Gate of Horn, Book of Silk

by Michael Andre-Driussi

  Tarsier, Councillor “a member of the Ayuntamiento and its expert on architecture and engineering” (II, list); the soiled statue of Councillor Tarsier (I, chap. 4, 204). Tarsier is the one who made the chem bodies for the councillors (IV, chap. 1, 28).

  Zoology: a small lemuroid quadruped, Tarsius spectrum, of Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes, and the Philippines, also called “malmag” or “specter.”

  Tartaros “a major god, the god of night, crime, and commerce, and the patron of the third day of the week; particularly associated with owls, bats, and moles, and (like Hierax) black animals of every kind” (II, list). Tenebrous (“dark”) Tartaros, first son of Typhon, born blind. The god of sleep and dreams, too (III, chap. 7, 263).

  He meets Auk in the tunnels (III, chap. 6, 238), and changes him into Auk the Prophet.

  Myth: (Greek) a god of the underworld/afterlife.

  Commentary: as the loyal son, Tartaros has the position of Horus in the Osirian drama.

  Teasel “a girl at Silk’s palaestra” (II, list). First mentioned (I, chap. 1, 30), she is later attacked by an inhumu (I, chap. 8, 212). Her nickname is “Sel” (I, chap. 9, 218). Last seen in the group heading for the lander (IV, chap. 16, 369).

  Botany: a plant of the genus Dipsacus with thistle-like flowers surrounded by stiff bristles; especially fullers’ teasel, D. fullonum, the heads of which have hooked prickles between the flowers and are used for teasing cloth.

  Heraldry: as a heraldic bearing.

  Fabric: to raise a smooth nap on cloth with or as with teasels; to tease.

  Commentary: her nickname, “Sel,” is also the Hebrew word for “shadow,” as well as being the name of the legendary son of English/Welsh hero Selgi.

  technical notes a miscellany of moments in the text where things get technical:

  • Talk of floaters (III, chap. 5, 169–70).

  • Talk of armor (III, chap. 5, 169–70).

  • “Running lights,” the mobile lamps of the tunnels (III, chap. 6, 223).

  • Soldiers have fusion generators (III, chap. 9, 333).

  • Tunnels (IV, chap. 8, 147–51).

  • Monitors (IV, chap. 11, 226).

  • Pylon, Shade, Sun, East Pole, Mainframe (IV, chap. 16, 352).

  tessera a password (I, chap. 4, 110). Two used in the text are “Thetis” and “Fraus.”

  Thelxiepeia “a major goddess, the goddess of magic, mysticism, and poisons, and the patroness of the fifth day of the week; particularly associated with poultry, deer, apes, and monkeys” (II, list). “Echidna’s third daughter, the goddess of learning and thus of magic and witchcraft” (III, list). She provides the best protection against witches (I, chap. 5, 125).

  The mirror and/or fish pool at Ermine’s is probably a Thelxiepeia shrine (a smaller version of Scylla’s Lake Limna), and there is a monitor in Hy’s room (III, chap. 8, 299), so Hy comes down because she sees Silk there via monitor. Then Hy has them pose before pool, perhaps being scanned (III, chap. 7, 278).

  Myth: (Greek) one of the Sirens, her name means “soothing words.”

  theodidact a person taught directly by a god (I, chap 1, 12; IV, chap. 9, 166). Silk does not consider himself one, but Auk the Prophet is certainly one.

  theonomy a subject taught at schola (III, chap 1, 24). It is ethics according to gods via sacred text.

  theophanies when a god appears in a Sacred Window and is witnessed by one person or many, that is a theophany. The text offers many examples:

  • Echinda, Tartaros, Scylla, and Pas, to the Devoted Caddis, two centuries ago, i.e., circa the year 132 (I, chap. 6, 146).

  • Pas to Pike, perhaps 55 years ago.

  • Pas to Jerboa, about 40 years ago.

  • Kypris, at Orchid’s sellaria (I, chap. 11–12, 293–98) to Silk alone: to “see his face” (she has glimpsed him earlier at Blood’s), probably because of curiosity roused by the graffiti campaign.

  • Kypris, at the Sun Street manteion (II, chap. 2, 44–45; interpretation 49–51) to Silk and the congregation: to encourage “crime” in order to raise money for Silk; to give Orchid a message; to possess first Mint, then Chenille.

