Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 10:34:43 -0800
From: John Black <blackhunk33@gmail.com>
Subject: Library of Alexandria, Chapter 7

Library of Alexandria

Chapter 7


	Saturday was another beautiful day.  But, most of the scholars were
inside, feverishly translating parchments, clay tablets, books, and other
written documents.  Word about the early Egyptian book that featured a
lengthy history of Atlantis spread like a prairie fire storm.  Nearly all
other translating work slowed to a snail's pace.  As soon as a new page was
made available from the three experts on early Egyptian hieroglyphs, there
was a rush to read it.  Comments, conclusions, and comparisons were drawn
between the play and the new discovery.  It seemed that everyone had an
opinion by the end of Saturday.

	John and Michael had breakfast with Mr. Asquith and the three early
Egyptian translators Sunday morning.  John and Michael had skipped the
workout and slept in.  Eric smiled throughout the breakfast.  The other
experts looked rested and ready to continue the translation work.  After
breakfast, John pulled Eric aside and asked how his evening had gone.

	"I had no idea I could have that much fun with one man.  And such a
man!  He's brilliant, well-read, clever, fun to be with, has a body that
won't quit and a need for sex that matches my own," he beamed.

	"A repeat performance this evening, then?" Michael wondered.

	"Count on it," Eric smiled.

	"Our work here is done," John laughed.  "But, you still have your
translating work to do, Eric.  Better get to it."  Eric departed with the
learned couple, eager to continue their work.  Drs. Abernethy and Steele
were sharing a suite of rooms.  Tongues wagged about the two scholars
sharing accommodations, but it was quickly learned that they were in fact
married.  Dr. Steele saw no reason to adopt her husband's name.  So, she
didn't.

	Apparently, no one was taking the day off.  The entire staff
hovered over their computers, waiting for the next translated page to
appear.  Notes of exclamation and disbelief permeated the estate.  Messages
were sent back and forth among the on-lookers, marveling at the unfolding
story.  By noon, only another 30 pages were translated.  Word was that the
translated pages to date amounted to only 20% of the total.  There was no
way this translation would be ready by Monday at press release time.

       So, John and Michael scoured the other teams working on translations
to find something else to include in the press release.  The
Sumerian/Babylonian team had translated a particular group of clay tablets
that made references to their polytheistic religion.  There was nothing new
here that wasn't already known.  However, it didn't contradict anything
that had been known about the Sumerians to date, either.

       They wrote up a press release on Sunday evening and showed it to the
Sumerian experts and to Mr. Asquith.  The first paragraph noted that none
of this was new information about the Sumerians.  But, in the spirit of
full disclosure, the text was being released along with the translation and
annotations about the pantheon of Sumerian gods.  The press dutifully
reported it.  And it was greeted with a collective yawn by everyone but the
few Sumerian experts not in residence at the Asquith estate.

       However, the press wasn't satisfied with known information about the
Sumerians.  They clamored for more information about the Atlanteans.
Another press release was sent out on Wednesday that cautioned the press.
"We will release the information when we have it," Mr. Asquith was quoted
as saying.  "Meanwhile, you'll have to be patient.  Translating an ancient
language is not simple.  We have very little to go on for a complete
translation.  We do have a complete alphabet and some translated words from
the Atlantean play, but that doesn't give us a working knowledge of the
language.  Please, be patient."

	Of course, that didn't satisfy them, but they weren't going to get
anything else until the following week.  In the meantime, Mr. Asquith asked
the trio of Egyptian translators to work only a standard work day.  It
would be too much of a burden to continue working at night.  They all
needed down time to collect their thoughts and rest their minds.
Compliance was an issue, but the three did see the merit in his argument.

	Eric was the only one of the three that complied fully with
Mr. Asquith's wishes.  He had a delightful distraction every evening that
kept him otherwise occupied.  On Thursday, he pulled John and Michael aside
for a short conversation.

	"My time with Jared has been the best time of my life," he smiled.
"He's so giving and caring.  I'd never expected that from a hard-ass,
former Marine and security type.  But, he's an astonishing sexual partner,
always hungry for more fucking and breeding.  I'm glad there is so much
expected of me during the day or I'd want to be in bed with him all the
time.  But, he does have his duties as well, so it wouldn't be a problem
anyway."

