The Days of Peleg (5 page)

Serug took a second slug of
Shika
-rum
.
He wiped his brow and said earnestly. “Where did it all come from?”

“What do you mean?”

“Come on, Peleg. You’re a linguist. You know that language is nothing but a code—a symbology with an agreed-upon convention. We understand each other because we agree on a given word’s meaning.”

“Of course.”

“But we didn’t
invent
the word. If you and I decided to create a secret code, we would have to invent it before we decided the rules of
de
-coding. According to the High Minister, some kind of psychic
uplift
occurred whereby large groups of people suddenly started using a different code. I don’t have a problem with
that
, but my question is, ‘Who invented the new codes?’ ‘
What is the source?
’ Are we supposed to believe that collectively each group of people co-authored the same conventions they later agreed-upon simultaneously?”

Peleg’s mouth dropped as he stared at his friend in amazement—and some confusion. These were not the kind of words that normally came out of Serug’s mouth. The only time his young friend was serious was when he was asking for money.

“When did
you
start thinking?” Peleg finally responded. “You heard the High Minister. He explained everything. You just don’t understand Metasystem Transitions, that’s all.”

“Yes, I do,” Serug insisted, “But they don’t explain how a large number of people can instantly and without consultation agree on the same conclusions.”

“The High Minister explained it. They have done all the calculations! Come on, you were there. You heard him! What are you trying to say?”

“I’m trying to say that I think the Great Awakening was done
to
us.”

“Done
to
us? And whom do you suggest could engineer such a thing?”

Serug shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe there’s some truth to the ancient demigod myths. I’m just wondering if it wasn’t some kind of psychic experiment or even an attack. I haven’t really thought it through.”

“I’ll say you haven’t! But when you
do
think it through, try and restrain your newfound intellect with a dose of reason. I know it’s cumbersome and stifling, but you might come to some sensible conclusions. The establishment of
Knowledge
is the
destruction
of such myths! I don’t know
how
you acquire such thoughts or even where they come from.”

“But that’s my point, exactly!”

Peleg gave Serug a long, confused stare that lasted for several seconds. Suddenly his blond friend shook his head and grinned.

“Hey, you haven’t even touched your beer! Besides, I thought you usually got Black Beer. When did you start drinking Red?”

This
was the Serug he knew and loved.

“I tried it at another place about a week ago and liked it. Thought I’d keep drinking it for a while.”

The game resumed in earnest. Serug got two cones to the fourth
Ute
Square. Peleg tried to attack as much as possible in the battle zone, but when it became apparent that he would not prevail, Serug ordered another round of drinks.

Peleg managed to get all of his Reels on the board, and even sent one of Serug’s Cones to the Abyss, but in the end, Serug got his final Cone on the sixteenth square—
Heaven’s Gate
—and the game was over.

“YES!” shouted Serug as he jumped up from the table. He waved to a caretaker. “We’re ready to pay over here!”

Grinning he turned to Peleg. “Good Game!”

Peleg smiled and nodded. “Congratulations.” He handed the caretaker the required
Kaspum
.

After finishing their drinks, they left the establishment and Serug turned to Peleg.

“Actually, there is someone I was wanting you to meet. You might be able to better understand what I was talking about earlier.”

Before Peleg could transform his scowl into words, Serug continued.

“You could bring your great skeptical mind and expose the errors. It’s all for the sake of
Knowledge
, right?” he added hopefully.

“He’s not one of those
Cosmic Plurality
people, is he? I don’t want to get in trouble.”

“Oh, you won’t get into trouble. Besides, he’s a
she
. And she’s a Mentor and only lives a few blocks away. If you’ve got a few minutes.”

Peleg thought for a moment. He was not interested in any pseudoscience, or in someone from the
Citadel
discovering he was talking with people like that. However, his friend seemed to need some real guidance and protection right now.

“All right.” He acquiesced. “Where does she live?”

Chapter 4

Explanation

“The parameters of both zodiacal zones are fixed, and all synodic arcs are determined by them. But who determined the parameters?”

T
he room was circular with a domed ceiling made of cast stone. Carved engravings of the Zodiac could be seen in the stone, and the deep blue light from an
Iku-fish
oil lamp suspended from the center of the room deepened their sharp shadows.

The area was large enough to seat about thirty students. At the front there was a small raised speaking platform just big enough for a desk and a person to stand next to it. On the desk were scrolls, books, writing instruments, and calculation devices. Mounted to the wall behind the desk were more astronomical charts, a small panorama displaying the phases of
Suen
, and a banner across the top with the creed of the astronomer:

When it is clear, observe—When it is cloudy, compute!

Mentor Inanna sighed. Her students should be arriving shortly. They would come in one at a time separated by a few minutes each to avoid suspicions. Some of her students were initiates of the
Citadel
, and it wouldn’t do to have any of their covert informants snooping around.

A thick tapestry rustled, and Felpag entered the room. He was a very young man in his early thirties, and sported an asymmetrical beard with tightly braided sideburns popular among his age group. Already he had demonstrated special talents in pre-Calamity anthropology.

Two more students arrived at the same time.
I wish they wouldn’t do that—we elicit enough scrutiny as it is.
Teaching and studying history was very much discouraged by the
Citadel
.

She looked back to her calculations. The next heliacal rising of Nibiru should be later this evening.
The synodic arc advances 36 degrees since we’re in zone 2. This places it 24 degrees into SipaZi-Anna, equidistant between d’Lulal and d’Latarak.
She suddenly chilled with anticipation at the prospect of spotting this elusive wanderer. The next few weeks would tell.

Several more students had now seated themselves, and a quiet murmur filled the room. Inanna glanced up and realized it was time to begin.

