Harvest
by Andy
Chapter One
In a dangerous and steamy jungle in Southeast Asia there was a village with a stone cube in the center. The villagers called it the godbox. It had appeared suddenly in a burst of bright light and then a booming voice told them "You are now my chosen people and if one of you solves one of the puzzles of the box once a day you will be well cared for."
Their Shaman, Zan Zhi, was able to solve a puzzle and, lo and behold, it was as the voice of god had told them. As long as they solved one puzzle once a day they were cared for by the godbox. It drove enemies away from the village and game to them when asked. However the box demanded more after a while. It spoke to them and demanded strange rites be performed. The tribe’s people acceded to its demands. They figured this must be the way of gods.
One villager, Bao Li, found out the penalty for incorrectly solving a puzzle. He was trying to impress young maidens. He boasted he could solve a puzzle. They asked him to prove it. He tried a previously unsolved puzzle and when he got it wrong, he suddenly dropped dead. The villagers muttered against the god and questioned the priest on what this meant. He said he thought the god was angry because the youth had profaned the ritual but he would fast and seek guidance as to what they should do next.
The people, who were called Usahi by nearby tribes, feared that the god was angry with them so they all immediately performed the rites they had been given. These rites were different than those of other tribes. They were not truly religious in purpose although the Usahi knew this not. They were mental exercises meant to stretch and prepare a human mind for strange energies and to slowly provide a means of controlling these energies. The being who told them it was a god was no such thing but an alien who is trying to find the brightest and most creative members of humanity and, by pretending to be a deity, to convince them to fight for her and her people against their foes.
The shaman focused his mind upon a question to the god over the course of many days. Mentally he asked the god, <<What is your will as to the godbox? Should no one other than I touch the puzzles or is it the fact that Bao Li failed that made the god angry? >> Eventually an answer came to him directly into his mind. The god told him a startling thing: that anyone male or female was welcome to try the puzzles -- but they would die if they failed. However, if they managed to solve a puzzle then he was to train them in the higher rites and make them priests or priestesses as well. The Shaman then told the people what the god had said. But he also added his own words to that of the gods, saying that he would now be known as high priest and would be in charge of any and all lesser holy ones.
The Usahi muttered among themselves but accepted this. They were unhappy. A few strange rites were one thing, but death? Still the god was very useful at times and now they knew what angered it so they decided they could cope A few generations passed and several priests and priestesses were chosen. After a few more generations, an idea seemed to rise in their minds that all young people should attempt a puzzle sometime in their lives even if they did not want to be priests or priestesses. This idea was planted by the alien. The people were now used to following the stone cube's advice and it was easier for it to influence them. With its protection and the knowledge it provided them the tribe now lived better, longer, and generally prospered.
The Usahi were on the verge of becoming a great civilization. They planted crops and penned animals and built sturdy homes. They had an understanding of medicinal herbs greater than all the other tribes. They eventually absorbed or conquered all nearby tribes, and all who were captured were required to try a puzzle on the godbox. This was directed by the god and was the means used to decide which of the captives lived. Those who lived were accepted as full members. They were usually few and swiftly became one with the Usahi. After which they were taught the sacred rites and the knowledge the stone cube had given them.
On the day the last of the puzzles were solved the people waited for what they were sure would be an amazing display. They were not wrong. There was a burst of light from the godbox and a booming voice told them it was happy with them and that they had been chosen to go to a promised land, one where they and others chosen by other gods would live and work with the very gods themselves. The gods would help them and teach them personally. In time, if they were good enough, they would help the gods in their fight against evil and the demons who caused it. The people bowed to the godbox and said they hoped to be proved worthy. The stone cube then became too bright to look at and transported them to another planet.
After the light faded they saw a small flat topped pyramid with a goddess on top. They had never seen a pyramid before but the goddess held their attention. They could tell she that was a goddess because she was lovely but clearly not human. She had glowing golden eyes and dark red skin. Then she spoke and her voice was the one they had heard from the godbox. She further proved her divinity by the fact that her voice sounded in their heads but her lips never moved! They all heard the same words as they found out later but in that moment they had accepted her as the goddess they had been worshipping and asking for assistance.
