by Brant LaDorn
For most of human history, we have concerned ourselves not with the shape of the world. After all, we knew only the isles of Masalla, and the endless seas, and great wildernesses, and our minds had no need to pass beyond the trees and the waves, which held more immediate importance.
So all was well for a very long time, and ships sailed between the isles, and the reign of King Alais and his wonderful wife, Anabelle, went merrily along.
But just during this time a pesky little diviner of forgotten name and title did a pesky little thing, and wondered what was beyond the waves and the trees. A spell was made, the magic was born, and a map was drawn.
We know it today as the map of the world, or the map of Carador. But in those days the world was Masalla, so when this diviner named his map the "Map of the World" (or "Illiun de Carador" in Old Masallan), he forced all those poor Masallan minds to think of something much bigger than Masalla.
Two schools of thought were quickly formed, and King Alais delighted in sitting calmly in his throne and watching as debates were waged before him.
"The world is unbounded!" said some. "We’ve seen now that it is much larger that we once knew. Someday we will learn that it is larger still!"
At this King Alais smiled, for he dreamed of all the lands that Masalla would someday rule over.
But others disagreed. "Islands are bound by the sea. People are bound by their flesh. Everything has a beginning and an end. So, too, must the world. Besides, the diviner said that’s all there is!"
And the first group countered – "Well, then, what’s beyond the edge?"
To which the others had no answer.
But one man, whose name was Jacob, stepped forward, for he thought he knew the answer.
"The world," he said, "is round. Like a ball."
And all was very still in the court.
King Alais looked up with interest, for no one had yet claimed such confident knowledge.
"Like a ball," Jacob repeated, a bit more quietly.
"A ball," King Alais mused. He smiled and stood up, adjusting his crown.
Everyone, of course, was silent, except for Anabelle who ordered up a glass of wine and a pastry plate from a nearby servant.
"For seven days now," said King Alais, "I have had all of you in my court, debating whether the world is bounded or infinite. You, the most educated and intelligent men of the age! I, of course, have been listening carefully, and have come to my own conclusion."
Still, everyone was silent, until Anabelle’s voice piped in.
"What’s that, darling?"
"My conclusion?"
"Yes, darling."
"It is quite obvious, I think, that the world is infinite and unbounded. If I were to give it a shape, I would think it somewhat like a large plate that keeps going out and out and out."
Most in the room nodded sagely.
"But my Liege," said Jacob, drawing all eyes. "I can assure you that isn’t the case. Not at all, my Liege. You see, I can prove to you that the world is quite round."
King Alais raised his eyebrows.
"Please," said the King. "Enlighten us."
"Very well," Jacob began.
"Our perceptions, you see, tell our common sense that the world is flat. If I go to the top of a mountain, I see the terrain rolling away beneath me for as far as I can see. If I climb a tree, or look from the top of a castle’s walls, my vision is soon obscured by hills or distant mountains. There is nothing to suggest a curve to the world. Indeed, if I find a long, flat road, I can walk as long as I like, and I walk down hills as often as up. Never do I find myself on a long, downward slope which never ends."
"Quite true, all you’ve said," spoke the King. "But you are supporting an argument other than your own."
"Ah, but wait," said Jacob. "I was speaking of when we’re on land. But when we are at sea, the truth is shown to us."
"Please, go on."
"Imagine, my King, that you are upon a boat. You are approaching another boat, far on the horizon. Looking through your looking-lens, what part of the boat do you first see?"
"Why, the very top of the mast, of course."
"Yes! And then, a bit later?"
"Why, the sails."
"And then?"
"And then the body of the ship itself."
"And," spoke Jacob excitedly, "when that ship passes you by and disappears upon the other horizon, how will it disappear?"
"In quite the opposite manner," spoke the King. "First the body will disappear, and then the sails, and at last the very top tip of the mast."
"Yes," Jacob breathed, nodding. "And what does that tell you?"
King Alais blinked.
"It tells you," Jacob said, his voice trembling with urgency, "that the world is like a ball, my Liege. For if you imagine yourself standing upon a great ball, objects will appear and disappear upon the horizons in precisely the same way!"
King Alais blinked again, and the hall was very silent for a long while.
And then, at last, he spoke.
"Bring me a flask of water," he said. Then he gestured out to Jacob. "You. Come hither."
Jacob walked up to the throne.
"Might I borrow that plate?" King Alais asked Anabelle.
She smiled, took the last of the pastries, and handed over the plate.
King Alais wiped it clean and set it upon the floor.
"Here," spoke a servant, bringing the flask of water.
"Good," King Alais said. "Now. Jacob, I suggest you observe."
And the mighty and wise King Alais put his finger on the end of the flask, tipped it over, and then, with utmost care, took his finger and set a single drop of water upon the plate.
"Jacob," he said with a smile. "Might you observe the water-drop?"
Jacob, perplexed, bent to observe.
"Tell me, Jacob. What shape is the drop?"
"Well, my Liege," spoke Jacob, "it is rounded."
"Indeed," spoke the King. "Land, as you said, ripples with hills and valleys. And water, as you can plainly see here, always forms itself into a rounded shape. Thus we can readily see that the reason your ships appear and disappear as they do has nothing to do with the shape of the world, but with the shape of the water."
It was Jacob’s turn to blink.
"And thus this silliness can be done away with once and for all," said the King. "Carador," he spoke, "is obviously flat. And I’ll hear of nothing else. Now bring out the wine!"
Applause rang through the room, and liberal amounts of wine were passed.
And poor Jacob went home, followed by laughs.