	But, nothing remains the same.  Jared's shift was changed to late
afternoons and early evenings.  However, he did crawl into bed with Eric as
soon as his shift was over.  They had fewer hours to fuck, but they managed
to get in some quality time together before they had to sleep.  And they
fucked each morning before Eric left for his translation duties.  At noon
on each day, Eric would wolf down his lunch and disappear.  John and
Michael knew that Eric had gone back to his room for a "nooner" with Jared
before they had to return to their respective duties.  Eric allowed that
this split in their love life seemed to increase their need to be with each
other.  And they took full advantage of each other during their brief
interludes.

	Chatter among the rest of the scholars focused exclusively on the
translations coming from the Egyptian group.  The other scholars did pursue
their own specialties, but always stopped when another page became
available about the Atlanteans.  It was like a soap opera that they
couldn't turn away from.  By Friday, the Atlantean group was nearly
finished with their translation.  The last few pages of the text moved away
from the Atlanteans and told of the first three dynasties and their history
in Egypt.

	"We'll be ready for a summary no later than Monday morning,"
Dr. Steele promised.  "We'll work on that this weekend."

	Mr. Asquith reminded them that there was no deadline for their
work.  If it wasn't finished by Monday, it could wait until the next
Monday.  However, they were sure they could finish, so he let them proceed.
But, Mr. Asquith did direct John and Michael to prepare another press
release that wasn't about Atlantis.  They surveyed the groups again and
found that there were two completed translations that could be released.
One was concerning the Phoenicians.  The other was another Babylonian text.
Unfortunately, the Babylonian text was about grain harvests and the
distribution of them.

	Michael and John suggested to Mr. Asquith that the Babylonian text
be released with another note suggesting that the mundane was to be
expected.  The Phoenician text was about trade with Egypt and Greece.
Again, no new information.  However, it was interesting in that the
documents were two trade treaties with those two civilizations and the
Phoenicians.  The Phoenicians were better sailors and navigators, so the
Greeks and Egyptians were agreeing that materials shipped by sea would be
carried by Phoenician ships, and how much the charge would be.  Also stated
was the fact that neither Greece nor Egypt had the requisite skills or
vessels to accomplish the trade in goods anticipated.  Greece and Egypt did
have military navies, but that wasn't spoken of in the treaties.  Pirates
did exist, so the Phoenicians agreed that any losses would be borne by
them.  However, for that assurance, additional fees were charged.  It was
up to the merchant sending the goods to buy that additional "insurance"
from the Phoenicians.  Truthfully, the Phoenicians could sail the ship into
their ports and say that the ship was l lost to the pirates.  Hence, it was
more of a protection racket than the classic "insurance" that we think of
today.

	With the stand-by press release approved and ready to go,
Mr. Asquith relaxed and told the Atlantean team to take the weekend off.
Of course, they didn't do that.  They worked on Saturday afternoon and all
of Sunday polishing the translation and summary.  On Monday morning, they
were ready with their presentation.  The conference room was overflowing
with standing room only around the periphery.  All the researchers and
translators attended.  Off-duty security people also found space in the
conference room.

	Dr. Steele rose to address the group.  She received an enthusiastic
ovation.  She motioned for Dr. Abernethy and Eric to stand also.  Their
work was also critical to the success of the translation.  The applause
swelled, with whistles and foot stomping.  Dr. Steele held up her hands for
quiet as her two cohorts sat down.  "Thank you for attending and giving us
such a warm welcome," she began.  She got more applause and laughter for
that line.  "I know that probably all of you have been keeping up with the
translations as each page was released."  Nearly everyone nodded
sheepishly.  "And we thank you for your comments and questions.  A few of
your comments were important to our translation work when you suggested a
change of word or questioned the word we used, noting that the meaning was
unclear in the context of the story.  We have created a summary of what the
text says for those who haven't followed it as closely as your friends
night have.  I knew that the room would be filled today, so I have placed
the summary on the computer screens around the room and on the projector
screen behind me.  Lights, please," she directed.

