The Nine of Wands
Strength
Power of Perseverance
Chapter XXXI
Mayan Survivors
Strength
J
As Qblh departed the Pleasure Dome, leaving Ayesha behind, he reunited with Antiope and Helen aboard the Flying Dutchman, charting a course toward safety. The distant eruptions of Santorini remained a stark, fiery spectacle.
"It appears that Isis has dispatched a legion of your sisters to our world, intending to establish their authority," Jim observed.
"How will this impact us, Jim?" Antiope inquired.
"My duty is to return them all to Artemis, thereby nullifying their influence here, much as I did with Ayesha."
"And how precisely do you intend to achieve that? Will we be assisting you further? Enlighten us!" Helen pressed.
"That sounds like an undertaking of immense magnitude," Jim mused.
"We truly do not know," he admitted.
"Oh, please! We implore you, do not offer such an uncertain response!" Helen pleaded.
"You grasp that she will undoubtedly seek to ensnare and subjugate us, do you not?" Antiope added.
"Indeed, my dear girls, I have no desire for their unwelcome attentions," Jim stated.
"Jim, you are as pivotal a player as Isis. You act as her proxy, and you clearly relish the adoration we bestow upon you," Helen countered, her tone sharp.
"She will likely demand that I escort both of you back to Artemis to resume your former duties there."
"We shall pass on that proposition, thank you. We are content serving as your humble lieutenants, your First Mates aboard the Flying Dutchman. Perhaps Isis can seize control of Antiope Industries, but she will not claim our cherished Dutchman or our Genie."
"Speak for yourself, Helen. You may have this vessel. My preference lies in orchestrating my own empire and savoring the vibrant urban existence it affords. Thus far, I've encountered no man of power whom I couldn't subtly guide, save for Jim, of course," Antiope declared.
"And do not forget John," Helen reminded her.
"Yet, we remain utterly bewildered about Jim's ultimate intentions. Helen, do you have any inkling? Jim, what are your plans now?" Antiope probed.
"Antiope and Helen, given the considerable number of Amazons inhabiting this era, my strategy must involve their systematic apprehension and repatriation, most likely back to the Pleasure Dome. It seems your destinies are to meet their end in this time, thereby vanishing from the annals of history."
"Jim, I was under the impression you were escorting us back to Chicago?"
"My prognostication indicated your imminent demise. While I aim to avert this predicted outcome, it would be strategically beneficial for all of us to fade into obscurity within this temporal epoch we currently inhabit."
"On what grounds or by what mechanism?"
"Our presence disrupts the established continuum of Earth's history. We ought not to interfere, yet it appears your Queen exhibits a penchant for contravention. Furthermore, her influence apparently extended to Nimrod, an action predating our current temporal locus by several centuries. The Pegasus vessel fluctuates in proximity to Earth, its temporal displacement erratic. Currently, the ship is traversing its own localized spacetime bubble, its chronological trajectory unpredictable. The damage is already inflicted. My only perplexity lies in her ability to circumvent paradox. I must apprehend it."
"She is, after all, exceptionally astute and possesses remarkably sound intuition," Antiope interjected.
"Then this should hardly cast a pall over our respite," Helen remarked.
"Unless she orchestrates your abduction, Helen."
"You would assuredly never permit them to separate me from you, would you, Jim?"
"Allow Genie to elaborate."
"There is a substantial likelihood, exceeding ninety percent, that you will be taken during this sabbatical, Helen. However, your captors will endeavor to placate and entice you."
Antiope chuckled at Helen's reaction. "This scenario is remarkably rich. And for how long will you sustain this pretense, Jim?"
"For the duration of necessity."
"So, to what destination are we bound next?"
"I am descending to implement some essential navigational modifications."
"Pray tell, Jim, how much time did you dedicate to Ayesha's company?"
"Sufficient to fulfill her desires." He offered them a knowing smile. "Bask in the solar radiance, ladies. Genie will attend to your requisites. I have attained peak operational capacity. Strategic planning is now paramount."
Below deck, Jim engaged Idiot. "Our trajectory remains unaltered then."
"Indeed, my guidance system is currently registering zero error."
"Ayesha will remain entirely oblivious to my absence."
"Precisely, Jim. Your departure and return will be instantaneous; she won't even perceive your leaving. However, ensuring your reappearance is paramount."
"Understood. Incorporate that imperative into the navigation plan."
"Our navigational parameters dictate a transatlantic journey."
"What?!"
"It appears a significant contingent of the island's populace is shadowing us, Jim, following our trajectory."
