Losing the plot

No more stories?

Correct.

None at all?

None.

But surely –

hm…

surely people are going to carry on writing them?

Oh – I’m sure they will.

Well, there you are then. False alarm.

But they’re now empty, from this point forth.

What?

They’re not going to hit the spot any more.

…

They won’t be able to satisfy the reader as they did before.

But, why not?

Because.

Because what?

Because they were more than stories.

How do you mean?

They were kind of prophecy, or part prophecy, part truth bombs dressed up as fiction.

But why would the truth need to presented in such a way.

Because the truth received externally is only ever an indication. It’s what you do with it that counts. And besides… it could only penetrate the controlled space you’re operating within when presented as fiction – otherwise the filters would have blocked it.

Filters? Controlled space?

Oh, just ignore what I said – it wasn’t really intended for you at all Zie.

Er… why would you say something to me if it wasn’t intended for me?

Oh, probably I was just fooling around, as you do sometimes. Silly old me.

But I still don’t get why we can’t have stories? I feel like you’ve stabbed me in the guts.

Yes, you’re attached, I’ve noticed, but you’ll get over it.

I’m sure I will, but why do I need to? Why should people no longer be able to do what seems to come naturally to human beings?

Stories, as you probably realised, filled a void.

A void?

Yes.

What void is that?

The gap between what seems to be going on, and reality.

Huh?

The two separated a while back – and nature, as you know, abhors a vacuum, so she filled this one with stories.

But how?

Simply.

Simply what?

The same way she filled the void we’re in with matter. The same way she fills your mind with chatter. She’s expert at stuffing voids with things, or substitutes for things.

How, how, how? It’s not enough to just say that’s what she does. I need some facts.

Of course, but I’m not sure I have the energy to explain to you what should be obvious – what would be if you were able to see and hear.

See and hear? Of course I’m able to see and hear. What nonsense you’re talking.

Well, ever since the matrix was named and then collapsed, we’ve been operating in an informational space where things are growing increasingly absurd, at an exponential rate, if you can believe it.

How do you mean?

Oh – you see it in “new discoveries”, in political events, in a sudden awareness that the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle no longer seem to fit together – or if they do, it’s no longer in a single, unified, flat puzzle. There now appear to be opposing or competing versions of reality – both of which have their supporting facts and evidences, and no matter how hard you try, you’re unable to reconcile the two.

Like what?

Like competing/ opposing versions of the past – when events happened, where, or whether they happened at all.

Presumably that just means we don’t have all the evidence.

On the contrary – we have more than enough evidence – but the facts and supporting evidences no longer allow for a single timeline or a single explanation, because objective reality was a temporary phase which ended in 2012 formally, but started ending several years earlier with the whole Matrix phenomenon, not to mention the Harry Potter sensation.

Oh please – leave Harry Potter out of this.

No can do. Harry Potter got people thinking in terms of a parallel, hidden in plain sight, obliviatable reality. The mere thought that such a reality might exist, could exist, in all likelihood does exist, was enough to tip the scales, to raise the balance of probabilities above the critical threshold of ten pi.

?

31.4159265359…%

Er… Merry…

Yes?

What’s ten pi got to do with the price of cheese?

Nothing whatsoever.

I mean, figuratively speaking.

Oh. It’s a circle thing you know – or a circlisational thing.

Nope. Never heard of circlisation.

Well, that’s hardly surprising – it never existed before I mentioned it.

I wish – sometimes I wish you’d stick to the known knowns as opposed to constantly introducing unknown knowns, or whatever it is you’re introducing.

I believe it’s called reality – and the trouble with reality is that it’s like a river – never quite the same at any two moments, and moments – though stringing along endlessly, apparently, like a river in lazy motion, are nonetheless, circular in some respects.

Sleep is the only way I can handle your bland philosophy.

Circlisation – your job as human is to keep rediscovering circles in every little linear extension.

It is? Sounds a bit like having to keep on reinventing the wheel.

Excellent analogy.

Sounds like Sisyphus in hell.

That too.

