The Book of Skyland
I have avoided filling the larger gaps with speculations based on the fragments available because there is still too little known about the history and culture in which The Book of Skyland was written. All textual emendations or contextual extrapolations are noted. The Alpha-10 and Alph-12 languages have no pronouns but to avoid tedious sentences I have inserted them where I thought appropriate. Their bodily appearance and sexuality are matters of speculation so I have used terms that would be familiar to give us an idea of what is meant.
My hope is that this work will lead to greater peace on earth.
The Book of Beginnings
1.1 Before it all began, Axiom rested serenely. Then Axiom spoke, saying, “Begin!” and it all began. Existence stood up with a start. Time and space appeared from Nowhere. 1.2 Light separated from Dark, making the first day, light. Then Land separated from Sky and Sea, making the second day, land. 1.3 Star separated from Moon and Fire and Mirror, making the third day, Star.
1.4 Axiom spoke again, saying, “Let there be classes and orders of Life: birds in the Sky and animals in the Land and fish in the Sea. This was the fourth day, life. 1.5 Then Axiom took cloud from the Sky and water from the Sea and molded them together and, behold, Asky began. In like manner, Axiom took dirt from the Land and water from the Sea and, behold, Aland began. 1.6 This was the fifth day, Aday.
1.7 Then Axiom said, “Let there be peace,” and there was silence and stillness for a day. So the days in order are called Lightday, Landay, Starday, Lifeday, Aday, and Restday.
1.8 Axiom placed Asky in the Cloud of Unknowing and Aland in the Path of Least Resistance. They kept in touch by means of winds and thunders and lightenings and quakes.
2.1 It came to pass that Aland became hungry on Restday. Seeing there was no food, he took a crossbow and took aim at a large bird and killed it. He feasted on it and fell asleep. 2.2 When Asky discovered that Aland had killed a bird, he was furious for not only was the deed done on Restday but it was a bird that could only be killed with Asky’s permission.
2.3 Asky thundered to Aland, “Why have you done this to me?” Aland did not answer but instead hid in a dark cave. 2.4 Aland rubbed stones together to make light in the cave. 2.5 That night Asky saw the glow of the cave and knew that Aland was there. 2.6 Asky came to the entrance of the cave to capture Aland when he came out but Aland heard Asky and did not come out. 2.7 Instead Aland took his crossbow and shot at him. From that day on, Asky and Aland were mortal enemies.
3.1 Axiom didn’t want Asky and Aland to kill each other so he created a barrier between them. 3.2 Then Axiom spoke, saying, “Asky and Aland cannot be companions so I will create new companions for them.” 3.3 When Asky was sleeping, Axiom took a tuft of hair from his head and created Skyla. When Aland was sleeping, Axiom took a tuft of pubic hair and created Landa.
[Translator’s note: The discs are incomplete after this. It seems that Asky and Skyla generated offspring, as did Aland and Landa.]