She told them the godbox had been a test. A test of worthiness to meet her and her fellow gods; to live close to them, learn from them and eventually help them defeat the evil demons who called themselves The Galen and their evil helpers. They were told that they were the first to pass the test and so had a special place in the hearts of the gods.
"Pearls beyond price," was what she called them. She called the land they were on Atlantis and said she would teach them first how to live and prosper here and then all manners and types of knowledge and gives them new rituals and exercises that would grant them great abilities if they were zealous about following her commands.
These made them happy and most were content but the Chief, whose duty it was to plan battles as well as administer such justice as was needed asked a question, "How can we, mere mortals that we are, be of any help to such as you? For anything that might cause you the least harm would certainly kill us with but the least of efforts."
In their minds they heard, "Once we have taught you all I have promised it may be that several could overcome one of the demons but in truth it is not likely. However this is not to be your role. The demons have created many helpers and while they cannot do us much damage they make it very difficult to come to grips with the demons. We can deal with them but this provides the demons with time needed to hide from us and we would need to find them again. This will be your task if you are worthy. If you are not then some other people will be given the knowledge and will be placed over you and with dominion. Will you not have faith in your gods and trust in my teaching?"
The people, henceforth calling themselves Pearls, cried out loud in unison, "Yes!"
The aliens known as The Elders wanted ethnic and genetic diversity. They did this both in preparation for later ease of infiltration into many cultures and because they believed in hybrid vigor. So they sought genetics from many continents and thus we now look in on what is a somewhat high risk operation for them, a "Harvest Station" or "godbox" in Scandinavia. The tribe their is beset by other ancient Scandinavians although the Galen have not found it they have altered some people not far from there and set them to conquer the area. The tribe is found by strangers claiming their god is false and for proof they demonstrate physical abilities that they say come from their gods. They are all impossibly fit and prettier than average. Even the lovely female strangers have a few times the strength of the strongest man in the tribe. They have used these supposedly god given abilities to gather all the other tribes of the region under the leadership of Freya. She is the leader of these strangers who name themselves Vanir.
Their god box protects them from raids in the village itself but does not act outside of it and they are slowly being encroached upon by the growing Norse religion. In the past few years it has grown worse. Traders now sometimes refuse to deal with them and some of their own are converted to the new religion. Finally they hear of a great host being prepared. The others have decided the tribe is consorting with demons and all gather to attack them. The tribe’s people hearing this hold great ceremonies to ask great aid of their god. They want the god to smite their enemies or give them powers to do so. They pray for strength to match the new ones strength.
After three days of meditation and prayer an answer comes but it is not one they like. If, and only if, they solve the remaining puzzles on the stone in the middle of their village will their god save them. They are promised wondrous abilities if they prove themselves but only if they pass the test the god has set them.
The six priests, three male and three female, start at once to try to decipher new puzzles but some of the people renounce the god at this news and leave the village. This makes the chief unhappy for they know the defense plans of the village. The chief hopes the priests can get help before the village is attacked. He has seen the energy shield the god has raised in times past but is not sure it can hold against so many.
Still he thinks of the things the god has done for them in the past. It had directed them to come here where it resided near a hot spring that kept the area warm enough even in winter that no one's hut was so covered by snow that they could not exit. This let them move about even in the winter darkness and the hot spring drew animals to it that they could hunt and some herbs grew around it all year long helping the people stay healthy. They had learned other things that kept them healthy and strong even when fevers broke out in nearby villages.
Yes the god had been good to them but could even it help them against so many? And there were rumors the chief did not share, rumors that the Vanir would join the fight. Some say Freya herself will lead them. So perhaps even with their god all the way behind them they would lose. The chief sighed and watched the priests mutter and confer. It was summer and the hot spring kept the valley very warm so they wore only their summertime uniform, a reindeer skin loincloth and bead necklaces, showing their position. The chief rubbed the tattoo that was the sign of his position and prayed. He hoped they could secure the god's help against those who called themselves Vanir.
