good five barrels into the +water source. Once they had finished, they took the empty barrels to a +large cage that was down the road a bit, inside of a small grove of +trees and shrubs. Inside the cage was a multitude of little beetles that +crawled around every which way and were evidentially feasting on a large +chunk of glowing material. For a moment I was surprised, and wondered +what it was they were doing, but then it hit me: they were the delcator +beetles that Bernibus had told me of earlier, the ones that absorbed the +radioactive material and stabilized it. As I learned later, they had two +good uses, one was that they consumed the unstable materials and +neutralized them, but the other was that their droppings, when mixed +into the water supply, also gave all that consumed them a greater +tolerance for nuclear material. It was almost ironic that their whole +way of life was dependent on the feces of another life form, but I will +refrain from turning it into a metaphor. + +The female Zards wore a black headpiece that mostly covered their faces, +and at first I found it strange that for all his talk of progress, the +King's people still oppressed their women, perhaps there wasn't as much +progress as he had boasted, or, more likely, he was unaware that there +was no such thing as progress, just different manifestations of +oppression. History repeats itself, they say, and indeed it does, both +literally and figuratively. + +There suddenly arose a great commotion in the square between the Temple +and the palace, and as I looked, I was surprised to see that there was a +large crowd gathered. In the middle of the square there were two groups +of ten Zards facing each other, with a single Zard in between them, and +around the outside of the plaza area stood a hundred or so spectators, +apparently watching those in the middle. A moment after I started +watching, the solitary Zard, the referee as I found out, walked to the +edge, and each of the groups walked to one of the opposing sides and +then turned about to face the other. The referee let out a loud yell and +in a flash, the two teams ran at each other headlong, until converging +somewhere in the center of the field. As they met they dived upon one +another and pushed and shoved until the left team had isolated one of +the right's players, who was the only one on his team wearing an orange +jersey. They dived on him and jumped until the whole field was piled +high with them, and then they slowly began to disembark. Once all of the +opposing team's players were off of the orange shirted Zard, all was +silent and still as the referee held his hand aloft and began counting +with his fingers. Everyone held their breathe and stood tensely by as +they watched. Just before the referee's tenth and final finger was +counted, the orange shirted player rose from the ground, amidst the +screams of joy from his team and about half of the crowd, apparently +their fans. The two teams then returned to their respective sides, and +again the referee yelled loudly, signaling them to rush at each other +once more, and more of the same ensued, this time it being the other +team's orange shirted player to get pounced on. Once again there was a +high pile on top of him, and once again, as they crawled off and he was +exposed, the referee began to count. Except that this time the orange +shirted one never got up. The other team cheered again and so did the +other half of the crowd. The referee went to a pole on the sidelines and +put up the number '1' on it while a few bystanders picked the Zard up +and carried him off the field. They continued to play in this fashion +for awhile, going until one team or the other had no longer any players +to be jumped upon, but I was too disgusted at their violent nature to +watch, and instead walked over to the end table and picked up the +telescope, taking back as I did my thoughts about the innocence and +gentleness of the common folk. + +With the telescope in hand I went over to the eastern side of the room +and began to closely inspect the savanna in an attempt to get a bird's +eye view of the point of my entrance in Daem. It looked rather the same +from above as it did from below, though the smells and sounds were +missing, and I found that it was rather bland once the initial +excitement, surprise, and respect of its novelty had worn off. Indeed, +it was quite too dull for me, even in my state of boredom as a prisoner, +though I suppose that that isn't a proper description of my feelings, +for I wasn't free from excitement or intriguing events, but rather, I +was in the middle of a campaign of new and anticipated things, but +simply unable to participate. Stuck in a room 800 feet from the ground +with walls of glass that allowed observation of the whole island of +Daem, which I assumed to be the only civilization in the world, while +great events unfolded around me, of which I was supposed to be the +primary actor, was very disconcerting, though I find in retrospect that +fate worked so mysteriously in my situation that it is quite puzzling to +think about, meaning, of course, my relationship with the doom of +humanity as preventer and provoker, as savior and condemner. + +My writing of this manuscript may be considered quite a big cheat, as it +details my direct involvement with Onan, the Lord of the Past, and the +general circumstances of the end of life on earth, for the current age +at least, but still I am allowed to write it. Onan told me just a few +moments ago that I could write it and tell all that I want, to which I +was taken aback. When I asked why he would allow me to break the law of +the council of the gods, he replied that there was no rule against a +human agent from detailing his involvement in the actions of the +divines. It was allowed, he told me, because it would never make a mite +of a difference, for even if it were able to survive the bitter ice ages +and all the evolutionary periods in this TAB (Temporal Anomaly Box, +which I will explain later, since I get ahead of myself and have not +told of them yet), and even if it is found by humans, and even if they +are capable of understanding the text contained within it, even then +they will take no gain from it. I was again taken aback when he said +this, for though I know humans to be stubborn and foolish, in general, I +would think that they would at least mind the warning when the +conditions of its completion came to pass. But he dissuaded me, telling +me that my coevals of the next age would no doubt take it as a novel. + +At this I took your defense quite personally upon myself, and demanded +in as not so humble a tone as would be thought proper, though as I am +about to die within the next day or two, I have to admit that I don't +give much of a damn for politics or manners. And yet, with all my ardor +I was quickly subdued by a curt rebuke by my interlocutors (for Zimri +was there as well), which was, quite simply, that you hadn't taken Homer +for any more than a creative poet, even after a few thousand years of +study, so why should my meager manuscript make such a large impact. At +that, I acquiesced to them and admitted that on that end my attempt to +save humanity one way or another was contemptible, but I still write, as +you see, for the story's sake, and possibly for my own material +immortality. But never mind that, for it is high time that I went back +to my story. + +I was looking through the spyglass at the various areas of Daem where my +adventures had so far taken me. After I had examined them all for a few +moments, I felt a strange urge to use the telescope to look closely at +the mainland that I had seen before, to see what the effects of the +Great War had been there. As I turned the telescope's sights toward it, +I was at once surprised and flabbergasted at what caught my eye. There +were living beings on the mainland, not too far from the coast. And not +only that, but they were standing upright, though stooped, as if by +weariness and the wiles of life, and they seemed, in general, to +resemble humans, not directly, but as much as the Zards and Canitaurs +did, and with the effects of the radioactive instability greater on the +mainlands, it would seem natural that they would be further removed from +normality than those on Daem. The land itself was barren and flat, with +sparse vegetation in the forms of small, deformed shrubs and a short, +weak looking grass. As I looked closer I saw that there were about six +of the strange, stooped humanoids, and they were gathering the fruits of +some of the shrubs for consumption. In a few moments they finished their +task and began to walk further inland, and I followed their progress +with interest until they finally disappeared behind some of the small +plateaus that were scattered here and there among the wastelands. + +Putting the telescope down, I walked over to the couch and laid down on +it, with indignation filling my every move, for I was almost enraged +that the Zards and Canitaurs both should fail to tell me, whom they +claimed to respect as kinsman redeemer and whose decisions would seal +their fate for good or ill, that there were other survivors from the +Great Wars. I was also shocked by their selfishness, for while they +fought pettily amongst themselves over how they would change their lands +for the better, a seemingly important question about past and future, +they completely ignored the sufferings of other humanoids, to whom their +way of living no doubt seemed like a paradise. But there they were, +stuck across the sea on their desolate lands, unable to cross to Daem +and enjoy its plentiful resources and luxuries, yet not at all unaware +of them, for as they labored in their hopeless ways, they could see Daem +shining like a heavenly vision before them, one which they were not able +to touch or grasp, but instead one that must infuriate them to no end in +their heart, at the knowledge of fate's unfairness and their utter +hopelessness and complete poverty, not because of their laziness or +their ignorance or anything involving their actions whatsoever, but +simply because they had been born on the wrong side of the sea. + +At that moment I was embittered against both the Zards and the Canitaurs +for their selfishness and their pretensions of morality. There is no +morality where one sees another starving and suffering and does not +help, when one sees a whole race of people living on a land where +nothing but sorrows dwell, but will not let them share the wealth that +was given one by no doing of oneself. There is no morality in +selfishness, and when I saw those wretched people, I no longer felt like +redeeming those on Daem from the impending doom of humanity. Whatever +plans they had for me they never told, I sensed, for there was something +deeply wrong about the way they looked at me and talked about me, +something deeply wrong about the way they patronized me and treated me +like a silly child, while I was the one who was to decide their fate. +The Canitaurs and the Zards both looked at me with a subtle sense of +deceit and ill will, all that is, except Bernibus, which is why our +friendship flourished so swiftly. As I laid there with thoughts of Onan +and the decision that I was to make, and of all the responsibility that +was put upon me involuntarily, as I thought of the conflict of past and +future at the neglect of the present, as I thought about the self- +obsession and overindulgence that come with wealth, and the desire for +still more that accompanies it, I fell to sleep and into a place where +no troubles lay, for my long day and night had left in me no energy for +dreams. + + + + + + +Chapter 10: Devolution + + + +When I awoke the sun was once more out in its morning glory, at the +height it assumes at about the 9 o'clock hour, and the room was warm and +cozy because of it, as it shone in through the glass walls. My first +sensation upon waking was one of peace and bliss, the feeling +experienced when you wake up late to a nice warm resting place, +especially so when all the rest of the world is hard at work and you are +not. I breathed in the air deeply and contentedly while stretching my +arms, legs, and back in a most relieving fashion, and then turned +towards the table in the center of the room, from whence I smelled an +extremely appealing smell, that of a hearty breakfast. + +As I did so, however, my joy was sent to a bitter, premature death, for +there sitting at the table and smiling sardonically at me was the King, +arrayed in all his pomp and splendor with his powerful pose, which, +while it had impressed, and even to a point overwhelmed me, before, did +no such thing to me now, for I was fresh with indignation at the +exclusion of the humanoids across the sea from the paradise of Daem. + +He saluted me in a polite manner, and I him, though there was little +affection behind it. Then, without any more ceremony, I sat down and +began to eat, repulsing any attempt of his to start a conversation with +persistent vigor, until I had finished, when I stood and demanded where +exactly I was to make my toiletry. He laughed and said that he was +wondering how long I would last, but as I was still too unpleasant to +respond with any familiarity, he showed me to a little room that was +tucked off of the side of the bell that formed the entrance to the domed +chambers of the upper tower. The top of the tower itself was a half +complete sphere, while the room only occupied the upper half, so that +the bottom was divided between the entry way and the toiletry room. I +spent a few moments grooming and washing myself and preparing for the +day, and then rejoined him in the room. He was still sitting on his +chair and I took the other. The meal had been carried away. + +He began the conversation by saying, "My dear Jehu, I must apologize for +keeping you in this position, but you must understand that the outcome +of this war is very serious, and I will not risk it to your +sensationalism." + +"Sensationalism!" returned I, "Is that how you would describe a touch of +humanity?" + +"What do you mean?" he questioned, apparently interested in what I said. + + +"Well," I began, regaining myself, my former indignation being exhausted +by the spirit of my opening comments, and my normal sober reasoning +returning, "I have been observing your society, which you suppose to be +enlightened, but I have seen some things, which, I am afraid, are +evidences of the opposite." + +"Go on," + +"For one, your common folk engage in the most violent entertainment. I +saw a vicious game being played not far from here, in the plaza below. +There were two sides, and they rushed at each other in a rage and +clashed when they met until one side tackled the other. This went on for +some time, the evident point of the sport being to gain points by making +it so that one of the opposing players cannot get up at the end of a +round. It was so brutal that I was disgusted and could watch no more." + +"Yes, I see what you mean," the King replied, "I myself would much +rather that such games would be forsaken, but the people really enjoy +it. I must remind you, as well, that your society had the same type of +thing, as did every other before it. It was football for you, gladiators +for the Romans, and so forth." + +"But I thought that you had no traditions? That you were more +enlightened than those of the past? You can hardly excuse your +misconduct by reminding one of the misconduct of another, especially +when you claim to disclaim the errors of history, or at least, that +altered and redefined thing that you call history." + +"You are right, I have to admit," he conceded, "But let me remind you +that it is a static characteristic of humanity to confuse the ends with +the means. When an intense effort is applied, the melodramatic tendency +is to honor that effort, despite its uselessness, instead of honoring +the product of the effort rather than the effort itself. But, you are +right, I admit, for we have still a few places left to refine in the +common folk." + +Feeling vainglorious at my victory, I pursued him further, "I also +observed that your womenfolk wear face coverings in public, which is +most certainly a thing of the past." + +"I must disagree with you there Jehu," he said, evidentially regaining +his confidence and sense of moral footing, "For even in your own time +the womenfolk all wore masks and face coverings." + +I was taken aback and cried, "Most certainly they did not, your history +books may say so, but I, dear sir, was alive and would know best!" + +"What, then," he coolly replied, with a sharp grin that reeked of self- +confidence, "Would you call all the messes of make-up and perfume and +other such things which they were virtually forced to wear? I see +nothing different between wearing face coverings and transplanting an +entirely new face, hair, and body on oneself everyday. In fact, our +women got together and decided voluntarily to do so, for the very reason +that if an artificial covering must be put on, it might as well be one +that is easy, for why spend an hour or more a day to change one's +appearance, when it can be done in moments with a head covering? That is +a great time saver for us. And why spend the resources to research, +produce, and market massive amounts of facial paint to cover up the face +when it is possible to put a covering on and get the same effect much, +much easier? It is only logical. + +"And in general, Jehu," he pursued, warming to the subject matter, "I +find the oppression of women in your time to be quite appalling. You +seemed to think that the liberation of women consisted in transforming +them into loveless, materialistic thugs, into workaholics whose only +desire is wealth, into aggression driven beings that possessed little +shred of real humanity, into, in a word, men. I think it would have been +a much better endeavor to have attempted to change men into women." + +I was taken aback by his eloquent defense of the treatment of women in +his society, and felt, I must admit, a little impressed by his +arguments, seeing as how it did make more sense to wear a head covering +than to paint on a face every morning. Still, I desired to let him see +that traditions aren't all that bad, just as they aren't all that good, +and, as I had still won one point out of two so far, I felt it safe to +move on to my main argument against his humanistic preponderance. + +"You are right there, I admit, but tell me, your majesty," I said with a +slow, scoffing voice, meant to show that I had a powerful point to make, +and as if I had to go slow enough for him to comprehend the eloquence of +my speech, "Why, if you are so enlightened and progressive, so +humanitarian and merciful, why do you keep a whole race of people, of +human beings, stranded on the far shore, able to see the goodness of +Daem's plush lands, but unable to visit them? How can you justify the +keeping of people in such conditions when it is in your power to relieve +them?" + +He sobered up more than he already was and answered in his most +dignified voice, one calculated to stop opposition by its very graces, +"Their plight is unfortunate, but as they are not my subjects, it is +none of my concern." + +"So you knew of them, but did not care. How typical of powerful men. +What are they called?" + +"Munams," he answered, "Is what we call them, though people of your time +had a different name for them, Neanderthal, if I am correct." + +My intrigue superseded my conviction and I asked interestedly, "But, how +is that possible? The Neanderthals were the ancestors of men in my time, +and the men of my time were the ancestors of the men of this time, how +could they be living now?" + +"Very simply, for your scientists and philosophers did not understand +the revolution of time, and what they thought was evolution was in fact +devolution. You see, when they found all the fossils and other such +evidence for evolution, they interpreted it to mean that they had +evolved from lesser organisms. Since they didn't know that time repeats +itself over and over again, ages of time being like the years of the +earth, it was actually the remains of the age before them that they +thought were the remains of their ancestors. In truth, instead of a +great comet hitting the earth and destroying the dinosaurs and many +other living beings, it was the Great Wars, the nuclear wars, that +caused all the damage. And since their perception of the events was +backward, instead of the blasts destroying the dinosaurs and the wholly +mammoths, it was what actually created them, for, you see, after the +nuclear weapons had all been used, everything in the world died, or came +very close to it, all that is, except Daem, which thrived, because of +the delcator beetles. + +"There were no 'dinosaurs', only Zards, for when the radiation levels +were still high and unstable, we grew to enormous sizes, and likewise +there were no wholly mammoths, but Canitaurs. And the Neanderthals that +appeared shortly after were not the precursors to humans at all, but the +Munams, who survived on the mainland near Daem because of the corrected +atmosphere, but who were mutilated more than we by the increased +corruption across the sea. The Ice Ages, also, were not as you thought, +but instead mark the position in the last age after the doom of humanity +was played out and everything destroyed. The Big Bang, also, was not at +the beginning, but at the very end, being somehow related to the onset +of the Ice Ages. Your evolutionary theories were close, but the time +tables were rearranged to fit the facts, since time was thought to be +linear. + +"That is where our main trouble lies, Jehu, for through geological and +biological evidences, even more advanced than those collected during +your times, we can tell that something happens at this very period of +history that will wipe all life from the face of the earth for a long +period of time, many thousands of years, until somehow they start to +reproduce and grow once more into what they are now. Something very +powerful happens, even more devastating than the nuclear wars, when all +the nations of the world used their entire stock of weapons. Our problem +is how to prevent it, and a great problem it presents, indeed. You see, +while we would wish to be confident of success, since we know generally +what to expect, we know through research that there have been many, many +ages before us in which the same thing has happened. That is why the +geological layers have always been found to be strangely misaligned, +with fossils from an earlier period here and with a later period there. +That is why things like tree fossils are found in coal mines, where they +shouldn't be, and why in general, the evidence found in the ground +doesn't fit a consistent pattern." + +As he finished, I could say nothing, for his revelation was sobering to +me, bringing me suddenly back to the realization that our doom was +impending, that every decision I made had the potential to either bring +us to safety, or to supply the necessary force to hurl us viscously off +the cliff of mortality. He was silent as well and allowed me a few +moments of meditation to turn his speech in my mind. As is my tendency, +I looked abstractly out the window as I thought, fixing my subconscious +focus on the road that ran from the northern gate down through the city, +the road which formed half of the plaza beneath the temple. A moment or +two passed like a solemn parade of mourning, then, suddenly, or at least +quite unexpected by myself, a party of Canitaurs came walking down the +northern road, unharassed and unescorted through the heart of the city. +Since they came freely, I knew that they were not prisoners, but still I +was perplexed at how a party of them came to be allowed in Nunami at all +under such pretexts, especially as they had attempted to bring it to +ruin but a few days before. + +The King saw their coming and my interest in them, and said in a way of +explanation, "There is to be a council today between the Zards and +Canitaurs, with you present, of course. Our war has rampaged for quite +some time, but we are forced to peace in light of our impending doom, +brought by circumstances outside of ourselves. We will decide tonight, +or tomorrow, what action to take. It is a grim time, you can be sure, my +dear Jehu, when Zards and Canitaurs meet in peace, a grim time indeed." + +He said that very importantly, with an air of fright in his voice, as +one who knows his end is near, for both him and his loved ones. There +was another moment of silence as he reflected on the meaning of his +words, and then he rose and beckoned me to follow him. We made our way +through the bottom half of the room and down the long flight of stairs +that wound down the great tower in the Temple of Time. When we reached +the bottom, we went again into the long room with the bookshelves, the +table, and the altar to Temis. Already there waiting for us were the +Canitaur emissaries, Wagner and Bernibus. + +They rose to greet me, bowing low in a deferential manner, more out of +forced respect than awe, at least on Wagner's part, and after the +customary blessing that followed, we all sat down at the long wooden +table that stretched lengthwise through the room. Wagner and Bernibus +took their chairs on one side and the King and myself on the other, he +and Wagner being opposite each other, and Bernibus and me being the +same; the King and I were facing the altar and the White Eagle that held +it. + +There was a moment of silence as we took our seats, and it continued for +another moment as everyone sat in an awkward situation. As there was no +one else in the room besides the four of us, and as Wagner seemed +disinclined to begin, the King opened up our conference with the +following statement: + +"Well, dear sirs, what can I say, except that I am glad that you have +finally condescended to seek a mutual agreement on the actions which are +about to ensue, and that I hope that our conference will be productive +and informative. Before we begin, I will outline the rules of the debate +and of the conference, which were agreed upon before the military action +of the recent past," here he looked at Wagner with the look of a judge +who supposes himself morally superior to the criminal in his holding, +"And by which we will still govern the council, despite the sudden +change in circumstances. The rules are as follows: The decision shall be +made by the votes of the three parties involved, namely the Zards, the +Canitaurs, and Jehu, the kinsman redeemer. A majority of two votes is +required to decide which of the paths will be taken: the Futurist or the +Pastite. As is clearly obvious, my dear Jehu, I shall vote Futurist, and +Wagner shall vote Pastite, and it is up to you to cast the decisive +vote. You are the kinsman redeemer, and for all intents and purposes, +you will be the sole decider of the fate of humanity. It is a great +responsibility, but one that you were chosen for by the child of Temis, +the God of Time. Wagner and myself will each make our cases, though you +know them by now, and then you will have all night to decide and you +will tell us your decision in the morning," thus concluded the King's +opening address. + +Before anyone else could follow it up, I interjected, "But I was sent by +Onan to do his work on earth, wouldn't it only make sense for me to +choose the way of Onan?" + +The King answered me, saying, "You were sent by Temis, the God of Time, +Jehu, for Onan and Zimri are his children who do his work for him, but +they only have the powers that he gave them. Onan is the only one able +to speak to mortals, for he is in the past, while Zimri is in the +future, but Onan also speaks for Zimri, because he is told what to say +by Temis, whose agents they both are as much as you are Onan's. Isn't +that so, Wagner?" + +Wagner sighed in the affirmative, and when he had done so, I asked him +pointedly, "Why didn't you tell me? You led me to believe that Onan was +the one who sent me, and by his own power." + +Here the King put in, "He merely wanted to prejudice you to his own +side, Jehu. He attempted to by-pass our peace treaty of long ago when he +tried to attack us and capture this very temple for his own plans. We +agreed twenty-five years ago to do it this way, because enough blood had +been shed, and no good had come from it. He violated it when he took you +into hiding, using our pursuit after his treachery as justification. But +come, in the face of impending doom we cannot squabble over past wrongs, +but must move to prevent future disaster from striking." + +"What is so important about this Temple of Time, though?" I asked. + +Wagner and the King mumbled together that "It was an essential part of +the restoration of Daem", but would not elaborate, saying that it was +unimportant to the present troubles. They looked guilty as they said it, +though of what I did not know. I was reminded of my indignation at their +ignoring of the sufferings of the Munams and became once more impatient +with their self-importance, so I yielded the floor and they began to +make their cases. In order to decide who went first, they drew lots, and +as the shorter was drawn by Wagner, he went first. His speech is as +follows: + +"The past is constant, Jehu. It has happened and is secure in its place, +explored and known. The traditions and customs of our people are +steadfast and immovable, for they have survived the ages like a mountain +that is untouched by the weather. They have lasted so long not because +of the mere namesake of tradition, but because they work, because they +have worked thousands of times before, and because we know they will +work a thousand times in the future. What was good enough for the +generations before us is good enough for us and our children. A +tradition, or taboo, is not formed by the decision of some contemporary +council as a means to control others via social restrictions, for if it +was it would never have lasted, instead it is formed because of +experience, because when something goes beyond it the result is +temporary pleasure, the nectar of the fruits of rebellion, but when the +rebellious desires have faded, what is left is rotten and decayed. + +"It brings only more desires for rebellion and more thirst for the +forsaking of traditions, and it will not be satisfied. Then another +taboo will be broken, but this also will not quench the desires of the +rebellious, who do what they do not for any independent purpose, but +only from a desire to break traditions and taboos and to be different +than their forebears. But there is no satisfaction in rebellion, only in +obedience. Obedience not to some alien divinity, not to some social +supremest, not to the blind devotion of parental mandates, but obedience +to common sense, to practicality, to morality. For a taboo is not formed +by any one person, instead it is slowly built up upon the experiences of +many, experiences which show that when one thing is done, suffering is +what follows, and when another thing is done, happiness is what follows. +Of course there are a few, isolated taboos that are based instead on +human prejudices, but that doesn't translate into the abandonment of all +the experience of precedents. What comes when there are no longer any +taboos and traditions to break? Destruction. For as is seen time and +again, the rebellion of societies gains momentum, and while their +consequences are slow in gathering, in the end they multiply and force +those societies over the edge of power, bringing only suffering and +ruin. + +"And not only are the experiences of the past wielded together into that +euphoria that eludes the rebellious--wisdom--but its constant state +controls the present and the future. What men have seen in the past +leads them in their future actions, and as a result, it is not the +future that controls the present and defines the past, but it is the +past which controls the present and defines the future. What sense is +there in abandoning the mountain of wisdom that the past has built up +and leaping blindly into hazy, unknown actions and institutions? The +past is steady, Jehu, and it is known; it is the only sensible way." +Thus spoke Wagner. + +It was then the King's turn, and he said as follows: + +"The past is the past, not the present nor the future, its time has been +spent, its part in the theater of life is over, it is extinct. Jehu, +Wagner speaks of us as rebelliously breaking taboos that were formed by +our forefathers, but that is not true. In the present more is known than +was known in the past, they had outdated views and opinions, and their +ideologies were vulgar and unsophisticated. At present we are more +knowledgeable, more refined than what has gone before. The people of the +past waged unjust wars. They had superstition and prejudices that +clouded their visions of morality, and the product of that is a large +amount of taboos and precedents and traditions that are immoral or +meaningless. Now is the age of enlightenment, now and never before is +the future at hand, mixing with the present as we learn more and more +about our world. We are progressive, learning and growing in philosophy +and lifestyle. + +"If those of the past were so upright and wise, than why are they not +still among the living? If they were so powerful, then why are they now +extinct? The past is gone, but the future is yet to come, it still holds +tangible pleasures, not memories, it has promise and potential, while +the past is only the ruins of the same. When the past is looked back +upon, it is small and immaterial, it is like time crumpled up into a wad +of memories, and a time yesterday or a thousand years ago looks the +same, for it is past, it is no more. Life is not short, but in +retrospect it seems to be, and its memories are distant, as they float +like fish in the oceans of time, lacking both definition and scale, and +hanging lifelessly around in random arrays. Every moment is of the same +length, but a moment in the past is nothing, its thoughts and emotions +are nothing, they are gone and useless to the present, while a moment in +the future is long and touchable. A thought that is past is as nothing, +and it is forgotten, for the past and the future are like a one-way +mirror, you can look forward into the future, but looking into the past +you can see only the present reflected back at you. What good are the +joys or sorrows of yesterday? They are as far removed as those of a +thousand years ago, but it is the joys and sorrows of tomorrow that loom +the largest. Why look into the past for completion, when it is found +only in the future?" Thus spoke the King. + +Once both of them had finished there was a short pause, each reflective +and absorbed with his own thoughts. At last the King broke through the +still waters of the moment and sent his rippling voice across its +formless surface, which revived at once and was joined by many others, +until the outward expression of consciousness sent the waters of the +mind again into their complex and interwoven dances. He spoke in the +department of host and concluded the short session with these words, +"Now the cases are stated, though but briefly, for they were already +well-known. As planned prior to the infractions of the treaty, we will +adjourn for the night, and in the morning Jehu will deliver his verdict, +whether we undo our problem through the future, or through the past." + +We all rose and Bernibus, my only friend on the island, came up to me +and warmly embraced me, while Wagner and the King conversed formally a +few yards away. When they were not looking and our backs were turned to +them, Bernibus slipped me a piece of paper that was rolled up into a +tight scroll. Seeing his caution and secrecy, I quickly stashed it in +the inside of my shirt, where it could not be seen. I was alarmed at the +momentary expression of his face, which showed that he was greatly +worried about me, and made me very interested in what the paper would +contain. His face quickly returned to its original countenance, an +impermeable barrier to his insides, and no one except myself had any +inclination about what had happened. The other two turned towards us, +and quickly made their farewells, Wagner and Bernibus departing for +their quarters, and the King to escort me back to my prison. + +He took my arm in his genially, though only superficially so, for he +still had a subdued sense of distrust about him, and we went through the +door to the long, circling stairway from whence we had come. As we +ascended we engaged in small talk, the usual meaningless pleasantry, +which I assume you have probably had enough of in your experiences to +allow me to dispense with relating it, for it was of no weight in any of +the circumstances that I found myself in, and I especially was not +interested in it, as the paper given to me by Bernibus claimed my whole +attention, and filled me with an anticipation and mystery of what it +might contain. I kept up the small talk with the King merely to allay +any suspicions he might have had, though he had none. After a seeming +eternity we reached the top, and once there I stepped into my chambers, +as the King jestingly called them. We bade each other goodnight, which +was followed by the metallic click of the door locking, and the sound +his footsteps as he descended and made his way to his palace. + + + + + + +Chapter 11: The Land Across the Sea + + + +I waited reluctantly with my ear against the door until his footsteps +could no longer be heard, and then waited for fifteen minutes more, +listening carefully for any noises. There were none, and once I had +convinced myself that I was completely alone, I dashed swiftly up the +stairs and jumped onto the couch. My sudden movements caused the top- +heavy tower to sway slightly for a few moments, giving me quite the +scare, for I didn't realize what it was at first. But then my pilot's +instinct kicked in and I mentally calculated the height and width of the +tower and the mass of the dome that rested upon it, and came to the +conclusion that it was stable, for while a swift movement caused it to +sway, it would take a prolonged and deliberate pendulum-like motion to +cause any real damage, and even the fiercest wind would not upset it, +for it would only blow in a single direction at a time, and only a +rocking motion must be feared. + +Confident once more of my safety, I took the rolled piece of paper from +the folds of my clothing and opened it carefully. Inside was a note from +Bernibus, written in a legible cursive that flowed from an obviously +educated hand. It read as follows: + + +"My Dear Jehu, it is I, Bernibus, your friend and comrade, who writes to +you. Wagner and myself are soon to set off for Nunami for a council with +the Zards about the resolution of our conflict. It was decided in a +cease fire treaty twenty-some years ago that whomever first came upon +the kinsman redeemer was to have a council with the other side and the +ancient one to decide which course to take, since either course needs +the support of both the Zards and the Canitaurs to succeed. When you +first came among us, Wagner seemed to break the terms of the treaty and +keep you with us in an attempt carry out our plans independently of the +Zards, using an attack plan that had been held in readiness since the +treaty, to ensure a defense if things went wrong. When the Zards +attempted to capture us upon your arrival, Wagner declared the treaty +violated, and I assumed that it was to be entirely abandoned. I was +under this impression when I befriended you, and once our friendship had +strengthened, I had no fears for you, thinking as I did that new methods +were to be tried. + +"After the attack on Nunami failed and the council was once again to be +held, each having violated it equally, my fears were suddenly aroused on +your behalf. It was only then that I saw that it was the intention of +Wagner not only to destroy Nunami and the Zards, but to capture the +Temple of Time, which was the only part of the city to be left intact. +When I confronted my brother-in-law about this, he only laughed at me +scornfully and told me that I was soft, that I was a fool to put one +man's life ahead of the salvation of the whole earth. I was filled with +wrath at him and still am, but I have decided that it was better to +feign compliance and let you know by letter what it was that is being +planned for you. I am only sorry that it should come to you at so late +an hour, when I could have warned and helped you before if I had only +known. There is not much that you can do now, but still I must warn you, +for whatever it is worth, if only to prove my affections. + +"You see, my dear Jehu, the Pastites and Futurists interpret the +prophecy to mean that the kinsman redeemer has come to renew the earth, +as you have no doubt heard, although there is strong evidences to the +contrary. I myself have been brought up to this interpretation, as it is +more acceptable than the alternate theories that exist, though I have +been for a time now doubting its accuracy. According to the Externus +Miraculum view, the Temple of Time is crucial to the implementation of +either plan, in fact it is the crux of them both, the one issue that it +is of as great importance, or greater, than the presence of you, the +kinsman redeemer. There is an altar in the center room of the temple, a +great diamond White Eagle that is grasping an ordinary altar in its +talons, and this altar is where the kinsman redeemer is to be +sacrificed. If only I had suspected so before and could have warned when +there was yet time! + +"But there is no time now for such reflections, so I will continue. The +method of sending you back or forward in time is to sacrifice you on the +altar of Temis, the God of Time. It is not a traditional, atonement +sacrifice, nor of any kind that involves the cutting of the flesh with a +knife. Instead it is a molecular one. You are to be set on the altar and +then the White Eagle will start to spew forth either protons or +electrons, depending on which is chosen, past or future. When your +body's cells absorb all of the floating matter, they will be either +positively or negatively charged to such an extent that their +revolutions will be rapidly accelerated. According to theory, the +increased speed of the revolutions would cause a rift in the time +continuum, or in other words, would change the proportion between your +existence in the temporal and material realms and change your location +in time, thereby propelling you into the past or the future, depending +upon which was chosen, electron or proton, past or future. + +"There has been much experimentation with this process, each person sent +through time being equipped with a matter-proof box that is basically an +advanced time capsule, lasting for millions of years. Into this box (or +TAB, Temporal Anomaly Box) each person was supposed to write an account +of their temporal journey and leave it on the island that is presently +Daem, at specific locations decided on for that purpose. We would search +for those boxes in the present, to see if they had been delivered. None +have yet been found, though there are other possible reasons than death, +such as a failure to find the island, or the box's removal by someone in +an intervening time. Still, I am greatly afraid for your life Jehu, +especially so after what I discovered just hours ago in the classified +archives of the Canitaurs: there was strong evidence that the process +simply disintegrated those upon whom it was tried, instead of sending +them through time. This was kept from the public, and was forcefully +forgotten by those who knew, their reason being that Temis would guide +your travel better than the others who were not called as his servants. +If it were anyone but you, Jehu, I would probably have deceived myself +in the same way, but I cannot let you be destroyed like this. You must +escape and not let them throw away our only chance of salvation in such +a way. I only wish that I had known sooner, I only wish that there was a +chance that you could escape, + +"Your Devoted Friend, +"Bernibus" + + +For a moment I could do nothing except sit in silence and ponder over +this new revelation. After I had reread the letter twice, so as to be +thoroughly familiar with its contents, I ate it, so that if I did +escape, or was apprehended doing so, Bernibus would not be found out and +suffer because of it, though I doubt not that he would have gladly done +so. When I had done that, I ran down to the door and attempted to force +it open, but to no avail. Neither could it be picked. And even if it +had, it would have done me no good, for there were at least two guards +always stationed at the foot of the stairs, and many more between them +and the temple entrance, and even if, by some miraculous intervention, I +made it that far, that left me stranded conspicuously in the center of +Nunami. My only hope was to escape from the island completely, for I +would be found soon enough by the cooperating inhabitants if I remained +upon their own lands. + +The land across the sea then entered my mind, and its degenerate +inhabitants, but that was across a wide channel that would be hard to +cross even if I had infinite time, freedom, and materials to make a boat +which would withstand the waves, and I had none of the three. What +little hope I had, then, was out of reach, lost to me like the golden +days of the past. It was then that I was overcome by despondency, the +hopelessness of my situation weighing my spirits down. It is a peculiar +trait of mine that in times of distress and in situations that seem to +have no possible favorable outcome I act rashly and without reason. You +will remember how I leaned forward and peered into the dark hole when I +was stranded on the tiny island in the sea, and how I struck the tree +with a limb on the shores of Lake Umquam Renatusum. Likewise, I again +did something which would seem illogical and vain: in my frustration, I +pushed the table that I happened to be standing against with as much +force as I could muster. It slid softly along the carpeting before +coming to a halt a few inches from the glass wall. It made no noise or +jarring of the floor, but the sudden shifting of weight in the room +caused the tower to sway once more, as it had when I had run up the +stairs to the couch. + +And, as had happened on the previous occasions, the result of my +senseless actions was good, as if guided by some external force, for an +idea came suddenly to my mind that would not have been there otherwise, +an idea that was outlandish and far-fetched, but was at the time my only +hope. + +I lost no time on preparing my efforts, for there was none to be lost, +and set out immediately to remove the carpeting from the floor. Upon +examination I found that it was not attached to the ground at all, but +only fastened into a wooden frame at the walls that held it tightly in +place. It stretched in a circular fashion around the whole of the room +and into the center until it came to the stairs that led downward, so +that once removed it formed a circle about thirty feet in diameter with +a three foot circular hole in its center. In case I haven't mentioned +the type of the carpet yet, which I must confess that I cannot remember, +I will do so here: it was not a traditional carpet, that