Those closest to Marcus are driven the 250 miles along Interstate 15 to the newly named 'Villa Athena' - the neo-Mayan residence set in extensive parkland outside Los Angeles. Once there they would stay as guests until Marcus had decided on his immediate plans. And the chapter title - 'In Novam Ætatem' ?- Latin for 'In the New Age'
Please note that this chapter is intended for adults (over 18 years), and contains text adult text and images. Please do not view this chapter if you find such features objectionable....
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| Los Angeles - California - Usa |
Marcus and Clare sat side by side, but said nothing.
Ethan played with Teddy's ears (which Teddy liked), but Teddy really had little understanding of what had been happening.
There were refreshments available in the large limousines, but as with conversation no one cared to indulge.
It took about five hours - driving along the monotonously straight Interstate 15 - to reach their destination.
The 'Villa Athena' was surrounded by lush parkland, kept verdant and green by a vast and complex hidden irrigation system.
Having driven down the interminable driveway, they eventually arrived at the collection of large neo-Mayan pavilions that made up the 'Villa Athena'.
Some of the limousines, however, were diverted to guest accommodation, hidden in the exotic woodland, while the VIP limos parked up close to the main building.
There were refreshments available in the large limousines, but as with conversation no one cared to indulge.
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| Interstate 15 - California - USA |
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| 'Villa Athena' - Entrance Hall |
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| 'Villa Athena' - Main Entrance |
Some of the limousines, however, were diverted to guest accommodation, hidden in the exotic woodland, while the VIP limos parked up close to the main building.
In next to no time Mexican servants were busy opening the limo doors, and unloading the various small items of luggage.
(depending on how long Marcus decided to stay more luggage would be brought up from Las Vegas).
Marcus, understandably, had had quite enough socializing for one day, and almost immediately ensconced himself in the study, so that he could have further serious discussions with Faunus, Terentius and Novius.
Meanwhile Ethan, Teddy, Josh and Glaux went for a stroll in one of the many shaded courtyards that lay between the various pavilions, while at the same time, Glen and 'Sigi' got to know one another, as they shared the same youthful 'guardian'.
Of course neither of them had any idea that the memories that they recounted to each other were 'fabricated' memories, 'manufactured' by Faunus, and neither boy had the slightest idea of their true origins, which, in both cases was probably a very good thing.
Terentius, undoubtedly, was the most mysterious guest at the inauguration and the funeral, and very few of the other guests attending had any idea of who he was.
(depending on how long Marcus decided to stay more luggage would be brought up from Las Vegas).
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| 'Villa Athena' - Courtyard |
Meanwhile Ethan, Teddy, Josh and Glaux went for a stroll in one of the many shaded courtyards that lay between the various pavilions, while at the same time, Glen and 'Sigi' got to know one another, as they shared the same youthful 'guardian'.
Of course neither of them had any idea that the memories that they recounted to each other were 'fabricated' memories, 'manufactured' by Faunus, and neither boy had the slightest idea of their true origins, which, in both cases was probably a very good thing.
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| The Study - 'Villa Athena' - Los Angeles |
As with Novius, Marcus had longed to see Terentius again.
So who was, or is Terentius ?
Well... as usual, it's a very long story.
Some of the characters that you have met so far know all about Terentius.
Novius, of course, Ethan, Josh, Glaux, Zac - and even Teddy, although he has never met Terentius, but Faunus has told him everything possible about this mysterious and important character.
Marcus, of course knows Terentius very well.
So ... how did Marcus meet Terentius ?
Well, after Markos (as he was then known - the Greek version of 'Marcus'), had been taken to Crete by the pirates who had killed his parents, he was then taken to Brundisium, (Βρεντέσιον in Ancient Greek)
So who was, or is Terentius ?
Well... as usual, it's a very long story.
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| Terentius |
Novius, of course, Ethan, Josh, Glaux, Zac - and even Teddy, although he has never met Terentius, but Faunus has told him everything possible about this mysterious and important character.
Marcus, of course knows Terentius very well.
So ... how did Marcus meet Terentius ?
