The Days of Peleg

by Jon Saboe

  Eventually, Captain Phaxâd had to order Serug to move his cages to the poop deck (Phaxâd had insisted, ‘Pun intended’) where Zini was stored, and where Peleg was currently inflating its envelope. The small burner which heated the air inside the great balloon used fish oil, but Serug promised that his strange black and white birds could provide fuel for the same purpose.

  Serug accompanied Peleg in the basket that afternoon. They had certainly gone their separate ways during the last few months, but once back at sea, they returned to their previous patterns. Peleg was certain they had finally reached Suhurmashû and were heading due east.

  “What do you suppose will become of your friend Kupé and the other islanders?” Serug asked. He knew that Peleg had become close to Kupé, and wondered if he felt the parting of friendship, even though they had become the enemy.

  “I’m not sure,” Peleg said quietly. “They will continue to wait for their gods to rescue them. It was blind luck that we found that island, and I can’t imagine it happening again for a long time.”

  “I’m sure that other ships will eventually come by as trade is increased,” Serug said, hopefully. “After all, we are just the first.” He laughed. “Of course, they’re going to have to find some women if they have to wait much longer.”

  “In three or four hundred years, they will probably all be gone. And their sacred Rana’Kao is going to explode someday, too, and the entire mountain will collapse into the sea.” He looked at Serug.

  “Perhaps in a thousand years, a new band of travelers will arrive and find their statues and remains of their settlement. They’ll be as mystified as we were and probably craft hundreds of statues to mimic the ones Kupé made—with no clue as to their creator’s original purpose.”

  Serug grinned. “Someday, that would make a great tourist attraction.”

  High atop the Citadel in Heaven’s Gate, High Minister Salah continued to be amazed at the library of scrolls and calculating instruments that Reu-Nathor had kept hidden from the people. Charts of heavenly objects which were invisible to the naked eye and star maps from before the Great Calamity were stored in alcoves next to optical instruments which revealed them.

  He reached for a large digest which appeared to have been written many years before the Great Awakening. He unrolled it, and realized again that he could only translate a fraction of the text. It appeared to be a log of some kind with entries headed by names with numbers next to them.

  “I see you have found the lost Annals of Time from before the Great Calamity.”

  Dumuzi had become a constant mental companion, now—always ready to assist him in his research. The voice echoed in his mind. “What you have there is a list of rulers and the times which they reigned.”

  Salah looked closely. “That means that this man, Alulim, lived for nine-hundred and thirty years.”

  “Oh, no,” counseled Dumuzi. “These ages are based in an entirely different numbering system. Besides, he was no ordinary man—he was the first king. He ruled for more than thirty times that number of years.”

  A soothing sensation caressed Salah’s mind as Dumuzi’s thoughts continued.

  “Remember, we have always watched over and assisted humanity. I have known all of these men. While we were among you, such kings didn’t live a paltry thousand years. We brought life to humanity, and just as you see life expectancy decreasing now, it was greatly increased two or three dozen-fold in ancient times.”

  “I see,” said Salah. He really didn’t, but he knew that much of ancient history would never be recovered.

  “You must expand your mind,” Dumuzi continued as he transmitted his thoughts across space. “Your current time is a fraction of true history. When one travels into the past, one can continue for hundreds of thousands of years prior to the Great Calamity. Even thousands of thousands.”

  Salah’s mind reeled. He was grateful for his inside source and reveled with excitement at the opportunity to reveal this to the masses.

  “Allow me to assist you in your translation,” his guide offered. “I can make corrections as needed.”

  “Thank you,” agreed Salah, again amazed at Dumuzi’s selfless concern.

  “You just hold the stylus,” Dumuzi intoned. “I’ll take care of everything.”

  Salah began to write:

  When kingship was first handed down from Heaven, the city of Eridu was chosen as the seat of kingship. In Eridu, Alulim ruled for 28,800 years as king then Alalgar ruled for 36,000 years.

  Salah interrupted. “If kingship was handed down, then it must have been handed down from someone, right?”

  “Never mind that,” Dumuzi said quickly. There was a hint of discomfort in the voice which Salah failed to notice. “That means nothing. Just a colloquialism. Now continue.”

  Salah dutifully obeyed, watching as the stylus moved along the tablet. He marveled at the longevity of the ancients, and would have doubted his guide, except for the fact that Dumuzi had been an eyewitness. He didn’t even notice that one of the ancient kings who had supposedly ruled for 36,000 years was also named ‘Dumuzi’. His mind wandered and became foggy, but it didn’t matter.

  Dumuzi would make sure that his stylus wrote accurately.

  Chapter 17

  Arrival

  “Is it the destination that is important, or the journey itself?”

  During the next months the Urbat continued eastward while Peleg tried to become more accurate in his navigation.

  Calculations which the original navigator, Chief Meshe, could have done instantly in his head, still took Peleg some time, but it didn’t take him hours like it had over four years ago. And using Thaxad’s planetary calculator was becoming easier. There was always a learning curve with new equipment.

