Chapter 28
The Goddess Arieune slackened the speed of her arrow-ship to suit that of Hoab’s vessel; so onward together they sped in a direct line, propelled as a rocket is propelled, by constant emissions from the hulk (body of the ship); this expenditure being manufactured by the crew and commanders, skilled in wielding Jehovih’s elements. For as mortals find means to traverse the ocean and to raise a balloon, so do the Gods and spirits build and propel mightier vessels through the firmament, between the stars and over and under and beyond the sun.
And when the ethereans, highest raised in the most subtle spheres, send their ships coursing downward in the denser strata of a corporeal world, their ready workmen take in ballast, and turn the fans, and reverse the whirling screws to match the space and course of travel; for which purpose men learn the trade, having rank and grade according to proficiency. Many of them serve a thousand years’ apprenticeship, becoming so skilled in wielding the elements, and in the knowledge of the degrees of density, that billions of miles of roadways in heaven are as a well-learned book to them.
And, thus conversant with Jehovih’s wide domains, they are eagerly sought after, especially in emergent cases, or on journeys of millions of years; for they know the requirements so well, the places of delight, the dangers of vortices, eddies and whirlpools, that when a God says: Take me here, or over there, they know the nearest way and the power required.
For, as Jehovih has made icebergs on the corporeal ocean, dangerous to ships; and made strong currents of trade winds, and currents in the oceans, so are there in the etherean firmament currents and densities which the well-skilled God can take advantage of, whether for a slow trip of pleasure, or a swift one on urgent business to suffering angels or mortals.
And if a God or Goddess is suddenly dispatched by a higher Council, to a distant place, he or she must already be acquainted with navigators sufficiently to know whom to choose; and, likewise, understand the matter well enough to lend a helping hand if required. For often, the navigators have no swift messengers to pilot them; and yet a short journey of fifty thousand miles may require as much skill as a million, especially when descending to a corporeal world.
Hoab knew, and he managed well, following close on the arrow’s trail till they neared the ruined plateau. And then, amid the broken currents, Arieune, perceiving that Hoab’s vessel was less wieldy, dropped alongside and made fast. She said to Hoab:
Behold, we are near the place. Then Hoab asked: How did you discover a knot in such a wasted country? Arieune answered him:
When Jehovih created woman, He gave to her two chief attributes, curiosity and solicitude for others. So, passing here, surveying the place where the first heavenly kingdom was, I remembered it had been said that Aph left some island places where once a colony in heaven had been built, and I stopped to examine it. A moan and terrible sound greeted me! I heard the Osivi knots, as I had often heard others before.
We landed and made fast, and presently went about searching, led by the sad, sad noise. Then we came to the great mound, the knot, a billion drujas bound in a heap! Wailing, muffled, moaning as if the whole heap of them were in the throes of death, but could not die!
Being powerless myself to overcome such fearful odds, I took the bearing of the regions where I would find the nearest God; and so, having measured the knot, I set sail as you have heard.
Hoab said: Every day I behold Your wisdom, O Jehovih! In a new light Your wondrous judgment rises up before me. Who but You, O Father, had seen the fruitage of Curiosity made perfect in Your daughters? From the little bud seen in mortal form, to the over-scanning of Your heavens by such Goddesses! ||
As Hoab thus discoursed, they arrived at a suitable landing-place, where they anchored their vessels, and then hurried to the knot. Without much ado, Hoab walled the knot around with low fire, leaving a gateway to the east, where he placed a thousand sentinels. One million of his army (his hosts) he stationed outside of and beyond the walls, and these were divided into groups of selectors, guardsmen, physicians, nurses, bearers, and manufacturers of fire and water. The selectors were provided with rods of fire and water, and the guardsmen with shields and blinds.
Then Hoab stationed another million between the knot and the gateway, and these were stationed in four rows, each two rows facing one another and only two paces apart, so that, in all, there were two passages, each like a walled alleyway. And the other three million Hoab caused to surround the knot on every side. Each and every one of these was provided with a fire lamp, which they held in the right hand. And when all things were thus ready, Hoab commanded the attack to begin. And at once the attackers thrust their fire lamps in the face of the nearest druj, and, seizing them with the other hand, pulled them away. The drujas do not all relinquish their grip in the knot at sight of the lamp, but often require to be nearly burned and stifled with the light before they release their hold. Nor is this a grip of evil, but of fear.
|| The knot is nothing more nor less than a mass of millions and millions of spirits becoming panic-stricken and falling upon their chief, or leader, who becomes powerless in their grip, and is quickly rolled up in the midst of the knot. ||
And when the deliverers thus begin at the exterior of the knot, peeling off the crazed and moaning spirits, they hurl them backward, where they are caught by the seconds, who, in turn, hurl them into the alleyways, where they are again thrust forward till past the gate in the wall of fire. From the time, therefore, that the druj receives the thrust of the fire lamp in his face, he is not allowed to linger, but is whirled suddenly from one to another so quickly, he cannot fasten to any person or thing. For if they were to fasten, even on the deliverers, first one and then another would fasten, and soon a second knot would result. Because of which, to untie a knot of a billion crazed angels is not only a dangerous proceeding, but a feat of unusual grandeur to be undertaken by five million ethereans.
