The first man in space was, in Rognat’s judgment, Carson Napier, a former British subject. He left the earth by means of a torpedo (of his own design), many years before his birth. He tried to get to Mars, but landed on Venus. This, of course, is old news for those who knew Mr. Napier. On Venus he discovered primitive bestial races, and advanced too. There were also giant beasts, as well as insects.

Except for Rognat landing on Venus, he was also in the process of trying to make his way to another planet, similar to Napier in that regard; that is, after exploring the many planets and asteroids throughout half a dozen solar systems inside and outside the Milky Way. He had met a woman named Siren a while ago (on his planet); thus, they had become comrades in this enterprise, as well as lovers; but things happened a few months before and Siren… well, that’s another story. Rognat was alone now, and Venus was in his telescope.

As a middle-aged man now, and perhaps seeing more than Napier did during his time on Venus, he hoped he wouldn’t have to land, but just see the planet from a distance.

From his spaceship he saw a hidden lake that was surrounded by mountains. She named it “Montaña Blanca” because it resembled a place in Peru that resembled this new location on Venus, in Huancayo. In reality, this area was also hidden from the main population of Venus, like some kind of black lagoon.

The lake was well hidden; It was called by the inhabitants of this area, La Laguna de Paca.

When he landed on Venus, he was sure he would never see his spaceship again. However, as you and I know, his fears never came true in the long run. When he flew by Venus, the gravitational pull of it pulled him into its atmosphere, so his course was downward, and he was sent circling mostly through the atmosphere of Venus, like a small asteroid. It was then that he saw the strange Lagoon, surrounded by the snow-capped mountains of that area; captivated he was, to say the least, however, that was not where he wanted to be, far from it.

Saying that, he thought that after landing, this time it would allow him to repair his spell generator, which could transfer the energy from the solar sun to his machine and create power for his ship. However, from now on, from the mysterious lagoon there was something else to come.

the wankas

[Huanca Wanka] As he approached the lagoon [lake] found a tribe of some earthly origin. When they saw it, pandemonium broke out. Loud screams and shouts came from the tribesmen; they were a tribe that had been mysteriously brought some 1300 years before this visit, called the Wanka, out of Peru. They were still primitive, compared to Rognat. He knew these natives of Peru, from the Mantaro Valley, were a savage bunch in their day: warriors of high status.

Rognat noted that they carried no real weapons to speak of, and when one of the thirty or forty warriors stepped forward to throw a knife at him, he shot one in the head, leaving the rest to stand still, their fists clenched. Then one of the warriors was ready to shoot a stone at Rognat, through a kind of billowing sling, called a Sling, and Rognat pointed his pistol at him, this paralyzed him for the moment; His fear rose and he lowered his face, put his weapon along his thigh, still holding it. However, Rognat kept a safe distance. Then suddenly someone tripped him, tied a rope around one of his feet and dragged him to the lake, tied a stone to his back and threw him into the middle of the lake.

The depth

With a quick glance at his new surroundings, quickly descending into the depths; therefore, she saw a pair of huge eyes, they closed in on him as she sank deeper. With all his remaining strength, and still horribly sinking, the beast of the deep, now a few meters away from him looked like a giant squid with mammalian fangs. It may have been strange, but more than that, he was worried about his now three minutes in the water; he knew he couldn’t hold out for another minute. He released the rope around him, finely, and dropped the 200-pound stone that had been placed on his back, shoving it forward as he and the beast went down together; the beast with its mouth open ready to eat this strange being in the water, was going to be surprised. He turned to face the beast’s mouth and climbed the great stone into it.

A moment later, he swam to the surface of the lagoon; she was now a short distance from the top. When she came out of the lake, the Wanka didn’t give her sixteen; they ran like crazy, thinking that he was a demon.

Spanish version

Translated by Nancy Penaloza

Rognat and Wanka:

Laguna de Paca on Venus

[El Lago sobre Venus]

The first man in space was to Rognat’s understanding, Carson Napier, a former British subject. He left Earth via torpedo (of a won design), many years before his birth. He tried to catch up to Mars but landed sober Venus. This of course is all old news for those who knew of Mr. Napier. On Venus he discovered primitive bestial races, and advanced ones as well. In addition there were gigantic beasts, as well as insects.

Except for Rognat who also landed on Venus, El was trying to head to another planet, similar to Napier in that respect; that is to say after the exploration of many planets and asteroids through half a dozen solar systems inside and outside the Milky Way. He had met a woman named Sirena, some time ago (on his planet); thus, they had become partners in this adventure, as well as lovers; but things happened a few months before and the Mermaid… well this is another story. Rognat was alone now, and Venus was in his telescope.

Like a man of middle age now, and perhaps he saw more than Napier, he was permanently on Venus for a while, he hoped he wouldn’t have to land, rather just see the planet from a far distance.

From his spaceship he saw a hidden lake that is surrounded by mountains – he called it “the White Mountain”, because it seemed similar to a place in Peru that resembled this new location on Venus, there by Huancayo. This is actually an area hidden from the main population of Venus, sort of like a black lagoon.

The lake was well hidden; the inhabitants of this place called it La Laguna de Paca.

When he landed on Venus, he was aware that he might never see his spaceship again. As you and I both know, his fears were ultimately never realized. When he flew by Venus, his gravitational aura pulled him into its atmosphere, so his course would descend, and he was sent falling mainly through many parts of Venus’s atmosphere, like a small asteroid. That’s how it was when he saw the strange Lagoon, surrounded by the Nevados of that area; captivated he was, to say the least, though this wasn’t where he wanted to be at all.

This was what he said, he imagined after the landing, that this time would allow him to repair his generator or some kind of this, which could transport the solar energy to his machine, and create the energy for his ship. From then on, outside of the mysterious lagoon, there was something else that eats, I think.

straw

[Huanca Wanka] As he approached the lagoon [el lago] he found a tribe of some terrestrial origin. So they saw it, and disorder broke out. Loud and fearsome screams generated from the tribesmen; they were a tribe that had been mysteriously brought some 1300 years before this visit, called the Wankas, from Peru. They were still primitive, compared to Rognat. He knew these people from Peru, from the Mantaro Valley, they were a wild bunch today, the warriors of a high state.

Rognat noted that they carried no real weapons to speak of, and when one of the thirty or forty warriors came to throw a knife at him, he shot himself in the head, and so, the rest stood transfixed, fists clenched. Then one of the warriors was ready to fire a rock at Rognat, via some kind of gravity shot called a slingshot, and Rognat pointed the gun at his, this made him paralyzed by the memory; His fear buzzing up and down his face, he placed his weapon along his thigh, still holding it. However, Rognat kept a safe distance. Then suddenly someone tripped over him, tied a rope around one of his feet, and dragged him into the lake, tied a rock to his sword, and threw him into the middle of the lake.

deep

With a quick look inside your new environment; Swiftly descending into the depths, so he saw a pair of huge eyes, they lifted up to him as he plunged deeper. With all the strength he had left in him, and still sinking horribly, the beast of the deep, now just a few meters from him looked like a giant squid with the fangs of a mammal. Strange it may have been, but more than that, he was worried about the three minutes of him now in the water; he knew he couldn’t last more than another minute. He freed himself from the rope around him, smoothly, and dropped the 200-pound stone they had placed on his back, shoving it in front of him as much as between the beast and they sank together; the beast with its mouth open ready to eat this strange being in the water, you should be surprised. He turned the beast’s mouth, and stepped over the large stone inside of it.

Soon after, he swam to the surface of the lagoon; he was only a short distance to the top now. When he got out of the lake, the Wankas didn’t catch him; they ran like hell, thinking he was a demon.