The Harvest Chapter 3
			The Elders kept closer watch on the people calling themselves Pearls after that and for many decades to come. During the four decades between the incident with Ra and the coming of the fourth group the Elders walked among their charges. They led meditation groups, judged contests, sat with the leaders in council, and generally tried to keep a firm grip on the pulse of civilization with the dozen or so of them who were primarily assigned to this project. They still considered the Pearls to be the best prospect for fighting future Galen projects but they now realized that humans were inherently unpredictable even with their powers so they stayed close and watched carefully. This way their projections for the future would have the best data. The fourth harvest took place in South America. The people who would one day be called the Olmecs are the cultural hub of their region. Their pottery and artwork is traded far and wide and many try to copy their style without success. They are a prosperous people with a rich culture and a history as a city of cosmopolitans traders and artists. From the raised earth mound that holds their capital city their ideas, artwork, and goods flowed to the lands around them influencing cultures far away. The outlying citizens of their country and some from other countries as well made at least one pilgrimage to the city on the man made hill to see all its wonders. Among these wonders is the "Sacred Stone". They had no idea their sacred stone was an alien device meant to encourage creativity and certain patterns of thought. They only knew that it protected them from invaders and that those who spent long in its presence came to understand that "the gods" wanted them to try to solve the puzzles carved into its surface. These puzzles rewarded correct solutions with a wave of pleasure and punished wrong ones with horrible pain followed by death if they were wrong. Still they believed that these "gods" must be appeased so they had a priest attempt one once a year. The priest who did so was chosen by lot. The attempt was made during a big celebration which was witnessed by many tourists and natives alike. It was held in a large amphitheater built in the center of the capital with the "sacred stone" in the center upon a raised platform. On the day the last one was to be attempted the High Priest had purposely made sure his name was drawn from the lot. He was certain he had the solution and also certain that whatever the reward for solving the last puzzle was it would be greater than all the previous ones and he hoped to get it for himself. As the day dawned he dressed himself in his most impressive clothes and lead the procession of priests to the amphitheater. He had actually schemed to be the one chosen as he believed he had the solution and he thought it was only right that he be the one to solve the final puzzle before the eyes of a rapt multitude. He wore the cloak with sacred runes inked into the fabric and his jeweled kilt and sandals. He led a procession of 100 priests to the center of the city where the sacred stone sat in the center of the amphitheater. They was much celebrating going on today and the amphitheater would full of people from all the neighboring kingdoms. Those who could came every year to witness the ritual, to join in the partying, and to trade of course. This year with the likely prospect of it being the last time the ritual was performed the crowd would be even larger. All would see him solved the final puzzle set him by the gods and he would receive his reward. He led the procession past jugglers and children playing with small spheres of rubber that were miniatures of those athletes used in the Olmec ball game. Minus the skull in the center of course. Upon entering the amphitheater he saw that everyone was cheering him and the priests who entered behind him.
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