Solutrean Atlantis,Chapters 1-8By Mike LorreyCopyright 2015 by Mike Lorrey All !ights !eser"e# $his %ork &ay not be repro#u'e#, re#istribute#, or sol#, in %hole or in part, by any &eans, %ithout the e(presse# per&ission o) the authorA'kno%le#ge&ents* %ant to thank Mi'hael +i'key, +r ,eter Lu#lo%, !ob Lin#&an, Astrophysi'ist A#a& Cro%l, -"eritt Mi'key, Speaker to ,lants Laura ,hillips-!eh&, an# $ra"is !o%lan# )or 'onstru'ti"e a#"i'e in #e"eloping this no"el to #ate As this is &y .rst no"el, so&e o) this is a learning pro'ess /ou 'an rea# thousan#s o) no"els in your li)e an# think you kno% %hat &akes )or goo# .'tion, but being on the other si#e o) the pen is a %hole other ballga&e, an# ha"ing rea#ers able to gi"e goo# a#"i'e is an i&portant tou'hstone to gi"ing e"eryone 0uality rea#ing as %ell as a learning e(perien'e )or &e* also %ant to thank &y parents, 1or&an an# 2aren Lorrey, )or their patien'e o"er the years, help &aterial an# other%ise, gi"en as %ell as re'ei"e#, that3s %hat )a&ilyis )or$o &y &any )rien#s an# )ans in so'ial &e#ia, "irtual %orl#s, an# the s) 'o&&unity %ho are helping to pro&ote this, %ho ha"e 'ontribute# or are 'ontributing to its 'ro%#)un#ing, or %ho are 4ust rea#ing this, it %oul# not be anything %ithout your help MikeThat far above the valley's leaves and streamsMurmurs apart, and whispers of the Past.'Approach and fear not, whosoe'er thou art,And whencesoe'er,' he said, 'and wonder not,Tho' we must wonder; for behold thou standestOn the last remnant of the ancient world,That was the nurse of nations, ere the deep,Lie !eath itself, in one ni"ht swallow'd it,#un"rier than !eath who leaves our bones entire,$t left no fra"ment but this lonely isle.This dreadful doom $ will relate to thee%ome time when $ have shown thee other thin"s.$ bid thee welcome; 'tis a day foretold&y the old oracles whose voice $ am,Ministerin" in the temple ni"ht and day.Thou art the man to whom the 'ods have madeA way to us across the dreadful deep,The first of all for many thousand years.And, were it not that $ am heir to them(rom whom the nations flow'd, thou hadst not breathedThe spirit of my speech, nor $ of thine;And thou hadst been, on these remotest shores,As one who wanders down amon" the dead,The silent shades; but in the early time(locin" from east and west, and north and south,The sons and dau"hters of far hills and isles%ou"ht this world's paradise, Atlantis fair.) Tennyson, Atlantis* Part $PrologueStar#ate 1555061220178ro&9 :al&)astus;shirenet$o9 nin4anurse;hit'h'o'korg+o you still nee# a ri#e to !i'h&on#< * nee# help loa#ing the tru'k )or the &o"e * 'an gi"e you a ri#e:al8ro&9 nin4anurse;hit'h'o'korg$o9 hal&)astus;shirenet/-S= * %ill help out :o% is the %ork 'o&ing on &y ar&or< /ou3"e been pro&ising this )or ages, sin'e &y birth#ay * kno% it takes a long ti&e, so *3& 4ust antsy B$>, ne% nurse in &y #ept %ho is single an# %ants a rugge# in#i"i#ualist Shall * set up< An# no, she3s not ho&elyAthyStar#ate 1555061?20178ro& hal&)astus;shirenet$o9 nin4anurse;hit'h'o'korg$hanks= /-S * a& &aking progress on 'o&pletion, but be patient @uality takes ti&e /ou %oul#n3t %ant &e to &ake so&ething hal)asse# Last thing * nee# is the so'iety people using that as &y ni'kna&e, took &e )ore"er to get ri# o) it in s'hool, esp gi"en you an# your)rien#s lo"e# to use it As )or the ne% nurse, pi's plA:al8ro&9 nin4anurse;hit'h'o'korg$o9 hal&)astus;shirenet:aha= /ou3"e gotten a lot better :ere3s Be'ky3s instagra& -&ail her at baAinga;g&ail'o& My %ork here is #one AthyStar#ate 1555061520178ro&9 hal&)astus;shirenet$o9 nin4anurse;hit'h'o'korg*ts 2p&, %here are you< Be'ky %as )un, thanks )or the setup 1ot &y type tho, really %ants to &arry so&e #o'tor hotpants %ho goes 'a&ping an# %ill buy her a Mer'e#es:al8ro&9 hal&)astus;shirenet$o9 nin4anurse;hit'h'o'korg?p&, %here are you< Busting &y ass hereB:alChapter 1An -"ening +ri"eCD%, #a&&it=E:al 0ui'kly )ollo%e# his 'urse su'king on his .nger Closing the hasps on tie #o%n straps 'an be a pain)ul pro'ess i) you aren3t 'are)ul :e ha# been pa'king the rest o) his %orkshop, 'a&ping, an# oF'e gear all a)ternoon, to .nish his &o"e )ro& Bag -n# to his ne% shop near +o"er $his %as thelast loa#, all the househol# ite&s %ent in the .rst loa# o) the