The Days of Peleg

by Jon Saboe

  “Peleg!” Serug spotted him and started running. “How was your meeting? Anything secret?”

  “Yes. It’s all top secret. In fact, we’re planning on faking the whole journey. We’re going to ride down the gulf, party in Eridu for twelve years, then return as conquering heroes!”

  “Yeah, fine,” said the breathless Serug, dismissing the sarcasm. “Oh, I stopped by Mentor Inanna’s after class today, and told her that you were selected for the Great Discovery Expedition. By the way, did you know you scared her last time you were there? Because, you know, we’re supposed to go to class one at a time, and when she didn’t recognize you and then we left early, she was afraid you might be some kind of Citadel Informant, or something like that.”

  Peleg looked at him in astonishment at his run-on sentences. “Don’t you ever stop to breathe?”

  Serug grinned. “Only when I finish talking. Or start eating. Anyway, I said you were safe and she said she wanted to talk to you, so I was thinking we could go right now and visit her. I suppose she is hoping you can research something for her while you’re away.”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Peleg balked. “I’ve got a lot of things to do tonight, and besides I just want to stay home this evening.”

  “If we go right now, we can talk with her one-on-one before her lecture.”

  Peleg wavered, and then decided. “I don’t think so. That won’t give me enough time to get back home before our evening meal begins.”

  “Come on!” Serug begged. “Tell you what. We go right now, and I’ll buy your evening meal! Whatever you want.”

  Peleg was truly astonished. His mouth opened, but there was nothing to say. The last time he had ever seen Serug spend money on anyone, including himself, was when he bought an old trishaw fifteen years ago which he swore he would fix and sell for a profit. It was still sitting in his shop.

  He had known Serug ever since he had been accepted by the Citadel at the age of ten. Since that time, he had witnessed Serug jump from one obsession to another. It seemed like every few years, Serug would hurl himself into a new extra-curricular field of study. However, if this recent fascination with subjects discouraged by the Citadel was becoming Serug’s latest obsession, Peleg had reason to be concerned.

  He finally decided he should accompany Serug, simply for his own protection.

  “You must be very determined about us meeting if you are paying for our meal. I get to pick the place?”

  “Sure. Wherever you want. I just think she can shed some more light on her theories, and you can keep them in the back of your mind while you’re on the expedition.”

  “Fine. Let me inform my household and then we can go.”

  Chapter 7

  Assignment

  “Where should one’s allegiance be placed? Should one be loyal to duty or truth?”

  A servant ushered them in to a hallway, where he instructed them to wait. In a few minutes he returned and led them to a doorway. “Mentor Inanna says you may enter. She will speak with you soon.” And with that he left. Serug pushed open the door, and Peleg followed cautiously behind. They were startled to see Inanna seated and speaking earnestly with a young gentleman. She glanced up and said, “Serug, so good of you to come.” She turned towards Peleg. “I’ve heard so many good things about you—I can’t wait. Please be seated and I will be with you in a moment.” She turned back to the young man. Peleg recognized him as Felpag, the young man who had taken over Inanna’s lecture when they had left. He was pointing at a drawing which was draped over her desk. Both sets of eyes were studying it intently. Felpag was saying, “and here is my conception of the back muscle grouping next to the rhomboids. See how it attaches far into the scapula? This would create incredible lateral power—they could fling large heavy objects a great distance discus-style.”

  “Excellent work,” Inanna voiced her approval. “We’ll make a Researcher and Intuitive out of you, yet.”

  “Thank you, Mentor Inanna.” Felpag tipped his head slightly.

  “I’m afraid I must speak with these young men,” she said dismissing him. “I will look forward to any new developments in your theories.”

  Felpag bowed slightly again, folded his charts into a chest-pack and left the room.

  Inanna’s attention turned to the two newcomers.

  “Chief Peleg, I’m told.” She smiled a welcome to them. “I’m glad you could visit on such short notice.”

