The Revolutions of Time | Page 8

long around enemies without the protection of the other
Canitaurs."
But my rebuke only seemed to make their laughter and mirth more hearty, and they raged
on without ceasing for a time. After a while, when they were reduced to a smiling
remnant of their former pleasure, Wagner turned gravely towards me and said, "Forgive
me, Jehu, for not explaining it to you. You are right to chastise us, but the situation is not
as you seem to think it, for the map they found was a fake, and will lead them to nowhere
of importance, while we affect our escape. We are lucky that they left no guard, but come,
let us not tempt fate and remain any longer in this compromised outpost, to the fortress
we go!"
He finished and met with the approbations of the others, and accordingly, we exited the
cubby hole and made our way through the rummaged room, up the stairs, and out of the

tree. It was now early evening, and the temperance of twilight, with its soft and mellow
splendors, only increased the pleasantness of the area. A slight breeze prevailed and
rustled the leaves and boughs of the giant trees just enough to render it pacifying and
comforting. Being quickened by the breeze, the lake danced on in its earlier smoothness,
only in a faster tempo, improving the ruggedness of the watery wrinkles. The last visiting
rays from the sun were congregated on the eastern shores, saying their good-byes to the
glowing trees, and giving their parting respects before being whisked away to their native
lands of fire, to come again in great numbers on the morrow.
We set off around the lake, making our way northward towards the rugged mountains
rising before us in a grand show of might. Wagner and Taurus walked before and behind
us, respectively, Wagner leading the way and Taurus erasing the marks of our passing,
and both watching for any signs of ambush. Bernibus walked abreast of myself, keeping
me in pleasant company, for he was a very enjoyable companion.
During our walk, Bernibus and I had an insightful conversation, of which I will relate to
you the following, as you may find it interesting:
"Tell me," I said to him, "You seem to be a jovial people, despite the war that you find
yourselves in, but are all of your people of the same attitude?"
"Very nearly, yes," he replied, "For though we do not wish war, the principles at stake
here are important enough for us to sacrifice an easy life for them. We've grown used to it,
everything is done in such a way as to promote secrecy and stealth, those being our main
advantages in the conflict. Out of hundreds of outposts like the one we were just in, for
example, only four others have ever been discovered, and the Zards still have no clue
where our fortress is." This he said in a boastful manner, but as he did a faint spirit of
sorrow spread across his face for an instant, as if in memory of one of the raids of
previous times.
"That explains their rapture when they found the false map," I returned, "But I must
admit that I am still ignorant of the cause of the wars. It was said that it was conflicting
ideologies, yet that is self-evident, as all conflict is at heart just that. I don't mean, either,
the actions that caused the most recent inflammation, but what exactly your conflicting
ideologies are? What is it that keeps you from harmony?"
"You have a knack for hard questions," he said with a smile. Then he paused for a
moment to collect his thoughts. At length, he continued, "The Canitaurs have a profound
respect for all that has gone before us, we honor the traditions of our ancestors and revere
their beliefs and their ideas of truth. The past, in the guise of history, is the key to the
future, we believe, and we hold strictly to the worship of Onan, the Lord of the Past," at
this my attention was perked. He continued, "Our adherence to the ways of our ancestors
is based on the idea that what has continued throughout the ages has continued because it
is right, that it has remained steadfast because it is based on the immovable foundations
of reality. We follow Onan because he is real, because the past has existed, and it is
certain that it will continue to exist, and because that existence dictates the operation of
the present. Although we may seem ritualistic and entrenched in tradition to the outside
observer, we enjoy the comforts of knowing that we are on a well tread path, that we are
not alone in time but in company with our