Return to Eden

pleased with herself and took another bite of meat, chewed and swallowed before she spoke again.
    "Approval of your fearful respect," she signed. "Magnanimity in greatness, insult forgotten. Your name?"
    "Muruspe…" the terrified creature finally gasped.
    "Tell me Muruspe, who is the eistaa of this great city that has such fine meat?"
    "She is… Lanefenuu, Eistaa of Ikhalmenets before Ikhalmenets came to Alpèasak."
    "Sea-girt Ikhalmenets come here. I had not heard."
    "Cold of winter, snows of cold whiteness descending."
    "I can well believe that. Your city was too far to the north. Now, lead me to Lanefenuu for I have heard of her and desire the pleasure of her acquaintance."
    The ambesed was large and sunfilled. The eistaa, arms gleaming with multicolored painting, sat at ease and issued orders to those gathered about her. It was a pleasant, civilized scene and filled Ambalasei with much pleasure as she approached and spoke.
    "Powerful Lanefenuu, Eistaa of sea-girt Ikhalmenets now come to Alpèasak, accept the salutations of Ambalasei knowledgeable of all things who now stands before you."
    Lanefenuu curved her arms in warm greetings and admiration. "If you are the Ambalasei of whom I have heard ever since I was a wet-skinned fargi you are amplified/welcomed to my city."
    "Could this world possibly contain two Yilanè of such achievements? Impossibility. I admit to being the Ambalasei of whom you speak."
    "Ambalasei!" the name rang out, the tones echoing hers, and she turned to see a familiar figure pressing forward. "Ambalasei who instructed me in all the wisdom of science. Greatest pleasure in life to witness your presence here."
    "Undoubtedly. Is that you lean Ukhereb, my student?"
    "I am. And look, hurrying there, another of your students."
    "Figure of fatness—it can only be Akotolp. The greatness of your city increases, Lanefenuu, with scientists of their knowledge, who learned from me of course, serving you here.'
    They pressed thumbs in greetings and Lanefenuu ordered a chair of great comfort to be brought forward for the old scientist. The Yilanè present moved with pleasure for all had heard of Ambalasei, while the rings of fargi behind them stirred with the knowledge of great events occurring. There was silence as the Eistaa spoke.
    "By what unknown scientific means do you appear in our city?"
    "The science of the uruketo. The commander now takes the beast north along the shore to continue my oceanic researches, which are important beyond comprehension." She waved over the fargi with her container, reached into it and held up the recording creature. "Facts contained herein, Eistaa. Discoveries of note to change complete knowledge of the world. None in any of the cities of the Yilanè know of this yet. The pleasure is mine to share this knowledge first with Lanefenuu. Even before it is imparted to scientists/friends. For a great eistaa, who can safely move her city across an entire ocean, is deserving of highest rewards."
    Lanefenuu signed only magnification of pleasure in return. This was becoming a day to be long remembered. "All of you back," she ordered. "This greatest Yilanè of science shall speak with me alone."
    They pushed and stumbled over each other so forceful was the command, so great the event. Moved back ten, twenty, thirty paces until Lanefenuu and Ambalasei were at the center of an immense ring of admiring Yilanè, they in turn surrounded by fargi. The ambesed was now filled to capacity as word spread and all in the city hurried to witness what was occurring.
    They saw Ambalasei hand the recording creature to the Eistaa, saw them bend close in conversation, their voices so low that the meaning of their movements could not be understood. But they all understood easily enough when the Eistaa climbed to her feet and held the recording creature over her head as she moved her body in arcs of triumph. A great rustle of sound came from their feet as they hurried close at her signed command.
    "A day that will be talked about, remembered forever. This greatest Yilanè of knowledge has revealed it to me—and I reveal it to you. The world that we know now is incomplete. We Yilanè have come here to Gendasi*, from Entoban*, have seen the size of the known world doubled in our lifetime. We knew of but one continent and now we have voyaged to this second continent. Now listen and be amazed. Great Ambalasei, in her wisdom, has discovered yet a third immense, warm continent to the south of us." She