horse trailer he borro%e# )ro& his &other, to%e# behin# $he Gro%ler, his 5(5Where is Athena? She was supposed to be here hours ago? :al thought to hi&sel), She better get here if she wants a lift to the fair. :is sister, Athena Angelo, beyon# being a 'o&bat nurse an# organi' gar#ener, %as a star o) the SCA an# )antasy 'on 'osplay 'ir'uit :al ha# a surprise )or her i) she 'are# to sho% up )or the ri#eA year younger than :al, she got all the looks She ha# passe# up a'ting an# a &o#eling 'areer a)ter #oing it a bit to pay )or s'hool1or&ally pun'tual, she 'oul# get 'aught up in &e#i'al e&ergen'ies at +art&outh :it'h'o'k, %here she %orke# in the trau&a 'enter a)ter se"eral tours in *ra0 1ot that there %as &u'h trau&a in the Hpper Ialley 'o&pare# to, say, the Co&bat Jone in Boston, or other inner 'ity hell holes, but it ha# its share )or a yuppi.e# northern ne% -nglan# *"y League areaAthena ha# se"eral &a(e# out t%itter, instagra&, an# )a'ebook a''ounts %ith hun#re#s o) thousan#s o) a#oring )ans, not 4ust )or her authenti' &e#ie"al 'lothing an# %eaponry, but )or the )a't that she kne% ho% to use the&, %inning )en'ing, ken#o, an# SCA &at'hes regularly, an# looke# like her na&esake go##ess %hile #oing it on her "arious /ou$ube "i#eos:er #ark auburn hair an# strong 4a% set her apart )ro& the e"ery #ay beauties, but her skill at sa"ing li"es, or para#o(i'ally %iel#ing a s%or#,&a#e her truly e(oti'Con"ersely, :al ha# a )a'e only a &other 'oul# lo"e !oun#ish )a'e, a bit o) a pug nose, born %ith a hairlip, he %as kno%n )or his personality, brains, an# skills 'ra)tinga&aAing things :e ha# to %ork har# to keep his physi0ue )ro& gaining the he)t thathis roun# )a'e threatene# his later li)e %ith M*$ ha# bore# hi& a)ter se"eral 'hanges in &a4or )ro& geology to physi's to engineering, he #roppe# out an# be'a&e an apprenti'e to a bla'ks&ith an# &a'hinist to learn Cuse)ul skillsEBag -n# %as the )a&ily ho&e in Gra)ton, built as an ho&age by their #a#, >illia& CBilboE Angelo ba'k in the hippie era o) the 703s, to his )a"orite )antasy epi' :al, :al&)ast Angelo, an# his sister gre% up absorbing )antasy an# s) lore by os&osis )ro& the 'rib, %hi'h alone &a#e the& into o## ki#s in %hat %as other%ise a rather 'onser"ati"e rural area o) northern 1e% -nglan# :o&es'hoole# in this en"iron&ent, neither gre% up %ith %hat one %oul# 'onsi#er a Cnor&alE li)e:e hear# )ootsteps 'o&e aroun# the "ehi'le, an# turne# to .n# Gerta, his &other, %ith a 'arton )ull o) her best 'ho'olate 'hip 'ookies an# a 'ooler o) sna'ks )or the #ri"e .rst to +o"er then to !i'h&on# )or :arper3s !etreat, being hoste# by the Barony o) Stone&ar'he, the lo'al SCA .e)#o&C* ha"e all your )a"orites here #ear, an# Athy3s energy bars, you both ha"e a great ti&eE Mo& 'oul# .n# any reason to bake enough )or a battalionC$hanks &o&, Athena hasn3t sho%n up yet, she %as suppose# to help &e .nish loa#ing,E :al sai#, C*3"e been busting &y ass to loa# &y stuK an# she pro&ise# to help 1o% that *3& #one she %ill probably arri"e &o&entarilyECDh, that re&in#s &e, she 'alle# a )e% hours ago %hen you %ere in the barn, sayingshe ha# a patient %ho %as probably going to take a )e% hours, sorryBEBe)ore he ha# ti&e to gripe, the soun# o) a s'ooter 'a&e up the #ri"e%ay %ith its high nasal pit'h o) a 2 'y'le engine, Athena3s nor&al 'o&&uter "ehi'le to get to %ork an# ba'k, as the sun starte# setting behin# *singlass Mountain a'ross the "alley>hile she 'lai&e# it %as )or )uel e'ono&y, she ha# the &ost po%er)ul engine you 'oul# get in a s'ooter, it %as nearly a &otor'y'le in po%er*n the Septe&ber %ar&th, %ith the lea"es turning a blaAe o) re#s, oranges, yello%s an# purples along the slopes o) both si#es o) the "alley, it %as a glorious e"ening to be hea#ing out on a li)e 4ourney )ro& one3s ho&e in the >hite Mountains o) 1e% :a&pshireAthena 'a&e to a halt, parking her po%er)ul but eF'ient s'ooter by the barn #oor, an# %hipping her hel&et oK like a super&o#el posing )or a photoshoot, %ith a s%ingo) her highlighte# auburn hair an# the Lash o) pearly %hites a''enting her %ell tanne# italo-s%e#ish )a'e She %as %earing a bla'k leather 4u&psuit an# 4a'ket thatsho%e# oK her .gure in a %ay that she en4oye# using to #ri"e the &e#i'al stu#ents at :it'h'o'k to .ts o) #istra'tionC>hy is it, %hen so&eone else nee#s to &o"e, * &ust set asi#e &y li)e an# hup to, but %hen * nee# help in return, people are no%here to be )oun#ar& ,erio# that %as 4ust as %ar& as it is no% *t3s ob"ious there is so&e i&pa't )ro& CD2 e&issions, but the i&pa't )ollo%s a #i&inishing returns 'ur"e, e"ery a##itional #oubling o) CD2 'on'entrations has the sa&e i&pa't as the pre"ious #oublingECDkay, okay, you3re not a #enier, 4ust aB aB luke%ar&er 1obo#y likes so&eone %ho sits on the )en'eECSorry ki##o, but * go %here the s'ien'e, the !