A few days later several more puzzles were solved but six still remained when the attack began. The people lined up behind the glowing shield of the god box with copper bladed spears ready and behind them priests struggle to solve the last few puzzles. A woman stepped forth.
She was one of the new ones, the chief saw, the strong, pretty ones that were called Vanir and she carried no arms nor wore she any armor. She was clad in nothing but sunlight. Sunlight and glory the chief adds mentally for she is clearly near divine herself. Her body is lovely and seems flawless. It is graceful in motion and radiates strength even when standing still.
She stood there a moment proudly watching the enemy gape at her beauty and then called out, "You may cower behind your master's demon shield but it will avail you none. The gods have taken me aboard their flying longboat and in that miraculous vessel I was changed. I received from the gods a nectar and swallowing it I have become more even than I was before. I will smash your shield with my bare fists and it will fall eventually for neither I nor the host behind me will stop and until you diabolic ones are wiped from the face of this fair land."
The chief shuddered a bit but gripped his spear more tightly. Around him his men did the same; there was no more room for hesitation or time to pick any other side or solution. Their fate rested on their skill with the weapons at hand and on the six priests at the god box.
The woman strode forward and struck the shield. Her fist bounced and she hit it a second and third time and each time it absorbed her blows with no sign of strain. She signaled to the horde behind and they charged the shield. They screamed her name as they charged, "Freya!!" and then they attacked the shield with all they had.
Meanwhile at the god box the High Priestess, Anya, had solved one of the six remaining puzzles. She felt the pleasure a correct solution always produced and briefly wondered what it would feel like to solve all six one after the other. Then she pushed that thought from her mind and looked to see how the others were doing. They had each taken a puzzle and Karl was nearest to her. He was still working. She looked towards the shield the god had provided and her lip curled at the sight of Freya. It was obvious that no woman was born that way so it was easy for Anya to believe Freya had many a pact with a demon. When she saw the whole enemy army comes forward to surround the shield and attack it she decided she needed to hurry her people along. She walked over to study Karl. He was halfway through and looking nervous. He kept starting to do something then paling and snatching his hand back. "Karl if they make it through the shield you'll be dead regardless why not take a chance and possibly save us all? I have faith in you Karl; I know you'll find the correct solution."
He looked at her with wide eyes. "What if I'm wrong?" He was afraid to die yes but even more afraid to fail his people when they needed him most. He thought he knew the answer but what if he was wrong?
She put her hand on his shoulder, "If you are wrong we both go and one of the others will try this but I believe you will not fail. Come on I know you have a solution in mind and I know you are very bright. You lack only confidence." She tightened her grip on his shoulders, "I will be your confidence. Try your solution Underpriest. That is an order."
He sighed once and finished his solution. It was a good one. The pleasure washed over them. It was not halved. It might even have been greater. Anya's nipples were hard now and stuck out through her bead necklace like two rubies and Karl gasped as his member stirred. He gave her one of those looks and another time she would be nodding but, "Let us go and see if we can help anyone else."
Karl nodded and agreed with only a little disappointment and followed her to Hans. Hans seemed to be stuck. He was staring at a partially done puzzle with no attempt to do anything. Indeed his hands were behind his back as he thought. Anya and Karl put a hand on each of his shoulders and after a few minutes Anya saw a solution, "Hans do you trust me? I think I have this figured out." She tentatively reached her free hand toward his puzzle.
"Of course I trust you Anya." He put one hand over hers on his shoulder, "Go ahead. We stand or fall together." "Together," Karl echoed as she reached out to the puzzle and applied her solution. It was good! Three down and three to go! She looked at the men and they were both giving her 'I want you' looks. Karl had shucked his deerskin and she could see why. It would hardly fit now. Maybe it was a good thing that the next puzzle was Inga's. She smiled at them feeling things low on her body tighten. "Come with me guys. Let’s go see if we can help Inga. We will stand or fall together."