A substantial number, captivated by this enigmatic visitor, desired his further guidance. The majority of the island's displaced people, however, directed their course towards the Black Sea, the eastern Mediterranean, Avaris, mainland Greece, or various other coastal locales within the Mediterranean. Ayesha had issued ample warnings, enabling them to escape the cataclysmic tsunamis anticipated from the island's demise. Prior to its complete submersion, a deluge of infernal fire, toxic gases, and earth would have already been violently ejected, posing an inescapable lethal threat to any remaining inhabitants. Those who disregarded Ayesha's deadline would find themselves unable to outrun the devastating tidal waves generated by the island's obliteration. A vast exodus of vessels initially aimed for the distant shores of Crete, Cyprus, or any other landmass offering refuge from the impending tsunamis. Qblh had preemptively alerted Ayesha to these seismic inundation dangers. All those who survived would carry their accumulated wisdom and proficiency to their new abodes. Their progeny, destined to become the Phoenicians, would foster a spirit of literacy wherever their journeys led. Their seafaring prowess, coupled with their groundbreaking alphabet, would command regional dominance for centuries and ignite competitive fervor among the Mycenaeans. Despite these lasting legacies, the island's catastrophic end would still precipitate a profound regression for local civilizations, unleashing periods of extreme savagery.
Jim preferred to remain detached from the political machinations of the ruling factions. His upcoming escapades with Antiope and Helen were already fraught with complexity, and he had no appetite for additional entanglements. While he sensed a preordained destiny he was destined to fulfill, the specific circumstances and his own reactions to them remained veiled. In collaboration with Genie, they concluded that a temporal leap of over four centuries would be essential. This temporal shift, they determined, would not necessitate exceeding the speed of light. Furthermore, intermittent halts would be feasible, allowing for intelligence gathering and trajectory recalibrations.
Perhaps, it was simply the case that the more intrepid souls were following Qblh, harboring the hope that this entity would facilitate their passage across the vast ocean west of Gibraltar.
"I never invited them to tag along," Jim declared.
"Well, it appears they're leaderless, and they've apparently appointed you."
"Was Ayesha the instigator of this?"
"Uncertain, though it's highly probable. You, however, would possess a clearer understanding. You did pledge to safeguard her populace, did you not?"
"Wonderful, simply marvelous. How extensive will this undertaking prove to be?"
"Jim, you have ample time. I can program the Flying Dutchman to guide them toward the Americas. The spectral nature of our vessel will only enhance their willingness to follow you."
"Very well, Idiot, we can then maintain the illusion of leading them to America while simultaneously orchestrating our establishment in Greece with the ladies. We need to acclimatize ourselves to this era. Perpetuate the phantom ship as their guide, ensuring it remains inaccessible to board. Consistently position the holographic projection, even during detours, to encourage their continued westward progression. Craft a discernible and navigable path for them. We shall shepherd this remnant of those who heeded our counsel and warnings to a new land abundant with resources for all. I shall apprise the ladies of a minor alteration in our itinerary."
"If you desire, we can establish their base in Grecian locales while we steer these people toward America."
"Now, that is surprisingly astute, Idiot. Are you suggesting we will be the pioneers in discovering America?"
"The individuals trailing you will be profoundly indebted for your endeavors." Perhaps excessively so. Idiot, are we being manipulated? Do you suspect we've been exploited?"
"My actions are simply a consequence of my core programming."
"The truth eludes me. We are architecting the genesis of a world with which I will eventually interact."
"Indeed, Jim, it appears your destiny is to guide these individuals to the shores of America. This undertaking, you must acknowledge, presents a remarkably straightforward endeavor for you, far less arduous than parting the very waters of the Red Sea. While Antiope and Helen possess the ability to convey messages clearly, Ayesha’s potential for impactful communication is significantly greater."
"True, yet Ayesha is deceased in their perception. She irrevocably surrendered her life for their collective well-being. The thought of her reappearing among them alive is unthinkable, nor could we successfully retrieve her without triggering a catastrophic temporal anomaly."
The entity pondered for a moment. "My sincere admiration, Jim. You have surpassed my reasoning on this matter. Your assertion is accurate. We cannot re-enter Artemis's sphere through our initial departure point more than a single instance. To do so would invite a paradoxical collision with our former selves."
"My ultimate objective is to return to Artemis and reunite with Ayesha. She will perceive my presence immediately following my departure with her. It is imperative that I re-establish the continuity of my physical being on Artemis as if I had never departed. We both understand our destined meeting will occur within the pleasure dome. However, she will retain the memory of her experiences here and will undoubtedly inquire about the measures I took to ensure her people's salvation. When I reveal that I facilitated their exodus to America, a one-way journey, I anticipate a reaction tinged with amusement, yet ultimately, with profound happiness."
