“Whether the gods became tired of carrying these great heavy ships so many millions of miles, and dropped them in trying to set them down, I do not know. But in any case both vessels were damaged on landing, to a degree that prevented their returning. However, there was little harm fo the people in the ships, who therefore disembarked and set up the colony as planned. They hoped that, when the single ship failed to return at the appointed time, Earth would build another ship and persuade the gods to carry it to Kforri to find out what became of them.
“Here trouble arose. While the crews of the ships were all men, the settlers, who were all philosophers and men picked for their skill in colonization, had wives. The settlers said that, as the gods had so arranged matters, there was nothing to be done about it.
“But the crewmen lusted after the wives of the settlers. A machinist, Hasan Barmada, said that the gods had all gone back to Earth and deserted the colonists, and that therefore no attention need be paid to their commands. He formed a conspiracy and by a sudden uprising his men slew nearly all the male colonists, as well as their own officers who sided with the colonists. When the fighting was over there were about a hundred persons left on Kforri, a few more men than women.
“The crewmen took the wives of the colonists for their own and begat their kind. Because they had blasphemed and sinned against the gods, the gods did not inspire them with wisdom. They neglected the knowledge that the philosophers had brought with them from Earth, and in two generations had sunk to the level of barbarians.
“Also, they quarreled among themselves and split up into seven different tribes, according to the parts of Earth they had originally come from. Thus men from those parts that spoke Old Anglonianplaces called Britain, Ireland, North America, and some others formed the Anglonian tribe. Men from the land of Europe formed Eropia. Men from the islands of Russia and Balka formed Vizantia, named for the Balkan city of Byzantium. And so our modern nations arose.
“One philosopher who had much divine blood hi his veins, an Anglonian named David Grant, escaped from the massacre with some of the women and the cards composing the Great Fetish. On Earth, there was a magical instrument for reading these cards. Whether such an instrument had been brought to Kforri and then broken I do not know, but in any case David Grant had no such device with him. Nevertheless, he hoped that something would happen to make these records of Earthly wisdom available once again”
“It was called micrography,” said Bivar.
“He came to this island on a raft,” continued the Stringiarch, “with several women who fled from their new mates. His descendants built this temple. He told his wives and children about the gods of Earth and about their duty to preserve this divine wisdom. The earthly god whom he most admired, Einstein, became after his death the special patron god of Mnaenn.
“David Grant, or Devgran as he is now called in common speech, begat many daughters but no sons. Hence, an all-woman settlement came into being. Since the women feared and hated the men of the mainland because they had slain their own true husbands, they resolved never to let any settle on Mnaenn. From that day to this the settlement has kept up its numbers in the manner you know.”
Domingo Bivar asked: “Pardon, madam, one question. If we are descended from a few crewmen, how do we have so many surnames different?”
“During the early generations, the people did not follow the Earthly custom of giving all children of one marriage the same surname, because there were so few of them that such names would not have been distinctive. Instead, they gave them names of other men whom they had known or heard about on Earth. Thus many were named for famous Earthly men, gods, and demigods. Others received made-up names, or were named for their attributes or occupations. After a while they reverted to the original custom. Even so there are, for example, many thousands of Bivars in Iveriana besides yourself, Doctor.”
“Thank you,” said Bivar. “There are some places anomalous in your narrative, but I am sure that” when we transcribe the records, rational explanations of everything will transpire.”
Katlin spoke bitterly to Marko: “Master Prokopiu, I did not believe you when you claimed, just now, you were the prophesied son of Mnaenn, come back to read the Fetish and end the stringiarchate. I am sure no man-child could haye been born and smuggled off the island, as you assert; our control is too close in such matters. However, you can read the cards with the instrument of these Mingkworen. And whereas we are in your power, I suppose we might as well put the best face on things. What will you do with us? Throw us over the cliff, as you did poor Lizveth?”
Marko did not himself really believe the son-of-Mnaenn story but had thought it up to give the witches a graceful excuse for surrendering. He looked at Toskano, who said:
“Not at all, madam. We regret the death of that witch. We did not mean to hurt any of you.”
“Soft words will never right the wrong of your deeds.”
Toskano said: “True, madam, some consciences among us are not altogether at ease. But then, by your practice of male infanticide, which would fill most people with horror, and by your unjust treatment of Messrs. Halran and Prokopiu when they unwittingly trespassed on your land, you have given up your claim to sympathy.”
“What do you intend?”
“Oh, some of us will return to our own countries. Others, especially those from Eropia, will stay here_ and set up a philosophical republic. Among them are enough single ones to provide husbands for such of your girls as wish them.”
“Hm,” said ex-Stringiarch Katlin, wrinkling her nose in disgust. “If our traditions speak true, the men of Earth tried to set up such an ideal government many times but never succeeded for long. That, however, is your problem.”
Marko had no chance for more than a brief greeting with Sinthi that night. He had much to do, his wound hurt, and he was tired out. He learned that, when the rope had been hauled back aboard the Incredible, its cut end told of Marko’s safe landing and led Toskano to bring the ship to the beach.
Next morning, leaning on a stick, Marko stood on the edge of the cliff watching Muphrid rise. A little way off, Boert Halran was looking over the edge and lamenting the destruction of his beautiful balloon. Domingo Bivar was kneading Marko’s arm and talking excitedly of the wonderful things the philosophers would do when all the records of the Fetish had been transcribed.
“We shall build a ship of space of our own and fly back to Earth to see why they have forgotten us!” he cried. “It is wonderful! The rest of the Fetish includes books innumerableon history, science, language, everything. There are even sections of fiction and verse …”
Marko, who disliked the little man’s effusiveness, disengaged his arm as Sinthi came by. He thought her the most attractive object he had seen in years.
“Hello,” he said. “You see, I came back as I promised.”
“That is right. Where are you going now?”
“Well, since the stringiarchate is over, I thought I might stay here. While I didn’t really do anything, the philosophers seem to think me worthy of their company.”
“I heard they chose you Prez or something.”
“No, not quite. They want me to be a kind of vice-manager under Toskano. I was even thinking of sending for my mother.”
“Oh. You were going to take me away, weren’t you? You promised.”
“Well … I suppose… . Look, maybe we can figure out something just as good. You see, ah …”
They stood, Marko looking down and Sinthi up. Marko had a feeling that she would not mind if he grabbed her right there. Instead, he stared into space, shifted his feet, blushed, gulped, stammered, and finally said: