I watched as three newcomers came into the Underworld, the place of the dead. They looked around in awe. This
was obviously not what they expected. I took two of them by the hand and led the three to the rock on which I sit.
"Gooday," I said, " Welcome to the Underworld. This is where all souls stay for all eternity. My name is Ulessyus.
I was a victim of Thera, the volcano that destroyed the Minoan civilization of the island of Crete in 1500 BC. Let me tell
you my story.
The night before the disaster was a night like any other. I said goodnight to my pupils, for I was a teacher, a
philosopher even, and started off for my evening meal and the night's rest. The streets were filled with life. Children
danced, ran, and played games, women scurried to and fro with water, and talked with the men, who were boasting of
anything and everything. People were very busy going about their business, including thieves who were out and about. I
suppose even they had families to feed. Yes life was good, I thought to myself, and let the gods keep it this way. I met a
couple of men that were fighting in the street and said to them, " Life is too short to fight. You mustn't take this to your
deathbeds." I didn't know how close they actually were. When I arrived home, I was waited on by one of my servants
who removed my cloak, washed my feet, and then helped me to the table in the next room. I was quite wealthy and could
afford to keep many servants. Very few were able afford them back then. Before me was a table full of good things to eat.
I remember exactly what they tasted of. There is no light or freedom here in the Underworld. Not even taste. I went to
my chamber after the meal and laid down to rest, thinking of what I might teach my pupils the next day. I could feel the
moonbeams of Artemis upon my face and a warm breeze surround my body, but I shuddered at the feeling, not knowing
why then, but understanding now. It is odd how the mind works. It can predict its own demise. Soon I fell asleep.
I was awoken very early the next morning by something that drew the breath out of me. A thick cloud of something
hung over the village. Everyone was running from what seemed to be death. I got dressed and joined the crowds in the
street. I tried to run, but the air took my breath and I had to stop. On amongst the crowd stopped to help me up.
'Come grandfather Ulyessyus. I will help you.'
He brought me to my feet and then came a sound so horrendous, I could have sworn that it was the end of the
world. An explosion is what you younger generations would call it. The power of the detonation of four million hydrogen
bombs, all at the same time. The earth shook so terribly. Many were trampled and many more crushed underneath
building which we called our homes. We were in utter chaos and then the worst came: it rained, black rain. Harder and
harder it fell, faster and faster, hotter and hotter. Our village had been crush and what was left burned. So many were
dead, and the injured were dying. The young man helping me was crushed under a falling column, which also took my
cloak. I stopped in the town square. Just the day before I had watched the children running through it, but now they lay
lifeless, strewn over and under rubble which yesterday was a market. Charred bodies lay at my feet; all were dead. I was
the only one left alive, standing in that square, and in the village. It was noon. It was almost impossible to tell. The sky was
so black. I walked about surveying the terror and damage. I walked around town until I was so out of breath I had to sit
down. My body was burnt very badly and I bled profusely from everywhere. I finally lay down to rest. My body was
shutting down. I had survived the day, but I was not going to survive the night. I closed my eyes, drew my terminal breath
and died.
I arrived here and I've been here ever since. I've watched the world grow up. I've seen the rise and fall of the
Roman Empire, the birth of Christ, the Renaissance, all the Civil wars, the first man on the moon, WWI, II and III,
computers, and so many other things. I under stand that you were killed by a hydrogen bomb. Now let me think.
Hydrogen bomb, hydrogen bomb, yes a thermonuclear bomb, also dubbed the clean bomb. It requires fission, where
some nuclei are unstable due to particle absorption may split nearly in half, and fusion, where small nuclei are combined to
form medium sized ones. One of the most powerful bombs, am I right? The ancient atomic bomb pales next to it
right, yes. The twenty-first century has made many improvements to the ancient weaponry. One hydrogen bomb
produces 25 Megatons of energy. Yes, even my good friend Albert is impressed with his creation. You see, if you have
not taken history then you would not know that Albert influenced the President of the United States, during WWII, to
create the atomic bomb, which was the forerunner to the hydrogen bomb.
I am truly sorry for the accident that caused your deaths, but the blast of Thera was equal to the power of four
million hydrogen bombs which is 100 000 000 Megatons of energy. It took out an entire civilization and left many baffled
to where we had gone until quite recently. The volcano is now called Santorini. Oh, you understand now. Good. Now go
on to your new life. It will take some getting used to."
They went like one who hath been stunned;
Alas 'tis forlorn,
As sadder and as wiser men
They woke the morrow morn.
