Rai Gwauxln directed me to attend at Agacoe ere resuming my vacation trip, although it was all arranged previously to the funeral of Ernon that my action in Suern was to his satisfaction.
Gwauxln instructed me to report to Agacoe before continuing my vacation, even though he had already expressed his approval of my actions in Suern prior to Ernon's funeral.
When I obeyed the Rai, which was almost immediately, for we were all ready to resume our journey, Gwauxln, in the presence of his ministers of state affairs, tendered me the position of Suzerain over the land of Suern. I was vastly surprised, yet felt that I might accept and in conducting the affairs of that country render good service. But the fact that I was yet an undergraduate at the Xioquithlon made me hesitate. At last I spoke, saying:
When I followed the Rai's command, which I did almost instantly since we were all prepared to continue our journey, Gwauxln offered me the role of Suzerain over Suern in front of his ministers. I was greatly surprised but felt I could accept and do well in managing the country's affairs. However, I hesitated because I was still a student at the Xioquithlon. After a moment, I spoke up:
"Zo Rai, I am sensible thou hast done thy servant a great honor. Nevertheless, my liege, feeling that I have not thus far acquired the full knowledge I desire, being yet but a Xioqene, I ask thy permission to refuse the office."
"My lord, I understand you've done me a great honor. However, since I'm still just a novice and haven't yet gained all the knowledge I seek, I respectfully request your permission to decline the position."
Gwauxln smiled, and said:
Gwauxln smiled and said:
"Even so. But the governor thou didst appoint shall execute thy duties for the three years intervening--the four years, I would say, since I would not that thou shouldst study at all this year--and thereafter thou shalt legally assume active duties. I have an object in this besides mere form; I believe that that man who hath an object, a direct goal, in view, is more likely to win success than one without. It is a good stimulus. I do therefore thee Suzerain over Suernis, and dismiss thee to thy journey of pleasureable recreation with thy friends as soon as thou shalt sign thy name to this document. That is well written, though thy hand shakes a little because of thy nervousness. Be calm." This last he said as, trembling slightly, I wrote the desired signature.
"Understood. However, the governor you appointed will carry out your duties for the next three years—or rather, four years, as I don't want you to study at all this year. After that, you'll officially take on your active responsibilities. I have a reason for this beyond mere formality; I believe that someone with a clear goal is more likely to succeed than someone without one. It's a good motivator. Therefore, I name you Suzerain over Suernis, and you're free to embark on your enjoyable journey with your friends as soon as you sign this document. Well done, though your hand is a bit shaky due to nerves. Relax." He said this last part as I signed the document with a slight tremor.
Once more we were on our travels.
We hit the road again.
Anzimee, the elf, persisted in calling me "My Lord Zailm" when she had learned the story of my imminent suzerain duties.
Anzimee, the elf, kept calling me "My Lord Zailm" after learning about my upcoming leadership responsibilities.
Our course was again eastward, although now farther south, for we did not propose to visit Suernis this time, but intended to proceed instead to our American colonies, as in the original route we had planned to do after leaving Suernis.
We headed east again, but further south this time. We weren't planning to visit Suernis on this trip. Instead, we intended to continue to our American colonies, following the original route we had planned after leaving Suernis.
We crossed equatorial Necropan (Africa), then the Indian Ocean and the present East Indies, but then colonies of Suern called Uz, then onward above the wide Pacific, still eastward.
We traversed equatorial Africa, then crossed the Indian Ocean and what are now the East Indies, but were then colonies of Suern called Uz. From there, we continued eastward over the vast Pacific Ocean.
"Umaur! the coast of Umaur!" was the cry that called our little company to the windows to look at a dark, serrate line that bounded the eastern horizon. It was the distant range of the Andes, appearing almost on a level with our vailx, which, two miles high above the ocean, shot towards the hazy, black line. Below was the broad mirror of the blue Pacific, apparently waveless because so far beneath us.
"Umaur! The coast of Umaur!" The shout drew our small group to the windows. We gazed at a dark, jagged line stretching across the eastern horizon. It was the distant Andes mountain range, seemingly level with our airship, which soared two miles above the ocean toward the hazy, black silhouette. Far below, the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean gleamed like a blue mirror, appearing motionless from our lofty vantage point.
Umaur, land of the Incas in a far later day. Umaur, where in eight centuries more they must find a refuge who should be so fortunately fated as to escape from Poseid, ere, "Queen of the World" no more, she sank beneath the waves of the, Atlantic. Eight centuries, whose lapse would see the proud Atlantean become so corrupt that his soul no more reflected the wisdom of the Night-Side because, the calmness of morality being fled, the key to nature's Penetralia would have been lost, and with it his dominion over the air and the depths of the sea. Alas, poor Atl!