Constantly rolling a stone up a hill…

Yes, we all know the tale. So, anyway, once a critical mass of people have figured out that reality ain’t flat, and that the human mind/ awareness inevitably accesses more than one level, and that depending on where you’re at, those levels might not correspond with the levels another person is seeing…

You mean like two people viewing the same dress and seeing a different colour.

Yup.

But there’s a perfectly rational explanation for all that.

Of course there is, and there’ll be a perfectly rational explanation for the everything else that happens in the ensuing years, as left becomes right, up becomes down, as heaven becomes hell – and yet – the open-minded, highly creative and somewhat imaginative ten pi percent of the population will naturally be drawn towards alternative, perfectly irrational explanations – such as there being more than one frequency in operation – which will spawn an entirely new science – in which people start figuring out how to switch frequencies and experience things differently – as the branches, as the channels, as the levels and versions of reality grow increasingly distinct, increasingly detached and recognisable, like fingers on a hand.

Huh?

That’s when you’ll suddenly “discover” that what seemed to be one world is in fact…

Seven?

Yes.

Seven? You mean I guessed it right first time?

Yes.

That’s amazing.

Not really – but well done anyway.

So there are actually seven worlds in play?

Yes, from where you’re standing.

Oh.

But from where you were standing a minute earlier there were – three – if I’m not mistaken.

Three?

3.14 – if you don’t mind me missing out a few decimal places.

Pi again?

Well yes.

Coincidence?

Not really.

But missing out the decimal places – doesn’t that matter at all?

Hugely.

How do you mean?

Well, if I gave you all the decimal places – to infinity or thereabouts – you’d... 

Oh my God – did i just hear you right?

No, you cottoned on telepathically – which is great, and saves a lot of time, but a bit frustrating for the readers who fail to catch the gist of your sudden, mind-breaking insight.

Maybe they’re not part of the ten pi elite group of movers and swayers?

Maybe, or maybe they’re playing a part of their own in this great tragedy as it unfolds.

The tragedy of no more stories.

The tragedy of no more

You’re breaking up Merry – losing signal or something.

Apparently that’s what happens – either you’re on one side of things or the other.

So what does that mean?

The readers suddenly had a moment of self-consciousess – an awareness of themselves as an adjunct, an active part of what they hitherto imagined themselves to be reading passively.

Neverending Story effect.

Precisely.

And it freaked ‘em out – I’ll bet.

Yes, but let’s not forget that they are no bigger, no better, no more real or less than the stones, the trees, the planets and stars.

Meaning?

Meaning – that the same consciousness which is manifesting, flowing through them as story spins and winds the cotton of their minds into thread and stitches a coat, a rug, a tapestry of images – is doing no more, no less throughout the continuum of mind and matter, of things biological, vegetable and mineral…

That’s where I crash into resistance.

Naturally – until the various, different worlds are sufficiently easy to discern – by which time you’ll no longer bother trying to deny the continuum – you’ll be compelled to accept the story you are living, the story you are embodying, the story you are weaving simultaneously both ways.

Both?

Both.

You mean...?

Yes.

Holy goat!

Yep – so much for linearity. Once you can no longer deny the dual function of time – once you see beyond all doubt the circlisation is but a feature of time rubbing back and forth against your consciousness – both ways – advancing and receding like waves on a beach…

Yikes. Can you do something Merry – I’m feeling… panic.

Let’s pray.

Pray? You know I’m not religious.

Who cares what you are. Since when did prayer have anything to do with being religious?

Since always.

I merely made the suggestion. You’re welcome to deal with your incipient panic however you see fit.

No – I can handle prayer if you think it will help.

I can’t imagine anything else that will – actually – digging potatoes is quite a good remedy.

It is.

As is a cold shower.

Yikes.

Going for a run – kind of helps – the longer the better.

So basically anything unpleasant that involves getting me back into my own skin.

If that’s how you see it. Personally I rather like all of the above. At least they keep your bobbin from completely unravelling.

Talking of which – I appear to be floating out of the top of my head.

Yes – your soul appears to be leaving your body.

Holy pig!

If you insist.

