Chapter 14 Vimana

　　—Time cycles endlessly; the moon that shines tonight once shone upon the ancients.

The brilliant civilizations of remote antiquity have vanished into the mists of time. History is composed of successive cycles; how can humanity escape the wheel of rebirth?

　　Wang Yue, Zheng Ya, and Su Ziqi sat upon the rock talking through the night. Though the night was long, the three women seemed to have endless words. Before they knew it dawn approached; looking up they saw the morning sun.

　　The eastern sky had already grown pale; daybreak had arrived, and a new day begun.

　　The Great Chieftain’s four children—Gong Kang, Gong Yi, Gongkong, and Gong Jie—came early to the platform at the pyramid summit. Seeing Su Ziqi and the other two, they immediately dropped to one knee: “We pay our respects to the celestial gods!”

　　The three women shook their heads helplessly; even Su Ziqi no longer bothered to protest. Let them think as they would.

　　After the greeting the four began practicing swordsmanship upon the platform, then spearthrowing and archery.

　　The continuous mountain range was gentle on the sunfacing slopes, where all the giant firs grew. The shaded side was precipitous—an almost vertical cliff.

　　Opposite the cliff rose another high mountain, roughly a hundred paces from the platform at the pyramid summit, densely covered with trees.

　　Targets hung from those trees, bristling with arrows, showing that archery practice upon the platform was common.

　　Gong Kang was twentytwo, Gong Yi twentyone, Gongkong twenty, and Gong Jie only sixteen.

　　Elder Brother Gong Kang first practiced spearthrowing while the others watched. The spear he used was entirely of iron, shaft and all, and must have been extremely heavy.

　　With a mighty cast he hurled the iron spear; a sharp whistle cut the air as the spear shot forth like an arrow and struck the distant bull’seye.

　　The spear did not stop at the target but passed clean through both the target and the tree trunk behind, leaving a hole.

　　What divine strength! Su Ziqi and her companions exclaimed inwardly; never had they seen a man of such power.

　　Gong Kang next drew an arrow, aimed at another target, and released. The arrow whistled away and struck the center deadon.

　　The head sank deep into the target, leaving only half the fletching exposed. Both force and accuracy were beyond reproach; he truly deserved the title of foremost warrior of the clan. Another round of applause followed.

　　Gong Yi raised a thumb: “Elder Brother’s spearthrowing is unmatched; this younger brother has nothing to say. In archery, however, I am still somewhat unconvinced.”

　　He aimed and released; the arrow struck precisely the fletching of the shaft Gong Kang had just fired, splitting the feather in two and embedding itself in the shaft.

　　“A superb cloudpiercing arrow!” Gong Kang cried.

　　It was Gongkong’s turn. He swaggered forward: “Elder Brother, hand me the spear.” Taking the heavy iron spear from Gong Kang he staggered and nearly wrenched his back, then said without a trace of embarrassment: “Damn it, this spear is awkward in the hand. Another day I shall bring my own and compete with you; for today I shall let you take first place.”

　　He next took Gong Yi’s bow and arrow, nocked the shaft, and declared: “Second Brother, your younger brother has been practicing diligently of late and has made some progress.” Before the words finished the arrow slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground. He laughed it off: “Awkward, awkward—none of your weapons suit me. Another day I shall bring my own.”

　　The siblings all knew Gongkong for a slippery character—glib of tongue, thickskinned, and skilled only in verbal sparring. Though an adopted son, he enjoyed the special favor of their father; openly they could do nothing, but privately they mocked him.

　　The youngest, Gong Jie, refused to yield to either Gong Kang or Gong Yi. She took a bow and released an arrow, but lacking strength the shaft fell short and dropped over the cliff, drawing a wave of laughter.

　　“Gong Jie, you are a girl; you should study women’s work with your elder sister Gong Min, not practice martial arts with us,” Gong Kang admonished.

　　Gong Jie remained unconvinced and was about to shoot again when suddenly three enormous triangular flying objects appeared in the sky. They flew at low altitude, brushing the tops of the giant trees upon the pyramid platform, gliding past in utter silence.

　　Gongkong was the first to notice the craft. He cried “Vimana!” and hastily pulled Gong Jie toward the door of the tree hollow. Gong Yi followed in panic, clearly terrified of the vessels in the sky.

　　Only Gong Kang remained composed; he drew his bow, intending to shoot at the flying objects. Gong Yi turned back at once and dragged him into the hollow as well.

　　At that moment only Su Ziqi and her two companions stood motionless, staring blankly. Seeing this, Gongkong doubled back, seized the three without explanation, and pulled them into the great hall of the tree hollow.

　　“What was that?” Su Ziqi, now inside, asked in bewilderment, seeing their panic.

　　In the hearts of the three women questions boiled like scalding water.

　　The primitive natives of this planet were so backward, yet the flying craft that had just appeared were so advanced—the contrast was stark.

　　The natives’ reaction to these advanced vessels filled the three with still greater doubt.

　　Su Ziqi recalled Gongkong’s first encounter with the Kuafu: he had shown no fear. Yet upon seeing these triangular craft he reacted as though he had beheld a daytime ghost—completely contrary to her expectations.

　　Gongkong was still shaken: “We call them ‘Vimana.’ The celestial gods name them ‘Chariots of the War God.’ They are the conveyances of the gods.”

　　“Vimana?” An expression of incredulity crossed Su Ziqi’s face.

　　“Exactly. These damned Vimana appear only after the annual humansacrifice combat tournament. Yet this year’s tournament has not yet been held—why have they come already? Damn them—every time they appear they bring ill omen.”

