Page 13

Merry, what exactly are you doing?

Why exactly do you want to know?

It’s just – it looks like you’re exercising.

And?

But at the same time it looks like you’re lying on the settee watching TV.

And?

Well, it’s a little confusing trying to make out what exactly you’re doing.

Isn’t it just.

So…

Uh huh?

I thought you might care to explain.

Really? What’s the point – you seem to have explained everything beautifully.

Well not really – I only explained my confusion as there seems to be some kind of glitch in the matrix, or something…

Or something

Distorting the field of reality you’re occupying.

“Distorting the field of reality I’m…” Since when did I ever occupy a field of reality.

Since… doesn’t everyone? I assumed…

You assumed that everyone occupies a field of reality – what I’d usually refer to as  a frame – though you’re welcome to call it a field if you prefer – did you? I wonder why?

Well, everyone seems to follow the Greek unities of drama, more or less, don’t they?

I don’t know Zie – do they?

Well think about it…

Must I?

Unity of place – we’re only ever in one place at a certain time. Unity of action – we’re only really doing one thing at a time – unless you’re one of those fearsome multi-tasking mothers on the phone, cooking dinner, feeding the baby and writing the complete works of…

Shakespeare?

Yep, that’ll do, all at the same time. And the other one – unity of time – no flashbacks – one day is the time when it all happens – no matter how much you like to plan ahead or live in the past.

Congratulations Zie.

[feeling pleased with himself] You think so?

Yes, you’ve managed to demonstrate to the world that you’re an even bigger idiot than we already imagined you to be.

[crestfallen] Oh.

Only kidding. Could you scratch me back please.

Sure.

[Zie scratches a third Merry’s back – this one is walking in a jungle and appears to have been just bitten by some insect – mosquito I guess]

Hey, wait a minute – there’s another one.

Oops. I seem to have problems keeping my reality field under control today. This is evidently a new kind of schizophrenia.

But –

Yes?

Who’s talking to me if there are three of you – which one is it?

Does it matter?

Well yes – I think it does.

Are you absolutely sure there are three of us, Zie?

My eyes cannot deceive me, can they – one exercising, one chilling, one sweating profusely in a jungle somewhere.

Ecuador.

In an Ecuadorian jungle. And…

What, what, an extasy of fumbling as he fits the clumsy helmet just in time.

There’s another.

Honestly Zie, me thinks she doth protest too much.

I just can’t make it out.

Make what out?

Which one is you? What am I supposed to focus on?

Ever had a close-up chat with someone and tried switching eyes?

Huh?

Ever had a close-up chat with someone and tried switching eyes?

I heard you – what do you mean? 

[In another version of reality Zie appears to hearing Merry differently – knows exactly what he means]

That one Zie.

That what?

That version of you – over there – he’s got it – see? He knows exactly what I mean.

What? Where?

[sudden sideways lurch – Zie tumbles into that version – ah ha moment!]

Oh yes – like you’re looking at the person and suddenly you realise you’ve actually been looking into one of their eyes – and you switch to the other – and it’s different – it’s like a different person – and we do this all the time – don’t we – automatically favouring one side of the person.

Yep.

Come to think of it – we do it to ourselves too – don’t we? I just switched sides, didn’t I?

Yep.

With a little help from you. Can we replay that?

I don’t know – can we?

Er…

Or would that upset your Greek unities?

Oh screw the unities – they’re only useful up to a point, as long as reality is monolithic and certifiable.

Precisely.

If and when we stop beating the 3D reality or bust drum – we’re in a greater state of…

Zilch

Huh?

Doesn’t really have a name – does it?

Oh, I see.

It’s more like competing claims, competing versions – amounting to nought until…

One comes and stamps its foot on everything – selecting a single version as the new base unity.

More or less, caveats notwithstanding.

Caveats?

Well, it’s never quite that simple, is it…

Uh?

The boot of God is almighty – that I cannot deny – nor would I wish to – your honour – but…

I’d like to see how you’re going to wheedle your way out of this moment of certainty Merry. You seem to have dedicated your whole life to demonstrating that things are not what they seem – and now, even you, are finally forced to admit that there is a moment when it all comes together – when we see that you’re neither strolling in the jungle, nor watching TV on the settee, nor…

Ok, Ok – you’ve made your point.

