History of a World of Immortals without a God / Translated from an unpublished manuscript in the library of a continental university

by Unknown

Of the further wanderings of Dr. Van Varken—Of his visits to Australis and the great Observatory—Of a strange physical Theory concerning the Tornado—Supposed cause of the Doctor’s return to the Earth.

After the delivery of his remarkable lectures, the doctor’s notes become even scantier than before, and are of quite a fragmentary character. We can gather from them that his time thenceforth was mainly occupied in travelling in various directions through the country; and this is, very likely, the cause of the deficiencies in his memoranda.

He seems to have been greatly struck with the vast engineering works which met him everywhere; and especially with the magnificent roads on which carriages, like those at Lucetta, ran on rails; these carriages were free to all; everyone in his turn took his share in managing the service, like any other calling. His first visit was to the great imperial metropolis, Australis, to which he of course proceeded by the submarine route.

When he arrived there it was the winter season for the southern hemisphere. During the discussion on the selection of the universal metropolis, at the time of the union of the hemispheres, an objection had been raised to Australis, namely, that there was darkness for about one-third of the year. But, in consequence of the other advantages of the site, the objection was overruled, and that the more readily, as an artificial chemical light of extraordinary brilliancy had just been discovered. So great was its power that, for moderate distances, it nearly equalled the light of day. These were the lights which Van Varken, on his first arrival, saw shining in Lucetta, and on the ships in the bay. And thus, when he reached Australis, he found not only the city, but the whole surrounding valley blazing with this wonderful illumination. Some persons, indeed, could never reconcile themselves to this artificial light, so another city was, in course of time, built at the North Pole; and, by migrating at the proper seasons, from one to the other, perpetual daylight might be enjoyed.

The curt and jejune memoranda which remain tell us but little of the metropolitan city. The points which seem to have specially impressed him were—The great magazines or depôts of all sorts of articles which, in our cities, are usually sold in the shops, and which, under the Hesperian system, are abundantly supplied by the communistic labour; from these stores everyone supplied himself as he wanted. The splendid museums of science and art, and the picturesque style of the houses, all of which were, as in Lucetta, detached from each other, and but of one story in height, filled the doctor’s soul with admiration. Above them all was conspicuous the great temple or cathedral of the Unknown God. The gorgeous services performed there made a wonderful impression on the traveller; he was specially affected by one solemn and mournful chant, sung in unison by the whole of the immense congregation, and accompanied in strangely rich and complicated harmony on the largest organ he had ever seen.

But, beyond these few details, nought is recorded. After his return to the north, he paid a visit to the great Observatory whose foundation he has so fully described. The original structure had been removed, and the buildings which now occupy the site are of vast dimensions, and are furnished with every astronomical instrument which the great skill of the Hesperians is competent to execute. Specially noteworthy are the mechanical contrivances for moving and adjusting the ponderous telescopes. Though these weigh many tons, the mere pressure of the finger on a couple of metal knobs suffices to direct any of them to whatever point of the sky is to be examined; and, with the telescope, the platform for the observer simultaneously takes the requisite position.

He found some of the astronomers engaged in abstruse mathematical calculations, in connexion with a theory which had just been suggested as an explanation of the chronic equatorial tornado. It was this, that Hesperos has a satellite of small dimensions, not, indeed, exceeding a mile in diameter, but of very great density; and that this satellite revolves in the plane of the equator with tremendous velocity, so close to the surface that it comes into actual contact with the water several times in each revolution. Hence the terrible waves and storms. Whether this ingenious theory was verified or not we have no record. Unfortunately, at the time of the doctor’s visit, the earth, being in conjunction, was not favourably placed for observation. He seems to have suffered a great deal on this excursion from the extreme rarity of the air.

And, at this point, the notes may be said to end. Nothing more than a few incoherent jottings on the last remaining page are legible. From these I gather that he went back to Lasondre, and there, having probably informed the inhabitants of his surgical profession, he delivered a lecture on the anatomy of the human body. When we remember the invincible obstacle to any scientific study of the anatomy of the Hesperians which was presented by their conditions of life, we can easily understand that such a lecture, from an expert, must have excited unusual interest, and, combining this fact with the abundance of strong and profane expressions which disfigure the concluding memoranda, I think it not at all unlikely that some signs of a desire to avail themselves of the doctor’s own person for the purpose of dissection may have been exhibited by his audience, and may have suggested to his mind the expediency of a hasty return to the earth. But I wish it to be distinctly understood that this is only a conjecture, and not, as the remainder of his history, based on the explicit statements of the note-book.

At all events the discovery of the manuscript in the University library is abundantly sufficient proof that the Thibetian influence was powerful enough to overcome the Hesperian attraction, and that he succeeded in getting back to the earth. So much, I say, is certain, et hypotheses non fingo.

And here ends our knowledge of the Godless Immortals. It is not likely that their hundred and sixty years’ additional existence have lightened the World-Weariness and Sorrow which was plainly settling down upon them like a heavy pall.]