  One was generally expected to study or apprentice for six years, followed by six more years of on the job practice under a Chief before one was considered a Master. Six more years of service usually earned the title of Chief, and by that time it was expected that the new Chief would already have a number of apprentices of his or her own. If one was blessed with good educational opportunities, it was not uncommon for someone to be a Chief in several disciplines. Peleg had been forced to complete his Master’s training with the hurried lessons that Chief Meshe had given him before his impulsive departure.

  Although he was now the top navigator on the Urbat, it would be more than two years before Peleg could qualify as a Chief Navigator. To that end, he already started training two new navigators. Zisudra, who was already a Chief Agriculturalist, and Sangasu, a carpenter deckhand who assisted Untash in ship repairs; both had demonstrated an amazing aptitude for mathematics.

  Occasionally Peleg spotted small dark clouds to the north that appeared to be remnants of volcanic plumes. As he had thought countless times before, he wondered how the Kibrat Erbettim was faring.

  On the twelfth day of the eleventh month of the fourth year since the beginning of the Great Discovery, he saw land. As the ship approached, Peleg saw what appeared to be mountains rising directly out of the sea. He began to realize that these mountains were much larger than any he had ever seen. Right now there was no way to measure them accurately, but he knew he could not make precise sunrise calculations while they were in view.

  The crew was greatly relieved to see land where they could gather needed food and supplies. No one had doubted the men of Irawaru, but seeing their hopes become reality was still an important boost for their spirits. Peleg looked forward to using and confirming the map given to him by Kupé.

  No one seriously expected to find any people here, but they had been wrong before. The men still kept an eye out for any indication of the seaport which Irawaru’s men had spoken of.

  They continued north along the coastline. For several days they traveled, and it soon was confirmed that this was no island but a major landmass. They looked in awe at the ranks of mountains which seemed to grow directly from the sea. Only occasionally was there any beach, and then it was just a s
mall, isolated strip of sand. Behind that was always the imposing wall of rock. It was easy to imagine that this mountain barrier continued forever to the north, bisecting the planet and preventing any passage to the east—and home.

  During the night, they often had to lower the sails and rely on rowing as the stiff air currents from the cooling mountains tended to blow them away from shore. And it was soon apparent that the use of Zini was increasingly impractical. During the seven or eight hours required to inflate the envelope, the winds needed to be calm. The shifting breezes along the coastline changed quickly and often without warning.

  There was also a growing concern at the lack of fresh water sources. Land meant the replenishment of fresh water, but no streams could be seen flowing into the sea, and the thought of climbing these mountains in search of fresh lakes and rivers was daunting.

  Within the next two weeks, the coastline began to curve outward towards the northwest, and they immediately spotted some small streams descending the mountains and entering the sea. The quick rush of water as they tumbled down the mountainside kept the ocean’s saltwater backwash to a minimum, and soon they were able to completely restock their fresh water reserves.

  They continued charting the coastline for another month, all the while fighting the winds and being careful to avoid the ever-present underwater rocks which jutted from the ocean floor with the same rapidity as the mountains along the shore. They also kept alert for any signs of human habitation, but there were no boats or buildings to indicate their presence. They did notice what appeared to be small, narrow paths, perhaps used by mountain animals. Phaxâd reminded them that, if there were animals, humans must have brought them here.

  The mountains themselves were becoming darker and greener. Peleg had never seen dark, lush forests like these which blanketed the mountains up to a point where the trees mysteriously stopped growing. He thought about the impressive Citadel and other structures that were currently being built to honor kings and cities. They boasted of creating monuments that “reached into the heavens”, but they were nothing compared to these wonders which appeared to extend beyond the air itself.

  For the past few days the coastline had resumed a northerly direction, but soon it appeared that the shore was turning to the northeast and there was some talk that the Urbat was approaching the northern edge of this new continent. They had long since gone past the northern edge of Kupé’s map, so there was no hint as to whether this was true or not.

  The air was still the next morning, and Peleg decided to take Zini up for a view. He began inflating her early, and by mid-afternoon, her envelope was full and heated, straining at her tether lines.

  As he surveyed the area from his vantage point, he realized they had entered a large cove along the western seaboard, but saw a clear beach to the north which looked like a great place to set up a camp and let the men stretch out and explore. Ever since arriving at this new land, there had never been a decent strip of land where they could encamp.

  He shouted the news to the men below, and then remained aloft until it was time to record the sun’s setting declination. He set the pneumatic horizon-wheel spinning, locked the guides in place, then made his measurements. He wondered if Castor Thaxad had any more marvels hidden away in his cabin.

  The crew excitedly brought items ashore while making the usual jokes about “land-legs”. They were used to sleeping by shifts in the rowing-deck hammocks, and looked forward to a firm mat on the ground where they could watch the stars, not the low ceilings or the backs of the men above them.

  Serug immediately went searching for berries and bark, while others hoped to catch a bird or find some eggs. In the past, Serug would go searching for items to feed himself, but this time he was also looking for provisions for his growing tum family.

  Lugalkitun prepared a great meal with the fare collected by the men. Serug had been a quick study and was well on his way to becoming a Master Chef. Cooking in the open over real fires was a special treat which was seldom enjoyed.