Have i? Because something tells me that you’re still concealing something.

Oh shucks – you’ve seen through my final subterfuge.

The devil’s in the details, as they say.

I wish you wouldn’t bring the devil into it – you know how sensitive I am to being typecast.

Well, at the very least, you’re a seemingly innocuous, inoffensive sort of devil, Merry.

It’s like déjà vu all over again. Why are humans in such a confounded hurry to either zero or one me? Are there no shades of grey?

Words – these are just words Merry – as you yourself say.

True.

So, we can hardly call you God, can we – you’re not the boot stamper, are you?

Not really.

You’re more into alternatives – resisting the tyranny of one – the “my way or highway” approach that God appears to favour.

I never said it like that.

Words, words – they’re never quite right, are they – so bear with me Merry.

Ok, Ok, if you must.

So you’re the doctor Dee, the devil, the demon, the dot dot dot – I know not what – who adds a little twist to things – who reveals the fact that no matter how much things appear to be settled, in fact, they’re only settled as long as we have three dimensions in place, three unities, our holy trinity of time, place and action – which is fine, isn’t it – mostly.

Mostly, yes.

Mostly, people are happy enough messing around in 3D, but sooner or later – you pop up again, don’t you – the unboot.

Please – can you not think of a more fitting title?

than “unboot”? I could, I suppose, but I rather like the modesty and simplicity of unboot.

You’re just rubbing salt in the wound of my wounded pride.

Ah… you see, Merry, you love twisting things around, don’t you – nothing you say is ever quite what it seems – if you had any real pride you wouldn’t mention it.

Ah – so you’re saying I have no pride.

Can’t trick me Merry – I’ve been there, done it a hundred times.

What?

You’re using quantum legalese again.

I am:?

Even that “accidental” colon you slipped in between the “am” and the question mark had a special purpose, did it not?

I cannot lie.

True – but you can deceive. So, yes, regarding “pride”.

Oh forget about it – water under the bridge.

No, no, let’s rewind.

You’re destroying our unity of time – the readers won’t tolerate it.

The readers be damned, Merry – this is Armageddon – the final battle.

Gulp. I think you’re over-exaggerating Zie.

You see – realese – again.

What the…?

You know perfectly well – realese – like legalese – your cunning use of words. “I think you’re over-exaggerating Zie.”

What of it:? Perfectly innocent.

Absolutely – except "thinking" is not the same as knowing or speaking plain truth, is it? You cannot lie, can you?

No, and no. Are you happy now.

So, you see, Merry silver tongue – this is no over-exaggeration – Armageddon is precisely where any one of us takes our final stand, and faces the devil – in this case you.

Please Zie – you’re embarrassing me. What will our readers think?

It matters not – why did you slip in another colon: thought I wouldn’t notice the subtle coding?

I…

Cannot lie?

…

So, while you’re getting ready to answer the question, let me rewind a third time to our point in hand.

For God’s sake Zie, let bygones be bygones.

Why, look over there – what do you see:?

Hey – that’s not fair. You slipped in a colon by mistake.

Mistake was it?

What do you see:?

[Merry forced to look outside the existing frame of reality where they are now – much against his will] I see you talking to me.

/And, what am I saying:?

Oh for Pete’s sake – quit coding would you – it’s unnecessary. No one’s telling lies.

//What am I saying in yonder frame:?

[Merry brings up frame with timestamp 2:22]

     if you had any real pride you wouldn’t mention it.

     Ah – so you’re saying I have no pride.

And what Zie – you’ve just driven an ox cart through the Greek unities for what purpose?

Can you bring up the other two frames which are running in hidden mode?

What?!

If you don’t mind:?

Ok, Ok…

[Merry is delivering a lecture to people who are about to enter 3D reality – explaining the nature of reality to them and how it works. Sitting in the auditorium is a younger – no – not exactly a younger version of Zie – let’s say a starrier eyed version of Zie, along with a bunch of other Earth-human-wannabes preparing for the great immersion.]