-AL s'ien'e, tells &e, not %hat so&e ha'ks %ho only publish %hat their go"ern&ent &asters tell the& to /ou kno% that anybo#y %ho publishes anything skepti'al o) the oF'ial narrati"e gets bla'kliste# )ro& any )uture resear'h grants< :o% s'ienti.' is that< CCDkay * get it, but i&agine i) the %hole %orl# #i# all these great things to &ake the %orl#s en"iron&ent 'leaner, an# %e #i#n3t ha"e to, %oul#n3t %e all be ahea# any%ayso&yns Stu#ies an# A)ri'an A&eri'an Stu#ies 'lasses that all )resh&an are re0uire# to take= Being a lesbian %ho 'an think )or hersel) is tough these #ays, the only pla'e * )eel 'o&)ortable any&ore is %ith your 8ree Stater )rien#sEC/eah an# i) you ri#i'ule it as the &oroni' #ri"el that it is, you3re auto&ati'ally a ra'ist an# se(ist * 4ust blo'k any o) those i#iots So'ial &e#ia is going insane, * 4ust ga"e up on it &onths ago, * ha"e pro#u'ti"e %ork to get #one $hat3s the only thing that has &e %orrie# about opening a store)ront, that so&eone %ill 'o&e in an# #e&an# * &ake so&e %eapon or ar&or that3s 'o&pletely inauthenti', i) not i#ioti', an# i) * re)use to #o the %ork, they3ll a''use &e o) being insensiti"e to their 'ulture, or gen#er, or se(ual pre)eren'e, or ra'eB its like a &ine.el# o) butthurt $hat3s %hy* a& gonna keep the #oor lo'ke# an# buAA people in to the shop, so * 'an at least &ake the& ta'itly agree to &y ter&s o) entry by pressing the buAAerEC$hat 'oul# hurt you, you kno%1 SA8-$/ >- CA11D$ GHA!A1$-- >:A$ MA/ :A,,-1 MDI- ALD1G, 1D$:*1G MD!- $D S-- :-!-EC* guess that3s us,E Athena sai#C/ep, nothing to see )olks, &o"e along, Big Brother has it un#er 'ontrolB you %ill 'o&ply %ith the %ill o) the state or elseB ,lease stare into this Lashy thingee %hile * put &ah sunglasses on in the &i##le o) the nightBEC*3& gonna post this "i#eo to one o) &y anony&ous /ou$ube a''ounts, ha"ing it un#er &y real na&e %oul# 'ause no en# o) #ra&a at %ork,E she sai# She %hippe# out her Sa&sung an# starte# te(ting a%ay, then uploa#e# the short "i#eo $hat %astaking a %hile to 'hunk through so she sat it on the #ashboar#CSo, Aliens, or 'lassi.e# &ilitary air'ra)te ha"e enough )oo# )or less than a &onth, so %e ha"e to start keeping an eye out )or e#ible plants an# prey )ro& this point onEAthena sighe#BE$his is getting really real, y3kno%< *3"e not #one the prepper stuK like you ha"eEC* kno% sis, but you3re a 'o&bat "et, you3re a har#ass >e3ll #o .ne >e 4ust gotta keep it together til %e get so&epla'e se'ure %e 'an take a breaker, ok< >e both ha"e the skills, an# e0uip&ent, to &ake that happen *) %e are stu'k here, %e nee# to start sto'king up )or a long %inter asapECDkay, ti&e )or butter'up to su'k it up, got'ha, 'onsi#er &e su'ke# upBEC/ep, an# you3re probably &ore har#ass than &e, * %as 4ust a s&ur), you %ere a grunt /our gar#ening an# plant kno%le#ge is superior, that3s hal) our #ietary skills right there, an# your &e#i'al training is in"aluable, e"en i) %e ha"e &arginal e0uip&ent that %ayE:al3s Air 8or'e e(perien'e ha# been slightly less rough an# &ore te'hni'al than Athena3s Ar&y training, buther &e#i'al training, an# the G* Bill that )un#e# her nursing #egree, &ore than &a#e up )or that $he s&ur)s "s grunts ri"alry ha# al%ays been )rien#ly any%ays$hey loa#e# the #ogs ba'k into the Gro%ler, &ounte# up, an# got rea#y to get ba'kin &otion :al pulle# out a laptop tablet an# a +I+ Sli#ing the +I+ into the slot, hes%i"ele# the #isplay to tablet &o#e, laun'he# an appli'ation, .