It was about the first hour of the first day in the fifth month which had passed since. I began attendance at the Xioquithlon, and as it was the week of Bazix, it was consequently the thirtieth week of the year, and near its close, there being but three weeks left in B. C. 11,160.
It was around the first hour of the first day in the fifth month since I started attending Xioquithlon. Being the week of Bazix, it was the thirtieth week of the year, with only three weeks remaining in 11,160 BC.
With the Poseidi, the. day, as the reader has seen, commenced at meridian, making twelve o'clock till one, the first hour. From this hour in the last day of each week until the end of the twenty-fourth hour in the following, or first day in the next week, all business was suspended, and the time devoted to religious worship, such observances being enforced by the most rigid of all laws, custom. To-day, A. D. 1886, there are those who argue that if a man is engaged all the week at sedentary labor, on Sunday he is obtaining natural recreation by going zealously into athletic sports, or upon a fatiguing excursion. But I submit, that as the body is the externality of the soul, therefore, as the soul is, so will be the body also. Ergo: if the soul is of God, then to return to the Father as often as possible is to he re-created, or rested, or refreshed. Perhaps not indoors.; no, rather amidst His works, but ever with unartificial, natural thoughts of Him uppermost. Hence, I am today not less in favor of Sabbath observance, whether it be the seventh day or any other of the seven days of the week, as now constituted, or the eleventh and first, as in Atla. Still, I shall not argue my preferences, and will only make a restatement of the well-known physiological law that a periodic day of rest is necessary to health, happiness and spirituality. In Atla any person was free to employ the morning hours even of the eleventh day in any manner most agreeable, whether at work or playful relaxation. With the first hour, however, an enormous and very sweet-toned bell pealed forth with an intense, reverberant boom, two strokes, paused a moment, then rang four tunes more. Thereupon all occupations ceased, and religious worship commenced. On the following day the great bell struck again, and throughout the length and breadth of a great continent other bells pealed synchronously. It was even so in the populous colonies of Umaur and Incalia, the difference in time being calculated, and one man in the great temple of Incal in Caiphul attended to this sweetly solemn duty. Then the season of worship was over, and the rest of the Inclut (first day) was devoted to recreations of every sort. This is not to be construed that the worship was of a gloomy nature, or severe; not so, nor was it continued through the night, any further than that every light allowed during that interval was rendered carmine red by blending the atomic speed of the odic force, so that it was the element of light and that of strontium combined, this being done at the odic depots.
Among the Poseidi, as the reader has seen, the day began at noon, so the hour from twelve o'clock to one was the first hour. From this hour on the last day of each week until the end of the twenty-fourth hour of the following day, the first day of the next week, all business stopped. That time was given to religious worship. These observances were enforced by the strictest of all laws, custom. Today, A. D. 1886, some people argue about a man who does sedentary work all week. They say that on Sunday he gets natural recreation by throwing himself into athletic sports, or by going on a tiring excursion. But I suggest otherwise. The body is the outward form of the soul, so as the soul is, so the body will be too. Therefore, if the soul is of God, then to return to the Father as often as possible is to be re-created, or rested, or refreshed. Perhaps not indoors. No, rather among his works, but always with simple, natural thoughts of him uppermost. So today I am no less in favor of Sabbath observance. That holds whether it is the seventh day, or any other of the seven days of the week as now set up, or the eleventh and first, as in Atla. Still, I will not argue my preferences. I will only restate the well-known physiological law that a regular day of rest is necessary to health, happiness and spirituality. In Atla anyone was free to spend the morning hours, even of the eleventh day, in whatever way they liked best, whether at work or in playful relaxation. With the first hour, however, an enormous, very sweet-toned bell pealed out with an intense, echoing boom. It struck two strokes, paused a moment, then rang four times more. At that, all work stopped, and religious worship began. On the following day the great bell struck again, and other bells pealed at the same moment throughout the length and breadth of a great continent. It was the same in the populous colonies of Umaur and Incalia, with the difference in time calculated. One man in the great temple of Incal in Caiphul carried out this sweetly solemn duty. Then the season of worship was over, and the rest of the Inclut (first day) was given to recreations of every sort. This does not mean that the worship was gloomy or severe. Not so. Nor did it continue through the night, except that every light allowed during that time was made carmine red. This was done by blending the atomic speed of the odic force, so that the element of light and that of strontium were combined. It was done at the odic depots.
