By now word had spread of the discovery. The news had reached the office of Xora the chief librarian, and also to Alfred the royal governor. Soon both would make their way to the citadel. Xora however would arrive first as she needed only to descend from her Cliffside dwelling outside of the citadel. Having heard the story over the public service radio, she would be keen to make her way down as quickly as possible.
She too like Grunhuf served in a mostly ceremonial position as "Keeper of the Books." She however had the added responsibility of chief librarian of the crystal room. Xora had attained her position after death of the previous keeper by merit of her intellect and experience. She was a mere thirty years of age when she was elevated. Despite her youth she was the ideal initiate. For the keeper had to be learned in the great arch of myth, as well as actual history surrounding the origins of the crystal room. She being a kind of high priestess of sorts had long practiced the arts required to interact directly with the data core.
Because of this she was eager to make the connection between this new object and the crystal room. So after changing from her night cloths into her official garb, she by means of a pilot less conveyance descended down along the cliff face within the safety of a steel cage. With a system of pulleys and cables the conveyance soon brought her down to the level of the common area with the citadel. From there it was a leisurely walk into town.
Landaus and Grunhuf the lord mayor among the throng that now appeared within the square spied her from a distance as she approached. They watched as her tall and slender figured gracefully approached them.
Alfred wishing to see the object in person now made the journey. The royal conveyance on which he rode moved quietly along on a set of steel rails that ran through and over the rugged seaside landscape. It was powered by a clock work mechanism that transmitted the stored energy of a tensioned spring. By this means the ride from Tauburg, the capitol of Baldur to Breideblic took less than an hour. The rail car soon reached the station at Breideblic. There he was surprised to find that no one was there to greet him at the station. Exiting the conveyance Alfred and his contingent were forced then to walk the remaining distance from the station to the citadel, unattended. As they made their way through the arched gate, his guard forced back the crowd that now stood staring enthralled at the object.
It had taken the workmen the greater part of the morning to shift the heavily weighted object to its current location within the great court yard of the citadel. It now stood there tall and perfect in form, in the full light of the noon day sun. To all those there the object seemed to command their attention, for upon its surface could be observed the passing reflections cast in flawless mimicry. Like the first light shining through the spring time leaves these images held there within its mirrored surface danced with a mercurial fluidity. As if hypnotized within a halo of imagery those there could do little else but to be drawn into a euphoric gaze.
Landaus spotted Alfred and suddenly realized in all the excitement he had forgotten to report for duty that morning. So he said to Xora and Grunhuf. "How stupid of me, I've completely forgotten about the governor. He is here now, there by the Arch."
"You shouldn't worry about it you were handling things around here I'm sure he will understand", said Xora. "I sure hope your right. I can't see anything, where is he?" added Grunhuf. They looked out upon the crowd there assembled. They strained to see so but could not. Landaus pointed in that direction. Their eyes followed searching in that direction until they caught a glimpse of the brightly colored garb worn by the royal guard. There in the distance they spied the white regalia of the governor among his contingent. Grunhuf said, "I see him, we'd best be along we should have him waiting too long. The trio then was off pushing their way toward him through the crowd.
After several minutes they reached the circle of guards that stood protecting him. The guards instantly recognized Landaus and allowed him into the circuit. He vouched for the mayor and Xora's entrance and they too were allowed in. Alfred was annoyed with Landaus, and did not wish or try to suppress it. In a voice loud enough to be heard over the grumbling crowd he then let loose a tirade. "Landaus just what kind of show are you running for me around here? You have been appointed to this position for the sole purpose of acting as my eyes and ears in my absence. This kind of demonstration is ill suited for a place as revered as Breideblic. What were you thinking man?"