Well, after Markos (as he was then known - the Greek version of 'Marcus'), had been taken to Crete by the pirates who had killed his parents, he was then taken to Brundisium, (Βρεντέσιον in Ancient Greek)
Originally an Ancient Greek settlement predating the Roman expansion. The Latin name Brundisium comes from the Greek Βρεντήσιον meaning 'deer's head', refering to the shape of the natural harbor. In 267 BC it was conquered by the Romans. After the Punic Wars it became a major center of Roman naval power and maritime trade - including the slave trade. The famous poet Virgil died in 19 BC in Brundiium. Under the Romans, Brundisium – a large city in its day with some 100,000 inhabitants – was an active port, the chief point of embarkation for Greece and the East. It was connected with Rome by the Via Appia and later by the Via Traiana.
It was in Brundisium that Markos was bought from the Cilician pirates by a wealthy young Greek slave trader called Arion.
'Cilician Pirates' dominated the Mediterranean Sea from the 2nd century BC until their partial suppression by Pompey in 67-66 BC. Although there were notorious pirate strongholds in Cilicia, 'Cilician' had long been a generic term for pirates. With the destruction of Ancient Carthage, the demise of the Seleucid Empire, and Ptolemaic Egypt on the wane, there was no strong naval power left in the Mediterranean. Rome was the only major Mediterranean power left, but by this time her navy was reduced and Rome relied on hiring ships as necessity required. As a result, the pirates became consolidated and organized. The smaller communities of the Greek and African waters were left to make their own arrangements. Communities unable to fend off the pirate incursions were forced to come to an understanding with the pirates, and thus became havens, and this was the case with Crete.
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| Arion Gives Terentius a Private Viewing |
Terentius, who was a friend of Arion, had already had a private viewing of Markos - and had come to an agreement with regard to a price, so the 'auction' was just a formality.
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| Night Journey to Baiae |
Once bought by Terentius, Markos was taken along the Via Apia, in a private carriage, (the ancient Roman equivalent of a Cadillac - but not so comfortable) across Italy to the town of Baiae (the 'Las Vegas' of the Roman Empire).
Near the town, on the cliffs overlooking the Sinus Neapolitan (Bay of Naples), was the 'Villa Auream' - 'the Golden Villa', so known for it's gold plated doors and roof tiles - one of the many residences of the fabulously wealthy Gnæus Octavian Gracchus.
Terentius was notionally in charge of, and responsible for all the slaves and freedmen in all of Gracchus establishments.
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| Villa Auream - the Golden Villa |
A 'freedman' was a formerly enslaved person who had been released from slavery, usually by legal means. Historically, enslaved people were freed either by manumission (granted freedom by their owners) or emancipation (granted freedom as part of a larger group). Roman law allowed freed slaves to become 'plebeian' (non-aristocratic) citizens. A freedman enjoyed not only passive freedom from ownership, but active political freedom (libertas), including the right to vote. Some freedmen enjoyed enormous success and became very wealthy. Freedmen usually remained 'clients' of their former master, however, and continued to serve their former matter, but as a free citizen - and this was the case with Terentius.
When Markos arrived at the Villa Auream, Gracchus immediately realized that his new slave was a 'special case', and put him under the direct supervision of Terentius - so Terentius, from early on was Marcus' guide and mentor.
Eventually Markos had his Roman Citizenship, and his Roman name, (Marcus), restored to him, and Gracchus made him his heir.
Subsequently on the death of Gracchus, Marcus inherited the position of 'Dominus', and Terentius became Marcus' 'High Steward'.
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| 'Villa Athena' - Los Angeles |
"This is a strange room and in fact a very strange building, Marcus.", Terentius began, starting with 'light' conversation.
"Yes Sir, it's all because when the 'Boss' - sorry, I mean Gnæus - first came here, he spent a lot of time in a place called Mexico, studying an ancient people called the Maya.
I suppose for him they were the nearest thing to the Greeks and Romans - empire builders, with many gods.
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| Mayan Priest |
"I see...", Terentius said.
"And there's no need to call me 'Sir'...