Umaur, future homeland of the Incas. Umaur, destined to be a sanctuary for those lucky few who would escape from Poseid eight centuries later, before the "Queen of the World" vanished beneath the Atlantic waves. In those eight centuries, the once-proud Atlanteans would become so corrupt that their souls no longer mirrored the wisdom of the spiritual realm. With their moral compass lost, they would forfeit the key to nature's deepest secrets, along with their mastery over air and sea. Alas, poor Atlantis!
But Umaur lay ahead of us, and ignorant of the misdeeds-to-be of our national posterity, we in our vailx stood gazing on the coast we were so rapidly approaching, and commented upon its majestic mountain ranges as seen through the telescopes. [*1] Here we beheld a land where, after thousands of years, the conquering Castilians would come, led by Pizarro, and find a race under the rule of Incas, a name preserved through the many centuries from the day when their remotest ancestors fled from sunken Poseid, calling themselves "Children of the Sun."
Umaur lay ahead, and unaware of our nation's future misdeeds, we stood in our aircraft, gazing at the rapidly approaching coast. Through telescopes, we marveled at its majestic mountain ranges. This land would, thousands of years later, be conquered by the Castilians led by Pizarro. They would encounter a people ruled by the Incas, whose name endured for centuries after their earliest ancestors fled from sunken Poseid, calling themselves "Children of the Sun."
Umaur was the region of the quarries of Poseid and of many of its rich mines of mineral wealth. Here, too, were vast plantations, and east of the mountains were regularly planted groves of the rubber tree, the genuine Siphonia Elastica of botany. Here also flourished the Cinchonas, as well as many other trees now indigenous to South America, colonized plants from Poseid. Until planted abroad by Atlanteans these vegetable treasures never grew outside of Poseid, and to-day the wild forests of peculiar South American trees and shrubs are the direct descendents of our regularly cultivated farm and plantation products in Umaur. In that olden time the Amazon river ran within dykes across the continent, and the trackless
Umaur was Poseid's hub for quarries and mineral-rich mines. It boasted vast plantations, and east of the mountains were cultivated groves of rubber trees, specifically the Siphonia Elastica. Cinchona trees and other plants now native to South America also thrived here, all transplants from Poseid. Before Atlanteans introduced them abroad, these botanical treasures were unique to Poseid. Today's wild South American forests of distinctive trees and shrubs are direct descendants of our carefully tended crops and plantation products in Umaur. Back then, the Amazon River flowed across the continent within man-made embankments, and the unexplored
AERIAL-SUBMARINE VESSEL, ENTERING THE WATER
FLYING SUBMARINE PLUNGES INTO THE SEA
Sylvas of Brazil were then drained areas of tilled soil, such as the adjacent territory of the Mississippi is to-day. Some day this river, "Father of Waters," in the north, will sweep unresisted, undyked, across the lowland, which, even now, its surface is above in altitude. It will do this, because these things are certain to be in the mutations of the coming centuries. It will do this, also, because history repeats itself; think not that thou shalt inherit, reincarnate the glories of Atl, and escape its shadows. All things move in cycles, but the circle is that of the screw-thread, ever around and around on a higher plane each time. But that time when these things shall come to pass, and no man be able to say nay, is yet far away on the horizon of time future, as far as is the grand recession of the Amazon on the horizon of the past.
The lowlands of Brazil were once drained and cultivated, much like the Mississippi Delta is today. Eventually, the Mississippi River will flow unimpeded across these lowlands, which even now lie below the river's surface. This is inevitable, given the changes that will occur over the coming centuries and because history tends to repeat itself. Don't assume you can enjoy the glories of past civilizations without facing their challenges. All things move in cycles, but each cycle occurs on a higher level, like a spiral. However, the time when these changes will occur, unstoppable by human intervention, is still far in the future—as distant as the ancient recession of the Amazon is in the past.
From the great orchards and plantations and homes of Umaur, in the north of that continent, to the desert wilds of its southern parts, where one day trouble was to overwhelm me--and thence north along the eastern coasts, we took our way, leaving the doings of the millions of our colonists, the Umauri, to the imagination of the reader.
From the vast orchards, plantations, and estates of Umaur in the northern part of the continent, to the untamed southern deserts where trouble would eventually find me, and then northward along the eastern coasts, we journeyed. We left the activities of our millions of Umauri colonists to the reader's imagination.