"One for all and all for an orgy huh? I'm in!" Hans chuckled and headed towards Inga.
"Each of you men to one side of her," she ordered not trusting them behind Inga. She could see over Inga's head. She put her hands on Inga's bare waist and studied the puzzle. She was thinking hard when suddenly as she leaned forward to see past a hand she brushed nipples against Inga's back and gasped at how nice it felt. Such soft smooth skin and her hair smelled so nice. She almost missed Karl's solution. The wave of pleasure was shared four ways this time and definitely stronger than when alone. Four times as strong. She heard Inga gasp and press back hard against her. If this continued there really would be an orgy after the sixth one was solved but it had taken three of them to solve this puzzle quickly and time was so definitely of the essence. She decided that she'd rather be embarrassed tomorrow morning than dead this afternoon. She moved away from Inga and ignoring her small sound of protest said in a voice made husky with desire, "No time for pleasure now. We need to solve the remaining two puzzles first. Afterwards we can celebrate and I'll join in wholeheartedly but for now let’s go see Loki." They did that and even through a haze of suppressed lust their combined brainpower made short work of the puzzle. Anya gasped as the wave of pleasure rolled over her and she almost came. She was not sure how coherent she'd be at the last puzzle but she would be there with her people. They all headed towards Ingrid.
Ingrid eyed them a bit nervously as they moved towards her. Anya looked almost like she did when she was just back from a long run. She was panting and sweating similarly but her erect nipples told the true story. Karl was naked and his member was up against his belly and looked hard as steel. Hans and Loki were naked as well and more than half erect. Even Inga was clearly aroused. She needed only time to finish not help and certainly not sex crazed co-priests. She wanted to finish before they got to her but she dared not make a mistake. "Wait! Don't touch me yet! I need no help, wait until I say and I'll let you grab what you like but wait until I'm done damn it!" She wasn't sure if they heard but they seemed to they were moving slower and watching her hand more than her body. She carefully made her way through the puzzle's intricacy and just as she was finishing a hand touched her shoulder. She had a second to think. 'Oh Great! If we all die who will solve the last puzzle?' when the pleasure washed over her. Six times stronger than usual.
It was enough to make them all so aroused they barely noticed the brilliant light that came from the god box. A voice boomed in their ears, "You are safe now. I take you to my world to meet me and learn many and wondrous things. You have won over the Vanir because they could not destroy you as they sought to and when you next meet them you will have the knowledge to defeat them. For now enjoy your safety and your celebration. Know that any path of pleasure is acceptable to us, your gods, as long as all participating agree beforehand. We shall send someone to guide you when you are done.
It was night where they landed. They partied heartily. There was drinking and feasting and sex. Their god had provided for them. They were tables of food and kegs of mead. The next morning Inga awoke, her head pillowed on Anya's breast. She was hungry not having had a chance to eat or dink the night before. She had been sating other hungers. She smiled slowly and it had been great fun but now she was hungry for food. She opened her eyes and start to look around to see if there was any food left when she saw it. Two things really; one looked like a pointy stone house and sitting up against it a woman.
The stranger saw her too. She sat up straight and nudged Anya subtly. The stranger stood and she was quite nude, which seemed natural to Inga considering how hot and humid the area was. The god had promised sanctuary, a party, and that someone would meet them. She had hoped to see the god but she supposed that was a bit much to ask for. The woman moved forward studying her and Inga studied the woman in return. The stranger was short and dark with odd eyes but she was clearly a human not a goddess. Inga stood, poking Anya with a foot as she did so. The high priestess should be the one to handle this contact but all the prod did was cause Anya to mutter, "I love you too." Inga was suddenly struggling not to giggle. Then she sighed; oh well it looked like she was elected. She waved when the woman stopped walking, just short of the first naked priest. The giggle started to rise again as she considered what this must look like. She should be embarrassed but she was still too happy at being alive and safe. "Hello, are you the one sent to meet us?" She called out trusting that anyone sent to meet them would talk their language at least a little.