  • Kypris, at the Sun Street manteion (II, chap. 13, 323–24) to Captain Serval and Marble: to order the captain to protect Silk.

  • Echidna, at the Sun Street manteion (III, chap. 3, 91–93) to the congregation: to order the populace to worship Scylla, to kill the Councillors, restore the charter and destroy the Alambrera; also to possess Marble and sacrifice a human to herself.

  • Tartaros, at the tunnel altar (III, chap. 6, 238–44) to Auk: presumably to get to know him to determine his worthiness as a leader, and also simple opportunism (ability, through injury, to communicate with a non-virgin).

  • Pas, at the Grand Manteion (IV, chap. 1, 38) to Quetzal.

  • Pas, at the Sun Street manteion (IV, chap. 3, 67–69; interpretation chap. 6, 98–101) to Incus, Auk, Hammerstone and congregation: to deliver marching orders.

  • Kypris, at the Brick Street manteion (IV, chap. 9, 177–78) to Auk and Chenille: more marching orders.

  • Pas/Echidna/Pas, at the chapel beneath the palace (IV, chap. 10, 204–05) to Mint, Remora and soldiers: to deliver Sand to the Grand Manteion.

  • Pas or Tartaros, at the Grand Manteion (IV, chap. 12, 235–36) to Auk and company: to transfer Jerboa’s “piece of Pas” to Auk and fix Sand.

  • Kypris and “Pas,” on the Trivigaunti airship (IV, chap. 15, 346) to Silk and company: apparently to tempt Silk.

  • Tartaros, at the observation deck, to say goodbye to Auk and speak to those left behind (IV, chap. 16, 347).

  Thetis “a minor goddess to whom lost travelers pray” (III, list; III, chap. 3, 87). Here used as a tessera.

  Myth: (Greek) one of the Nereids, the sea-nymphs. Married to Peleus, she became the mother of Achilles.

  Thyone “a minor goddess, invoked by those who tell fortunes by throwing the lees of wine” (IV, list; IV, chap. 8, 146).

  Myth: (Greek) the name of Semele, under which her son Dionysus rescued her from Hades and introduced her among the immortals. Semele was a Theban princess loved by the god Zeus. When Hera learned of their affair, she tricked the girl into demanding that Zeus appear before her in his full glory. The resulting revelation destroyed Semele, but Zeus rescued his unborn son Dionysus from her womb.

  Tick “the catachrest Silk rejected before buying Oreb” (IV, list). The name being a catachrestic substitution for the word “talk,” in addition to being a homonym for a vocal “tic.”

  As a talking cat, he is perceived by at least one Trivigautni as being an oracle of Sphigx. Tick seems to admit this is true. For a collection of Tick’s sayings, see “Tick Talk” in the Languages of the Whorl appendix.

  Zoology: small blood-sucking insect, the larger members of the order Acarina.

  Tiger, Lieutenant “Oosik’s assistant operations officer” (III, list) and the man who shoots Silk with a needler while Silk is walking up deserted Sun Street (III, chap. 5, 203).

  Zoology: Felis tigris.

  Timeline for The Book of the Long Sun

  • 332 years ago Magnesia waits to board Whorl. Whorl launched. 1000 years ago objective time (III, chap. 6, 242).

  • 200 years ago Caddis witnesses theophanies of Echidna, Tartaros, Scylla, Pas (I, chap. 6, 146).

  • 184 years ago Marble last entered attic (III, chap. 5, 185).

  • 100 years ago Hydromancy discontinued (II, chap. 6, 172). End of Pas’s planned time (II, chap. 9, 235).

  • 81years ago Jerboa born (III, chap. 5, 176).

  • 61 years ago Jerboa arrives at Brick Street manteion (IV, chap. 9, 165).

  • 60 years ago Rose arrives at Sun Street manteion.

  • 56 years ago Crane born (II, chap. 13, 334).

  • 55 years ago Blood born (lists).

  • 52 years ago Marble begins teaching (I, chap. 3, 63).

  • 50? years ago Rose loses first arm to disease (III, chap. 10, 341).

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p; • 50 years ago Scylla last appeared in a Sacred Window.