Landaus responded respectfully, "Your grace, I humbly request that you try to understand. My first concern was for the safety of the object. I feared if we had left it there upon the beach there mightn't be much left to it now. I understand this is not the ideal situation, however we now have a rare opportunity to study in detail something of the forerunner technology." Alfred stood for a moment and pondered his argument. Having heard him out, he now accepted his reasoning, and decided he would allow it here for now. "Alright Landaus, you've sold me. I've decided I will allow this for the sake of prudent science. However I have a question for you. Who exactly will be conducting this investigation?" Landaus was keen to prove his worth in such matters so he spoke assuredly. "I sir will act as royal liaison and site manager." "Yes but who will be conducting the actual scientific work?"
"Forgive me my grace, again I have forgotten. I meant to make an introduction earlier." "Better late than never I suppose." "Your grace may I introduce to you the keeper of the books and chief librarian, Lady Xora." Alfred to the ladies was always charming and this time was no exception. She presented her hand to him and in an uncharacteristic gesture bent down and kissed her hand. He rose up and looking into her with his pale blue eyes and said, "My lady I am charmed. Please forgive my earlier outburst as I felt it necessary for expedience sake. Of course I shall make my office available to you during this endeavor."
She smiled and nodded politely and said. "I would be honored to accept the assistance of such a fine and up standing servant of the people." Having never been assigned that moniker he didn't know quite how to take it. While eyeing her he decided she could have only meant it in the best possible meaning. "Grunhuf please make available to the lady any resources she may require under my authorization. As for you Landaus take control of the citadel guard and draw from it any manpower you may need. In the meantime, please escort this rabble from these premises."
"Yes Sir." Landaus summoned the sergeant of the guard and ordered him to form a line with the men there available and begin to push the mob back out through the gate. The order was relayed and with batons extended the men moved slowly forward. As the throng emptied the space Landaus, Xora, Grunhuf, and the Governor stood now before the object in the relative quiet. Ibsen feeling he had a stake in all this was there too. He hid himself behind the object intent on listening to the proceedings. The men by now had just about finished driving the people from the plaza. As the last of the stragglers passed, the sergeant placed the bolt locking the massive door that hung heavily within the great arch.
Ibsen from his hiding place listened intently to the conversation between his father and the others. He heard the older gentleman dressed in white speaking and gesturing in a commanding tone to the others. Alfred was not gifted in the ways of science, but he did know how to get to the bottom of things. So he was careful to maintain his charming exterior for Xora's benefit as he probed her for answers. "What in all your experience can be drawn in parallel to these phenomenon to which we have witnessed here today? In your opinion is this thing of forerunner technology? Xora was impressed that he had know as much as he did. So she sought to give him an answer worthy of the question. "Why your grace, you have asked the question that has been stirring in my head since I've first laid eyes upon it. I must admit my inclination is to assume it is. However there is much study to be done to prove it categorically. What we do know is a well established fact. We were not the first culture to inhabit these lands. We were certainly not the greatest. I could also argue that this civilization is merely what has managed to rise naked from the ashes of what came before. One n
eed only look to the crystal room. Beyond our faith in it, are we not a logical race? Outside of that room are not all things explainable? We have for centuries been captivated by a mystery. In our growing dependence on it we have enslaved ourselves to a technological relic that we have little understanding of." Alfred's complexion had grown wan as the sound of her words began to tread close to blasphemy. "Surely lady Xora you are over stating your point. The crystal room has been a guiding light in these ever darkening times. Without its wisdom, would we now not be lost?"
"She responded without hesitation. "Don't you see, that's the point exactly? I can not answer that question because we are now so dependent on it that we no longer try to answer questions for ourselves. Despite how awe struck we may be to its fantastic power, we are nonetheless enslaved by it." Alfred's mood now seemed to have changed. An aura of grim duty fell over his convivial expression. When he now spoke he spoke as the Governor. Lady Xora regardless to your philosophy your duty now calls you to provide facts, scientific not political in nature. Your beliefs are your own business. Your responsibility to your office as the keeper of the books requires you to find those facts and those alone. Can you do that?"