About the third hour after the Sun-day had ceased, a peculiar event occurred in my Poseid existence. As I walked leisurely homeward, not yet having summoned a vailx, but proceeding under the dreamy calmness of the influence produced by the music of a choice concert given to the public in the Agacoe gardens, I met a stately old man, also on foot. I had often met him on former occasions and, by his wine-colored turban, knew him for a prince. Upon meeting him now, the current of my thought was altered, and I determined not to go home at once, but to remain in the city for a time, perhaps all night. Just as I came to this determination., the older man smiled, but without stopping went on his way. I then noticed that much as he resembled the prince I had in mind, he was not that person, and it must have been an illusion, for the turban of this man was pure white, not tinted. And somehow I felt that he had wished to speak to me, but for some reason had not. If I should happen there later in the day, I might meet him again and learn what he had to say.
About the third hour after the Sun-day, the sacred day, had ended, a strange event took place in my Poseid life. I was walking home at a leisurely pace and had not yet summoned a vailx. I was moving along in the dreamy calm left by the music of a fine concert given to the public in the Agacoe gardens. Then I met a stately old man, also on foot. I had often met him before, and by his wine-colored turban I knew him to be a prince. When I met him now, the current of my thoughts changed. I decided not to go home at once, but to stay in the city for a while, perhaps all night. Just as I made this decision, the older man smiled, but he went on his way without stopping. I then noticed that, though he looked much like the prince I had in mind, he was not that person. It must have been an illusion, for this man's turban was pure white, not tinted. And somehow I felt that he had wanted to speak to me, but for some reason had not. If I happened to be there later in the day, I might meet him again and learn what he had to say.
Pondering these thoughts I went into a cafe in one of the grotto-tunnels, where an avenue pierced a hill, and after ordering a luncheon, waited for it to be served. During the dispatch of the refection, a xioqene, or student with whom I had become friendly, strolled in, bent on the same errand. The repast over, we proceeded to the moat, where we took a water-sailer held for hire by a poor man who made his living from the rental of these craft to those who liked this seldom-indulged pleasure; the common mode of conveyance was by vailx. The breeze being fresh, we sailed out into the ocean through the exit-flow of the Nomis river, the great river which made a complete circuit of the city, traversing the moat and then emptying into the ocean. On account of this extended trip I was unable to be again on the avenue until after nightfall. When I neared the spot where my meeting had occurred with the white-turbaned stranger, this time in a car, which I checked from running overfast, I saw his commanding figure standing in full view in the bright light of the tropic moon. It was quite a part of my expectations thus to see him, and this time I inclined my head in courteous recognition. As I did so the stranger said:
Thinking over these thoughts, I went into a cafe in one of the grotto-tunnels, where an avenue cut through a hill. I ordered a luncheon and waited for it to be served. While I was eating the meal, a xioqene, a student I had become friendly with, strolled in on the same errand. After the meal we went to the moat. There we took a water-sailer, hired out by a poor man who made his living renting these boats. He rented them to those who liked this seldom-enjoyed pleasure, since the common way of travel was by vailx. The breeze was fresh, so we sailed out into the ocean through the outflow of the Nomis river. This was the great river that made a complete circuit of the city, passing through the moat and then emptying into the ocean. Because of this long trip, I could not get back to the avenue until after nightfall. This time I was in a car, which I kept from running too fast. As I neared the spot where I had met the white-turbaned stranger, I saw his commanding figure standing in full view in the bright light of the tropic moon. Seeing him there was quite part of what I expected, and this time I bowed my head in courteous greeting. As I did so the stranger said:
"Stop! I would speak with thee, lad, with thee alone."
"Hold on! I need to talk to you, kid. Just you."
Almost mechanically I nearly stopped the car, in obedience to his gesture to descend, and setting its lever so that the vehicle would move at about the pace of a slow walk, I let it go, knowing that if no one took advantage of the paid carriage, it soon would reach some station, and there be stopped automatically. When I stood before the priest, as I judged him to be, he said:
Almost instinctively, I nearly stopped the car in response to his signal to get out. I set the autopilot to move at a slow walking pace and let it go, knowing that if no one took the paid ride, it would soon reach a station and automatically stop. When I stood before the man, who I assumed was a priest, he said:
"Thy name, I understand, is Zailm Numinos?"
"Your name, I believe, is Zailm Numinos?"
"Truly it is."
"It really is."
