The world gathered for the Emergence. The 2000+ subjects of King Vernoy came to the banks of the Eniky, the hundred-year river, as the Hub leaned further West. The King and Queen sat on the viewing platform for the Court and the Priests, a safe distance from the Hub. The few wealthy—minor nobles and traders, and a few middle-class skilled workers, had their own luxurious platforms. The laborers and poor sat on bleachers or sprawled on blankets.

Everyone was celebrating the Emergence. Everyone was commanded to by the Prime, King Vernoy, except for the exiles. The last of the fine wines, the beef and meats, the rare fruits were nibbled by those lucky enough to afford them. Those unable to afford these delicacies ate bread and vegetables and drank water or cheap wine. The one exception was the good wine and berries and fruit from the early crops of the hundred-year harvest that the King provided to everyone.

The 250 soldiers of the King's Guard watched the crowds carefully, there to maintain order and arrest everyone who broke the laws. No one dared snatch an extra banana or bottle or wander into the noble areas. The Guard was feared rather than respected by the lower classes.

Tiraz knelt before Vernoy and Queen Zarfa in the meeting room of the Watchtower. His advisors and High Priests attended him, with their mates if they were paired. One of the few unmated was Nofred, Senior Water Engineer. Her heart beat faster when she saw him again, and she thanked the Burning God and the Wandering God Boku hadn't noticed.

"You have done well, Boku and Tiraz. Your calculations about the Hub are true. The Priests and I commend you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Tiraz and I wish always to serve the gods and you, their Voice."

"This evening, when we celebrate the Emergence, I will reward you as you deserve. When the Hub reveals its secrets, and we learn the knowledge of the First Arrivals, we shall undo the damage they did to our Halcyon, our planet. The High Priest of the Burning God and his senior staff will view the emergence from the Watchtower. Till this evening." Vernoy left, followed by the Court and the Priests of the Wandering God.

As they left, Tiraz got to her feet. Her knees ached from kneeling on the stones for an hour, and her back hurt. Boku gripped her shoulders and whispered, "We have pleased the King. In the coming harvest, we will rise in the Court." Tiraz nodded, and led the group to the viewing station of the Watchtower.

The Senior Priests and their wives took their seats, with the lesser vicars and the engineers behind them. All had an excellent view of the Hub, now tilted 62° to the South. Watching closely, Tiraz could follow its slow descent to the ground. She heard counting bead click as engineers added data to their palm pcs, and wondered if Nofred was excited like the others or felt the fear that had stayed with her since she calculated the Emergence. She kept her eyes on the Hub, not daring to look over at him, for Boku was alert to her every move.

The time was 3:31. Emergence was late, but the Hub now tilted at 69° and moving faster. Boku pinched her nipple hard, and she flinched, not daring to remove his hand. "Emergence is late, my dear mate. If there is to be punishment, you will suffer all."  Punishment for mated wives was accepted and expected, but strictly regulated. Boku's punishments were the kind that would earn him punishment, if he were careless enough to be caught. Unfortunately, after three wives, he was amazingly discreet His damp lips were against her ear.

She turned to the others, and he dropped his hand. She wanted to rub her throbbing breast, but didn't dare. "My lords and ladies, Emergence is coming soon. The Hub is near collapse. As you all see, the Hub moves closer to the ground and the buried part is pushing up the earth holding it."

The High Priest of the Burning God asked, "Thank you. The King wants the time updated. Boku?"

"Yes, Your Grace. I will get the abacus and pc."

"The Prime must wait. Does an engineer have an update for us?" The High Priest asked.

"If I may speak, Your Grace," said Nofred. The High Priest nodded. "Emergence should almost certainly be in 12.5 minutes, unless there is an unknown obstacle. Perhaps the hand of the Wandering God is restraining it."

"That is likely. Nomad battles with Blaze. She always opposes him, disloyally. I have answered the King."

The group resumed watching as the Hub moved earthward. It was now at about 78°. Tiraz wondered if it would lower itself by degrees or fall abruptly as Boku had determined.

The silence pounded in Tiraz's ears as the Hub leaned over. Then, without warning, it fell to the ground with a loud pop as the hidden portion ripped from the mud. The watchers gasped as one as the collapse caused a great wave to form in the Eniky that raced to the Watchtower and beyond. The wave receded slowly, but shallow waters lapped against the foot of the building. Tiraz had never seen so much water. 

The watchers understood they had seen history made. "Hoorah! Hoorah! The Hub!" Voices shouted amid clapping and cheering.

The High Priest held up his hand and waited till the people quieted before speaking. "The Wanderer and the Blaze be praised. The Hub and its secrets are revealed." He raised his glass of wine. "Praise Blaze and Nomad! Praise them for revealing to us the Hub. The King, may he rule wisely, guided us to this day."