##le# %ith it a bit, an# ga"e it to AthenaC/ou3re na"igator no% *) %e are guessing that %e 'rosse# o"er on 1orth%oo# :ill, an# that this is still 1orth%oo# :ill, 'ir'a Stone Ages, then %e are right about hereE :al pulle# out a 'o&pass an# han#e# it to his sister C/ou learne# orienteering in the Ar&y, so sin'e %e #on3t ha"e G,S %orking, %e gotta na"igate by #ea# re'koning, &ap an# 'o&pass Later * 'an rig up a &akeshi)tse(tant an# get so&e sight lines on the sun, &oon, an# stars as they 'ross the horiAon, esti&ate #ay o) the year base# on length o) #ay, an# try to .gure out %hat year %e are in, but )or no%, you nee# to na"igate the ol# )ashione# bare bones %ayEC!oger #o#gerEC>e #o nee# to be 'are)ul %ith hills here >e ha"e a big loa# in that trailer, an# the %heels on it are #e.nitely not oK roa#ers 8ortunately the grass an# tur) gi"e us a lot o) rolling resistan'e so %e #on3t ha"e to %orry &u'h about going out o) 'ontrol #o%n hills, but %e ha"e to go up an# #o%n hills perpen#i'ular to the topography lines, so %e #on3t tip o"er si#e%ays $he gla'iers le)t a lot o) &oraines here, along %ith other se#i&entary #eposits, errati's, an# possibly so&e #eep bogs %e #on3t %ant to get su'ke# into, nor #eep strea&s*3& going to take it slo%, about ten &iles per hour, so you ha"e ti&e to try to 'o&pare the &aps to the terrain outsi#e, &ake so&e 4u#ge&ents, an# plan a 'ourse through the terrain Dkayo%, sorta 'reepy,E Athena sai#C/eah, but i) %e .n# pre#ators any%here, they3ll be aroun# here, easy pi'kings, i) you 'an a"oi# getting su'ke# into the &u# too >e nee# to be 'are)ul that %e #on3t get su'ke# in either Let3s a"oi# thatE $he terrain see&e# to ha"e layers to it, like le"els o) #iKerent Loo# plains, stepping up the hillsi#es :al kept his "ehi'le on the le"el up )ro& the &arsh, an# noti'e# a trail along this le"el, o) ani&al tra'ks o) "arious sortsC$his is #e.nitely a ga&e trail,E he sai#, Ckeep an eye outE$here %ere o''asional bushes, 'oni)ers an# berry bushes, here an# o''asionally so&ething trying to be a s&all tree $he trail %oun# through these an# as they passe# aroun# a largish 'opse o) Christ&as tree siAe# .rs, they gaine# a "ie% o) theother en# o) the &arsh, %here they )oun# a &a&&oth in ob"ious #istress being .nishe# oK by hu&ans 'la# in leather an# )ur %ith spearsCNane Auel, eat your heart out,E Athena 0uippe#C1o ki##ing Lets stay 0uiet here an# 4ust obser"e, see %hat happens, %e #on3t %ant to see& like 'o&petitors or threatsE$he &a&&oth tru&pete# in resistan'e to its ne% atta'kers, )ro& the pain o) being stru'k repeate#ly by spears, his ob"ious rage at being brought #o%n in his pri&e Db"iously a prou# 'reature %ho %as a #o&inant bull o) his her#, his ears %ere huge,an# his tusks 'ur"e# out an# aroun#, an# %hi'h he s%ung aroun# trying to strike at his atta'kers$he &en all stoo# out o) range o) the tusks, %aiting )or it to s%ing in one #ire'tion, then to lunge in to strike it %ith spearpoint 8irst one, then t%o, then a hal) #oAen spears %ere #eep into the ani&als Lesh, an# 'opious a&ounts o) blee#ing 'o&&en'e#, #raining the ani&al o) its energy an# %ill to resist, until it .nally 'ollapse# as it breathe# its last breaths in a bloo#y )oa&, an# #ie# $he light %ent )ro& its eyes, an# it "oi#e# its bla##er an# bo%els upon the &u# in %hi'h its legs %ere trappe#$he hunters leape# an# 'heere# in 4oy at the kill, then knelt #o%n )a'ing the ani&al,to thank it )or its li)e Dn'e their ani&al spirits %ere pla'ate#, they then %ent about atte&pting to slaughter the ani&al, %hi'h nor&ally %oul# start by .el# #ressing the ab#o&inal 'a"ity, parti'ularly to get at pri&e 'uts like the nutrient ri'h li"er :o%e"er they )oun# this to be #iF'ult as all )our legs %ere trappe# in the thi'k &u# o) the &arsh, an# they hu##le# in 'onsternation about %hat to #o:al sai#, C* think * see an opportunity )or us to &ake so&e )rien#s,E as he starte# upthe Gro%ler an# &o"e# )or%ar# *t %as at this ti&e that the hunting party noti'e# the strange "ehi'le, as the gro%l o)its starting be'a&e ob"ious, an# re&inis'ent o) a large an# threatening beast, they arraye# in line )or&ation, spears )or%ar# to%ar# the ne% threat :al brought the "ehi'le )or%ar# until it %as t%enty pa'es )ro& the hunters, then stoppe# the "ehi'le an# shut oK its engine :e starte# to open the #oor, but Athena hel# his ar&C*3& the one %ith ar&or, let &e han#le thisECDkay, but *3ll ba'k you up %ith ballisti' ba#ness i) they take things the %rong %ayECSure, but %hat #o you %ant to a''o&plish