The Mystery and the Machine by Chipka
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
Description
Dül and Xéŕšé have been to Agara—to the cities of Preskiyn and Pekkur. They judge those cities as any European might: they are interesting cities, they might say, grudgingly. They are clean. Unlike the monster metropolises of the USA, they are small, compact, encrusted with cobblestones and Italian-influenced architecture. They say nothing of the anachronistic machines. I’ve thought to ask them what they think of the Agaran machines, but I feel that I’ve mentioned the Üküré machines far too many times. I’m sure they’re sick of my tourist’s questions and my obsessive drive to learn all that I can about them.
Admittedly, I don’t need to go to Agara to see their machines. There are enough of them here in Ükür, and one of them has something to do with the dreams I’ve been having for longer than I care to remember. I doubt that the Agaran machines serve the same purpose as their Üküré counterparts, anyway. From what I’ve been able to gather, the Agaran machines are little more than components of a country-sized clock. That in-and-of itself is interesting, but it’s not what draws me. It’s the Üküré machines that possess my thoughts. Those same machines seem to terrify Dül and Xéŕšé on some instinctive level. I don’t know why, but I think that my own obsession with these things mirrors an experience they had with the very device that centers my compulsions.
When I arrived in Ükür, I went to the National Museum in Ōmůt, and saw such machines for myself. They were ancient things, corroded, non-functional, but obviously alive with some strange—and possibly alchemical energy. According to local lore, other such machines lie buried throughout the country. These wild devices center a number of local superstitions, and though Dül and Xéŕšé are distinctly modern and cosmopolitan, they react to these machines with a kind of superstitious awe. They don’t speak of them openly, and when I asked them to accompany me to the dinky little city of Šeš, they reacted (silently) as if I’d suggested they kill their own parents.
It took days of arm-twisting to get them to even acknowledge that such devices existed, and that Dül knew where one of them might be buried. It took days more to convince them to show me where such a thing might lie…and now…weeks after arguing and cajoling, they’re set to take me south. To Šeš. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m sure that I’ll find answers to the dreams that have been nagging me. I hope that my discoveries—whatever they are—don’t drive Dül and Xéŕšé away from me, as they’re the only friends I have in this ancient and eccentric country.
--From the Unpublished Journals of Samantha Braden
Comments (27)
luoyx2008
Very nice combination of light and material。 ：）
KatesFriend
I suppose to Braden these ancient machines, appearing so simple in some ways but so beyond the scope of her own society in others is a bit like one of us opening up our grandmother's old radio from the early 30's. Inside, there is this bewildering array of technologies which most of us now have never seen before - vacuum tubes. Why would anyone build such a thing you might wonder. All in all they seem very impractical devices if they ever worked at all. And these tubes of crystal and hot, glowing filaments that captured distant voices from the air must have seemed like magic to that now abandoned society wedged between two massive wars. I have a nixie tube adding machine to remind me of such things. Another abandoned technology that many have forgotten to even have existed.
elfin14doaks
Very interesting shot.
watapki66
Wonderful story and image!
beachzz
Another of your great forays into these alternate universes. These old machines have stories to tell.
auntietk
I love your story of these machines, and would welcome a longer version with loads of detail and mystery and mini time warps. I think Samantha will unravel the story eventually, but ... at what cost???
mbz2662
Only you could come up with such a great story by looking at an old, engine... machine parts.. Super work :)
faroutsider
Wild machines - now there's a wonderful concept.... Great writing, beautifully illustrated. Samantha's journals are a treasure trove of note.
Meisiekind
Just magnificent in every way Chip - narrative and image! :)
durleybeachbum
I feel a little like the readers of Dickens felt waiting for the next instalment of 'Little Dorrit' or suchlike. I was thrilled with the revelation 'components of a country-sized clock'. Things are starting to tick into place..very exciting!
zulaan
Wow ! Very cool capture...
sharky_
Interesting shot... aloha
njb2000
Interesting shot and information!
helanker
Awesome, Bot words and Image. AMazing what you have in your mind :-).
yons
This proofs there is art sculptures every where.
flavia49
wonderful image and superb story!
BertDes
Interesting capture.
marybelgium
génial !
MrsRatbag
I think I just found some strange machine in MY neighborhood; I'll have to go back when it's unguarded and see if I can sneak some images...
sandra46
A NEW CREATIVE STORY AND IMAGE, ILOVE THAT OLD MACHINARY
blondeblurr
It's always fascinating to see the finished product (discontinued now) and to imagine it came out of the ground as a heavy metal-blob, refined, crushed, smelted, (not nessarily in that order) and pummeled into shapes by other machines, out of similar metals...polished, connected and hoped for the best - it would work forever... good storyline to accompany this pic of disuse, perhaps there will be a recall one day ? one can dream... BB
Alex_Antonov
Outstanding work!
kgb224
Amazing story and a stunning capture my friend.
EBSPhotographic
Awesome! Whatever it is, it looks well used and you captured that feeling perfectly. Very cool all around.
blinkings
I get exited every time I see another of your 'machine' posts. I love them!
Asmoday
I simply love this capture, really nice contrasts.
Daz1971
Okay, it's official - I'm in love with this image and the accompanying story. :)