Everything you’ll experience in Earth will always strictly adhere to the law of Is: 0=1 [evidently they are all already familiar with these terms] There will be no deception as such – the devil – as they say – is always in the details – such as the use of terms which will very often differ from what you think those terms actually mean.

[Zie shoots up a hand – asking for clarification]

If, for example, in 3D I tell you I have no “real” pride – you will naturally assume I’m saying I have no pride, period, won’t you, because in 3D you’ll be only dimly aware of the fact that your reality operates as a computer programme, and that every word, every punctuation mark matters. Your rational mind will do everything it can to get you to gloss over or skip past those little bumps of conscience or awareness which are telling you otherwise.

So, what are you really saying then – Zie asks again?

Real – refers to reality – the question is what is real? Here you know full well that reality is not limited to one particularisation – that you can hold several fields or more, concurrently – and very often do so in order to achieve certain esoteric goals.

But in 3D we’ll be limited to one field?

Correct – until, that is, until you figure out that reality is only half the story, half the picture – that there’s more going on behind the scenes.

But how?

How Zie? Marinda? Telora?... [Merry names everyone in the group – before pausing dramatically – with everyone on tenterhooks] That is precisely what you’re going in to discover.

And we’ll be on our own?

How is that possible? You’ll have all the help you need.

Really?

Really… [the tension is broken – the reality field they’re watching in real time on screen, so to speak – starts shimmering, shaking when it hears them saying “really” – like it’s laughing at the joke – like it can’t help itself – though it’s supposed to be “it” – evidently it’s as much alive, as much a part of the equation as everyone else, and the whole class is laughing with abandon]

…

Thanks Merry – now the other one.

if you had any real pride you wouldn’t mention it.

Ah – so you’re saying I have no pride.

We see Merry connected to “it” – the field – using his words carefully, cunningly, to keep Zie focussed on the matter in hand – to prevent Zie from noticing the gaps which constantly open up in the field behind him, or just over his head, or in the moment just past, as well as the huge gap that is closing just as the next moment, the next frame is about to replace the current one – as each frame has a limited shelf-life – like a bubble – they cannot last more than T1 – the duration of that bubble’s interruption field [if] strength.

So, any moment in time has a tiny duration – T1 – and there’s nothing really stopping me from…

Don’t be in such a confounded hurry Zie to burst the bubble.

But I thought we’re supposed to solve the equation.

Constructively, yes.

And you mean to say that reality is very fragile?

Of course it is. It requires great energy and effort on your part and ours to sustain it.

But why? Why all the trouble?

Why do you think?

Seeing how it’s so beautifully orchestrated – how everything in the bubble is minutely integrated into my perception, awareness, consciousness circuitry – so to speak – I can only assume that there’s higher purposes at stake.

[Merry doesn’t know whether to cry or laugh] Well, Zie, you seemed to be flying so high, but then you reveal the star-spangled depths of either your ignorance or stupidity – so all I can say is God help us – if you’re the future, the hope of this world, this reality!

Me?! I’m just one in seven billion Merry. No need to make a big thing of me.

Oh, and you think that numbers add up? Really?

Really – yes, but colon double forward slash, we both know that in truth – no, you have no pride, the numbers don’t add up – zero equals one and the devil’s a b-movie film director gunning for the big-time.

Ha, bloody ha.

So, if I’m not supposed to simply break out of the Truman show – what then?

What do you think?

Side nudge please.

Left or right?

You decide.

[Whaackk! Zie skidaddles into a parallel frame – drinking tea with Merry – surrounded by an epic performance – literally – millions of different scenes being played out in real time]

What do we call this Merry?

Café humaine.

I’m impressed.

Yes, it’s turned out pretty well, I think you’ll agree.

[They spend a minute or two simply observing, sipping their tea and nibbling cucumber sandwiches – brought in by a footman on a silver platter]

Some of these – quite frankly – I find upsetting.

Dark shit – isn’t it.

Do you have to use such reprehensible language Merry?

Shit? You’re worried about a word – which is technically accurate.

Well, it’s hardly polite.

Do you realise Zie, that in your desire to be polite and create a polite society – you, and your other versions have killed more people, destroyed more lives and beauty, than all the bad worders combined.

?