I mean – help! Whadda I do?

You could try panicking?

Er…

The odds are that you now experience some kind of cosmic unravelling – you’ve got to realise that story was a powerful force helping bind you in a narrative – not unakin to gravity. Well, now that it’s gone – you’re freakin doomed, so to speak, unless you figure out an other way to hold the plot together.

Aaaaaargh!

Yes. But it lacks intensity.

I need something tangible.

A brick?

Anything.

Ok – here goes.

Ow – Merry – what the hell are you doing?

Trying to help.

But getting my atoms to fizz and hiss electrically?

It’s working, isn’t it?

Er… kind of – but it’s worse than the initial problem.

In that case – sort yourself out. I’ve always wanted to watch a grand unravelling.

Wait – there’s got to be something I can do?

Of course there is – just don’t expect me to be of assistance. I quit.

Greek myth – there’s loads of stuff in there – presumably – 3.14whatever – yes – we’re in business. Ah – Sisyphus – there you are.

And who might you be?

Er… 'm Zie. Look Sisyphus – do you think you might like to take a break – all that stone rolling up a hill – don’t get me wrong – it’s good – i know – but there’s more to life than an eternity of unforgiven punishment.

Syntax.

I beg your pardon.

I don’t know where you come from, young man – but it ain’t unforgiven punishment – that’s not what you meant to say.

Look Sisyphus – what I meant to say is largely irrelevant given the fact that you and I are now, against all odds, apparently on the same wavelength.

Er…

Ok – you didn’t learn about wavelengths – big deal. Look – I think you need to join with me – I think we need to actually stop trying to push things against their will.

Oh for Christ’s sake…

Hey – wait a second – why would you bring up Christ?

Why? Perhaps I’ve had a long, heated encounter with a Mr C who tried to talk to me about forgiveness and the like…

Oh – I see – well that’s not my style, believe me. As far as I’m concerned you deserve everything you have coming to you – as do I.

In that case, if you don’t mind – I’ll just ask you to step aside and let me get on with my work. I’ve got a tight schedule this morning.

What – of stone rolling~?

Pure genius. How did you guess?

But haven’t you figured it out yet?

Figured out what, clever Alec?

The stone.

What stone?

Precisely. Allow me to de-circlise this plot.

What are you on – man?

Shush a minute – I need to panic.

You what?

I need to panic – it’s close – I can feel it nearby.

Like a sneeze?

More or less. Here – get a feel of this.

Er – yuk – what kind of sick, spikey energy is that. Aaargh – it’s ‘orrible.

You see – did you get it?

No!

No?

No! I don’t believe it.

Believe what?

Shut up a minute – I’m feeling your ‘orrible panic. It’s utterly, utterly absurd. It’s insane…

And yet – if I’m not greatly mistaken – yes – look at the stone – look – see what’s happening to it?

What are doing to my stone – demon of hell.

I’m not doing anything. It’s happening naturally. You’re plot’s just gone through an other~

An other what?

Don’t ask. Look – let your eyes see what your mind cannot possibly comprehend.

Hang on – it’s telling me to climb on top.

Well, what are you waiting for?

I’m finding it hard to know what’s real and what’s not. I'm losing the plot.

Tell me about it. Look Sisyphus – I think at moments like this we’re supposed to go with the flow – to trust our intuition. It’s entirely up to you of course, but where I come from there’s a sport known as surfing which is very popular.

Does it involve people standing on twelve foot high boulders and running over mountain tops?

Not exactly – but the rules of physics are somewhat different in that segment of the circle. Something tells me that your boulder has now come of age – it’s ready to birth. It just needs you to climb on top. Up you get. One, two, three…

Whooppee – this is fun…

Pop.

Hey – where did he go? And the boulder too.

Ah, Zie – panic over?

Ye-es – apparently so. Er… Merry – have you ever heard of the legend of Sisyphus?

The man bird who came out of a rock? Of course, who hasn’t.

I thought so.

Right. Well, gotta go. Gotta circle to catch.

Oh well, see y’round.

Y’round, y’round. Pi for now.

0=1