form being +apparently lost after the great wars, instead it was a silky sheet-like +carpet, no more than a quarter inch thick, and in fact greatly +resembling the sail of an old clipper ship, the painting on the glass +that I saw earlier probably attesting to the fact that it had been +designed with that appearance in mind. Like its prototype, the sail, it +caught a lot of wind and acted in the same general manner. + +Using the bowie knife that was built into the large frontal buckle of +the anti-electron suit, which, by the way, I was still entirely wearing, +I cut the carpet down its center, making two semi-circular pieces, each +with a moon shaped appearance, much like a wing. I based my idea in part +on the observation that the Canitaurs and Zards had apparently lost, or +disregarded, the springs of my time and instead used a hammock of +springy, elastic cords that spread across the face of the furniture. +Simply put, they stretched elastic ropes across an empty frame, almost +like a trampoline made of individual cords. This created a very +comfortable springing feel, for they gave enough bounce to render the +surface pliable, but not overly soft. Taking the bowie knife again, I +thrust it into the couch, and cut away the cushioning to reveal the +support. To my great relief, I found that it was constructed in a manner +similar to the other couches that I had seen. There were about two score +of the cords, each being between three and four feet long. These I +unattached and laid them down in a pile. + +Next, I took the four main support beams for the couch, one running +along each side and two down the center in a crescent shape, with the +same curve and slope as the carpet, as they were designed to contour the +same wall. Then I disassembled the table and took from it two of its +main beams, which were about a foot shorter than their curved +counterparts. These I did not fully remove, instead loosening their +screws and swiveling them to extend outwards from the table at a right +angle, tightening them again afterwards so that they were secure. + +Once that was accomplished, I went to the frame that had held the carpet +down and took the pins and fasteners which were used to secure it. These +I placed on the crescent beams from the couch, which used the same +standard size. Once I had secured the carpet sections to the beams, I +attached the couch's beams, via the cords, to the long beams sticking +outward from the table, running the ends of all the cords through +another cord that could, upon being pulled, adjust their height by +pulling or releasing, thus controlling the distance between the upper +and the lower beams, and changing the amount of slack in the carpet that +was stretched between them. I then removed the legs from the tabletop, +leaving just it and the beams together, the carpet being attached to the +beams. + +Thus my plan was completed, it being, in case you hadn't guessed, a +primitive hang glider, the carpet being a sail and the beams the wings, +the whole being steerable by either raising or lowering one side or the +other, and the altitude being adjustable by raising or lowering the two +simultaneously. I felt keen joy at my skills in air travel at that +moment, and as I stepped back to admire my work, I felt that peculiar +satisfaction of having made something and finding that it was good. + +But that moment was short lived, for another problem quickly presented +itself, namely, how would I remove the hang-glider from the tower and +launch it. It was far too large to go down the stairs and needed to be +propelled to a high speed or dropped from a high altitude to become +airborne. Since I had no way of propelling it, I needed to launch it +from the top of the tower, which provided plenty of altitude, but then +the problem of how to remove it from the tower arose. For a moment I was +stumped and almost admitted defeat, but then it came to me. + +The tower's only weakness was in its lack of protection against a +deliberate rocking motion. If I was able to swing it back and forth fast +enough by slowly gaining speed and multiplying the momentum, it would be +possible to get it to lean far enough that the dome would snap off, +leaving the room open to the air. This was possible, though rather +unlikely. But I tried anyway. + +Starting on one side I began to move from one edge to the other until a +faint rocking motion could be felt. Then I increased my speed in +proportion to the speed of the tower itself. It was a slow start, but +the momentum began to grow, and as it did each successive sway became +faster and faster. Soon it was going so fast that I began to have +unstable footing, the whole tower creaking like a tree that it is blown +by a heavy wind. The speed kept increasing until it reached its fastest, +swooshing to and fro with all of its accumulated force. + +It was then that the break happened, for on one of the thrusts the top +snapped off and the upper dome was flung downwards to the ground. As +soon as it was off I shoved the hang-glider with all the force I could +muster towards the edge. At first it fell, but a few feet from the edge +its wings caught the wind and it was brought up to a stable soar, and +just at that instant I landed on it, for I had jumped right after it. I +hit with a thud and felt the craft bounce downwards a little as I hit, +but it soon regained its stability and sped on through the air as behind +me I heard a great crashing sound. + +I pulled the left wing down and the glider began to turn in that +direction. Since I had launched into the opposite direction of the +mainland, I needed to wheel around completely, and as such I held the +wing down until I had done an about face towards the east. What I saw +was a striking picture: the sun had just begun to rise, and under the +influence of its soft textures the city of Nunami looked as it had +before: quaint, picturesque, and inviting. But there was a great +difference now, for the tower itself had completely collapsed under the +momentum, and its ruins had fallen down upon the Temple of Time, +demolishing it and leaving only ruins. It had also fallen on a strip of +the city, taking with it several buildings and leaving only rubble. The +King, Wagner, and Bernibus could just barely be seen amongst the crowds +that had dashed out of doors to see what was going on, and I could tell +that Bernibus was smiling at my escape as he looked at my wind sailor a +thousand feet in the air. A friend who rejoices in your advancement, +even at his own cost, is rare indeed. + +Turning my gaze upwards, I left Nunami and its troubles behind me and +looked ahead to my promised land, and though it was barren and devoid of +any significant foliage, it still held something equally dear to me as +landscape: safety. The wind currents were strong and my speed was about +30 miles per hour. Great expanses of grassland sped by below me like the +memories of yesteryear, and within half an hour I found myself over the +ocean. + +There is something very refreshing about the sunrise that correlated +very well with my present feeling of emancipation, for it is a symbol of +the new and fresh, and of the forgetting of the troubles of the past. +This was true in my case, at least, for I was soon carefree once more, +secure in my freedom. As the wind rushed across my body, I was relaxed +in my adopted element, air, though it was slightly difficult to keep +myself firmly on the glider, as I was lying unfastened to the tabletop. +Below me passed the ocean, looking generally the same as ever, though +paler and less alive, like a ghost of its former self, but still close +enough to bring the calm of reminiscing. + +Soon even the ocean began to give way to the fast approaching mainland, +and I abandoned my restive meditations to solve the problem of how to +land. I had not made any contraptions for that purpose, having not +thought about it in the hurry to leave my prison. I decided to use a +traditional circling approach, in the same way scavenging birds descend +on their prey. When I was a mile or so inland, I began to circle about +in wide spirals, narrowing them as I drew closer to the ground. In this +way I had slowed down enough by the time I made contact with the ground +that neither I nor my craft was injured in the landing. + +The terrain proved to be as desolate as it had appeared from the +distance, for the main vegetation was a weakly sprouting grass that was +only a few inches high, though not mowed or chewed down. Every few dozen +yards there was a single stunted shrub or small tree, or in some cases a +group of the same, and the spaces between these was littered with +scattered rocks and occasionally a smaller, flowering plant. The +topography of the land was mostly flat, though not in the sense of a +plain or savanna, instead it was merely a gentle slope, so that the +immediate area seemed flat, but in the distance it was seen to rise +considerably. There were also a few small hills that were no more than +twenty feet high across their whole length, but in the obtuse slopes of +the land, even that seemed to be almost mountainous. Brown was the +prevailing color of it all for as far as my eye could see, though I +cannot say if that condition prevailed inland further, since I had +forgotten the telescope, which would probably have proved a useful tool. + + +A slight wind blew from seaward, scattering the dry top soil about like +a cloud of gnats, though there were very few actual insects, and no +animals that I could see. The only sound that I could hear was that of +the wind howling gently past my ears. I had landed in a sort of valley, +which, though not at all deep, was surrounded on all sides by slight +hills that prevented me from getting an extensive look at the landscape +beyond. Before making any decisions as to which direction to set off, I +decided to climb to the top of one of these hills to ascertain my exact +situation, and although I was generally reluctant to start off into +unfamiliar territory, I also wanted to put as many miles between me and +the coast as possible, in case the Zards and Canitaurs came after me, +which was still a cause of great anxiety to me. + +As I rounded the top of the hill that was directly east of my landing +point, I suddenly came face to face with two small people, gnomes by +appearance, one of whom I recognized as being Onan, the Lord of the +Past. He greeted me familiarly as 'My Dear Jehu', and introduced me to +his partner, who turned out to be Zimri, the Lord of the Future. Onan +was dressed the same as when I had last seen him, and Zimri was close in +appearance, though his hair was long and his beard short, while Onan's +were the opposite. Zimri wore a little blue-green frock that fit rather +snuggly but not enough to be considered tight. I started our ensuing +dialog by saying this: + +"I am more than a little surprised to see you upon such good terms with +your rival, Onan," giving Zimri an inquisitive glance as I did. "I had +just assumed that you two would be bitter enemies, as your followers on +Daem seem to be, but I can tell now that that is not at all the case." + +He laughed, as did Zimri, and replied, "We are brothers, and as such +there is always a strong rivalry, but at the same time there is the +closest bond. There is no real conflict between us, but only a trivial +and jovial mock conflict, the kind that means no harm and does none, to +those involved, but rubs off on others who are less informed, who take +it seriously and have a real conflict." + +"What do you mean by that illustration?" I asked. + +"Nothing. Nothing at all," he sighed, "I have said too much already, it +is against the rules, you know." + +"Yes, yes, the rules. Tell me, though, how would you say I am doing so +far, am I at least doing fairly?" + +"Of course, Jehu, you are doing excellently." + +"Is it true about the revolutions of time and matter, then?" + +"Yes, in fact, it goes even further than that... Say, Zimri, do you +think it is allowable to tell him about the physical and the spiritual +realms?" + +Zimri said nothing, for he can say nothing, but he did nod his head in +the affirmative. Thus sanctioned by his brother, Onan continued to +speak, "Well, you know that physical existence is comprised of time and +matter, and that both of these are involved in a revolving motion, from +the minutest foundations to the largest additions. While they both are +revolving within themselves, they are also revolving together, around an +enigma which, as other of the centers, is completely devoid of the thing +which revolves around it, but is found plentifully in them. In the case +of matter, it revolves around a black hole, in which there is not found +any matter, but there are places of emptiness inside of the matter, in +fact, most of an atom is empty space. In the case of time, it revolves +around eternity, an enigma where there is no such thing as time, even as +there are certain areas where no time exists in physical existence, such +as a book. Likewise, physical existence, which is a combination of time +and matter, revolves around a place in which there is no physical +existence, namely, the spiritual realm. There is no physical in the +spiritual, but there is spiritual in the physical. Physical existence is +not whole without the spiritual, which binds it together in such a way +that gives it life, the ability to think and reason. + +"There is spiritual matter in everything, but it cannot be seen or +sensed physically unless it is revealed to one by a force on the +spiritual side. Or rather, it cannot be understood unless revealed, for +it can always be seen through its effects. By this I mean that it leaves +a trace in the physical realm, like a jellyfish that leaves a glowing +trail in its wake. When the brain of a human thinks, it is not the +actual brain that is thinking, instead it is the spiritual matter that +exists in the brain, and this spiritual matter leaves a trail where it +goes of electric signals and such. When someone feels a certain emotion, +such as love or depression, it is felt in the spiritual realm, but its +traces are seen in the physical, such as certain chemicals, but these +are not the cause of the emotion, only the effect of them. It is +possible, through certain drugs, to induce varying emotions, such as +happiness or laughter, but these are not the actual emotions, only their +physical counterparts, so that while it appears to be happiness, it is +not, like the shadow of a man in a field: his form keeps the light from +striking the ground beside him, but the shadow is not him, only the +trace of him. Making a shadow like the man does not make the man, only +the appearance of the man. While the how of a situation may be inferred +through physical means, the why is an entirely spiritual matter, and any +attempt to observe life without taking into account the spiritual matter +behind it will end in the same result as evolution, as the scientists of +your day generally imagined it, but which was, in fact, devolution. + +"The laws of the physical realm are called science, such as the fact +that energy and matter are neither created or destroyed in any natural +or artificial process, or that everything left to itself tends toward +disorder, or that life cannot come from non-life by natural or +artificial processes. The laws of the spiritual realm are called +morality. You have no doubt observed that when one does a certain thing, +the end result is always good, and when one does something else, the end +result is always bad. That is because there are spiritual laws that +govern life, and just as there is gravity on the earth that always pulls +things down to it, so there is a spiritual law that whenever someone +steals something, the result is suffering for both of the parties +involved. Just as it is a physical law that man must have oxygen to +live, so it is a spiritual law that when someone murders another the end +result is always suffering. Why is this, one may ask, but that is a +foolish question, or at least a pointless one, for the law of gravity +states that on the earth, all things fall downward towards the center of +gravity, there is no reason why, except that it is, for it is observed +continually to be the case. + +"Since men cannot accept that there is a power over them, they deny it, +and in the process they misinterpret the various things of life as +physical things, not the spiritual things that they represent. For +instance, love: men in many "advanced," that is to say, self-obsessed, +civilizations, view it only in its physical materializations, but not in +its spiritual context. When they see the results of love, romance +especially, they do not understand that the romance is only the fruit of +the spiritual essence of love, but instead think that the romance is +love. There can be so-called romance on the physical level without its +spiritual counterpart, but it is only the shadow of love, which will +never fulfill and will never be complete, because, by definition, it is +only a mocking of the true force of love. On the other hand, true +romance is not, as some would seem to think, a certain action or set of +actions, such as the gift of a precious metal or some colorful piece of +foliage, instead it is whatever is the result of the spiritual love, for +the physical manifestation of the spiritual essence of love is not +confined to certain objects or actions, but to any that are sanctioned +with its blessings. The daily toil of a poor man shows far more love +than a lavish gift from a rich man." + +When he had finished, I gave him a big grin and thanked him for his +lecture, and then asked him how it was that this did not break the +rules, but other things did. To this he replied that it affected my task +only indirectly, while the other things were all direct concomitants. +Then he asked me if I had any other questions for him, and I replied +that I did indeed have one. Which was as follows, "I know that there was +a great war directly after my departure from my native temporal zone, +and that it was very devastating in its reach and effect, and while I +know that the situation was very tense at the time, I was under the +impression that it was starting to cool down once more. What was it that +set it all off?" + +"The disappearance of an American fighter jet off the coast of China," +he replied straight-forwardly. + +My interest was suddenly aroused, for that was the very section where my +squadron was stationed, and anyone who was lost would have been a close +friend of mine. "Go on," I told him. + +"The Americans claimed that it was shot down by the Chinese, and +demanded an official apology. That the Chinese would not do, insisting +that they had done no such thing, and instead of the whole situation +diffusing, as you thought it would, both sides proceeded to war +stubbornly, each thinking itself in the moral superiority. But that is +as always." + +"Do you have any idea whose ship it was that went down? They were all my +comrades," I said. + +"Of course I know, Jehu, for it was your plane." + +"But how? I wasn't shot down, I crash landed on an island." + +"But you came to me and I sent you here, and since your radios went out, +they had no idea that you were safely landed." + +"Still, they must have found the plane!" + +"No, you know perfectly well that those islands are brought above and +below sea level at different times. After you left, the island was +brought below the water, and your plane was lost in the sea, no traces +were found." + +I was confused, "Onan, does that mean that I was the cause of the war?" + +"From a certain point of view, yes." + +He was about to say something else to me when we saw in the distance a +group of about ten Munams coming toward us, being at that time a few +miles away. He then told me that he must leave me again for the present, +as he could not interfere directly with my mission. They bid me goodbye +and I did the same to them, and then they walked down the opposite side +of the hill that the Munams were approaching from. As they walked, they +slowly disappeared, until they were gone without a trace, for even their +footprints had faded to nothing. + +During the time between Onan and Zimri's departure and the Munam's +arrival, I was left to myself for a period of inward meditation, an +activity that you have probably concluded that I am often given to, +which is entirely the case. This new revelation was very troubling to +me, that somehow I was the very cause of the destruction of humanity +during the great wars, while also the kinsman redeemer over 500 years +later, who was prophesied to be the one to bring humanity back into +balance with nature, or to thrust it forever off the edge of existence +into the damnation of the ice ages. As I told you in the beginning, I am +written in the pages of history as the destroyer of humanity, though if +it is just or not, I am not able to judge. The name of Jehu will forever +be a ripple on the surface of the waters of life, and when it is heard +or spoken, the only feeling that it will bring will be hatred and +disgust. If only mortals could see below the surface of the waters of +life, for just as the ocean can be deceiving on its surface, so can +life. Time is like an ocean, but when one looks upon it, what often +happens is that all one sees is the present reflected back in its +surface, and the eyes are shielded from what lies below, focusing +instead on the surface, which is so trivial compared to the abyss which +supports it. When one only sees the surface reflected back, then history +and its wisdom lose their meaning, and one sees not the past but only +the present. What I mean is this: if you look to the past to justify +your actions rather than to guide them, you will not see the truths +contained therein, but only what your presuppositions already were +before you looked, and your ignorance will be reinforced rather than +repudiated. Wisdom is the ability to see the past separate from the +present, but when one sees the destruction of humanity, he will see only +me, his vision being shielded from the true cause of it all, history. + +The actions or inactions of one solitary soul cannot bring the end of +life, only the accumulation of the wrongs and injustices of a whole +race, the human race. Forever I will be eyed as the assassin of +humanity, and yet that is not the truth at all, for I am the father of +humanity, I am the beginning as well as the end. If you view me only as +one or the other, you do not see me at all, but only a pale shadow of my +true self. I am Jehu, past, present, and future, I am the concentration +of humanity in all its forms and reproductions, I am the creator and +destroyer of every age of this temporal maze. Why am I the defender and +executioner of the race of men? Why am I the protagonist and antagonist +of humanity? Why am I the father and the son, the beginning and the end? +Such a question is futile to ask in the physical realm, for here there +are no answers to the why's, they are only to be found in the spiritual +realm. The physical realm is left only with the how's, and it is those +which I am attempting to clarify. + + + + + + +Chapter 12: The White Eagle + + + +It was only a few moments after Onan and Zimri left me that the Munams +arrived, for they had run, spurred on, apparently, by their great desire +to meet me. In appearance they were like I had seen from afar: hairy and +stooped, almost using their arms as legs, but not entirely. Their skulls +were large and oddly shaped and their mouths were pushed out from their +faces like an ape's. A limp, furry tail hung down from their lower +backs, and their hands had a tough, leathery appearance. + +There were eight of them, and when they drew near, the foremost hailed +me with an eager gleam in his eyes, like one who has long hoped and long +been denied. His voice was low and gravelly, but not at all uncivilized +sounding, as one would have expected by his appearance, and his facial +expressions were equally as livid and distinctly humanoid. He began: + +"Hail, the White Eagle, sent by the gods to deliver us! Hail the +redemption from paradise, coming to bring us home." With that he held +out his arms and embraced me in a very warm, heartfelt manner. + +"Hello," I replied, somewhat embarrassed by my lack of authority. + +"I am Ramma, leader of the Munams," he told me, "And I welcome you in +the name of us all." + +"Greetings, Ramma," I replied, "I am Jehu." + +"We are joyous at your arrival, oh Jehu of the White Eagle." + +When he said this I had a flashback, a moment of memorial deja vu, when +the present and the past are morphed together by one thought, when one +idea from the past and the present exists in such a way as to connect +the two times around it, forming a nexus between the two moments. I was +brought back to two separate times, the first being my initial meeting +with Onan, when I saw the muraled dome, the genetics of history, and its +depiction of the events which were symbolically representative of Daem: +the deformed man, the warring races, the worshipers of the White Eagle. +The other was my arrival in the Temple of Time, when the King showed me +the altar to Temis, the God of Time, depicted as a great White Eagle, +wrought in diamond and grasping the altar in its talons. There was +something about the White Eagle that connected itself to me inseparably, +something that converged us into one form. I had a sense that it was +somehow a key to the mystery of the end times, but I could not make the +connection. I thought back to what Onan had said to me just a few +moments before, that he and Zimri were close friends, and not enemies at +all, while those on earth believed their rivalry was a serious conflict. +Yet while I had two separate memorial deja vu's, I could not make the +connection between them to figure out what they meant. + +"Tell me," I asked of Ramma, "What do you mean when you call me the +White Eagle?" + +"The prophecy said that our kinsman redeemer, who would bring us out of +the lands of desolation and into paradise, who would come to us like a +giant eagle, soaring high above the sea. Across the ocean there," he +said, pointing to Daem, "Is Daem, the paradise land, wherein dwell our +enemies the Zards and Canitaurs. They keep us off of the island and on +the mainland by force, and here we have suffered ever since the great +wars, in these desolate and barren wastelands, where there is neither +life nor death, but only a hazy in between. An ancient one with wings +like an eagle was to come and rescue us, the White Eagle, and under his +guidance we are to be led to victory against our enemies. + +"To them he would be sent first, humbly he would come to redeem them +from the woes of their own causing, but they would receive him not. +Instead they cast him away, and he was to come to us, to bring us to the +promised land. What a blessed sight it was when we saw you soaring +through the sky on your white wings, and now you have come, my dear +Jehu, you have come at last, in the hour of our greatest need. Come, oh +White Eagle, and let us go to Kalr, our city. Tonight is the Feast of +the Hershonites, celebrating the night that the prophecy was received, +and on the same day shall it be fulfilled!" + +With that he turned and set off with a step of exuberance to the +northwest, the other Munams and myself following him. He walked quickly, +and it was all that I could do to match his pace, so that I was left +without breath enough to ask any more questions. From what I saw on our +journey, the landscape was the same across the whole mainland that was +near to the coast, and there was neither change enough nor any landmark +conspicuous enough for me to take any bearings. Without the Munam's +company, I would have been lost. + +Ramma led us on a straight course for about half an hour, there being +nothing to steer around, and when that time had elapsed, we found +ourselves in a small, battered city. There were no great buildings or +infrastructure like in Nunami, nor any complex labyrinths like the +Canitaur's military base. Instead there were only weak, unsound huts, +built with a framework of oddly shaped driftwood and covered with a +thick layer of insulating sod. A road ran through the center of the +city, only distinguishable because it was packed down by constant use, +and on either side were groupings of the huts in semi-circular patterns, +with no space between them left unfilled by soil. This created a wind +barrier, preventing the strong winds that whipped across the desert +lands from harassing the inhabitants as they worked and played in their +communal yards. Each such grouping had a field of a strange, potato-like +plant that spread across the back ends of the houses, where the fierce +winds piled up loads of nutrient rich top soil from miles and miles +around. In the center of the protected areas, each of the communities, +for such they were called, had a well that reached hundreds of feet +downwards, bringing them almost unlimited supplies of fresh water. Using +these two major systems, they were able to live in a comfortable manner, +not comfortable in a sense of comparison with the Zards or Canitaurs, +but comfortable in the sense that they had food to eat, clothes to wear, +and shelter to protect them. Under such conditions humanity can thrive, +for happiness is not found in the accumulation of excess comforts, but +in the accumulation of excess love. This the Munams had plenty of, and +from that point of view were more the evolutionary form of humanity than +the devolutionary. + +The Munams all wore a sort of close fitting frock, a plain colored one +piece suit that displayed their practicality and modesty. It is a hobby +of mine to observe the clothing worn by different groups of people and +compare it to their characteristics. As I have said before, clothes do +not make the man, but the man certainly makes the clothes, and it is +possible to judge a person's character by the type of attire that they +wear, in that it is an expression of their tastes. The Munams were shown +by their clothing to be a very friendly people, for their frocks were +hung gently about the body in a manner that was at once both carefree +and conservative. This is perfectly analogous to their personalities. + +When we came down through the center street, which was really the whole +city, for there were no other roads, the people rushed out to meet us, +and when they were told that it was the White Eagle, they began to dance +joyously about in the streets. There was laughter and play going on all +at once, and it was like a great burden lifted from my heart to see them +rejoicing, for it almost reconciled their sufferings with the Zard's and +Canitaur's ease of life, in that they seemed to be much more happy, in +spite of the circumstances. + +Ramma gave a short speech to the people, in which he detailed the +prophecy and its fulfillment and, in general, encouraged everyone to +hope for what was to come. When it was over, he and I retired to his +home, which was rather larger than the others and formed its own semi- +circle, containing as it did both his private quarters and the official +offices of the government, which, while extremely limited in number, +were well outfitted. The door of this building opened into a short +hallway that had several doors adjacent to it. He led me down one of +these and it proved to be a dining hall, though it was not as commodious +as most, with only a round wooden table with a few chairs around it and +some cupboards and cabinets. + +Pulling my chair out for me to sit in, Ramma went through all the normal +duties of host with great ease, and within a few moments we were eating +heartily from a great dish of boiled potatoes that had been brought in +by a servant, or rather, a deputy minister of state, for such was his +title. We did little talking before we ate, because I was greatly +famished and as such was ill-inclined to be jovial, not that I was +sullen, but I found it hard to be completely relaxed without a full +stomach. Yet when that was remedied and I found myself satisfied and +comfortable in a warm dwelling, I opened up to Ramma and we had a long +and entertaining discussion, some of which I will record here, as it +shines a little more light upon the mysteries of my story: + +"So, my dear Jehu," Ramma began, "I trust your stay on Daem has so far +been enjoyable." + +I chuckled quietly and told him, "No, not entirely, for there is a war +afoot on Daem, or at least there seemed to be, and it made quite a bit +of trouble for me." + +"I'm sorry to hear that," he replied, "But also gratified, for it will +help us in our offensive if they are against each other as well as us. +Still, it will be hard." + +"What offensive is that?" I asked, my interest being perked. + +"Our jihad, to capture the lands which were meant for us and reclaim +them from the filth that now inhabit them. You are our kinsman redeemer, +Jehu, but it is not with your presence alone that we will be brought +victory, for we also must act. Ever since the prophecy was given we have +been preparing for a strike that will catch the Zards and Canitaurs by +surprise, for those are our only advantages: time and surprise. The +carrying out of the surprise attack is the hardest part, and we decided +long ago to dig a tunnel under the sea to bridge Daem and the mainland, +for if we had made a fleet of ships, or attempted anything on the +surface, they would have seen and known what we intended to do. The +tunnel is very long, and it was an arduous task to undertake, but with +much patience we prevailed, and now it is complete. In fact, it was only +completed yesterday, though it was started more than 500 years ago." + +"How is it that you started so long ago and only finished just before I +arrived? I asked. + +"Fate," he answered, "All the happenings of the world are controlled by +a force much greater than us, and it brings everything into completion +when it is needed, no sooner and no later. Many civilizations try to out +wit fate, but they cannot, and in the end they do its bidding. Not, +however, in the way they had planned, and with more consequences than +they would like, at which point they try to change fate again and undo +those consequences, and soon they are in a downward spiral of such +deeds. We recognize that we are controlled by fate, and instead of +fighting it, we go along with it. We know that things will happen as +they are meant to happen, and we knew that 500 years ago, so it was no +great trial for us to work at our task for so long and not to know when +things would be brought to completion. You see, if we had worried about +it and attempted to change to course of events that history dictated, +than we would have only given ourselves more work for the same end. +Stress is the only thing that is created when you try to alter fate, so +it is our philosophy to take things as they come and trust to the powers +that be. You may think it unsophisticated, but that is just as well, for +what matters is not appearances, but reality, and we have the two things +that matter most in life: peace and joy." + +I agreed with him, for I had found the same to be true in my own +experiences. I then asked him, "When will this grand offensive be +undertaken?" + +"Tomorrow," he said bluntly. + +"Tomorrow? Isn't that rather soon?" + +"Why? Fate has been fulfilled so far, why wait when it is time to act? +Maybe you misunderstood my meaning: it is not our philosophy to simply +let things go as they will. Instead we relax and let things take their +course when it is not in our power to do anything effective, but when +the time comes to act, we act swiftly and do not delay. In a word, we do +not force fate, either by forcing action where patience is needed, nor +by forcing patience where action is needed." + +"That sounds well enough," I said, "But the difficulty lies in the +correct classification of the situation, or in other words, deciding if +patience or action is needed." + +"Yes, of course, but in this case it has been decided to attack +tomorrow, and there is nothing left to do but to attack tomorrow. But do +not yet let your spirits be dampened by the onset of war, for tonight is +the Feast of the Hershonites, and there will be great celebrating and +rejoicing this evening. Forget about the troubles of tomorrow and enjoy +the celebrations of today, as I always say. And it is now time for the +celebrating to begin, so let us be off." + +And with that we both rose and took our plates into the kitchen that was +connected to the dining hall on the opposite side as the hallway and +deposited our plates to be cleaned later (for even the leaders of a +society must do their fair share of the work). Then we walked back +through the dining hall, down the hallway, and out the door. + +Outside we found that the people had already began to assemble on the +road in front of their communities and were preparing for the festival +by chattering with one another as loudly as one would think possible. A +hush began to fall upon them like a descending fog when we came out, +though, and within a few moments it had died down to a ghostly silence, +for all that could be heard was the wind's constant blowing. Ramma took +the head of the procession of Munams that had formed on the road, and I +took the place next to him. With a sort of quiet anticipation of the +joys to come, there was little movement, and what little there was, was +hushed by a sense of subdued excitement. Then, with a somber gait, Ramma +began the parade down the road, in the opposite direction as we had come +from, that being northwest, and all followed him as he did. + +The sun at that time was just beginning to set, and once we had crossed +one of the larger hills we came face to face with the coast, the sun's +great red form half sunken beneath its surface. A faint cloud layer +floated by and was illuminated by the twilight so that it stretched +haphazardly across the face of the sun. Never have I seen so profound a +scene as that which then presented itself, with the desert sands and the +ocean's still surface reflecting the last agonies of the sun's descent +into the underworld with such a subtle emotional undertone so as to +render it a subconscious delight. Its recognized superiority to mortal +life forms left us all mute and somber, but at the same time the freedom +felt from the same gave us joy beyond reckoning. + +The march to the sea was slow and steady, and when we finally reached +its shores it was just at the change of day and night. Several large +bonfires were lit and by their light a great communal dance began, +everyone jumping around, running, and doing whatever their lighthearted +desire may have been. Under stars that shone like the twinkling in a +newborn's eye, we had such a joyous time that it can hardly be +described. We were no longer within the reach of civility or social +duty, but without it we were not mean nor hurtful to one another, but +were playful and joyous, like children without a care in the world. Our +little games and frolics cannot be described with any accuracy, because +outside of the moment's happiness, they cannot be understood, as it was +a spiritual happiness, existing only in the spiritual realm. All that +could be described is the physical actions that were taken because of +that spiritual enjoyment, but that would do nothing to describe the +feeling of the night. It was one filled with more joy than anything I +have known as an adult, because we became as children in our trusting to +fate, and it was natural, befitting to our natures. Man is not meant to +worry, man is meant to be free from all boundaries, inward and outward, +man is meant to be ruled by only one desire: love of others. + +As the night dwindled away, we grew tired, but instead of returning to +the city, we laid down wherever we were when we felt that we could +remain awake no longer, and fell to sleep instantly when we did. It was +not at all uncomfortable, for the sand was soft and a warm breeze blew +in from the water, and though as an adult I would have feared sleeping +so openly in the unknown, I was not at that time an adult. + + + + + + +Chapter 13: The Big Bang + + + +The Munams and I were all awoken at the same time late the next morning +by a loud trumpet blast that shook the very air around us with its +intense bass. For the first moment of our consciousness we were all +dazed and could not fully comprehend the situation, and for a brief time +we all sat unsteadily around the beach where we had fallen asleep. As we +grew more awake, we began to understand what had happened, or at least I +did, and I was frightened when I looked around and saw where the trumpet +blast had come from: the entire Zardovian and Canitaurian armies were +assembled around us, having somehow crossed over to the mainland in the +night, while we slept peacefully, unaware of their presence. + +My first thought was for myself, and what would become of me in the +wrath brought on by my escape, but that soon vanished when I thought of +the Munams, for they were the enemies of those on Daem, even more so +than those on Daem were to each other. We were completely surrounded, +with the ocean on one side and the Zards and Canitaurs circling us in +the front, the former on the left and the latter on the right. All of +them were equipped for war, with swords, spears, and shields held firmly +in their hands, and thick, leather armor stretched across their chests. +The Canitaurs had especially come prepared, for they had brought all of +their atomic anionizers with them, enough combined fire power to level +the entire world several times over. + +Within five minutes, all of the Munams had assembled behind me and +Ramma, who stood between them and the Daemians. They huddled closely +together and quaked slightly in fear, for they evidently thought that +their plans had been discovered and their enemies had come for revenge. +I, myself, thought that they had come for me, and Ramma's opinion could +not be guessed, for he was a statesman first and foremost, and when his +people were in need he rose to the occasion with all the power and grace +allotted to mortal beings. + +Wagner and Bernibus broke the Canitaur's ranks and drew near to us in +the center, as did the King from the Zard's. They reached us in silence, +and for a long moment there was no talking, for all present knew that +something grave was about to happen, something that would decide the +fate of the men of this age, whether they would pass or fail the test. +Bernibus looked at me with entreating eyes, showing his sorrow at my +recapture and asking for forgiveness, but I had none to give him, for he +had done no wrong to need it. He had no power among the Canitaurs, but +was only a titled commoner, more like Wagner's groom than counsel. + +I noticed that the Canitaurs were not wearing their anti-electron suits, +which was strange, for they had brought a few hundred atomic anionizers, +though I didn't question them about it, for the answer was evident +enough when I had given it some thought: the Zards had no such suits, +and were afraid that the Canitaurs would destroy them and Munams at the +same time, for while they were allies against foreigners, they still did +not trust each other. I still wore my suit given me for the raid on +Nunami, though I had forgotten about it due to its comfort. That made me +the only person on the earth still wearing one, the only one safe from +the anionizers. + +It was an overcast morning, and the air was damp with a cold, wet wind +that blew in forlornly. The ocean's steady swoosh added to the scene, +making it as depressing as the night before was joyous, and in the +bluish half light all was colorless and hopeless. At length the King +spoke, saying, "My dear Jehu, I am very disappointed in you. Not only +did you flee from us irresponsibly, but you destroyed the Temple of Time +and the altar to Temis. Without the White Eagle, the prophecy says that +there is no hope for humanity." + +Wagner added, "And now the only way left to bring about the completion +of the world once more is to sacrifice you using the old methods." This +he said with evident pleasure, no longer feigning to be my friend. + +Here Bernibus entered the dialog, throwing away his timidness with one +quick motion and saying to Wagner, "You scoundrel! You said that we came +to retrieve Jehu, not to sacrifice him. How is it that you lied to me in +such a manner?" + +"You fool," Wagner said, "If I had had my way, you would have been dead +long ago. You have no authority here, so begone." + +Bernibus grew angrier, a terrifying state for a Canitaur to be in, and +he was a strong and powerful one at that, though his meek nature had +hidden it before. "You would never dare to kill me in the open, you +coward, the council would banish you," he said. + +Here the King joined in once more, laughing, "He wouldn't, no, but I +would. Do you really think that we found your outpost on our own, oh +Bernibus the 'deputy kibitzer'? You know that we have no tracking +ability, and least of all in your own territory." + +Bernibus grew more enraged, and the King was spurred on by it. + +"Oh yes, you know what I speak of. Your brother-in-law told us where you +and your wife were living, and not only that, for he also told us when +you would be there." + +Bernibus became even more flushed with anger and vehemently asked +Wagner, "Why, you heartless brute? What could you possibly value more +than your own sister's life?" + +"It was a pledge to the Zards of our intention to abide by the +agreement, what more precious thing could I give then my own sister?" He +spoke calmly and spitefully, enjoying the end of his long charade of +nicety, "Besides, the council was falling for her peace talk, as they +always give great heed to every member of the royal family, and I was +not strong enough at that time to control them, as I do now. +Unfortunately for me you were out at the moment of the attack and able +to escape, but still it was a favorable outcome," Wagner said, sneering +at Bernibus' outrage. + +But Bernibus was not to be taken lightly, and neither was he to let the +love of his life go undefended. He leapt at Wagner and grabbed the +remote to the atomic anionizers from his belt, where it was always +clipped. Wagner tried to get it back, but Bernibus was too strong and +hurled him to the ground. Then he took a few steps backwards and stood +his ground far enough from everyone to have at least a moment to react +before they could reach him. He held the remote out towards Wagner, +pointing it at him as if it were itself a weapon, with his thumb and +forefinger in position to set it off at a moment's notice. + +"Bow before me now, Wagner, or I shall destroy us all," he demanded with +a grim smile that showed his resolution. + +Wagner did as he commanded and fell to his knees in front of Bernibus, +saying in the same gentle, appeasing voice that he had first used on me, +"My dear Bernibus, do not be rash, do not act in anger. Let's talk this +over, and see ... and see if we can't find a peaceful solution," his +fear of death evidently caused him to stammer. + +"You fool, do you think that I haven't heard that voice a thousand times +before? Do you think that I will fall for your same trick once more?" + +Wagner put his face to the ground and groveled like the filthy swine +that he was, for he knew full well that if Bernibus set off the