herehat are you sayinghat are you telling the&ell this is a sort o) 'ultural inter)eren'e thats not goo# *ts not right to set oursel"es up abo"e these people *t reeks o) ra'ial i&perialis&ECSis, look at these guys $hey3re europeans, ob"iously, sa&e as us, 4ust &ore pri&iti"e >e3re 4ust putting oursel"es in a position they3ll respe't an# not treat us as so&ething to e(ploit an# abuse /ou #on3t %ant to be'o&e the se( toy o) so&e s%eaty hairy 'a"e guy, an# * #on3t %anna get kille# )or &y 'ool toysEC* #on3t like it, but *3ll think about thatEC* think a better 0uestion is ho% are so&e stone age guys speaking Bas0ue< :asn3t there been &illenia o) people running roughsho# o"er europe, 'on0uering ea'h other, ethni'ally 'leansing ea'h other, an# )or'ing ea'h otherto speak other languageshen #i# you learn Bas0uehile they %ere 'hatting, the rest o) the hunters ha# re'o"ere# )ro& their sho'k, an# 'o&e to inspe't the #ea# 'ats$hey stu'k their .ngers in the %oun#s o) the .rst 'at, seeing that they %ent #eeply into the bo#y an# skull o) the big 'at an# #i# a lot o) #a&age $he se'on# they &ar"ele# at the s%or#, still stu'k in the ba'k o) the 'reature, like -('alibur in the stone, %ith its guar# an# hilt glea&ing in the sunlight, the large )a'ete# 'rystal in the po&&el sparkling $hey )elt the grip an# the &etal o) the s%or#, gently tou'hing the e#ge o) the bla#e, an# running their .ngers a'ross the runes engra"e#into the si#e o) the bla#e $hey looke# at it in re"erent a%e, taking si#e glan'es at her as she treate# their 'o&ra#e:al brought her the %hiskey, an# she poure# it o"er the %oun#s to #isin)e't an# 'lean the& out :al 'ringe# at the thought o) su'h an august bre% being put to su'h a purpose, but .gure# sa"ing the li)e o) one o) these guys %oul# be seen as goo# 4u4u$he %oun#e# hunter 'ringe# hi&sel) at the sting o) the %hiskey on his ra% Lesh, but gritte# his teeth an# #i# not 'ry out at the pain:al sai#, C$hese guys &ust be pretty stoi' about pain, not ha"ing any sort o) anestheti'sEC$here are a )e% natural anestheti's an# analgesi's, &il# pain relie"ers like %illo% shoots, %here %e originally #is'o"ere# aspirin, as %ell as typi'ally psy'hoa'ti"e plants like &ushroo&s, &ari4uana, an# so&e rather potent al'oholi' &ashes they are thought to bre% in this age, but )or nor&al %oun#s that take ti&e to heal, yes, they ha"e to learn to grin an# bear it, su'k on the %illo%, or lose )a'e in their tribeEAthena got out a nee#le an# threa#, steriliAe# the&, an# pro'ee#e# to stit'h up the %oun#s$he hunters gre% intereste# in her treat&ent o) their 'o&ra#e, an# atte&pte# to tou'h the stit'he# %oun#sCMese#eA, eA ukitu,E Athena sai#, brushing their han#s a%ay, C,lease #o not tou'hE$he hunters then 'a&e to inspe't :al, his "est, an# "arious pie'es o) e0uip&ent an# pou'hes atta'he# to his ta'ti'al harness $hey %ere intereste# in his han#gun, so he pulle# it ba'k out o) its holster, e4e'te# the &agaAine, %hi'h he put in a po'ket, as %ell as the bullet in the 'ha&ber $hey %ere a&aAe# at the %ork&anship, an# glossy gol# sheen o) the %eapon Dne hunter gre% e('ite# at the'olor, an# #re% )ro& his o%n pou'h a s&all gol# nugget %hi'h he sho%e# to :alCDh ni'e, Athena, they3"e )oun# so&e gol# $his &ust ha"e been #ri"en #o%n )ro& the A&&onusu' gol# .el#s by gla'ial a'tion !ight no% those gol# #eposits * bet arestill un#er a lot o) i'eE:al noti'e# the #ogs %ere still antsy, so he let the& out o) the 'ab o) the Gro%ler, an# they 'ause# a ne% roun# o) e('ite&ent by the hunters :e %asn3t sure i) they ha# #o&esti'ate# #ogs here, so he or#ere# the #ogs to stay at his si#e as he %alke# to the lion Athena ha# shot an# let the& sniK it o"er, then the other lion:al &otione# )or the hunters to approa'h the #ogs an# hol# out their han# So&e took hi& up on the oKer, an# %ere intro#u'e# to ,hobos an# +ie&os on'e he or#ere# the& to sit :e sho%e# the& ho% to s'rat'h the& behin# the ears an# pet the&, an# sho%e# the& ho% to gi"e the houn#s treats $hey appeare# i&presse# atho% %ell beha"e# the #ogs %ere $hose %ho #i#n3t %ant to &eet the #ogs %ent ba'k to %ork slaughtering the &a&&oth, an# a 'ouple %ent to %ork on the saber toothe# 'ats $hey se"ere# the 'ats hea#s, an# presente# ea'h one to :al an# AthenaCH&, e%%%, :alill