Remember, you're not a slave any more, and you are no longer answerable, in this world, to the man you called the 'Boss'.
Just remember that you are now the 'Dominus'.
It may not be a title that is used in this world very often, but no matter - you are now a 'master of men'.", Terentius said with great seriousness.
"I know, Sir, but I am finding that difficult to accept.", Marcus replied.
"When I first arrived here I was 'nobody'.
The 'Boss' found me, and looked after me, and that was OK.
I was 'Jim', with no responsibilities and very few cares - and some good friends, Ethan, Teddy, Josh and Glaux, and Zac - and later Novius, and of course Faunus.
But now I'm back to almost where I started - alone, as 'Dominus', and having to take decisions for others.", Marcus complained.
"Now, Marcus, two things I must say.
The first is that the 'Boss', as you call him, did not find you, it was Faunus who sent you to him.
The 'Boss', without knowing it, had been waiting a very long time for you, and during that time he had been building up a substantial inheritance for you.
The other thing I have to say is basically a question....
who, or what is this Teddy ?", Terentius asked.
"Oh ! - I would have thought that Faunus would have told you.
Faunus, for rather long and complicated reasons I won't bother you with, had Teddy made to be a companion for a young boy... (Glen), but the boy grew up rather too quickly, so Ethan - who you knew as Aurarius - took to the little creature.
In this world he's known as a 'teddy-bear', and is given to children as a sort of 'inanimate fluffy playmate' - a toy.
Faunus, however, as usual, couldn't leave well alone, and gave this little stuffed toy a sort of 'life' of its own - but I don't really understand how. (what Jim didn't understand at this point was that 'Teddy' had been created by Tony Stark - son of a friend of the 'Boss' - Howard Stark)
Anyway, Teddy is unnaturally intelligent and wise, and has taken, to some extent, the place of Glaux, as he can speak for Glaux - he speaks and understands 'owl' you see, along with many other languages, and he is telepathic.
It was very clever, the way that Teddy was made, as people of this time just ignore Teddy, imagining he is just a 'toy', and for us, that can be useful.
Aurarius, of course is infatuated with him because, as you probably remember, Aurarius was always just a 'puer magnus' (big kid), and Teddy, if he was honest, would admit that he is infatuated with Aurarius.", Marcus explained.
"And I suppose that you are still infatuated with Aurarius...", Terentius said, rather pointedly.
"Well, sort of...", Marcus admitted, blushing.
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| 'Villa Athena' - Courtyard |
Meanwhile, Ethan, and Teddy, and Josh and Glaux were sitting on the steps in a shady courtyard in the 'Villa Athena'.
"Well I'm finding all these name changes very confusing...", Ethan complained.
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| Villa Athena - Ἀθῆναι - Athens - Hellas |
And it's no easier with places... 'Club Jaguar' - and then 'Club Athena', and also, with this place, 'Villa de los Jaguares', and now 'Villa Athena' - but not the real 'Villa Athena' that we know, that's in Hellas.", Josh added.
"Yes... and I'm getting confused even about who I am.
One moment people are calling me Ethan, and then Aurarius.
But at least Teddy and Glaux are still the same...", Ethan said.
"Yes, and Faunus is the same, as I think he's given up on that 'Don Picaro' business - that was just a nickname the 'Boss' gave him.", Josh agreed.
"Seems all very silly to me.
Why not just have one nice name - like Teddy !", Teddy said, sounding very self satisfied.
"Well I think we should have a quiet word with Jim, and maybe also Faunus, and get this sorted out.
When each of us arrived here we were given a name... Josh for me, Jim and Ethan - and Faunus has always been Faunus, and I can't see why those names should change just because the 'Boss' is no longer with us." Josh said firmly.
"Agreed !", Ethan and Teddy said together.
"And what about having Terentius suddenly turn up from nowhere ?", Ethan said.
"Well I think its 'creepy'...", Josh said.
"So... Terentius was the steward at this 'Villa Auream', where you two lived... but how was he connected with you two ?", Teddy asked.
"Well, we were slaves, and he was our boss.