　　Su Ziqi’s mind buzzed. The ancient Indian epic Ramayana recorded flying craft that roamed the skies, called “Vimana.” The Vedas likewise described Vimana of various forms.

　　Historians had always regarded such records as pure fantasy. Su Ziqi had never imagined that upon a mysterious planet of the solar system tens of thousands of years earlier she would see craft the natives called “Vimana.”

　　Suppressing her astonishment she continued: “Who was controlling those Vimana just now?”

　　Gongkong, still watching the sky from the doorway, answered without noticing her expression: “Need you ask? Of course the Green Clan of Evil Gods are piloting them.”

　　“Gongkong, last night the Tiger Tribe chieftain said the celestial gods can never be resurrected. What did he mean? Have your celestial gods already died? Can gods die in your world?”

　　Asked the question once more, Gongkong withdrew his gaze, looked at Su Ziqi, and answered solemnly: “Though celestial gods enjoy long life, they too can die. Our Yellow Clan Celestial Gods perished at the hands of the Green Clan of Evil Gods.”

　　“Then the celestial gods are opposed to one another? War once broke out among them?”

　　“I shall answer that,” Gong Kang interjected from the side. In a calm voice he began to recount the history of Mu Star.

　　“From earliest childhood our parents told us that we were all created by the celestial gods. The legend has been passed down orally, generation after generation, so that we may never forget the gods’ grace.

　　“There are seven great clans of celestial gods. At some unknown time and for unknown reasons, conflict arose among them. At first the wars were small in scale; later they became a great war. The gods rode their Chariots of the War God—the Vimana—and fought one another. We, as their creations, were also required to fight for the Yellow Clan Celestial Gods who made us.

　　“We call this war the ‘War of the Gods.’ It lasted many years, sweeping across the entire continent of Mu; no clan was spared. It ended only twenty years ago. The outcome was the defeat and death of the Yellow Clan Celestial Gods who created our Gongyou Clan of humans, leaving our people with deep wounds.”

　　Having finished, Gong Kang turned to Gongkong with a look of displeasure: “Third Brother, the Vimana appeared over the forest. Did your scout unit not detect them earlier?”

　　“Elder Brother, you cannot blame me for this. Damn it—my subordinates returned only in the middle of last night to report that Vimana had been sighted over the forest since yesterday afternoon. Because Father was drunk last night, and you know how Mother has always disliked me, I could only wait until Father rose before…”

　　“This matter cannot be delayed. The frequent appearance of Vimana in the sky of late—what does it signify? I must report to Father at once.” With that Gong Kang hurried from the hall.

　　The Great Chieftain’s residence lay in another giant tree beside the pyramid platform, connected by a gallery bridge. Two guards stood at the door.

　　The gate was tightly shut; Gongdian had clearly drunk heavily the previous night and was still sleeping.

　　Seeing Gong Kang’s urgent manner the guards asked: “Greetings, Young Master. What is the matter?”

　　Gong Kang pushed past them: “The situation is urgent; there is no time to announce. I am going in directly.”

　　Within the great hall of the giant tree upon the pyramid summit, servants had already brought breakfast: roasted meat, fruit, grain, dairy, and fruit wine.

　　Professor Dong Yifeng had awakened and come downstairs. Gong Yi and his siblings ate breakfast together with Su Ziqi and the others.

　　Gong Yi held a large piece of meat in his right hand, chewing while pouring himself a bowl of fruit wine with the left: “Thanks to the celestial gods, breakfast is so abundant.”

　　He sipped the wine, glanced at Su Ziqi’s group, and said to Gongkong: “Third Brother, is it not strange? Ever since the celestial gods descended upon our clan, the Vimana have appeared in the sky. Could there be some connection?”

　　Gong Yi’s words startled Su Ziqi. She recalled that the Kuafu had been attacked by an unknown force upon entering this planet’s atmosphere.

　　“Could those Vimana have been dispatched from that pyramid? Are they pursuing us? If so, are Yang Zhiyuan and the others still aboard the ship in danger?” She voiced her concern to the other four.

　　Huamei immediately attempted quantum communication with Yang Zhiyuan via the device on her arm. After prolonged calling there was no response. An ominous atmosphere filled the hall.

　　After urgent consultation the five decided to return at once to the ship to investigate. Unfamiliar with the route, they could only entrust Gongkong as guide.

　　Hearing Su Ziqi’s request, Gongkong replied: “No problem. It is my honor to serve as guide for the celestial sisters. However…”

　　“However what?”

　　“If the appearance of these Vimana is truly connected with you celestial gods, then your present situation is extremely dangerous. The Green Clan of Evil Gods is hunting you. You must disguise yourselves as members of our clan.”

　　He ordered servants to bring Gongyou Clan garments. After changing upstairs the three women looked at one another and could not suppress laughter.

　　“Ziqi, tell Gongkong their clothing is too rustic—especially that yellow headcloth. Must we wrap it?” Zheng Ya said.

　　After Su Ziqi translated, Gongkong immediately grew stern: “Then prepare to lose your heads!”

　　“What?” None of them had imagined that failing to wear the crude yellow headcloth could bring fatal consequences.

　　“In our clan the Great Chieftain has decreed that anyone not wearing the yellow headcloth may be beheaded on the street by whoever sees them. Women, however, need only bind the hair; they need not wrap the entire head.”

　　Su Ziqi said: “Your clan’s customs are truly strange! Ah, when in Rome… Gongkong, there is still room in our flying craft; you may ride with us directly.”