Cyberia - The City of Ladies

Tonight there is special entertainment at Il Taverna di Muse. Apart from the music there will be poetry readings and story telling by travellers who have come to the city along the Silk Road.

Join us by dancing, playing the harp, doing a poetry reading or by telling a story from the road.

After crossing the river, Syren and I found a main road that led to the gates of the city. I asked another traveler for the name of the highway we were on and I discovered to my surprise that this thoroughfare was none other than the famous Silk Road.

The Road passed through a double gate of polished gold that was embellished with reliefs depicting famous writers and artists from history. A watchtower of white stone stood adjacent to the gate. I glanced to the top of the tower and saw a stately woman looking me over. With a brief nod of her head, she motioned me to continue through the gate.

Throngs of people moved up and down the boulevard going about their daily business. I called to a young woman pushing a cart of bread. The warm smell of the bread made my mouth water and my stomach rumble. I knew that Syren was as tired and hungry as me. I asked the woman for directions to a good livery and a short time later I had Syren cooled down and munching on a bag of oats. The livery manager informed me that the city’s center of activity was the Piazza del Pizan and I would be able to find lodging and food there. I thanked him, and a few minute’s walk found me at the Piazza.

Arched colonnades of peach and gray-colored marble surrounded the large open square. The obelisk that I had seen from across the river towered over the Piazza and I could see the golden dome of the Mouseion sparkling in the waning light. Night was beginning to fall and vendors in the square were busy closing up their stalls and storefronts. A distinguished looking man in a flowing green cloak moved from lightpole to lightpole lighting the lamps that would illuminate the Piazza.

My attention was drawn to a side street that jutted off from the Piazza. I heard muffled music coming from an establishment on the corner. Light emanated through a colorful stained-glass door. The image in the glass was that of a dancing woman holding a round lyre. Above the image were the words “Il Taverna di Muse”. Next to the door was a small placard that read “Studios for Rent” and “Help Wanted.”

I pushed open the door and entered.

Text: Lori Gloyd © 2006

Syren and I embark on our journey towards Cyberia, The City of Ladies. It was a bright, sun-soaked day. We left the main road from Duwamish Bay and headed across the Uncharted Lands of Western Lemuria. We followed only our intuition and sped across miles of desert and grasslands. We knew we would arrive without getting lost.

Then, towards mid-afternoon, we came over a rise and saw a river, calm and slow moving. We followed it for a while until we rounded a bend and stopped in astonishment. Before us lay a city—white washed buildings easing up a mountain side, a large domed structure that glittered in the sunlight, and an enormous obelisk with a pulsing light at the time.

Cyberia! I didn’t need to goad Syren forward. She knew and was already splashing across the river.

Photomontage and text: Lori Gloyd © 2006