Masada

The Stonghold

Masada is the least often visited of all Niuan cities due to its dark past. Its name means Stronghold in Hebrew, but in reality the city is nothing but a monastery built atop high, natural mountains. The monastery itself is surrounded on all sides by thousand feet drops, into chasms lined with saw-toothed rocks. Masada’s history is a source of great sadness for the Niuan people: in the early days, soon after the puritans’ escape from Earth, several of the chosen fell sick – they were suffering from delayed-onset radiation poisoning contracted from Earth’s atmosphere. So that they didn’t endanger the rest of the population, the sick – which numbered 400 – left the Ark in convoy, travelling far away from the landing site. Their plan was to build a new, separate, quarantined community for the infected, but the feeling amongst the sick was that their continued survival would be a detriment to the remainder of their people who would have to work to provide them with sustenance.

The convoy halted its progress at the Masada Lip, beyond which the ground falls away to nothingness. That night, one Puritan donned a protective suit, exited his vehicle and deactivated every airlock on every other people carrier, suffocating the 400. He then cast himself into the abyss where he was found a week later by the party sent from the Ark to replenish the 400’s food supply. The dead were thrown into the chasm which was set alight. Around the towering central mountain atop which the commemoratory monastery now stands, the ring of fire leapt high into the sky, burning the rock and leaving scorch marks that can be seen to this day.

The monastery at Masada is used as a training ground for priests and clergymen, and all Niuans between the ages of 18-19 must attend the monastery for a year, during which they contribute to the running of the temple and learn their elders’ teachings. No one visits Masada unless on compulsory service, and there are very few permanent residents.

Pick up THE HARE newspaper at Night and Day, Bar Centro, Font or Tiger Lounge in Manchester town centre, or the Oakwood in Glossop.

E-mail theharenewspaper@hotmail.co.uk with questions, comments or contributory pieces.