"Why yes your grace. I did not intend to disparage the systems that be, only to add as you asked, my perspective. I assure you that of which I had spoken was merely my personal opinion, and that my reports will be factual in nature."
"I would appreciate that in our future communications. We at court can not be seen to be aligned or even sympathetic to such notions. You must be careful in future." You mustremember how in a long ago time, the very foundations of this citadel were built around the crystal room to keep it safe fromour enemies. Since its discovery our people have been transformed from tribes of barbaric of savages to a peace loving people who hold dominion over the seas. That is my philosophy and it is also that of the king." Alfred tipped his hat and greeted them good bye. He turned from them and began making his way back toward the station with his guard.
Landaus followed and caught up with Alfred some distance now from the object. Landaus was surprised by the concern he saw there on his face. Alfred seemed now preoccupied and Landaus could tell he was not in the same convivial mood that earlier possessed him. He knew him well enough to know no good would come from asking him about it. So he decided to avoid the subject. After a short moment the governor spoke, "Landaus you asked me for the opportunity to show me that you can handle greater political responsibility beyond your responsibility as colonel of the guard. We'll this is your chance. I warn you though; there will not be another one. So you better hold a tight rein on this keeper of the books that you've employed for this venture. Good day then."
"Good day to you your grace." Then the governor and his entourage turned abruptly leaving him there standing alone before the gate.
Xora and Grunhuf watched this exchange at a distance. She was curious and asked "Where has his grace gone to? I would have thought he would stay a while longer.". "He'll most likely continue onward to Tauburg to report his findings directly to the king." responded Grunhuf. He was perhaps dismayed by your apparent naiveté in the ways of politics and in particular how you made a point to agitate the governor's sensibilities. Xora I must ask what ever did you hope to accomplish with that exchange? I've known you for a number of years and it never ceases to amaze me how you can be so blatantly belligerent to personages of power. I know Alfred well. We went to school together. You don't see me trying to force the governor to chuck the official philosophy into the dust bin publicly. There is a time and a place for everything and your timing is terrible."
"He's a grown man, he can think for himself, can't he?" "That's exactly the point Xora. No he can't actually. As the royal governor his only job is to maintain the status quo. It's my job to run things around here. If you think I'm going to give all that up for the sake of an opinion that in the end will sway nothing, you must be mad. It may have us ultimately on the outside looking in. Is that what you want Xora?" She had no time to answer for Landaus had since walked the distance that separated them.
Ibsen, who had sat silently awaiting the man in white to leave, leapt from behind the object towards his father. His presence there surprised and startled his father. "How long have you been hiding back there?" his father asked. "I was there long enough to know that these people want to take my prize away from me. They can't do that. I found it fair and square." They all knew the law and it was sure enough true for any ordinary object. This however was something quite different. No other forerunner object since the crystal room had been found with this level completeness and complexity. It was indeed too important an object to leave in the hands of a child, or even for that matter, a single adult. His father searched for a way to explain his predicament in a manner he could understand. But none easily came or seemed adequate. He put his hand on his boys head and said, "Son we don't know what we are dealing with here. You're going to need to be patient. I will make sure everybody knows that it was your discovery, I promise."
Chapter 2
For days on end a storm upon the restless ocean with great surges had raked the coast of Baldur without mercy. Of those who had endured it, many had called it the worst in living memory. When finally it had passed and the skies again cleared, the citizens returned from their places of shelter to examine what fate had delivered unto them. As they arose that morning to their shock they discovered the extent of nature's fury. There they found that great swaths of coastline that had lain stable for centuries had shifted in the course of one night. There too along the sea bottom, the great dunes of silt were not spared from the havoc of the churning waves. From out of these depths many a rare and beautiful object from a previous age were freed from their restraining bounds, to be deposited there upon the beaches.