	The conference room lights dimmed.  The first page of the summary
flashed on to the screen.  "I'm not going to read this to you.  You all
know how to do that," she quipped.  "But, I do want to point out certain
key elements.  And feel free to ask questions.  There are no dumb
questions, so open up and ask them.  If it is something I'll cover later,
I'll tell you that.  If I still haven't answered your question when I get
to that point, ask again."  She looked down at her notes.  "Ready for page
two?" she asked her captivated audience.  No one responded in the negative,
so she nodded to the projectionist and the second page filled the screen.
"These are the bullet points that are the highlights of what we
discovered," she said, turning to the screen and pointing with a small
laser device.  "Again, you can read as well as the rest of us, so I won't
bore you with reading to you."

	The rest of her presentation went through all 12 screens.  There
had been no questions until the end.  Then, the questions poured out.  "Is
the world really ready for this revelation about our collective, ancient
past?" one of the graduate students asked.  Several heads nodded agreement.

	"We are all men and women of science and learning," Dr. Steele
prefaced.  "I know we collectively have no issues with this.  But, the
conservative and religious people are going to have a fit.  Mr. Asquith
needs to make the determination about the release of everything in this
translation.  Mr. Asquith?" she nodded to the boss.

	Mr. Asquith rose slowly, collecting his thoughts on the matter.  "I
completely understand the concern in the question that was asked.  But, I
have to tell you, I did promise to the world that nothing would be held
back.  This is a full-disclosure operation.  We can couch it in terms that
don't purport that this is a true history written by the participants.  It
is all second hand.  However, the tale is so extraordinary and the
chronicler is clear that he consulted texts available to him to tell the
story of Atlantis.  I doubt that he made any of that up," he smiled.  "Some
will see this as a grand tale, but not true because of the distance between
when the events occurred and the recording of those events in this book.
Others will grab the text and believe every word of it as gospel.  I can't
judge which will prevail.

       "Just as in the Middle Ages, everyone was so sure that the earth was
flat and you'd sail off the edge if you went too far west.  It took years
for the real `truth' to change that view.  Some fringe element people still
believe that mankind never landed on the moon and returned.  That kind of
mind can't be convinced of anything that isn't already in their small mind.
I'm sure you've all noticed that the new Pope has had much to say about how
the world treats the marginalized and the poor.  Yet, a few, `good'
Catholics are not heeding what he has to say.  Evidently, they are of the
opinion that the Vicar of Christ doesn't know what he's talking about, even
though this new Pope is quoting Jesus," he sighed.  "Even facts can't fix
stupid.  But, facts can change ignorance, IF the people are willing to
learn.  So, yes, I plan on releasing the entire translation along with
copies of the original hieroglyphs.  How can we not do that?"

	Other questions delved into the substance of what was in the
Egyptian book and how to prepare the world for the details of the first
recorded contact with extraterrestrial beings, their efforts to civilize
mankind, and their eventual departure.  A few mentioned the expansion of
the timeline during which Atlantis thrived.  They were assured that the
addition of another 2,000 years was based on what was written in the
Egyptian book.  However, that is subject to challenge, because this is the
only "evidence" available that states that Atlantis lasted far longer than
was previously thought.

	Michael, John, and Mr. Asquith sequestered themselves in
Mr. Asquith's office to draft a press release.  They asked the three
members of the translating team to join them.  "In my opinion," Mr. Asquith
began, "I think the summary that you put up on the screen in the conference
room this morning should be the meat of the release.  A paragraph or two of
introduction, plus a summarizing one at the end should be adequate."

	"There are a lot of details in the actual text that I've left out
of the summary," Dr. Steele cautioned.  "They add a great deal of color and
dimension to the summary."

	"Perhaps, we need a press release as you've suggested, like an
executive summary.  Then add a more detailed telling of the tale as an
addendum," Michael offered.

	"Is it possible to have that written before we send out the press
release?" Mr. Asquith asked.

	"Probably not," Dr. Steele interrupted.  "There's a lot to tell in
the full story."

	"There's nothing sacred about a Monday press release," Mr. Asquith
mused.  "We can always send out the press release we already wrote about
the Phoenicians and Babylonians.  And then send out a special press release
when we're ready about Atlantis.  That would surely have a greater impact.
It'll probably lead every news program in the world."

