Nexus - 0221 - New Times Magazine-pages

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ing a peace and contentment that was rare revealed as much as my fist sight of that nowhere. Strange, tall, square machines for me in those days. I was a restless soul statue. stood against the far walls, the varicolored and loved to keep moving on. The next I spent many days wandering around the lights on their flat surfaces blinking and morning we started off early. Archer trot- valley, sketching the statue from various gleaming. There was some sort of air cir- _ ted swiftly up the trail even though it grew angles at various times of day. There was culation that started up and the temperature steeper as we went. He seemed caught up, no clue to its origin, only the feeling of became very cold, almost unbearable, but I eager to reach the summit. I caught his great age. didn't want to go back for a warmer jacket mood and we flew along until we reached The lava had flowed maybe 10,000 years _ for fear the stone would close and I would- the top. Below us spread a magnificent ago and the statue had stood even then! _ n't be able to return. valley ringed with high peaks topped by But it seemed so familiar. A week passed At the front of the room—for I realised it eternal glaciers. To the north smoked a __ before I knew the answer. It was a statue was a room artificially carved and magnifi- massive volcano and I could see evidence of Jesus, I suddenly realised one morning cently constructed—there was a huge metal of many eruptions in the valley below— _ with a gasp of amazement. chest, the lid open. There knelt the-body of ancient and recent lava flows and ash. But how could that be? I could find no aman, badly decayed and dressed as a con- Hardly anything seemed to grow there, answer, but it definitely was He, for 1 saw ~ quistador, its arms thrown into the contents except by a wide, slow-moving river that the nail imprints in His hands and feet. I up to the elbows, in an attitude of extreme traversed the centre. There trees stood and wondered why it had taken me so long, agony. As I walked closer I could see the abundant grass grew, enough to keep We had camped by the statue. I raised chest was filled with jewels, fabulous Archer satisfied for many a day. my tent between the feet where it was more stones of great size. I paused but didn't It was then that I noticed the huge statue sheltered. On the day I finally recognised touch them as I felt a sense of great danger carved in the cliffs by the river. Oh, itwas the statue, I noticed the three crosses to myself if I should do so. magnificent, shining in the morning light, carved on a large square slab to the right of To the side of the chest stood a sort of standing at least 100 feet high. The figure the statue's feet. They seemed to say, dais or podium where lights also flashed. was of a bearded man staring into the dis- "Come here and we'll show you." SoI The distinct impression of a man’s right tance, standing as if poised for danger. walked over and pushed hard against the hand was to the front. I felt compelled, One arm was raised, a finger pointing to _ stone, not really expecting anything to hap- almost forced against my will to place my the sky. He was dressed in long robes and _ pen. right hand into that impression. his sandalled feet touched the edge of an The mechanism hardly made a sound as How can I describe what next came upon ancient lava flow that was washed by the the stone moved smoothly back into the me? Visions flashed before my eyes—the edges of the river. I could see the statue cliff, exposing a long dark hallway. At the history of the ancient people who had built had been there long before the lava had end, the stone moved to the side with an this place. What a civilisation they had come. I sat on Archer, staring for a long echoing thud, revealing a dark cavern of worldwide, advanced beyond our wildest time before signalling him to go forward. uncertain size. I grabbed my flashlight and dreams, their knowledge spanning all our There have been few times in my life walked swiftly through the corridor, hard-won science and more. They navigat- that the sense of mystery has come so _ thrilled and not a little afraid. ed the seas and the air and even space, their strongly upon me: at the Taj Mahal, and As I stepped into the room, it was sud- huge vessels travelling between worlds as the Sphinx. Even those places, though, did denly illuminated by a cold, bright light easily as we now sail a placid lake! They not evoke the sense of ancient secrets to be that seemed to come from everywhere and knew the whole solar system and many — systems beyond. The machine was showing me the history of their religion: how a great prophet had come, telling of the Universal Creator and how His son was to come one day to save the Earth. They built great temples, and, as long as they followed the wisdom taught there, the civilisation prospered. 4 as a But then there came a falling away, after NH} (wet ages had passed and the King had not yet ( PAIR come. The temples fell into disrepair and the civilisation became corrupt, evil. In this time, some who still followed the old religion fled to this high valley and built what I had discovered, for they knew their world was soon to be destroyed forever. It was a time capsule left to the future. The machine paused, then asked, "Has the King come?" I stood silent, amazed peak ‘ = OF E = brat») iDy that I could understand the words. My “SS 2 E ee mind grew blank. 1 whispered, "Yes, He SoTHAT'S WHERE IT WAS... Fok TH ONE FoR YEARS. 60¢NEXUS revealed as much as my fist sight of that ctama AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1994