atomic +anionizers he would die. His life was completely out of his hands and +there was nothing that he could do to reclaim it, except to beg for +forgiveness. This he did, saying, "Bernibus, you do not understand, the +situation was more complex than you realize, and I had no choice but to +act as I did. Do you not think that it was as hard on me as yourself? +She was my sister, my only sibling. But there was no other way, I had to +put the advancement of our people over the life of anyone, even my own +sister, as you must do now, putting the advancement of our people over +petty differences." + +Here the King interjected, "Bernibus, do not act rashly, I beg of you, +for if you set off the anionizers, than all is lost. Do you not realize +that if you do that, all that we have worked for all of our lives is +lost?" + +It was Bernibus' turn to sneer, and he did, raising the skin above his +teeth and scowling fiercely at the King. "What is it that we have worked +for all of our lives? Do you still not understand? You and Wagner plot +to return the world to its former glory, each by his own way, but take a +look around you. The trees on Daem are taller and stronger than any +known before, the grasses are thicker and livelier, the waters are purer +and cleaner, the wind is fresher. You know no suffering. The prophecy +had nothing to do with you, and nothing at all to do with the +restoration of the world! Can you not see that what you have is far more +than you have need of, that there is no desire left unfilled in your +lives, except that of ultimate power? This world does not need to be +restored. Only your hearts have need of that. + +"The prophecy was given for the Munams, who were left stranded here in +this desert wasteland, while across the ocean they could see the great +paradise of Daem, the great paradise that you took for granted. There is +to be no restoration of Daem to its original form, but a restoration of +the Munams to Daem. You struggle to restore Daem, but have no compassion +for the suffering of humanity across the sea. You are the fools, not me, +and you are the ones who have brought us all to the very brink of +destruction, to the ice ages which you have tried so hard to prevent. Do +you not see that Daem is already the paradise, that the only thing that +it needs for completion is the residence of the Munams? Jehu is not our +kinsman redeemer at all, he is theirs." Here Bernibus seemed to lose his +anger and passion and become meek once more, saying humbly, "You have +destroyed the life of one whom I held more dear than myself, but that is +past, and I will not destroy us all for vengeance. + +"Zards, Canitaurs, and Munams, hear me now and listen to my words," he +continued, speaking to the amassed groups of the armies that had been +listening closely to his words, "We are not separate people at all, we +are not different races. We are not Zards, or Canitaurs, or Munams, we +are Daemians, and it is time that we came together, to help each other +instead of hindering. Look at how much blood has been shed, how many +lives have been lost, must we all be drowned in the blood of our +brothers before we realize that we are one people? Must we suffer more +than we already have in an attempt to undo what has already been done? +More pain will not negate the pain that has already been felt, it will +only result in more suffering than we have known up to this time. My +friends, we need not look for our redemption in the past, for it has +gone and though it influences us, we are not bound to its suffering. And +we need not look for our redemption in the future, for it is not yet +here, and when it comes it will only be what we make it. Instead let us +look for our redemption in the present, where it can be found, let us +put aside our hate and our divisions and become one flesh and blood, one +body. People of Daem, let us live in peace!" As he said this, the Zards +and the Canitaurs and the Munams all let out a joyous shout of +agreement, and there was seen on every face a remnant of the happiness +that had so long alluded them in their wars. + +To emphasize his point of harmony and trust, Bernibus dropped the remote +to the atomic anionizers to the ground. But it would never land. Wagner +leapt forward from his groveling position and grabbed for it as it fell, +reaching out with all his strength. There was a sudden silence that +overtook everyone as they saw what was happening. Bernibus looked down +and saw Wagner leap, but he was too late to prevent him from reaching +the remote. There was no noise at all, for everyone looked in horror at +Wagner's plunging form. As if in slow motion, his hand wrapped around +the remote and he squeezed it so as not to let it go. But as he did so, +there was a loud beeping sound that came from his fist: he had triggered +the anionizers. + +The eager faces of everyone there, of everyone alive on the earth, was +turned towards Wagner. The remote had a five second delay built into it, +and those five seconds were the longest of my life. Bernibus' eyes met +mine, and we experienced an intra-personal deja vu, the converging of +the presents of two minds. His face showed the depths of his being in +that split second, and he was peaceful. Though he was about to be +destroyed, he had no fear, no regrets, and in those five seconds, while +Wagner and the King were frightened and frantic at their impending doom, +Bernibus was as calm as ever. As I looked Bernibus in the eyes, I could +hear Wagner break the dead silence with a shrill scream that echoed +across the horizon and ripped through the hearts of every hearer. When +faced with death he had no courage, no strength to face the unknown +beyond the veil that separates life from death. + +As I turned and cast my eyes across the horizon, I saw the faces of +hundreds of men, whether Zard, Canitaur, or Munam, and written on +everyone of them was a great despair, for they stood unprotected in the +presence of death. It was like the calm before the storm, those five +seconds, and through them time seemed to stop, to be non-existent, and +there was not a sound to be heard, except for Wagner's scream. Oh, what +anguish was written on the faces of all around, standing defenselessly +before the end with neither will nor way to stop its terrible approach, +oh, what fear filled their eyes as their mortality was made manifest +before them like a vulture's approach, oh, the pain, as fate stood +before their distraught faces and silently whispered, "And to dust shalt +thou return." + +But then even that was silenced. There was no noise. As I looked upon +them they were destroyed, before my very eyes they breathed their last +and were no more. One moment they were normal and healthy, and the next +they disintegrated, falling into little heaps of limp skin and bones. In +that moment I felt a horror such as I have never felt before, a complete +loneliness, like a night that never ends. There was no one, nothing, +around me. The force of the blast had leveled the already flat terrain +completely. The ocean was suddenly solidified into the same lifeless, +inorganic mass that the land had become. Across the channel, Daem was no +more. There were no more trees, no more grasses, no more cities, no more +mountains, everything was leveled, decimated. The sky began to turn a +dark, bloody red, and the sun was hidden behind it. Like a disease it +spread across the horizon, devouring the light hearted blue and leaving +only red: lifeless, deathless red. There was no wind, no sound. I was +all alone, I alone had survived the blast because of my anti-electron +suit. I gazed in absolute horror across the field where only seconds +before thousands souls had been congregated. I looked at its emptiness +and I saw nothing, for there was nothing. They were all dead. Every +single one of them. + + + + + + +Chapter 14: Past and Future + + + +I have no recollection of how long I stood there staring blankly into +the void, for the sun was hidden behind the darkened sky. I have no +memory of that period until I saw two short forms coming towards me in +the distance. They walked slowly and methodically, as if they were not +hurried on by any physical concerns. As they drew near, I saw them to be +Onan and Zimri, the Lords of Past and Future. When they arrived I was +awakened from the trance that I had fallen into, and I gave them a +slight bow, for I was still standing upright. The look on their faces +was one of sorrow, for no matter how many times they had seen the +destruction of humanity, each time it brought only fresh, poignant +sorrow. + +Onan was the first to speak, breaking the silence with a long, hopeless +sigh, "My dear Jehu," he said, "This age has come to a close." + +I could say nothing, for Bernibus' face was still gazing at me in my +memory. + +"Do not be saddened by grief or guilt, Jehu, for it is what has always +happened. It is not your fault, for the events that you have witnessed +do not have their roots in your time or in this one, but in the very +foundation of the world. It is not your actions that caused this, but +rather the accumulated momentum of all the ages of humanity, for they +are history, and history reigns by influence. There were no right +choices and no wrong choices for you, for the power of the kinsman +redeemer is not in himself, but in the way that those around him react +to what he signifies. In every age before this you have done the same, +as you will in every age after this as well. You were humanity's last +chance, yet it is not up to you to change their course: it is up to them +to change their own." + +Here I raised my head from its dull droop and looked questioningly into +his eyes. "What do you mean," I asked, "That I did not prevent it in any +of the other ages? How could I exist in any other age but this?" + +"Then you do not understand?" + +"Why else would I ask?" I faintly smiled. + +"These are the Ice Ages, the end of an age of history. Every time that +the temporal continuum revolves around eternity, it has a new age, much +like the years of the earth as it revolves around the sun. When the +atomic anionizers went off, they did on a large scale what they were +designed to do on a small scale: reverse the poles through an extreme +electric charge, by injecting countless solitary electrons into the +atoms. But with so many of them exploded at once, they did this to the +earth itself, reversing its poles. It was a theory at your time that the +poles reversed about every 170,000 years, this is because that is how +long an age is. + +"When the earth's poles were reversed, it brought all to desolation, +excepting you, for you were protected by the suit. But while this is the +ending of all life on earth, in a way it is also the beginning, for you +see, Jehu, you have just witnessed the Big Bang. In a few days, at the +longest, you will die yourself, for there is no food or water for you +here, but inside of your anti-electron suit, your remains will be +protected. Slowly the earth will regenerate, and when conditions +suitable for life have been once more returned, your suit will be blown +against a rock somewhere and broken open. From that little hole, the +atoms of life, your life, will escape into the atmosphere and grow and +evolve until they become like what things were before you were born. +Then the process will be repeated. You are not only the one who +symbolizes the destruction of humanity, but also the one who symbolizes +the rebirth of humanity. You are the beginning and the end, in a sense, +a descendant of yourself, simultaneously the father and the son. You +will be born again through your own descendants, and will once again +become the kinsman redeemer. It is your destiny, there is no other way. +You are the White Eagle." + +"You only confuse me more, what is this White Eagle?" + +"Do you remember when we first met, in the Chambers of History? On the +dome of the ceiling there was a sculpture mural, and in it was a White +Eagle, holding many lords and ladies in its talons while it soared far +above the lands, and those on the land were worshiping it. You are the +White Eagle. You hold all of humanity in your hands, for you are the +father of all men, they all descend from you, including you, yourself. +You were the White Eagle, for the altar had no power, the power was only +in you. + +"Those who worshiped you were those who worship time, in either of its +forms, past or future. Those who worship the past recognize the +influence of history, and they understand that there are taboos and +traditions created through mutual experience. These traditions reign in +humanity by keeping men from actions that lead to pain and suffering. +But they do not understand that while it influences mankind, the past +does not control them, for it is gone, and it will never come again. In +their strict keeping of traditions, they focus on the physical act of +the tradition, while neglecting the spiritual principle behind the +tradition. If you keep only the physical form of the principle, you have +nothing. + +"On the other hand, those who worship the future neglect the past and +the valuable lessons that it teaches. They believe that there is some +moral advancement that places them above those that have come before, +they believe that the people of the past were blinded to the truth, and +that the revelation of the truth in the present supersedes the +traditions of the past. But they are wrong as well, for humanity is +humanity, and those of the past were no more ignorant than those at +present. The people of the past fell into the same traps as the those in +the present, and both suffer the same consequences. + +"While one group remembers only the physical display of the spiritual +truth, the other rejects the spiritual truth because of its physical +display. Those who worship the future break taboos because they +recognize that the mere physical manifestation of the truths is not +their entire essence, but they reject the spiritual truth as well. When +taboos are broken, there is nothing gained, but everything lost, for the +physical traditions at least lead to the knowledge of the spiritual laws +to those who seek such wisdom. One taboo is broken, but as there is no +satisfaction in the breaking of taboos, every one of them is broken in +succession. Then there is no limit to the immorality that is left to +freely roam the hearts of men, and when immorality, the breaking of the +spiritual laws, is widely propagated, there is spiritual suffering. When +this spiritual suffering begins to accumulate and is translated into +physical suffering, the people see what is happening, how their very +society is crumbling to ruin around them. Yet instead of recognizing the +truth of what is happening, they see the traditions of the past as the +cause of their problems, and continue to make their plight worse. This +downward spiral continues until at last we find ourselves where we are +now, at the end of an age." + +"But what else is there to do?" I asked Onan, 'If both the past and the +future lead to ruin?" + +"The answer is in the present, my dear Jehu, for if one focuses on the +spiritual laws that bring good or evil, and acts according to them, +instead of their physical counterparts and manifestations, then things +will thrive and become prosperous. What is evil brings evil +consequences, and what is good brings good consequences, over time. The +ends define the means, just as the fruit shows the tree to be either +good or bad. These spiritual laws become known and remembered, not why +they are so, but simply that they are so. No one can question why, for +morality is observed through its effects, just as science is. When +people observe that one thing brings good and another bad, they remember +to stay away from the bad things and cling to the good. Over time these +evolve into taboos and social restrictions, not meaningless laws +enforced by tyrants for their own reasons, but rules that are observed +by all because the are the laws of the spiritual realm and govern +physical life. But when the people forget what the traditions represent, +then all is lost, and either of the two paths that present themselves +lead to ruin." + +"But why do not men see?" + +"Because they are rooted too strongly in the physical realm, and cannot, +or will not, see the spiritual. What they see as happiness is not the +spiritual matter that is happiness, but the physical actions the +represent happiness. What they see as love is not love in the spiritual +sense, only its manifestation in the physical realm. When they see the +happiness that comes from a spiritual connection, they seek after it. +But they do not seek after the actual essence of the spiritual +connection, yet after its physical counterpart, marriage. This they take +and defile, and when they go through the physical actions of the +spiritual marriage but forsake the very thing that makes it bring +happiness, they are left without any real sense of satisfaction, without +any real happiness. + +"You must understand that the physical manifestation of the spiritual +force is not the spiritual force at all, only a bland deception. If you +only focus on what you can see directly, than you chase after only the +representation and not the object desired. If a bird is flying through +the sky at noontime, casting a shadow on the ground below him, and a man +comes along, and in the hope of catching the bird chases after its +shadow, it is evident that he will never catch it, for when he does +reach it, he will find that there is nothing there at all, only the +shadow of what it was he desired. So it is with the spiritual!" + +"Yes, I think that I am beginning to understand." + +"Excellent. If only I could tell you more, but I must go, my dear Jehu, +for Father Temis is in mourning for his children, and I must go to +comfort him." + +"I thought that you and Zimri were his children?" I asked. + +"You are all his children. He is patient, ever so patient, but still +they fall by the wayside, too caught up in their false perception to +rest in him. Fare thee well, Jehu, may you be blessed ere you must die." + + +And with that, Onan and Zimri turned and walked away in the other +direction, never to be seen by me again, in this age. I took a look +around me, and could not bear to remain any longer in a place of such +ill remembrance. Turning slowly and despondently to the westward, I +began to walk over the lifeless mass of what had been the ocean not too +long ago. For how long I walked, I could not tell, but in due time I +reached Daem, though it was no more hospitable than the mainlands, for +all was laid to ruin by the Big Bang, all was equally devoid of life. + +When I came to what had been the center of the savanna, I came across +something that had survived the blast, being unearthed from its previous +burial hole by the force of the anionizer's explosion. It was a two foot +by two foot box, made of a strange metallic substance with an intricate +etching along its top. Written there in its center were these words: + +"Temporal Anomaly Box, Number 12, Location: Central Savanna" + +I took the lid off carefully, though it was in perfect condition and I +did not need to treat it so, and looked inside of it. There was a +notebook and a pen there, both capable of producing a large of amount of +enduring text. This was one of the boxes that had been taken back +through time in the experiments of the Zards and Canitaurs, designed to +withstand any conditions, and to hold its contents for countless ages, +until they should be retrieved and studied. I sat down on the ground and +began to write my story down, in order to assist whoever takes the job +of kinsman redeemer in the next age. I knew that it would have all been +forgotten, so I made sure to carefully record it, for it could mean the +difference between the life and death of humanity. + +This was only hours ago, and now I have reached the end my tale. If by +any chance you come upon this in some subsequent age, I beg you to take +heed, for what I have written will surely come to pass once more if +something is not done to prevent it. There is nothing else for me to +say, for this is the end of my story, and within the next day I will +also pass over to the spiritual realm. What, then, can I say to bring +this to a close, for this is neither the end nor the beginning. I +suppose all that can be said is this: + + + +DEJA VU (THE END) + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Revolutions of Time, by Jonathan Dunn + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME *** + +This file should be named rvtim10.txt or rvtim10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, rvtim11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, rvtim10a.txt + +Produced by Jonathan Dunn + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/rvtim10.zip b/old/rvtim10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..693e504 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rvtim10.zip diff --git a/old/rvtim10h.htm b/old/rvtim10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c71c353 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/rvtim10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5494 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +<!-- +body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} +blockquote {font-size:14pt} +P {font-size:14pt} +--> +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Revolutions of Time, by Jonathan Dunn + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Revolutions of Time + +Author: Jonathan Dunn + +Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8735] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on August 6, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Dunn + + + + + +</pre> + +<center> +<h2>THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME</h2> + +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>By Jonathan Dunn</h3> +</center> + +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<p style="text-align: center">Note to the reader:</p> + +<p>The manuscript for this book was found in a weather-beaten +stone box on an island in the Pacific Ocean. Its contents were +written in an ancient form of Latin, which was translated and +edited by Jonathan Dunn.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<p style="text-align: center">Dedicated to Bernibus,</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><em>amicus certus in re incerta +cernitur.</em></p> + +<p><strong>Table of Contents:</strong></p> + +<p>Chapter 1: Past and Present</p> + +<p>Chapter 2: Predestined Deja Vu</p> + +<p>Chapter 3: Zards and Canitaurs</p> + +<p>Chapter 4: Onan, Lord of the Past</p> + +<p>Chapter 5: The Treeway</p> + +<p>Chapter 6: The Fiery Lake</p> + +<p>Chapter 7: Down to Nunami</p> + +<p>Chapter 8: The Temple of Time</p> + +<p>Chapter 9: Mutually Assured Deception</p> + +<p>Chapter 10: Devolution</p> + +<p>Chapter 11: The Land Across the Sea</p> + +<p>Chapter 12: The White Eagle</p> + +<p>Chapter 13: The Big Bang</p> + +<p>Chapter 14: Past and Future</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<p>...The very men who claimed mental superiority because they +were free from superstitions and divine disillusionment were +themselves victims of their own sophism, and while they thought +themselves crowned with enlightenment, it was naught but the +Phrygian caps of their prejudices toward the material state.</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><em>- Jehu, the Kinsman +Redeemer</em></p> + +<p>The physical manifestation of the spiritual force is not the +spiritual force at all, only a bland deception. If you only focus +on what you can see directly, than you chase after only the +representation and not the object desired. If a bird is flying +through the sky at noontime, casting a shadow on the ground below +him, and a man comes along, and in the hope of catching the bird +chases after its shadow, it is evident that he will never catch +it, for when he does reach it, he will find that there is nothing +there at all, only the shadow of what it was he desired. So it is +with the spiritual!</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><em>- Onan, Lord of the +Past</em></p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 1: Past and Present</h3> + +<p>My name is Jehu. Most probably it sounds foreign and +unfamiliar to you, devoid of the qualities of affection and +personality which give character to a name. It is a harsh name, +cold and inhuman, like something out of the night, an unwelcome +intruder into the warmth of familiarity. It inspires no blissful +memories, nor does it kindle fond feelings in the bosom of the +hearer, instead the heart is hardened to it like the feathers of +a duck to water, repulsing it, leaving it to run off into the +ditches and by-ways of the long forgotten past, to trickle +dejectedly into those stagnant ponds where so many words of +wisdom are imprisoned: out of sight, out of mind, out of heart, +out of history. Yet while history is forgotten and misconstrued, +it is repeated, for what is life without water, which nourishes +and sustains it, and what is life without wisdom, which protects +and cultivates it?</p> + +<p>Jehu is my name, though it no longer brings the quickened +pulse and keen anticipation of happiness to the hearts of any, +not even my own. For what deference can be given to a name, +though not in itself a thing of dishonor, which represents the +failure to derail the evitable fate which wrecks the race of man +again and again. Not that I myself embody such a failure, nor +even that I gave birth to the dreaded fate’s latest +momentum, but as is seen time and again throughout history, one +name is brought to represent the tide of change, for better or +worse, the doer of deeds which were done not by him, but by a +mass of independent doers, yet it is written in the annals of +history as the deeds of but one man.</p> + +<p>While I had little to do, consciously, with the doom of the +earth, I will always be fingered as the villain, as the ambitious +Napoleon or the barbaric Atilla, the arrogant Augustus or the +fearful Cyrus. Someone has to bear the burden of shame on the +pages of history for the people of his time, and in that sense, +maybe I truly can be called their kinsman redeemer. Perhaps it is +my fate to bear witness to the wrongs of a people, of which even +you are not wholly innocent.</p> + +<p>And yet can an individual be blamed for the faults of a +society, can personal responsibility be extended to the members +of an unknown multitude? How the enjoined conscience of one longs +to say no, but in good faith it cannot be said, for in this case +the mask of ignorance cannot supersede the face of guilt. Indeed, +ignorance in this case only adds to the shame of the guilty, this +being a crime not of misdeeds but of negligence, twisted together +with the vices of humanity into a thick and sturdy cord, a rope +that cannot be pulled apart and individually examined, yet must +be taken as a whole. Insularly, the strand of ignorance could be +easily snapped, remedied by but a little education, yet when +woven together by one’s own hands with prides and +prejudices, it forms an unbreakable rope, which is placed about +our neck to hang us: through means of our own doing is our fate +foretold. If but one or two of the strands were omitted, the +result would be a feeble rope, easily broken, and we would live. +But by our own vices is our mortality made manifest, by our own +wrongs are we wronged.</p> + +<p>By now you may be beginning to feel the impulses of +indignation arising in your breast, for who am I, the admittedly +despicable Jehu, to group you as my fellow convicts, my +co-conspirators, in a sense? And you are right, for I am not your +judge and neither do I wish to be.</p> + +<p>Having said that, I now request of you to put down the book +and discontinue reading.</p> + +<p>“Surely,” you say to yourself, “He is +mentally deranged, for what author in his right mind would +encourage his readers to disperse, what writer does not thrive on +the digestion of his words by an eager audience?”</p> + +<p>Here I must make a revelation to you: if my manuscript has +indeed been found, then I have long since been dead; and I assure +you that in whatever form my existence takes in the present, I +have little desire for your intrigue or goodwill. Do you think +Melville is consoled in death of his miserable life by the +vainglorious praises of the living? Or do you think that Poe is +comforted by such avid attentions in his present abode? In truth, +Melville’s only rivalry is now within, and Poe’s only +raven that daunting memory of those truths which had escaped him +in life, but which now are opened to you.</p> + +<p>More importantly, if this manuscript has been found, it proves +that what is contained herein is the unerring truth. I do not +write this to exonerate myself, however let me say here that I am +more the Andre’ than the Arnold, for I was but the emissary +of history, not the traitor to humanity, and if not me then some +other would have filled the void. Let it be remembered that it +was Andre’ who gave his life for his deeds, and yet it is +Andre’ who is recollected with a sweet sorrow, and though +Arnold lived, he had no peace. Yet while history is vivid and +encyclopedic, in itself a living organism, it can speak only +through the mouths of men, who often misrepresent it for their +own partisan and prejudiced plans. It is strong and steadfast, +though, and in time is always victorious over its menial +opposition, for what is history but the past tense of truth, and +it is justly said that <em>veritas numquam perit</em>, truth +never dies.</p> + +<p>Going back to what I said before, namely that at my +manuscript’s discovery my demise will itself be history: I +am assured that such is true, for even now as I write this my +death is near at hand. How wide the abyss of time that separates +us is I cannot tell, but I do know that it is beyond the +reckoning of men, such an unknown barrage of hollow, formless +years. Yet as you read this it is as if I were speaking directly +to you, despite all of the desolation between our times. That is +what makes history an organic being, and by history I mean all of +the past, or all of the future, depending on your viewpoint.</p> + +<p>A book is a connection between times and peoples, more so than +any other medium. As I put these words down in writing, it is as +if I am imparting my very self into the pages. And as you read +them, the name Jehu slowly forms into an image, into a +personality, and from the empty word Jehu comes the great well of +affection springing from a personal intimacy. A book is an enigma +in which no time exists, and as it is read it brings the reader +into its eternal being, for while it sits closed on a shelf it is +no more than a forgotten memory, yet when it is opened its +contents come to life and its characters and locations are once +more existent in the same state as when they were written, the +story becomes once more reality.</p> + +<p>While I have long been deceased, when you read this I am +brought to life once more, and with my rebirth I tell you my +story, and make known to you the truths contained therein. The +words of this book are a rune gate, a portal to the past, and as +you read them, your present fades away and you are drawn into my +present, this very moment in which I now write. Then you connect +with me intimately, and for a brief time the gulf of mortality is +transcended and the depths of my being are laid open to you. We +commune together and you eat of my flesh and drink of my blood, +merging your existence with mine.</p> + +<p>Come to me now, my friend, come to me across the gulf of +mortality, for I await you. Come, and in your spiritual +peregrination meet with me, in this land of the past which is so +foreign and unfamiliar to you, but which will become for a time +your home. Come to me, my friend, and let me tell you my +story.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 2: Predestined Deja Vu</h3> + +<p>It was in the last stages of sleep that I began to feel the +warm morning sun strike my face, and hear the pleasant chirping +of birds and crickets. I rolled slowly over, stretched my legs +and my back, and stood up, with the last remnants of a dream +playing quietly in my mind. But as I came to my feet and got a +clear view of where I was, I realized it was not a dream that I +had had at all, but something far more sobering. I found myself +somewhere in the center of a very large prairie which covered the +land for many miles around. From the sun’s lowly position +on the eastern horizon, it was evident to me that the new day was +just dawning, casting a golden hue on the grasses that covered +the prairie’s surface.</p> + +<p>Around the distant outskirts of the plain I could make out a +ring of trees circumventing the whole, waving almost +imperceptibly to and fro in the light breeze that was blowing. A +few miles to the southwest there was a group of odd looking trees +stretching up over the horizon to a considerable height. They +were closer than the outer ring, which kept a uniform girth +around the prairie, but somehow they looked very peculiar and +foreboding, and I got one of those sobering feelings which I like +to call predestined deja vu. What I mean is that I got a sense of +deja vu, but instead of the past converging with the present into +one thought, the present seemed to converge with the future, and +the result was a mysterious foreboding of something, though I +couldn’t tell what. That is the sensation that I had when I +saw what I assumed to be a small grouping of trees somewhere in +the southwestern portion of the savanna, though that was merely a +guess, for in the distance I could only make out several dark +forms rising out of the grassland like trees, or possibly +buildings, one of them being a great deal taller than the others, +with a spherical shape on top that only faintly resembled a +tree’s crown. If it was indeed a tree, it was the largest +that I have ever seen, for it looked to be upwards of 800 feet +tall.</p> + +<p>My mental warning bells were ringing quite loudly, and I +endeavored to silence them by extreme exertions of the will, but +they would not be subdued. I assumed that they were not at all +correct, much like the fearful expectancy some have while +swimming in the ocean, out of sight of all land, of being +attacked by an enormous leviathan of the deep. As unfounded as +the fear is, it places one into a frenzy of dubious thoughts that +inspire equally frantic and anarchist actions. Because of this, I +thought that my ideas were naught but superstitious fancies, yet +try as I might, I could not rid myself of them.</p> + +<p>Instead, I made up my mind to set off in the opposite +direction, north, and to advance at a double march until I should +reach the woody border, which looked to present shelter not only +from the southern apparitions, but also from the shielded +underworld of the grasses, in which also dwelt the mysterious +sense of fear and predestined deja vu. It was slightly chilly, +but beyond that nothing defaced the temperate beauty of the day, +and even that promised to soon dissipate with the continual +strengthening of the sun’s warmth. As I walked, or rather, +trotted along, it did just that, and in the growing warmth of the +day the sweet fragrances of the many various grasses rose to the +surface, delighting my odor perceiving sensors with their earthy +simplicity.</p> + +<p>The day marched on, and with it I, and the distant wall of +trees began to slowly grow closer. At length, I found myself at +their edge, at around the noon hour, and as I came upon the first +of them, I leaned against the trunk of a large, thickset tree for +a moment of repose and reflection in its shade. It was by all +appearances an ancient wood, for the line between it and the +prairie was distinct, appearing as if the shrubs and lesser flora +had acquiesced to fate and retreated beyond the forest’s +claimed boundaries, rather than continue for countless ages to +charge and then be pushed back, to gain a foothold only to be +thrown out a year or two later. The trees themselves were mighty +pinions of strength, tall and of great girth, and spread far +apart from one another, leaving wide open spaces between their +towering trunks. A short, soft grass clothed the land that +stretched on in their midst, joined in its solitude by a hearty +looking moss that stretched itself out on the trunks of the trees +and on the rocks and boulders that lay scattered here and there +among the open spaces. Far above, the trees’ great branches +spread out a thick canopy, covering the whole of the forest area +in a relaxing and invigorating twilight, rendering itself homely +and quaint. After a few moments of enjoying that most pleasing +scene, I roused and extricated myself unwillingly from its +enchanted depths and set off once more into the heart of the +woods, having no where else to go.</p> + +<p>After a time, I cannot say how long, I came upon a small, +trickling stream which flowed deeper into the woods, that +direction being northward. A short walk along its path, after +refreshing myself to content with its pure waters, brought me to +its destination: a large lake into which the forest opened. Its +banks were very gradual and the grass of the woodland led right +up to the water’s edge. The surface of the water itself was +smooth and delicate.</p> + +<p>Amidst the pleasantness of the scene, there was something +missing from the feel of the area: inhabitants. There was an +abundance of wild life of all kinds, and much organic life as +well, but something greater than flora or fauna was missing: +people. I had traveled so far, and without any sighting of a +person. It was a lonely and desolate feeling which prevailed, +despite the abundances of life. Novelties soon grow worthless +with no one to share them with, ideas become meaningless if not +communicated timely, emotions grow boisterous and uncontrollable +with no end to receive them.</p> + +<p>I was quite alone, unfortunately, and it dampened my spirits +considerably. Feeling despondent, I turned and walked sullenly +from the lake’s edge into the woodland once more, with no +definite purpose in mind, only a meandering thought of my dismal +situation. My thoughts morphed, in succession, from anxiety to +despair, to anger, to frustration, and in my frustration I knelt +down and picked up a fallen branch from the ground, walked to the +nearest tree, and eyed a strange, protruding knob that stuck out +from the trunk. I held the branch at shoulder’s length and +swung it at the knob with all the force of my built up emotions. +It hit with a crash and a hollow thud, leaving the branch broken +and my arm sore, but the knob undamaged.</p> + +<p>But then something unexpected happened: with a grating noise, +a small hole appeared part way up the trunk, coming from what +looked to be solid wood, for no sign was seen before of its +having an opening. From the newly opened hole was then thrust out +a head, hairy and with a short snout-like edifice for a nose and +mouth. Its eyes and the furry hair which covered its face were +brown, and a few wily whiskers protruded from its snout. With a +look of utter surprise, as if it had not expected me as much as I +had not expected it, it eyed me closely for a moment and then +looked anxiously from side to side and told me to come in.</p> + +<p>When those words passed its lips, or whatever artifice it +spoke from, a great weight fell from my shoulders. After a short +moment, quickened by my relief, a door appeared in the trunk of +the tree, its edges previously hidden behind the thick mosses. +Swinging inwards, it opened and revealed the creature standing +there, beckoning me to enter. I did, and the door shut behind me, +leaving me in the darkness of the hollow tree.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 3: Zards and Canitaurs</h3> + +<p>My eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness, and once they did I +saw that the trunk was hollowed out to the extent of eight feet +in diameter, with two stairways, one up and another down, filling +either corner of the small entry room in which I found myself. +Observing that my vision was returned enough to see, the strange +creature which had greeted me led me down the descending +staircase for a short way, until we came into a cavern which was +delved beneath the roots of the tree.</p> + +<p>The walls and floor of the cavern, or more accurately, the +sitting room, for such it appeared to be, were paneled with a +thick, heavy wood with an almost artificially symmetric grain, +and the ceiling was done in diagonal boards of the same. Sitting +in the center of the room was a brick-laid pit in which burned an +illuminating fire, and around it was placed an odd covering frame +that caught up the smoke and channeled it via underground +passages to some distant wilderness, where its sightless remnants +would dissipate into the atmosphere unnoticed. On the near side +of the fire was a round table flanked by four large, comfortable +chairs, padded by cushions made from the same material as the +various carpets and tapestries around the room.</p> + +<p>There were two more of the strange creatures seated at the +table, called Canitaurs as I later found out, and as they are +closely entwined with my story, being prominent participants, I +will describe them in some detail here. They stood erect like a +man, yet were quite contrasted in appearance. Their skin for one +was covered in a thick, impenetrable coat of hair, much like a +dog or a bear’s. Their hands, also, were less distinct in +the fingers, though but slightly, and their limbs were a little +longer and thicker than a man’s. The two most notable +differences, however, were the formation of their shoulders and +chest, which were very pronounced and muscular, and their faces. +The latter’s features were brought to a point in the short +snout, or muzzle, that formed their nose and mouth, taking their +chins with it and leaving a long line from their neck to their +chest open. Humanity prevailed in the rest of their features, +though, giving them the look of a man and canine hybrid.</p> + +<p>By then I had overcome my initial perplexion at the sight of +the Canitaurs, and I endeavored to put a strong check over my +emotions in order to prevent another outbreak of panic and to +remain cool and candid, come what would. Yet it was, ironically, +the product of my rashness that I had found their habitation at +all. This I successfully did, and as I entered the room, led by +the Canitaur who was on watch, the others stood politely and +greeted me with an apparent intrigue.</p> + +<p>Our conversation proceeded at follows:</p> + +<p>“I am Wagner of the Canitaurs, my friend,” said +the one who appeared to be the leader, “And these are +Taurus and Bernibus,” the latter being the one who had led +me down. “Welcome to Daem.”</p> + +<p>“I am Jehu,” I told them, “It is a pleasure +to meet you.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, and under such circumstances as well. Tell me, +how did you come to be here?”</p> + +<p>Here I smiled nervously, and replied, “I am a traveler +from a distant land, and came here by the advice of a +friend.”</p> + +<p>At this somewhat false answer, more in character than in +content, Wagner looked at me wonderingly, as if detecting my +falsehood, but did not follow his look with any probing +questions, to my great relief. In order to steer the conversation +away from this point, I added quickly, “I am not at all +disappointed, either, for the landscape is beautiful and the +trees and foliage are wondrously large, but I was surprised to +find that, from the prairie to the lake, I saw no one living +among these quaint locations.”</p> + +<p>Wagner looked at me closely, with a hint of almost reverencing +respect and said, “You were very fortunate in your travels, +I assure you, for had you arrived at any other time, you would +have fallen into fouler hands than ours by far.”</p> + +<p>“I do not understand what you mean,” I said.</p> + +<p>“Of course not, I am forgetting your new arrival has +left you unacquainted with affairs that I am faced with everyday. +Let me explain: we, that is, the Canitaurs, have been in open +hostilities with the other group of people on this island, the +Zards, for as long as we can remember. They have great military +superiority in this section of Daem, and when we come here we are +forced to live in hiding, in outposts such as this +one.”</p> + +<p>“Why not just make peace?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Because it is our ideologies that conflict, neither +group of us will yield, and the solution can only be decided by +force, military force. It is fortunate that you have come among +us first, for they would have mistreated you.”</p> + +<p>“So you have said, though I do not see why I was not +captured by them on my journey through the plains, if they are as +powerful in this quarter as you say,” I replied.</p> + +<p>“As I said, the timing of your arrival was very +fortunate,” he said, “At any other time you would +have surely been caught, and then your fate would have been +uncertain, but yesterday was the Zard’s new year, the +Kootch Patah, on which they spend all night in celebrations and +revelries. Because of this, they were all soundly asleep on your +trip through the prairie, very possibly laying at your feet, +covered by the tall grasses.”</p> + +<p>So my fears were not as unfounded as I had thought, was my +predestined deja vu, then, real as well? Only time would +tell.</p> + +<p>“I am indeed lucky then, as you have said, not only in +the Zard’s unattentiveness, but also in finding of your +secreted habitation, as well as your friendly welcoming of +me,” I said.</p> + +<p>“I must confess,” he chuckled, “It is not +merely from a one-sided hospitality that you are +welcomed.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed?” I said.</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” he answered, “For your appearance +and the circumstances of your arrival are almost uncannily the +realizations of one of our most ancient prophesies, one which we +have longed to have fulfilled.”</p> + +<p>“Is that so?” I rhetorically asked.</p> + +<p>“Surely it is,” he said with a smile, though from +happiness or humor I could not tell. He went on soberly, saying: +“The prophecy is concerning the kinsman redeemer, one of +the ancients sent by Onan, the Lord of the Past, to redeem us +from the destruction of this polluted world.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by ‘one of the +ancients’?” I interjected questioningly.</p> + +<p>“Exactly what I said,” Wagner replied with a light +hearted smile, “Let me explain.”</p> + +<p>But before he could, we were interrupted by a violent +scratching and pounding at the door, along with some grunting +voices which I could not understand. The Canitaur’s ears, +which were quite large, though more erect and postured than +floppy, quickly rose to attention, and they had spent not a +moment listening when they uniformly chorused, +“Zards,” in a hoarse whisper. My earlier fear, then +mysterious but now understood, returned in full force, and my +face writhed in horror as I ejaculated remorsely, “Then we +are lost.”