	"Excluding the crazy, right-wing morons at Faux News," John
smirked.  "They'll be sure to call it a fraud, because it doesn't agree
with their prejudices.  They are already savaging the Atlantean play as
`ungodly'.  I guess they missed the part in the news release that reminded
everyone that it is a play, not a history."

	"Yeah, they gotta pander to their ignorant, bigoted viewers,"
Michael sighed.

	"So, go ahead and create a more fleshed out summary of the
Atlantean history as told by the ancient Egyptians," Mr. Asquith
pronounced.  "Don't leave out germane parts that help tell the story.  This
isn't the executive summary.  This is something that can be easily
explained to the general population.  Keep it simple, but keep it
understandable.  And please avoid comments or extrapolations.  This
expanded summary is a retelling of the story.  This is not about putting it
all in context.  That can come later."

	"We'll have something for you on Tuesday or Wednesday," Dr. Steele
promised.

	"Take whatever time you need," Mr. Asquith asserted.  "Next Monday
would be fine, too."

	"This is going to be one monster press release," John said.

	"That it will," Mr. Asquith agreed.

	On Tuesday afternoon, the expanded summary was presented to
Mr. Asquith.  He read it slowly, making a few notations in the margins.
Only once did he ask if something in the summary really was stated as such
in the original text.  He was assured that it was exactly as written.  When
he finished, he handed it over to Michael and John for their comments.
They didn't have any.  The early Egyptian group read the few word changes
that Mr. Asquith had suggested and agreed to them.

	"This is going to be dynamite," Michael surmised.  "We need to have
someone who is ready to answer questions in a news conference shortly after
the release of the material."

	"Do I see a volunteer?" Mr. Asquith smiled.  No one stepped
forward.  He sighed.  "Well, as it is my project, I'm the obvious choice."
Everyone else breathed a sigh of relief.  "A news conference is the best
approach.  Being interviewed by only one part of the media will never do
and will smack of favoritism.  Should we send the press release before or
during the press conference?"  He looked at John and Michael for an answer.

	They looked at each other and shrugged.  "In my opinion, I think we
need to create another very brief news release that announces the press
conference and a teaser about the subject matter," Michael suggested.
"That teaser should say something about a large book that has been
translated from early Egyptian hieroglyphs.  In that book was a very long
recital of the history of Atlantis.  And I think it should be our first
shot at reminding the media that this is a recitation by a chronicler who
is reporting what he knows of the Atlanteans and not an eye-witness
account."

	"Good point," Mr. Asquith agreed.  "Draft it up for me and let's
see what kind of response we get.  We won't send out the announcement about
the press conference until we are all on the same page about the extended
summary.  Are we agreed?"  He got nods from everyone.  "Furthermore, I want
the three of you on the dais with me," he pointed to Eric and Drs. Steele
and Abernethy.  "Michael and John will be there as well in case I get
myself in a jam," he laughed.  "Okay, draft it up and let's get it out
today with the press conference scheduled for noon tomorrow.  Will our
conference room be large enough, I wonder?"

	"After all the interest generated by the Atlantean play," John
said, "I doubt very much that we could accommodate them here.  Let me see
what I can find outside.  Press only?"

	"Yes," Mr. Asquith said.  "Otherwise, it would be a free for all
and we'd never find a space big enough.  I'll want our security group
checking everyone who enters for their press credentials.  And I want the
place and the media screened for explosives and fire arms.  There are nut
jobs in the media as well, you know."

	"I could rent one of the concert halls where there is no balcony
seating, but there is stadium seating.  That will allow everyone to see and
be seen.  I know there will be lots of media clamoring for seats," John
proposed.  "I'll make sure that the major media are seated in front.  And I
won't particularly favor television over print."

	"Good.  Let's get cracking," Mr. Asquith smiled.

	John and Michael quickly drafted a short press release announcing
the press conference, including the date, time, and place.  John had
already contacted the concert hall.  They were delighted to have such a
momentous event staged at their facility.  The concert hall had several
adjoining rooms where the overflow crowd could be seated.  A large screen
television would be in each of those rooms.  During the question and answer
period, there was a microphone they could use that would allow them to
speak to the main hall.

