There is nothing on earth so sensitive as
a modern Leviathan. In addition to the mass
of human senses each one processed by a human
brain, delicate instruments immensely extend
their range. Leviathans can 'see' light and
radiation which has enamated from far in space,
and the minute particles of matter in a grain
of dust. They can 'feel' the most delicate
trembling of matter, and observe the immense
and ponderous movement of tectonic plates
on the surface of the planet. They have eyes
that can be suspended in the sky to peer down
on their neighbours, and ears that can listen
to men speaking on the other side of the world.
The eyes, ears, antenm, noses, and tongues
of cities are an odd assortment of dishes,
ariels, tubes, and delicate devices that often
resemble quite dissimilar creatures.
All Levviathan have a central nervous system,
whether it be a company of elders or a tyrant
and his henchmen. Often there is a specific
administrative centre within the walls, heavilv
armoured and defended where authority is maintained
by might. Geneology, history and myth have
been frequently invoked to maintain authority,
with the centres of government usually closely
linked to memory centres, connecting the will
to the memory, the temples, libraries, universities,
offices and archives.
Every human being is a point of contact between
the C N S and the rest of the organism, opening
a door, steering a car, shepherding sheep,
beating iron into a sword. The brains, heavily
effected by culture and learning, law and
religion, will the hands into action.
Modern Leviathan, in theory, is the repository
of immense wisdom. Within it are to be found
huge stores of learned books, data bases of
varying kinds and a wide range of experts.
Electrically based systems, similar to the
nervous system of multicellular creatures,
connects almost every household and office
together, and links them to the whole world.
In theory, all human knowledge is now available
to everyone.
Yet the impression one gets, examining Leviathan
in this way, is that of overwhelming stupidity.
It is as though they have not yet evolved
beyond a slothful or reptilian conciousness,
dominated by sensations of hunger and fear.