There farther out upon the open ocean beyond the naked skeletons of atolls a rather mysterious object bobbed to and fro amongst the newly arisen detritus. Delivered there from some long ago burial there a sarcophagus calmly floated upon the sea. Unlikely as it was that an object clad in heavy sheets of bronze might float, it did so none the less. Its markings though dulled as they were by the passage of time were visible. They however would almost certainly prove unreadable to a contemporary viewer. It was true then that this was no ordinary coffin. It must surely have been designed by the forerunners to deliver up its contents intact. There tossed about within for unknown centuries, a man had slumbered in a deathlike sleep. After long delay his moment of awakening had come.
As is the nature of things, that all the workings of man in due course must fall to dust, so was this the destiny of his lost age. All but Ananda was, or possessed had passed into the darkened void of lost memory. He alone would be their sole voice. To what context could his lone voice belong? All that was his world had been forgotten as their time ended. By some cruel gremlin in the works perhaps, the mechanism of his reawakening had malfunctioned. The clock within his time capsule, like those of his people had long since stopped ticking. It then was by no small miracle that he alone had survived the ravages of time.
From the depths it had risen. Beyond all its makers expectations the sarcophagus that held safe Ananda's hibernating body had outlasted most but not all that his great civilization had created. Buried for millennia beneath the shifting sand his once mighty heart, like the echo of a raindrop, beat shallowly. Though they were perhaps not designed to do so, the seals had held back both the corrosive action of the sea and the robber of life. Sensed faintly, from within the encrusted capsule, a meager light managed by chance to filter downward through the darkened sea above and the almost opaque glass of the face plate. Having slept for untold centuries this faint glimmer of light was the first to reach the slumbering retinas of this forlorn traveler. Shimmering faintly, through the membrane of his encrusted and swollen eyes, this light appeared as if a skyrocket against the backdrop of black night. To this flash he reacted most violently. To this stimulus, he like a caged animal would react. In possession of
only base senses, he howled without witness into the emptiness of the deep ocean chasm. For an hour or more a potent surge of adrenaline fueled to life his fight or flight response, to which he could do neither. Through this passage of pain as if reborn, some semblance of consciousness began to leach through thefog that had restrained him. Soon his senses would follow.
There bathed in the aqua tinted glow of emergency lights, but for the dull ache that played in his head, he lay unrestrained by sleep for the first time in a very long time. He looked up and recognized that some of these now familiar controls had become a victim of oxidation. Time and exposure to the elements had taken their toll as the inevitable corrosion had rendered the display and most of the sensor mechanisms no longer operational. This could be he imagined a serious challenge to his survival chances. He would have to now depend on his training and instincts if he were to make it out alive. He somehow remembered the contingency plans that he was made to painstakingly practice over and over again during what he imagined to be some far off cadet training. In the escape maneuver the cadets learned to use the mechanics tools of old to unhinge the faceplate of this floating casket. He looked through the storage compartments until he found there a conveniently marked packet labeled in hieroglyphics, "Emergency escape tools." As he gathered the tools together he could not help but to be puzzled at the extent of the damage. It was far worse that he would have anticipated it to be. The rate of decay for these materials should have endured well past the length of his stay within his capsule. The extent of the damage would lead him then to suspect he had in fact overslept well beyond the technologies expected shelf life, which was a very long time indeed. He recalled the long ago day to which he and his wife Samantha had said their tearful goodbyes and how they hoped they would meet again on the appointed day. He knew now this was not to be, for evidence was accumulating that he had slept far beyond the slotted moment. "It was only yesterday," he said to himself, but the evidence was stark and undeniable. He had held a fuzzy memory of how he had participated in an experiment where five hundred years into the future a group of elite sleepers would travel forward in time. Slowly the memory unfolded. Along with several dozen others he had volunteered to act as human seeds for the future. His mind reeled as he pondered the possibilities. He asked himself, "Where had they all gone? What had become of the experiment? Had it succeeded?" To what kind of world he would emerge into? He could not know. There however would be no way to answer these questions or to tell for how long he had been adrift until his capsule had reached the surface and he could manually measure his coordinates.
A Paradox in Retrograde Page 3