  Apparently Serug had been speaking about him a great deal. Peleg was again impressed by her deep, focused voice.

  “Yes ma’am, I just found out this morning.” Peleg tried very hard to not appear deferential. He knew she was a good fifty years his senior, yet she appeared half his age. Her eyes betrayed her maturity. “I’m to be the Chief Cartographer on the Urbat.”

  “So I understand. Most Excellent! Captain Phaxâd. Fine man. Superlative Ansu and Azu.” Her voice lowered with a coy smile. “You shall not travel too far astray with him.”

  The room seemed to drop ten degrees, and a chill went through them. Both men looked at each other, mildly disquieted; yet knowing there was no reason for it. Mentor Inanna appeared to have great shi-power.

  It was time to gain the upper hand.

  “Serug has informed me that you wish to speak with me before the Great Discovery Expedition launches.” Peleg tried to break her spell. “Do you wish me to spy for you?”

  Inanna laughed. “Nothing of the sort.” She looked over at Serug. “Young Serug, here, has been praising your prowess as a linguist. merely hope that you will be available to use your training and symbolist skills as you analyze how language is used by the different peoples you may encounter.” Her voice lowered again. “Also, fully document any new languages you discover.”

  Peleg was taken aback. The exact number of new languages brought about by the Great Awakening was well known.

  “Surely you don’t suggest…”

  “I suggest nothing. Only that you be available for whatever you may encounter. Also, I would like you to keep in mind the lecture you attended.” She changed subjects without warning. “You are aware that I and those of my ‘persuasion’ are very much interested in contacting the Watchers, or more accurately, the Race of Semyaz. should like to know if there are other peoples who share the same interest or concerns.”

  Before Peleg could protest or challenge, she continued.

  “Please. I make no requirement of your belief. In fact, I heartily embrace your skepticism. However, it would do my heart good to know that you are keeping your eyes open and your mind available as you travel the world.” She spoke quietly and sweetly, with a soft, mesmerizing rhythm.

  Suddenly Peleg wanted nothing more than to do her heart good.

  “That won’t be a problem.” Peleg nodded. “I plan on doing those two things anyway.”

  “Excellent!” The room suddenly warmed. She began to speak to both of them.

  “I would like to inform you of our latest research. It is most exciting!

  “We have found that the path of Nibiru is most eccentric. This is why it has been gone for so long, and why it now is so faint.”

  “But the High Minister announced that it was destroyed.” Peleg objected.

  “Oh, of course. You may believe that. But you must realize that the High Minister is only as accurate as his advisors, and in fact does not have access to many of the sources which we do. His is, after all, a political position.”

  Peleg shivered at this casual defiance. But she continued as if nothing had occurred.

  “My husband and I have determined that this trajectory brought it very close to us at the time of the Great Calamity. Perhaps it even contributed to it.” She paused, speaking conspiratorially. “My husband even thinks that the Semyaz Race migrated to Nibiru as it passed to avoid the destruction. But of course, this is unlikely. Our Watchers would never have relocated to a place which would travel so far from us.”

  She resumed speaking normally.

  “Natur
ally, they traveled to Suen. When they are able, or perhaps when we are ready, they will contact us.”

  She began to speak softly, as if to herself.

  “I suppose since they have lived there this long, they should be called Suenannanites.” She giggled at her pun, combining the moon’s name with her own name, the word for ‘Goddess of the Moon’.

  The two men looked at each other. Peleg had never heard a Mentor giggle. It was most unnerving.

  The door opened behind them, and she quickly looked up over their heads.

  “Oh!” She exclaimed. “My dear husband. Please come in.”

  Peleg and Serug turned to see who had just entered the room. Standing in the doorway was Mentor Salah. He had a somber, tired look to him, but was obviously ready to make an important announcement. He looked directly at his wife and spoke.

  “I have made contact with Nibiru.”

  Chapter 8

  Confusion

  “How can there be Knowledge when all senses are subjective? External confirmation is required.”