The room was nearly full, and, as always, she was overwhelmed at the incredible variety and creativity of
Lifeforce
. Seated before her was every imaginable skin shade, hair color, and numerous other features which demonstrated that, like stars, no two people were alike. She felt a sudden pang of sadness at the topic of tonight’s lecture.

As she stood, the quiet talk subsided, and twenty-four pairs of eyes looked up at her. She had a quick chill as she realized that she didn’t recognize one of the students, but he seemed to be with Serug, a student who had been coming to her lectures for several weeks, and she forced a smile.

“Welcome again, class. Tonight’s thoughts will be brief, as I intend to spend a great deal of time in my observatory this evening. But they are of crucial importance, and the future of humanity’s viability may be in question.”

A disquieting stir could be heard throughout the room.

She continued.

“There are those who see no need for the study of history, because, well, quite frankly, they don’t believe there is one. They have purged thoughts of ancestors and origins from their minds, and focus solely on the present and their grandiose schemes for the future.

“We have already discussed the Race of Semyaz, an offshoot of humanity which provided our ancestors with great longevity and health. Our studies have demonstrated that it was not uncommon for people to live over nine hundred years, and in some cases reach heights of over three meters.

“We have also discussed the incredible knowledge and technology which existed before the Great Calamity. The best of
our
science, math, and astronomy was given to us from them. Although every physical aspect of their civilization was eradicated from the face of the planet, information and knowledge from that time survived. We stand on the shoulders of giants. Simply knowing that mathematics, engineering, and architecture
were
possible, gave our new civilization an enormous head start.”

She drew a deep breath.

“And here I come to the dire portion of tonight’s talk. I’m sure you have heard of the issues which threaten Kemet, our neighbor to the Southwest. And, I’m sure that none of you expect to live to be nine-hundred.”

She finished this last sentence with a smile that displayed a mixture of sarcasm and pity. An uncomfortable chuckle ran through the students.

She spoke simply and rhythmically, as if addressing children.

“The Semyaz race no longer is with us. Our research has forced us to the conclusion that they are simply nowhere to be found. However, we can still see a few vestiges of their hereditary contributions.” Somehow she managed to indicate her proud, ivory-white, Mentor forehead without moving an eyebrow. “But we must concede the possibility that humanity may be forced to survive without their assistance.

“I believe the threat to Kemet is just the beginning. Humanity is degrading. Already fewer and fewer Mentors are being born. People are entering old age before they are even two hundred. In fact, I would suggest that the average life span over the next few centuries could fall to one hundred and twenty, unless something miraculous diverts this regression.”

There was a disquieting silence as Innana paused to allow the ramifications to sink in.

“There
is
one small glimmer of hope.” Inanna felt like she was about to toss out a life preserver to someone who was too far away to reach it. But, she
had
to believe.

“You recall that I said the Race of Semyaz are nowhere to be found. There are those of us who do believe, however, that they survived, somehow. Some feel they are in hiding. Others believe they ascended to a higher spiritual plane of existence. In fact, among those who believe this, there are those who feel that the Semyaz instigated the Great Awakening and guided our newfound abilities and that
they
are the Watchers who will come and help us when our need is great enough.” Her voice lowered. “But, that may be a little
too
metaphysical for some of us.”

She smiled reassuringly.

“What
I
believe is this: The Semyaz race escaped the Great Calamity because they escaped the planet itself. We have heard tales of flying machine and other marvels prior to the Great Calamity. Most are dismissed as legend, but I believe that within their own community, they had the means.
I
believe they flew between the worlds on the ether and found a haven of refuge where they managed to survive. There is some speculation as to where they could go, but I think the answer is quite obvious.”

The students were absorbing everything as quickly as possible so they would be ready to hear her conclusion.

“I believe they fled to the far side of
Suen
.” Without waiting for a reaction she began elaborating.

“As you know, the moon is the closest of the all objects in our
Utu
system. Now I believe they could have traveled much farther, but they wanted to keep watch and wait until the Great Calamity had subsided. Also, they chose to escape to the farside as a shield from the global seismic devastation and atmospheric convulsions which forever altered our world.

“I believe that when they are ready, they will signal us, but as you know,
Suen
always keeps the same face towards us. We know there
is
a far side, because we can see glimpses at the top and bottom as it tips slightly in its path. It is at these points that we should look for signs—a mission which I have taken upon myself.

“The primary evidence for my
Suen
theory is this: We have studied the surface of
Suen
for the past two-hundred years, and we have seen no sign of life, precisely
because
the Semyaz have been trying to survive in unknown conditions on the farside, and are unable to communicate.”

None of the mesmerized students noticed that her “evidence” was based on a negative premise. It also had never occurred to Mentor Inanna.

For the benefit of possible doubters in the room, she concluded.

“Perhaps I am wrong. Perhaps they
are
in hiding somewhere on this world, but we must be willing to do whatever we can to find them or attract their attention. The continued survival of life as we know it depends on their help. We also must be prepared to help them help us.”

She had definitely sparked some interest and even created some new disciples. Their faces shone with a desire to save humanity. Innana and her husband needed as many recruits as possible for this most urgent cause.

“I’m sorry, but I must leave now. I have some urgent observations, and, as you know, the heavens wait for no one.

“I’m leaving Felpag in charge, and he has a quick dissertation on pre-Calamity physiology which I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

“Thank you so much for coming, and I hope to see you all again, soon.”

She turned to leave through a side door behind the desk, but as she did, she caught a glimpse of the two students who had arrived together—one of whom she did not know. They were leaving abruptly, as if they were late for another appointment. The same chill resurfaced. It was so difficult when informants found her meetings. So far, her husband’s influence had protected her, but it couldn’t last forever.