  • 46 years ago Rose loses track of Blood’s foster mother (III, chap. 10, 340).

  • 45 years ago Orchid born.

  • 43 years ago Swallow born (IV, chap. 7, 120). Rose becomes senior sibyl at Sun Street (III, chap. 4, 129).

  • 40 years ago Prosimians become councillors (II, chap. 6, 167). Pas hides fragments of himself (IV, chap. 6, 101).

  • 33 years ago Quetzal becomes head of Chapter (lists).

  • 30 years ago Pas wiped out of core. Xiphias loses leg to treachery (I, chap. 13, 324; 329).

  • 25 years ago Loris builds Scylla shrine (II, chap. 6, 167). Lemur first thinks of flight (II, chap. 12, 307).

  • 23 years ago Silk born, Hyacinth born.

  • 22 years ago Tussah dies, according to Crane (II, chap. 12, 304). Spider expelled from Guard, starts work for Potto (IV, chap. 6, 115).

  • 21 years ago Talus-to-fail built (IV, chap. 7, 124).

  • 20 years ago Caldé Tussah dies. The penultimate time Blood spoke to his foster mother (III, chap. 10, 341). Trivigauntis allow men to use scissors (IV, chap. 4, 76).

  • 19 years ago Chenille born (lists).

  • 18 years ago Orchid’s monitor out of service (IV, chap. 11, 227). Orpine born (Case #1). Siyuf joins regiment (IV, chap. 4, 76).

  • 16 years ago Swallow paid for a talus failure (IV, chap. 7, 124).

  • 15 years ago Mucor born (lists).

  • 14 years ago Orpine born, if Mucor was Orchid’s first (Case #2).

  • 11 years ago Silk (12 years old) breaks into abandoned house, requires glasses to read.

  • 10 years ago Brain surgeon works on Mucor (II, chap. 11, 283). Silk enters schola.

  • 9 years ago Hyacinth seduced by commissioner. Trivigauntis kill a Flier, get pattern for wings (IV, chap. 11, 213).

  • 5 years ago Orpine (age 13) comes to Orchid’s (if Case #1).

  • 4 years ago Crane begins working for Blood (I, chap. 7, 182). Hy leaves Orchid’s for Blood’s villa. Silk’s mother dies.

  • 2 years ago Silk graduates (III, chap. 7, 166). Silk arrives at Sun Street manteion.

  • 1 years ago Orpine (age 13) comes to Orchid’s (if Case #2). Pike shrives Auk (I, chap. 3, 63), dies in Spring (II, chap. 1, 31). Most recent burial in Spider’s graveyard, last Spring (Titi/Petal?) (IV, chap. 8, 153).

  • .25 years ago Orchid’s place is haunted.

  • .16 years ago Simuliid goes to Lake Shrine (II, chap. 6, 157).

  • .16 years ago Crane goes, too (II, chap. 6, 165).

  Current Year 332

  Phaesday (25 Nemesis 332)

  • 12:00 P.M. Silk is enlightened by the Outsider near the end of a ball game (I, chap. 1, 9–10). Silk sees a Flier (I, chap. 1, 13).

  • 3:00 P.M. Silk heads toward the market, meets Blood (17). Silk tells him of being enlightened, and the exchange is witnessed by a group of bystanders (19, 22). Blood pays him three cards. Silk goes to market, sees a Flier (I, chap. 2, 37). Horn imitates Silk (I, chap. 9, 237)

  • Shadelow Silk meets Auk, then goes to infiltrate Blood’s villa.

  Sphigxday (26 Nemesis 332)

  • 3:15 A.M. Silk rides home in floater (I, chap. 7, 190); a brick hauler who sees him shouts and kneels; Willet/Hossaan kneels.

  • 3:30 A.M. Silk goes to see Teasel, who has been bitten.

  • Shadeup n.a.

  • 8:00 A.M. Silk sleeps in his manse (I, chap. 9, 220).

  • 11:30 A.M. Silk wakes up (I, chap. 9, 220).

  • 12:00 P.M. Crane and Marble in litter to Teasel’s (I, chap. 9, 234); Aquila released by Musk (I, chap. 9, 240).

  • 1:00 P.M. Silk at Orchid’s brothel (I, chap. 10, 244).

