Macroscope by Piers Anthony

Author:Piers Anthony
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, American, General, Fantasy, Fiction
ISBN: 9780972367080
Publisher: Mundania Press
Published: 1969-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

"The Philistines," Mattan continued, touching a section of the Asia Minor coast, "invaded Palestine from the sea, having been repulsed by Egypt. The Hebrews, meanwhile, invaded from the desert, having also been repulsed by Egypt.

Thus were the rightful residents of the land between Egypt and Damascus dispossessed: we Canaanites, who had occupied it for a thousand years in peace. We could have repulsed one invader, meager as our military posture was compared to that of the superpowers, but the combination was beyond our means. Our enemies were numerous and savage, while we were civilized. Fortunately, Tyre and her sister cities along the northern coastline—Acco, Sidon, Berytus, Byblos, Arwad and Ugarit—these seven were strong even then, and we were able through our developing naval power and coastal fortifications to hold off the despoilers and to succor many of our victimized kinsmen. We developed our industry and improved our craftsmanship and made our fair cities a sanctuary for vigorous men of all types, even the Mycenaeans. Thus did we begin to prosper from out of the ashes of holocaust."

Holocaust! One by one, Ivo thought, the pet fears of his own time were realized in this earlier age. So little seemed to have changed. The weakening of superpowers, the onset of anarchy, the high hopes for a new beginning—what remained to distinguish his own world from this one?

The destroyer remained! Nothing like that could exist here. Nothing.

"That is where it stands today," Mattan said. "The great destroyer Assyria remains confined—" His eyes narrowed as Ivo jumped. "Though I believe strong leadership could make it great again, and may do so to our cost. The Hittite empire is beyond redemption, however. And Egypt has been taken over by the Libyans."

Again he noted Ivo's reaction, but continued talking. "Sheshonk calls himself Pharaoh, but he is only a usurper thinking to build his capital at Bubastis. Of course he does have a certain barbarian vitality. He is laying siege to Ugarit now and has his eyes on Byblos. But he will be wise not to interfere with Sidon or Tyre."

Ivo had followed only the gist of all this, more concerned with his own situation. At least the mystery of his Egyptian experience had been partially alleviated. There was a superimposition of cultures: Libyan over Egyptian. The main question remained unanswered, however: how could he be participating? Probably he would have found himself physically in Egypt, had he not fled immediately... and had he had the sense to quit then and rest for a few hours away from the macroscope, none of this present adventure might have come to pass.

Well, recrimination was futile. Mattan was waiting for his comment on the local situation. The Pharaoh of Egypt was attacking Ugarit. "But aren't the Phoenician cities being attacked? Why don't you help them?"

"That becomes problematical. For one thing, their colonies along the African coast—and there is more to Africa than you might suspect—are competing with ours. For another, we can't afford to weaken our comparative standing with our rival Sidon, and Sidon has not agreed to match any assistance we might grant.

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