The woman smiled. She had beautiful white teeth. "Yes, I am Mara. I was sent by the gods to meet you and welcome you to Atlantis. Here you meet the gods and learn from them and it’s even possible you might sleep with one. Let us wake all your companions and we will get started toward the city we have built since we were transported here by our god."
"There are many gods then?" They had seemed to be speaking to one only but she had not told them she was the only one.
"Yes. We thought there was only one too, but when we got here she told us she was ours specifically but that there were many others. I have met several. I'm sure yours will meet yours soon. You cannot miss them. They have dark red skin and glowing eyes."
Inga went wide eyed at that comment. This woman had seen the gods! She was so happy to be here! Then her stomach growled and the giggle she had been fighting down erupted finally, "I guess a trip to the city is indeed in order. Does the god...the gods usually provide food like they did last night?"
The woman smiles, "No usually we grow it the old fashioned way. I admit I was a bit jealous when I heard you were provided a party. I hope you'll tell me about it as we walk but I think we should get everyone awake and moving first. I'm sure you all want showers and you at least could use some breakfast. Don't worry about money yet. You'll be my guests until I can acquaint you with our society."
They got everybody up and moving. The road was beautiful. It was made of all white stone, fitted together so well as to leave no gaps. She asked and was told the stone was quarried in the mountains ahead and that it purposely higher in the middle so rain would run off and gather in the channels on either side. The gods had given them the knowledge to build the road and many other things. It was how Mara knew their language. Inga told her about the Vanir and how close they had come to being slaughtered by those ones and about the party after. Mara tells them about the mission the gods have in mind for them. The Scandinavians are happy that they will be able to fight against those that destroyed their home and tried to kill them. They wanted to know how soon they could begin learning to wield the wondrous powers the gods had mentioned. She told them that the gods had said they would not start granting magic knowledge until all their followers were here on Atlantis and that would not be until they all solved the test of the puzzles.
"How many more are there? And when do we get to the village?" The terrain was very hilly with mountains in the distance so it was hard to see very far ahead. She also wanted to ask when they'd see the gods but felt it was not a proper question. The gods would surely appear or not as they chose.
"There are three others aside from us. I do not know anything about them but I am sure the gods know what they are doing. The town is not far now. It is nestled between three hills and it is lovely. We have much you may find surprising. We live better than we ever did back home. We will go to the bathing hut first then the food hall." She was interrupted by the hung-over asking if they could skip the food hall. "Of course. Afterwards all of you have your immediate needs met then our leader wishes to speak to your leader and our high priestess to yours."
The city was made of wood and stone. There was a central square with a fountain. In the center of the fountain was a carved stone tree with water rising in the center and trickling down the branches into the circular basin at the bottom. They were led to the left of the fountain and into a building. Mara pointed to the boxes along either wall, each decorated with a design on top.
"Here is where you would store your clothes if you had been brought here with any. The boxes each have a unique design so that you can find them again on your way out." Mara put her jewelry in a box and closed the lid, "It will also store anything you do not want to get wet. Nudity is fully acceptable here but, if you should purchase clothing, then the building to our right from here is the place where you may wash them or pay another to do so. I rarely dress because it is so hot and humid and it takes so long for cloth to dry here."
She led them into another room through an arch that would one day be labeled Roman. It was a very odd room. The wooden floor had holes in it at regular intervals as did the ceiling. Mara explained, "This room we call the shower room because we make artificial rain showers here to clean off before soaking in the tub in the next room. I'll show you how to work it." She stepped up to one of the wheels in the walls and twisted it. Water came from the ceiling and drained through the holes in the floor.