Successively we came to the Isthmus of Panama, then over four hundred miles in breadth; to Mexico (South Incalia) and to the immense plains of the Mississippi. These latter formed the great cattle lands whence Poseid drew most of its supplies of flesh-foods, and where, when the modem world discovered it, enormous herds of wild progeny of our ancient stock roamed at will. Buffalo, elk, bear, deer and mountain sheep, all offspring of the remotest ages. I regret to see them so wantonly slaughtered as they are; surely so old a stock might be spared.
We traveled to the Isthmus of Panama, which was over four hundred miles wide at the time. Then we moved on to Mexico (South Incalia) and the vast plains of the Mississippi. These plains were the main source of meat for Poseid, with huge herds of cattle grazing freely. When the modern world discovered this area, they found enormous herds of wild animals descended from our ancient stock. Buffalo, elk, bear, deer, and mountain sheep—all offspring of ancient times—roamed freely. It's sad to see them being killed so carelessly today; surely such an old lineage deserves to be preserved.
To these broad valleys were to come, in later centuries, invading hordes in boats, and over the far northern isthmus where now are only vestiges of its former existence, the Aleutian Islands. They came from Asia, then, as now, to a large extent the home of semi-barbarians, except where the sway of Suernis had extended a civilizing influence by sending out the tribes which, in a later day, were to occupy so large a niche in history under the name of the Semitic ram. But the barbarians who went into Incalia, occupying the North American plains and lake regions--a future age should come which would find these hordes gone from the earth forever; and, later still, curious people digging from archaeological remains would say: "Here lived the moundbuilders."
To these wide valleys, invading hordes would arrive in later centuries by boat and across the far northern land bridge, now reduced to mere traces in the Aleutian Islands. They came from Asia, still largely home to semi-barbaric peoples, except where Suernis' influence had spread civilization by sending out tribes that would later play a significant role in history as the Semitic race. The barbarians who entered Incalia, settling in North American plains and lake regions, would eventually vanish. In a future age, curious archaeologists would unearth their remains and declare: "Here lived the moundbuilders."
Still farther north than this, in the present "lake region," were large copper mines, whence we obtained much of our copper, and some silver and other metals. A cold region was this, far colder than it is to-day, for it lay in the edge of the retreating forces of the glacial epoch, an epoch not over until much more recently than geologists have hitherto thought and even still think.
Even further north, in what we now call the "lake region," extensive copper mines provided us with much of our copper, as well as some silver and other metals. This area was significantly colder than it is today, as it bordered the retreating glaciers of the Ice Age. Interestingly, this epoch ended much more recently than geologists have previously believed or continue to believe.
To the west lay what in early American days were called the "great plains." But in the days of Poseid they had a far different appearance from that which they bear to-day. Not then arid, nor very sparsely inhabited, though vastly colder in winter, owing to the nearness of the vast glaciers of the north. The Nevada lakes were not then mere dried up beds of borax and soda, nor the "Great Salt Lake" of Utah a bitter, brackish body of water of its present comparatively small size. All takes were large bodies of fresh water and the "Great Salt Lake" was an inland sea of fresh floods, bearing icebergs from the glaciers on its northern shores. Arizona, that treasure-house of the geologist, had its now marvelous desert covered with the waters of "Miti," as we called the great inland sea of that region. Verdure was on all the slopes of all the hundreds of square miles not covered with lovely bodies of water. On the shores of Miti was a considerable population, and one city of no small size, colonists all, from Atl.
To the west stretched what early Americans called the "great plains." In Poseid's time, however, these lands looked vastly different from today. Far from arid and sparsely populated, they were much colder in winter due to nearby northern glaciers. The Nevada lakes weren't yet dried-up beds of borax and soda, nor was Utah's "Great Salt Lake" the small, brackish body it is now. All lakes were large freshwater bodies, and the "Great Salt Lake" was an inland sea of fresh water, carrying icebergs from glaciers on its northern shores. Arizona, a geological treasure trove, had its now-remarkable desert submerged under "Miti," our name for the vast inland sea of that region. Vegetation covered all slopes not occupied by beautiful bodies of water. Miti's shores supported a significant population, including one sizeable city, all colonists from Atl.
