Society Rules by Katherine Whitley Read Free Book Online Page B

to briefly interrupt the story with her own fit of coughing, as she struggled to keep herself silent at this revelation.
    Both Jackson and Maggie watched this with contrasting emotions stamped on their faces . . . one wary, one faintly exasperated.
    “Compose yourself, Indie!” Maggie demanded with a surge of strength, “and listen!” She hit Indie with a frown of disapproval.
    “With the Inca’s, the visitors focused on teaching engineering and agriculture, showing them how to build their steep mountainsides into terraced farms.
    “The Huari-Tiahuanaco learned quickly, and became skilled engineering marvels. They could fit giant stones together so seamlessly, they needed no mortar. Why, most of their forts are still standing today, in perfect condition. Look at Manchu Picchu! This knowledge did not simply materialize in their heads. Our Ancestors gave this to them.”
    Our Ancestors?
    Indie noted the word, used several times now and although confused, remained quiet, not wanting to interrupt Maggie’s momentum, although her still lingering strength was evident in her voice.
    “The Nazca showed thanks to the original Society Members with their enormous Earth drawings, still viewed by tourists to this day. Society Elders came to give advice on the governing of their tribes, and their cultures thrived. However, when left on their own, instability was allowed to destroy them as they became too focused on the “ruling class”, and they were laid open to defeat.
    The Maya culture was also birthed by the Society, and was considered the greatest hope for humankind, so well did they learn. They were given the secrets of technology, mathematics and in an unprecedented show of confidence, the true origin of the world.
    The early visitors taught them the concept of time and the written word. So successful were they that theirs is the most accurate calendar to date, accurate to the point of losing only one day every six thousand years.
    The Mayas called the first Society visitor “ Ah Kin Mai ”, meaning “highest one of the Sun.” Those that followed, were simply “ Ah Kin ”, or “from the sun.” Every culture from the Maya’s forward have stories about the so called “Children of the Sun”, for that is what they saw . . . visitors who for all appearances, came to them from a bright light in the sky.”
    This made Indie shift uncomfortably where she stood.
    Light from the sky? She didn’t like where this story seemed to be drifting, but struggled to remain silent as Miss Maggie continued.
    “The Egyptians gained much architectural knowledge as well, such as the ability to build the most universal of sacred shapes, the pyramid, and were possibly the most demonstrative of their thanks, with their worship of Ra, the sun god. But they also fell for the trickery of the Fallen, who presented himself as a god as well, gathering a huge following among the Egyptians, and later the Greeks also.”
    “ Sobek !” Jackson’s growl broke through the room at this point, fury quite apparent in his simple utterance of the word. In an instant, he seemed chastened. His eyes met Indie’s again, and he looked away. He was clearly embarrassed by his outburst, and turned to Maggie once more.
    Maggie had taken this moment to recover her breath, and she placed her hand to Jackson’s face in a comforting and indulgent gesture.
    “I know the mention of this incarnation of the Fallen disturbs you, young Jackson, but it must be told, don’t you agree?”
    “Of course, Miss Conner,” he responded instantly.
    Respectfully.
    “This worship of the one called Sobek did not bode well for either culture, unfortunately.” Maggie added, shaking her head sadly while drawing shallow breaths that made Indie uneasy.
    “The greed of man was fatal to the cultures; instigated and encouraged by the anger and jealousy of the Fallen. The power hungry moved in when the teaching was over, after our members left. Mere mortal men took on these