While a room where water poured from the ceiling was utterly strange to them the use of such a room was clear enough. They were already used to using sand to scrub off sweat and grime in their hot spring and there was a similar sort of sand in little holders near each wheel. While they washed Mara told them it was pumice sand and if it was a little rougher than the sand in the hot spring it also seemed to work better. As they scrubbed they asked Mara how her people could manage to give people their own rain to wash in. She explained that they brought water in from rivers up in the mountains. This lead to other questions and as she started explaining how her people did various things she told them that such doings were her regular occupation. She was what she called an engineer. After they were all scrubbed pink and even the hung-over were fully awake she led through another arch in to a room with a huge marble bath big enough for many, many people and heated from below. As they slipped into the gently steaming water the aliens masquerading as gods slipped knowledge into their awake but relaxed minds. Suddenly it was if they had always known about hydraulics, and sanitation, medicine and a few other sciences. Mara seeing their expressions change knew they were communing with the gods. She relaxed further into the steaming water of the giant bath thinking that her orientation had just gotten much easier if not superfluous.
They came out of their trances floating in gently steaming water. "Wow you've done well considering your lack of infrastructure," Anya observed to Mara. She was looking around her with new eyes as were the others. "I designed this building so I thank you for the compliment. I used a mixture of the designs the gods showed us. We've found in general that it is a good thing for our construction efforts if we use the simplest designs because even they usually require building new tools and thinking in new ways. You'll have to get used to wrapping your mind around new concepts but I'm sure you handle it. You were picked by the gods themselves! Now let’s go eat. Usually people are hungry after communing directly with the gods so I imagine poor Inga is famished now." She smiled and winked at Inga to take any sting out of her words and led them back out through the front collecting her jewelry along the way. She led towards the cafeteria rather briskly. "I'm hoping we air dry before we get there," she said glancing at the water beaded all across her tanned naked body, "Clothes aren't the only thing that’s takes a long time to dry here. It was almost as humid back home but not quite. What was it like where you lived?"
The former Scandinavians told her about life in their village and what they knew of other places nearby. They had a rapt audience by the time they reached the cafeteria where all ate their meals together. Almost every person not engaged in work or already eating came along to see the newcomers and listen to them. In between bites and sips they continued the tale. Occasionally backing up to go over some point or clarify things their hosts had never known, such as snow. "I think I would like to see this 'snow'." One mentioned and they assured him it could be a great menace even if it was occasionally fun. After the meal, which was odd but good, was consumed and the questions died down. The chief of their hosts and their high priestess came forward and lead Chief Tyr and High Priestess Anya away to confidential meetings where they were integrated into the political structure of their new home and every other group was paired with someone already here to stay with until they could get housing for themselves. Inga ended up staying with Mara and they became partners in life and work and quite famous for their skill at both elegant construction and the best parties.
Chapter Two
The two tribes settled in with each and peacefully melded into one tribe. They expanded the town. They grew crops both native and from seed provided by the Elders, who lived among them as gods. They hunted native animals. Most importantly, from the Elders point of view, they learned, meditated, and worshipped their gods.
The Elders poured knowledge into their heads. All sciences from Political Science and Philosophy to Math and Physics. They were given the equivalent of 5,000 years of investigation and research in a matter of hours. The vast amounts of data that had been force fed to them killed some and drove others insane. Those who lived had strong, flexible minds. A few generations passed and each generation received the same glut of knowledge on being declared adults. They were taught how to how to store and instantly retrieve any of that mass of data and anything they had learned instantly.
The Elders led their meditations and rewarded the best. Punishments were limited to gentle chastisement and some of the very best experienced the physical love of their gods. It was considered an ultimate reward. In this way the Elders managed to introduce inheritable changes in brain wiring. In learning to cope with, actively use, and manipulate the vast amounts of data the Elders gave them they strengthened their minds immensely. The small physical changes and the added strength and flexibility of their minds would make it ultimately possible for them to develop the ability and concentration to use what other races of man would call sorcery. It wasn't really. It took an extremely flexible yet immensely strong mind to fully comprehend what they were really doing and even then it was only those who had the wiring changes and could see the extra-dimensional energies used and make full use of them. This meant that only they and their descendants could use the so-called magic. Even if some other race of mankind should learn use it the "magic" would be virtually impossible for them to use.