Reader, dost thou remember a promise given in previous pages, wherein I looked forward to a treat in scenic depiction, saying it was from another pen than mine? I redeem it now, for already the geologist is after me for having declared Arizona the scene of a lake or inland sea so vast as Miti, and so recently as twelve thousand years ago. I am reminded that he has decided from evidence afforded by erosion and weathering of the rocks in that amazing region, that while the Arizona desert was undoubtedly a lake or a seabed since the paleozoic time when it was the site of a shallow ocean, nevertheless that lake was certainly "of an age older than the Pliocene, being probably in the Cretaceous epoch." My friend, no. Those gorges and stupendous canons are not merely the gradual product of time and water and weather. Per contra, they are of sudden formation, the rending and cracking apart of the strata in a similar, but on a far more vast scale than the volcanic outburst at Pitach Rhok, described in the first chapter of this history. The Arizona wonders and the gorge of the "'Grand Canon of the Colorado" were the result of an awful dance of the solid crust of the globe. Even now the lava beds of the rectangle between the parallels 32 deg. and 34 deg. north latitude and 107 deg. to 110 deg. longitude west from Greenwich, in the Mt. Taylor and Mt. San Francisco region, have few parallels on earth as regards size. All over this hideous work of destruction, when the sea Miti had fled away into Ixla (Gulf of California) the rains and torrents of eleven thousand winter seasons, and the desiccating, powdering influences of as, many torrid summers have smoothed and chiseled and wrought the ruptured, ragged surfaces into yet more fantastic shapes, and claimed the whole work as its own, denying the hand of Pluto as the major worker. And the geologist seems to have admitted the claim, and placed the lake time far back, in order to allow a sufficient term for the execution of the gigantic work. And it is not so, for I saw that lake, only twelve thousand years ago. But now for the literary treat; it is taken from a very modern pen, but it is so faithfully descriptive of the appearance of the region to-day that I desire to enjoy its perusal with my readers. The words are those of Major J. W. Powell, U. S. Army:
Remember the promise I made earlier about sharing a scenic description from another writer? I'm keeping that promise now. Some geologists might challenge my claim about Arizona having a vast inland sea as recently as 12,000 years ago. They argue that erosion patterns suggest any large body of water existed much earlier, probably in the Cretaceous period. But I stand by what I saw. Those incredible canyons weren't just slowly carved by water and weather over eons. They were formed suddenly, through massive earth movements similar to, but far greater than, the volcanic eruption at Pitach Rhok described earlier. The Arizona wonders, including the Grand Canyon, resulted from a colossal shifting of the Earth's crust. Even today, the lava fields in the region between 32° and 34° north latitude and 107° to 110° west longitude are among the largest on Earth. After the sea Miti retreated into what's now the Gulf of California, 11,000 years of rain, floods, and harsh weather further shaped these dramatic landscapes. Some might attribute all this sculpting to natural erosion, but I know better. I saw that lake just 12,000 years ago. Now, as promised, here's a vivid description of the area today, written by Major J. W. Powell of the U.S. Army:
"The canon walls are buttressed on a grand scale, and deep alcoves are excavated; rocky crags crown the cliffs, and the river rolls below. * * * The sun shone in splendor on the vermilion walls, shading into green and gray where the rocks were lichened over; the river filled the channel from wall to wall. and the canon opened like a beautiful gateway to glory. But at evening, when the sun was going down and the shadows were settling in the canon, the vermilion gleams and roseate hues, blended with tints of green and gray, slowly changed to brown above, and black shadows crept over below-then it seemed the shadowy portal to a region of gloom. Lying down we looked straight aloft through the canon cleft and saw that only a little of the blue heaven appeared overhead--a crescent of dark blue sky with but two or three constellations peering down upon us. I did not sleep for some time, as the excitement of the day had not worn off. Soon I saw a bright star that seemed to rest on the very verge of the cliffs overhead. Slowly it seemed to float from its resting place on the rocks, out over the canon. At first it appeared like a jewel set in the brink of the cliff, but as it moved out I almost wondered that it did not fall. In fact, it did seem to descend in a gentle curve, as though the sky, in which the stars were set, was spread across the canon, resting on either wall, and swayed down by its own weight. The star appeared to be really in the canon, so high were the battlemented walls. The morning sun was shining in splendor on their painted faces. The salient angles were as if on fire, and the retreating angles buried in shade; the rocks, red and brown, blazed from their setting of deep gloom below, but above all was vermilion fire. The light above, made more brilliant by the bright-tinted rocks, and the shadows below, made more gloomy by the somber shades of sunlessness, increased the apparent depth of the awful canons, and it seemed a long, long way up to the world of sunshine--and was a mile!"
