Free The Days of Peleg by Jon Saboe Page A

apologetically, “but sometimes his drugs get the better of him.” She paused as if to say, ‘Yes, I said drugs , and even though it is outrageous and disrespectful, I won’t retract it.’
    She continued. “I’m afraid I must get to my lecture. You will be able to show yourself out, yes?”
    They nodded and Serug said, ‘Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and your time.”
    She smiled. “Like anyone else, I’m always glad to share my thoughts.” She looked at Peleg. “Please keep in mind those thoughts which I shared with you. I truly look forward to what you will have to report when you return.”
    “Thank you,” Peleg said, “I will try and keep my mind open.” He thought to himself that an open mind, like a sail, was only good if the wind was blowing in the right direction.
    “Travel with Knowledge !” she waved as they left the room.

Chapter 9
    Decision
    “Selecting a course of action annihilates all other possible futures.”
    P eleg’s eatery of choice was the BubusSunu , but it was on the other side of the city. Fortunately, a horse-drawn tonga happened by, and they waved to the driver. “Good evening, gentlemen.” It was a two-seater, and they climbed in. “Where are you heading this fine evening?” He had a young voice, but it contained a gruff, uncouth tone and had a slight slur implying he might have had a few drinks earlier in the day. He was wearing a sleeveless linen shirt, displaying a progression of impressive muscles along each arm. Peleg gave him the destination, and the driver nodded. With a slight lurch, they were on their way, the horse’s hoofs tapping lightly on the limestone pavement. “The name’s Tizkar. I can’t help but notice that I picked you up in front of the house of Inanna and Salah.” He continued without waiting for confirmation. “A strange duo, them two. I mean, as Mentors go, they’re nice enough, but they’re always trying to convince people about other races, other times, and will try and persuade anyone who will listen that there were ‘millions and millions’ of people before the Great Calamity.
    “Now me, I don’t buy any of it. Those Mentors are too smart for their own good. Always think they can explain the unexplainable.”
    Peleg looked over at Serug and rolled his eyes. He had found someone who could talk more than Serug.
    Tizkar continued. “Now, if you want my opinion, there never was a Great Calamity. Does that shock you? Well, I think these Mentors just made it up to feel important—and to impress us. Well, I’m not impressed. The gods created the first ones out of the sea just over two hundred years ago, and I for one am not going to fall for any talk of ancient pre-Calamity civilizations or flying ships.”
    He paused to navigate a tight corner, then continued.
    “Let me ask you this: Has anyone actually met a survivor of the Great Calamity?”
    Serug started to respond, but Peleg silenced him with a wave.
    Tizkar turned around and grinned. He let go of one of the reigns and flexed an impressive bicep.
    “See this here?” His bicep and tricep did a little dance. “You think this just happened by chance? Of course not. Only the gods could design something as fine as this!”
    He turned forward again. “The gods have placed us here, and it is our job to try and figure out why.” His voice lowered. “And I don’t need any anzillu Mentor to tell me how.”
    As the evening twilight began to fade, he continued on with his dissertation, somehow weaving life, Mentors, conspiracies, history, gods and politics into a disjointed, yet comprehensive personal worldview. Throughout, Serug was bursting to respond—and Peleg continued to hold him back.
    Thankfully, the tonga finally stopped and Tizkar announced, “Well, here we are.”
    As the men climbed out, Tizkar laughed, “Don’t mind me. I don’t much care who knows what I think.”
    Serug muttered, “I see . Nothing like advertising one’s ignorance.”
    Tizkar was