One young man wanted to share some of this great knowledge with other humans on earth. His name was Ra. He hid this desire. He learned how to not even think it unless he knew the Elders occupied with instruction or other things. He bided his time. Then when it was announced that in 10 more years the third group was finally close to solving their last puzzle and so passing their entrance test he volunteered to learn their language and be among those to meet them. He made his mind blank as they Elders gave him the new language, Egyptian they called it. For his own safety he tried to be a perfect sponge, thinking none of his own thoughts merely receiving. This lead to a pleasant surprise for him. He was one of the best speakers of the new language and so he and a woman Heidi were selected to meet the Egyptians as they landed. The tribal leaders had made clothes for them imitating then current Egyptian dress for them to wear. Although they knew that the Scandinavians had landed naked they were told that the newcomers would arrive like the first Pearls did, with whatever they had been wearing and carrying.
They were waiting by the pyramid. Ra had shaved his head and applied makeup as male Egyptians of any status did and was wearing a pectoral made of gold around his neck and hanging down his chest. He had on a short linen kilt and sandals. Heidi was wearing a linen skirt that reached ankles but was loose enough to walk in as well as open toed sandals of leather decorated in silver. She was wearing no makeup but had on a small tiara and other jewelry. The jewelry was loaned them but they had purchased the clothes using their own money. After some discussion the community had been put on the gold standard and used gold and silver coins.
As soon as the bright light started Ra left Heidi and running forward leaped towards the light. He hit it almost exactly right and vanished as the Egyptian harvested ones landed near the pyramid. Heidi was shocked speechless. She didn't know what to say or do. An Elder appeared and took over.
The Elder mentally spoke to the new arrivals. She told them of the nature of the test that the god box represented and of their mission to oppose the creations of the Galen and their works. Including Heidi in the mental broadcast she also said that Ra had managed to make it back to Egypt but that she and her fellow gods would watch him and prevent him from causing any harm there. She welcomed them to their new home and then disappeared. She went and thought and decided that it would be very educational to watch him and see how well he managed for himself. It would be a good baseline for seeing how well the pearls were developing and how easily they could manage the work which their "gods" had planned for them. If he did well with no so-called sorcery and mental powers then when the pearls had them there would be NO society the Galen could create that the Elders could not influence through such useful followers. The Galen were concentrating on physical superiority, even naming their creations Supremis but even physically perfect specimens can be hamstrung by bad governance. Or a slow and unfeeling beauraucracy whose people, even if mostly good, have to worry more about securing their positions against those who aren't good then performing their jobs. Or even strange and twisted cultural fads that seem to spring out of nowhere and grip the youth of a culture. Or mixes of any of these. She smiled and reported to the other Elders. They would have to find out where he came out and what he did. They would watch carefully but never reveal themselves unless and until they deemed that they had learned enough. She smiled as she envisioned what she would do to these Supremis the Galen were creating. Partisanship, Nihilism, Fanaticism, Despair, Apathy, they would visit all of these on the creations of her hated enemies.
Meanwhile unsuspecting of their fate, the new arrivals are meeting Heidi and being led to the town. They marvel at the construction of the road and the running water in the showers and the giant bath. The only real change since the Scandinavians came is the bioluminescent light. A bioluminescent algae found in some deep caves was discovered by a scientist who managed to find a nutrient bath that kept them alive and glowing for years if properly taken care of so there was light without need for fire where candles otherwise would be used. Once in the bath they had been given what had become known as The Knowledge and were started on the road to merging with the existing culture.
Ra meanwhile was realizing that navigating a space-time fissure was no easy feat. He could see nothing but grey formlessness, neither hearing nor smell worked. And the only solid object seemed to be himself. He deduced that navigation must primarily mental and so commenced to remember all he knew of Egypt and built a picture in his mind that he clung to fiercely. His deduction was correct and his concentration sufficient. He came out of the grey limbo on earth and in Egypt. He was several feet in the air but managed to land on his feet in front of Pharaoh Amenophis IV.