The canyon walls are massive and buttressed, with deep alcoves carved into them. Rocky crags crown the cliffs, and the river flows below. The sun shines brilliantly on the red walls, which fade to green and gray where lichens grow. The river fills the channel from wall to wall, and the canyon opens like a magnificent gateway. As evening falls and shadows settle in, the vibrant reds, pinks, greens, and grays slowly shift to brown above, while black shadows creep up from below. The canyon transforms into a shadowy portal to a realm of darkness. Lying down, we gaze straight up through the canyon's cleft. Only a sliver of dark blue sky is visible, with just a few constellations peeking down at us. I remain awake for a while, still excited from the day's events. Soon, I notice a bright star seemingly perched on the very edge of the cliffs above. It appears to float away from its resting place on the rocks, moving out over the canyon. At first, it looks like a jewel set in the cliff's edge, but as it moves, I almost expect it to fall. It seems to descend in a gentle curve, as if the star-studded sky is draped across the canyon, supported by each wall and sagging under its own weight. The star looks as if it's actually within the canyon, a testament to the towering height of the walls. The morning sun shines brilliantly on the colorful rock faces. Protruding angles appear to be on fire, while recessed areas are buried in shadow. The red and brown rocks blaze against the deep gloom below, but above all is a vermilion inferno. The bright light above, intensified by the vivid rocks, and the shadows below, deepened by the absence of sunlight, emphasize the canyon's immense depth. The world of sunshine above seems impossibly distant—a full mile away.
Even the wide waters of the Miti, set about with towering peaks in the olden days, beautiful as a dream, were not more grand and glorious than these awful gorges come to take their place.
The vast expanse of the Miti, once surrounded by majestic mountains and as beautiful as a dream, pales in comparison to the awe-inspiring canyons that now dominate the landscape.
From the city of Tolta, on the shores of Miti, our vailx arose and sped away north, across the lake Ui (Great Salt) to its northwestern shore, hundreds of miles distant. On this far shore arose three lofty peaks, covered with snow, the Pitachi Ui, from which the lake at their feet took its name. On the tallest of these had stood, perhaps for five centuries, a building made of heavy slabs of granite. It had originally been erected for the double purpose of worship of Incal and astronomical calculations, but was used in my day as a monastery. There was no path up the peak, and the sole means of access was by vailx.
From the city of Tolta on Miti's shores, our airship took off and sped northward across Lake Ui (Great Salt) to its northwestern edge, hundreds of miles away. There, three towering snow-capped peaks rose up—the Pitachi Ui—which gave the lake its name. On the tallest peak stood an ancient granite building, likely five centuries old. Originally built for Incal worship and astronomical studies, it now served as a monastery. With no path up the mountain, the only way to reach it was by airship.
In the neighborhood of twenty years ago, more or less, counting from this Anno Domini 1886, an intrepid American explorer discovered the famous Yellowstone region, and while on the same expedition went as far west as the Three Tetons, in Idaho. [*1] These mountain triplets were the Pitachi Ui, of Atl. Professor Hayden, having arrived at the base of these lofty peaks, succeeded, after indefatigable toil, in reaching the top of the greater peak, and made the first ascent known to modern times. On its top he found a roofless structure of granite slabs, within which, he said, "the granite detritus, was of a depth indicating that for eleven thousand years it had been undisturbed." His inference was that this period had elapsed since the construction of the granite walls. Well, the professor was right, as I happen to know. He was examining a structure made by Poseid hands one hundred and twenty-seven and a half centuries ago, and it was because Professor Hayden was once a Poseida and held a position under the Atlan Government, as an attache of the government body of scientists stationed at Pitachi Ui, that he was karmically attracted to return to the scene of his labors long ago. Perhaps knowledge of this fact would have increased the interest he felt in the Three Tetons.
Around 1886, an American explorer discovered the Yellowstone region and ventured as far west as the Three Tetons in Idaho. These mountains were known as Pitachi Ui in ancient Atlantis. Professor Hayden, after great effort, became the first modern person to reach the summit of the highest peak. There, he found a roofless granite structure with debris inside, which he estimated to be undisturbed for 11,000 years. The professor's estimate was correct, as I can confirm. He was examining a structure built by the people of Poseid nearly 12,750 years earlier. Interestingly, Professor Hayden had been a Poseid citizen in a past life, working as part of a scientific team stationed at Pitachi Ui. This karmic connection drew him back to his former workplace. Perhaps knowing this would have made his discovery even more significant to him.