</p> + +<p>Wagner turned gravely towards me and said, “Perhaps, but +there is still hope. Come, follow me,” and rising from his +chair he led the way to the furthest corner of the room. A +primitive tapestry was hanging there, and Wagner lifted it up +while Bernibus and Taurus hit two hidden switches, one being on +either extremity of the room, to avoid discovery. That unlocked +the wall behind the tapestry. It opened along lines previously +concealed by the wood’s grain and revealed a small +cubbyhole built into the wall, probably meant for its present +use, concealment. Wagner led us into it and no sooner was the +door, or wall, latched again than the Zards, having broken down +the outside door by brute strength, flooded into the room.</p> + +<p>We could see them as they did, for the wall that concealed us +had many small holes, and the tapestry as well, so that on the +inside we could see all that happened in the well lit room, while +they could not see us, as there was no light to reveal us. +Indeed, I had been sitting facing the hidden compartment during +our brief dialog and had not detected it at all. The situation +was quite different at that time, though, for the Zards were +actively looking for us, whereas I was merely glancing +occasionally at the wall.</p> + +<p>Now that they were closer, I could easily understand their +conversation:</p> + +<p>“Blast it, they aren’t here,” said one,</p> + +<p>“Probably deserted the place after Garlop saw them, he +should have kept watch.”</p> + +<p>“Why? He couldn’t have stopped a group of them, +and they’re too keen to be followed.”</p> + +<p>“Aye, he did right to hurry off, but it would be a shame +if they escaped,” another joined.</p> + +<p>“The King is here though, and there’s no fooling +him.</p> + +<p>“Hear ye, hear ye,” the others assented, that +being a common phrase among them which was the equivalent of an +‘I agree’ or ‘Amen’.</p> + +<p>A larger, more commanding Zard, whom the others looked in +deference to, then came down the stairs, saying as he entered the +room, “Let us not celebrate prematurely, gentlemen. There +is nothing of interest above, so we will have to search carefully +down here.”</p> + +<p>“Sir, is it true it was a hairless one he saw?” +one asked him.</p> + +<p>“We are all hairless here,” he said, laughing with +the others, “But yes, it is reported that Garlop saw one of +the ancients, and with his sharp eyes and knowledge of history, +it is assumed to be true. I need not remind you, then, the need +to find them before they are too far away, it is imperative to +the cause that the ancient is not brought to the hidden fortress +of our adversaries.”</p> + +<p>The Zards then set to work with great assiduity searching for +any clues of the Canitaur’s whereabouts, examining +everything meticulously, yet quickly. They tore the furniture +apart to look for hidden compartments, followed the smoke pipes +through the ground to their outlets, tore off the floor boards to +look for secret passages, and did the same to the ceiling.</p> + +<p>Before I continue with my story, let me pause for a moment to +describe to you the appearance of the Zards, for you are probably +curious as to what they look like.</p> + +<p>Quite different from the Canitaurs, they were, in fact, +completely hairless, being almost lizard-like. They stood erect, +about the same height as a man, that is, about six feet or a +little over that, and their bodies resembled those of alligators, +with short, thickset legs, stout arms, and a long body with a +tail draping down to the ground, looking like a giant tongue, +though covered, of course, in scales. Their heads were small, +having a little skull on which were the eyes and ears and with a +long snout that, like the Canitaurs’, held their noses, +mouths, and chin. Huge, sharp teeth filled their mouths and gave +them an odd, fiercely sophisticated look. Their hands were thick +with long fingers, and though their overall appearance had an air +of awkwardness about it, they set to their tasks with great +dexterity, though if it was natural or the result of their +excited state, I could not tell. Indeed, I began to grow worried +when the Zard who was removing the walls, to check for holes or +tunnels, drew near to us as he methodically pried off the panels +with a metal bar and looked for anything suspicious.</p> + +<p>He moved along quickly and was just about to put the bar to +our covering and pull when another Zard, on the other end of the +room, held aloft a piece of paper, calling the attentions of the +others to it. Our almost discoverer went himself to the other +Zard, and we were, for a moment at least, saved from being +exposed. Having read the paper, the taller Zard, the King, said +to the others, “Well done, lads. We have here a map to the +Canitaur’s hidden fortress. Let us go to Nunami, gather +some troops, and surprise them. Today may prove victorious, so +let us hurry.”</p> + +<p>The others assented and as a body they went up the stairs and +out the door, hurrying forth, it seemed, to do their dastardly +deeds, and in their ardor not leaving behind even a single one to +guard the hideout. Despite our good fortunes, my spirits were +damp, for my sorrow of the Canitaur’s ill fate was as a +wound in my bosom, knowing that I had been the sole reason for +their discovery. What a good kinsman redeemer, I thought, for my +coming may have ended the wars, or put its completion in motion, +yet not in the favor of my hosts.</p> + +<p>To my chagrin, however, the Canitaurs, led by Wagner, were +buxom, seeming to find great humor in what had happened. Turning +to them in a zealous perplexity, I said spiritedly, “How +can you laugh? You may have escaped, but your brethren are +doomed, and you yourselves will not last long around enemies +without the protection of the other Canitaurs.”</p> + +<p>But my rebuke only seemed to make their laughter and mirth +more hearty, and they raged on without ceasing for a time. After +a while, when they were reduced to a smiling remnant of their +former pleasure, Wagner turned gravely towards me and said, +“Forgive me, Jehu, for not explaining it to you. You are +right to chastise us, but the situation is not as you seem to +think it, for the map they found was a fake, and will lead them +to nowhere of importance, while we affect our escape. We are +lucky that they left no guard, but come, let us not tempt fate +and remain any longer in this compromised outpost, to the +fortress we go!”</p> + +<p>He finished and met with the approbations of the others, and +accordingly, we exited the cubby hole and made our way through +the rummaged room, up the stairs, and out of the tree. It was now +early evening, and the temperance of twilight, with its soft and +mellow splendors, only increased the pleasantness of the area. A +slight breeze prevailed and rustled the leaves and boughs of the +giant trees just enough to render it pacifying and comforting. +Being quickened by the breeze, the lake danced on in its earlier +smoothness, only in a faster tempo, improving the ruggedness of +the watery wrinkles. The last visiting rays from the sun were +congregated on the eastern shores, saying their good-byes to the +glowing trees, and giving their parting respects before being +whisked away to their native lands of fire, to come again in +great numbers on the morrow.</p> + +<p>We set off around the lake, making our way northward towards +the rugged mountains rising before us in a grand show of might. +Wagner and Taurus walked before and behind us, respectively, +Wagner leading the way and Taurus erasing the marks of our +passing, and both watching for any signs of ambush. Bernibus +walked abreast of myself, keeping me in pleasant company, for he +was a very enjoyable companion.</p> + +<p>During our walk, Bernibus and I had an insightful +conversation, of which I will relate to you the following, as you +may find it interesting:</p> + +<p>“Tell me,” I said to him, “You seem to be a +jovial people, despite the war that you find yourselves in, but +are all of your people of the same attitude?”</p> + +<p>“Very nearly, yes,” he replied, “For though +we do not wish war, the principles at stake here are important +enough for us to sacrifice an easy life for them. We’ve +grown used to it, everything is done in such a way as to promote +secrecy and stealth, those being our main advantages in the +conflict. Out of hundreds of outposts like the one we were just +in, for example, only four others have ever been discovered, and +the Zards still have no clue where our fortress is.” This +he said in a boastful manner, but as he did a faint spirit of +sorrow spread across his face for an instant, as if in memory of +one of the raids of previous times.</p> + +<p>“That explains their rapture when they found the false +map,” I returned, “But I must admit that I am still +ignorant of the cause of the wars. It was said that it was +conflicting ideologies, yet that is self-evident, as all conflict +is at heart just that. I don’t mean, either, the actions +that caused the most recent inflammation, but what exactly your +conflicting ideologies are? What is it that keeps you from +harmony?”</p> + +<p>“You have a knack for hard questions,” he said +with a smile. Then he paused for a moment to collect his +thoughts. At length, he continued, “The Canitaurs have a +profound respect for all that has gone before us, we honor the +traditions of our ancestors and revere their beliefs and their +ideas of truth. The past, in the guise of history, is the key to +the future, we believe, and we hold strictly to the worship of +Onan, the Lord of the Past,” at this my attention was +perked. He continued, “Our adherence to the ways of our +ancestors is based on the idea that what has continued throughout +the ages has continued because it is right, that it has remained +steadfast because it is based on the immovable foundations of +reality. We follow Onan because he is real, because the past has +existed, and it is certain that it will continue to exist, and +because that existence dictates the operation of the present. +Although we may seem ritualistic and entrenched in tradition to +the outside observer, we enjoy the comforts of knowing that we +are on a well tread path, that we are not alone in time but in +company with our forebears. We are called the Pastites because of +our beliefs, because of our tradition based lives that instill in +us a reliance on history, on the events of the past as a light by +which to guide our own actions, as a road paved by the flesh and +blood of our forefathers which leads to happiness and +peace.”</p> + +<p>Bernibus paused for another moment, as if in contemplation +once again, before he continued, saying, “The Zards are +followers of the future, or Futurists as they are called. They +believe that the past is just that, the past: the ignorant and +selfish times of the unenlightened who were too shrouded by +prejudices to understand the world clearly. Instead they place +their faith in the scientific and philosophical ideas of the day, +believing that while history and the past were delegated to the +control of the unsophisticated whose ways were superstitious and +outdated, the present contains truth in its pure form. Reform and +revolution are their watchwords, for they tinker with the very +foundations of society and life in an attempt to cultivate it. +Zimri is their Lord, of the Future, and they follow him loosely, +for he doesn’t require the strict adhesion that Onan does, +which suits their independent and relaxed world view very +well.”</p> + +<p>He went on, in summary, “In a word, the Pastites believe +that history, the reality of the past, governs the present and +the future, while the Futurists believe that the future defines +the present and the past.”</p> + +<p>“I begin to see the differences,” I replied in a +humble, questioning manner, “And yet they seem to me to be +passive, secondary differences, the kind that result in a +conflict of subtle disagreements here and there, argued over +dessert like tariffs or taxes, not at all violent. How is it that +they take such a prominent role in everyday life that they can +only be resolved by force? What is it that takes it from the +fireside to the battlefield?”</p> + +<p>Here I was slightly taken aback by the expression on +Bernibus’ face, it was one of surprise mingled with +apprehension and questioning. He said, “Then you do not +know?”</p> + +<p>“Know what?”</p> + +<p>He laughed, “I take it you do not.” Becoming +solemn again, he continued, “Our land, Daem is on the edge +of ruin, and has been for all of my life and those of many +generations before me. About 530 years ago there was a great war +on earth, one in which no restraint was used, no mutually assured +destruction, for nuclear weapons came into the hands of those who +cared not for any life, not even their own. Tensions were high +for a decade, and in the following segregation, the peoples of +the earth lost their personal connection with their enemies, and, +as always happens, ceased to view them as equals, but instead as +evil ones bent on their destruction. Things came to such a crisis +that at last a little flame was lit and it grew and grew until it +became a full scale nuclear war. The destruction was total: no +one was exempt, as almost everything, and everyone, was +destroyed. The only surviving place was this island, which is the +sole habitat of the delcator beetle, a small insect that digests +nuclear waste and neutralizes it. The first few decades were +horrible, before the atmosphere recovered enough to return to +normal, and in that time things mutated and grew gigantic. The +trees and foliage, as you see, are an example of this, even the +redwood trees of old were nothing compared to the trees of Daem. +And the Zards and Canitaurs grew and changed as well, and, as we +lived on either ends of the island, as we do now, our forms +morphed into the separate forms that they now take.</p> + +<p>“And that is where our conflict turned violent,” +he continued, “For it is our desire, on both sides, to +return the earth to its previous state. The Pastites want to +return through time and stop the destruction before it happens, +because we believe that the past is what must be changed in order +to change the present and future. It is the actions of the past +that brought about the present woes, and it is they that must be +undone. For their part, the Futurists want to change the present +through the future, to go into the future and bring back its +completion, in the form of restored RNA cells, which is congruent +with their belief that the past is the past and all that matters +is that which is yet to come, that which still has the hope of +existence.”</p> + +<p>I looked at him as he finished and said, “But, why not +do both. Wouldn’t that be more effective than fighting each +other? How can continued destruction revert previous destruction +inflicted in the same manner? Could not both ideas be +tried?”</p> + +<p>“If only they could,” he replied. “It goes +back to Onan and Zimri, you see, for we ourselves cannot do such +things, but the gods whom we follow can. Shortly after the +worldwide destruction, we, meaning both the Zards and the +Canitaurs, received the prophesy of the kinsman redeemer, who +would be sent to help us change the earth to its former majesty. +He was to be one from the time right before the beginning of the +final firefight, one of the ancients who still kept the pure +human form. Our hostilities broke out in an attempt to control +the entire island, so that when he should come, the dominant +force would have him. Each side was convinced that theirs was the +right way, the only way through which the end of restoring the +earth’s ecosystem could be reached. You are the kinsman +redeemer, Jehu, for you fit the prophecy perfectly, and I am glad +that you have fallen in with us.”</p> + +<p>After his discourse, Bernibus fell into a silent meditation, +as did I, and the rest of our walk through the now dark +wilderness was one of silence and solitude. Given the cessation +of action in my narrative, I will take this opportunity to +describe the circumstances of my arrival on the island of Daem, +about which you are no doubt wondering.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 4: Onan, Lord of the Past</h3> + +<p>Not wishing to delve too far into my past or relate what would +be mundane and disconnected with my story, I will summarize with +brevity what my situation was. I was a military man, an Air force +pilot to be exact, and was on active duty patrolling the no-fly +zones off the coast of China, it being, at that time, an area of +very high tensions. The situation was grim, as any small incident +promised to set the pendulums of war into motion, but the worst +had subsided, and things were beginning to look as if that +incendiary incident wouldn’t come after all. The main part +of my story begins on a cloudy night of what was to me just a few +weeks back, though it seems like many ages ago now, and indeed, +it was.</p> + +<p>I was flying over an area that was littered with small +volcanic islands, the type that rise above or fall below sea +level continually, so that what one year is above water is later +below. Some of them have even been known to only rise above the +waves for a short time, and then vanish from the sea completely, +worn down by wind and waves. The night was murky, and the air was +thick with water and dust, the result being that there was no +natural light whatsoever, and any artificial light that could be +mustered was largely reduced to nothing, visibility being no more +than twenty feet.</p> + +<p>The wind was calm and the flying, though strenuous from lack +of sight, was without turbulence. I was doing well, until out of +nowhere I heard a loud crack of thunder, followed by a bolt of +lightning that hit the plane. At once I lost all of the +instruments, excepting the actual control of the plane in manual, +meaning that the radar and all the guidance systems were +crippled, and I could see nothing. Not knowing what to do, and +not being able to radio for help, I pulled down and slowed until +I was just barely remaining airborne, and began looking for an +island to land on.</p> + +<p>Once below 200 feet, the clouds gave way and I saw an island. +I aimed for it and slowed more, preparing to land on it. I did, +though just barely, for it was extremely small, being one of +those inconsistent volcanic islands. Getting out of the plane, I +was greeted by a strong blast of wind that was dripping water +from its cold grip, and I was instantly chilled to the bone. +There was nothing on the island at all, except for the hole in +its center, from which, no doubt, came the lava that had formed +it. It was on a slightly elevated hill, and looked as if it had +not erupted for many thousands of years. With nothing to do at +that moment except to get an idea of the island that I had landed +on, I walked over to it and knelt down beside it, peering blankly +into its depths. It seemed to be absolutely devoid of light, and, +as often happens, its darkness was mysterious to me, for I +wondered what lay hidden in it, and my curiosity got the better +of my common sense. I leaned slowly forward. Then, as I did so, I +heard a loud and terrible voice, personified in the crashing of +the waves and the moaning of the wind, and it said in a +monotonous and unending refrain, “Enter.” Nothing +more nor less than the continual repetition of that word. This +alarmed me, and as I did not want to do that, I began to stand +upright and back away from it, to return to my plane. But as I +raised my knee from the ground in order to stand, my other knee +slipped under the increased pressure, and in the ensuing +instability, I completely lost my balance and fell forward into +the hole.</p> + +<p>There are certain events in our lives that change the whole +course of our existence, and falling forward into the hole was +one for me. Its immediate effects weren’t injurious to me +at all, but it matured with time, like a good wine, and grew +until it overcame me, starting the chain of events which would +result in my demise. Yet not only mine, but that of everyone.</p> + +<p>Let me continue, though, and I will explain what I mean and +not confuse you more. I landed with a thud on a pile of soft dirt +some twenty feet down, in a dark place which seemed open, not +cavernous and cramped as I would have expected. My eyes adjusted +to the darkness, and as they did, I realized it was not now +totally lightless, for there was a faint glow coming from +somewhere in the distance. Looking up through the passage I had +come down, I saw that there was no way to climb up it, and, +accordingly, set off to find the source of the faint light that +came from the distance. After walking cautiously through the +darkness, I reached a curve and then a tunnel-like exit to the +spacious cavern that I was in, and as I turned it I saw the +source of the light: lava flows. The room, or area, I had entered +was rather thin and round, with a river of lava flowing downwards +and a small ledge of rock winding along its edge. Together they +descended spirally downwards at a gentle angle, taking the form +of an intelligently designed ramp. As I followed it down I soon +broke out in a sweat, for the gurgling, fiery plasma heated the +area up to a warm degree.</p> + +<p>I found myself looking intently at the flowing fire beside +which I walked, its strangeness stealing my meditations from +other things, and I looked at it absorbingly, not paying +attention to the path that I walked on, so entranced was I with +the feeling that its boiling character gave to me.</p> + +<p>As I walked along the lava preoccupied with my meditations and +not paying conscious attention to the path, my subconscious was +carefully monitoring my way, and when once my eyes glanced +upward, I quickly saw that my surroundings had changed. The +narrow, spiral descending tunnel had given way to a very +cavernous area where the lava flow formed a large lake of fire. A +domed ceiling crowned this great room, though not exact and +polished, having instead a rough appearance as it stretched from +wall to wall, a semi-chasm of a hundred yards, more or less, with +its uppermost height being not less than twenty yards. On the far +walls were two lava falls, trickling from raised tunnels in the +wall into the body of lava, which covered the whole bottom of the +room. There was a platform that sat in the middle of the fiery +lake, connected to the tunnel I had come from by a walkway of +stone. This room was different than the other two, also, in its +fashion, for while the previous had vague evidences of +intelligent design, this one was very obviously artificially +decorated. The walkway above mentioned was of ornate stone with +an intricate design of circles, squares, and triangles carved +into it, and on each corner of the center stage was a long pillar +that reached from floor to ceiling, each carved like a totem +pole, with a variety of animals and shapes stacked upon one +another. The dome was done ornately as well, for I saw as I +walked further into the room that what I had thought had been +imperfections in the dome proved to be an elaborate three +dimensional sculpture that stuck out from the ceiling, depicting +an intricate scene of figures and telling a story of some great +saga of war and peace, pride and prejudice, love and hate, faith +and betrayal, all combined to make the greatest mural: history, +the story of time itself.</p> + +<p>As I looked in awe upon its beauty, I was startled by a voice +coming from an unseen figure somewhere on the center platform. It +said, “Jehu, you have come at last. Welcome.”</p> + +<p>The voice was very gentle and pleasing to the ears, slowly and +confidently spoken, meticulously articulated. I looked around in +its direction and saw a short, elderly gnome with a long white +beard reaching to his chest and a short crop of hair on his +oblong head, which was outfitted with a sharp, angular nose, a +pair of sparkling eyes, and two protruding ears. He was no more +than four feet tall, and no less than three, with a dignified +poise to him, and was dressed in a dark robe with a black and +gold design on it. We looked at each other for a moment, he +smiling pleasantly and me expressionless, for though I felt that +I should be surprised, or at least bewildered, at the sight of a +gnome in an underground cavern, I was not, it was as if I had +almost been expecting it to happen, as if in the back of my mind +I had already been there and done that. Perhaps it was only a +case of predestined deja vu, or maybe it was something less +tangible. Either way, the gnome then broke the silence again, +saying:</p> + +<p>“Let me introduce myself, Jehu. I am Onan, the Lord of +the Past, and these are the Chambers of History.”</p> + +<p>He then paused for a moment, waiting for my reaction, which +was, again, not too much surprised, but rather complacent, +thought I didn’t look bored or snobbish, as is sometimes +the case in that situation. Instead I became as genial as +possible, realizing that whatever force was behind this, it was +greater than I.</p> + +<p>“Hello, Onan, it is pleasure to meet you,” I said, +advancing with a proffered hand extended towards him, which I +realized belatedly made me appear oafish, but he took it +good-naturedly, and with his pleasantness eliminated my unease at +shaking the hand of one half my size. He then beckoned for me to +follow him, and turned and walked to the center of the platform, +where he unexpectedly laid down on his back, facing the muraled +dome. I did the same, somewhat hesitantly, though I found it to +be quite comfortable once I was down. He saw my sluggishness and +by way of explanation said to me:</p> + +<p>“Do not be troubled, my dear Jehu, for we lie on our +backs to bring about clarity of mind.”</p> + +<p>Then he continued speaking, calling my attention to the +sculptured dome:</p> + +<p>“That is history,” he said.</p> + +<p>“What do you mean,” I asked, “I’ve +always viewed history as an organic being, constantly growing as +it devours the present.”</p> + +<p>“It is an organic being,” he replied, “A +monstrous beast of sorts. But that (meaning the mural on the +dome), my friend, is the genetics of history, its code that +dictates what it is and what it will become, the master +plan.”</p> + +<p>Allow me to take a moment to describe the mural for you. +Firstly, its form: it was spread out across the dome like the +painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, its whole being a broad, +harmonious picture that complimented itself, telling a story +throughout its united branches. It was much more than a painting, +though, because it stood out from the dome like a group of +completely independent sculptures, but placed so as to tell the +combined story with a sort of native ease, not stressed or +artificial, yet seeming as natural and beautiful as water in its +flowing grace. Now I will endeavor to describe its content, +though I realize that in this case the picture must be worth many +millions of words.</p> + +<p>The center of the mural was its beginning, and there a man was +standing proudly upright, dressed in splendid clothes of fine +linens. He held in his hand a magnificent cup of gold with a row +each of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and pearls running along its +breadth. It contained a dark red liquid, which appeared to be +boiling, and the man was holding it out to a fierce lion whose +shoulders were four feet across and whose mouth was like a +cavern, with stalactites and stalagmites of the most terrifying +nature. With an evil glare in its eyes toward the man, the lion +drank thirstily from the cup. Around the man and the lion there +was a ring of blazing fire, leaping out of the dome like great +pillars of flame, entrapping them within its narrow circle. On +the outside of the fire was a group of mighty lizards and beasts, +the smallest of which was larger than several elephants. Their +whole attention was paid to a great fight in which they were +engaged, yet their foe was naught but the reflections of +themselves on the great sea which surrounded the island that held +these strange sights. Several of them were dead or severely +wounded at having been accidentally mauled by their fighting +brethren. Across the ocean from the island there was another +landmass, whose far edges were not in sight. On it were many +ape-men bowing down in worship of a gigantic White Eagle which +was soaring far above them with a multitude of lords and ladies +gripped in its massive talons. The lords were dressed in silken +robes and adorned with many pieces of fine jewelry, and the +ladies were clothed in skirts of crimson; both groups had upon +their faces looks of pleasure, and contempt towards those far +below them.</p> + +<p>Onan continued speaking, “You see, Jehu, the whole of +history, both that now written and that yet to come, is planned, +executed according to its own power, for the course of time is +marked as clearly as the tides: by its own coming and going it is +revealed. Revealed, however, only in an abstract and undefined +manner, so that while its marks are clearly seen, it is only by +special revelations that it is shown in a comprehensive and +detailed light. And that is why I have summoned you here, my dear +Jehu, for you are the chosen one, summoned to help me.”</p> + +<p>I was skeptical and asked him, “You summoned me? But +how, I was to forced to crash land on the island by the weather, +and accidentally fell into the volcano’s mouth. It was by +my own freewill decisions that the circumstances of my arrival +here were fulfilled.”</p> + +<p>Onan laughed quietly and said, “History is not an +unstoppable machine, allied with fate to control the destiny of +all things past and future, nor does it nullify the power of +man’s freewill, yet the force that acts upon the minds of +men to form them is history itself. You see, men are not the +opponents of history and fate, for they do not impede its +progress with their freewill decisions, instead they are its +minions, its slaves, building up its strength and carrying out +its dictates by its influence, so that they become history as +they serve it, adding to its organism their own consciouses. +While you were brought to these Chambers by circumstances of your +own choosing, your desires in choosing those circumstances were +dictated by the experiences of the past. But never mind how I +summoned you, for you are here now.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” I said, not wishing to disagree with +the Lord of the Past. Still, I was in a stubborn frame of mind, +and asked, “But if the past is as powerful as you construe +it to be, then why does the Lord of the Past need the help of a +mere mortal like myself? Or do you mean you need a more direct +agent than those you control only by influence?”</p> + +<p>“Something like that,” he answered. “You +see, there was a great disaster once, which was blamed on me, and +in order to atone for it, I promised to send a kinsman redeemer +before anything so devastating happened again, and I believe you +are the perfect choice.”</p> + +<p>“What devastating event hasn’t been blamed on the +past in one form or another?” I said, “But why not +just go yourself?”</p> + +<p>“It is against the rules,” Onan told me.</p> + +<p>“How typical.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed, I sometimes wonder what good it is to be a +god if you can’t do anything yourself,” he said with +a sigh.</p> + +<p>“What do you want me to do there, then?”</p> + +<p>“I cannot tell you, unfortunately.”</p> + +<p>“Against the rules?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Very much so. All that I can do is send an agent with a +slight understanding of the situation of history and physical +existence to the people, but he must make the judgments of how to +proceed all on his own. If I did tell you, it wouldn’t be +much different than going myself, and then there would be no +human resolution to human problems.”</p> + +<p>“Our lives serve as a spectator sport to the gods, +then?” I inquired of him.</p> + +<p>“I am afraid not,” he said, “It is much more +serious than that. The Greeks were not all wrong, you +know.”</p> + +<p>“Who else, I wonder.”</p> + +<p>“Not many,” he sighed, “But tell me, are you +ready?”</p> + +<p>“As I’ll ever be.”</p> + +<p>“Then I will begin. The understanding of life begins +with the understanding of physical existence,” Onan said, +“And by physical existence I mean the quality of being +materially animated. Not to confuse it with consciousness, which +is the ability to think and reason, it is rather the realm in +which one has substance and continuity. I will call the elements +of physical being time and matter, those words representing +widely known concepts. Matter provides the raw substance and time +gives those lifeless objects a plane of being to exist in. +Without time, matter can do nothing except sit in a sterile +state, in a vacuum in which nothing could occur; and without +matter, time would flow, but nothing would move with it. Thus, +the basis of physical existence is time and matter, each being +useless separately, yet together being the perfect combination of +a tangible object and the fluid, forward movement to animate it. +Imagine it as a three-dimensional painting, matter given depth by +time.”</p> + +<p>“Not so complicated,” I said cheerfully.</p> + +<p>“Not yet, you mean,” he laughed.</p> + +<p>“Exactly, tell me more.”</p> + +<p>“Not just yet, Jehu. First you must help me.”</p> + +<p>“The time to begin has come then?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you must go now,” he said, “And +remember, I’ll be watching. Good-bye.”</p> + +<p>And with that, not even standing up, Onan put me into a deep +state of comatose and sent me through time to the unknown lands +and people whom I was to deliver. I awoke, as you will remember, +in the center of the savanna. Now that you know the circumstances +of my arrival on Daem, I will go back to where I was before: on +the way to the Canitaur’s hidden fortress.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 5: The Treeway</h3> + +<p>I was walking in silence through the rugged forests of +northern Daem alongside Bernibus the Canitaur, with his fellows +Wagner and Taurus before and behind us, respectively, the former +leading the way, the latter covering our tracks, and both on the +lookout for an ambush. An entire lifetime of guerrilla warfare +and privations of all kinds had instilled in the Canitaurs a +strong and prevailing sense of caution, which sometimes rendered +their lighthearted and almost spiritually frivolous nature to the +casual observer a dense, deceiving demeanor used to conceal their +true selves. But that was not the case, I believe, for they were, +or at least Bernibus was, truly amorous in personality.</p> + +<p>The sky was then in its deepest dark, and in the few breaks in +the canopy above large enough to be seen through, there were few +celestial lights to illuminate the depths of that mountainous +forest. The forest itself sprawled like a great metropolis along +the lands above the large central lake of Daem, Lake Umquam +Renatusum, which was close beside the Canitaur outpost where we +had narrowly escaped discovery and capture. However deficient in +sight the forest was, it was abounding with sounds, everything +from the call of the owl to groan of the bull frog, it was as if +the whole of the forest had congregated about us, drawn to us by +some unknown scent of interest and intrigue.</p> + +<p>Continuing on for some time in the same way, I found myself +growing weary, nodding my head slowly towards the oblivion of +sleep, until I was brought to an instant liveliness by +Wagner’s announcement that we had reached our destination. +I looked around carefully, yet I saw nothing at all to indicate +the entrance to a large, covert military establishment, much to +my companions delight. Their whimsical sense of humor surfaced +once again as they laughed with seemingly infinite pleasure, both +at my wondering expression and with a sense of satisfaction at +their own cleverness. After the outburst had been subdued and a +certain level of solemnity had been reached, Wagner approached +the nearest tree and knocked on it with a rhythmic +rut-tut-tut.</p> + +<p>Expecting their old trick to be replayed, I waited for the +tree to open, but to my surprise, it didn’t, instead a +strong rope ladder dropped down from a tree several yards to the +east. This we climbed, and I found that I had been mistaken as to +the height of the ancient wooden towers, for they proved to be +even loftier in dimensions than I had imagined. Accordingly, it +took us a good five minutes to reach its top at a quick and +steady pace, and all through the climb I was terrified at the +long drop, from which the ladder offered no protections. Yet I +made it to the top safely, and found that there was a large +platform built securely among its upper branches, with enough +room to hold a few dozen persons, and there was even comfortable +seating in the center. There were four guards stationed on the +platform, each equipped with a long bow and a quiver of metal +tipped arrows, and though they were hardly visible through the +dim light emitted from the covered lantern that lit the platform, +I could see them quietly conversing with Wagner and Taurus while +Bernibus and myself reposed on the seats provided for that very +purpose.</p> + +<p>They conversed for awhile, though I could not hear them, nor +could I see them well enough to judge their facial expressions, +but Bernibus waylaid any anxious thoughts I had with his +encouraging tone, and also by giving me a drought of ale and a +loaf of bread to overcome my fatigue and hunger, both of which I +quickly consumed. He gave me more bread, but wouldn’t allow +me another glass of ale, for safety’s sake. At first I +thought he deemed me easily overcome by spirits, but I soon +discovered his reasons and thanked him.</p> + +<p>Wagner returned from the guards and, finding that we were +ready to proceed, led us to the far corner of the platform, where +we were joined by Taurus. We then set off on a road that ran +above the lower levels of the canopy, made from jointed platforms +that were attached to the massive limbs of the trees, meeting the +branches of the next tree half way across, forming a continuous, +snaking path far above the ground. Traveling on those paths we +made our way criss-crossingly to the west. The walking was no +more difficult than on the ground, for the boards were firmly +secured to the great branches, which were at least five or six +feet wide, and there were short rails as well.</p> + +<p>After no more than half an hour of travel on the +‘Treeway’, we reached another large platform in the +center of a great tree which was very much like the first one, +excepting that the trunk of the tree came up through its center +and there was a door leading into the trunk. There were eight +guards on this platform, but they let us pass without more than a +friendly gesture, their scouts having, no doubt, seen us long +before and ascertained our identity and intentions. They seemed +to have been expecting the return of Wagner’s group, though +the addition of me they appeared to eye curiously.</p> + +<p>Wagner led us directly to the door, which opened into a set of +circular stairs that wound down the inside of the tree like the +insides of an old world lighthouse tower. The stairs descended +further than the tree ascended, wrapping around almost +infinitely, at least to my wearied senses, which were depleted of +vividness by the treacherous toils of the proceeding day. Down, +down, down went the stairs, until at length we reached the bottom +and found ourselves in a cave, the stairs ending in a small foyer +area which opened out into the cave, it being delved into the +bedrock layer, indicating that we had indeed passed below the +surface on our descent. The passage was really a narrow defile +with high walls on either side, impenetrable due to the fact that +they were the foundations of the earth above. It stretched on for +a ways, its whole length commanded by little, turret like +stations which stuck out from the upper wall, in which were +stationed groups of archers, and though they now stood in a +solemn, dignified manner, any opposition that attempted to force +a way through would have been decimated. Yet they stood at +attention and made no noise or movement at our passing, instead +being the essence of well disciplined soldiery.</p> + +<p>This narrow chasm led onward for about three hundred yards, +the walls stretching upwards in such a fashion that it brought to +mind images of Moses crossing the Red Sea, with great walls of +water suspended in air on either side, ready at any moment to +come crashing down upon them, their lives in the hands of +another. So did I then feel, the Canitaur guards being able to +slay me on the slightest whim of fancy that struck their minds +into a sadistic mood. Yet I was not afraid, instead I was +overcome by a feeling of relaxation, where all cares and worries +are given up as frivolous burdens, not necessary and not helpful, +being, in fact, harmful to the mind.</p> + +<p>The defile, or narrow passage, led to a great abyss, crossable +only by a drawbridge controlled on the other side, which was at +this time lowered and ready for us to cross, which we did, +accompanied by four honor guards who were dressed in all the pomp +and pleasantry known by the Canitaurs. It was a custom among them +to greet newcomers with an honor guard which escorted them to the +body of dignitaries and aristocrats that would be waiting to +welcome them in style. This was done for us, and we were led into +the fortress’ great room, which was used for discussions +and debates, via another winding stairway that took us even +further below the surface. It was a splendid room, equipped with +all kinds of luxuries and embellishments and spreading out like a +quarter circle around a central stage with a podium upon it. +Seats were arranged in arching rows, with a sort of cluster of +seats around a wooden desk being allotted to each of the members +of the council and his aide de camps; there were two hundred such +clusters. Sitting there like they had been woken from sleep to +attend to us were the delegates, looking tired and untidy, a rare +state for a Canitaur to be in, with their clothes ruffled, their +hair uncombed, and their eyes glazed with a discordant state of +mind.</p> + +<p>Wagner, who turned out to be a high official among them, led +me to the top of the stage where the podium was, with a sofa, +desk, and several chairs behind it, concealed from the council by +the raised floor and walls that formed the base of the podium, +creating a small, private anteroom for those at the podium. I +laid myself down tiredly on the sofa to rest while Wagner took +the stage and began to speak.</p> + +<p>“Friends, comrades, associates,” he said to the +council, “I thank you for neglecting your beds at this late +hour to join with us here in the Hall of Meeting, for there is +something very important to be shared. You are all no doubt +familiar with the ancient prophecy of the Externus Miraculum: +long ago it was told that in our extreme need, when hope no +longer exists in the hearts of many, an ancient would be sent by +Onan our lord to redeem and deliver us from the evils of this +world, for as our doom was wrought in their times, so would our +hope originate. The past cannot be changed except by those who +first made it, and our present is dictated by the happenings of +the past, so that for a better future the past must be changed, +and only then will we be freed from the burdens of +history.”</p> + +<p>He continued, “We have therefore long awaited the +arrival of our kinsman redeemer, who will change the past and +prevent the cause of our current woes from happening, for without +its roots, what evil can grow and flourish? Our redeemer was to +come on the Kootch Patah, when our adversaries the Zards are not +watchful, being drunk with celebrations at the turning of the +year. Myself, Taurus and Bernibus went to the shores of Lake +Umquam Renatusum, as is our custom, to watch for the coming of +the promised one, and this time we were not disappointed, for he +came to us, even as the prophecy says, as we sat hidden in the +living tower. Seen by the Zards, we were almost discovered, until +the promise of the hidden fortress drew them away, even as the +prophecy says. And now we are here, delegates of the Canitaurian +people, safely within our fortress with our kinsman redeemer, so +what shall be done? Let us decide.”</p> + +<p>At this point he cast a glance towards me, as if desiring me +to speak before the council, but I was in the last throes of +wakefulness, where sleep has crept so far upon you that arrival +in the land of dreams is only a matter of moments, and +wakefulness is not desired, nor is anything else. I looked at him +with my eyes glazed with that sweet, savory taste of sleep, and +though I was conscious, I was not in control, only an audience to +actions of my subconscious whims, and even that passed beyond my +reach as my eyes fell shut, isolating me in the realm where +worldly concerns mean nothing. And so I was when my exhaustion +overtook me, leaving me sound asleep on the sofa behind the +podium.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 6: The Fiery Lake</h3> + +<p>When I woke I was no longer in that room but in another, a +small homely room where I was laid on a bed, the room being +located, as I found out later, not too far from the Hall of +Meeting. Though the depth of the fortress prevented me from +knowing the time, it felt to be early afternoon by that strange +internal clock that so seldom errs. It was correct, as usual. +There was a quaint fireplace on the far wall of the room with a +small, unadorned and unpretentious mantle, decorated like the +rest of the fortress in a practical and experienced way, finding +just the right flavor between the ornate, the practical, and the +quaint, and avoiding all the while the clutter brought by +superfluous material possessions. A table in the center of the +room was furnished with a steaming meal, beside which sat my new +friend Bernibus, smiling on me with a benevolent and almost +paternal affection.</p> + +<p>“Good morning, Jehu,” he said, “Or should I +say afternoon, for the morning has quite passed by +already.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and it has left in me a great appetite, my good +man.”</p> + +<p>“As is shown clearly in your eyes,” he jested, +“Come and eat.”</p> + +<p>Needing no further urging, I leapt from my bed, sat down +across from him at the table, and began partaking greedily of the +hearty breakfast of hash browns and pancakes, which were pleasing +to my mouth and stomach, for the tastes in food are controlled +more by the condition of the body than by the time of day. When I +had satisfied my needs, we reclined in our chairs and began +conversing:</p> + +<p>“Tell me,” I said, “Did my untimely slumber +yester eve cause any irritated prides?”</p> + +<p>“Quite to the contrary, the council was well humored and +followed your lead to their bed chambers.”</p> + +<p>“I am relieved to hear it, for I was anxious of +appearing lax in ardor or animation.”</p> + +<p>“Not so, my friend, you are quite exonerated from +doubtful thoughts. There is a session planned for this evening +though, so may yet feel yourself put on trial.”