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Chapter Three
WHERE AND WHEN IS OZ?
The three travelers gathered around Salamas as
he instructed them. He took out three scrolls and handed one to each of them.
Laura started to open hers.
"No. Do not open it. Eat it. All of you eat the
scroll."
They exchanged amazed glances. RC had quietly come in the
gate and curled up at Dan's feet. He looked up at the giant being and cocked his head from
one side to the other as if he, too, was amazed at the command.
Dan took a bite. It tasted like a sweet cracker. "It
tastes good," he said as he quickly finished eating it and licked his fingers. The
others followed suit.
Salamas put his hand across their mouths, then touched
their ears. He then spoke to them in the strange language of the Sphinx people, only now
it no longer sounded strange. They could understand the words as easily as English.
Dan spoke to the new man and asked his name in the new
language.
"Philip Graham. I'm a Bible school student. Go to
school in Fort Worth. I was vacationing in Baraboo, walked down this path in the woods and
suddenly here I am."
"Same thing happened to us..." Laura began.
"You are free to explore this city at your leisure. I
will return to answer any questions you might have later," Salamas told them just
before he disappeared.
RC jumped up into Dan's arms and started his purring.
"What is that thing?" Phil took in the blue hide
and eyes of the little creature in Dan's arms.
"His name is RC and he's a native of this place
whatever this place is."
"Can I pet him?" Phil ventured out a hand.
"He likes everyone," Laura volunteered.
Dan handed RC to Phil and started walking toward what
looked to be a construction site. The others followed, taking in the sights as they went.
The Sphinx people busily shopped in the open air market.
Along the edges of the street, booths offered clothes, jewelry, foods and other items for
sale. Everything was arranged neatly and no one seemed in a hurry. Musical sounds floated
through the air from one of the higher level streets. The low hum of friendly conversation
surrounded them.
Several people headed toward the construction site as if
returning from a lunch break. Like everything in the city, it was being built with huge
blocks of marble and quartz. No one actually carried the blocks. Those moving the blocks
held their hands just above the block and the huge stones slid forward floating just above
the ground, accompanied by a mysterious rhythmic humming.
"How are they doing that?" Phil stared wide eyed.
"I've put on a few roofs and done some construction work. I'd like to know their
secret. It'd sure make my job a lot easier and faster," Dan said, hoping to see some
sort of device that held the stone up then turned to Phil taking in the neatly dressed man
with the thinning blond hair and ice blue eyes. He stood a little shorter than Dan and
appeared to be about the same age.
"We're going to watch these guys for awhile,
Laura." Dan said then smiled as he noticed her glance away from Phil self
consciously. "You want to stay with us or take in the market place?"
"I think I'll stick with you two. I don't like
shopping alone in a strange place. Besides I don't have any money."
"What do they use for money and how do those men lift
those stones and what is the Great sing and what is our purpose here? We'll We'll have a
lot of questions to ask that angel when he comes back." Phil quickened his pace as he
followed the giant people to their construction site dodging his way through the crowded
market. Dan hurried to keep up. Laura, now custodian of RC, put him down and ran to keep
them both in sight.
When Dan caught up with him he asked, "Where do you
come from anyway?"
"I grew up in Roswell, New Mexico. I just go to school
in Texas. I went to Wisconsin with a friend from school. I wonder what he's thinking now?
Thinks I'm dead, I suppose. Oh, well. God must have some special purpose for all this to
be happening. I just don't want my Mom to worry."
Dan smiled. What kind of guy walks in the woods like he's
dressed for church?
He shrugged. "I wonder if those big guys would mind if
we took a closer look."
"Let's ask," Phil said as he jogged up to the
block and smiled at the three giants maneuvering it into place. They nodded at him and
continued their work. Dan joined Phil and watched as the Sphinx people floated the block
into place. Laura stayed back out of the way, sat on the ground and held the exhausted RC.
The huge men kept their hands exactly the same distance
above the stone at all times and hummed. All maintained the same deep pitch. Other men
milled around them, but their concentration on the block never wavered.
"I wonder if that's how the great pyramids at Giza
were built," Phil said in a low voice.
"Why are you whispering?"
"Don't know. Just don't want to take a chance on
breaking their concentration. They might get mad if that stone lands on someone's toe
because we're making too much noise."
Dan dropped his voice to a whisper. "Good point. I
sure would like to learn their secret. Think what we could do if we moved things that size
with such little errort. I could do my job all by myself and charge double." Dan
chuckled. "I could make some big bucks just selling the idea."
Phil shook his head. "You're not getting the big
picture. I think we're here for a reason. You've got to admit this is quite a place. I
still haven't figured out where we are."
They both heaved a sigh of relief as the stone slid
silently into place.