  Peleg was angry with Serug. How dare he place him in the proximity of this Mentor who had received such a scolding four months earlier? He would never have come if he knew she was married to him. A quick glance at Serug showed him that he had known all along. Peleg’s words concerning Salah, “He’s a nutcase!” rang in his head. The pronouncement of Mentor Salah was met with stone silence, but what startled Peleg even more was the brief flash of pure rage that passed through Inanna’s eyes. It was quickly masked, and she gave her husband an endearing smile. “My dear Salah,” she intoned. “You have been meditating again.” “It was most enlightening!” Salah said. “I have received full confirmation of my theories from Semyaz directly.” If he had seen her flicker of anger, he gave no indication. “They were rescued and fled to Nibiru, which was at its closest approach when we last saw it. It is currently moving further and further from us, but their extreme elliptical path will return them in 3400 years. This is a most amazing breakthrough!” He was suddenly out of breath, finally focusing on Inanna and her guests.

  “Oh, greetings, Master Serug. I was unaware that my wife was entertaining visitors.” He gave Peleg a cursory glance and started to resume, but his wife spoke first.

  “This is most exciting news!” Her voice was undeniably patronizing, yet Salah seemed oblivious. “Please describe your epiphany more fully.”

  Salah paused for a moment. His wife didn’t need to know all the details, and these guests needed to know even less. He thought of his small meditation chamber with its pyramid-shaped roof which focused his thoughts outward. He had been fasting for the last week to clear his mind. Of course, he had never eaten anything in his life except his own pre-Calamity vegetarian diet as given to him by the Ancient Minds.

  “Well, dear. As you know, I usually focus my thoughts to the past as I meditate. This is how I am able to ascertain many of the mysteries from the Ancients. Sometimes they speak to me, but usually I simply glean impressions of past events and images.

  “Tonight, instead of using my thoughts to bridge time, I chose to venture into the cosmos. Time and space are truly one and the same thing, you know, as the Epics of Aenoch tell. I filled my chamber with sweet eresh smoke and began my trance.

  “I projected my thoughts toward Nibiru, since our latest discoveries ascribe great importance to this world. Initially I glimpsed images of mass destruction and panic, but after an hour or so I was rewarded with a clear vision.

  “I saw the face of a man; but not just any man. There was great learning and years in him, and I felt great power emanating. He had large, wise eyebrows and piercing blue eyes. His countenance was pale, but glowing, and I could sense the great distance between us.”

  Salah stopped and looked around. Inanna smiled patiently and nodded for him to continue.

  “This is when he spoke and informed me of what I have just informed you. He had a most musical voice. He was Semyaz, and he and his people did survive the Great Calamity. The inhabitants of Nibiru are a special race of beings, and they were great saviors. Their leader is named Nergal, the Great Overseer. Although Semyaz and his refugees endured great hardship, when they return they can share the totality of their wisdom and strength with us. We simply have to wait, and our descendants will reap the fruits of their survival!”

  He paused again with shining eyes, and waited for a response.

  Inanna said, “I’m certain you are quite hungry. You know how your meditations take so much out of you.”

  Salah was oblivious to her lack of reaction and hurriedly continued.

  “You must understand. Contact with Nibiru will become increasingly difficult as it moves away. Semyaz stated that only my training and innate abilities allowed me to reach his mind. He has many details concerning their flight and subsequent arrival, but he was unable to share them all at once. I must try and reach him as often as possible to learn what I can before he moves on.”

  “My dear Salah.” Inanna rose and walked towards her husband. “You really must eat and rest after such an incredible exertion.” She took his arm and began to steer him towards the doorway. Salah shuddered and suddenly became docile at her touch and exited the room with Inanna at his elbow.

  The two men were left alone in the room, and Serug broke the silence.

  “Perhaps you were correct about Mentor Salah.” Serug sounded as if a great friend had betrayed him. “He can’t seriously allow some vision to undermine his wife’s research.”