Our vailx alighted upon the ledge without the temple of Ui just as nightfall came on. It was very cold there, so far north, and at such an altitude. But the priests within the heavy, well-built edifice never suffered cold, for Atla, drawing upon Navaz, had Night-Side forces at its call. The primary cause of our visit was our desire to pay devotion to Incal as He arose next morning. All night the brilliant beams of light from our ruby-colored lanterns flashed the tidings, to such Poseidi as might look our way, that a royal vailx was in the region. Next morning after sunrise our vessel lifted and departed for the east, that we might visit our copper mines in the present Lake Superior region. We were conducted in electric trams through the labyrinths of galleries and tunnels. When we were about to leave, the government overseer of the mines presented each of our company with various articles of tempered copper. To me he gave an instrument, similar to the modern pocket-knife, which I retained to the day of my death, and always valued highly on account of its extra fine temper, which kept a keen edge, good enough to shave with, and rarely required to be sharpened. The Poseidi were adepts in this now lost art of copper tempering. In return I gave the overseer a nugget of native gold. He asked me whence it came, and when I told him, remarked:
Our aircraft landed on the ledge outside the temple of Ui as night fell. The air was frigid in this remote northern location at such a high elevation. However, the priests inside the sturdy building never felt the cold, as Atla could harness Night-Side forces from Navaz. Our main reason for visiting was to worship Incal at sunrise the next day. Throughout the night, our bright ruby-colored lanterns signaled to any observant Poseidi that a royal aircraft was in the area. After dawn, we took off eastward to inspect our copper mines in what is now the Lake Superior region. We toured the maze of galleries and tunnels via electric trams. As we prepared to leave, the government mine supervisor gifted each of us various tempered copper items. He gave me a tool similar to a modern pocketknife, which I treasured until my death due to its exceptional sharpness that rarely needed honing. The Poseidi were masters of this now-lost copper tempering technique. In return, I presented the supervisor with a gold nugget. When he asked about its origin and I told him, he commented:
"Any specimen from the famous mine at Pitach Rhok will be highly prized by an old miner like thy servant, more especially as it is presented by the discoverer of the mine himself."
"An experienced miner like myself would greatly value any sample from the renowned Pitach Rhok mine, particularly when it's given by the very person who discovered it."
Thus had the mine, found by me when an obscure lad, returned riches to the pick and shovel which had rendered it famed throughout the civilized world.
The mine I discovered as an unknown youth had now yielded vast wealth, making it renowned across the globe.
After taking counsel among ourselves, we decided not to make the farther northern trip, for every one of us had seen the Arctic icefields at least once, while some of us had been there several times. Instead, we concluded to remain in Incalia for a week longer, and spend the eleven days thereof in visiting, more at our leisure, the great territory where, although of course we did not know it, the Anglo-Saxon was one day to found the glorious American Union. History is said to repeat itself; I believe it does. Certainly races follow in the track of preceding races, and as the most important and populous part of all the North American colonies of Poseid had its habitat west of the great chain now known as the Rocky Mountains, so also the grandeur of America will be upheld by the western and southwestern States of the American Union.
After discussing it among ourselves, we decided against the northward journey, since we'd all seen the Arctic ice at least once, and some of us multiple times. Instead, we chose to stay in Incalia for another week, using those eleven days to explore more leisurely the vast land where, unbeknownst to us, the Anglo-Saxons would one day establish the great American Union. They say history repeats itself, and I believe it does. Just as races follow in the footsteps of those before them, the most significant and populous North American colonies of Poseid were located west of the great mountain range now called the Rocky Mountains. Similarly, the future greatness of America will be upheld by its western and southwestern states.
Man likes pleasant places to live in; he likes those lands where Mother Nature is amiable and laughs with abundant harvests upon slight provocation; man likes to live in a fruit-land, and where shall he find anything more to his mind than this same southwest and west of the Incalia of yore? Along the ocean shore and back to the Sierra Nevada mountains is the region where, under Poseid dominion, lay a province not second in beauty to the lake region along the shores of Miti. And it bar, retained its fair charm, while that of the other has given place to drifting sands and cactus and the mesquite, and has tenantry of the Moloch lizards, rattlesnakes and prairie dogs. It is no more the
People prefer pleasant places to live, especially where nature is friendly and rewards minimal effort with bountiful harvests. We're drawn to fruit-bearing lands, and what could be more appealing than the southwest and west of ancient Incalia? The area stretching from the ocean to the Sierra Nevada mountains was once a beautiful Poseid province, rivaling the lake region near Miti's shores. This land has kept its charm, while the other has become a desert of drifting sands, cactus, and mesquite, now home to Moloch lizards, rattlesnakes, and prairie dogs. It's no longer the
"Union of lakes and union of lands"
"United by waters and united by earth"
that it was in that olden time.
It was in those ancient days.
When we finally left Incalia, that we might return home to Caiphul, the last of our colonial lands visible was the coast of Maine, for we journeyed eastward, then south.
As we departed Incalia to return home to Caiphul, our final glimpse of our colonial territories was the Maine coastline, as we traveled east before turning south.
For change we decided to forsake the realms of the air for those of the deep where the shark is king. Like all vailx of the class to which it belonged, ours was constructed for both aerial and submarine service, the plates of the sliding deck and the other movable parts of the hull being capable of very close approximation by means of setscrews and rubber washers.
For a change, we decided to leave the skies and explore the ocean depths, where sharks reign supreme. Our vessel, like all others in its class, was designed for both air and underwater travel. The hull's sliding deck plates and other movable parts could be tightly sealed using setscrews and rubber washers.
