The Slugatarium

A Tale Of Long Ago...

Once upon a time, or maybe twice, there was an unearthly paradise, ruled over by one known simply as “Ma Bell”. Ma was in many places at once, and she carried the words of her followers across any distance, short or long, to others of their kind. None of hers were forgotten, for there was a great book of white and yellow pages, wherein the names of the multitudes were inscribed.

In those days before the fracture, Ma Bell carried all of the words herself, and would abide no challengers before her. The faithful were not permitted ownership of the instruments of far-away speech, and woe betide any who dared meddle in the wiry affairs that wove them together. This was for the good of the people, she said, for with this firm hand came order the likes of which her successors still strive towards today.

But without others to ease her burdens, it fell upon Ma alone to provide for the many wishes of the people, be they for more glorious instruments with which to sing her praises, special services to which they could attend for greater powers, or the means by which to convey greater reach to the less-fortunate.

And so it came to pass, in the year 4 B.B., that Ma Bell did offer, in the form of the finest parchments and scribery, scrolls in which the very power could be contained, to be passed along to others, so that they might share in it and reap its benefits without fear or personal cost. In the peculiar language of the times, these were called by the name of “Big Hello”.