~~~
Now, beyond the ring of light-crystals, dawn is rising. My tale is done, but we Tani must observe one more rite before we give Holy Light the offering of water.
"When Par-On and I had spoken," I say, "he sent me to summon you to this place, at this time, to recall what we are as one people, and to prepare ourselves for the Work soon to start. Now, you've heard our people's story, and you know of the Message to the earth and of the Work for which our people sent us here. Will you bind yourselves to the Work and follow our ancestral leader as he guides us in it?"
Some eagerly, some reluctantly, all say, "We will." Kuma hands me the bundle that has lain through the night at Par's feet. As I take off its wrappings, I reveal the most precious artifact that the Tan sent with us children to the earth -- the three-spired golden crown of the House of On. As I hold the crown over Par's head, I feed crystal-shaping gift into gold. Crystals of healing, light, and memory outblaze the dawn.
The others go to their right knees, cross their arms over their chests, and bow their heads. As one they say, "Joy to you, Ruler of the Tan, Par-On!" As I settle the crown onto Par's head, Kuma and Un-Thor say, "Joy to you, Ruler of the earth!"
As some of the others repeat the words, I think, Par may have to rule this world to save it.
He doesn't repudiate the words. Rising, he says, "When we leave this place, we must start to spread the word that the Message is coming, and we must devote ourselves to the Work. Once we leave, our lives will be caught up in the Work for Holy Light knows how long to come.
"The Work will consume us. It may even exhaust us. We must accept the chance that not all of us will make it through the Work. When it daunts us, we must look back at ten lost worlds as the testimony of what awaits the earth if we let the Work fail. When it daunts us, we must look forward to its fulfillment, an age of peace that we Tani and the earth-humans will share as equals among the stars. For the sake of that testimony and that fulfillment, the Work is worth whatever it costs us.
"Now, before we leave, let's join as a people in our oldest and most sacred rite, the offering of water at dawn."
We kneel on both knees to the sun, just clearing the horizon, and hold out to the sun bowls of water. We bind ourselves anew to the old foundations of faith, family, and community, and to the old virtues of duty, loyalty, and truthfulness. We bind ourselves to the new imperatives to remember the Homeworld, to perpetuate the People, and to save the earth. We pour out most of the water, and drink the rest of it in honor of Holy Light, to join creation and Creator in compassion.
We gather our belongings and scatter to our homes to ready ourselves to fight for a world that, regardless of the cost, we'll never let go into darkness.
In a few days, children of the earth, a message will start to reach you from a dying world of Wolf 1061. In the message, you will learn of nine worlds that became ruined, and of one that fell apart, because intelligence built means of its own destruction.
When the Message comes, you will learn that you are not unique, but that there have been others like you, mortal, ever living on doom's edge, and subject to destruction at their own hands unless other hands guide them away from it. When the Message comes, you will react to it according to what lies in your hearts, moved by the divisions of ideology, nationality, language, and religion that have ever led you into conflict. Some of you will see doom, others will see hope, but all will see change.
In the day of the Message, we, the Tani, children of the dying world, will start the Work of ensuring that the earth does not follow the earlier ten worlds into death. In that day, the crystal-ships will rise, cutting from the earth what is driving it to its ruin. Sadly, some may die in the Work, but the rest will enter a future free from fear.
The Work will go on till we, the Tani, and you, our new Companions, can live together in peace. When that has come, you and we will work together to make the earth the paradise that you've always dreamed of its being. In time, you and we together will go to the stars to bring new life to the ruined worlds. With us as your guides, you'll live, free from fear of racial death, as long as the stars shine.
If you liked Daughter of Orion, you can read more of my work at:
"Christian Writings by Alfred D. Byrd,"
https://www.geocities.com/byrdthistledown
I'm also the author of the following books, available from all major on-line booksellers:
Thistledown
Through the Gate of Horn: The First Thread of the Dhitha Tapestry
The Ghost of Pelfrey's Bend
On the Wings of Dream: The Second Thread of the Dhitha Tapestry
Trinity, Canon, and Constantine: Clear Light on the Early Church
Kabbalah for Evangelical Christians
and of the following books available from Lulu.com.
Asenath's Tale
At the Brink of War: The Fourth Thread of the Dhitha Tapestry
Between Two Fires
In the Fire of Dawn: The Third Thread of the Dhitha Tapestry
The Light
Perryville: An Epic of the American Civil War in Kentucky
The Road to Bull Run: An Epic of the American Civil War
A Song of the One
To Dream Atlantis
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