From the Annals of Cuauhtitlan In the beginning was the First Sun, 4-Water was its sign; It was called the Sun of Water. For water covered the world, Leaving nothing but the dragonflies above And the fishy men below. The Second Sun was born, 4-Jaguar was its sign; This was called the Sun of the Jaguars. In this Sun the heavens collapsed, So that the Sun could not move in its course. The world darkened, and when all was dark Then the people were devoured. The Giants perished, giving life to the Third Sun. 4-Rain was its sign; It was called the Sun of Rain. For this Sun rained fire from bleeding eyes And the people were consumed. From the torrent of burning stones, The Fourth Sun was born. 4-Wind was its sign, and it was called the Sun of Wind. In this Sun, all which stood on the earth was carried Away by terrible winds. The people were turned into monkeys, And scattered from their cities into the forest. Now, by sacrifice of the divine liquid, the Fifth Sun was born. Its sign was 4-Motion. As the Sun moved, following a course, The ancients called it the Sun of Motion. In the time of this Sun, there were Great earthquakes and famine, No maize grew, and the gods of the field Turned their eyes from the people. And all the people grew thin, and perished. The Lord of Heaven cut the heart from his living son, And so was born the Sixth Sun, which sustains The universe with infinite light. Its sign was 4-Flint. Those who watch the sky say this Sun Will end in annihilation, when the flint-knife Severs the birthcord of the Sun, plunging all Into darkness, where the people will Be cut to pieces and scattered. This is the time of the Sixth Sun… Contents

From the Annals of Cuauhtitlan

In the beginning was the First Sun,

4-Water was its sign;

It was called the Sun of Water.

For water covered the world,

Leaving nothing but the dragonflies above

And the fishy men below.

The Second Sun was born,

4-Jaguar was its sign;

This was called the Sun of the Jaguars.

In this Sun the heavens collapsed,

So that the Sun could not move in its course.

The world darkened, and when all was dark

Then the people were devoured.

The Giants perished, giving life to the Third Sun.

4-Rain was its sign;

It was called the Sun of Rain.

For this Sun rained fire from bleeding eyes

And the people were consumed.

From the torrent of burning stones,

The Fourth Sun was born.

4-Wind was its sign, and it was called the Sun of Wind.

In this Sun, all which stood on the earth was carried

Away by terrible winds.

The people were turned into monkeys,

And scattered from their cities into the forest.

Now, by sacrifice of the divine liquid, the Fifth Sun was born.

Its sign was 4-Motion.

As the Sun moved, following a course,

The ancients called it the Sun of Motion.

In the time of this Sun, there were

Great earthquakes and famine,

No maize grew, and the gods of the field

Turned their eyes from the people.

And all the people grew thin, and perished.

The Lord of Heaven cut the heart from his living son,

And so was born the Sixth Sun, which sustains

The universe with infinite light.

Its sign was 4-Flint.

Those who watch the sky say this Sun

Will end in annihilation, when the flint-knife

Severs the birthcord of the Sun, plunging all

Into darkness, where the people will

Be cut to pieces and scattered.

This is the time of the Sixth Sun…

A Note Concerning Measurements

Dramatis Personae

An Imperial Light Cruiser

Drowned Venice, Six Months Later…

Tadmor Station

Jagan

Landing Field Six

A Nondescript House

The Imperial Development Board Warehouse Sobipurй Spaceport

The Petrel Estate

The Cornuelle

The Imperial Legation

The Horumkel Baths

The Petrel Townhouse

A Nondescript House

Up-River

The Palace of The Kujen

A Nondescript House

Takshila

The Gemmilsky House

Parus

Within the House of Reeds

The Cornuelle

The Gemmilsky House

Takshila

Parus

Above the Sobipurй-Parus Railway

Takshila

Parus

The Fane of the Kalpataru

The Captain's Launch

The House of Reeds

Near the Boulevard of Stepping Cranes

The Junction of Provincial Route Twenty-Two and the Railway

A Sub-Basement

The District of Open Eyes

The Gemmilsky House

Aboard the Captain's Launch

Parus

The Cornuelle

Near Rural Highway Two-Fifteen

The Southbound Express

An Undisclosed Location

The Imperial Legation

The Courts of the Morning

The Main Train Station

Aboard the Cornuelle

Near the Train Station

The Cornuelle

The Sobipurй Bus Terminal, Parus

The Petrel Townhouse

Aboard the Starliner Asuka

Appendix