</p> + +<p>“Unfortunate,” said I, “But surely they can +mean no harm, am I not the kinsman redeemer, after +all?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you are,” Bernibus said with a look of +subdued apprehension, “We have an end in view, though the +means are as yet not wholly decided. It is a complicated +situation.”</p> + +<p>I smiled softly, “So is always the case.”</p> + +<p>“In truth it is: time reveals all things yet do all +things reveal time?”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” I asked him.</p> + +<p>“Our situation is complicated by differing views of +time, and I was wondering aloud if history and the present +reality disclose the truth about time in the same way that time +reveals the truth of the present. If our way were more +illuminated, the journey would be easier.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps that is why men look to the well lit paths of +history, or to the dim conjectures of the future rather than the +dark, yet detailed ways of present.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” he said, “But the present is so +fleeting that it holds little intrigue”</p> + +<p>“Even so, it is the stage, not still waiting behind the +curtain, nor already performed.”</p> + +<p>“Yet the past controls by influences and prejudices, +justified or not, and it will doubtless be the view of the +council that the past must be redone, that the problems be +addressed at the source,” Bernibus replied.</p> + +<p>“I am still in the dark about all your +inferences,” I said.</p> + +<p>“My apologies, I forget myself. But let us not dwell on +subjects which may become quite exhausted in the near future, for +better or worse,” he told me.</p> + +<p>“Fair enough,” I returned, acceding to the subject +change, and jumping on the opportunity to steer it in a different +direction, “I know little of you, Bernibus, so tell me +all.”</p> + +<p>“There isn’t much to tell,” he coyly +responded.</p> + +<p>“Nonsense, Bernibus, tell me or I shall get very +angry,” I jested, imitating some mythological god’s +wrath.</p> + +<p>He smiled discreetly and yielded to my request, “Very +well, I will tell you. I was born in the year 490 D.V. (that is, +Durante Vita), to a poor couple from the northernmost pier of +Daem, the Gog.”</p> + +<p>“Wait a moment, Bernibus,” I interrupted, “I +didn’t mean in that fashion, for when I say I know little +of you, it is because I literally know little of +‘you’, not the circumstances that make up your past. +I guess it goes back to the interpretation of the past and its +powers, and since we can’t seem to escape discussing it, +lets embrace it willingly. You seem to believe that the events of +your life have shaped you in such a profound way that their mere +description is sufficient to explain your personality; I will +grant that their influence has effected you subtly, but history +is not the scapegoat of the present. The circumstances do more to +define the character of an individual than to shape it, for even +siblings with the exact same experiences can be greatly different +in personality and achievements. But what I mean is this: your +past has influenced your present, yet it is gone and your present +remains, show me Bernibus, not his previous forms.”</p> + +<p>You, who are now reading this, may think this statement of +mine to Bernibus to be hypocritical, in light of the very purpose +and intent of these memoirs. You may be thinking that I am +relating this whole happening in order to justify my actions and +decisions. But that is not the case, for I understand that you +have no power over me, I have long been dead in your present and +your sentiments mean naught to me. In fact, I wish to tell of the +circumstances I found myself in as much as of myself, so that you +may have a retrospective clarity in visions of the future. You +will understand that statement later on, but for now let me say +that I wished to know the essence, the person, the consciousness +of Bernibus, whereas I wish to impart to you my story, though ere +its end you may come also to know me. I have no ambitions of +material immortality.</p> + +<p>Bernibus understood my meaning, and though he disagreed with +its theoretical imputations, he humored me and did as I +suggested. He pulled back his brow in a reflective demeanor, +brought his eyes to mine and began:</p> + +<p>“You desire me to tell you about myself without +literally telling you of myself. I suppose you mean that we +discourse on some variety of subjects, so that you can see who I +am discreetly,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Exactly,” I replied, “You say it better +than I.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it is for the best, as you will draw your own +conclusions rather than be given mine, and instead of my telling +you what I would like to think I am, you would see what I am in +truth. Strange, isn’t it, that though we think we know +ourselves, we very much do not, and it is only the unbiased +observer who sees us as we are. You know, I was once thinking of +writing my memoirs, and I would have, except that I was afraid +that if I read them afterward I would be forced to see myself as +I am and be horrified at the truth.”</p> + +<p>“Damn the truth,” I said.</p> + +<p>“You’re starting to sound like a +philosopher,” he laughed.</p> + +<p>“And you a psychologist,” I rejoined.</p> + +<p>“And where would that place us on the scale of +artificial intelligence,” Bernibus jested.</p> + +<p>“Following the footsteps of Jeroboam,” I +returned.</p> + +<p>“Hmm?</p> + +<p>“Oh, nothing. Tell me,” I asked more solemnly, +“What position does Wagner hold among the +Canitaurs?”</p> + +<p>“He is the Khedive Kibitzer, our ruler in that he leads +the council.”</p> + +<p>“And you?”</p> + +<p>“I am his brother-in-law, a relationship that our +culture places great importance on, especially as he has no blood +brothers. I become, in effect, his partner, though he +doesn’t accept me emotionally as one, only in +etiquette.”</p> + +<p>“Why is that?” I inquired.</p> + +<p>“Because, I am of weak heritage. His sister loved me, +and I her, but to him there is no such thing as love, only +business, the destruction of the Zards at any cost. No price is +too high,” he told me with almost a vengeful scowl on his +usually pleasant features, it soon passed, though, and left no +trace when it had.</p> + +<p>“You sound bitter, Bernibus.”</p> + +<p>“My feelings betray me, yet I am not bitter, only +disillusioned.”</p> + +<p>“You sympathize with the Zards, then?”</p> + +<p>“Not at all, I do sympathize, however, with peaceful +solutions,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Which is why Wagner disapproves of you, no +doubt.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, mainly, but don’t misunderstand me. I am not +a closet Futurist, nor am I a strict pacifist, I just can’t +help feeling that there is another way. But I understand the +selection of ideologies, how the stronger breaks the weaker to +submission, and while one flourishes, the other diminishes, and I +understand focus points, but I cannot justify their +marriage.”</p> + +<p>“What you mean by focus points?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“They are the culmination of conflict, where two sides +meet and the battle takes place, not meaning necessarily an +important or strategic military, civil, or commercial place, but +one on which the fighting occurs, the result ending in the defeat +or victory of the whole campaign. The focus point of the Zards +and the Canitaurs exists both on the philosophical and martial +levels. On the philosophical level, it is the question as to what +is the proper solution for remedying our current catastrophic +situation. On one side the Pastites wish to correct the root of +the problem by stopping its realization in the past, the +Futurists, however, would venture into the future and brings its +stabilization and completion back. On the military level, our +forces collide in the forests around Lake Umquam Renatusum, the +northern mountains belonging to us and the southern plains to +them. The lake itself is of little importance, yet whoever +conquers it will conquer all.”</p> + +<p>“Interesting,” I said, “But I do not +understand how you seem to imply that I am your ancestor, while +Onan seemed to mean the opposite, that you are my +ancestors.”</p> + +<p>“It is strange and complex, and we understand very +little of it, ourselves. The time for the council has come +though, for our talk has dwindled away the afternoon. Perhaps +some of your questions will there be answered. But come, let us +go.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” I said, “Take me to your +leaders.”</p> + +<p>From that room, the one I had awoken in, it wasn’t very +far to the council room. Exiting it, we turned down a short, +closed hallway that opened into the concealed area behind the +podium that I spoke of earlier. On the sofa where I had fallen +asleep was seated Wagner and on a circle of smaller chairs around +the edges of the area were seated about ten stately looking +Canitaurs, clean and well dressed, according to their customs. +They greeted me amorously, with a mixture of eagerness, +excitement, and hope painted on their purloined countenances, +taken from the sleepless spirits of several departed generations +of war-hardened veterans.</p> + +<p>Standing as we entered, they greeted me cordially, and, once +the formal greeting of a short bow and a blessing was finished, +we all sat down, they in their previous seats, I next to Wagner, +and Bernibus in a small chair in the corner, away from the circle +of the delegates. He, that is, Wagner, then opened our +dialog:</p> + +<p>“Welcome to the council, Jehu,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I was under the impression that the council was much +larger,” I replied candidly.</p> + +<p>“It is, but this is the leadership; we felt that the +clamors of a full legislature would be overwhelming to you at +first. I know it still overwhelms me sometimes,” he +laughed, and the others with him. That explanation sufficed at +the time, but I later found that Wagner had taken control of the +council himself, and that it had no real power: it never met for +more than ceremonial matters, the Khedive Kibitzer, Wagner, +controlling the rest. But I get ahead of myself.</p> + +<p>One of the others then interjected, “Our purpose now, +Jehu, is not so much to make decisions as to inform you of the +decisions we have already made, not that we mean to exclude you +from our counsels, but we’ve been preparing for this +moment, your arrival, for many years, since it was foretold long +ago.”</p> + +<p>“Decisions with what end?” I asked of them.</p> + +<p>“The reestablishing of an efficient and healthy climate, +both naturally and philosophically, one in which tradition, +history, and experience reign supreme,” Wagner said in such +a way that I couldn’t help but think that it had served as +an idiom of his for many years.</p> + +<p>“A termination of the Zardovian conflict, +then?”</p> + +<p>“Essentially, but not wholly, as there are other, more +complicated ends in view, less integrated with the format of a +completely ideological conflict.”</p> + +<p>“Meaning?”</p> + +<p>“Meaning that we wish to return to our original +forms,” Wagner said.</p> + +<p>“Those being, I assume, the same as my own.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, you see after the Great War, the atmosphere was so +filled with radioactive materials that all life was destroyed, +except for that on Daem, which was protected because of our +distant and isolated location, and the presence of a group of +insects that neutralize radiation. They were overwhelmed in the +first few decades, for though they were able to reduce the amount +to make it habitable, we degenerated into what we are now, Zards +and Canitaurs, based on our habitats, we being mountainous, +forest dwelling folk, and they plains people. At first our +ancestors grew to immense proportions, as did the vegetation on +Daem, but we slowly returned to normal size as the radioactive +material was consumed. I am surprised that Onan did not tell you +about it all,” he said, looking at me with a slight tinge +of confusion creeping into his wayward eyes, formerly filled only +with hope and excitement.</p> + +<p>“I wish he would have,” I responded, “But he +said that it was against the rules.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, yes, I forgot about the rules there for a +moment,” he laughed, his countenance returning to its +former gleeful appearance.</p> + +<p>“A foolish law, no doubt, and from whom?” I said, +availing of the apparent intra-personal deja vu, that is, the +converging of the presents of our two minds into one idea, +between Wagner and myself to cultivate a bit of sympathy in my +difficult situation. But there would be no harvest, for Wagner +checked his mirth and said:</p> + +<p>“It was necessary, and the Council of the Gods did well +to govern themselves more strictly.”</p> + +<p>“How so?”</p> + +<p>“Well, during the Homeric period the gods really went at +it, using humanity as players in their battles, like a game of +chess, actually. Come to think of it, chess did originate in the +realm of the gods after the laws. Things were quite a mess back +then, though, with a whole horde of demi-gods walking the earth, +and it ended up snuffing out the first flames of democracy and +leaving monarchies for the longest time.”</p> + +<p>“Homer’s stories were true, then?” I +asked.</p> + +<p>“Very much so, but after the laws of physical abstinence +were adopted things mellowed out considerably, and men went back +to their self-obsession, their material minds weren’t yet +weaned from the physical realm.”</p> + +<p>“So the very men who claimed mental superiority because +they were free from superstitions and divine disillusionment were +themselves victims of their own sophism, and while they thought +themselves crowned with enlightenment, it was naught but the +Phrygian caps of their prejudices toward the material +state?” I asked, with more than the average dose of irony +and feeling, both for my subjects and myself.</p> + +<p>“Exactly, upon disinterested examination one finds the +theater of human history to be one defined by a ludicrous +melodramaticy, the soap opera of the gods,” he answered. +“But we digress far from our point, Jehu, which is a +discussion concerning the implementation of our plans of action +formed in preparation of our current situation.”</p> + +<p>“So I had surmised,” I smiled at the reminder, +“But tell me, what are your plans, and what is the current +situation?”</p> + +<p>“This is a time of fulfillment, with the events of many +of our prophecies coming to pass. Now is a time of action and of +hope. You, our kinsman redeemer, have come, and the time is ripe +for victory and domination, ripe, in short, for a return to +natural existence, harmony between forces interior and exterior. +Our plan, my dear Jehu, is to attack the Zards swiftly and +fiercely and break their strongholds like the walls of Jericho, +literally.”</p> + +<p>“It sounds daring, certainly,” I said, “But +is it not overly so? I was under the impression that the Zards +were much superior in force than the Canitaurs.”</p> + +<p>“In the southern regions, where you landed, yes, they +are, but we rule the northern sphere of action. Our forces +actually form a soft equilibrium that keeps fate’s pendulum +from straying from its neutral position, so that a military +action previously would not have been predictable, with either +side being capable of winning. Under such conditions war is +avoided, but now you have arrived. The Zards, as well as +ourselves, have been expecting a kinsman redeemer, you see, and +our war has been kept from raging by the belief of each side that +their god would propel them to victory with certainty by the +sending of one such as yourself. Your arrival changes things, it +marks the beginning of our dominance,” he told me +vaingloriously.</p> + +<p>“The muted felicity I have witnessed about my arrival is +explained, then,” I ventured, “Excitement that the +end is near and victory close at hand, yet that feeling subdued +by the realization that a period of deeper darkness must first be +gone through.”</p> + +<p>“Your words are true,” Wagner replied, “And +yet I have a great confidence in our plans, which have been +matured through many years of careful deliberation. As the time +will never be more ready than at the present, in the present we +must act.”</p> + +<p>“What is your plan, then?” I asked.</p> + +<p>“It is calculated to end in the conquering of the Zards, +and as such, only an unexpected and unrelenting attack at the +very heart of their strength will succeed. Anything less will +only bring them to a full alert, and then any battle will have to +be drawn out with excessive casualties on both sides. Therefore, +we have decided upon an attack on Nunami, their capital city and +main strength, being the center and majority of both their +population and economy. Yet an outright siege of the city is +impossible for those very reasons, it being so self-contained +that it can resist bitterly, and its military is so clustered +that it can be brought into action almost instantly.</p> + +<p>“Considering those problems, it was deemed necessary to +draw the Zards away from the city and destroy it in their +absence, so that they are left destitute of the means of war and +sustenance, and rendered weak. To do this, we have spent the last +several years stockpiling huge quantities of liquid fervidus +flamma, an extremely combustible substance. It is stored in an +underground reservoir in the foothills of the mountains, +connected via aqueduct to Lake Umquam Renatusum. When the time is +ripe, we will empty it into the lake and set it aflame, and our +calculations show the flames reaching a height of five miles for +a length of six hours, which should be enough to gain the +Zard’s preponderance,” Wagner explained.</p> + +<p>“But wouldn’t it catch the forest on fire and burn +down your whole empire in the process?” I asked, alarmed at +his apparent lack of vigilance.</p> + +<p>“We have been treating the trees on a ten mile radius +with an anti-flammatory solution for several years as well, and +it is quite impossible to set them on fire.”</p> + +<p>“Which explains why you dared to have a fire pit in the +trunk of a tree outpost.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” he laughed, “We aren’t so +foolhardy as we may seem. Appearances can be +deceiving.”</p> + +<p>“The exodus of the Zards from Nunami is almost +guaranteed by the mortal’s natural curiosity and delight in +the calamities of others,” I said, “But how do you +plan on leveling the town before the remnant raise the alarm and +the mass of the people return?”</p> + +<p>“Atomic anionizers,” he returned.</p> + +<p>“Which are what? They sound like they are beyond my +level of understanding.”</p> + +<p>“Not at all,” Wagner told me, “Do not be +fooled by the technically complex sounding name. An atom is the +smallest form into which matter can be broken down into while +still retaining its identity, and an anion is a positively +charged ion, or in other words, an instance of an atom in which +there are more electrons than protons, resulting in a charge of +negative electricity. An atomic anionizer is just what its name +would imply: a device that morphs normal atoms into atoms with an +extreme negative charge by emitting massive amounts, to the tune +of many millions of moles, of solitary electrons into the air +through a bombing device.”</p> + +<p>He went on, explaining the consequences of the weapon, +“An atom, and therefore all matter, which is made up of +atoms, is engaged in a constant revolution around the nucleus, in +the same way in which our solar system revolves around our sun, +and our sun around the black hole in the center of the galaxy. +This revolving motion is the basis for the formation of all +matter that we know of, both in its smallest form, like the atom, +or its larger forms, like the galaxy. The electrons emitted from +the atomic anionizer are drawn into an orbit around the nuclei of +the atoms of all the matter near which they are detonated, much +like the way planets catch satellites and space debris into +revolving rings around them. This addition of electrons gives the +atoms such a powerful negative charge that the poles of the atom, +which regulate its rotations in much the same way that the +earth’s axis, or poles, regulate its rotations, are thrown +from their natural equilibrium, causing the poles to reverse. +This, in turn, changes the direction in which the atoms rotate, +and in the brief instant in which the force of the revolving +movement, or gravity, is not strong enough to retain the +atom’s shape, it lapses, bringing the materials they make +up crashing down in disarray.</p> + +<p>“We will plant some of these ‘atomic bombs’ +inside the city of Nunami, and when they go off, the buildings +themselves will implode and tumble to the ground. One hand-sized +capsule can easily level almost ten square miles, and we have +enough of them to bring the Zards to their knees, with plenty to +spare for any circumstance.”</p> + +<p>“Wouldn’t the bombs kill those who set them off, +though?” I asked him anxiously.</p> + +<p>“We have electron deflecting suits that negate the +effects of the anionizers.”</p> + +<p>“I’m glad to hear it.”</p> + +<p>“And well you should be,” he grinned, which, as +out of place as it would seem, looked completely natural on his +countenance, “For you and I shall be among the bombers. Our +meeting must end here, though, my dear Jehu, for we each have +things to attend to in preparation for the attack on Nunami. I +will see you soon, until then, farewell.”</p> + +<p>“Farewell, Wagner,” I replied, and we each stood +and bowed as we prepared to depart, each to our own +occupations.</p> + +<p>With that our council ended, and, in the company of Bernibus, +I was sent to another area of the fortress to be measured for an +anti-electron suit, in order to protect me from the effects of +reverse revolution. We didn’t converse in the beginning of +our walk, for my mind was too busy subconsciously thinking over +what Wagner had said to have any conscious meditations.</p> + +<p>We walked through the fortress towards the northern section, +which held the technological rooms, so as to get an anti-electron +suit in the making for myself. Realizing that the fortress has +been little described, I will do so now. It was broken into six +different sub-divisions, each branching from the only entrance, +which was in the center of them all, the different divisions +connecting to it through long, narrow defiles, or gorges, like +the one at the entrance. This was for security, each area being +independently contained within the whole. The six areas, or +departments, as they were called, were as follows: the Northern +was the technological and industrial research and production +facilities; the Eastern was the residential department, +containing also the civil services, such as medical care and +distribution centers; the Southern was the agricultural and other +food production areas, though there was little besides +agricultural, for the Canitaurs were strict vegetarians; the +Western was for mining minerals and other raw materials to be +used by the other departments. The other two departments were +below the others, being differentiated between by the names Left +and Right, the Left being the governmental offices, and the Right +the military headquarters, providing protections both civil and +foreign (this was, incidentally, the beginning of the expression +of the terms Left and Right to denote ideological preferences, +but I digress). Uniform in all the fortress was the architecture, +it being a strange mix between elegant and gentle arches and +curves and brute practicality, for while the ceilings were high +and open, and the walls wide, they were rendered homely by their +plain surfaces and the absence of small triflings, conditions +that were necessitated because of its identity: an impregnable +fortress containing a highly organized and self-sufficient +governmental society, each citizen having a particular duty for +the common good, and each kept from an unfarcical personal +identity by the means of a statist society.</p> + +<p>From the lower, governmental offices we went up a flight of +stairs that wrapped round and round a tower-like tunnel, and soon +reached the departmental portal. Once there, we took the northern +tunnel, which opened into a large hall that stretched on almost +endlessly, with hordes of tunnels branching off to the various +agencies. There were a great many Canitaurs working busily, +preparing for the attack on Nunami and its possible results, +which, though long prepared for, had a few last moment components +to be finished. Walking down the central through way, we went to +the far end of the hall, which, as it was a walk of at least two +miles, afforded plenty of time for observation and reflecting, +two things that I am naturally given to. Accordingly, I turned to +my companion, Bernibus, and offered in an almost philosophical +way:</p> + +<p>“Your society seems to be flourishing, though I am not +surprised, as you all seem vigorously industrious. I am amazed, +however, that no one shirks from their job, no matter how menial +or trifling.”</p> + +<p>“We all have our assigned jobs, and all know that one +slovenly job may cost us dearly,” he said.</p> + +<p>“I suppose I am prejudiced by my conceptions of personal +liberty, but it is contrary to my conscience that the state +should have more duty than to enforce the individual liberties by +common force.”</p> + +<p>“But we are at war, and we must do as we do, or be +trampled underfoot.”</p> + +<p>“If all states went no further than justice permits, +namely the protection by common force the rights of +individuality, liberty, and property, than there would be no room +for conflict between states, and hence, no war.”</p> + +<p>“Yet it is our ideologies that bring war, besides, do +not the ends justify the means?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“Your ideologies may cause conflict, yet it seems that +your behemoth states facilitate it into war. About the ends and +the means, I don’t know: I am no philosopher,” I +answered.</p> + +<p>I sighed and was silent for a moment as we walked along, then, +after a moment or so, I said quietly to myself, “I’m +not much of a kinsman redeemer, either.”</p> + +<p>We continued on through the hall without further conversation, +and I paid little attention to my surroundings, so that while my +eyes saw and my mind displayed, my subconscious was not present +in the effort, and thereby no memory was retained. This may seem +to be the plot of an unimaginative writer to escape the use of +that faculty, but as these are nothing but my written memories, +and I make no claims of producing good fiction, I will leave that +hall primarily to the minds of the reader.</p> + +<p>Soon after, we arrived at our destination, which was very +nearly at the end of the hall, and entered to find that we were +expected and a space open for my fitting, which was soon +accomplished, and my suit promised to be at my quarters the next +morning. That would be just in time for the departure of the +raiding party, which was set to cut out and embark for Nunami a +little after that, in order to be in place in the hidden treetop +posts surrounding the city before nighttime, as the operation was +to begin at midnight. At first I thought that the attack was +pushed forward in haste, but as I came to realize that my coming +had been prophesied and a great amount of time had been spent +preparing for this day, it seemed only natural that they should +want to bring the hostilities to a close after such a long time. +There were other considerations as well. The weather, for one, +had to be dry and not at all windy for the fire to be safely +attempted, and also the possibility of the Zards making the first +offensive could not be ignored, for they had knowledge of my +arrival and may have felt forced to act to prevent the very type +of thing that we were about to attempt.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 7: Down to Nunami</h3> + +<p>When I awoke the next morning I found Bernibus and Wagner +conversing quietly in the corner of my bed chambers, and as I +first opened my eyes I saw Wagner looking at me with a blank, +glazed expression, while Bernibus’ was one of apprehension, +apparently on my behalf. It seemed odd to me, but as Wagner +became livid again quickly after his split-second lapse and gave +me a hearty “Good morning”, I thought nothing more of +it. After his greeting, he continued:</p> + +<p>“The day is ripe for victory, my friend, and the time is +come for battle. We both have some preparations to complete, and +so must separate, but we will meet again at noon in the entrance +hall. Farewell until then,” and with that he quit the +room.</p> + +<p>I looked at Bernibus, yet before either of us could speak, we +heard a low, hollow grumbling, like the shaking of some building +or foundation. He looked in my direction for a moment with an +alarmed countenance, before I said defensively, “Tis but my +stomach.”</p> + +<p>“Then we must get you some victuals,” he laughed, +“And I have just the thing to satisfy you and keep you so +for a day or more: some mirus. It is our traditional energy food, +for though its taste is bitter, its after-life is +pleasant.”</p> + +<p>“And what is food except a servant to the body?” I +said, “Let us eat.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” he replied.</p> + +<p>And eat we did, for it was brought by a food service Canitaur +on a tray, and I was surprised to see that it was a mixture of +broccoli, spinach, and mushrooms, with a flavorless, glowing +sauce. He was right, incidentally, for it was both bitter before +and pleasant after its consumption.</p> + +<p>“I know of the solids, but what is this sauce?” I +asked of him.</p> + +<p>“Carbon” he replied.</p> + +<p>I looked at him and questioned, “Pure carbon? I have +never heard of its having this use before.”</p> + +<p>“Your civilization was long ago and had not developed it +yet.”</p> + +<p>“That has perplexed me, now that you mention it,” +I said, “Onan seemed to mean that I was going back in time +to help my ancestors, but you say that I went forward, that I am +one of the ancients.”</p> + +<p>He was wary for a moment, though if it was because of the +apparent conflict, or because I was on a first name basis with +his god I couldn’t tell. He soon recovered his countenance +and said, “It is a complicated question, and I believe you +should ask Wagner the next time you see him, after the raid +though, of course. The time of departure is nigh now, however, so +you should put on your anti-electron suit,” he said as he +picked it up from the corner and brought it to me.</p> + +<p>It was a subtle dark brown and looked more like a normal suit +of clothes than an electron reflecting suit, but then again, I +thought, why would it be a strange looking apparatus? Why would +an advanced technological age necessarily be devoid of any sense +of fashion, although that would be assuming that any civilization +had ever had one. Fashion is more a characterization of a culture +than a basic and unchanging principle, for a desert people would +wear clothes that would be most uncomfortable to a people who +lived in the snow. Clothes may not make the man, but the man +certainly makes the clothes, and you can judge a person by what +they wear so far as it is in their power to decide what that +is.</p> + +<p>After putting on the suit I found that it fit perfectly, and +above that, I found it to be very comfortable, including the head +piece, which formed closely around the skull and was not at all +noticeable or obscuring. In fact, as it was made of a plasma that +allowed everything through except lone particles, it was so +uninhibiting that a moment after I had put mine on I had +completely forgotten about it. The only other part of the suit +that stood out at all was the long, metallic buckle that secured +the belt, it having a bowie knife hidden within it in an +unnoticeable and inconspicuous manner. Bernibus had put on his as +I had put on mine, and as I looked away from the mirror that was +opposite the door, I saw him dressed the same as myself, yet +because the suit so blended with his fur, it was hard to tell +which ended where.</p> + +<p>Finding that we were both ready, we repaired to the entrance +hall. Along the way I asked Bernibus of his wife, Wagner’s +sister, of whom I had heard little and seen nothing. He was quiet +for a pause, and then said:</p> + +<p>“She was an angel, what else can be said?”</p> + +<p>“Was?” I asked hesitantly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she was killed by the Zards on a border raid, as +we were at that time living apart from the Canitaur mass with a +few friends. She was less aggressive than her brother, and, much +to his disapprobation, we lived with a group of separatists, +believing that war, physical conflict, is never the right answer +to ideological conflict. Wagner excommunicated us in his anger, +though his sister was very dear to him, and after she died he was +struck with remorse and made me his deputy Kibitzer. He felt that +it would somehow do her honor, as it would recognize us as having +been married and make me his brother-in-law, which is an +important relationship traditionally, as he has no other +siblings. So here I am, technically second-in-command, but +because of my soft lining, I have no real command.”</p> + +<p>“You would not attack Nunami, then?” I asked.</p> + +<p>He chose his words carefully, saying, “More pain will +not negate the pain already in existence, yet war is not always +avoidable, and sometimes it is even necessary.”</p> + +<p>When we reached the entrance hall, where the raiding party was +to meet, we found that there was already assembled a majority of +the force, including Wagner. The party was only twenty strong, as +the atomic anionizers were to do the main work and the planned +raid required stealth and secrecy, not force or might. Within a +quarter of an hour all the stragglers had arrived and all the +anionizers were accounted for, so Wagner gave a short debriefing +to ensure that all the members were on the same page. We were to +sneak into the city when the populous was distracted by the fire +on Lake Umquam Renatusum, which was to be started at midnight. We +would plant the atomic anionizers at the right spacing so as to +bring down the whole city once we were escaped, using the remote +control provided for that very purpose. The suits would protect +us from the blasts, and, as a precaution, the remote had an +automatic five second delay between being pressed and exploding +the bombs, though it was more for form than practicality. After +he finished we set off, being arranged two abreast per row, there +being ten rows. Bernibus and myself were partners, for we had +become close friends in the few days that I had spent among the +Canitaurs, while Wagner was once again the leading guide and +Taurus the rearguard.</p> + +<p>After crossing the chasm that separated the hall and the +entrance tunnel, we came to the long defile that formed the +latter and passed through it swiftly, the lofty archer guards +remaining as stern and immovable as when I had first come +through. We then came to the winding stairs that occupied the +hollowed innards of a massive and ancient tree, of which kind +many were to be found in Daem, being at least fifty feet thick +and 700 feet high, such gigantic trees that were never seen +elsewhere, yet constituted the whole forests of the northern +lands. I found that the stairs were as long as I had remembered, +taking us a great while to ascend to the top of the tree, and +when we had made it, we, especially myself, were dazzled by the +effulgent light of midday. After having been out of the +sun’s reach for the last few days I was completely +unprepared, though the shock helped me by curing me of the +disillusionment that comes from not seeing sun, moon, or stars +for any length of time. Taking a rest for a few moments on the +seats on the platform, we collected our strength. After our brief +repose was completed, we set off again with renewed vigor across +the treeway on which I had first come to the Canitaur’s +fortress. You will remember that the road was made by the +securing of five or six foot platforms to the intertwined +branches of those great trees, over which one could travel with +ease and be safe from exposure to those below by the thick +foliage that grew on the trees and was carefully manicured for +that very purpose.</p> + +<p>Soon we reached the first platform I had seen, which we had +come upon from below, but we did not descend there, instead +keeping on by the treeway in the direction from which we had come +that night, that being southward, towards the lake, the savanna, +and the Zardovian capital, Nunami. The air was warm, with a +slight breeze as we went along, and that, mixed with the +plentiful flora about us and the songs of the treetop dwellers, +rendered the whole feeling of the walk peaceful and happy, though +its end was not to be such. I soon forgot the worldly concerns +that plagued me as I was soaking in the simplicity of nature, not +a simplicity of form, for all things are incomprehensively +complex, but simplicity of meaning.</p> + +<p>After a time I began noticing changes in our surroundings that +indicated we were drawing nearer to our goal, namely, the trees +lessening in proportions, the terrain becoming flatter, and the +air growing moister and more vibrant. Still, the trees continued +to spring up from the ground like great earthen tentacles, for +while their size diminished, it was not by enough to change their +demeanor, the trees anywhere on Daem being great in size.</p> + +<p>The sun journeyed with us, and by the time we reached Lake +Umquam Renatusum, twilight’s last agony was being performed +in the heavenly theater, and the rippling waters mirrored it, +adding only a strange, flowing texture. The lake’s current +caught my eye with its subtle oddity, for it was amiss and it +appeared upon close inspection that there was an undertow, as if +there was an underground river flowing into the lake and bringing +about its swirling currents.</p> + +<p>Bernibus saw me looking down at the waters from the lofty road +with a puzzled look, and asked me if I was wondering about the +water’s current. I replied that I was, and he told me that +it was the fervidus flamma being pumped into the lake through the +underground aqueducts, which, of course, was for the purpose of +igniting it to decoy for our raid. Once it was explained it made +sense, yet I looked at it anyway, for it was still a gorgeous and +inspiring view.</p> + +<p>We were moving quickly, however, and it soon was out of sight, +and I again turned towards our destination with apprehensions of +failure. They seemed to place great faith in my presence, as the +emissary of Onan, and while I was, I was also Jehu, and I +wasn’t confident with my own abilities. But it was upon +those the situation mostly rested, it being the resolve of the +gods after the Homeric period to take a more removed role in the +lives of men. I wonder how many from my own times were divine +agents, for better or worse. Either way, my main concern then was +making the correct decisions, for I rightly believed that my +involvement would decide the matter, although not in the manner I +had anticipated. As I looked about myself to reconnoiter the +feelings of my comrades I was fruitless, for they all wore +impermeable countenances, though that was itself an indicator of +their resolve.</p> + +<p>Within an hour after the fall of darkness we reached the +outskirts of Nunami, or rather, its edge, for it was walled in +with massive stone walls and battlements, with a sturdy gate of +twenty foot width being placed at the northern, southern, +eastern, and western ends. The trees hung right over the walls, +and as such we were able to take positions from which we could +descend into the city when the time to do so came. Yet we were +still rendered invisible by the thick foliage.</p> + +<p>Night’s zenith blew in slowly on the wind like the +belabored breaths of a dying man, and after a period of worry, it +came: midnight, the appointed hour. No sooner had the moon +reached its utmost height, shrouding the lands in a shadowless +vortex, than a great blaze erupted from the northern lands, and +it rose almost instantly to its estimated height of five miles. +It was a terrible sight to behold, for any flame is a captivating +display of inorganic life, but a pillar of flame several miles +high is more than just an enlarged specimen, for it plays host to +a great horde of phantasmal apparitions that wrestle ferociously +with one another. As the flame shot upwards it cast a great light +down on everything that rivaled the illumination of midday. At +first I feared lest the light should show our silhouettes to the +Zards, as we were between them and it, but it did not, or at +least they took no notice of it if it did, for we were quite +undetected in our hiding place.</p> + +<p>Our worries were far from over though, for now came the +crucial point in our plans: in order for our small force to +infiltrate the city and place the atomic anionizers, the Zards +must not only have been distracted and preoccupied with the +blaze, but they had also to leave the city almost empty and go to +the lake itself, for if a cry was raised, or any substantial +resistance attempted, the complex procedures to detonate the +anionizers properly, so as to level the city but not the +surrounding country, may have been hindered. There were several +factors on our side though, the element of surprise being the +foremost, for in their excitement the Zardovian resistance would +likely mistake us for a regular sized army and flee in fear at +our supposed superiority, especially since the presence of me, +the kinsman redeemer, was known to the Zards. Also, the Zards +were known to be curious and careless and ruled by the desire for +excitement, meaning that if an entertaining undertaking was +possible, they would pursue it, no matter how dangerous or +ill-advised.</p> + +<p>Within a moment after the flame was lit, all of the Zards +outside, which were many, were gazing with silent wonder at it, +and in the second moment, all the rest had joined them in their +confused contemplation. But the third moment witnessed a drastic +change in their behavior, for their initial bewilderment wore off +and suddenly, with a united prelude of the drawing in of a +breath, they all began speaking at once, resulting in a clamorous +din that lasted for a few moments, before things hushed again and +we could hear a few individual voices discussing loudly. Though +we couldn’t make out their exact words, they were +apparently conferring with one another about what action to take. +Our breathing became slow and heavy and our brows were knit +tensely, for we knew that the fate of our mission rested on what +they did then, whether or not the long planned decoy would +work.</p> + +<p>It was an anxious moment, and one with a heavy burden attached +to it. Fortunately, though, as our fate was decided, it was done +so in our favor, for the Zards began exiting the city in a great +multitude of scales that swept along the savanna like a tidal +wave over a sandy coast. They came out fast and strong, and +through each of the four gates, though only the northern was +fully visible to us, the others being too far to be seen +distinctly. Still, we could see them rushing out of Nunami at a +quick pace, not hurried, as if frightened or finicky, nor slow as +in deliberation and meditation, instead it was a steady trot that +they took, allowing them to move safely and swiftly.</p> + +<p>The tide of Zards swept steadily past us, and it was a good +half an hour later that the final ones had left the gates and the +city far behind. Most had taken some type of weapon, a pitchfork +or club or occasionally a sword, for the threat of war was a +constant, but none of them had any idea that their only danger +was behind them. It was not all in the clear though, for a patrol +of guards equipped with long spears and clothed with a tough, +leathery armor were making their way to and fro along the tops of +the walls, where there was a platform of about five feet across +that served as a road to the soldiers in their watches. It was +evident by their countenances, though, that the guards now on +duty were more interested in the fire than in their immediate +vicinity, thinking, no doubt, that the laurels were to be won +there and not at Nunami, and as such, they paid little heed to +the walls, instead walking with their necks craned precariously +to the north.</p> + +<p>We were able to jump unto the wall silently from our concealed +roost on the treeway when the nearest patrol had passed by. From +there we went along the wall a short way until we came to a +battlement, there taking the downward leading steps that brought +us to the ground. Once there we were pleased and hopeful at what +we saw: everything was abandoned, and no Zards were in sight save +those on the walls, whose gaze was cast elsewhere. We set to +work, then, according to our preset plan, which was to break up +into groups of two and cover the city with our atomic anionizers, +so as to spread the destruction as evenly as possible. Wagner and +myself were partners, and we took the central district, near the +government’s center, the palace, and the Temple of Time, +which rose above the city like a great tree amidst a desert. It +was, in fact, the very structure that had so stood out to me +during my journey through the prairie upon my arrival, and once +again its sobering sensation struck me, and I found myself +staring up at its top, a full 800 feet high, the bottom being an +ornate and elaborate temple. The middle, which supplied most of +its height, was a long, round tower, and at top there was a +spherical pinnacle which had what looked to be a room in it.</p> + +<p>Wagner soon called my attention back to our work, and we +busied ourselves with planting a bomb at the base of the palace, +using a smaller type anionizer, which, I noticed, was set just +right so that while all of Nunami would be leveled, the temple +with its great tower would be beyond the impact and left +standing. Just as we had set it correctly, we heard a +high-pitched whistle, which was the preconcerted signal among the +raiders to use if any danger was nigh. We looked up directly and +saw its reason: a squadron of Zards had been garrisoned inside +the palace and had not left like the others, apparently because +its sole purpose was to protect their king, who did not leave the +city, being preoccupied with business and not seeing the flames. +When he did go to the window, he saw the fire, and rushed to see +what was about, but instead of finding out, he ran into us, who +were right outside the palace.