"The question you should ask is when you are,"
effort thundered from behind them.
Both men started.
"Sorry I startled you," Salamas said.
Dan and Phil clapped their hands over their ears. "Can
you talk a little softer?" Phil asked. "MY ears aren't used to having thunder so
close."
"It's a good thing those guys already had that stone
in place," Dan said. "I've never seen an angel before. I thought you guys had
wings."
Salamas roared in laughter. Dan, Phil and Laura held their
ears in protest. "Just certain classes or ranks of angels have wings. Most of us do
not. We go anywhere we want without them"
"Can everyone see you?" Laura asked.
Salamas looked puzzled for a moment. "You don't see
angels where you come from?" Salamas had lowered his voice to a more comfortable
volume much to the trio's relief.
"We only see angels at times of crisis or
something," Phil told him. "They don't just live among people where we can see
them"
"Angels are the rulers here and on other worlds as
well, so, of course, everyone can see us."
"So," Dan shuffled his feet nervously, "when
are we?"
"This civilization has been in existence for millions
of years. If I told you the year it would be meaningless to you."
Phil's jaw dropped and his eyes widened. "That's
impossible. Men have only been in existence for six thousand years."
"Perhaps you have heard of the ruler of Earth. His
name is Lucifer. Earth has one large continent, Atlantis; and one ocean called the
Great Sea. Does that help you any."
Dan read the dawn of realization in Phil's face. He
himself, felt dumbfounded. "Is this Lucifer an angel, too?"
"He is God's highest ranking angel. He is the wisest,
most beautiful, and has the greatest musical talent in the universe. You'll see for
yourself soon. The whole city is getting ready for the Great Sing. Look around. Enjoy
yourselves." Salamas smiled his dazzling smile and disappeared.
Phil glanced around, then leaned toward Dan. "Do you
know who Lucifer is?"
"You know about him?"
"He's the angel who becomes Satan."
"These people don't act like devil worshippers."
"He hasn't become evil yet."
"This is too weird, talking about him like he's past
tense and it hasn't even happened yet. I wonder how many years from our time it is."
"There are no reference points to even figure it. We
have to find out more first." Phil looked around. "Where's Laura?"
"She's probably checking out some of these outdoor
shops. While we're trying to find her, maybe we can find something to eat. I smell
something really good coming from that booth and it's making me hungry. Wonder what they
use for money?" Dan headed toward the marketplace.
The Atlanteans had apparently finished at the construction
site for the day. In small groups they left, some heading off into the city, some
following the delicious smells to the booth serving food. There they sat at what looked
like a sidewalk cafe to order and eat. Dan wondered how he and Phil would be able to order
or sit at a table. Not only were the booths and tables and even the chairs too high, but
they had no money. They dodged their way through the crowd at the booth.
"Hey, up there," Phil shouted as he pounded at
the booth.
"Would you gentlemen care to join me?" Laura's
bell-toned voice sounded from behind them.
They turned around and laughed at the sight. A table their
size sat on top on one of the big tables, complete with chairs to match and a stairway
leading up to it. Three silver plates and something that resembled eating utensils had
been laid on the table. Food filled the plates.
"Salamas thinks of everything," Laura said with a
big grin. RC's blue head popped up beside her. There was a small plate with food on it in
front of him, too.
Phil climbed the stairway to the table and seated himself
at one of the mounded plates. Dan was right behind him.
Phil gazed appreciatively at the golden hair, big blue eyes
and smile on the face across from him. "Glad we found you so soon."
"Tell us more about yourself, Phil," Laura said
as she dug into the wonderful smelling food in front of her.
Phil told her all about himself in between bites. All of
them were studying the scene around them as they ate. After they finished, they sat back
and watched the crowd. Several had stopped to ogle them as well. Conversation hummed all
around them They felt like they were on exhibit.
"Have you noticed how few children there are?"
Dan asked. He liked children more than he liked most adults.
One of the children who looked to be a toddler that stood
as tall as they did, tried to grab at one of their plates and succeeded in spilling food
into Dan's lap.
A woman with long black hair held in place by a golden head
band picked up the child and started apologizing to them.
They nodded and smiled. She had to be at least ten feet
tall. Her face was square like the other people, but nonetheless, attractive with large,
dark, expressive eyes. The deep red paint on her mouth matched the trim on her clothes.
Carrying the errant child in her arms, she disappeared down the crystal street.
The crowd had dwindled to just a few who stayed for last
minute shopping before going home. Here and there a smaller version of the brachiosaurus
could be seen, sometimes being ridden by the Atlanteans and sometimes carrying loads of
goods. The animals and men seemed on the best of terms, not just serving as beasts of
burden, but serving as pets. There were only one or two children and attentive parents
carefully held them in check.