  • 1:15 P.M. Orpine murdered; Crane visits Chenille.

  • 3:00 P.M.? Exorcism and theophany at Orchid’s brothel.

  • Shadelow Silk dines with Auk (I, chap. 12, 308); talk about chalked slogan “Silk for caldé.” Aquila returns to Blood’s villa. Crane writes note.

  • 7:00 P.M. Silk and Auk go to meet Master Xiphias.

  • 8:00 P.M. Silk disciplining Horn (II, chap. 1).

  • Midnight Silk sees the ghost of Pike (II, chap. 1, 33).

  Scylsday (27 Nemesis)

  • Midday Orpine’s funeral (II, chap. 2). A Kypris theophany.

  • Shadelow Silk returns from graveyard (II, chap. 3, 57). At Blood’s villa, Hare and the kite maker loft Flier kite (II, chap. 4, 95–104).

  Molpsday (28 Nemesis)

  • Morning Silk wakes up (II, chap. 5, 107).

  • 10:00 A.M.? Silk and Chenille begin trip to Limna by holobit wagon.

  • 10:30 A.M. Iolar the Flier hit by Musk’s eagle Aquila (II, chap. 6, 143).

  • 11:00 A.M. Silk and Chenille at Limna (II, chap. 6, 147). Crane caught spying in Blood’s cellar (II, chap. 6, 156).

  • 11:30 A.M. Mystery “man” reaches shrine.

  • 12:00 P.M. Silk dragged into shrine (II, chap. 8, 216).

  • 4? 6? P.M. Auk and Chenille at Limna.

  • Shadelow Auk and Chenille at shrine (II, chap. 10, 252).

  • Night Rioting in Viron, where one brigade can barely protect the Palatine (II, chap. 13, 343).

  • Late night Auk and Chenille commandeer boat with Incus on board (II, chap. 11, 275; III, chap. 1, 26).

  Tarsday (29 Nemesis)

  • Midnight Silk captured and tortured by Potto (II, chap. 11, 278).

  • Shadeup

  • Strong winds on Lake Limna for Auk and Chenille (III, chap. 1, 26).

  • Rose dies (II, chap. 11, 278; IV, chap. 7, 119; chap. 8, 146).

  • Morning Marble discovers Rose’s body (II, chap. 11, 278).

  • Afternoon No wind on Lake for Auk and Chenille (III, chap. 1, 26).

  • Late afternoon Silk and Crane escape submarine (II, chap. 13, 322). Silk and Crane at Rusty Lantern.

  • Night New but contrary wind for Auk and Chenille (III, chap. 1, 26). Rioting in Viron (II, chap. 13, 343).

  Hieraxday (30 Nemesis)

  • 3:45 A.M. Captain Serval meets Silk and Crane (II, chap. 13, 343).

  • Shadeup

  • Serval leads Silk and Crane toward Viron (II, chap. 13, 347). They see clouds on lake. (Crane estimates 4 hour ride). Party ambushed. Crane dies, triggering the launch of the airship and the setting forth of troops from Trivigaunte to Viron (IV, chap. 4, 77).

  • Storm wind on lake for Auk and Chenille (III, chap. 1, 26).

  • 10:00 A.M. Quetzal talks to Remora, flies into tree (III, chap. 1, 15–25); Remora writes the circular supporting Silk for Caldé. Dace’s boat sails into cave shrine (III, chap. 1, 27). Mint starts evolving into General (III, chap. 2, 39). Silk returns to Sun Street (III, chap. 2, 53).

  • 11:00 A.M. In the tunnels, Incus repairs Hammerstone (III, chap. 2, 59); they run into another patrol (III, chap. 2, 61); Auk presumed dead but revives, sees Bustard (III, chap. 3, 90). Echidna theophany at Sun Street, she gives orders (III, chap. 3, 93); Pas makes sun go out, restart—fig tree burns (III, chap. 3, 93–94; alternate view IV, chap. 12, 258); Echidna possesses Marble, sacrifices Musk, looks for Auk (III, chap. 3, 100).

  • 12:00 P.M. Silk shot with needle by Tiger (III, chap. 4, 159). Battle on Cage Street (III, chap. 5, 160–64; 168) where Xiphias kills five (chap. 6, 229).