To settle straight down into the ocean would be too much like a landing on terra firma. But being at a height of two miles, more or less, the conductor was directed to gradually reduce the repulsion current, thus diminishing our buoyancy so as to bring us into the water ten miles distant from where the slant commenced. He was further ordered to do this while maintaining a speed which would, though very slow for a vailx, be really swift, that is, he was to cover ten miles in as many minutes.
Plunging straight into the ocean would feel too much like landing on solid ground. Instead, from our altitude of roughly two miles, the pilot was instructed to slowly decrease the anti-gravity field. This would reduce our buoyancy, bringing us into contact with the water ten miles from where our descent began. The pilot was also ordered to maintain a speed that, while slow for our craft, was still quite rapid—covering ten miles in as many minutes.
When we struck the water at this rate of progress the shock which the entering needle experienced was sufficiently great to cause its inmates to stagger, and little exclamations were made by the ladies.
When we hit the water at this speed, the impact was so strong that it made everyone inside the needle-shaped vessel stumble. The ladies let out small cries of surprise.
As soon as we entered the water the repulsion was made nil, and its opposite, a degree of attraction greater than that of water to the terrestrial center of gravity, was set up, whereby we were enabled to sink to a considerable depth, despite the air contained in the vessel. The lights outside the windows were started, our speed modified to suit the element, and then we all gathered in the salon by the windows, darkness within and the waters lit without, enabling us to see curious tribes of Neptune which crowded about the strange illumination in their midst.
As we submerged, the repelling force vanished, replaced by a strong attraction exceeding Earth's gravity. This allowed us to descend deep underwater, despite the air in our vessel. We activated the exterior lights and adjusted our speed to suit our new environment. Gathering in the darkened salon, we peered through the windows at the illuminated waters outside. Curious sea creatures swarmed around our vessel, drawn to the unfamiliar light in their realm.
While thus engaged and while listening to the delighted words of an enthusiastic ichthyologist, I heard a familiar voice in the darkness. I knew it for that of my father Menax, and accordingly went to the naim. He could not see me because I stood in darkness, but I could see him in the great mirror, for at home he was in the light and his image was so transmitted, so that I saw not only himself, but his immediate surroundings, just as a person outside a lighted window at night beholds everybody and thing in the interior, himself unseen.
As I listened to the excited words of a passionate fish expert, a familiar voice caught my attention in the darkness. I recognized it as my father Menax's and made my way to the naim. While I stood hidden in the shadows, I could see him clearly in the large mirror. At home, he was illuminated, and his image was transmitted in such a way that I not only saw him but also his surroundings. It was much like someone outside a lit window at night, able to observe everything inside while remaining unseen themselves.
"My son," said the prince, "thou shouldst not have allowed thy love of novelty to cause thee to act so unwisely as thou didst in entering the ocean at even the slow rate of a ven (mile) per minute. I fear that thou hast a vein of reckless daring in thy nature which will some day bring thee misfortune. Incal punishes the reckless by allowing His broken laws to exact their own penalty. Be cautious, Zailm, be cautious!"
"Son," the prince said, "you shouldn't have let your love of novelty lead you to act so recklessly by entering the ocean at even the slow speed of a ven per minute. I'm worried that you have a streak of reckless daring in your nature that will one day bring you trouble. Incal punishes the reckless by allowing His broken laws to exact their own penalty. Be careful, Zailm, be careful!"
After the submarine experiences had become tedious, the opposite course of a rapid but graduated augmentation of repulsion was imparted to our vailx--a procedure not dangerous, as the other had really been--and soon our long spindle shot out of the water like some great bubble, then rose to where the raz, or repulse indicator, was set for its government, only a few hundred feet above the surface of the ocean. There, putting aside the closed deck, we sat in the bright sunshine and enjoyed the pleasant ocean breeze, which blew in the same southern direction in which we were going. Desiring to reach home by the next day, when the afternoon grew cool we closed the deck, arose high in the heavens so as to lessen atmospheric resistance and made the quickest speed we could towards the south. This, I should remark, was not nearly so great--as either an eastern or western course would have allowed. Thus, traveling either due east or due west, we could proceed at the rate of a degree of longitude every four minutes. But north or south we cut the earth's currents, and just in proportion as a vailx-course deviated from east to west, in that proportion was its speed lessened, until going due north or south we could only travel at the comparatively slow rate of some hundred miles each hour.