With fewer people, Dan and the others could see some of
them stepping from curbs into vehicles which floated on nothing. The vehicles then sped
away soundlessly. They watched as the vehicles disappeared up the various spiraled levels
of streets.
Each street level was paved in different color crystal. The
houses were made of marble blocks with the same colorful coating as the city walls. The
colors of the sunset reflected on the crystal streets and as twilight deepened the streets
the houses began to glow in their various colors.
"It looks like Christmas all the time here,"
Laura bubbled delighted at the sight.
"You need a place to stay." They all turned as
one to find Salamas standing next to them. They never saw him approach. He just appeared.
A young Atlantean accompanied him.
"When can we go home?" Dan blurted out the
question on all their minds. "This place is beautiful and a great place to visit, but
I have a family. I want to go home."
"When you have accomplished your purpose here, you
will go back to your own time."
"What purpose?" Laura asked.
"Ask Philip. He knows. In the meantime you will stay
with Eri and Usa. They can answer any questions you may have about this culture and this
time. You'll find Uza is an excellent cook."
Dan, Phil, and Laura stood up on the table to meet their
hosts. Dan and Phil stuck out their hands waiting for a hand shake. The two strangers
looked puzzled. Salamas explained to them the manner of greeting. They both smiled and
took the offered hands engulfing them completely up to their elbows. Laura giggled.
"I'm Dan. This is Phil and Laura." He pointed
first to himself then to the others. They smiled and repeated the names in heavily
accented tones. Dan looked toward Salamas. "Salamas, where we com from we are called
Americans because that's the country we live in. What do these people call
themselves.?"
"All on this planet call themselves Atlanteans. There
is one continent, but east and west are called by different names. This is the eastern
side. The western side is Poseidon.
"I must leave you. They'll take care of you now."
"What did you mean I know why we..." Phil found
himself talking to empty air. Salamas disappeared before he could complete the question.
"Hey." Phil shouted. "Even angels can at
least say good-bye."
The two Atlanteans helped them down to the street and
motioned them to follow. At the end of the street before one upward branch to the next
level, floated an egg shaped vehicle. When the woman touched the side of it, one section
lifted upward and the other dropped forming a ramp. She motioned them to enter.
It proved much larger on the inside than it appeared from
the outside. They seated themselves. The handful of controls at the front had glowing
geometric figures by each dial. The male, Eri, waved his hand in the direction of the
controls and the vehicle glided forward. There was no sensation of movement and no sound.
They knew they moved only by the passing scenery. The top half of the vehicle was
clear allowing them to see all the way around. That had not been evident outside.
"It's like a one way mirror," Dan murmured,
mostly to himself.
"did you hear what Salamas said?" Phil glanced at
Dan. "this is Atlantis. I always thought it was a myth, but it's like a missing piece
to a puzzle that has finally fallen into place. That last lecture in ancient history makes
perfect sense now. Think of it. If this is for real we have to find a way to prove
it."
Laura pressed her face against the window, watching the
passing scenery. "Did Salamas tell you that?"
"Salamas has been our only source of information so
far," Dan said.
"There really was a pre-Adamite civilization."
Phil's eyes lit up with excitement. "It's a subject Bible students argue all
the time, or avoid altogether. Don't you see what this means?"
"Lucifer had to rule something besides dinosaurs?"
Laura still had her face pressed against the window.
"A civilization ruled by angels. Who would have ever
guessed." Dan shook his head in wonder. "This is one wow of a dream."
"It's more than that," Phil said. It proves that
science and the Bible are in agreement. Archeology keeps coming up with evidence that
there were civilizations on Earth before the six thousand years that man has existed. this
is why. There was a whole race of people here. They were destroyed before God created
Adam. Science keeps insisting we are their descendents, but I know we are a separate
creation, not descendents.
"People in the UFO field think ancient
astronauts seeded this planet. They are the ones who will need the proof. They think God
is non-existent or just a universal mind or something. If we can tie it all together for
them so they can believe it, it will bring in a great harvest of souls before the rapture.
We are so close to that time when Jesus will return for us, it is doubly important to get
this news back to our time before those people go into the tribulation and end up being
duped by the AntiChrist and going to Hell."
"When we get home we should all collaborate and write
a book." Laura sighed and pointed out the window. "Just look at those colors and
that architecture. I've never seen anything like it. Every building is a different color
and it glows. Never have to worry about seeing the keyhole at night; if they have key
holes."
"It's all so beautiful. Heaven must be something like
this," Phil said. "When we get settled, I'll tell you what I learned in that
last lecture. I didn't believe the guy, but I do now. You'll see things in a whole new
light."
"Just promise you won't preach. I hate
preaching," Dan grimaced.