	The press release read as follows:

	Mr. Granville Asquith announced today a press conference will be
held at the Lincoln Concert Hall on Broadway at 2 p.m. tomorrow.  Doors
will open at 1:00 p.m. local time.  Members of the media are invited to
attend.  Additional space has been made available outside the main hall for
overflow.  In the press conference, Mr. Asquith will discuss the latest and
most remarkable translation of an ancient Egyptian book.  The contents of
that book speak of an extensive history and culture of Atlantis.

	This history of Atlantis was written many years after Atlantis
disappeared.  This is not a first-hand account of Atlantean history and
culture.  Please keep that in mind.  However, the chronicler is very direct
in stating that he accessed materials in his possession that were written
by the Atlanteans.

	There will be an executive summary of the discovery and the
revelations of this book.  Mr. Asquith will also provide the attendees with
a much longer summary that deals with Atlantis in more specific terms.
Also, Mr. Asquith is making available the full translation of the book as
well as photocopies of the original Egyptian hieroglyphs.

	Please bring your press credentials with you to gain entrance to
the press conference.  Anyone without credentials will be turned away.
Each media outlet is allowed one principal and an assistant.  No others
will be allowed entry.  We encourage you to send only one person if
possible as seating is very limited.

	Thank you for your continued support and interest in our findings
from the Library of Alexandria.

	The press release was sent out to all the networks and wire
services.  A long list of the major newspapers and magazines of the world
got the invitation as well.  It was short notice to those media folks
across the ocean, but Mr. Asquith was of the opinion that this startling
discovery couldn't be held back more than a day.  Someone at the estate was
sure to blab.

       Of course, the phones started ringing immediately.  Everyone wanted
an exclusive interview before or after the press conference.  None were
granted.  Others clamored for more information about the discovery.  They
were ignored.

	The executive summary and the fuller summary were reviewed several
more times, but the changes were minor.  Mr. Asquith put his approval on
the final products.  He also asked for copies of the full translation as
well as copies of the original book.  He put them in his briefcase and put
that in his bedroom with a laptop computer that held exactly the same
information.  Mr. Asquith wanted to have a back-up plan ready to go in case
his computer lost power or had a problem.  The printed page would be his
fall back.

	John and Michael left the estate right after breakfast the next day
to be sure that the main hall and ancillary rooms were ready.  Accompanying
them was the majority of the security team.  They checked the rooms as well
as the concert building for any anomalies.  None were found.  Mr. Asquith
had contacted the mayor and asked him for a contingent of policeman to keep
the curious and the crazy away from the press conference.  Mr. Asquith and
the three translators arrived at 1:30 p.m. to set up.  Four security men
followed them in and distributed to each chair in the rented space full
packets containing the summaries and the full translations with the copies
of the original Egyptian.

	Media representatives who had arrived early and were already seated
were told that they couldn't leave the press conference until after it
started.  And they couldn't send any of the printed information out with an
assistant until the briefing began.  At that point, they were free to do as
they wished.  However, if they felt like they were captive, they could
leave anytime they wished without any of the printed matter.  But, they
wouldn't be allowed re-admittance.

	  There were only two people who tried to get into the press
conference on counterfeit press credentials.  The police escorted them
away.  Gratefully, no crazies gathered outside.  However, there was a large
crowd of the curious outside.  Most of them were accessing their tablets
and phones to get the latest information about what was being discussed
inside.

       	Mr. Asquith welcomed the media and began his presentation.  Similar
to the presentation made by Dr. Steele on Monday, Mr. Asquith displayed the
executive summary on a large screen at the front of the auditorium.  His
computer would control the speed of the page changes.  He had asked the
attendees to hold their questions until the end of the presentation.

       "All of you have the executive summary, a lengthy summary, the
complete translation of the book, and a photocopy of the original Egyptian
text," he began.  "I will be talking to you today from the executive
summary.  But, as a preface some of what I'm about to discuss has already
been hinted at with the Atlantean play you received last week.  I'll leave
it to you to draw your own conclusions between the two.

       "Now, to the substance of the summary.  This is a significant window
into the history and culture of Atlantis.  This is not the fictional
reference by Plato that he tried to show to his followers about how
superior Athenian civilization was to all others.  The Atlantis he writes
of is a belligerent naval power.  He got the name and the naval power
correct.  But, Atlantis was not belligerent.  They did, however, have
superior ships and trade practices.  Plato was making a point about the
Athenian state, not about Atlantis.