Not that he owned us, that was Gracchus, and later Marcus, but it was Terentius who was always telling us what to do....", Josh explained.
"That's what makes it so 'creepy' having him suddenly here now.
I keep expecting him to start telling us to give the guests some goblets of wine, and roasted dormice dipped in honey.... or baby octopus....", Ethan said.
"Of course Glaux loves the dormice - without the honey, but doesn't like the octopus...", Josh added
Ancient Roman Edible Dormouse The edible dormouse was farmed and eaten by the ancient Romans and the Etruscans,(usually as a snack), hence the word edible in its name. The Romans would catch dormice from the wild in autumn when they were fattest. The dormice were kept and raised either in large pits or (in less spacious urban surroundings) in terra cotta containers, the gliraria, something like contemporary hamster cages. They fed these captive dormice walnuts, chestnuts, and acorns for fattening. The dormice were served by either roasting them, and dipping them in honey, or stuffing them with a mixture of pork, pine nuts, and other flavourings. It was, however, very important to upper-class Romans that the dormice be separated from other products of the hunt, like the large game, for presentation purposes.
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| Ancient Roman Baby Octopus |
"Yucky things, baby octopus...", Ethan added, grimacing.
"Yes... I can see your problem...", Teddy said, sounding suitably appalled.
"Yes....", Josh said... looking depressed.
The conversation had obviously brought back some less than pleasant memories.
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| Cinderella |
"But... I have some good news for you... something that Glaux told me.", Teddy said brightly.
"And ?", Ethan asked.
"Well, it's a bit like that lovely story.... 'Cinderella'... you know... I've got the Disney DVD of it...", Teddy said.
"Yes ! We know all about your DVDs - we've had to watch them often enough... but what has that got to do with what we're talking about ".
And for one awful moment if looked as if Teddy was going to sulk - but no .... he was so pleased with himself that he simply had to tell them what Glaux had told him.
"Terentius is just like Cinderella ?", Teddy began.
"Wrong sex !", Ethan said, starting to sound exasperated.
"No !... he's only got until midnight...", Teddy said.
"So how's that ?", Josh asked.
"Well Faunus let slip that Terentius only has until midnight, and then he returns to whatever weird place he came from.", Teddy replied.
'Cinderella', is a folk tale embodying a mythic-element of unjust oppression and triumphant reward (like slave-boy to Dominus, perhaps ?). The title character, however, is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances, that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune. The story of 'Rhodopis', recounted by the Greek geographer Strabo, sometime between around 7 BC and 23 AD, about a Greek slave girl who marries the king of Egypt, is usually considered to be the earliest known variant of the Cinderella story. Possibly the best known version was by the Brothers Grimm, in their folk tale collection 'Grimms' Fairy Tales' in 1812. In 1950 Walt Disney produced his version of 'Cinderella' as a full length cartoon.
"Ah-ha !... so now things might start to get back to normal !", Ethan said triumphantly.
"Yes... but I don't think that Jim's going to be very pleased about that..."Josh said.
"Too bad...", Ethan replied.
"Jim wasn't the one who was always being ordered about.
We need to stick together.
Jim's our friend, and we don't want any-one else giving him stupid ideas.", Ethan said, forcefully.
"So ... when Terentius goes... in a very short while, who should be the 'major-domo' of Jim's new set up.", Josh asked
"Well first, we don't want any of these fancy Latin style words...", Ethan announced.
Teddy thought for a moment as he put on his spectacle - a sure sign that he was anticipating saying something that he considered to be very profound and intelligent.
"Well I think that 'principal of the house' is as good a description as any - being direct translation from the Latin, 'maior domūs'.", Teddy said.
"That's good Teddy, but a bit of a mouthful - so why not just 'principal'.", Josh suggested.
"Excellent... that will do perfectly !", Ethan said.
"OK... so we tell Jim tomorrow... agreed ?
And they all agreed.
'Sigi' and Glen were walking in the shade of some trees, close to the main pavilion of the 'Villa Athena'.
"So ... what do you think's gonna happen now the 'Boss' is gone ?", 'Sigi' asked Glen.
