Chapter 2:2 © The Rebellion – rho

M51 Hubble Remix

S. Beckwith (STScI), Hubble Heritage Team, (STScI/AURA), ESA, NASA

Additional Processing: Robert Gendler

Explanation: The 51st entry in Charles Messier's famous catalog is perhaps the original spiral nebula - a large galaxy with a well defined spiral structure also cataloged as NGC 5194. Over 60,000 light-years across, M51's spiral arms and dust lanes clearly sweep in front of its companion galaxy (right), NGC 5195. Image data from the Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys has been reprocessed to produce this alternative portrait of the well-known interacting galaxy pair. The processing has further sharpened details and enhanced color and contrast in otherwise faint areas, bringing out dust lanes and extended streams that cross the small companion, along with features in the surroundings and core of M51 itself. The pair are about 31 million light-years distant. Not far on the sky from the handle of the Big Dipper, they officially lie within the boundaries of the small constellation Canes Venatici.

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         Marios and Salamon sat at a small table in a stone walled dining establishment called 'The Mikroikia' about fifteen by twenty feet in a late afternoon sparsely clouded sky. A decorative fireplace sat to the west with a three step mantelpiece of plastered flat stones about three feet wide and two feet high. The L-shaped working counter is decorated with various pieces of colorful marble – mostly a mix of blues, grays browns, with a few onyx and deep red. The bottom base of the bar is a wall of stone each about the size of one or two human fists.  Four clay bowls are inserted into the well spaced holes in the top of the stone counter with the lips of the bowls holding them in place.

         The nearby Dead assume the food is what they ate and drank along the southern Greek coastal towns. This, along with the aromas is what comes to mind when they sit and talk as these two are in this establishment of convenience. Salamon has just explained his point of view about Zeus and Hades and the need to discover a way to add Apollo and Artemis to their own forces.

Here is Marios’ reply. “I think you are correct about Zeus being involved already, Salamon; but I think Zeus is cleverly implementing himself within Thanatos [Death] and his twin, Hypnos [Sleep]. We are as still as dead bodies when we aren’t dreaming, but when we are dreaming we are semi-conscious of the fact. The dream that Aeneas had at rock hill and Thales had later this morning may be distractions to keep us from our task which is mainly a presentation, a protest of our right, our natural right to want to visit our descendants and tell them how things in this world really are.”

Salamon showed cleverness in his brightened eyes as he replied, “How are things here? We don’t know what are world really is other than we continue to exist here. This diner is a representation of what we knew in life. We feel comfortable coming here for discussion. We remember the foods and drinks we enjoyed and feel as though we are or have been partaking in them recently, perhaps moments ago, which is enough for our satisfaction, for our pleasure, for our sense of fullness, but look around Marios, there is no food. It is wish fulfillment or a community madness.” He stopped but then involuntarily added, “We did not understand reality when we were alive, and as far as I am concerned, we understand it even less being dead.”

“This is why our protest is important,” added Marios. “We need to know more about our situation here. What it means? Why we still exist, particularly in this given state. We have justified reason to demand an audience with Zeus himself if need be. He knows this already, yet he and his brother are toying us.”

“Where is Sophia?”

“She is with Kassi or at least she was earlier. I suppose their discussion is similar to our own. I will have a talk with her.”

“Perhaps we should have a full meeting and develop a plan to rouse Zeus out instead of the Supervisor,” suggested Salamon.

“It is possible, you know, that Zeus is his brothers. Who would know? He is perfect at disguises.” Marios stopped a moment as a stone in deeper thought, “Perhaps he is the whole pantheon of gods and goddesses.”

“Doubtful. Zeus needs all the help he can get,” said Salamon.

“Perhaps there are gods we do not know involved.”

“It is truly possible that the Supervisor is one of those, one who is higher even than Zeus,” noted Salamon. “Anything is possible here.”

           “We live by imagination and rumors,” recited Marios and he mumbled, “This is a curst Place.”