</p> + +<p>Wagner dashed wildly through the streets in an impressive show +of dexterity, and did a wall-jump between two lofty buildings to +gain the wall. The others had done likewise, having been trained +by a lifetime of conflict to have nerves of lightning speed and +earthly strength. Their instincts had come in subconsciously when +they had seen the cause of the alarm and they escaped, without +thinking of me in the critical moment. I lacked such strength and +speed of mind and was caught as soon as I had seen the squadron, +aided, probably, by the fact that upon seeing me the king had +become excited and rushed at me with great speed. When Wagner had +first turned around and saw me their prisoner, he looked +crestfallen and hopeless, for he had no way to rescue me. He held +the remote control for the atomic anionizers in his hand and was +about to set them off and make good the plan, but before he +could, our eyes met for an instant, and we connected beyond time +and space, experiencing a strange intra-personal deja vu. All was +silent and still in that instant, and I saw him struggling +inwardly: would he detonate the anionizers and make good his long +awaited plan, or would he retreat and leave the city unharmed, +for though I was wearing the electron reflecting suit, the +collapse of all the high rise buildings would litter the ground +with debris from them, and all on the ground would be crushed. +Would he spare me from death, or his people? In that instant his +face spoke more than many others’ do in their entire +lifetime. It was cut through with a contrasting countenance, and +yet inside of his eyes there was something foreign to them +shining through, something that I had never seen on his fretless +features before: evil intent. I could not tell if it was natural +to them and simply well hidden, or if it was an alien expression, +but it was fearfully expressed, and his eyes seemed to say, even +at that great distance, that he took a third course, that he +would save me, but not for my sake, instead for his +peoples’. And then it passed, for he looked away, replaced +the remote to his belt, and leapt to the ground, where the other +Canitaurs were awaiting him. I saw him no more until the +situation was much changed.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 8: The Temple of Time</h3> + +<p>I turned slowly away from where Wagner had disappeared over +the side of the wall and faced my captors, the Zards. Chief among +them was the King, he being a foot or two taller than the others, +with a graceful and powerful pose that struck awe into the eyes +of the beholder with its innate command and dignity, both of +which flowed from it as naturally as water from a well. There +were about twenty guards in the squadron that protected the King, +but it was not so much from the terror of them that the Canitaurs +fled, nor was it because of the guards that patrolled the walls +and were sure to join any fray attempted, it was instead an +apparent fear of the King, and rightly so, for his demeanor was +fierce and sophisticated, as if he were not just a warrior nor +solely a scholar, but a mixture of the two that gave him an aura +that inspired fear, some unseen presence that filled the air +around him and sent his neighbors into a reverencing awe +reminiscent of a lover’s sacred euphoria, intangible yet +undeniable.</p> + +<p>As I turned to him, he smiled and greeted me softly and +pleasantly, in such a way that seemed contrary to his nature. +Instead of being terrible and glorious like the crash of thunder +or the din of waves, his voice was melodious, subtly so, like a +soft summer rain affecting the dreams of a slumbering child as it +falls gently on his face. There was a rhythm that ran through it, +like poetry, yet not like average poetry, where the rhythm is +forced and the lines deformed to its ungainly warble, but like +heavenly poetry, where the rhythm is beyond the conscious and +into the subconscious, where it inspires a feeling of quaint +remembrance of itself, as if it were there and not there at the +same time. And while it was soft and pleasant, it was not +feminine, for it was a strong baritone, reinforced by its own +superiority and strengthened by its wit and sobriety.</p> + +<p>“Greetings, o’ chosen one,” he said to me, +“I see that you have arrived safely.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, quite soundly,” I replied, a little taken +aback on two fronts: firstly that he was not angry or indignant +that I had attempted to destroy his kingdom and take his life in +the process, and secondly that he seemed to expect me, as if I +were his midday tea partner.</p> + +<p>“I am glad, for I would wish you no harm, though your +Canitaurian friends obviously felt no such concern. But just as +well, for they always were unpredictable. I’m sorry that +there is no one here at the moment, or we should have a great +welcoming parade for our newly arrived kinsman redeemer, but they +are off at the lake, inspecting the fire I suppose. I must admit +it caught me off guard for a moment or two, and at first I was +actually quite surprised. I soon remembered, though, that our +friends the Canitaurs would have gotten some notions in their +heads of a battle, at your arrival. It must be a grand sight in +any case, and not one to miss.”</p> + +<p>I gave him a strange look, for I was a bit confused myself at +the attitude he donned towards me, very friendly, as was Wagner, +as I recalled, though it seemed as contrary to his nature as it +did to the King’s. He saw the expression of my eyes, and +seemed to read right through my thoughts and see my apprehension +of punishment, for he beckoned to his guards to leave us alone. +They moved quickly and uniformly, a well-trained unit, and +positioned themselves in a line formation along the street. The +King and I then strolled down their midst, they walking along +with us at a distance of a few yards, which was all that the +closely built buildings would permit. In a moment or two we +reached the Temple of Time, which was on the far side of a large +square plaza that opened up between it, the palace, and the +government center. Once we reached it, he led me inside and the +guards took up post around its outside.</p> + +<p>“You need not fear,” he told me when we were +alone, “You are among friends here. You see, the Canitaurs +were not the only ones waiting for a kinsman redeemer, the Zards +were as well. That day that you were seen going into the +Canitaur’s outpost was a big disappointment for us, I had +almost begun to think that you were beyond our reach. I am sure +you know all about the conflict between us, and the circumstances +of your time that brought its beginning about?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I do,” I responded as we walked through the +great entry hall of the temple, lined with bookshelves and a rich +red carpeting. He was silent for another moment as we crossed +into another room that led to a chamber with a long table in its +center and a great many statues and works of art scattered +throughout its whole. There was an altar at the far end, built +into a giant statue of a White Eagle that graced the entire wall, +it holding the altar in its giant claws.</p> + +<p>He saw me look at it and told me, “This is the Hall of +Time, and that is the altar to Temis, the God of Time. It is a +very sacred place, to both us and the Canitaurs, for it was built +by Temis himself, before the race of man inhabited the earth. By +the time any men came to live on Daem, it had been buried by the +dirt and debris of thousands of years, but when the Great War +took place, the shock uncovered it and revealed it to men, a sort +of revelation that came only as it was needed the most. +Daem’s war started over the control of it, and to a point +still is. To a certain extent is has helped us greatly, since the +Canitaurs are afraid to lay siege to us in the regular fashion, +for fear that it will be laid to ruin, and then our fate sealed +in flesh and bone as well as earth and stone. But come, there is +something I want to show you,” he told me.</p> + +<p>With that he started over to a door in the wall adjacent to +the entrance, which, as there were only two doors, was the only +other exit. It led to a long, winding stair that went up to the +top of the tower that I had seen from below. We walked up it in +silence, more from awe of its magnificent construction on my part +than fatigue in climbing its steep stairs, which wound on and on +almost indefinitely. There were no windows in the tower, and only +a few paintings to liven up the sparsely decorated walls, yet +they needed no adornments, for they were beautifully constructed +from a strange stone that split and colored in a marvelous +twisting pattern.</p> + +<p>At last we came to the top. It was much like it had appeared +to be from below, for it was a large glass sphere that sat on the +tower, like the dome on top of a light pole. It was divided in +two, and the stairs went right through the bottom half and opened +into a circular foyer that then had a small flight of stairs +running up to the main room. There were little closets and such +in the empty spaces on the bottom floor. The upper room was a +good thirty feet in diameter, and the walls and ceiling were all +made of glass, very sturdy and insulating, yet completely +transparent. On the floor was an odd carpet that was smooth and +thin, like a silk or fine linen, yet very strong. There was a +rounded table on the side of the entrance hole opposite the +stairs, and a curved couch that sat against the wall behind it, +cut perfectly to its circular outline. Two cushioned chairs sat +at the table and a small end table leaned up against the couch, +on top of which there was a medium sized spyglass, that is, a +telescope.</p> + +<p>The sun was just coming up and shining its golden hues on the +surrounding lands, which were beginning to darken as the fires of +Lake Umquam Renatusum died down to a faint glow in the center of +the forests of the near-north. It was the first time that I had +gotten a bird’s eye view of Daem, and I was amazed at its +beauty. The plains stretched on one side of Nunami like a broad +field of gold in the morning light, its dew drizzled grasses +waving in a solemn and dignified manner to and fro like the +constant beating of the earth’s heart, and when looked upon +abstractly it moved as if one great beast of benevolence, holding +itself in unison as it chorused back the silent tones of life. +Its edges draped down to the ocean like a curtain of woven +sunlight on the eastern and southern sides of the island of Daem, +and on the western side of Nunami the great forest came up right +to its edge. There was a little of the forest between the ocean +and the city on that side, while to the north there was a great +stretch of trees, all the way until the ocean again came into +sight in the far, far north. On the ground the trees of Daem +seemed like mighty towers and battlements of nature, and on the +treeway one felt suspended in air hundreds of feet above the +ground on a cloud of green and growing foliage, but from afar and +above they were revealed in their true splendor, shooting up from +the earth as if they were the arms of the ground itself, grasping +huge clusters of leaves and branches far above in their tightened +fists. Some way into the forest, the ground sprang up into +mountains that were as fierce and behemoth as the trees that +clothed them. They were terrible to the eye and mind, as +evidences of the power that exists outside of oneself.</p> + +<p>The city of Nunami was also revealed to me for the first time +in depth. As I have said, it was surrounded by a thick, tall wall +made of stones and precious jewels, with four gates, one at the +furthest extreme in each direction. It was a circular city, made +mostly of the same materials as the wall and temple, which were a +plain, silvery stone; a dark rock with inherent patterns; a +mixture of cobblestone and a colorful compositor rock; and a vast +array of metals, everything from brass to silver to platinum. +Made in an ancient style, the buildings were tall, the average +being what was equivalent to at least a dozen or two stories in +the pre-desolation times, and they were close together, built +along roads paved with cobblestone and lined with trees whose +girth, though not as monstrous as those in the wild, was still +great. There were farm fields and vineyards and orchards and +meadows for grazing animals all within the city walls, and not +just congregated around the outside, for there were buildings all +around the wall’s perimeter, but scattered among the other +buildings in a natural and pleasing way. In the southern part +there was a lake that was of fair size, and a fleet of fishing +boats anchored at its shore showed that it did its part to +contribute to the city’s well-being. Several of the trees +throughout the city were especially conspicuous in their +grandeur, for they rose hundreds of feet from the ground and had +great waterfalls flowing down from their tops, as if they were +crying great torrents of tears down from their aged faces, though +if in sadness or joy, I couldn’t tell.</p> + +<p>To the east there was land visible from the height at which I +found myself, though in the distance it became hazy and I could +not make out its distinct features. It was evidentially +corrupted, however, for it had an uneasy look about it, as did +the ocean, which was a faint, pale shadow of the rich blue it was +in my childhood days. The sky as well was tainted, and it looked +to be filled with the accumulated atrocities of countless +generations. The clouds were thick and bluish, and the spherical +mural of the sky itself had been greatly dried, cracked, and +crumbled since my time, for it bore the marks of pain, the marks +of the labor pains of the earth’s last gestating doom. And +well they should, I thought, for in the years since my natural +life it had seen much suffering and much destruction.</p> + +<p>The King broke the silence, saying, “Lovely, isn’t +it, Jehu? And it is all yours for the taking.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean,” I asked him.</p> + +<p>“Exactly what I said, the whole world is yours, if you +want it.”</p> + +<p>“But how?”</p> + +<p>“All you have to do is join us, the Futurists, and we +will reward you with all the power and glory that you can +imagine.”</p> + +<p>At that I sobered up and replied, “But what of Onan, of +my quest to stop the doom of humanity from materializing in this +final juncture. He is the one who sent me, and he is the Lord of +the Past, whom the Canitaurs follow. I am his agent, why would I +turn from him to serve mere mortals?”</p> + +<p>He laughed a slight, sarcastic laugh, “Tell me, Jehu, to +whom did he send you, your ancestors or your +offspring?”</p> + +<p>“To my ancestors,” I said slowly, “Though +the Canitaurs seemed to imply that my time was long ago. To be +candid, I do not understand.”</p> + +<p>“Of course you do not understand, and how could you, +when no one has told you? You see, Jehu, the question of time is +not so linear as you would think. You know full well that the +conflict between the Zards and Canitaurs is over how to address +the renewing of the earth: they would send you, our kinsman +redeemer, back into time to prevent the nuclear wars, while we +would send you to the future to bring back its completion. They +hold to traditions as if they were the foundation of life, while +our people have no traditions in the traditional sense, if I may +use that oxymoronic phrase, but we look to what will come instead +of what has passed. History is unimportant to the present, Jehu, +because we have advanced to the point that we do not make the +same mistakes as our ancestors. In the past, they waged war +needlessly and did so in the name of humanitarian deeds. But +today, we are advanced enough that we use peaceful and just means +to reach our ends. In your day there were many absurd beliefs, +for example the so-called ‘fats’ that were so +vehemently avoided, are actually quite healthy, while on the +other hand, protectionism and socialism are quite absurd ideas, +and yet they were held dear. But today we have no such +presuppositions, today we understand the world and know justice +where your society knew only its shadows. We do not need to be +bound by the mistakes of yesterday, for we have the enlightenment +of today, and while the Canitaurs cling to the old time’s +ways, we have progressed to the point where we have no need of +such traditions.”</p> + +<p>He continued, “It may seem to you foolish to follow +Zimri instead of Onan, because Onan’s realm has already +been established and grows greater everyday, while Zimri’s +doesn’t exist and never will, but you miss a very important +point in the understanding of these matters. For, as you probably +know, time and matter are the foundations of physical existence, +and while the two components are independent, they are also +parallel. Matter is always revolving, from its simplest form in +the atom to its greatest in the universe, everything is revolving +and rotating. So is time. Imagine time as a galaxy, revolving +continually around the black hole at its center, that is, an +enigma that is actually devoid of all matter. Time is revolving +around a great enigma as well, which is devoid of time, that +enigma being eternity. Eternity is not a place where there is +infinite time, but rather a place where there is simply no time, +it is the counter-part in the temporal realm of a black hole in +the material realm. And just as a galaxy in the material realm +revolves around the black hole at its center, in the temporal +realm, the flow of time itself revolves around eternity. That +means that time repeats itself over and over again, just as on +earth a year is the amount of time it takes the earth to revolve +around the sun once, in the temporal realm, an age is the amount +of time that it takes the time continuum to revolve once around +eternity. Just as every year the climate on the earth is similar, +every particular day having its usual temperature and weather, +and every general period having the same seasons, so is time. +While every age is completely new and original, they all follow +the same pattern, and through every age the same general events +happen, though a few of the small details change from one time to +the next.</p> + +<p>“So you see, it is true that Onan sent you to both the +past and the future of your original time. The Pastites would say +that you were sent forward in time, because you existed in our +past, while the Futurists would say that you were sent backwards +in time because you existed in our future. While this would seem +an unimportant question, it is not, for we have to choose one or +the other. You, the kinsman redeemer have to choose one or the +other. That is why you were sent, you have to decide. Our fate +must be decided by a mortal because the gods have vowed to never +interfere directly in our ways again. You must decide, Jehu, for +you hold the fate of humanity in your hands: in all the other +ages before us, the wrong decision was made, and every time some +great calamity came that somehow threw the earth into a great ice +age that destroyed all life for many millenniums. We know that +the wrong decision was made, but we cannot tell what it was that +was done. Tell me Jehu, will you join the Futurists? Surely you +can see that the Pastites are just that, stuck in the past, with +their obsession with traditions and legends. They are of the +past, but we are of the future, we are the progressive ones. Dear +Jehu, choose the future, and when the earth is spared from the +great impending doom, we will set you up as ruler of the world to +show our gratitude. Will you join us, friend?” he asked me +with the most entreating eyes, though of somewhat doubtful +sincerity.</p> + +<p>There was a deathly silence that followed, for I was thinking +long and hard about what I should do, until at last I spoke, +“Your majesty, I am afraid that I will have to turn you +down and remain with the Pastites. Onan sent me, and it is Onan +whom I shall follow.”</p> + +<p>The King shook his head and sighed dejectedly, for a moment he +looked disheartened and crestfallen, but then he again resumed +his former prideful pose and said to me, less humbly and +entreating than before, “Very well, I was afraid that you +would do that. I have no choice now but to keep you here +indefinitely as a prisoner, until such time as you realize the +error of your ways and repent. It may seem improper to refuse the +decision of the kinsman redeemer, but I must, for I will not +allow my people to be destroyed by your ignorance.”</p> + +<p>With that he turned and walked quickly down the stairs to the +door, turning to me just as he reached it and adding with an +almost spiteful intonation, “But then again, what clarity +of mind can be expected from someone from the unenlightened +past.” He then left the room, closing the door with a +powerful thud, after which I heard a small metallic click and his +strong, commanding footsteps fading down the long stairway. As +soon as the sound had died away and he was no more to be heard, I +ran down to the door and tried to open it, but to no avail, for +it was locked. There was no way to escape: I was a prisoner of +the Zards.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 9: Mutually Assured Deception</h3> + +<p>The light of the newborn sun rose that instant far enough +above the horizon to shine directly into the tower’s upper +dome-like room, and I was awe struck by the texture that the +lights created on the glass of the walls, for when it shone +through at just the right height, a previously invisible picture +came to view. It was of a towering clipper ship with sails that +stretched across their masts like skin over the bones of a +pleasantly plump fellow, the wind billowing them about at a +leisurely rate. Waves broke gently upon the ship’s side as +the crew rested peacefully on the various cables and nets, all +except for the one-legged captain who was busy looking at the map +and accompanying charts. It was a quaint and beautiful scene, +though it soon passed away as the sun moved upwards in the sky, +and I wouldn’t have mentioned it, except that as it +disappeared, I found myself looking at where it had been, but +instead of the ship, I saw directly through the glass the +inhabitants of Nunami arising and beginning their daily business, +a scene which I might have missed since I was previously wholly +absorbed by the picturesqueness of the sky.</p> + +<p>Usually the Zards would arise before dawn and be about their +business, but because of the great flames of the night before, +they had no doubt had trouble sleeping, and therefore slept later +than usual when they finally did fall into the lands beyond +consciousness. They hustled and bustled about the streets of +Nunami, each doing their own business, and there was much +business to be done in a city in which all provisions are +provided internally, with no trade or commerce outside +whatsoever. There were merchants and stores still, yet they were +not traders but producers, each making their own wares as they +sold ones they had already made. Butchers sat in their shops with +their blood-stained aprons already donned, cobblers and tailors +were busy with the day’s repairs and new creations, the +milkmen paraded the streets slowly and methodically, somehow +getting their products to the citizens before 8 AM. The farmers +and herdsmen were also at work in the fields that were spread +throughout the city, plowing and sowing, and being joined by +those who had just finished distributing the milk.</p> + +<p>All was commonplace and normal, I thought, and I was +surprised, for the Zards were not at all martially minded, a +great contrast to their Canitaurian brethren. Of course, I had +never actually met any of the Canitaurian commoners. It seems to +me that the only ones who really are martially minded are the +leaders and politicians, everyone else seems to mind their own +business, and sometimes I wonder if there would even be any wars +if there weren’t any governments with the power to wage +one. There was a group of Zards by the government center, which +was close to my involuntary quarters, and they were leaning over +an opening in the aqueduct that ran down into the lake in the +southern section of the city, branching off from there into all +the various sectors. They were dumping a barrel of a fine, white +powder into the water that was running down into the lake, and +after the first had been poured in, they added another and +another until they had put a good five barrels into the water +source. Once they had finished, they took the empty barrels to a +large cage that was down the road a bit, inside of a small grove +of trees and shrubs. Inside the cage was a multitude of little +beetles that crawled around every which way and were evidentially +feasting on a large chunk of glowing material. For a moment I was +surprised, and wondered what it was they were doing, but then it +hit me: they were the delcator beetles that Bernibus had told me +of earlier, the ones that absorbed the radioactive material and +stabilized it. As I learned later, they had two good uses, one +was that they consumed the unstable materials and neutralized +them, but the other was that their droppings, when mixed into the +water supply, also gave all that consumed them a greater +tolerance for nuclear material. It was almost ironic that their +whole way of life was dependent on the feces of another life +form, but I will refrain from turning it into a metaphor.</p> + +<p>The female Zards wore a black headpiece that mostly covered +their faces, and at first I found it strange that for all his +talk of progress, the King’s people still oppressed their +women, perhaps there wasn’t as much progress as he had +boasted, or, more likely, he was unaware that there was no such +thing as progress, just different manifestations of oppression. +History repeats itself, they say, and indeed it does, both +literally and figuratively.</p> + +<p>There suddenly arose a great commotion in the square between +the Temple and the palace, and as I looked, I was surprised to +see that there was a large crowd gathered. In the middle of the +square there were two groups of ten Zards facing each other, with +a single Zard in between them, and around the outside of the +plaza area stood a hundred or so spectators, apparently watching +those in the middle. A moment after I started watching, the +solitary Zard, the referee as I found out, walked to the edge, +and each of the groups walked to one of the opposing sides and +then turned about to face the other. The referee let out a loud +yell and in a flash, the two teams ran at each other headlong, +until converging somewhere in the center of the field. As they +met they dived upon one another and pushed and shoved until the +left team had isolated one of the right’s players, who was +the only one on his team wearing an orange jersey. They dived on +him and jumped until the whole field was piled high with them, +and then they slowly began to disembark. Once all of the opposing +team’s players were off of the orange shirted Zard, all was +silent and still as the referee held his hand aloft and began +counting with his fingers. Everyone held their breathe and stood +tensely by as they watched. Just before the referee’s tenth +and final finger was counted, the orange shirted player rose from +the ground, amidst the screams of joy from his team and about +half of the crowd, apparently their fans. The two teams then +returned to their respective sides, and again the referee yelled +loudly, signaling them to rush at each other once more, and more +of the same ensued, this time it being the other team’s +orange shirted player to get pounced on. Once again there was a +high pile on top of him, and once again, as they crawled off and +he was exposed, the referee began to count. Except that this time +the orange shirted one never got up. The other team cheered again +and so did the other half of the crowd. The referee went to a +pole on the sidelines and put up the number ‘1’ on it +while a few bystanders picked the Zard up and carried him off the +field. They continued to play in this fashion for awhile, going +until one team or the other had no longer any players to be +jumped upon, but I was too disgusted at their violent nature to +watch, and instead walked over to the end table and picked up the +telescope, taking back as I did my thoughts about the innocence +and gentleness of the common folk.</p> + +<p>With the telescope in hand I went over to the eastern side of +the room and began to closely inspect the savanna in an attempt +to get a bird’s eye view of the point of my entrance in +Daem. It looked rather the same from above as it did from below, +though the smells and sounds were missing, and I found that it +was rather bland once the initial excitement, surprise, and +respect of its novelty had worn off. Indeed, it was quite too +dull for me, even in my state of boredom as a prisoner, though I +suppose that that isn’t a proper description of my +feelings, for I wasn’t free from excitement or intriguing +events, but rather, I was in the middle of a campaign of new and +anticipated things, but simply unable to participate. Stuck in a +room 800 feet from the ground with walls of glass that allowed +observation of the whole island of Daem, which I assumed to be +the only civilization in the world, while great events unfolded +around me, of which I was supposed to be the primary actor, was +very disconcerting, though I find in retrospect that fate worked +so mysteriously in my situation that it is quite puzzling to +think about, meaning, of course, my relationship with the doom of +humanity as preventer and provoker, as savior and condemner.</p> + +<p>My writing of this manuscript may be considered quite a big +cheat, as it details my direct involvement with Onan, the Lord of +the Past, and the general circumstances of the end of life on +earth, for the current age at least, but still I am allowed to +write it. Onan told me just a few moments ago that I could write +it and tell all that I want, to which I was taken aback. When I +asked why he would allow me to break the law of the council of +the gods, he replied that there was no rule against a human agent +from detailing his involvement in the actions of the divines. It +was allowed, he told me, because it would never make a mite of a +difference, for even if it were able to survive the bitter ice +ages and all the evolutionary periods in this TAB (Temporal +Anomaly Box, which I will explain later, since I get ahead of +myself and have not told of them yet), and even if it is found by +humans, and even if they are capable of understanding the text +contained within it, even then they will take no gain from it. I +was again taken aback when he said this, for though I know humans +to be stubborn and foolish, in general, I would think that they +would at least mind the warning when the conditions of its +completion came to pass. But he dissuaded me, telling me that my +coevals of the next age would no doubt take it as a novel.</p> + +<p>At this I took your defense quite personally upon myself, and +demanded in as not so humble a tone as would be thought proper, +though as I am about to die within the next day or two, I have to +admit that I don’t give much of a damn for politics or +manners. And yet, with all my ardor I was quickly subdued by a +curt rebuke by my interlocutors (for Zimri was there as well), +which was, quite simply, that you hadn’t taken Homer for +any more than a creative poet, even after a few thousand years of +study, so why should my meager manuscript make such a large +impact. At that, I acquiesced to them and admitted that on that +end my attempt to save humanity one way or another was +contemptible, but I still write, as you see, for the +story’s sake, and possibly for my own material immortality. +But never mind that, for it is high time that I went back to my +story.</p> + +<p>I was looking through the spyglass at the various areas of +Daem where my adventures had so far taken me. After I had +examined them all for a few moments, I felt a strange urge to use +the telescope to look closely at the mainland that I had seen +before, to see what the effects of the Great War had been there. +As I turned the telescope’s sights toward it, I was at once +surprised and flabbergasted at what caught my eye. There were +living beings on the mainland, not too far from the coast. And +not only that, but they were standing upright, though stooped, as +if by weariness and the wiles of life, and they seemed, in +general, to resemble humans, not directly, but as much as the +Zards and Canitaurs did, and with the effects of the radioactive +instability greater on the mainlands, it would seem natural that +they would be further removed from normality than those on Daem. +The land itself was barren and flat, with sparse vegetation in +the forms of small, deformed shrubs and a short, weak looking +grass. As I looked closer I saw that there were about six of the +strange, stooped humanoids, and they were gathering the fruits of +some of the shrubs for consumption. In a few moments they +finished their task and began to walk further inland, and I +followed their progress with interest until they finally +disappeared behind some of the small plateaus that were scattered +here and there among the wastelands.</p> + +<p>Putting the telescope down, I walked over to the couch and +laid down on it, with indignation filling my every move, for I +was almost enraged that the Zards and Canitaurs both should fail +to tell me, whom they claimed to respect as kinsman redeemer and +whose decisions would seal their fate for good or ill, that there +were other survivors from the Great Wars. I was also shocked by +their selfishness, for while they fought pettily amongst +themselves over how they would change their lands for the better, +a seemingly important question about past and future, they +completely ignored the sufferings of other humanoids, to whom +their way of living no doubt seemed like a paradise. But there +they were, stuck across the sea on their desolate lands, unable +to cross to Daem and enjoy its plentiful resources and luxuries, +yet not at all unaware of them, for as they labored in their +hopeless ways, they could see Daem shining like a heavenly vision +before them, one which they were not able to touch or grasp, but +instead one that must infuriate them to no end in their heart, at +the knowledge of fate’s unfairness and their utter +hopelessness and complete poverty, not because of their laziness +or their ignorance or anything involving their actions +whatsoever, but simply because they had been born on the wrong +side of the sea.</p> + +<p>At that moment I was embittered against both the Zards and the +Canitaurs for their selfishness and their pretensions of +morality. There is no morality where one sees another starving +and suffering and does not help, when one sees a whole race of +people living on a land where nothing but sorrows dwell, but will +not let them share the wealth that was given one by no doing of +oneself. There is no morality in selfishness, and when I saw +those wretched people, I no longer felt like redeeming those on +Daem from the impending doom of humanity. Whatever plans they had +for me they never told, I sensed, for there was something deeply +wrong about the way they looked at me and talked about me, +something deeply wrong about the way they patronized me and +treated me like a silly child, while I was the one who was to +decide their fate. The Canitaurs and the Zards both looked at me +with a subtle sense of deceit and ill will, all that is, except +Bernibus, which is why our friendship flourished so swiftly. As I +laid there with thoughts of Onan and the decision that I was to +make, and of all the responsibility that was put upon me +involuntarily, as I thought of the conflict of past and future at +the neglect of the present, as I thought about the self-obsession +and overindulgence that come with wealth, and the desire for +still more that accompanies it, I fell to sleep and into a place +where no troubles lay, for my long day and night had left in me +no energy for dreams.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 10: Devolution</h3> + +<p>When I awoke the sun was once more out in its morning glory, +at the height it assumes at about the 9 o’clock hour, and +the room was warm and cozy because of it, as it shone in through +the glass walls. My first sensation upon waking was one of peace +and bliss, the feeling experienced when you wake up late to a +nice warm resting place, especially so when all the rest of the +world is hard at work and you are not. I breathed in the air +deeply and contentedly while stretching my arms, legs, and back +in a most relieving fashion, and then turned towards the table in +the center of the room, from whence I smelled an extremely +appealing smell, that of a hearty breakfast.</p> + +<p>As I did so, however, my joy was sent to a bitter, premature +death, for there sitting at the table and smiling sardonically at +me was the King, arrayed in all his pomp and splendor with his +powerful pose, which, while it had impressed, and even to a point +overwhelmed me, before, did no such thing to me now, for I was +fresh with indignation at the exclusion of the humanoids across +the sea from the paradise of Daem.</p> + +<p>He saluted me in a polite manner, and I him, though there was +little affection behind it. Then, without any more ceremony, I +sat down and began to eat, repulsing any attempt of his to start +a conversation with persistent vigor, until I had finished, when +I stood and demanded where exactly I was to make my toiletry. He +laughed and said that he was wondering how long I would last, but +as I was still too unpleasant to respond with any familiarity, he +showed me to a little room that was tucked off of the side of the +bell that formed the entrance to the domed chambers of the upper +tower. The top of the tower itself was a half complete sphere, +while the room only occupied the upper half, so that the bottom +was divided between the entry way and the toiletry room. I spent +a few moments grooming and washing myself and preparing for the +day, and then rejoined him in the room. He was still sitting on +his chair and I took the other. The meal had been carried +away.</p> + +<p>He began the conversation by saying, “My dear Jehu, I +must apologize for keeping you in this position, but you must +understand that the outcome of this war is very serious, and I +will not risk it to your sensationalism.”</p> + +<p>“Sensationalism!” returned I, “Is that how +you would describe a touch of humanity?”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean?” he questioned, apparently +interested in what I said.</p> + +<p>“Well,” I began, regaining myself, my former +indignation being exhausted by the spirit of my opening comments, +and my normal sober reasoning returning, “I have been +observing your society, which you suppose to be enlightened, but +I have seen some things, which, I am afraid, are evidences of the +opposite.”</p> + +<p>“Go on,”</p> + +<p>“For one, your common folk engage in the most violent +entertainment. I saw a vicious game being played not far from +here, in the plaza below. There were two sides, and they rushed +at each other in a rage and clashed when they met until one side +tackled the other. This went on for some time, the evident point +of the sport being to gain points by making it so that one of the +opposing players cannot get up at the end of a round. It was so +brutal that I was disgusted and could watch no more.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I see what you mean,” the King replied, +“I myself would much rather that such games would be +forsaken, but the people really enjoy it. I must remind you, as +well, that your society had the same type of thing, as did every +other before it. It was football for you, gladiators for the +Romans, and so forth.”</p> + +<p>“But I thought that you had no traditions? That you were +more enlightened than those of the past? You can hardly excuse +your misconduct by reminding one of the misconduct of another, +especially when you claim to disclaim the errors of history, or +at least, that altered and redefined thing that you call +history.”</p> + +<p>“You are right, I have to admit,” he conceded, +“But let me remind you that it is a static characteristic +of humanity to confuse the ends with the means. When an intense +effort is applied, the melodramatic tendency is to honor that +effort, despite its uselessness, instead of honoring the product +of the effort rather than the effort itself. But, you are right, +I admit, for we have still a few places left to refine in the +common folk.”</p> + +<p>Feeling vainglorious at my victory, I pursued him further, +“I also observed that your womenfolk wear face coverings in +public, which is most certainly a thing of the past.”</p> + +<p>“I must disagree with you there Jehu,” he said, +evidentially regaining his confidence and sense of moral footing, +“For even in your own time the womenfolk all wore masks and +face coverings.”</p> + +<p>I was taken aback and cried, “Most certainly they did +not, your history books may say so, but I, dear sir, was alive +and would know best!”</p> + +<p>“What, then,” he coolly replied, with a sharp grin +that reeked of self-confidence, “Would you call all the +messes of make-up and perfume and other such things which they +were virtually forced to wear? I see nothing different between +wearing face coverings and transplanting an entirely new face, +hair, and body on oneself everyday. In fact, our women got +together and decided voluntarily to do so, for the very reason +that if an artificial covering must be put on, it might as well +be one that is easy, for why spend an hour or more a day to +change one’s appearance, when it can be done in moments +with a head covering? That is a great time saver for us. And why +spend the resources to research, produce, and market massive +amounts of facial paint to cover up the face when it is possible +to put a covering on and get the same effect much, much easier? +It is only logical.</p> + +<p>“And in general, Jehu,” he pursued, warming to the +subject matter, “I find the oppression of women in your +time to be quite appalling. You seemed to think that the +liberation of women consisted in transforming them into loveless, +materialistic thugs, into workaholics whose only desire is +wealth, into aggression driven beings that possessed little shred +of real humanity, into, in a word, men. I think it would have +been a much better endeavor to have attempted to change men into +women.”</p> + +<p>I was taken aback by his eloquent defense of the treatment of +women in his society, and felt, I must admit, a little impressed +by his arguments, seeing as how it did make more sense to wear a +head covering than to paint on a face every morning. Still, I +desired to let him see that traditions aren’t all that bad, +just as they aren’t all that good, and, as I had still won +one point out of two so far, I felt it safe to move on to my main +argument against his humanistic preponderance.</p> + +<p>“You are right there, I admit, but tell me, your +majesty,” I said with a slow, scoffing voice, meant to show +that I had a powerful point to make, and as if I had to go slow +enough for him to comprehend the eloquence of my speech, +“Why, if you are so enlightened and progressive, so +humanitarian and merciful, why do you keep a whole race of +people, of human beings, stranded on the far shore, able to see +the goodness of Daem’s plush lands, but unable to visit +them? How can you justify the keeping of people in such +conditions when it is in your power to relieve them?”</p> + +<p>He sobered up more than he already was and answered in his +most dignified voice, one calculated to stop opposition by its +very graces, “Their plight is unfortunate, but as they are +not my subjects, it is none of my concern.”</p> + +<p>“So you knew of them, but did not care. How typical of +powerful men. What are they called?”</p> + +<p>“Munams,” he answered, “Is what we call +them, though people of your time had a different name for them, +Neanderthal, if I am correct.”</p> + +<p>My intrigue superseded my conviction and I asked interestedly, +“But, how is that possible? The Neanderthals were the +ancestors of men in my time, and the men of my time were the +ancestors of the men of this time, how could they be living +now?”</p> + +<p>“Very simply, for your scientists and philosophers did +not understand the revolution of time, and what they thought was +evolution was in fact devolution. You see, when they found all +the fossils and other such evidence for evolution, they +interpreted it to mean that they had evolved from lesser +organisms. Since they didn’t know that time repeats itself +over and over again, ages of time being like the years of the +earth, it was actually the remains of the age before them that +they thought were the remains of their ancestors. In truth, +instead of a great comet hitting the earth and destroying the +dinosaurs and many other living beings, it was the Great Wars, +the nuclear wars, that caused all the damage. And since their +perception of the events was backward, instead of the blasts +destroying the dinosaurs and the wholly mammoths, it was what +actually created them, for, you see, after the nuclear weapons +had all been used, everything in the world died, or came very +close to it, all that is, except Daem, which thrived, because of +the delcator beetles.</p> + +<p>“There were no ‘dinosaurs’, only Zards, for +when the radiation levels were still high and unstable, we grew +to enormous sizes, and likewise there were no wholly mammoths, +but Canitaurs. And the Neanderthals that appeared shortly after +were not the precursors to humans at all, but the Munams, who +survived on the mainland near Daem because of the corrected +atmosphere, but who were mutilated more than we by the increased +corruption across the sea. The Ice Ages, also, were not as you +thought, but instead mark the position in the last age after the +doom of humanity was played out and everything destroyed. The Big +Bang, also, was not at the beginning, but at the very end, being +somehow related to the onset of the Ice Ages. Your evolutionary +theories were close, but the time tables were rearranged to fit +the facts, since time was thought to be linear.</p> + +<p>“That is where our main trouble lies, Jehu, for through +geological and biological evidences, even more advanced than +those collected during your times, we can tell that something +happens at this very period of history that will wipe all life +from the face of the earth for a long period of time, many +thousands of years, until somehow they start to reproduce and +grow once more into what they are now. Something very powerful +happens, even more devastating than the nuclear wars, when all +the nations of the world used their entire stock of weapons. Our +problem is how to prevent it, and a great problem it presents, +indeed. You see, while we would wish to be confident of success, +since we know generally what to expect, we know through research +that there have been many, many ages before us in which the same +thing has happened. That is why the geological layers have always +been found to be strangely misaligned, with fossils from an +earlier period here and with a later period there. That is why +things like tree fossils are found in coal mines, where they +shouldn’t be, and why in general, the evidence found in the +ground doesn’t fit a consistent pattern.”