  “I don’t know,” Peleg spoke cautiously, trying to get his thoughts together. “He sounded pretty convincing. It seemed like more than just a delusion.” Peleg was bewildered at his own words. “I’ve always felt that Mentors had mental abilities they never told us about, and—.”

  “I thought you weren’t going to fall for any of that ‘flying to the moon’ nonsense.” Serug scowled and looked him in the eye.

  “No. Of course not.” He shook his head. His brief moment of impressionability was over, and Peleg, who had been momentarily disoriented, prided himself once again on not succumbing to mysticism and superstitions.

  Inanna reentered the room briskly, and gave a small laugh.

  “He really is a brilliant mind,” she started apologetically, “but sometimes his drugs get the better of him.” She paused as if to say, ‘Yes, I said drugs, and even though it is outrageous and disrespectful, I won’t retract it.’

  She continued. “I’m afraid I must get to my lecture. You will be able to show yourself out, yes?”

  They nodded and Serug said, ‘Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and your time.”

  She smiled. “Like anyone else, I’m always glad to share my thoughts.” She looked at Peleg. “Please keep in mind those thoughts which I shared with you. I truly look forward to what you will have to report when you return.”

  “Thank you,” Peleg said, “I will try and keep my mind open.” He thought to himself that an open mind, like a sail, was only good if the wind was blowing in the right direction.

  “Travel with Knowledge!” she waved as they left the room.

  Chapter 9

  Decision

  “Selecting a course of action annihilates all other possible futures.”

  Peleg’s eatery of choice was the BubusSunu, but it was on the other side of the city. Fortunately, a horse-drawn tonga happened by, and they waved to the driver. “Good evening, gentlemen.” It was a two-seater, and they climbed in. “Where are you heading this fine evening?” He had a young voice, but it contained a gruff, uncouth tone and had a slight slur implying he might have had a few drinks earlier in the day. He was wearing a sleeveless linen shirt, displaying a progression of impressive muscles along each arm. Peleg gave him the destination, and the driver nodded. With a slight lurch, they were on their way, the horse’s hoofs tapping lightly on the limestone pavement. “The name’s Tizkar. I can’t help but notice that I picked you up in front of the house of Inanna and Salah.” He continued without w
aiting for confirmation. “A strange duo, them two. I mean, as Mentors go, they’re nice enough, but they’re always trying to convince people about other races, other times, and will try and persuade anyone who will listen that there were ‘millions and millions’ of people before the Great Calamity.

  “Now me, I don’t buy any of it. Those Mentors are too smart for their own good. Always think they can explain the unexplainable.”

  Peleg looked over at Serug and rolled his eyes. He had found someone who could talk more than Serug.

  Tizkar continued. “Now, if you want my opinion, there never was a Great Calamity. Does that shock you? Well, I think these Mentors just made it up to feel important—and to impress us. Well, I’m not impressed. The gods created the first ones out of the sea just over two hundred years ago, and I for one am not going to fall for any talk of ancient pre-Calamity civilizations or flying ships.”

  He paused to navigate a tight corner, then continued.

  “Let me ask you this: Has anyone actually met a survivor of the Great Calamity?”

  Serug started to respond, but Peleg silenced him with a wave.

  Tizkar turned around and grinned. He let go of one of the reigns and flexed an impressive bicep.

  “See this here?” His bicep and tricep did a little dance. “You think this just happened by chance? Of course not. Only the gods could design something as fine as this!”

  He turned forward again. “The gods have placed us here, and it is our job to try and figure out why.” His voice lowered. “And I don’t need any anzillu Mentor to tell me how.”

  As the evening twilight began to fade, he continued on with his dissertation, somehow weaving life, Mentors, conspiracies, history, gods and politics into a disjointed, yet comprehensive personal worldview. Throughout, Serug was bursting to respond—and Peleg continued to hold him back.