A Flawed Perfection

Here:
“And you say this area is how large, Russell?”

Russell  Lawrence smiled at his superior. “In the cosmic scheme of things it is tiny, but in human terms it is vast; we estimate it is over one billion light years across.”

“One billion light years of complete void?”

“Indeed.  We first noticed it when analysing data from NASA’s WMAP satellite…”  

“Excuse me, the WMAP?”

“The Wikinson Microwave Anistropy Probe; it mapped the Cosmic Microwave Background. This area appeared to be a cosmic coldspot, containing little residual energy from the Big Bang. We studied it in detail and there were no radio emissions from that area; no galaxies or clusters, nothing.”

“An area of Dark Energy perhaps?”

“Not even that, Director. Dark Matter can’t be seen but betrays its presence through microwave radiation. It even seems to slow photons – light particles – which pass through it.”

“Then what can this area be?”

Russell shrugged his shoulders. “A flaw in the universe? At this stage we just don’t know…”

There:

“It’s exquisite and priceless, where was this diamond found?” the Jewel Appraiser held the huge crystal, his loupe lens to his eye.

“It was found in an ancient Egyptian temple, of around 2700BCE at the beginnings of the Old Kingdom.” The Archaeologist answered.

The Appraiser laughed. “I’m sure. But who cut it? This must be over 3100 carats and it weighs over half a kilo. It is unusual not to have been alerted to such a jewel, when it is sent to be cut from its rough form.”

“It was discovered in its present state.”

The Appraiser looked up at the man, a disbelieving look in his eye. “No it wasn’t. This jewel has been cut and polished to near perfection, just look at the facets, each the same size. Besides are you telling me that this diamond was cut over a thousand years before the iron age? And then just left in a pyramid?”

“It wasn’t found in a pyramid, it was found in a previously unknown building complex.”

“And you just stumbled upon the site?”

“No. We followed the Piri Reis map. “

“Should I be aware of this map?”

“It dates from 1513 and belonged to an Ottoman Admiral; Piri Reis. It is only a fragment and yet shows parts of the world –lands around the Atlantic Ocean - in extraordinary detail. It is said that a certain Christopher Columbus may have seen it prior to his voyage of discovery. It is said to be a copy from a Ptolemaic copy chart in the library fire at Alexandria. The whole map has a spider web  of compass roses superimposed upon it.  When we converted it to a modern map , using a computer programme, the centre pinpointed where we found this relic.”

“It just can’t be,” The Appraiser said, “This is no relic, the cutting is near perfect.”

“Near perfect? You’ve said near perfect twice now.”

“Yes, here I’ll show you,” the Appraiser said handing over his Loupe Lens. “You’ll need maximum magnification, but if you look just to the left of centre you will see a dark area. Do you see it? It’s quite amazing in itself; there seems no foreign body or anomaly causing it. You can see it from all the different sides, no light can seem to pass through it.”

“What can it be?”

“Even in something as perfect as this, there is a flaw, shall we use stronger magnification and have a look?”

Elsewhere:

“And you say this area is how large, Russell?”
Russell  Lawrence smiled at his superior. “In the cosmic scheme of things it is tiny, but in human terms it is vast; we estimate it is over one billion light years across.”

“One billion light years of complete void...”