</p> + +<p>As he finished, I could say nothing, for his revelation was +sobering to me, bringing me suddenly back to the realization that +our doom was impending, that every decision I made had the +potential to either bring us to safety, or to supply the +necessary force to hurl us viscously off the cliff of mortality. +He was silent as well and allowed me a few moments of meditation +to turn his speech in my mind. As is my tendency, I looked +abstractly out the window as I thought, fixing my subconscious +focus on the road that ran from the northern gate down through +the city, the road which formed half of the plaza beneath the +temple. A moment or two passed like a solemn parade of mourning, +then, suddenly, or at least quite unexpected by myself, a party +of Canitaurs came walking down the northern road, unharassed and +unescorted through the heart of the city. Since they came freely, +I knew that they were not prisoners, but still I was perplexed at +how a party of them came to be allowed in Nunami at all under +such pretexts, especially as they had attempted to bring it to +ruin but a few days before.</p> + +<p>The King saw their coming and my interest in them, and said in +a way of explanation, “There is to be a council today +between the Zards and Canitaurs, with you present, of course. Our +war has rampaged for quite some time, but we are forced to peace +in light of our impending doom, brought by circumstances outside +of ourselves. We will decide tonight, or tomorrow, what action to +take. It is a grim time, you can be sure, my dear Jehu, when +Zards and Canitaurs meet in peace, a grim time indeed.”</p> + +<p>He said that very importantly, with an air of fright in his +voice, as one who knows his end is near, for both him and his +loved ones. There was another moment of silence as he reflected +on the meaning of his words, and then he rose and beckoned me to +follow him. We made our way through the bottom half of the room +and down the long flight of stairs that wound down the great +tower in the Temple of Time. When we reached the bottom, we went +again into the long room with the bookshelves, the table, and the +altar to Temis. Already there waiting for us were the Canitaur +emissaries, Wagner and Bernibus.</p> + +<p>They rose to greet me, bowing low in a deferential manner, +more out of forced respect than awe, at least on Wagner’s +part, and after the customary blessing that followed, we all sat +down at the long wooden table that stretched lengthwise through +the room. Wagner and Bernibus took their chairs on one side and +the King and myself on the other, he and Wagner being opposite +each other, and Bernibus and me being the same; the King and I +were facing the altar and the White Eagle that held it.</p> + +<p>There was a moment of silence as we took our seats, and it +continued for another moment as everyone sat in an awkward +situation. As there was no one else in the room besides the four +of us, and as Wagner seemed disinclined to begin, the King opened +up our conference with the following statement:</p> + +<p>“Well, dear sirs, what can I say, except that I am glad +that you have finally condescended to seek a mutual agreement on +the actions which are about to ensue, and that I hope that our +conference will be productive and informative. Before we begin, I +will outline the rules of the debate and of the conference, which +were agreed upon before the military action of the recent +past,” here he looked at Wagner with the look of a judge +who supposes himself morally superior to the criminal in his +holding, “And by which we will still govern the council, +despite the sudden change in circumstances. The rules are as +follows: The decision shall be made by the votes of the three +parties involved, namely the Zards, the Canitaurs, and Jehu, the +kinsman redeemer. A majority of two votes is required to decide +which of the paths will be taken: the Futurist or the Pastite. As +is clearly obvious, my dear Jehu, I shall vote Futurist, and +Wagner shall vote Pastite, and it is up to you to cast the +decisive vote. You are the kinsman redeemer, and for all intents +and purposes, you will be the sole decider of the fate of +humanity. It is a great responsibility, but one that you were +chosen for by the child of Temis, the God of Time. Wagner and +myself will each make our cases, though you know them by now, and +then you will have all night to decide and you will tell us your +decision in the morning,” thus concluded the King’s +opening address.</p> + +<p>Before anyone else could follow it up, I interjected, +“But I was sent by Onan to do his work on earth, +wouldn’t it only make sense for me to choose the way of +Onan?”</p> + +<p>The King answered me, saying, “You were sent by Temis, +the God of Time, Jehu, for Onan and Zimri are his children who do +his work for him, but they only have the powers that he gave +them. Onan is the only one able to speak to mortals, for he is in +the past, while Zimri is in the future, but Onan also speaks for +Zimri, because he is told what to say by Temis, whose agents they +both are as much as you are Onan’s. Isn’t that so, +Wagner?”</p> + +<p>Wagner sighed in the affirmative, and when he had done so, I +asked him pointedly, “Why didn’t you tell me? You led +me to believe that Onan was the one who sent me, and by his own +power.”</p> + +<p>Here the King put in, “He merely wanted to prejudice you +to his own side, Jehu. He attempted to by-pass our peace treaty +of long ago when he tried to attack us and capture this very +temple for his own plans. We agreed twenty-five years ago to do +it this way, because enough blood had been shed, and no good had +come from it. He violated it when he took you into hiding, using +our pursuit after his treachery as justification. But come, in +the face of impending doom we cannot squabble over past wrongs, +but must move to prevent future disaster from +striking.”</p> + +<p>“What is so important about this Temple of Time, +though?” I asked.</p> + +<p>Wagner and the King mumbled together that “It was an +essential part of the restoration of Daem”, but would not +elaborate, saying that it was unimportant to the present +troubles. They looked guilty as they said it, though of what I +did not know. I was reminded of my indignation at their ignoring +of the sufferings of the Munams and became once more impatient +with their self-importance, so I yielded the floor and they began +to make their cases. In order to decide who went first, they drew +lots, and as the shorter was drawn by Wagner, he went first. His +speech is as follows:</p> + +<p>“The past is constant, Jehu. It has happened and is +secure in its place, explored and known. The traditions and +customs of our people are steadfast and immovable, for they have +survived the ages like a mountain that is untouched by the +weather. They have lasted so long not because of the mere +namesake of tradition, but because they work, because they have +worked thousands of times before, and because we know they will +work a thousand times in the future. What was good enough for the +generations before us is good enough for us and our children. A +tradition, or taboo, is not formed by the decision of some +contemporary council as a means to control others via social +restrictions, for if it was it would never have lasted, instead +it is formed because of experience, because when something goes +beyond it the result is temporary pleasure, the nectar of the +fruits of rebellion, but when the rebellious desires have faded, +what is left is rotten and decayed.</p> + +<p>“It brings only more desires for rebellion and more +thirst for the forsaking of traditions, and it will not be +satisfied. Then another taboo will be broken, but this also will +not quench the desires of the rebellious, who do what they do not +for any independent purpose, but only from a desire to break +traditions and taboos and to be different than their forebears. +But there is no satisfaction in rebellion, only in obedience. +Obedience not to some alien divinity, not to some social +supremest, not to the blind devotion of parental mandates, but +obedience to common sense, to practicality, to morality. For a +taboo is not formed by any one person, instead it is slowly built +up upon the experiences of many, experiences which show that when +one thing is done, suffering is what follows, and when another +thing is done, happiness is what follows. Of course there are a +few, isolated taboos that are based instead on human prejudices, +but that doesn’t translate into the abandonment of all the +experience of precedents. What comes when there are no longer any +taboos and traditions to break? Destruction. For as is seen time +and again, the rebellion of societies gains momentum, and while +their consequences are slow in gathering, in the end they +multiply and force those societies over the edge of power, +bringing only suffering and ruin.</p> + +<p>“And not only are the experiences of the past wielded +together into that euphoria that eludes the rebellious - wisdom - +but its constant state controls the present and the future. What +men have seen in the past leads them in their future actions, and +as a result, it is not the future that controls the present and +defines the past, but it is the past which controls the present +and defines the future. What sense is there in abandoning the +mountain of wisdom that the past has built up and leaping blindly +into hazy, unknown actions and institutions? The past is steady, +Jehu, and it is known; it is the only sensible way.” Thus +spoke Wagner.</p> + +<p>It was then the King’s turn, and he said as follows:</p> + +<p>“The past is the past, not the present nor the future, +its time has been spent, its part in the theater of life is over, +it is extinct. Jehu, Wagner speaks of us as rebelliously breaking +taboos that were formed by our forefathers, but that is not true. +In the present more is known than was known in the past, they had +outdated views and opinions, and their ideologies were vulgar and +unsophisticated. At present we are more knowledgeable, more +refined than what has gone before. The people of the past waged +unjust wars. They had superstition and prejudices that clouded +their visions of morality, and the product of that is a large +amount of taboos and precedents and traditions that are immoral +or meaningless. Now is the age of enlightenment, now and never +before is the future at hand, mixing with the present as we learn +more and more about our world. We are progressive, learning and +growing in philosophy and lifestyle.</p> + +<p>“If those of the past were so upright and wise, than why +are they not still among the living? If they were so powerful, +then why are they now extinct? The past is gone, but the future +is yet to come, it still holds tangible pleasures, not memories, +it has promise and potential, while the past is only the ruins of +the same. When the past is looked back upon, it is small and +immaterial, it is like time crumpled up into a wad of memories, +and a time yesterday or a thousand years ago looks the same, for +it is past, it is no more. Life is not short, but in retrospect +it seems to be, and its memories are distant, as they float like +fish in the oceans of time, lacking both definition and scale, +and hanging lifelessly around in random arrays. Every moment is +of the same length, but a moment in the past is nothing, its +thoughts and emotions are nothing, they are gone and useless to +the present, while a moment in the future is long and touchable. +A thought that is past is as nothing, and it is forgotten, for +the past and the future are like a one-way mirror, you can look +forward into the future, but looking into the past you can see +only the present reflected back at you. What good are the joys or +sorrows of yesterday? They are as far removed as those of a +thousand years ago, but it is the joys and sorrows of tomorrow +that loom the largest. Why look into the past for completion, +when it is found only in the future?” Thus spoke the +King.</p> + +<p>Once both of them had finished there was a short pause, each +reflective and absorbed with his own thoughts. At last the King +broke through the still waters of the moment and sent his +rippling voice across its formless surface, which revived at once +and was joined by many others, until the outward expression of +consciousness sent the waters of the mind again into their +complex and interwoven dances. He spoke in the department of host +and concluded the short session with these words, “Now the +cases are stated, though but briefly, for they were already +well-known. As planned prior to the infractions of the treaty, we +will adjourn for the night, and in the morning Jehu will deliver +his verdict, whether we undo our problem through the future, or +through the past.”</p> + +<p>We all rose and Bernibus, my only friend on the island, came +up to me and warmly embraced me, while Wagner and the King +conversed formally a few yards away. When they were not looking +and our backs were turned to them, Bernibus slipped me a piece of +paper that was rolled up into a tight scroll. Seeing his caution +and secrecy, I quickly stashed it in the inside of my shirt, +where it could not be seen. I was alarmed at the momentary +expression of his face, which showed that he was greatly worried +about me, and made me very interested in what the paper would +contain. His face quickly returned to its original countenance, +an impermeable barrier to his insides, and no one except myself +had any inclination about what had happened. The other two turned +towards us, and quickly made their farewells, Wagner and Bernibus +departing for their quarters, and the King to escort me back to +my prison.</p> + +<p>He took my arm in his genially, though only superficially so, +for he still had a subdued sense of distrust about him, and we +went through the door to the long, circling stairway from whence +we had come. As we ascended we engaged in small talk, the usual +meaningless pleasantry, which I assume you have probably had +enough of in your experiences to allow me to dispense with +relating it, for it was of no weight in any of the circumstances +that I found myself in, and I especially was not interested in +it, as the paper given to me by Bernibus claimed my whole +attention, and filled me with an anticipation and mystery of what +it might contain. I kept up the small talk with the King merely +to allay any suspicions he might have had, though he had none. +After a seeming eternity we reached the top, and once there I +stepped into my chambers, as the King jestingly called them. We +bade each other goodnight, which was followed by the metallic +click of the door locking, and the sound his footsteps as he +descended and made his way to his palace.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 11: The Land Across the Sea</h3> + +<p>I waited reluctantly with my ear against the door until his +footsteps could no longer be heard, and then waited for fifteen +minutes more, listening carefully for any noises. There were +none, and once I had convinced myself that I was completely +alone, I dashed swiftly up the stairs and jumped onto the couch. +My sudden movements caused the top-heavy tower to sway slightly +for a few moments, giving me quite the scare, for I didn’t +realize what it was at first. But then my pilot’s instinct +kicked in and I mentally calculated the height and width of the +tower and the mass of the dome that rested upon it, and came to +the conclusion that it was stable, for while a swift movement +caused it to sway, it would take a prolonged and deliberate +pendulum-like motion to cause any real damage, and even the +fiercest wind would not upset it, for it would only blow in a +single direction at a time, and only a rocking motion must be +feared.</p> + +<p>Confident once more of my safety, I took the rolled piece of +paper from the folds of my clothing and opened it carefully. +Inside was a note from Bernibus, written in a legible cursive +that flowed from an obviously educated hand. It read as +follows:</p> + +<p>“My Dear Jehu, it is I, Bernibus, your friend and +comrade, who writes to you. Wagner and myself are soon to set off +for Nunami for a council with the Zards about the resolution of +our conflict. It was decided in a cease fire treaty twenty-some +years ago that whomever first came upon the kinsman redeemer was +to have a council with the other side and the ancient one to +decide which course to take, since either course needs the +support of both the Zards and the Canitaurs to succeed. When you +first came among us, Wagner seemed to break the terms of the +treaty and keep you with us in an attempt carry out our plans +independently of the Zards, using an attack plan that had been +held in readiness since the treaty, to ensure a defense if things +went wrong. When the Zards attempted to capture us upon your +arrival, Wagner declared the treaty violated, and I assumed that +it was to be entirely abandoned. I was under this impression when +I befriended you, and once our friendship had strengthened, I had +no fears for you, thinking as I did that new methods were to be +tried.</p> + +<p>“After the attack on Nunami failed and the council was +once again to be held, each having violated it equally, my fears +were suddenly aroused on your behalf. It was only then that I saw +that it was the intention of Wagner not only to destroy Nunami +and the Zards, but to capture the Temple of Time, which was the +only part of the city to be left intact. When I confronted my +brother-in-law about this, he only laughed at me scornfully and +told me that I was soft, that I was a fool to put one man’s +life ahead of the salvation of the whole earth. I was filled with +wrath at him and still am, but I have decided that it was better +to feign compliance and let you know by letter what it was that +is being planned for you. I am only sorry that it should come to +you at so late an hour, when I could have warned and helped you +before if I had only known. There is not much that you can do +now, but still I must warn you, for whatever it is worth, if only +to prove my affections.</p> + +<p>“You see, my dear Jehu, the Pastites and Futurists +interpret the prophecy to mean that the kinsman redeemer has come +to renew the earth, as you have no doubt heard, although there is +strong evidences to the contrary. I myself have been brought up +to this interpretation, as it is more acceptable than the +alternate theories that exist, though I have been for a time now +doubting its accuracy. According to the Externus Miraculum view, +the Temple of Time is crucial to the implementation of either +plan, in fact it is the crux of them both, the one issue that it +is of as great importance, or greater, than the presence of you, +the kinsman redeemer. There is an altar in the center room of the +temple, a great diamond White Eagle that is grasping an ordinary +altar in its talons, and this altar is where the kinsman redeemer +is to be sacrificed. If only I had suspected so before and could +have warned when there was yet time!</p> + +<p>“But there is no time now for such reflections, so I +will continue. The method of sending you back or forward in time +is to sacrifice you on the altar of Temis, the God of Time. It is +not a traditional, atonement sacrifice, nor of any kind that +involves the cutting of the flesh with a knife. Instead it is a +molecular one. You are to be set on the altar and then the White +Eagle will start to spew forth either protons or electrons, +depending on which is chosen, past or future. When your +body’s cells absorb all of the floating matter, they will +be either positively or negatively charged to such an extent that +their revolutions will be rapidly accelerated. According to +theory, the increased speed of the revolutions would cause a rift +in the time continuum, or in other words, would change the +proportion between your existence in the temporal and material +realms and change your location in time, thereby propelling you +into the past or the future, depending upon which was chosen, +electron or proton, past or future.</p> + +<p>“There has been much experimentation with this process, +each person sent through time being equipped with a matter-proof +box that is basically an advanced time capsule, lasting for +millions of years. Into this box (or TAB, Temporal Anomaly Box) +each person was supposed to write an account of their temporal +journey and leave it on the island that is presently Daem, at +specific locations decided on for that purpose. We would search +for those boxes in the present, to see if they had been +delivered. None have yet been found, though there are other +possible reasons than death, such as a failure to find the +island, or the box’s removal by someone in an intervening +time. Still, I am greatly afraid for your life Jehu, especially +so after what I discovered just hours ago in the classified +archives of the Canitaurs: there was strong evidence that the +process simply disintegrated those upon whom it was tried, +instead of sending them through time. This was kept from the +public, and was forcefully forgotten by those who knew, their +reason being that Temis would guide your travel better than the +others who were not called as his servants. If it were anyone but +you, Jehu, I would probably have deceived myself in the same way, +but I cannot let you be destroyed like this. You must escape and +not let them throw away our only chance of salvation in such a +way. I only wish that I had known sooner, I only wish that there +was a chance that you could escape,</p> + +<p>“Your Devoted Friend, Bernibus”</p> + +<p>For a moment I could do nothing except sit in silence and +ponder over this new revelation. After I had reread the letter +twice, so as to be thoroughly familiar with its contents, I ate +it, so that if I did escape, or was apprehended doing so, +Bernibus would not be found out and suffer because of it, though +I doubt not that he would have gladly done so. When I had done +that, I ran down to the door and attempted to force it open, but +to no avail. Neither could it be picked. And even if it had, it +would have done me no good, for there were at least two guards +always stationed at the foot of the stairs, and many more between +them and the temple entrance, and even if, by some miraculous +intervention, I made it that far, that left me stranded +conspicuously in the center of Nunami. My only hope was to escape +from the island completely, for I would be found soon enough by +the cooperating inhabitants if I remained upon their own +lands.</p> + +<p>The land across the sea then entered my mind, and its +degenerate inhabitants, but that was across a wide channel that +would be hard to cross even if I had infinite time, freedom, and +materials to make a boat which would withstand the waves, and I +had none of the three. What little hope I had, then, was out of +reach, lost to me like the golden days of the past. It was then +that I was overcome by despondency, the hopelessness of my +situation weighing my spirits down. It is a peculiar trait of +mine that in times of distress and in situations that seem to +have no possible favorable outcome I act rashly and without +reason. You will remember how I leaned forward and peered into +the dark hole when I was stranded on the tiny island in the sea, +and how I struck the tree with a limb on the shores of Lake +Umquam Renatusum. Likewise, I again did something which would +seem illogical and vain: in my frustration, I pushed the table +that I happened to be standing against with as much force as I +could muster. It slid softly along the carpeting before coming to +a halt a few inches from the glass wall. It made no noise or +jarring of the floor, but the sudden shifting of weight in the +room caused the tower to sway once more, as it had when I had run +up the stairs to the couch.</p> + +<p>And, as had happened on the previous occasions, the result of +my senseless actions was good, as if guided by some external +force, for an idea came suddenly to my mind that would not have +been there otherwise, an idea that was outlandish and +far-fetched, but was at the time my only hope.</p> + +<p>I lost no time on preparing my efforts, for there was none to +be lost, and set out immediately to remove the carpeting from the +floor. Upon examination I found that it was not attached to the +ground at all, but only fastened into a wooden frame at the walls +that held it tightly in place. It stretched in a circular fashion +around the whole of the room and into the center until it came to +the stairs that led downward, so that once removed it formed a +circle about thirty feet in diameter with a three foot circular +hole in its center. In case I haven’t mentioned the type of +the carpet yet, which I must confess that I cannot remember, I +will do so here: it was not a traditional carpet, that form being +apparently lost after the great wars, instead it was a silky +sheet-like carpet, no more than a quarter inch thick, and in fact +greatly resembling the sail of an old clipper ship, the painting +on the glass that I saw earlier probably attesting to the fact +that it had been designed with that appearance in mind. Like its +prototype, the sail, it caught a lot of wind and acted in the +same general manner.</p> + +<p>Using the bowie knife that was built into the large frontal +buckle of the anti-electron suit, which, by the way, I was still +entirely wearing, I cut the carpet down its center, making two +semi-circular pieces, each with a moon shaped appearance, much +like a wing. I based my idea in part on the observation that the +Canitaurs and Zards had apparently lost, or disregarded, the +springs of my time and instead used a hammock of springy, elastic +cords that spread across the face of the furniture. Simply put, +they stretched elastic ropes across an empty frame, almost like a +trampoline made of individual cords. This created a very +comfortable springing feel, for they gave enough bounce to render +the surface pliable, but not overly soft. Taking the bowie knife +again, I thrust it into the couch, and cut away the cushioning to +reveal the support. To my great relief, I found that it was +constructed in a manner similar to the other couches that I had +seen. There were about two score of the cords, each being between +three and four feet long. These I unattached and laid them down +in a pile.</p> + +<p>Next, I took the four main support beams for the couch, one +running along each side and two down the center in a crescent +shape, with the same curve and slope as the carpet, as they were +designed to contour the same wall. Then I disassembled the table +and took from it two of its main beams, which were about a foot +shorter than their curved counterparts. These I did not fully +remove, instead loosening their screws and swiveling them to +extend outwards from the table at a right angle, tightening them +again afterwards so that they were secure.</p> + +<p>Once that was accomplished, I went to the frame that had held +the carpet down and took the pins and fasteners which were used +to secure it. These I placed on the crescent beams from the +couch, which used the same standard size. Once I had secured the +carpet sections to the beams, I attached the couch’s beams, +via the cords, to the long beams sticking outward from the table, +running the ends of all the cords through another cord that +could, upon being pulled, adjust their height by pulling or +releasing, thus controlling the distance between the upper and +the lower beams, and changing the amount of slack in the carpet +that was stretched between them. I then removed the legs from the +tabletop, leaving just it and the beams together, the carpet +being attached to the beams.</p> + +<p>Thus my plan was completed, it being, in case you hadn’t +guessed, a primitive hang glider, the carpet being a sail and the +beams the wings, the whole being steerable by either raising or +lowering one side or the other, and the altitude being adjustable +by raising or lowering the two simultaneously. I felt keen joy at +my skills in air travel at that moment, and as I stepped back to +admire my work, I felt that peculiar satisfaction of having made +something and finding that it was good.</p> + +<p>But that moment was short lived, for another problem quickly +presented itself, namely, how would I remove the hang-glider from +the tower and launch it. It was far too large to go down the +stairs and needed to be propelled to a high speed or dropped from +a high altitude to become airborne. Since I had no way of +propelling it, I needed to launch it from the top of the tower, +which provided plenty of altitude, but then the problem of how to +remove it from the tower arose. For a moment I was stumped and +almost admitted defeat, but then it came to me.</p> + +<p>The tower’s only weakness was in its lack of protection +against a deliberate rocking motion. If I was able to swing it +back and forth fast enough by slowly gaining speed and +multiplying the momentum, it would be possible to get it to lean +far enough that the dome would snap off, leaving the room open to +the air. This was possible, though rather unlikely. But I tried +anyway.</p> + +<p>Starting on one side I began to move from one edge to the +other until a faint rocking motion could be felt. Then I +increased my speed in proportion to the speed of the tower +itself. It was a slow start, but the momentum began to grow, and +as it did each successive sway became faster and faster. Soon it +was going so fast that I began to have unstable footing, the +whole tower creaking like a tree that it is blown by a heavy +wind. The speed kept increasing until it reached its fastest, +swooshing to and fro with all of its accumulated force.</p> + +<p>It was then that the break happened, for on one of the thrusts +the top snapped off and the upper dome was flung downwards to the +ground. As soon as it was off I shoved the hang-glider with all +the force I could muster towards the edge. At first it fell, but +a few feet from the edge its wings caught the wind and it was +brought up to a stable soar, and just at that instant I landed on +it, for I had jumped right after it. I hit with a thud and felt +the craft bounce downwards a little as I hit, but it soon +regained its stability and sped on through the air as behind me I +heard a great crashing sound.</p> + +<p>I pulled the left wing down and the glider began to turn in +that direction. Since I had launched into the opposite direction +of the mainland, I needed to wheel around completely, and as such +I held the wing down until I had done an about face towards the +east. What I saw was a striking picture: the sun had just begun +to rise, and under the influence of its soft textures the city of +Nunami looked as it had before: quaint, picturesque, and +inviting. But there was a great difference now, for the tower +itself had completely collapsed under the momentum, and its ruins +had fallen down upon the Temple of Time, demolishing it and +leaving only ruins. It had also fallen on a strip of the city, +taking with it several buildings and leaving only rubble. The +King, Wagner, and Bernibus could just barely be seen amongst the +crowds that had dashed out of doors to see what was going on, and +I could tell that Bernibus was smiling at my escape as he looked +at my wind sailor a thousand feet in the air. A friend who +rejoices in your advancement, even at his own cost, is rare +indeed.</p> + +<p>Turning my gaze upwards, I left Nunami and its troubles behind +me and looked ahead to my promised land, and though it was barren +and devoid of any significant foliage, it still held something +equally dear to me as landscape: safety. The wind currents were +strong and my speed was about 30 miles per hour. Great expanses +of grassland sped by below me like the memories of yesteryear, +and within half an hour I found myself over the ocean.</p> + +<p>There is something very refreshing about the sunrise that +correlated very well with my present feeling of emancipation, for +it is a symbol of the new and fresh, and of the forgetting of the +troubles of the past. This was true in my case, at least, for I +was soon carefree once more, secure in my freedom. As the wind +rushed across my body, I was relaxed in my adopted element, air, +though it was slightly difficult to keep myself firmly on the +glider, as I was lying unfastened to the tabletop. Below me +passed the ocean, looking generally the same as ever, though +paler and less alive, like a ghost of its former self, but still +close enough to bring the calm of reminiscing.</p> + +<p>Soon even the ocean began to give way to the fast approaching +mainland, and I abandoned my restive meditations to solve the +problem of how to land. I had not made any contraptions for that +purpose, having not thought about it in the hurry to leave my +prison. I decided to use a traditional circling approach, in the +same way scavenging birds descend on their prey. When I was a +mile or so inland, I began to circle about in wide spirals, +narrowing them as I drew closer to the ground. In this way I had +slowed down enough by the time I made contact with the ground +that neither I nor my craft was injured in the landing.</p> + +<p>The terrain proved to be as desolate as it had appeared from +the distance, for the main vegetation was a weakly sprouting +grass that was only a few inches high, though not mowed or chewed +down. Every few dozen yards there was a single stunted shrub or +small tree, or in some cases a group of the same, and the spaces +between these was littered with scattered rocks and occasionally +a smaller, flowering plant. The topography of the land was mostly +flat, though not in the sense of a plain or savanna, instead it +was merely a gentle slope, so that the immediate area seemed +flat, but in the distance it was seen to rise considerably. There +were also a few small hills that were no more than twenty feet +high across their whole length, but in the obtuse slopes of the +land, even that seemed to be almost mountainous. Brown was the +prevailing color of it all for as far as my eye could see, though +I cannot say if that condition prevailed inland further, since I +had forgotten the telescope, which would probably have proved a +useful tool.</p> + +<p>A slight wind blew from seaward, scattering the dry top soil +about like a cloud of gnats, though there were very few actual +insects, and no animals that I could see. The only sound that I +could hear was that of the wind howling gently past my ears. I +had landed in a sort of valley, which, though not at all deep, +was surrounded on all sides by slight hills that prevented me +from getting an extensive look at the landscape beyond. Before +making any decisions as to which direction to set off, I decided +to climb to the top of one of these hills to ascertain my exact +situation, and although I was generally reluctant to start off +into unfamiliar territory, I also wanted to put as many miles +between me and the coast as possible, in case the Zards and +Canitaurs came after me, which was still a cause of great anxiety +to me.</p> + +<p>As I rounded the top of the hill that was directly east of my +landing point, I suddenly came face to face with two small +people, gnomes by appearance, one of whom I recognized as being +Onan, the Lord of the Past. He greeted me familiarly as ‘My +Dear Jehu’, and introduced me to his partner, who turned +out to be Zimri, the Lord of the Future. Onan was dressed the +same as when I had last seen him, and Zimri was close in +appearance, though his hair was long and his beard short, while +Onan’s were the opposite. Zimri wore a little blue-green +frock that fit rather snuggly but not enough to be considered +tight. I started our ensuing dialog by saying this:</p> + +<p>“I am more than a little surprised to see you upon such +good terms with your rival, Onan,” giving Zimri an +inquisitive glance as I did. “I had just assumed that you +two would be bitter enemies, as your followers on Daem seem to +be, but I can tell now that that is not at all the +case.”</p> + +<p>He laughed, as did Zimri, and replied, “We are brothers, +and as such there is always a strong rivalry, but at the same +time there is the closest bond. There is no real conflict between +us, but only a trivial and jovial mock conflict, the kind that +means no harm and does none, to those involved, but rubs off on +others who are less informed, who take it seriously and have a +real conflict.”</p> + +<p>“What do you mean by that illustration?” I +asked.</p> + +<p>“Nothing. Nothing at all,” he sighed, “I +have said too much already, it is against the rules, you +know.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, the rules. Tell me, though, how would you say +I am doing so far, am I at least doing fairly?”</p> + +<p>“Of course, Jehu, you are doing excellently.”</p> + +<p>“Is it true about the revolutions of time and matter, +then?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, in fact, it goes even further than that... Say, +Zimri, do you think it is allowable to tell him about the +physical and the spiritual realms?”</p> + +<p>Zimri said nothing, for he can say nothing, but he did nod his +head in the affirmative. Thus sanctioned by his brother, Onan +continued to speak, “Well, you know that physical existence +is comprised of time and matter, and that both of these are +involved in a revolving motion, from the minutest foundations to +the largest additions. While they both are revolving within +themselves, they are also revolving together, around an enigma +which, as other of the centers, is completely devoid of the thing +which revolves around it, but is found plentifully in them. In +the case of matter, it revolves around a black hole, in which +there is not found any matter, but there are places of emptiness +inside of the matter, in fact, most of an atom is empty space. In +the case of time, it revolves around eternity, an enigma where +there is no such thing as time, even as there are certain areas +where no time exists in physical existence, such as a book. +Likewise, physical existence, which is a combination of time and +matter, revolves around a place in which there is no physical +existence, namely, the spiritual realm. There is no physical in +the spiritual, but there is spiritual in the physical. Physical +existence is not whole without the spiritual, which binds it +together in such a way that gives it life, the ability to think +and reason.</p> + +<p>“There is spiritual matter in everything, but it cannot +be seen or sensed physically unless it is revealed to one by a +force on the spiritual side. Or rather, it cannot be understood +unless revealed, for it can always be seen through its effects. +By this I mean that it leaves a trace in the physical realm, like +a jellyfish that leaves a glowing trail in its wake. When the +brain of a human thinks, it is not the actual brain that is +thinking, instead it is the spiritual matter that exists in the +brain, and this spiritual matter leaves a trail where it goes of +electric signals and such. When someone feels a certain emotion, +such as love or depression, it is felt in the spiritual realm, +but its traces are seen in the physical, such as certain +chemicals, but these are not the cause of the emotion, only the +effect of them. It is possible, through certain drugs, to induce +varying emotions, such as happiness or laughter, but these are +not the actual emotions, only their physical counterparts, so +that while it appears to be happiness, it is not, like the shadow +of a man in a field: his form keeps the light from striking the +ground beside him, but the shadow is not him, only the trace of +him. Making a shadow like the man does not make the man, only the +appearance of the man. While the how of a situation may be +inferred through physical means, the why is an entirely spiritual +matter, and any attempt to observe life without taking into +account the spiritual matter behind it will end in the same +result as evolution, as the scientists of your day generally +imagined it, but which was, in fact, devolution.</p> + +<p>“The laws of the physical realm are called science, such +as the fact that energy and matter are neither created or +destroyed in any natural or artificial process, or that +everything left to itself tends toward disorder, or that life +cannot come from non-life by natural or artificial processes. The +laws of the spiritual realm are called morality. You have no +doubt observed that when one does a certain thing, the end result +is always good, and when one does something else, the end result +is always bad. That is because there are spiritual laws that +govern life, and just as there is gravity on the earth that +always pulls things down to it, so there is a spiritual law that +whenever someone steals something, the result is suffering for +both of the parties involved. Just as it is a physical law that +man must have oxygen to live, so it is a spiritual law that when +someone murders another the end result is always suffering. Why +is this, one may ask, but that is a foolish question, or at least +a pointless one, for the law of gravity states that on the earth, +all things fall downward towards the center of gravity, there is +no reason why, except that it is, for it is observed continually +to be the case.</p> + +<p>“Since men cannot accept that there is a power over +them, they deny it, and in the process they misinterpret the +various things of life as physical things, not the spiritual +things that they represent. For instance, love: men in many +“advanced,” that is to say, self-obsessed, +civilizations, view it only in its physical materializations, but +not in its spiritual context. When they see the results of love, +romance especially, they do not understand that the romance is +only the fruit of the spiritual essence of love, but instead +think that the romance is love. There can be so-called romance on +the physical level without its spiritual counterpart, but it is +only the shadow of love, which will never fulfill and will never +be complete, because, by definition, it is only a mocking of the +true force of love. On the other hand, true romance is not, as +some would seem to think, a certain action or set of actions, +such as the gift of a precious metal or some colorful piece of +foliage, instead it is whatever is the result of the spiritual +love, for the physical manifestation of the spiritual essence of +love is not confined to certain objects or actions, but to any +that are sanctioned with its blessings. The daily toil of a poor +man shows far more love than a lavish gift from a rich +man.”</p> + +<p>When he had finished, I gave him a big grin and thanked him +for his lecture, and then asked him how it was that this did not +break the rules, but other things did. To this he replied that it +affected my task only indirectly, while the other things were all +direct concomitants. Then he asked me if I had any other +questions for him, and I replied that I did indeed have one. +Which was as follows, “I know that there was a great war +directly after my departure from my native temporal zone, and +that it was very devastating in its reach and effect, and while I +know that the situation was very tense at the time, I was under +the impression that it was starting to cool down once more. What +was it that set it all off?”</p> + +<p>“The disappearance of an American fighter jet off the +coast of China,” he replied straight-forwardly.</p> + +<p>My interest was suddenly aroused, for that was the very +section where my squadron was stationed, and anyone who was lost +would have been a close friend of mine. “Go on,” I +told him.</p> + +<p>“The Americans claimed that it was shot down by the +Chinese, and demanded an official apology. That the Chinese would +not do, insisting that they had done no such thing, and instead +of the whole situation diffusing, as you thought it would, both +sides proceeded to war stubbornly, each thinking itself in the +moral superiority. But that is as always.”</p> + +<p>“Do you have any idea whose ship it was that went down? +They were all my comrades,” I said.</p> + +<p>“Of course I know, Jehu, for it was your +plane.”</p> + +<p>“But how? I wasn’t shot down, I crash landed on an +island.”</p> + +<p>“But you came to me and I sent you here, and since your +radios went out, they had no idea that you were safely +landed.”</p> + +<p>“Still, they must have found the plane!”</p> + +<p>“No, you know perfectly well that those islands are +brought above and below sea level at different times. After you +left, the island was brought below the water, and your plane was +lost in the sea, no traces were found.”</p> + +<p>I was confused, “Onan, does that mean that I was the +cause of the war?”</p> + +<p>“From a certain point of view, yes.”</p> + +<p>He was about to say something else to me when we saw in the +distance a group of about ten Munams coming toward us, being at +that time a few miles away. He then told me that he must leave me +again for the present, as he could not interfere directly with my +mission. They bid me goodbye and I did the same to them, and then +they walked down the opposite side of the hill that the Munams +were approaching from. As they walked, they slowly disappeared, +until they were gone without a trace, for even their footprints +had faded to nothing.</p> + +<p>During the time between Onan and Zimri’s departure and +the Munam’s arrival, I was left to myself for a period of +inward meditation, an activity that you have probably concluded +that I am often given to, which is entirely the case. This new +revelation was very troubling to me, that somehow I was the very +cause of the destruction of humanity during the great wars, while +also the kinsman redeemer over 500 years later, who was +prophesied to be the one to bring humanity back into balance with +nature, or to thrust it forever off the edge of existence into +the damnation of the ice ages. As I told you in the beginning, I +am written in the pages of history as the destroyer of humanity, +though if it is just or not, I am not able to judge. The name of +Jehu will forever be a ripple on the surface of the waters of +life, and when it is heard or spoken, the only feeling that it +will bring will be hatred and disgust. If only mortals could see +below the surface of the waters of life, for just as the ocean +can be deceiving on its surface, so can life. Time is like an +ocean, but when one looks upon it, what often happens is that all +one sees is the present reflected back in its surface, and the +eyes are shielded from what lies below, focusing instead on the +surface, which is so trivial compared to the abyss which supports +it. When one only sees the surface reflected back, then history +and its wisdom lose their meaning, and one sees not the past but +only the present. What I mean is this: if you look to the past to +justify your actions rather than to guide them, you will not see +the truths contained therein, but only what your presuppositions +already were before you looked, and your ignorance will be +reinforced rather than repudiated. Wisdom is the ability to see +the past separate from the present, but when one sees the +destruction of humanity, he will see only me, his vision being +shielded from the true cause of it all, history.