"Well, as we've seen today, Jim's taken over - but it was only recently that I realised that Jim was next in line after the 'Boss'.
"Why surprised ?", 'Sigi' asked.
"Oh, he always seemed to me to be quite shy and retiring... hardly a 'Boss'.", Glen replied.
"Well me, I hardly knew him - but he seems to have taken to the part with very little trouble.
I was just surprised at how young he looked - at least compared to the 'Boss'.", 'Sigi said.
"Well I've known them for a while - been on this 'road-trip' sort of thing with them..."
They're a very strange bunch.
The 'Penthouse Gang' they call themselves.", Glen said.
"Oh, that must be from the Penthouse in 'Vegas, where I went this morning...", 'Sigi' added.
The 'Penthouse Gang' they call themselves.", Glen said.
"Oh, that must be from the Penthouse in 'Vegas, where I went this morning...", 'Sigi' added.
"Interestingly they're actually not related, although they all seem to have a weird family resemblance, apart from that Faunus guy, and they all seem to know each-other - very well.
I always get the feeling, when I'm with them, that there's some strange secret that binds them all together - and I don't think the fact that the 'Boss' is not around any more will change that in any way.", Glen said.
'Sigi' was getting bored - and decided to change the subject......
"So where do you come from, Glen ?...",
I always get the feeling, when I'm with them, that there's some strange secret that binds them all together - and I don't think the fact that the 'Boss' is not around any more will change that in any way.", Glen said.
'Sigi' was getting bored - and decided to change the subject......
"So where do you come from, Glen ?...",
Now you must remember that all these very plausible memories an reminiscences are the work of Faunus, and have no actual basis in fact.
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| Cleveland - Ohio |
"Actually, I'm afraid I've never heard of it...", 'Sigi' replied, rather un-diplomatically.
"Well that's not really surprising - it's not really a very interesting place.", Glen said.
Well let's see.. Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio.
The city is located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. maritime border with Canada and approximately 60 miles (100 kilometers) west of the Ohio-Pennsylvania state border. It was founded in 1796 near the mouth of the Cuyahoga River by General Moses Cleaveland. It became a manufacturing centre due to its location on both the river and the lake shore, as well as being connected to numerous canals and railroad lines. Cleveland's economy relies on diversified sectors such as manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, and bio-medicals. On the down-side, Cleveland has a very high crime rate, with the fifth highest murder rate in the United States, per capita. Significantly, only 39% of the population of Cleveland are white American.
"And what about your family ?", 'Sigi' asked, sounding dangerously like a psychiatrist questioning a new patient.
"Just ordinary folk - and not much money, and in my early teens they separated.
I ended up with my dad - there was just us two, as I had no brothers or sisters.
Then he started drinking a bit too much - so I went off on my own - but things were tough in Cleveland, particularly in the winter, so I decided to get on a 'Greyhound Bus' and make my way south - to the sun.
I ended up with my dad - there was just us two, as I had no brothers or sisters.
Then he started drinking a bit too much - so I went off on my own - but things were tough in Cleveland, particularly in the winter, so I decided to get on a 'Greyhound Bus' and make my way south - to the sun.
I got as far as Roswell, but I was running out of money fast.
Then my luck seemed to change, and I met this guy Faunus, right when I was getting off the bus, - and Faunus, almost straight away, offered me a job with the 'Boss' here... and that's about it....", Glen concluded.
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| The Meeting on the Devils Tower |
At that point Glen fell silent.
There was much more that he could have recounted, but he felt that it would be better not to speak about the dreams that he had had when he was staying at the Courtyard Hotel in Amarillo.
There was much more that he could have recounted, but he felt that it would be better not to speak about the dreams that he had had when he was staying at the Courtyard Hotel in Amarillo.
Dreams which led, in the end, to Wyoming, the Devils Tower and the meeting with the 'aliens' on the summit.
He had wondered that, if he had told 'Sigi', about that, and many of the other things that he had experienced since that fateful meeting with Faunus - would 'Sigi' have believed him - or perhaps thought him crazy ?
