Shikasta. Doris Lessing

down from ‘higher regions’ because of their beauty. These selected women were led to the males and mating was accomplished. There were about fifty of them, each at first believing she was unique.

      Our plan was that they should tell others ‘in confidence’. This was to ensure the spread of rumours about Gods and so forth. But we did not wish mating to become general.

      In a short time the high place on the mountain where our volunteers were ensconced was under siege from willing females and from suspicious males. The four of us made our way as unnoticeably as possible to the space vehicle, but two of the women followed us, and mating took place in spite of my remonstrances that these were not designated women. Suggest that Planet 27 is unsuitable for this work. Planet 19 less enthusiastic.

      We made sure the take-off by our vehicle was observed by the two females, who will have returned to talk about celestial chariots.

       ENVOY 111, TAUFIQ, reports:

      I made preparations to carry out our first plan. This was for me to descend through Zone Six. It had been intended that I incarnate and become visible as mentor. Reports from our agents of unexpected conditions on Shikasta interdicted this plan.

      I therefore again approached by spacecraft. Our agents’ reports were soon confirmed. The ice caps were melting at a quite unforeseen pace. This was the more unexpected because there has been a period when they have in fact made a minor advance, conquering some of the territory they had relinquished. The sudden reversal has again swamped coastlines everywhere. It has filled the Shikastan skies with cloud that never lifts. The resulting gloom has led to a change in the Shikastan temperament. They are less volatile, are sullen, suspicious, slower to react.

      I covered the indicated areas. This survey was done as quickly as possible because of the urgency felt by me.

      This is what I found. The descendants of the genetic boost – Planets 19, 27, and Canopus East – are satisfactory. The general decline halted. They form a noticeably superior strain. But the others are sinking fast to a lamentable condition. Our plans for boosting this product of our genetic improvement had obviously to be postponed, but I suggest that when Shikasta has recovered from the fresh setback we should implement them.

      It was clear that a general inundation from the skies was imminent. The cloud mass grew daily heavier and more dense.

      I took the head of the new strain (Davidic-improved), and warned him to be ready to leave for higher ground, together with his family, and animals for breeding stock. He understood that I came from ‘somewhere else’ – as he put it. The legend of ‘Gods’ is well established. A measure of the new strain’s improved intelligence is their response to such information. I told him to warn all the inhabitants of that area. Those who would listen must be pressed into preparations for survival. Few could hear him: their genetic equipment made it impossible. This new emergency is in fact providing an unforeseen but useful means of separating the superior from the inferior. I shall be interested to discuss this with our envoys to the other threatened areas of Shikasta. It is my suggestion that the results of these discussions, which will provide invaluable information as to the mentality of the new Shikastan strain, should form the basis of a supplementary report.

      Well before the inundation the Davidic tribe was on safe ground on a mountain. The deluge began at the same time all over Shikasta, as I have gathered from informal discussion among our envoys. In the area that is the subject of this report, the rain continued for nearly two months. Except for mountain peaks everything was inundated. The onset of the deluge was so fast that there was no time for escape to higher ground by either higher or lower animals. Nothing survived. Of course, as the waters drained to the oceans, their levels rose. The great inland seas all flooded and will remain greatly enlarged.

      The psychological condition of the rescued strain was pitiable. It was necessary to make a ‘pact’ with them that this visitation of the Gods would not occur again. For their part, they must understand that the deluge was because of their falling away into wickedness and evil practices. They must always be ready to listen to instructions from us, their friends. These instructions would come, when necessary.

      When the earth dried, they were told to return to their previous territories. They must live soberly, moderately, without oppressing each other, and as custodians of the animals, whom they must not harm and oppress. They might make animal sacrifices to the Gods, but not human sacrifices, and this must be done without cruelty to the animals. (It was unfortunately necessary to allow this: the Shammat perversion is too strong.) I left them with various artefacts, as instructed. I told them that these were to strengthen the bond between them and ‘somewhere else’.

      I end this report with a personal request. If it is considered not unreasonable, I would prefer not to be assigned to Shikasta again.

       ENVOY 159, TAUFIQ, reports:

      Since my last visit, twenty-one cities have been established in the old flood areas. Five are large, with populations of a quarter of a million or more. Trade flourishes between the cities and as far as the eastern areas of the main landmass, its Northwest fringes, the northern parts of Southern Continent I, the Isolated Northern Continent.

      The living is luxurious, wasteful, higher purposes forgotten, except for a few.

      There has been racial mixing with the results of experiments from both southern continents. The merits, demerits, and general peculiarities of these crosses are analysed in the accompanying Report by the Mission of Population Analysts, Envoys 153, 154, 155.

      The worst of the adverse factors is that there have been matings with Shammat stock, as a deliberate policy by Shammat to counteract our improvements as a result of genetic boosts before the inundation.

      Shammat is not only constantly at work persuading Shikasta into the ways of Shammat, but is now informing these unfortunates that Shikasta is being defrauded by ‘the Gods’, who exploit them, of their rightful heritage, and that if certain practices are followed, the Shikastans will become ‘as Gods’.

      This is now a popular belief everywhere. Revolts against us are being planned. These will take the form of mass attempts to ‘transcend’ themselves, by means suggested through Shammat spies. They congregate together for ‘higher practices’ – the vibrations of which are channelled off to Shammat. They perform mass slaughter of animals, as a ritual. They also practise spurious versions of the Art of the Stones, suggested by Shammat.

      I support the recommendation of 153, 154, 155 to disrupt their speech centres.

      Representatives from every region of Shikasta known to them are to gather in the Areas of the Cities to confer about ways to ‘become Gods’. Unknown to them, Shammat will preside.

       ENVOY 160, TAUFIQ, reports:

      The urgency of the situation again necessitated use of spacecraft. All six of us attended the conference, purporting to be delegates from the extreme Northwest fringes. As there were so many different types present, there were no difficulties. The recommended techniques were effective. As a result their communication systems malfunctioned, and eight main languages are now established on Shikasta. These will develop into hundreds, then thousands of languages and dialects because of the Shikastan Law of inevitable division, subdivision.

      I again apply for transfer from Shikastan service into any other branch of the Colonial Service.

       ENVOY 192, TAUFIQ, reports:

      As a result of reports from our local agents that the Areas of the Cities are currently unsuitable for our purposes, investigations have been made into the Northwest fringes and the Extreme-east fringes. The Northwest fringes are sparsely populated due to the harshness of conditions and the impoverished landscape after the time of the ice. We established a few local agents to create and maintain enough stone patterns to keep our current stabilized. Similarly, in the Extreme east. But there climatic conditions are good and the soil rich, and the population increasing. We have built there a few small towns to Canopean pattern, chosen inhabitants of a suitable type to live in them, and placed stone and tree patterns in appropriate areas.

      I