era&an behar #uAu ill you bring your noisy beast %ith youe shoul# be on the 'oast, a&ong &ulti&illion #ollar yuppie an# ol# &oney &ansions, but the sea le"el is a bit lo%er no%ECApparently they ha"en3t hear# o) Aoning or#inan'es yet,E Athena 0uippe#CLet3s not tell the& about that, that %oul# be 'ruelSanitation, though, %oul# be a big helpELike any pri&iti"e "illage, sanitation %as not a huge point o) pri#e, there %as no sense o) ger& theory o) 'ourse, %ith ani&al an# other e('re&ent in the street along%ith garbage o) "arious sorts, although not as thi'k an# #eep as one %oul# e(pe't o) a per&anent presen'e -ither they 'lean the streets se&iannually, or the "illage is ne%, or both:al set the stepla##er ba'k up )or the passengers on the roo), %ho 'a&e #o%n a bit&ore 'lu&sily than they %ent up, the s'ot'h ha"ing taken its toll on their #e(terity $hey pro'ee#e# to unloa# the &eat, skulls, tusks, an# hi#es as they %ere surroun#e# by their )a&ilies %hen the gates %ere opene# A huge gab )est began asJuss an# his &en e(plaine# to the "illagers about their 4ourney, their ne% )rien#s, an# their &agi'ally strange beast, %eapons, an# healing po%ers $he "illagers looke# at :al an# Athena in a%e, but not enough to pre"ent the& )ro& gi"ing both a )eel o"er to inspe't their strange attire e0uip&ent, an# looksJuss intro#u'e# :al an# Athena, an# tol# the "illage that the t%o %ere &essengers o) the go#s, an# %ere honore# guests in the "illage to be treate# %ith the highest respe't possible $he looks o) a%e in'rease#, an# the popula'e parte# so :al 'oul# #ri"e the "ehi'le into the "illage, %here he turne# it into an unuse# yar# that Juss in#i'ate# he 'oul# use:al began setting up 'a&p, %hile Athena 'hatte# %ith the "illagers, both %o&en an# &en So&e 'hil#ren 'a&e o"er to :al an# 4abbere# at hi&, but gre% bore# on'e he .gure# out he #i# not un#erstan# the&, until he .she# a granola bar out o) his po'ket an# ga"e ea'h a s&all pie'e >hen they aske# )or &ore, he sho%e# the& ho% to ha&&er tent stakes in the groun#, an# %here to pla'e the& A)ter a )e% )alse starts, they got the hang o) it, an# :al 0ui'kly lai# out an# raise# the 'an"as .el# tent he an# Athena o)ten use# )orlong .el# e"ents, %ith its tiny %oo# sto"e in the 'orner you 'oul# 'ook on a little, t%o bunks, table an# 'hairs, an# other'a&ping e0uip&ent:al took a rake out o) the trailer an# starte# raking up the #etritus )ro& the lot they ha# parke# in Stepping in oKal, hu&an or ani&al, %as not pleasant, nor %as tra'king it into the tent:e ha# a s&all #o&e ba'kpa'king tent, an# a s'reene# pa"illion they use# )or #isplays at .el# e"ents as %ell, but sa% no nee# )or the& at present $his %oul# #o )or a base o) operations, so he 'oul# reorganiAe the 4u&ble o) e"erything in the trailer, an# get to %ork on repairs o) the suspension o) the "ehi'lesAthena 'a&e in the tent %ith a )e% %o&en, both shapely, one ol#er, the other younger an# 0uite gorgeous i) you 'oul# 'lean her up $hey %ere si&ilar in appearan'e other%iseC:al this is :era, Juss3 %i)e,an# their #aughter Aphro#ite 1oti'e a patterne 'o&e )ro& a #istant %orl#, that is like this one, but at the sa&eti&e, "ery #iKerent Dne &ight say, along si#e it, one that you 'annot see, but %hi'h %e 'rosse# o"er )ro& in a single leap, #ue to the a'tions o) po%ers )ar greaterthan oursel"es >e are o) a tribe kno%n as the &essengers o) the go#s, an# our arts an# skills are great in our %orl# a&ong our people, %ith &any tools, an# talents, that you &ay .n# &ira'ulous only be'ause the &e'hanis& by %hi'h they %ork is "ery 'o&ple( an# re0uires a #eeper un#erstan#ing o) ho% the uni"erse %orks, an un#erstan#ing that only 'o&es )ro& &any 'enturies o) #e#i'ate# stu#y, testing, an# e(peri&ent >hile our kno%le#ge is great, it is not by any &eans all kno%ing:a"ing been sent here by beings that %e 'an only sur&ise ha"e the po%ers o) the go#s, %e &ust &ake our %ay in this %orl# %ith our tools an# skills, helping the goo#people %e .n# to rise up to greater %ealth, health, an# happiness, an# opposing those %ho %ish e"il an# har& upon those %ho are pea'e)ul>e 'rosse# o"er into this %orl# a hal) #ays %alk to the %est )ro& the pla'e %e )oun# Juss an# the hunters killing the &a&&oth >e sa% the& in #istress