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.
In Poseid, the day began at noon, with 12:00 to 1:00 PM being the first hour. From the last hour of each week until the end of the following day, all business halted for religious observance, enforced by the strongest law: custom. Today, some argue that sedentary workers benefit from active Sundays. However, I believe that as the body reflects the soul, reconnecting with God—whether indoors or in nature—provides true rest and refreshment. While I support Sabbath observance, regardless of the specific day, I won't argue my preferences. It's well-established that regular rest is essential for health, happiness, and spirituality. In Atla, people could spend the morning hours of the eleventh day as they pleased. At the first hour, a massive, sweet-toned bell rang six times, signaling the start of religious worship. The next day, bells across the continent and colonies chimed in unison, coordinated by a single person in Caiphul's great temple of Incal. After worship, the rest of Inclut (first day) was dedicated to various recreations. The worship itself wasn't gloomy or severe, nor did it continue through the night. However, during this time, all lights were tinted carmine red by combining odic force with strontium at 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.
Around three hours after sunset, a strange incident occurred during my time in Poseid. As I strolled home leisurely, not yet having called for transport, I was still under the spell of a delightful public concert in the Agacoe gardens. I encountered a dignified elderly man, also on foot. I had seen him before and, recognizing his wine-colored turban, knew him to be a prince. This meeting altered my plans, and I decided to stay in the city longer, perhaps overnight. Just as I made this decision, the old man smiled but continued on his way without stopping. I then realized that while he resembled the prince I had in mind, he wasn't the same person. This man's turban was pure white, not tinted. I had a strange feeling that he had wanted to speak to me but hadn't for some reason. I thought that if I returned later, 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:
Reflecting on these thoughts, I entered a café in one of the tunnels carved into a hillside. After ordering lunch, I waited for it to arrive. While eating, a student friend of mine wandered in, also looking for a meal. Once we finished, we headed to the moat and rented a small sailboat from a man who made his living this way, as most people preferred to travel by airship. With a strong breeze, we sailed out into the ocean through the mouth of the Nomis River, which encircled the entire city before emptying into the sea. Due to this extended trip, I didn't return to the avenue until after dark. As I approached the spot where I had met the white-turbaned stranger, this time in a vehicle I kept at a moderate speed, I saw his imposing figure standing clearly in the bright moonlight. I had half-expected to see him, and this time I nodded politely in 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've seen you often and know about you. You have a commendable desire to excel and gain high honors among men. You're still young, but on track to succeed as an adult, by common standards. You're conscientious now, favored by your ruler. You'll succeed, attaining positions of high honor and profit, well-regarded by your peers. Yet you won't live a full lifespan. In your shorter life, you'll experience love. You'll feel the purest affection a man can have for a woman. However, this love won't be fulfilled in this life. You'll love again, causing you grief. You'll do some good in the world, but also much evil. Due to your destiny, you'll face much sorrow. You'll cause deep anguish to another, paying dearly for it until you've made amends. But not much will be required of you in this life. When you least expect to sin, you'll stumble and commit a sin that becomes your relentless fate. Even now, in your innocence, you're walking towards your destiny. It's unfortunate, but true. Once, you came close to death, which is the least of what awaits you, but you awoke and escaped the burning mountain's caverns to safety. Eventually, you'll enter Navazzamin, the world of departed souls, and perish in a cavern. I'll be the last living being your Poseid eyes see. But I won't appear as I do now, and you won't recognize me as the one who'll strike down the evildoer who'll 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.