       "With this new discovery, we now know a great deal about Atlantis.
But, as with all such discoveries, it leaves out a great deal that we'd
like to know, but the chronicler was silent on.  Please remember that this
history of Atlantis was written about two millennia after the disappearance
of Atlantis.  He does state that he consulted several texts that were
contemporaneous with Atlantis or written by Atlanteans.  We have no reason
to think he made it all up.

       "The text tells us that the Atlantean were visited repeated by
extraterrestrials, giving Atlantis guidance, direction, and education.  At
the direction of their gods, they established a republic with voting rights
for all adults.  A king was appointed by the head of the gods, Archon.
Each king was followed by his eldest son, unless that line ran out.  Then,
the next most senior son took over.  The list of kings that we have already
translated shows how they were related to each other and to the first king.
The narrative does not tell us how the first king was chosen.

       "At the start of the Atlantis civilization, the gods were frequent
visitors, giving them guidance and correction as the gods deemed
appropriate.  Certain offenses would remove the king from his throne.
Those included crimes like murder and other heinous crimes.  He could also
be removed for enslaving or attacking other lands for plunder or profit.

       "Archon had a person with him by the name of Apollymi who served as
healer and trainer of medical persons in Atlantis.  She also had the power
to raise persons from the dead.  With her holy stone, she could look inside
an Atlantean and know the nature of their injury or illness as well as
repair them.  She also would use the holy stone on each new child to remove
any impediments to their successful lives.  We assume that mean some kind
of DNA scan that would fix anomalies in their genes.

       "All Atlanteans were brilliant people, with ingenious new devices
and processes invented by them.  They made remarkable advances in medicine,
agriculture, navigation, and science.  Their interests were always the
driver as to what they wanted to do as adults.  People from other lands
were brought in as housekeepers, cleaners, farm hands, helpers, assistants,
and so forth.  They were shown respect and given a living wage.  Any
mistreated foreigner would be given a job in another household or farm and
the previous employer would be severely punished.

       "Apollymi could hold her magic stone against the employer and know
the truth of what really happened.  Judgment was swift and sure.  Persons
unable to conform to Atlantean law were banished.  That may seem like "big
brother" to some of you, but it worked for the Atlanteans for over 8,000
years. And we don't know if there was clemency for a first offense or if
there was no latitude in their laws.  The text is silent on that.

       "The Atlanteans developed some kind of solar energy collection and
storage system.  We don't know what it was.  At the direction of the gods,
they developed metallurgy and a form of computer.  Also, they created a
series of tools that allowed them to mine and smelt rock into metals that
were fabricated into other tools and weapons.

       "The chronicler went to great lengths to show that the weapons and
tools that could harm people were designed in such a way that they were
personal.  That meant that if someone else picked it up, it was inert to
that person.  Weapons were of such a design that they would render
unconscious another person who was not Atlantean, but wouldn't harm any
sentient being.  Any weapon used on an Atlantean would not work.

       "There were instances where the weapon of choice was one that was
more ancient in design like a knife or a bow and arrow.  Apollymi would
heal the person and the person harmed would point out their assaulter.  The
felon would be tried and if convicted would deserve banishment.  Again, we
don't know if extenuating circumstances made a difference in the
sentencing.

       "Atlantis was not one island, but six islands.  Their trading
vessels were large and fast, foregoing sails and using the power of the sun
to propel them.  They traded all along the ports of the Mediterranean Sea
and the Atlantic coast.  Later, they established trading posts around the
world.  Technology and other scientific advances were never shared with
foreigners.  This was at the direction of the gods.  Persons who worked at
Atlantis who were not natives were allowed to return to their homes any
time they wished.  But, they could never take more than tales of the
marvels of Atlantis with them.