an# sought to help the& as is our %ay, as our %ay #ro"e us to sa"e their li"es )ro& the saber toothe# tigers that arri"e# a)ter us an# atta'ke# Aris an# %oul# ha"e kille# hi& an# possibly others i) %e ha# not a'te# 0ui'kly >e thought that in helping, %e 'oul# sho% your hunters that %e are )rien#ly, honorable people %ho %ish to be)rien# your "illage an# tribe, to li"e a&ong you, to learn )ro& you as %e tea'h you our o%nkno%le#ge, an# in so #oing, #eter&ine e(a'tly %hy the go#s sent us here in the .rst pla'e, be'ause truly, they ga"e us no instru'tions %hen they sent us hereE:al sat #o%n, an# Athena .nishe# translatingAs :al spoke, an# Athena translate#, the 'urrent sha&an o) the "illage, sho%e# ob"ious great interest in %hat they ha# to say :al %as not sure %hat to &ake o) that interest, but suspe'te# that they %oul# .n# out soon enough$hen :al unslung his guitar, an# began to stru&, intro#u'ing his song as about a hero %ho "oyage# the hea"ens bet%een the %orl#s, an# %as lost to those he lo"e#, an# starte# singing CGroun# Control to Ma4or $o&EChapter 7Shin#ig$he au#ien'e %as rapt by the song, the soun# o) the guitar, an entirely alien instru&ent in their li"es, an# the so&ber tone o) the song le)t the& spell boun# >hen :al .nishe# they hoote#an# beat on the groun# in appro"al Athena translate# the %or#s o) the song, %ho Ma4or $o& %as $here %ere a )e% #ry eyes le)t %hen she .nishe#, but not &anyJuss stoo# up again, an# thanke# his guests )or their %or#s an# song, an# 'alle# onthe "illages &usi'ians to start up :e 'a&e an# sat #o%n %ith his guests an# :era, an#, translate#, by Athena, 'on"erse# %ith her an# :alC/ou say you are &erely &essengers, yet you sing 'asually o) Lying through the hea"ens, ho% 'an this bee also ha"e tools that store our kno%le#ge )or us, so %e #on3t ha"e to spen# so &u'h o) our li"es &e&oriAing e"erything that %as #is'o"ere# in the past >e ha"e large lo#ges %hose only purpose is to store this kno%le#geEJuss gre% e(tre&ely intereste# C:o% #o you store this kno%le#ge< /ou 'an3t 4ust put a &ans hea# in a sa'k an# ask it 0uestionsE:al laughe#, CLong ago, our an'estors 'reate# a syste& o) &arkings to store in)or&ation 8irst it %as on stone an# 'layEC>e ha"e sa"e# so&e &e&ories like this in 'a"es an# on ro'ksEC/es, but it is "ery har# to #o that, &any hours to store a s&all a&ount o) in)or&ation >ith 'lay, you 'an &ake &arkings %here ea'h soun# you say has its o%n sy&bol By our ti&e, the nu&ber o) %or#s that %e 'oul# store e('ee#e# all the grains o) san# on all the bea'hes in all the %orl#E:al s'rat'he# an A in the groun#, an# sai#, C$his is the sy&bol )or PA3, as one e(a&ple >ith a sy&bol )or ea'h soun#, you 'an &ark out %hole %or#s, an# then entire stories this %ay So&e o) our an'estors use# a slightly #iKerent &etho#, %ith a single sy&bol )or ea'h i#ea or %or#, although that re0uires that you &e&oriAe a lot o) sy&bols sin'e there are &any &ore %or#s than there are soun#sEJuss looke# thun#er stru'k, CGreat Spirit= $hats an a&aAing i#ea, * %on#er %hy our people ne"er thought o) ite 'annot say, it &ay ha"e to #o %ith your 'ulture not ha"ing enough people, or enough 'o&ple(ity in your so'iety /ou li"e a si&pler li)e here, you #on3t store large a&ounts o) )oo# or goo#s, so you #on3t nee# to keep tra'k o) it all, to #istribute )airly to a large population a''or#ing to their 'ontributions, nee#s, an# their in#"i#ual %ishes Dur an'estors starte# using these sy&bols to store kno%le#ge %hen they starte# buil#ing "illages &any &any ti&es larger than yours *) you ha#, )or e"ery &e&ber o) this "illage, as &any people un#er the& as are in this entire "illage, that %oul# start to rea'h the siAe * a& speaking o) +o any people you kno% o) ha"e su'h large "illagesater :ere in this lan#, a )e% #ays %alk )ro& here, is Atlan-$ish, &y birthpla'eE:al an# Athena %ere stunne# agog, their &ouths hanging open, looking at ea'h otherAthena sai#, C/ou thinkhat Poh3hen you %at'h the sky at night, an# look to the north, there is a 'ertainstar that is al%ays in the north an# #oes not spin aroun# through the 'ourse o) nighthen you are out o) sight o) lan#, ho% else are you to .n# your %ay ho&e< :o% is a hunting party suppose# to na"igate the %il#erness in the #arkhoot, %hoot, %ho-%hoo, >hoot, %hoot, %ho-%hoo=E o) a Barre# D%l 'alling out in the nightAris sai#, CAh, * hear the 'all o) your tote& ani&al, a''epting this gi)t $he o%l is a beauti)ul an# #ea#ly 'reature 'apable o) great %is#o&, &u'h like you :e is a .ttingtote& )or youEC$hank you again, Aris, that is "ery %ell sai#, an# &eans a lot to &eECGoo# e"ening, an# %el'o&e to our "illage, * hope to hunt %ith you againEC* a& sure * %illE:al sni'kere#, C*t looks like you ha"e a suitor=E C*) he is, he %ill be )rustrate#ECA%, * thought you %ere sorta bi, or bi-'urious at leaste sa% ho% this happens in Great Britain in the 16th 'entury as rural -nglish o) the in#ustrial age gaine# in %ealth )ro& tra#e an# &anu)a'turing, an# sought to raise the Wper'eptionW o) their so'ial status by learning to speak like Lon#oners rather than rural &i##le an# south%estern -nglish $his %as the pri&ary 'ause o) the shi)t o) British -nglish )ro& %hat soun#e# like A&eri'an -nglish to#ay to 'urrent #ay British -nglish $his sa&e so'ial pressure %oul# happen %hen one 'ulture is 'on0uere# by another, the ne% elites 'reate an in'enti"e )or the sur"i"ing ol# elites, or a&bitious &i##le an# lo%er 'lass &e&bers %ho %ish to raise their station, to e&ulate the speaking style o) their 'on0uerors$his sa&e thing happene# a'ross the %estern %orl# #uring the !o&an -ra, as &anypeoples a#opte# Latin )or oF'ial business, tra#e, an# intera'tions %ith !o&an elites)or )a"or an# inLuen'e, this Latin inLuen'e 'olore# their nati"e language as %ell, although the original roots o) those nati"e tongues re&aine# in those lo'alesDur o%n 'i"iliAation is going through "ery rapi# language e"olution be'ause the rates o) 'hange o) te'hnology, go"ern&ent, 'o&&uni'ations, tra"el, are all 'hanging "ery rapi#ly, an# those rates o) 'hange are a''elerating, into %hat %e 'all the Singularity *n ."e years, you %ill use as &any ne% %or#s then that ha"e not been in"ente# yet, as %ere in"ente# in the last ?0 *t is likely that our 'i"iliAation %illbe 'hange# #rasti'ally beyon# any 'urrent 'o&prehension long be)ore our planetary 'li&ate 'hanges to any signi.'ant #egree Dur 'i"iliAation is rea'hing its Aenith Be prepare# )or %hat is to 'o&eDn the Clo"is Solutrean 'onne'tion9 $hose %ho stu#y Lint knapping, ho% stone age tools are &a#e, ten# to lean hea"ily in )a"or o) the i#ea that Clo"is ,oints are )ar &ore like Solutrean points than Siberian points that the stan#ar# Dut o) Asia hypothesis 'lai&s are the an'estors o) Clo"is Db"iously, the i#ea that -uropeans settle# the 1e% >orl# be)ore the an'estors o) 'urrent #ay 1ati"e A&eri'ans is 'onsi#ere# by &any, espe'ially by 1ati"e tribes, to be an atta'k on their so"ereign 'lai&s to lan#, as %ell as their sense o) so'ial 4usti'e at 'ri&es 'o&&itte# against the& by -uropean 'olonists a)ter the C#is'o"eryE o) the 1e% >orl# by Colu&bus$he only skeleton attribute# to Clo"is people %as the skull o) a boy )oun# in Montana, a LD1G %ay )ro& kno%n Clo"is sites %hi'h pre#o&inantly 'luster on the -ast 'oast an# a'ross the south%est +1A testing has 'on'lu#e# that boy is #es'en#e# )ro& Siberian peoples, not -uropeans, so the a'a#e&i' establish&ent 'lai&s that that D1- sa&ple 'loses the 'ase on the Solutrean theory, #espite the )a't that that site in Montana is a LD1G %ay )ro& al&ost any other Clo"is site in 1orth A&eri'a, an# i) anything, in#i'ates that there %as tra#e going on bet%een Solutrean Clo"is people, an# ,aleoin#ians &igrating in a'ross the Bering Lan# Bri#ge aroun# the ti&e o) the /ounger +ryas Criti's o) the Solutrean theory also point to the la'k o) other 'ultural ite&s o) Solutreans, like 'a"e paintings, ho%e"er %e kno% that sin'e the Solutrean-Clo"is theory hol#s that they 'a&e to the -ast Coast by boat, that they %oul# be )o'use# along the sea 'oast, an# sites )oun# inlan# %oul# pri&arily be hunting e(pe#itions $he HS -ast Coast o) 12,000 to 20,000 years ago %as a "ery #iKerent pla'e than it is no% Sea Le"el %as so&e hun#re# or &ore &eters lo%er than it is no%, #ue to &elting o) the i'e 'aps $his &eans any seagoing Solutrean 'ulture )o'use# on 'oastal 'o&&unities %oul# ha"e been inun#ate# long ago like the &ythi'al Atlantis,so those asking C%here are the Solutrean boats in A&eri'a, %here are their 'a"e paintings