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The world of <span class="mu-s">UTUTU</span> shudders over the next month. In the settlements, wild rumors arrive from the rural outskirts – giant tracks left from beasts unknown, and of night terror as unseen behemoths topple forests with their mighty steps…
A giant, still shaking off the deep slumber of eons, strides southwest, passing through mountain vale and forest valley. It cares nothing for the quailing fright of ranging parties of <span class="mu-i">Ngwenya</span> that it comes across, nor does it display signs of aggression as it strides past. Day and night pass, and Thalroksin stops for nothing – not when Amandla is on the breeze.
An enormous levitating sphere, inscrutable, arrives soundlessly before an Intulo city of middling size, Omi Didan – pulsing blue, it attracts immediate attention from the local salamander authorities. Within hours, frantic messages of <span class="mu-i">CONTACT MADE WITH ANOMALY, PLEASE ADVISE</span> are streaking outwards through the Salt Sea upon Amanzi-drum channels, and a cordon is placed widely at rough 1km intervals. An investigatory delegation of yellow-robed ministers bring various devices, lenses, scopes and more. No one dares attempt communication with the Sphere, L0-DI, without approval from Alagbara, chief of Intulo, but already, the junior ministers of Omi Didan impatiently sketch out possible methods of communication. Deep within the palace of Omi Didan, a salamander oligarch is ordering that the Amandla-based weaponry is brought out of storage – great javelins and harpoons with burning points, enormous slings with Umlilo-charged munitions. Friendly contact must not be assumed…
A Giant Rock moves of its own volition, grinding all beneath, insensate to the screams and shrieks of its animal victims. No sentients cross its path, as it moves east – leaving only deep scoring and crushed gore as a sign of its passing.
A cube of unknown manufacture passes close by to another Intulo town - Ekan Pẹtẹpẹtẹ, hardly more than a fishing village. ID-0L’s presence does not immediately draw attention – this sleepy part of the Salt Sea coast is difficult to rouse into action, although few have tried. The frantic messages criss-crossing the Salt Sea are a cause of mirth to the few salamander-ministers assigned to this backwater – the thought that they may soon be confronted with one of these “anomalies” has not yet been taken seriously. In the dim morning light, ID-0L pauses there, by the lapping waters of the Salt Sea, to perform its work – the slow drawing of metallic elements from the earth below. The rippling globules of alloy orbit the Cube – the hum and pitch of the Cube interiors drop lower – perhaps the sound of satisfaction?