To provide against accident, Hoab appointed Athrava to take charge of the delivered after they were beyond the walls; for in such matters Athrava had experience spanning thousands of years. So Athrava divided and arranged the drujas into groups, placing guardians with fire rods over them; and in some cases taking the groups away and walling them around with fire also.
Now by the time five hundred million of the knot were released, some of the external, delivered groups, began to tie themselves in knots. And when Athrava saw this, he said to Hoab: Behold, they are becoming too numerous for my hosts. I lack sufficient guardsmen. Hoab said:
Then my army and I will cease awhile, and, instead of delivering, come and assist you. Accordingly, Hoab suspended the battle for a time, and together they labored with those outside, untying the small knots and arranging them in safer ways, placing a greater number of guards over them.
This done, the es’enaurs struck up lively music, starting dancings and marchings; for such is the routine of the restoring process practiced by the Gods. Then come the nurses with cheerful words, with mirth and gaiety, following one diversion with another in rapid succession. But to the raving maniacs, and to the stupid, and to the helpless blind, the physicians now turn their attention.
Again Hoab and his army fell upon the knot, pulling the external ones away and hurling them out, but not so rapidly, having fewer deliverers, for he had bequeathed an extra million to Athrava, outside the walls. And after another three hundred million were delivered, Hoab again ceased, and joined with Athrava to assist, divide and group them in the same way. And he bequeathed another million of his army to Athrava, and then again resumed the attack on the knot, and thus continued till he reached the core of the knot, having untied the whole billion drujas, gradually lessening his own army and enlarging that of Athrava.
And when Hoab came to the core of the knot, behold, he found Oibe, the false God, who falsely styled himself Thor, the etherean. And in the midst of the knot they had jewels of rare value and stolen crowns and stolen symbols, and rods, holy water, urns, incense, a broken Wheel of Jehovih, a broken triangle of the Gods, and, in fact, so many things that one could write a book to describe it all. Suffice it to say, a false God and his kingdom had collapsed, and he fell, crushed in the glory of his throne. And there were with him seven false Lords, who were also crushed in the terrible fall.
Oibe and his Lords, from their confinement in the knot, were also crazed and wild with fear, screaming and crying with all their strength, even as all the others were, like drunkards long debauched, delirious and fearful of imaginary horrors, which have no existence. Or as one’s hand, when long compressed, becomes numb, so that when the pressure is taken away it still seems not free, so Oibe and his Lords would not believe they were free, but still cried, calling for help.
At this time, a messenger with forty companions and with five hundred apprentices, came from Ah’oan, God of Jaffeth; and the messenger’s name was Turbe, an atmospherean, three hundred years, grade two. Turbe said: Greeting from Ah’oan, in Jehovih’s name! To whom shall I speak; to whose honor, aside from Jehovih’s, shall I credit this deliverance? Athrava said:
To Hoab, a Zeredho’an disciple of Fragapatti, who is sojourning in Mouru, capital of Haraiti. And Athrava asked Turbe his name, where he came from, and especially if he knew about this knot before, and the history of its cause? To which Turbe replied:
This I have learned from Ah’oan: Some four hundred years ago, one of the sub-Gods, named Oibe, because of his modesty and birdlike fleetness, was promoted by Samati, who is now commissioned by Fragapatti to be master of the I’huans. This, whom Hoab has delivered, is Oibe, the one-time faithful sub-God of honorable purposes. His kingdom prospered for two hundred years, and his name and fame spread throughout all these heavens, and even down to mortals, who were inspired by his admiring spirits to make images of birds (oibe or ibis), and dedicate them to Oibe.
He became vain because of the flattery, and, losing faith in Jehovih, finally came out in unbelief, saying there was no All Highest, except as each and every God chose to exalt himself. Within his dominions, which numbered nearly a billion angels, were twenty or more of Lords under him; to the wisest of whom he began to preach his views, looking to personal laudation and glory.
In some twenty years, the matter culminated with Oibe and a few of his favored Lords proclaiming a new kingdom, styled, THE ALL HIGHEST KINGDOM IN THE ALL HIGHEST HEAVEN! And the title he assumed was, THOR, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF ALL LIGHT! THOR THE ALL LIGHT PERSONATED! THOR, THE PERSONAL SON OF MI, THE VIRGIN UNIVERSE!
Thus Oibe cut loose from the true God and his kingdoms; and he immediately walled his kingdom around with a standing army; promoting seven of his most efficient admirers as Lords; and others as generals and captains. And at once he set about enlarging and enriching his throne and capital, which he called Osivi, but known as Howts on the true charts.
