Read The Days of Peleg for Free Online

keep drinking it for a while.”
    The game resumed in earnest. Serug got two cones to the fourth Ute Square. Peleg tried to attack as much as possible in the battle zone, but when it became apparent that he would not prevail, Serug ordered another round of drinks.
    Peleg managed to get all of his Reels on the board, and even sent one of Serug’s Cones to the Abyss, but in the end, Serug got his final Cone on the sixteenth square— Heaven’s Gate —and the game was over.
    “YES!” shouted Serug as he jumped up from the table. He waved to a caretaker. “We’re ready to pay over here!”
    Grinning he turned to Peleg. “Good Game!”
    Peleg smiled and nodded. “Congratulations.” He handed the caretaker the required Kaspum .
    After finishing their drinks, they left the establishment and Serug turned to Peleg.
    “Actually, there is someone I was wanting you to meet. You might be able to better understand what I was talking about earlier.”
    Before Peleg could transform his scowl into words, Serug continued.
    “You could bring your great skeptical mind and expose the errors. It’s all for the sake of Knowledge , right?” he added hopefully.
    “He’s not one of those Cosmic Plurality people, is he? I don’t want to get in trouble.”
    “Oh, you won’t get into trouble. Besides, he’s a she . And she’s a Mentor and only lives a few blocks away. If you’ve got a few minutes.”
    Peleg thought for a moment. He was not interested in any pseudoscience, or in someone from the Citadel discovering he was talking with people like that. However, his friend seemed to need some real guidance and protection right now.
    “All right.” He acquiesced. “Where does she live?”

Chapter 4
    Explanation
    “The parameters of both zodiacal zones are fixed, and all synodic arcs are determined by them. But who determined the parameters?”
    T he room was circular with a domed ceiling made of cast stone. Carved engravings of the Zodiac could be seen in the stone, and the deep blue light from an Iku-fish oil lamp suspended from the center of the room deepened their sharp shadows.
    The area was large enough to seat about thirty students. At the front there was a small raised speaking platform just big enough for a desk and a person to stand next to it. On the desk were scrolls, books, writing instruments, and calculation devices. Mounted to the wall behind the desk were more astronomical charts, a small panorama displaying the phases of Suen , and a banner across the top with the creed of the astronomer:
    When it is clear, observe—When it is cloudy, compute!
    Mentor Inanna sighed. Her students should be arriving shortly. They would come in one at a time separated by a few minutes each to avoid suspicions. Some of her students were initiates of the Citadel , and it wouldn’t do to have any of their covert informants snooping around.
    A thick tapestry rustled, and Felpag entered the room. He was a very young man in his early thirties, and sported an asymmetrical beard with tightly braided sideburns popular among his age group. Already he had demonstrated special talents in pre-Calamity anthropology.
    Two more students arrived at the same time. I wish they wouldn’t do that—we elicit enough scrutiny as it is. Teaching and studying history was very much discouraged by the Citadel .
    She looked back to her calculations. The next heliacal rising of Nibiru should be later this evening. The synodic arc advances 36 degrees since we’re in zone 2. This places it 24 degrees into SipaZi-Anna, equidistant between d’Lulal and d’Latarak. She suddenly chilled with anticipation at the prospect of spotting this elusive wanderer. The next few weeks would tell.
    Several more students had now seated themselves, and a quiet murmur filled the room. Inanna glanced up and realized it was time to begin.
    The room was nearly full, and, as always, she was overwhelmed at the incredible variety and creativity of Lifeforce . Seated before her was