       "They flourished for nearly 8,000 years.  In the later years, they
seldom saw the gods.  But, on one fateful day, the gods appeared to them on
the main island at the king's palace.  They brought bad news about the
future of Atlantis.  The gods were losing a battle among the stars against
their nemesis.  This nemesis was unnamed.  However, the Atlanteans were
told that they had less than a day to flee their islands before the nemesis
destroyed them.  That alien race never left anything standing that had the
stamp of the gods.  Further, when the Atlanteans fled their islands, they
couldn't take any of their technology with them.  That technology could be
seen from the skies and the nemesis would destroy the technology and any
people nearby.

       "But, they were allowed to take as many books and other written
materials that weren't stored on their developed technology.  Their
knowledge could go with them, but nothing else could.  If they had room in
their ships for their livestock, they could take that with them as well.
However, the impending disaster forced the Atlanteans to leave nearly
everything behind.  Too many of their ships were at foreign ports and
couldn't reach Atlantis in time.

       "On that fateful day, powerful light streaked from the heavens,
blasting the six islands into dust and sinking any remnant under the waves.
Two escaping Atlantean ships were also destroyed as someone had taken
aboard technology that the nemesis could detect.

       "The Atlanteans scattered across the seas.  Many landed soon at
ports along the Mediterranean coast.  At that time, the Sahara desert was a
verdant savanna with planted crops and abundant game.  A large group of
Atlanteans settled there.  But, about 5,000 years ago, the climate changed
in a generation, forcing the remaining descendants of Atlantis to flee to
the only water and tillable land around.  They settled along the banks of
the Nile, giving rise to the First Dynasty of Egypt.

       "That's the executive summary.  Additional details are in the more
complete summary and a full account of what the chronicler wrote is
available as well as the original Egyptian text.  I'll now take your
questions."

	When the projector screen went dark, he was barraged with
questions.  A series of microphones were placed around the hall and taken
to the person asking the question.  Everyone wanted to hear the question as
well as the answer.

	Andrew was the first person recognized by Mr. Asquith.  "Sir, how
confident are you in the translation of the ancient Egyptian and in the
tale told therein?"

	"Those are two separate questions," Mr. Asquith smiled.  "The
translation of early Egyptian hieroglyphs is pretty straight forward.  The
translation of these early Egyptian hieroglyphs has been known and agreed
upon for several years.  As always, you are free to try the translation
yourself."  That got a chuckle from the audience.  "As to your second
question, the chronicler wrote what he knew based on documents in his
possession.  I have no reason to doubt him.  However, he wrote all this
down about 2,000 years after the demise of Atlantis.  I have no knowledge
of the sources he used or their reliability.  That will be up to the reader
to decide."

	Other questions arose about the ramifications of such a revelation
and how Mr. Asquith expected the religious community to respond.  He dodged
that question, stating that he would leave that to them to comment.  It was
not his intent to engage in a debate.  This discovery stood on its own
merits.  Just as some people will argue that the earth is only 6,000 years
old, the majority of people would welcome this new knowledge about our
mutual past.

	Mr. O'Mara of Faux News shouted for recognition, but Mr. Asquith
ignored him.  He focused instead on the general media and the world's
largest newspapers and magazines.  There was no point in allowing O'Mara a
forum to spout his ignorance, prejudices, and bigotry.  He had his own
network for that.  That's not to say that other conservative or stridently
religious people didn't ask hard questions, but Mr. Asquith parried them
easily.  "You are condemning it before you've read it.  Are you sure you're
journalists and not demagogues?" he asked.  "And what will be your position
when we find that there is other life out in the cosmos and probably
intelligent life?  Will you deny the existence of that as well?"  That got
laughter and applause from the rest of the media.

	After an hour of questions and answers, Mr. Asquith called the
conference to a close.  He reminded the attendees of the origin of the
ancient book and the caveats that go along with a text of this age.  "The
revelations are astonishing and must lead us to reexamine our view of our
place in the history of our planet," he concluded.

	The Asquith people left the concert hall and rode away in two
limousines.  More shouted questions followed them.  But, the people who had
gathered outside the hall applauded them as they left.  Part of the Asquith
security departed with the limousines.  The rest stayed in the concert hall
to clean up and pick up any copies of the summaries and translations.  Few
copies were left.

	The firestorm about the new discovery of the history of Atlantis
swept the world.  The anticipated tsunami of interest and condemnations
paled when compared to what the reaction turned out to be.


This story is fiction.  Your life isn't.  Always play safe.

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