"I have seen thee ofttimes, and am informed concerning thee. Thou hast a laudable, will to excel and to attain high honors among men. Thou art yet a boy, but in a fair way to succeed as a man, as success is commonly counted. A boy thou, conscientious at present, regarded with favor by thy sovereign. Thou shalt succeed, and shalt come into places of high honor and profit, and continue well thought of by all thy fellowmen. Yet thou shalt not live the full term allotted to man on earth. In thy shorter period shall come to thee a knowledge of love. Thou shalt experience the purest affection man is capable of feeling for woman. Yet, notwithstanding this, thy love shall not be a love crowned in this life period. And thou shalt love again, wherefore thou shalt weep because of it. Thou shalt work some good in the world but, alas, much evil also. And because of an destiny, unto thee shall come much sorrow. By thee unto another shall deep misery of anguish come, and unto the uttermost shalt thou pay therefor, nor come out thence until thou hast done so. Yet, behold not in this life shall much be required of thee. When thou thinkest least to do sin, then shall thy foot stumble, and thou shalt commit a sin which shall be unto thee a pursuing fate, inexorable. Even now, in the days of thine innocence, thou art treading upon the steps of thy destiny. Alas! that it is so. Once thou earnest near to the realization of thy death, and death is but the least portion which shall overtake thee; but thou didst awake and flee out of the caverns of the burning mountain unto safety. Yet at last thou shalt pass into Navazzamin, the world of departed souls, and lo! I say unto thee thou shalt perish in a cavern. Me, even me, shalt thou behold as the last living being upon whom thy Poseid eyes shall ever rest. But I shall not seem then as now, and thou wilt not know me for the one who shall smite the evildoer who will then have enticed thee to thy doom. I have said. May peace be with thee."
"I have seen you many times, and I have been told about you. You have a praiseworthy will to excel and to win high honors among men. You are still a boy, but well on the way to succeed as a man, as success is commonly counted. You are a boy, conscientious for now, and looked on with favor by your sovereign. You will succeed. You will come into places of high honor and profit, and you will go on being well thought of by all your fellowmen. Yet you will not live the full term given to man on earth. In your shorter span, a knowledge of love will come to you. You will feel the purest affection a man is capable of feeling for a woman. Yet, in spite of this, your love will not be crowned in this lifetime. And you will love again, and you will weep because of it. You will do some good in the world but, alas, much evil also. And because of a destiny, much sorrow will come to you. Through you, deep misery and anguish will come to another. You will pay for it to the uttermost, and you will not come out from there until you have done so. Yet, see, not much will be required of you in this life. When you least intend to sin, your foot will stumble. You will commit a sin that will be a fate that pursues you, relentless. Even now, in the days of your innocence, you are walking up the steps of your destiny. Alas, that it is so! Once you came near to meeting your death, and death is only the least part of what will overtake you. But you woke and fled out of the caverns of the burning mountain to safety. Yet at last you will pass into Navazzamin, the world of departed souls, and see, I tell you that you will perish in a cavern. Me, even me, you will see as the last living being your Poseid eyes will ever rest on. But I will not look then as I do now. You will not know me as the one who will strike down the evildoer who will by then have lured you to your doom. I have spoken. May peace be with you."
Much I marveled at first to hear these words, thinking that perhaps the speaker was one escaped from the Nossinithlon (literally the "Home for Moonstruck" or crazy persons), and this despite the introductory circumstances under which we had met. But as he continued speaking I knew that this was an erroneous judgment. Finally, amazed, I gazed on the ground, knowing not what to think and filled with an indefinable fearsomeness. As he ceased utterance, and bade me peace, I raised my eyes to look him in the face, to find to my bewilderment that not a soul was in sight, but that I stood alone in the great plaza surrounding a fountain whose jet seemed like molten silver in the moonlight. Dumbfounded, I looked about on every side. Had I been dreaming? Certainly not. Were the words of the mysterious stranger true, or false? Time will satisfy thy curiosity, my reader, as it did mine.
At first, I was astonished to hear these words, thinking the speaker might have escaped from the Nossinithlon (the "Home for Moonstruck" or mentally ill). This was despite the unusual circumstances of our meeting. As he continued, I realized my initial judgment was wrong. Amazed and filled with an inexplicable fear, I stared at the ground, unsure what to think. When he finished speaking and bid me farewell, I looked up to face him. To my bewilderment, I found myself alone in the grand plaza, standing beside a fountain whose water sparkled like molten silver in the moonlight. Stunned, I searched in every direction. Had I been dreaming? Certainly not. Were the mysterious stranger's words true or false? Time will answer your questions, dear reader, as it did mine.