In one hundred years his kingdom became a place of two billion souls. His chief city, Osivi, was the richest and gaudiest city that had ever been in these heavens. The streets were paved with precious stones; the palaces for himself, his Lords, marshals and generals, were built of the costliest jewels with pillars, arches and chambers of the most elaborate workmanship, and of the costliest material.
Oibe became a tyrant; and, except for his Lords and a few favored friends, none were permitted to approach his throne except by crawling on their bellies while under guard. Nor were they permitted to raise their eyes upon him, except at a very great distance. And all his subjects, although under progressive discipline, were in fact his slaves. These slaves were sent far away into atmospherea, or else down to the earth, to gather tribute for the glory of Thor (Oibe) and his favorites; nor did these slaves distrust, but believed they were working for Jehovih, believing that he lived in the capital, Osivi!
At first, Thor educated and otherwise improved his slaves; but, finding them less obedient as a consequence of gaining knowledge, he finally destroyed all the heavenly schools and colleges, and resolved to keep his subjects forever ignorant. Consequently, the wiser ones deserted him, except his officers, and his angels were without knowledge, knowing nothing, except that they had to work for Thor forever!
In addition to ignorance, Thor kept his subjects forever in fear of himself, continually threatening them with terrible punishments if they ceased to pray to him as the only personified All Light, Jehovih. And in time, his people forgot all aspiration for any other heaven or any other God. Many of these were deputized to dwell with mortals as guardian spirits, persuading mortals to worship Thor and Ibis, threatening them with being turned into serpents and toads after death if they did not obey these injunctions.
In that way, then, Thor, the false, ruled for four hundred years in Osivi; nor was it possible for Samati to send an army of sufficient strength to overcome such a kingdom. But a change finally came. A light descended from the higher heavens six generations ago; and, according to the legends of old, it was ominous that the Gods of higher worlds would intercede.
So Samati, taking advantage of this, sent emissaries to Thor, otherwise Oibe, and solicited him to give up his evil ways, and reestablish Jehovih. Thor, the false, sent word back, saying: When I was a child, I was taught to fear Jehovih, and I feared Him. After long experience I have discovered there is nothing to fear in all the worlds. If there is any Jehovih, He is without form or person or sense! I do not fear Him! I do not revere Him! My heaven is good enough for me and my Lords. As for my subjects, let no man, no God, no Lord, meddle with them.
Samati, who was the lawful God of all these heavens and of the earth, thus perceived no way to reach Thor’s slaves, for the slaves were too ignorant to desire anybody or anything except Thor. Nevertheless, Samati sent word the second time to Thor, this time saying: Your kingdom is even now destitute of enough intelligent people to protect you in case of panic. If a comet, or any sudden light, or the passage of an avalanza through your dominions should take place, you would surely find yourself overthrown in a knot. Your subjects look upon you as the All Highest; they will surely rush upon you.
Thor sent the messengers back with an insulting answer. Thus the matter stood till after Ah’oan’s appointment as God of Jaffeth and her heavens, which at once cut off Thor’s emissaries to mortals, and confined him within his own kingdom. At this time, Samati was commissioned to establish the word of God among mortals, but he communicated Thor’s position to Ah’oan.
Ah’oan sent ambassadors to Thor, the false, beseeching him in the same manner to give up his (false) personality, and return with his kingdom to Jehovih, promising him the best of assistance. To this, Thor, the false, replied, by the messengers, saying:
Ah’oan, you usurper! If you desire favors of me, you shall approach me as all Gods and angels do, by crawling on your belly before me. Do not encroach the tiniest fraction on my Most High Kingdom, or I will banish you back to your miscreant regions with stripes and curses!
Ah’oan was surprised, but perceived that till trouble came upon Oibe nothing could be done for him. So, the time came; Jehovih allowed him to go the full period of self-glory. Thus Oibe fell!
Turbe ceased, and Athrava said: O Jehovih, when will man cease to fall? You have proclaimed Yourself in all places, high and low; Your Gods and Lords and countless angels have proclaimed You! You alone are the password to all the universe! Your name has a thousand exalted devices to win the souls of mortals and angels from darkness to light, and yet they turn away from You, You Creator of suns and stars and countless etherean worlds! And they set up themselves as an object of worship! O the smallness of Gods and men! O the vanity of Your little children!
You have said to mortals: Do not go into the marshes, for there is fever; do not build large cities, for there is sin; do not go after lust, for there is death! But they go in headlong, and they are bruised and dead!
To those who are risen in heaven, You have said: Remember the lessons of earth, lest you fall! Remember the fate of self-conceit, lest you be scourged. Remember the king and the queen of earth, how they become bound in heaven, lest you also become bound.
But they will not heed; vain self rises up in the soul; they behold no other God but themselves in whom they acknowledge wisdom.