And then, of course, Glen didn't know just how much Jim wanted 'Sigi' to be told.
"So what about you, 'Sigi'... Where do you come from ?
I only really ask because you have a strange accent - if you don't mind me saying", Glen asked.
"Well, my memory, even now, is a bit fuzzy, as I had an accident shortly after I came to this country.
I got a nasty bang on the head, and although I've seen a physician, who says it's nothing to worry about, I still have problems with some of my very early memories.", 'Sigi' explained.
Glen stopped himself smiling - as it was a story that he had heard before - and which, for some reason, he couldn't help associating with Faunus.
"I was born in Vienna, in Austria - and still have a slight Viennese accent - but grew up in Munich, which is in Germany
My father was Helmut Brandt - a very distinguished psychiatrist.
The family had plenty of money, but I was the only son - no daughters.
They sent me to the best schools, but then wanted me to improve my English, and pursue my studies by sending me to Yale University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
My father, as it happens, was a friend of the 'Boss', and they had studied together at Yale, and so the 'Boss' became my guardian while I was in the US.
After I had been here for about six months, my mother and father decided to fly here to see how I was getting on.
The Boeing that they were travelling in, however, came down in the Atlantic, with all passengers and crew lost." 'Sigi' explained.
"Oh... I am very sorry... I didn't mean to upset you...", Glen said, obviously embarrassed.
"Well then... I'm sure that Jim will be the same, and just continue...", Glen said.
"And one more thing... what's with this strange name - 'Sigi' ?", Glen asked, now feeling that he knew 'Sigi' so much better.
"It's short for Siegfried - a German name.", 'Sigi' replied.
"So what about you, 'Sigi'... Where do you come from ?
I only really ask because you have a strange accent - if you don't mind me saying", Glen asked.
"Well, my memory, even now, is a bit fuzzy, as I had an accident shortly after I came to this country.
I got a nasty bang on the head, and although I've seen a physician, who says it's nothing to worry about, I still have problems with some of my very early memories.", 'Sigi' explained.
Glen stopped himself smiling - as it was a story that he had heard before - and which, for some reason, he couldn't help associating with Faunus.
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| Munich - Germany |
My father was Helmut Brandt - a very distinguished psychiatrist.
The family had plenty of money, but I was the only son - no daughters.
They sent me to the best schools, but then wanted me to improve my English, and pursue my studies by sending me to Yale University, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
My father, as it happens, was a friend of the 'Boss', and they had studied together at Yale, and so the 'Boss' became my guardian while I was in the US.
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| Yale University |
The Boeing that they were travelling in, however, came down in the Atlantic, with all passengers and crew lost." 'Sigi' explained.
"Oh... I am very sorry... I didn't mean to upset you...", Glen said, obviously embarrassed.
"Oh, no matter... my parents and I were never very close, anyway...
But that's how the 'Boss' became my guardian - but now, of course, my guardian is Jim - or perhaps we should now call him 'Marcus'.
It's a bit strange that he's my guardian, though, because he's so young.
Anyway, he's got control of all the money that my parents left me.", 'Sigi' said.
"And was the 'Boss' fair with giving you an allowance from that money before ?", Glen asked.
"Oh yes... more than fair...", 'Sigi' answered."Well then... I'm sure that Jim will be the same, and just continue...", Glen said.
"And one more thing... what's with this strange name - 'Sigi' ?", Glen asked, now feeling that he knew 'Sigi' so much better.
"It's short for Siegfried - a German name.", 'Sigi' replied.
Siegfried is a German name, composed from the Germanic elements sig 'victory' and 'frithu' 'protection'. The name is medieval, and was borne by the legendary dragon-slayer, and it survived into the modern period, but after 1876 it enjoyed renewed popularity due to the hero of Wagner's opera, 'Siegfried' - which is part of the 'Ring Cycle' of operas.
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| The Study - 'Villa Athena' - Los Angeles |
"Well, time is running out, so perhaps I may turn to one very interesting subject that Novius has been talking to me about.", Terentius said.
Jim had a feeling that he knew what Terentius might be intending to discus.