  That evening, the men sat around the campfires telling jokes and talking about their wives. They all had great plans to be rich from the fame of this expedition when they returned home. Although Captain Phaxâd and Utebbibassu had their own tent, they came out and joined with the rest of the crew.

  Thaxad spent the evening reaching into various pouches and extracting powders which he tossed on the fires. From one moment to the next, campfires could be seen changing colors from bright greens to deep blues. The kaleidoscopic effect constantly changed the men’s faces as the hues and shadows brought out different features.

  Later, towards midnight, the men began to quiet down, and a large full moon arose. Against his better judgment, Peleg still caught himself searching the southern pole for signs of Mentor Inanna’s “Suenites”.

  In the distance, urbarra-wolves could be heard howling their angry defiance as the moon shone brilliantly without regard for their protestations. The sound reminded Peleg of the hills behind his home, just outside the city, where the wild canines responded with identical instincts half a world away. Strangely, the reminiscence had a calming effect on him.

  Peleg and Serug, along with a small handful of men left, were enjoying the night air when Captain Phaxâd, who had retired an hour earlier, came running towards the remaining campfire.

  “Do you hear that!” he exclaimed. “Urbarra!”

  The men looked around nervously, slightly embarrassed at their Captain’s apparent fear of distant wolves.

  “What is it, Sir?” Serug asked impudently. “Are they making you hungry?”

  Phaxâd glared sternly at Serug.

  “Not at all.” He looked to the others.

  “Do you remember what I have been saying about animals? Well, I say it again. Where there are animals, there must be people. Unless these wolves walked across the ocean, they were brought here by somebody.”

  He looked around with apprehension as the ramifications set in.

  “I want some men to stand guard tonight. Three or four should do, but sleep in shifts so that a fresh group can replace them later this morning.”

  He looked around as the men made impromptu plans to cover the remaining hours of darkness.

  “And make sure nothing gets close to my tent,” he said with added emphasis. “Utebbibassu hates dogs.”

  With that he returned to his tent while the men made final sleeping arrangements.

  A few minutes later, the mountain-wolves suddenly stopped their howling, and the ensuing silence was even more unsettling.

  A damp fog ushered in the new morning and covered the campsite. When they arose, the silhouettes of the three men who had drawn the final guard duty could be seen through the mist, and they assured everyone that the night had passed uneventfully. As the men began to pack their gear and get ready for their morning meal, Thaxad rose from his mat and strode to the center of the camp and raised his arms, silently demanding their attention.

  “We are surrounded,” he announced quietly, yet earnestly. “No one is to move outside of this encampment.” His order was met with disbelieving silence, yet he was not one to joke. “Wait patiently for the fog to clear.”

  Peleg approached him slowly. “What do you mean?” he asked. “How do you know?”

  Thaxad pointed out towards the fog, but indicated the low ground. “There is a circle of crouching urbarra, surrounding our campsite. They are not moving, but I can hear their breathing and see their heat.” He circled slightly to indicate the perimeter. “As the fog clears, we are sure to see their masters—and their intent.”

  Gradually the men began to discern the canine shapes as the fog lifted. The animals were arranged in a complete circle around the camp, sitting on their hind legs and facing the center. The dogs all looked similar with fur comprised of large black and white markings, and they each had wagging tails and tongues, creating a happy, friendly appearance, yet their demeanor was one of watching and waiting—and their circular arrangement ind
icated they were controlled by someone else.

  Serug reached for a small dagger and walked slowly towards one of the dogs. Immediately, each dog stood up and growled, barring its teeth. The sudden change startled Serug who retreated at once.

  The dogs began a slow, solemn walk towards the camp as they decreased the radius of their circle. They began growling and snapping their jaws as they surrounded and intimidated their prey. There appeared to be a pack of about sixty animals, and their coordinated maneuvers soon left no gaps in the shrinking noose.

  Suddenly Thaxad grabbed his head, pressing his hands over his ears and raising his shoulders. “It hurts,” he moaned, painfully.

  At that same instant, each dog sat back down on its haunches in unison and stared intently at the men.

  A lone boy of about seventeen years of age, wearing what appeared to be a simple tunic made from an animal skin, approached them, passing effortlessly through the canine circle. He was very muscular with stark, defined features, and had dark, golden skin with fine pure-black hair. He was holding a small porcelain object in the shape of a dog which had a thin metal cylinder that entered the top and skewered the center vertically, emerging from the bottom. It was painted with large black and white markings similar to the animals which surrounded them.

  Captain Phaxâd had arrived by now and stood with Peleg and Thaxad in the center.

  “Peleg,” said Phaxâd. “Get to work.”

  The boy placed the small metal tube to his lips and cupped his hands around the object, making a small waving motion with them. Instantly, all of the dogs dropped to their stomachs and resumed their friendly tongue wagging. It was now obvious that it was some kind of dog whistle, and Peleg saw that this time, Thaxad had hurriedly covered his ears before the object reached the boy’s mouth.

  Peleg approached the boy and spoke clearly; using the vocabulary and syntax that Kupé had taught him.