The vehicle stopped in front of a large pyramid shaped
building that glowed a soft peach color. Everywhere they looked, they could see glowing
buildings that reflected in the streets. Overhead the giant moon with its smooth surface
stood out in the sky. It was quite different than what they remembered from home. What had
happened to change it?
The stars were so bright and clear that with the light from
the moon no extra light was needed to see their surroundings. The exquisite gardens lent
themselves to the power of the scene. Eri passed his hand in front of the door and it slid
open with a slight swishing sound. Inside each of them was shown their room.
Dan fell into his bed, a soft and yielding surface. So many
things to think about, so many questions to ask, so much to learn. He wondered if what
Phil said could possibly be true. Dan chuckled as he thought of Phil's display of
short-tempered impatience at the angel. Preachers are not supposed to act like that.
The green misty light, the swishing door, the clawed hand;
he and Laura had forgotten to ask about it. Tomorrow...tomorrow, Dan thought as he drifted
to sleep.
XXX
Sunlight streaming in the window woke Laura. She glanced
around her. Rainbows filled the room as the peach colored crystal reflected the sun's
light. The furniture was composed of the same crystal material. Too strong and resilient
to be crystal, Laura thought as she tapped on a desk near the bed. Sleepily she crossed to
what she determined to be the closet. As she did, a door slid open revealing a closet full
of clothes and shoes.
She examined her new wardrobe. The brightly colored, gold
trimmed fabrics looked and felt silky, cut in simple but attractive tunic styles. The
shoes were mostly sandals in different colors to match anything she might wear. She
selected a white tunic with red and gold trim that had a gold belt for the waist.
"This place has so much gold," she murmured. "I wonder where it all
comes from."
Another door slid open revealing what had to be the
bathroom, but what a bathroom! She eyed herself in a mirror that paneled one end of the
wall. Her hair was fuzzed and peaked in all directions. She giggled at the sight and
picked up a silver comb laying beside the crystal sink, combed her hair, then reexamined
the results in the mirror.
"That can't be me! I've never looked this good!"
She pivoted in delight before the mirrored wall.
Wonderful smells wafted in through the open bedroom door.
Usa stood in the doorway motioning for her to follow. With her stomach rumbling, Laura
happily complied.
They stopped at Phil's door. Usa raised her hand and the
door slid open. Phil wore one of the Atlantean outfits as well. A metallic looking band
held his unruly hair in place. He gave Laura a big smile. He really was quite handsome,
she decided; and hungry. She could hear his stomach rumbling in unison with her own.
"Come on. Let's collect Dan and see if their
breakfasts are delicious as their dinners," Laura said.
"Wish I had my notebook with me. I'd take notes on all
this. At least, that way, I could make good use of the time."
Laura smiled. "You're all business, aren't you? Try to
relax and enjoy yourself.
They stopped in front of Dan's room. The already open door
showed them the room was empty.
"Where could he be?" Laura looked at Usa for an
answer.
"He's been up for some time looking over the grounds,
playing with the little bamba he calls RC, and asking questions. He's waiting for you to
come down to join him for breakfast," Usa informed them in the melodious language of
Atlantis.
Usa led them down the hall to the large dining room. She
motioned them toward a table just their size loaded down with food. Already seated, Dan
impatiently gestured them to their seats. "It's about time. Hurry up before it gets
cold."
Phil paused and gave God thanks for the food and they all
stuffed themselves.
Finally full, Dan sat back in his seat and looked at Phil.
"You think we're here because God wants us here don't you? Then how come so many
others have disappeared over the years going down that same path. They never returned. I
asked Usa about it. She said they also reported a green light and clawed hand. None of the
Atlanteans have ever seen it; only those who travel through time. Apparently they also
come through time pulled along the same time stream or something. They never
returned; not any of them. We have to ask Salamas about this. If that's God's plan for us,
I don't want anything to do with that kind of God."
"If none of them belonged to God, they did not have
His protection."
"I don't belong to God, so does that mean
I'm doomed or something?" Dan's voice had an edge to it.
Laura clapped her hands together. "Wait a minute now.
I used to go to church, but haven't given God much thought since I grew up. Does that mean
the clawed hand is going to get me?"
"Without God there is no protection from the evil one
whatever form he takes." Phil looked at Laura with concern.
"What if they're extraterrestrials or something?"
Dan asked doubtfully.
"Anything that is not of God and especially anything
or anyone who comes to steal, kill, or destroy is from the evil one. He has many
followers. If a third of the angels fell with him they probably had rule of other planets
in the universe. There's no way to tell how far Satan's rule extends.
"Let's go take a look at the city and while we're
walking I have to tell you what I learned in the class that told about where we are
now."
Chapter 4
agenda12.htm (Man's Dominion) agenda2.htm (Origins)
ranksch1.htm
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