</p> + +<p>The actions or inactions of one solitary soul cannot bring the +end of life, only the accumulation of the wrongs and injustices +of a whole race, the human race. Forever I will be eyed as the +assassin of humanity, and yet that is not the truth at all, for I +am the father of humanity, I am the beginning as well as the end. +If you view me only as one or the other, you do not see me at +all, but only a pale shadow of my true self. I am Jehu, past, +present, and future, I am the concentration of humanity in all +its forms and reproductions, I am the creator and destroyer of +every age of this temporal maze. Why am I the defender and +executioner of the race of men? Why am I the protagonist and +antagonist of humanity? Why am I the father and the son, the +beginning and the end? Such a question is futile to ask in the +physical realm, for here there are no answers to the why’s, +they are only to be found in the spiritual realm. The physical +realm is left only with the how’s, and it is those which I +am attempting to clarify.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 12: The White Eagle</h3> + +<p>It was only a few moments after Onan and Zimri left me that +the Munams arrived, for they had run, spurred on, apparently, by +their great desire to meet me. In appearance they were like I had +seen from afar: hairy and stooped, almost using their arms as +legs, but not entirely. Their skulls were large and oddly shaped +and their mouths were pushed out from their faces like an +ape’s. A limp, furry tail hung down from their lower backs, +and their hands had a tough, leathery appearance.</p> + +<p>There were eight of them, and when they drew near, the +foremost hailed me with an eager gleam in his eyes, like one who +has long hoped and long been denied. His voice was low and +gravelly, but not at all uncivilized sounding, as one would have +expected by his appearance, and his facial expressions were +equally as livid and distinctly humanoid. He began:</p> + +<p>“Hail, the White Eagle, sent by the gods to deliver us! +Hail the redemption from paradise, coming to bring us +home.” With that he held out his arms and embraced me in a +very warm, heartfelt manner.</p> + +<p>“Hello,” I replied, somewhat embarrassed by my +lack of authority.</p> + +<p>“I am Ramma, leader of the Munams,” he told me, +“And I welcome you in the name of us all.”</p> + +<p>“Greetings, Ramma,” I replied, “I am +Jehu.”</p> + +<p>“We are joyous at your arrival, oh Jehu of the White +Eagle.”</p> + +<p>When he said this I had a flashback, a moment of memorial deja +vu, when the present and the past are morphed together by one +thought, when one idea from the past and the present exists in +such a way as to connect the two times around it, forming a nexus +between the two moments. I was brought back to two separate +times, the first being my initial meeting with Onan, when I saw +the muraled dome, the genetics of history, and its depiction of +the events which were symbolically representative of Daem: the +deformed man, the warring races, the worshipers of the White +Eagle. The other was my arrival in the Temple of Time, when the +King showed me the altar to Temis, the God of Time, depicted as a +great White Eagle, wrought in diamond and grasping the altar in +its talons. There was something about the White Eagle that +connected itself to me inseparably, something that converged us +into one form. I had a sense that it was somehow a key to the +mystery of the end times, but I could not make the connection. I +thought back to what Onan had said to me just a few moments +before, that he and Zimri were close friends, and not enemies at +all, while those on earth believed their rivalry was a serious +conflict. Yet while I had two separate memorial deja vu’s, +I could not make the connection between them to figure out what +they meant.</p> + +<p>“Tell me,” I asked of Ramma, “What do you +mean when you call me the White Eagle?”</p> + +<p>“The prophecy said that our kinsman redeemer, who would +bring us out of the lands of desolation and into paradise, who +would come to us like a giant eagle, soaring high above the sea. +Across the ocean there,” he said, pointing to Daem, +“Is Daem, the paradise land, wherein dwell our enemies the +Zards and Canitaurs. They keep us off of the island and on the +mainland by force, and here we have suffered ever since the great +wars, in these desolate and barren wastelands, where there is +neither life nor death, but only a hazy in between. An ancient +one with wings like an eagle was to come and rescue us, the White +Eagle, and under his guidance we are to be led to victory against +our enemies.</p> + +<p>“To them he would be sent first, humbly he would come to +redeem them from the woes of their own causing, but they would +receive him not. Instead they cast him away, and he was to come +to us, to bring us to the promised land. What a blessed sight it +was when we saw you soaring through the sky on your white wings, +and now you have come, my dear Jehu, you have come at last, in +the hour of our greatest need. Come, oh White Eagle, and let us +go to Kalr, our city. Tonight is the Feast of the Hershonites, +celebrating the night that the prophecy was received, and on the +same day shall it be fulfilled!”</p> + +<p>With that he turned and set off with a step of exuberance to +the northwest, the other Munams and myself following him. He +walked quickly, and it was all that I could do to match his pace, +so that I was left without breath enough to ask any more +questions. From what I saw on our journey, the landscape was the +same across the whole mainland that was near to the coast, and +there was neither change enough nor any landmark conspicuous +enough for me to take any bearings. Without the Munam’s +company, I would have been lost.</p> + +<p>Ramma led us on a straight course for about half an hour, +there being nothing to steer around, and when that time had +elapsed, we found ourselves in a small, battered city. There were +no great buildings or infrastructure like in Nunami, nor any +complex labyrinths like the Canitaur’s military base. +Instead there were only weak, unsound huts, built with a +framework of oddly shaped driftwood and covered with a thick +layer of insulating sod. A road ran through the center of the +city, only distinguishable because it was packed down by constant +use, and on either side were groupings of the huts in +semi-circular patterns, with no space between them left unfilled +by soil. This created a wind barrier, preventing the strong winds +that whipped across the desert lands from harassing the +inhabitants as they worked and played in their communal yards. +Each such grouping had a field of a strange, potato-like plant +that spread across the back ends of the houses, where the fierce +winds piled up loads of nutrient rich top soil from miles and +miles around. In the center of the protected areas, each of the +communities, for such they were called, had a well that reached +hundreds of feet downwards, bringing them almost unlimited +supplies of fresh water. Using these two major systems, they were +able to live in a comfortable manner, not comfortable in a sense +of comparison with the Zards or Canitaurs, but comfortable in the +sense that they had food to eat, clothes to wear, and shelter to +protect them. Under such conditions humanity can thrive, for +happiness is not found in the accumulation of excess comforts, +but in the accumulation of excess love. This the Munams had +plenty of, and from that point of view were more the evolutionary +form of humanity than the devolutionary.</p> + +<p>The Munams all wore a sort of close fitting frock, a plain +colored one piece suit that displayed their practicality and +modesty. It is a hobby of mine to observe the clothing worn by +different groups of people and compare it to their +characteristics. As I have said before, clothes do not make the +man, but the man certainly makes the clothes, and it is possible +to judge a person’s character by the type of attire that +they wear, in that it is an expression of their tastes. The +Munams were shown by their clothing to be a very friendly people, +for their frocks were hung gently about the body in a manner that +was at once both carefree and conservative. This is perfectly +analogous to their personalities.</p> + +<p>When we came down through the center street, which was really +the whole city, for there were no other roads, the people rushed +out to meet us, and when they were told that it was the White +Eagle, they began to dance joyously about in the streets. There +was laughter and play going on all at once, and it was like a +great burden lifted from my heart to see them rejoicing, for it +almost reconciled their sufferings with the Zard’s and +Canitaur’s ease of life, in that they seemed to be much +more happy, in spite of the circumstances.</p> + +<p>Ramma gave a short speech to the people, in which he detailed +the prophecy and its fulfillment and, in general, encouraged +everyone to hope for what was to come. When it was over, he and I +retired to his home, which was rather larger than the others and +formed its own semi-circle, containing as it did both his private +quarters and the official offices of the government, which, while +extremely limited in number, were well outfitted. The door of +this building opened into a short hallway that had several doors +adjacent to it. He led me down one of these and it proved to be a +dining hall, though it was not as commodious as most, with only a +round wooden table with a few chairs around it and some cupboards +and cabinets.</p> + +<p>Pulling my chair out for me to sit in, Ramma went through all +the normal duties of host with great ease, and within a few +moments we were eating heartily from a great dish of boiled +potatoes that had been brought in by a servant, or rather, a +deputy minister of state, for such was his title. We did little +talking before we ate, because I was greatly famished and as such +was ill-inclined to be jovial, not that I was sullen, but I found +it hard to be completely relaxed without a full stomach. Yet when +that was remedied and I found myself satisfied and comfortable in +a warm dwelling, I opened up to Ramma and we had a long and +entertaining discussion, some of which I will record here, as it +shines a little more light upon the mysteries of my story:</p> + +<p>“So, my dear Jehu,” Ramma began, “I trust +your stay on Daem has so far been enjoyable.”</p> + +<p>I chuckled quietly and told him, “No, not entirely, for +there is a war afoot on Daem, or at least there seemed to be, and +it made quite a bit of trouble for me.”</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry to hear that,” he replied, +“But also gratified, for it will help us in our offensive +if they are against each other as well as us. Still, it will be +hard.”</p> + +<p>“What offensive is that?” I asked, my interest +being perked.</p> + +<p>“Our jihad, to capture the lands which were meant for us +and reclaim them from the filth that now inhabit them. You are +our kinsman redeemer, Jehu, but it is not with your presence +alone that we will be brought victory, for we also must act. Ever +since the prophecy was given we have been preparing for a strike +that will catch the Zards and Canitaurs by surprise, for those +are our only advantages: time and surprise. The carrying out of +the surprise attack is the hardest part, and we decided long ago +to dig a tunnel under the sea to bridge Daem and the mainland, +for if we had made a fleet of ships, or attempted anything on the +surface, they would have seen and known what we intended to do. +The tunnel is very long, and it was an arduous task to undertake, +but with much patience we prevailed, and now it is complete. In +fact, it was only completed yesterday, though it was started more +than 500 years ago.”</p> + +<p>“How is it that you started so long ago and only +finished just before I arrived? I asked.</p> + +<p>“Fate,” he answered, “All the happenings of +the world are controlled by a force much greater than us, and it +brings everything into completion when it is needed, no sooner +and no later. Many civilizations try to out wit fate, but they +cannot, and in the end they do its bidding. Not, however, in the +way they had planned, and with more consequences than they would +like, at which point they try to change fate again and undo those +consequences, and soon they are in a downward spiral of such +deeds. We recognize that we are controlled by fate, and instead +of fighting it, we go along with it. We know that things will +happen as they are meant to happen, and we knew that 500 years +ago, so it was no great trial for us to work at our task for so +long and not to know when things would be brought to completion. +You see, if we had worried about it and attempted to change to +course of events that history dictated, than we would have only +given ourselves more work for the same end. Stress is the only +thing that is created when you try to alter fate, so it is our +philosophy to take things as they come and trust to the powers +that be. You may think it unsophisticated, but that is just as +well, for what matters is not appearances, but reality, and we +have the two things that matter most in life: peace and +joy.”</p> + +<p>I agreed with him, for I had found the same to be true in my +own experiences. I then asked him, “When will this grand +offensive be undertaken?”</p> + +<p>“Tomorrow,” he said bluntly.</p> + +<p>“Tomorrow? Isn’t that rather soon?”</p> + +<p>“Why? Fate has been fulfilled so far, why wait when it +is time to act? Maybe you misunderstood my meaning: it is not our +philosophy to simply let things go as they will. Instead we relax +and let things take their course when it is not in our power to +do anything effective, but when the time comes to act, we act +swiftly and do not delay. In a word, we do not force fate, either +by forcing action where patience is needed, nor by forcing +patience where action is needed.”</p> + +<p>“That sounds well enough,” I said, “But the +difficulty lies in the correct classification of the situation, +or in other words, deciding if patience or action is +needed.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, of course, but in this case it has been decided to +attack tomorrow, and there is nothing left to do but to attack +tomorrow. But do not yet let your spirits be dampened by the +onset of war, for tonight is the Feast of the Hershonites, and +there will be great celebrating and rejoicing this evening. +Forget about the troubles of tomorrow and enjoy the celebrations +of today, as I always say. And it is now time for the celebrating +to begin, so let us be off.”</p> + +<p>And with that we both rose and took our plates into the +kitchen that was connected to the dining hall on the opposite +side as the hallway and deposited our plates to be cleaned later +(for even the leaders of a society must do their fair share of +the work). Then we walked back through the dining hall, down the +hallway, and out the door.</p> + +<p>Outside we found that the people had already began to assemble +on the road in front of their communities and were preparing for +the festival by chattering with one another as loudly as one +would think possible. A hush began to fall upon them like a +descending fog when we came out, though, and within a few moments +it had died down to a ghostly silence, for all that could be +heard was the wind’s constant blowing. Ramma took the head +of the procession of Munams that had formed on the road, and I +took the place next to him. With a sort of quiet anticipation of +the joys to come, there was little movement, and what little +there was, was hushed by a sense of subdued excitement. Then, +with a somber gait, Ramma began the parade down the road, in the +opposite direction as we had come from, that being northwest, and +all followed him as he did.</p> + +<p>The sun at that time was just beginning to set, and once we +had crossed one of the larger hills we came face to face with the +coast, the sun’s great red form half sunken beneath its +surface. A faint cloud layer floated by and was illuminated by +the twilight so that it stretched haphazardly across the face of +the sun. Never have I seen so profound a scene as that which then +presented itself, with the desert sands and the ocean’s +still surface reflecting the last agonies of the sun’s +descent into the underworld with such a subtle emotional +undertone so as to render it a subconscious delight. Its +recognized superiority to mortal life forms left us all mute and +somber, but at the same time the freedom felt from the same gave +us joy beyond reckoning.</p> + +<p>The march to the sea was slow and steady, and when we finally +reached its shores it was just at the change of day and night. +Several large bonfires were lit and by their light a great +communal dance began, everyone jumping around, running, and doing +whatever their lighthearted desire may have been. Under stars +that shone like the twinkling in a newborn’s eye, we had +such a joyous time that it can hardly be described. We were no +longer within the reach of civility or social duty, but without +it we were not mean nor hurtful to one another, but were playful +and joyous, like children without a care in the world. Our little +games and frolics cannot be described with any accuracy, because +outside of the moment’s happiness, they cannot be +understood, as it was a spiritual happiness, existing only in the +spiritual realm. All that could be described is the physical +actions that were taken because of that spiritual enjoyment, but +that would do nothing to describe the feeling of the night. It +was one filled with more joy than anything I have known as an +adult, because we became as children in our trusting to fate, and +it was natural, befitting to our natures. Man is not meant to +worry, man is meant to be free from all boundaries, inward and +outward, man is meant to be ruled by only one desire: love of +others.</p> + +<p>As the night dwindled away, we grew tired, but instead of +returning to the city, we laid down wherever we were when we felt +that we could remain awake no longer, and fell to sleep instantly +when we did. It was not at all uncomfortable, for the sand was +soft and a warm breeze blew in from the water, and though as an +adult I would have feared sleeping so openly in the unknown, I +was not at that time an adult.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 13: The Big Bang</h3> + +<p>The Munams and I were all awoken at the same time late the +next morning by a loud trumpet blast that shook the very air +around us with its intense bass. For the first moment of our +consciousness we were all dazed and could not fully comprehend +the situation, and for a brief time we all sat unsteadily around +the beach where we had fallen asleep. As we grew more awake, we +began to understand what had happened, or at least I did, and I +was frightened when I looked around and saw where the trumpet +blast had come from: the entire Zardovian and Canitaurian armies +were assembled around us, having somehow crossed over to the +mainland in the night, while we slept peacefully, unaware of +their presence.</p> + +<p>My first thought was for myself, and what would become of me +in the wrath brought on by my escape, but that soon vanished when +I thought of the Munams, for they were the enemies of those on +Daem, even more so than those on Daem were to each other. We were +completely surrounded, with the ocean on one side and the Zards +and Canitaurs circling us in the front, the former on the left +and the latter on the right. All of them were equipped for war, +with swords, spears, and shields held firmly in their hands, and +thick, leather armor stretched across their chests. The Canitaurs +had especially come prepared, for they had brought all of their +atomic anionizers with them, enough combined fire power to level +the entire world several times over.</p> + +<p>Within five minutes, all of the Munams had assembled behind me +and Ramma, who stood between them and the Daemians. They huddled +closely together and quaked slightly in fear, for they evidently +thought that their plans had been discovered and their enemies +had come for revenge. I, myself, thought that they had come for +me, and Ramma’s opinion could not be guessed, for he was a +statesman first and foremost, and when his people were in need he +rose to the occasion with all the power and grace allotted to +mortal beings.</p> + +<p>Wagner and Bernibus broke the Canitaur’s ranks and drew +near to us in the center, as did the King from the Zard’s. +They reached us in silence, and for a long moment there was no +talking, for all present knew that something grave was about to +happen, something that would decide the fate of the men of this +age, whether they would pass or fail the test. Bernibus looked at +me with entreating eyes, showing his sorrow at my recapture and +asking for forgiveness, but I had none to give him, for he had +done no wrong to need it. He had no power among the Canitaurs, +but was only a titled commoner, more like Wagner’s groom +than counsel.</p> + +<p>I noticed that the Canitaurs were not wearing their +anti-electron suits, which was strange, for they had brought a +few hundred atomic anionizers, though I didn’t question +them about it, for the answer was evident enough when I had given +it some thought: the Zards had no such suits, and were afraid +that the Canitaurs would destroy them and Munams at the same +time, for while they were allies against foreigners, they still +did not trust each other. I still wore my suit given me for the +raid on Nunami, though I had forgotten about it due to its +comfort. That made me the only person on the earth still wearing +one, the only one safe from the anionizers.</p> + +<p>It was an overcast morning, and the air was damp with a cold, +wet wind that blew in forlornly. The ocean’s steady swoosh +added to the scene, making it as depressing as the night before +was joyous, and in the bluish half light all was colorless and +hopeless. At length the King spoke, saying, “My dear Jehu, +I am very disappointed in you. Not only did you flee from us +irresponsibly, but you destroyed the Temple of Time and the altar +to Temis. Without the White Eagle, the prophecy says that there +is no hope for humanity.”</p> + +<p>Wagner added, “And now the only way left to bring about +the completion of the world once more is to sacrifice you using +the old methods.” This he said with evident pleasure, no +longer feigning to be my friend.</p> + +<p>Here Bernibus entered the dialog, throwing away his timidness +with one quick motion and saying to Wagner, “You scoundrel! +You said that we came to retrieve Jehu, not to sacrifice him. How +is it that you lied to me in such a manner?”</p> + +<p>“You fool,” Wagner said, “If I had had my +way, you would have been dead long ago. You have no authority +here, so begone.”</p> + +<p>Bernibus grew angrier, a terrifying state for a Canitaur to be +in, and he was a strong and powerful one at that, though his meek +nature had hidden it before. “You would never dare to kill +me in the open, you coward, the council would banish you,” +he said.</p> + +<p>Here the King joined in once more, laughing, “He +wouldn’t, no, but I would. Do you really think that we +found your outpost on our own, oh Bernibus the ‘deputy +kibitzer’? You know that we have no tracking ability, and +least of all in your own territory.”</p> + +<p>Bernibus grew more enraged, and the King was spurred on by +it.</p> + +<p>“Oh yes, you know what I speak of. Your brother-in-law +told us where you and your wife were living, and not only that, +for he also told us when you would be there.”</p> + +<p>Bernibus became even more flushed with anger and vehemently +asked Wagner, “Why, you heartless brute? What could you +possibly value more than your own sister’s life?”</p> + +<p>“It was a pledge to the Zards of our intention to abide +by the agreement, what more precious thing could I give then my +own sister?” He spoke calmly and spitefully, enjoying the +end of his long charade of nicety, “Besides, the council +was falling for her peace talk, as they always give great heed to +every member of the royal family, and I was not strong enough at +that time to control them, as I do now. Unfortunately for me you +were out at the moment of the attack and able to escape, but +still it was a favorable outcome,” Wagner said, sneering at +Bernibus’ outrage.</p> + +<p>But Bernibus was not to be taken lightly, and neither was he +to let the love of his life go undefended. He leapt at Wagner and +grabbed the remote to the atomic anionizers from his belt, where +it was always clipped. Wagner tried to get it back, but Bernibus +was too strong and hurled him to the ground. Then he took a few +steps backwards and stood his ground far enough from everyone to +have at least a moment to react before they could reach him. He +held the remote out towards Wagner, pointing it at him as if it +were itself a weapon, with his thumb and forefinger in position +to set it off at a moment’s notice.</p> + +<p>“Bow before me now, Wagner, or I shall destroy us +all,” he demanded with a grim smile that showed his +resolution.</p> + +<p>Wagner did as he commanded and fell to his knees in front of +Bernibus, saying in the same gentle, appeasing voice that he had +first used on me, “My dear Bernibus, do not be rash, do not +act in anger. Let’s talk this over, and see ... and see if +we can’t find a peaceful solution,” his fear of death +evidently caused him to stammer.</p> + +<p>“You fool, do you think that I haven’t heard that +voice a thousand times before? Do you think that I will fall for +your same trick once more?”</p> + +<p>Wagner put his face to the ground and groveled like the filthy +swine that he was, for he knew full well that if Bernibus set off +the atomic anionizers he would die. His life was completely out +of his hands and there was nothing that he could do to reclaim +it, except to beg for forgiveness. This he did, saying, +“Bernibus, you do not understand, the situation was more +complex than you realize, and I had no choice but to act as I +did. Do you not think that it was as hard on me as yourself? She +was my sister, my only sibling. But there was no other way, I had +to put the advancement of our people over the life of anyone, +even my own sister, as you must do now, putting the advancement +of our people over petty differences.”</p> + +<p>Here the King interjected, “Bernibus, do not act rashly, +I beg of you, for if you set off the anionizers, than all is +lost. Do you not realize that if you do that, all that we have +worked for all of our lives is lost?”</p> + +<p>It was Bernibus’ turn to sneer, and he did, raising the +skin above his teeth and scowling fiercely at the King. +“What is it that we have worked for all of our lives? Do +you still not understand? You and Wagner plot to return the world +to its former glory, each by his own way, but take a look around +you. The trees on Daem are taller and stronger than any known +before, the grasses are thicker and livelier, the waters are +purer and cleaner, the wind is fresher. You know no suffering. +The prophecy had nothing to do with you, and nothing at all to do +with the restoration of the world! Can you not see that what you +have is far more than you have need of, that there is no desire +left unfilled in your lives, except that of ultimate power? This +world does not need to be restored. Only your hearts have need of +that.</p> + +<p>“The prophecy was given for the Munams, who were left +stranded here in this desert wasteland, while across the ocean +they could see the great paradise of Daem, the great paradise +that you took for granted. There is to be no restoration of Daem +to its original form, but a restoration of the Munams to Daem. +You struggle to restore Daem, but have no compassion for the +suffering of humanity across the sea. You are the fools, not me, +and you are the ones who have brought us all to the very brink of +destruction, to the ice ages which you have tried so hard to +prevent. Do you not see that Daem is already the paradise, that +the only thing that it needs for completion is the residence of +the Munams? Jehu is not our kinsman redeemer at all, he is +theirs.” Here Bernibus seemed to lose his anger and passion +and become meek once more, saying humbly, “You have +destroyed the life of one whom I held more dear than myself, but +that is past, and I will not destroy us all for vengeance.</p> + +<p>“Zards, Canitaurs, and Munams, hear me now and listen to +my words,” he continued, speaking to the amassed groups of +the armies that had been listening closely to his words, +“We are not separate people at all, we are not different +races. We are not Zards, or Canitaurs, or Munams, we are +Daemians, and it is time that we came together, to help each +other instead of hindering. Look at how much blood has been shed, +how many lives have been lost, must we all be drowned in the +blood of our brothers before we realize that we are one people? +Must we suffer more than we already have in an attempt to undo +what has already been done? More pain will not negate the pain +that has already been felt, it will only result in more suffering +than we have known up to this time. My friends, we need not look +for our redemption in the past, for it has gone and though it +influences us, we are not bound to its suffering. And we need not +look for our redemption in the future, for it is not yet here, +and when it comes it will only be what we make it. Instead let us +look for our redemption in the present, where it can be found, +let us put aside our hate and our divisions and become one flesh +and blood, one body. People of Daem, let us live in peace!” +As he said this, the Zards and the Canitaurs and the Munams all +let out a joyous shout of agreement, and there was seen on every +face a remnant of the happiness that had so long alluded them in +their wars.</p> + +<p>To emphasize his point of harmony and trust, Bernibus dropped +the remote to the atomic anionizers to the ground. But it would +never land. Wagner leapt forward from his groveling position and +grabbed for it as it fell, reaching out with all his strength. +There was a sudden silence that overtook everyone as they saw +what was happening. Bernibus looked down and saw Wagner leap, but +he was too late to prevent him from reaching the remote. There +was no noise at all, for everyone looked in horror at +Wagner’s plunging form. As if in slow motion, his hand +wrapped around the remote and he squeezed it so as not to let it +go. But as he did so, there was a loud beeping sound that came +from his fist: he had triggered the anionizers.</p> + +<p>The eager faces of everyone there, of everyone alive on the +earth, was turned towards Wagner. The remote had a five second +delay built into it, and those five seconds were the longest of +my life. Bernibus’ eyes met mine, and we experienced an +intra-personal deja vu, the converging of the presents of two +minds. His face showed the depths of his being in that split +second, and he was peaceful. Though he was about to be destroyed, +he had no fear, no regrets, and in those five seconds, while +Wagner and the King were frightened and frantic at their +impending doom, Bernibus was as calm as ever. As I looked +Bernibus in the eyes, I could hear Wagner break the dead silence +with a shrill scream that echoed across the horizon and ripped +through the hearts of every hearer. When faced with death he had +no courage, no strength to face the unknown beyond the veil that +separates life from death.</p> + +<p>As I turned and cast my eyes across the horizon, I saw the +faces of hundreds of men, whether Zard, Canitaur, or Munam, and +written on everyone of them was a great despair, for they stood +unprotected in the presence of death. It was like the calm before +the storm, those five seconds, and through them time seemed to +stop, to be non-existent, and there was not a sound to be heard, +except for Wagner’s scream. Oh, what anguish was written on +the faces of all around, standing defenselessly before the end +with neither will nor way to stop its terrible approach, oh, what +fear filled their eyes as their mortality was made manifest +before them like a vulture’s approach, oh, the pain, as +fate stood before their distraught faces and silently whispered, +“And to dust shalt thou return.”</p> + +<p>But then even that was silenced. There was no noise. As I +looked upon them they were destroyed, before my very eyes they +breathed their last and were no more. One moment they were normal +and healthy, and the next they disintegrated, falling into little +heaps of limp skin and bones. In that moment I felt a horror such +as I have never felt before, a complete loneliness, like a night +that never ends. There was no one, nothing, around me. The force +of the blast had leveled the already flat terrain completely. The +ocean was suddenly solidified into the same lifeless, inorganic +mass that the land had become. Across the channel, Daem was no +more. There were no more trees, no more grasses, no more cities, +no more mountains, everything was leveled, decimated. The sky +began to turn a dark, bloody red, and the sun was hidden behind +it. Like a disease it spread across the horizon, devouring the +light hearted blue and leaving only red: lifeless, deathless red. +There was no wind, no sound. I was all alone, I alone had +survived the blast because of my anti-electron suit. I gazed in +absolute horror across the field where only seconds before +thousands souls had been congregated. I looked at its emptiness +and I saw nothing, for there was nothing. They were all dead. +Every single one of them.</p> + +<hr> +<br> +<br> + + +<h3>Chapter 14: Past and Future</h3> + +<p>I have no recollection of how long I stood there staring +blankly into the void, for the sun was hidden behind the darkened +sky. I have no memory of that period until I saw two short forms +coming towards me in the distance. They walked slowly and +methodically, as if they were not hurried on by any physical +concerns. As they drew near, I saw them to be Onan and Zimri, the +Lords of Past and Future. When they arrived I was awakened from +the trance that I had fallen into, and I gave them a slight bow, +for I was still standing upright. The look on their faces was one +of sorrow, for no matter how many times they had seen the +destruction of humanity, each time it brought only fresh, +poignant sorrow.</p> + +<p>Onan was the first to speak, breaking the silence with a long, +hopeless sigh, “My dear Jehu,” he said, “This +age has come to a close.”</p> + +<p>I could say nothing, for Bernibus’ face was still gazing +at me in my memory.</p> + +<p>“Do not be saddened by grief or guilt, Jehu, for it is +what has always happened. It is not your fault, for the events +that you have witnessed do not have their roots in your time or +in this one, but in the very foundation of the world. It is not +your actions that caused this, but rather the accumulated +momentum of all the ages of humanity, for they are history, and +history reigns by influence. There were no right choices and no +wrong choices for you, for the power of the kinsman redeemer is +not in himself, but in the way that those around him react to +what he signifies. In every age before this you have done the +same, as you will in every age after this as well. You were +humanity’s last chance, yet it is not up to you to change +their course: it is up to them to change their own.”</p> + +<p>Here I raised my head from its dull droop and looked +questioningly into his eyes. “What do you mean,” I +asked, “That I did not prevent it in any of the other ages? +How could I exist in any other age but this?”</p> + +<p>“Then you do not understand?”</p> + +<p>“Why else would I ask?” I faintly smiled.</p> + +<p>“These are the Ice Ages, the end of an age of history. +Every time that the temporal continuum revolves around eternity, +it has a new age, much like the years of the earth as it revolves +around the sun. When the atomic anionizers went off, they did on +a large scale what they were designed to do on a small scale: +reverse the poles through an extreme electric charge, by +injecting countless solitary electrons into the atoms. But with +so many of them exploded at once, they did this to the earth +itself, reversing its poles. It was a theory at your time that +the poles reversed about every 170,000 years, this is because +that is how long an age is.</p> + +<p>“When the earth’s poles were reversed, it brought +all to desolation, excepting you, for you were protected by the +suit. But while this is the ending of all life on earth, in a way +it is also the beginning, for you see, Jehu, you have just +witnessed the Big Bang. In a few days, at the longest, you will +die yourself, for there is no food or water for you here, but +inside of your anti-electron suit, your remains will be +protected. Slowly the earth will regenerate, and when conditions +suitable for life have been once more returned, your suit will be +blown against a rock somewhere and broken open. From that little +hole, the atoms of life, your life, will escape into the +atmosphere and grow and evolve until they become like what things +were before you were born. Then the process will be repeated. You +are not only the one who symbolizes the destruction of humanity, +but also the one who symbolizes the rebirth of humanity. You are +the beginning and the end, in a sense, a descendant of yourself, +simultaneously the father and the son. You will be born again +through your own descendants, and will once again become the +kinsman redeemer. It is your destiny, there is no other way. You +are the White Eagle.”</p> + +<p>“You only confuse me more, what is this White +Eagle?”</p> + +<p>“Do you remember when we first met, in the Chambers of +History? On the dome of the ceiling there was a sculpture mural, +and in it was a White Eagle, holding many lords and ladies in its +talons while it soared far above the lands, and those on the land +were worshiping it. You are the White Eagle. You hold all of +humanity in your hands, for you are the father of all men, they +all descend from you, including you, yourself. You were the White +Eagle, for the altar had no power, the power was only in you.</p> + +<p>“Those who worshiped you were those who worship time, in +either of its forms, past or future. Those who worship the past +recognize the influence of history, and they understand that +there are taboos and traditions created through mutual +experience. These traditions reign in humanity by keeping men +from actions that lead to pain and suffering. But they do not +understand that while it influences mankind, the past does not +control them, for it is gone, and it will never come again. In +their strict keeping of traditions, they focus on the physical +act of the tradition, while neglecting the spiritual principle +behind the tradition. If you keep only the physical form of the +principle, you have nothing.</p> + +<p>“On the other hand, those who worship the future neglect +the past and the valuable lessons that it teaches. They believe +that there is some moral advancement that places them above those +that have come before, they believe that the people of the past +were blinded to the truth, and that the revelation of the truth +in the present supersedes the traditions of the past. But they +are wrong as well, for humanity is humanity, and those of the +past were no more ignorant than those at present. The people of +the past fell into the same traps as the those in the present, +and both suffer the same consequences.</p> + +<p>“While one group remembers only the physical display of +the spiritual truth, the other rejects the spiritual truth +because of its physical display. Those who worship the future +break taboos because they recognize that the mere physical +manifestation of the truths is not their entire essence, but they +reject the spiritual truth as well. When taboos are broken, there +is nothing gained, but everything lost, for the physical +traditions at least lead to the knowledge of the spiritual laws +to those who seek such wisdom. One taboo is broken, but as there +is no satisfaction in the breaking of taboos, every one of them +is broken in succession. Then there is no limit to the immorality +that is left to freely roam the hearts of men, and when +immorality, the breaking of the spiritual laws, is widely +propagated, there is spiritual suffering. When this spiritual +suffering begins to accumulate and is translated into physical +suffering, the people see what is happening, how their very +society is crumbling to ruin around them. Yet instead of +recognizing the truth of what is happening, they see the +traditions of the past as the cause of their problems, and +continue to make their plight worse. This downward spiral +continues until at last we find ourselves where we are now, at +the end of an age.”</p> + +<p>“But what else is there to do?” I asked Onan, +‘If both the past and the future lead to ruin?”</p> + +<p>“The answer is in the present, my dear Jehu, for if one +focuses on the spiritual laws that bring good or evil, and acts +according to them, instead of their physical counterparts and +manifestations, then things will thrive and become prosperous. +What is evil brings evil consequences, and what is good brings +good consequences, over time. The ends define the means, just as +the fruit shows the tree to be either good or bad. These +spiritual laws become known and remembered, not why they are so, +but simply that they are so. No one can question why, for +morality is observed through its effects, just as science is. +When people observe that one thing brings good and another bad, +they remember to stay away from the bad things and cling to the +good. Over time these evolve into taboos and social restrictions, +not meaningless laws enforced by tyrants for their own reasons, +but rules that are observed by all because the are the laws of +the spiritual realm and govern physical life. But when the people +forget what the traditions represent, then all is lost, and +either of the two paths that present themselves lead to +ruin.”</p> + +<p>“But why do not men see?”</p> + +<p>“Because they are rooted too strongly in the physical +realm, and cannot, or will not, see the spiritual. What they see +as happiness is not the spiritual matter that is happiness, but +the physical actions the represent happiness. What they see as +love is not love in the spiritual sense, only its manifestation +in the physical realm. When they see the happiness that comes +from a spiritual connection, they seek after it. But they do not +seek after the actual essence of the spiritual connection, yet +after its physical counterpart, marriage. This they take and +defile, and when they go through the physical actions of the +spiritual marriage but forsake the very thing that makes it bring +happiness, they are left without any real sense of satisfaction, +without any real happiness.</p> + +<p>“You must understand that the physical manifestation of +the spiritual force is not the spiritual force at all, only a +bland deception. If you only focus on what you can see directly, +than you chase after only the representation and not the object +desired. If a bird is flying through the sky at noontime, casting +a shadow on the ground below him, and a man comes along, and in +the hope of catching the bird chases after its shadow, it is +evident that he will never catch it, for when he does reach it, +he will find that there is nothing there at all, only the shadow +of what it was he desired. So it is with the +spiritual!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I think that I am beginning to +understand.”</p> + +<p>“Excellent. If only I could tell you more, but I must +go, my dear Jehu, for Father Temis is in mourning for his +children, and I must go to comfort him.”</p> + +<p>“I thought that you and Zimri were his children?” +I asked.</p> + +<p>“You are all his children. He is patient, ever so +patient, but still they fall by the wayside, too caught up in +their false perception to rest in him. Fare thee well, Jehu, may +you be blessed ere you must die.”</p> + +<p>And with that, Onan and Zimri turned and walked away in the +other direction, never to be seen by me again, in this age. I +took a look around me, and could not bear to remain any longer in +a place of such ill remembrance. Turning slowly and despondently +to the westward, I began to walk over the lifeless mass of what +had been the ocean not too long ago. For how long I walked, I +could not tell, but in due time I reached Daem, though it was no +more hospitable than the mainlands, for all was laid to ruin by +the Big Bang, all was equally devoid of life.</p> + +<p>When I came to what had been the center of the savanna, I came +across something that had survived the blast, being unearthed +from its previous burial hole by the force of the +anionizer’s explosion. It was a two foot by two foot box, +made of a strange metallic substance with an intricate etching +along its top. Written there in its center were these words:</p> + +<p>“Temporal Anomaly Box, Number 12, Location: Central +Savanna”</p> + +<p>I took the lid off carefully, though it was in perfect +condition and I did not need to treat it so, and looked inside of +it. There was a notebook and a pen there, both capable of +producing a large of amount of enduring text. This was one of the +boxes that had been taken back through time in the experiments of +the Zards and Canitaurs, designed to withstand any conditions, +and to hold its contents for countless ages, until they should be +retrieved and studied. I sat down on the ground and began to +write my story down, in order to assist whoever takes the job of +kinsman redeemer in the next age. I knew that it would have all +been forgotten, so I made sure to carefully record it, for it +could mean the difference between the life and death of +humanity.</p> + +<p>This was only hours ago, and now I have reached the end my +tale. If by any chance you come upon this in some subsequent age, +I beg you to take heed, for what I have written will surely come +to pass once more if something is not done to prevent it. There +is nothing else for me to say, for this is the end of my story, +and within the next day I will also pass over to the spiritual +realm. What, then, can I say to bring this to a close, for this +is neither the end nor the beginning. I suppose all that can be +said is this:</p> + +<p style="text-align: center"><strong>DEJA VU (THE +END)</strong></p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Revolutions of Time, by Jonathan Dunn + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE REVOLUTIONS OF TIME *** + +This file should be named rvtim10h.htm or rvtim10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, rvtim11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, rvtim10ah.htm + +Produced by Jonathan Dunn + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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