"It's this business about 'aliens'.
Now most of the people in this 'time and place' think this is all very new and 'modern', but as you have obviously already realised, we were well aware of such phenomena in our time, and well before.
Of course, because we had not, at that time, made much progress in terms of what they now call technology, we interpreted such phenomena in more 'spiritual', and what is now described 'mythological' terms." Terentius said.
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| Corona - Nevada |
Jim nodded in agreement.
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| 'Alien' and 'Flying Saucer' - Corona - Nevada |
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| Devils Tower - Wyoming |
"But Novius tells me that later you encountered 'aliens' that had some connection with our times, or even earlier.", Terentius countered.
"Yes, that was strange.
This all started with a sort of 'dream' that Glen had - like a message, about a strange rock formation - that in the end we discovered in Wyoming - a place called the 'Devils Tower'.
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| Glen's 'Dream' - 'Upuaut' |
Then - later, there was another dream that Glen had, and that dream was from a strange 'being' calling himself 'Upuaut'.
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| 'Pyramid Ship' - Chaco Canyon |
"Yes, Novius told me about that - and that's what really got me interested in the whole business.
Now as you probably know, 'Upuaut' is believed to be the name of an Egyptian 'god'.
The question, however, Marcus, that you have to ask yourself is why an Egyptian 'god' might be contacting you ?", Terentius asked.
"Well - he wasn't contacting me, but rather Glen....", Jim replied.
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| Brody in the Pyramid Ship |
"Now I'm not saying that 'Upuaut' hasn't contacted you, but I don't think that the being that you actually spoke to was 'Upuaut'.
The whole encounter, from what I have heard, sounds more like some sort of test - or 'game' - and the being that you encountered seems to me to be a little too keen to see if you would allow persons under your care to be beaten and humiliated - so perhaps it was a test.
'Upuaut' - or possibly Anubis, is a very important entity - with much to teach you... so my advice is to pursue this link - but make sure that you make proper contact...", Terentius advised.
"And how do I know that it's 'proper contact' ?", Jim asked.
"Well I think the person to help you would be Novius - as he's an expert in all such matters.
Novius can do the research for you...
But now it's time for me to leave.. .and please, don't try to follow me...", Terentius said.
Terentius then left through the sliding glass doors, and walked slowly into the dense foliage of the parkland surrounding the main pavilion of the villa.
Jim was distraught...
"Don't feel bad Marcus... he'll be back - and always just at the the right time....
But understand that from now on you must make your own way.
I will help, of course...
but the decisions will all be yours to make.", Novius said quietly .
And Marcus felt that what Novius was saying had an ominous ring....
The whole encounter, from what I have heard, sounds more like some sort of test - or 'game' - and the being that you encountered seems to me to be a little too keen to see if you would allow persons under your care to be beaten and humiliated - so perhaps it was a test.
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| Glen at 'Chaco Canyon' - New Mexico |
"And how do I know that it's 'proper contact' ?", Jim asked.
"Well I think the person to help you would be Novius - as he's an expert in all such matters.
Novius can do the research for you...
But now it's time for me to leave.. .and please, don't try to follow me...", Terentius said.
Terentius then left through the sliding glass doors, and walked slowly into the dense foliage of the parkland surrounding the main pavilion of the villa.
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| Novius at the Villa Athena |
"Don't feel bad Marcus... he'll be back - and always just at the the right time....
But understand that from now on you must make your own way.
I will help, of course...
but the decisions will all be yours to make.", Novius said quietly .
And Marcus felt that what Novius was saying had an ominous ring....
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| Villa Athena - Night - Los Angeles - California |
Jim spends the first night at the Villa Athena alone, in the bedroom previously used by the 'Boss' - simply to rest and be alone. In the morning he meets with Ethan, Teddy, Josh and Glaux, and over breakfast they begin to discuss Jim's talk with Terentius and his comments about Upuaut (Anubis) - and together they begin tentatively to plan a new direction for their lives - now that they can no longer rely on the 'Boss'.
Later Jim meets with Novius, and they discus the possible nature of Anubis.
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