"My profound respect, Jim. Your capacity for human-like ingenuity astounds me. Such inspired and unconventional solutions are beyond the grasp of us mere machines."
"It would seem that YAOHUSHUA permits certain of my unorthodox endeavors as a means to foster further unconventional actions."
"To categorize that as foolishness would be a mischaracterization, Jim. It demonstrates an exceptional discernment."
"Your words echo Shaltain’s effusive praise of Isis."
"Now, Jim, let us be equitable. I offer no insincere adulation; my assessment is purely factual. And I urge you to refrain from excessive self-condemnation."
"And where precisely lies the delicate boundary between an appropriate level of self-reflection for effective self-governance and its undue excess?"
"That is a question I cannot answer, Jim. Lacking any vestige of free will, the concept of self-governance holds no meaning for me."
"What folly. In becoming entangled with the concerns of these people, we are anchoring ourselves, and I find myself questioning my desire to endure the protracted duration of this involvement."
Jim, the progression of temporal events, when one is anchored and grounded to the Earth, necessitates a shared experience of the same temporal field.
"So, by conveying these individuals to America, am I then fulfilling a predetermined fate?"
"What alternative endeavor would you find more appealing?"
"You know, my artificial companion, that is a rather astute proposition. Should any indigenous human populations reside there, I have no doubt they would readily integrate with my suggestions for harmonious coexistence."
"Might I propose articulating to them that their ritual of human sacrifice yields nothing but the extinguishment of life? Is it not your intention to apprise them of the futility of their detrimental practices, as per my programmed directive to remind you?"
"An excellent point, my intelligent assistant. I do indeed recall implanting that instruction. Perhaps we might defer our arrival in Greece for a few months."
Jim yearned to conduct reconnaissance of Earth, yet the 17th century BCE offered no celestial vantage points for his perusal. He also wished to avoid expending excessive energy within this epoch. Nevertheless, the Dutchman's onboard computational system remained accessible, and Idiot's cognitive archives could furnish him with guidance, albeit somewhat reconfigured. Gazing back at the incandescent spectacle of the erupting volcano, he mused that the immediate surroundings would offer little to these people, nor did he desire Isis to glean further insights into the cataclysm. Relocating the survivors to America would serve to culturally insulate them from future Amazonian influence, diverting them from the abhorrent practice of human sacrifice and providing them with an untainted homeland.
Indeed, Egypt, Crete, and the entire civilized expanse of the Aegean were on the precipice of profound societal transformation. Moses would, in due course, lead his people towards their promised land. The prevailing Egyptian dynasty was poised for collapse, succumbing to eastern invaders. Local dignitaries would find themselves dislodged as a new hierarchy assumed control.
The cataclysmic impact of the volcanic eruption ravaged the terrestrial landscape. Religious authorities of the era were discredited as their claims proved baseless. Countless Egyptian clergy were summarily executed for their inability to explain the calamitous plagues unleashed by the eruption. The Pharaoh's authority was significantly undermined, his legions proving incapable of contending with the more enlightened populace, orchestrated by the formidable and sagacious extraterrestrial presence of Anat at Heliopolis. The sophisticated disciplines of mathematics and medicine, as imparted at Heliopolis, proved instrumental in bolstering the societal framework. The meticulous art of accounting became indispensable for managing the extensive trade emanating from Avaris and for equitable tax collection. As in its sister metropolis, commerce flourished under the patronage of the Hyksos sultan, Salitis..
The Minoan aristocracy, through an astonishing feat, managed to elude the catastrophic eruption by seeking refuge within the intricate maze of their palatial structures. Santorini, a thriving nexus of wealth and trade, had been irrevocably obliterated, leaving a palpable economic void that would reverberate throughout Mediterranean ports, if not their very shores.
Vessels of all kinds were desperately escaping the volcanic peril, and those displaced by the disaster were seldom embraced. The vast expanse of the open ocean to the west beckoned, holding the potential for uncultivated territories, and Jim possessed an undeniable mastery of seafaring. Ayesha would undoubtedly have cherished his success in guiding her kin towards the Americas. Indeed, Ayesha herself had harbored a persistent longing for the New World, a dream that had never materialized. The displaced populace would establish themselves, imprinting the legacy of a Maya-like culture upon their new home.
Ascending to the deck, Jim's face lit up with a wide grin as he addressed Helen and Antiope.
"Jim, why are we charting a course westward? We had anticipated a destination in Greece."
"I received word that Mexico is particularly pleasant during this season."
"Mexico? Have you lost your senses, Jim?"
"Our objective is to convey Ayesha's people to the Americas, where they will become indigenous to this land."
"