He managed to convince the pharaoh he was an emissary from the sun god and after demonstrating some of his wide ranging knowledge he became the Pharaoh's chief advisor. It was on his "advice" that Amenophis IV changed his name to Akhenaton and it was based on the words of his supposedly divine message that Akhenaton changed their religion of Egypt to monotheistic worship of Aten and built the city of Akhetaten and moved his capital there. Marrying Nefertiti was his own idea. Ra, although unknown to most people, wielded a great deal of power. He enjoyed it far more than he had thought he would and instead of using to be sure he was heard and his wealth of knowledge taken seriously he used it to cement his place and for his own enjoyment. Any secretes he let slip were purely by accident and did not much alter Egyptian society. He made enemies and eventually one got to him despite his superior knowledge and he was killed a little more than 16 years after arriving. So much did Akhenaton miss him that he designated his brother Smenkhkare to be his co-ruler. Two years later they were both dead and the religion went back to its normal polytheism. The Elder watching nodded satisfied at what he had discovered. He went back and told his fellows that these Atlanteans were precious indeed and should receive the most attention of any group.
Chapter 3
The Elders kept closer watch on the people calling themselves Pearls after that and for many decades to come. During the four decades between the incident with Ra and the coming of the fourth group the Elders walked among their charges. They led meditation groups, judged contests, sat with the leaders in council, and generally tried to keep a firm grip on the pulse of civilization with the dozen or so of them who were primarily assigned to this project. They still considered the Pearls to be the best prospect for fighting future Galen projects but they now realized that humans were inherently unpredictable even with their powers so they stayed close and watched carefully. This way their projections for the future would have the best data.
The fourth harvest took place in South America. The people who would one day be called the Olmecs are the cultural hub of their region. Their pottery and artwork is traded far and wide and many try to copy their style without success. They are a prosperous people with a rich culture and a history as a city of cosmopolitan traders and artists. From the raised earth mound that holds their capital city their ideas, artwork, and goods flowed to the lands around them influencing cultures far away. The outlying citizens of their country and some from other countries as well made at least one pilgrimage to the city on the man made hill to see all its wonders. Among these wonders is the "Sacred Stone". They had no idea their sacred stone was an alien device meant to encourage creativity and certain patterns of thought. They only knew that it protected them from invaders and that those who spent long in its presence came to understand that "the gods" wanted them to try to solve the puzzles carved into its surface. These puzzles rewarded correct solutions with a wave of pleasure and punished wrong ones with horrible pain followed by death if they were wrong. Still they believed that these "gods" must be appeased so they had a priest attempt one once a year. The priest who did so was chosen by lot. The attempt was made during a big celebration which was witnessed by many tourists and natives alike. It was held in a large amphitheater built in the center of the capital with the "sacred stone" in the center upon a raised platform.
On the day the last one was to be attempted the High Priest had purposely made sure his name was drawn from the lot. He was certain he had the solution and also certain that whatever the reward for solving the last puzzle was it would be greater than all the previous ones and he hoped to get it for himself. As the day dawned he dressed himself in his most impressive clothes and lead the procession of priests to the amphitheater. He had actually schemed to be the one chosen as he believed he had the solution and he thought it was only right that he be the one to solve the final puzzle before the eyes of a rapt multitude.
He wore the cloak with sacred runes inked into the fabric and his jeweled kilt and sandals. He led a procession of 100 priests to the center of the city where the sacred stone sat in the center of the amphitheater. They was much celebrating going on today and the amphitheater would full of people from all the neighboring kingdoms. Those who could came every year to witness the ritual, to join in the partying and to trade of course. This year with the likely prospect of it being the last time the ritual was performed the crowd would be even larger. All would see him solved the final puzzle set him by the gods and he would receive his reward. He led the procession past jugglers and children playing with small spheres of rubber that were miniatures of those athletes used in the Olmec ball game. Minus the skull in the center of course. Upon entering the amphitheater he saw that everyone was cheering him and the priests who entered behind him.