The Slabs: Rome and Art 1

Past, present, future, mankind has always felt the urge to render what he sees and feels in art. So, too, in the 35th century world of Rome's Revolution, we've always known that Rome had a fascination with art and artistic expression. One of the most important scenes I ever wrote was about pre-Cesdiud Rome's love of art. Rei used it break through her icy Vuduri exterior. Unfortunately, that scene got tossed overboard when I collapsed the three-novel version called VIRUS 5 down to the modern version. I will be publishing that little scene (finally) in the upcoming compendium entitled The Vuduri Companion.

We also know that Rome decorated The Flying House both as an Interior Designer as well as an artist on their year-long journey from Tabit to Deucado. I mean, who puts up wallpaper in a spaceship? We also know from Rome's Evolution that when she retired, she converted her parents' solarium into an art studio and spent her golden years painting. So Rome's specific past and future all point to her preoccupation with art.

Therefore, in the early going of The Ark Lords, it should not be surprising that when Rome and OMCOM got to the slab holding all the art history records of the Essessoni culture, she should stop to take a deeper look:

     When OMCOM was done, Rome picked up ‘Volume 15 – Art History, Sculpture, Architecture’ and slid it in.
     “Go very slowly,” Rome commanded OMCOM. “I want to see this one.”
     “Of course.”
     One by one, from the very early cave drawings through Egyptian pottery, the Greeks, the Romans, all zoomed across the screen. Rome saw paleoliths, petroglyphs, the huge heads on Easter Island. The artwork advanced past the Middle Ages. All of the masterpieces of the bygone days flashed by. They passed through the Renaissance and into the age of Impressionism. Suddenly, Rome shouted out, “Stop!”
     “What?” OMCOM asked.
     “Go back a few images. Slowly,” Rome said. The pictures on the screen changed twice.

What was Rome so excited about? It is something that I truly love. I'll explain tomorrow.