After the underwater experiences became monotonous, we switched tactics. We rapidly but gradually increased the repulsion force on our vailx—a much safer maneuver than our previous approach. Soon, our long spindle-shaped craft shot out of the water like a giant bubble, rising to a preset height just a few hundred feet above the ocean surface, as indicated by the raz, or repulse indicator. We opened the deck and basked in the bright sunshine, enjoying the pleasant ocean breeze blowing in the same southerly direction we were traveling. Eager to reach home the next day, we closed the deck as the afternoon cooled. We ascended high into the sky to reduce atmospheric resistance and pushed for maximum speed southward. It's worth noting that our southward speed wasn't nearly as fast as an east or west course would have allowed. Traveling due east or west, we could cover a degree of longitude every four minutes. However, north-south routes cut across the earth's currents, slowing us down. The more a vailx's course deviated from east-west, the slower it became. Going directly north or south limited us to a relatively slow pace of about a hundred miles per hour.
We saw that if we traveled home by the straight course, we would not reach Caiphul under two days, and, having set our desires on reaching it by the next morning, the prospective delay was so tedious that we decided to run in on an angle. That is, we would head our vailx: southeast for the Necropan coast, thence southwest for Caiphul, and though the extra distance would be several thousand miles, the increased speed attained would allow us to reach our destination in time to take our breakfast at home.
We realized that taking the direct route home would take us over two days to reach Caiphul. Since we wanted to arrive by the next morning, the potential delay was frustrating. We decided to take an angled path instead. Our plan was to steer the vailx southeast towards the Necropan coast, then southwest to Caiphul. Although this route added several thousand miles to our journey, the higher speed we could maintain would allow us to reach our destination in time for breakfast at home.
Beautiful Caiphul, There's no place like thee; Queen of Atlantis And Queen of the Sea.
Beautiful Caiphul, There's no place like you; Crown of Atlantis And Ruler of the Blue.
Footnotes
Notes
^168:1 NOTE--When thy science shall, like Poseid, approach Nature from its Godward side; when, instead of ascending to that key-force of all Nature, the Odic force, from a synthesizing of environing phenomena, thou shalt look from Odicity adown all the river of Energy, then wilt thou have all that Poseid had (being thyself Poseid returned), even its vailx, its naim, and its telescopes. Not such crude instruments as thine are, were the telescopes of Atl. Not the most remote star which sends a beam of faintest light across the depths of space, but that star could be brought so near to us in seeming, that had so minute an organism as a leaf been lying on the "ground" of the star, it were visible to our eyes. Dost thou refuse credence? Con this proposition: that light in not alone a reflection or refraction of force from a substance, but is a prolongation of every substantial form, for as much as only One Substance exists, though many are the dynamic variations thereof, these are mistaken by thee for different substances. There is but ONE SUBSTANCE: Light from Arcturus, let us say, is the prolonged substance of that star. Machine-made electricity is, per contra, unimpressed, formless force. One can be made to reinforce the other--the Formless to acquire the image of the Formed. Dost now see principle of our telescopes? Thy mind jumps far to the van, and I hear thee ask, 'Is Mars inhabited? Is Jupiter? Is Saturn, Venus?" Ah! my friend, I will not answer yea or nay, for when the Poseid view of Nature reappears on earth, thou wilt KNOW. Seek and ye shall find; but seek correctly. Walk the cruciform Way.
When science approaches Nature from its spiritual side, as Poseid did, and ascends to the key force of all Nature—the Odic force—instead of synthesizing environmental phenomena, you'll have everything Poseid had. You'll rediscover your own past, including its flying machines, recordings, and telescopes. Poseid's telescopes were far more advanced than today's crude instruments. They could bring the faintest star so close that even a leaf on its surface would be visible. Skeptical? Consider this: light isn't just a reflection or refraction of force from a substance, but an extension of every substantial form. Only One Substance exists, though its many dynamic variations are mistaken for different substances. There is only ONE SUBSTANCE: Light from Arcturus, for example, is the extended substance of that star. Machine-made electricity, however, is unimpressed, formless force. One can reinforce the other—the Formless acquiring the image of the Formed. This is the principle behind our telescopes. Your mind races ahead, asking, "Is Mars inhabited? Jupiter? Saturn? Venus?" I won't answer yes or no. When the Poseid view of Nature returns to Earth, you'll KNOW. Seek and you shall find, but seek correctly. Walk the cruciform Way.
^173:1 The Three Tetons we situated in northwestern Wyoming, but Wyoming as a territory was not in existence at the time referred to, haying been formed in 1868 from parts of Idaho, Dakota and Utah. A small part of Yellowstone Park is in Idaho.--Kings Hand-book of United States.
The Three Tetons are located in northwestern Wyoming. However, Wyoming as a territory didn't exist at the time in question, as it was only formed in 1868 from parts of Idaho, Dakota, and Utah. A small portion of Yellowstone National Park extends into Idaho.