The words weren’t bad till you made em bad. Like nigger – for instance – or woman – or cripple – or spastic – they were merely words that technically described what is – not what is good or bad – but somewhere along the line – you allowed value judgements to creep in, and prejudice – because you were all hell-bent on avoiding certain undesirable aspects of yourself – and thus stigmatised certain words, certain people, certain things.

But look there – I can see you were there too – encouraging us to do so. You were the one – whispering in our ears – telling us to doubt, to distrust those people.

Absolutely.

You put us up to it. You helped create hell here on Earth.

Absolutely.

And you have no shame, whatsoever.

Nor pride.

Oh, pride you have in abundance.

Do you see the circuit – or do you choose only to see the 3D image?

What circuit?

Look more closely.

Oh no…  [Now Zie sees the scenes where Merry, or another version of Merry was teaching the people how to blame, how to stigmatise, how to hate – a lesson that required infinite patience and cunning in being taught]

You see – I’m right.

Yes. You’re right. Look left.

[On the left Zie sees a shadow of unrealised potential, thwarted ambitions, disappointment, fears, denial and other darkened energies – which had to be integrated, had to be brought into play if the human drama was to continue for another T1 – if the experiment wasn’t to be shut down. Off stage Zie’s agent is seen shaking his head and signing waiver papers agreeing to allow these dark energies to be incorporated no matter what. Merry doesn’t seem to mind – holds his nose and goes into the foul smelling swamp of toxic emotions and helps Zie and other players to bring them into play – onto stage – into the drama – the human comedy.]

Oh my God.

Incredible, isn’t it.

But how could God…

I expect you’re going to blame God now, aren’t you?

No, I…

And where, do you think, God is hiding in all this?

I…

Behind the stage? In the field itself? Or perhaps God is T1

Or Tzero?

You’ll never know, will you – as long as your mind is busy weaving circles around the simple truth, the absolute, the all that is…

Why me? Of all the people in the world – why do I have to see all this?

Would you change places with anyone else? Really? You only have to say – I’ll see what I can do…

Merry, quit messing with me. You know perfectly well…

So what’s it going to be?

I want it all.

You do?

I want it now.

Really?

I want, therefore I am not.

Now you’re talking.

Zero equals one

Yes?

It is: I am

Incredible. Good luck.

Forward slash.

Oh my God.

Forward slash.

AAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhh.

And the rest, as they say

is

his story…

T1+0=**../

hell's bells

Merry, what the heck are you doing?

Ssh, don’t disturb me please.

But – what’s happened to your computer?

You’re not supposed to be here.

I er…

Been meditating again, haven’t you.

Well yes, kind of.

How many times do I have to tell you?

Wait a minute – since when were you my boss?

Er… good point Zie.

Well?

Well what?

Since when?

You made a good point Zie – no need to overplay it. Didacticism isn’t your forte.

Di-what?

Never mind. Well, since you’re here you may as well take a peek.

I’m not sure I can make head or tail of it. It’s…

You’re definitely not going to make head or tail of it Zie so cease and desist all attempts thereat.

Er… ‘k.

As you snuck in today through the back door, you have to use back door methodology to see this contraption.

Er…

In other words – continue exactly what you were doing.

Well, that’s a bit tricky as I was meditating, wasn’t I?

Here – look at this screen.

Hey – that’s me.

The penny droppeth.

I’m meditating.

Bingo.

You mean – that’s me right now?

Slowly, easy does it – don’t want to interrupt your session do you?

[Merry and Zie observe the figure on screen in a Japanese kimono, apparently Zie, twitching]

Look away – you’re distracting yourself. That’s it – now take a few nice, slow breaths. Perfect. You’re back in the zone.

So – I’m in two places at once? I can’t get my head around this…

You’re not supposed to, are you –

Huh?

get your head around this.

No?

Not if you’re meditating – without my permission I might add.

I thought we’d cleared that one up, already.

Oh, yes, sorry. Can’t quite eradicate the tyrannical dictatorial streak in my persona – then again, everyone’s got to have their little shortcomings.

So, I’m meditating and snuck in here through the backdoor.

Yep.

And for some reason your computer – I take it that’s what I’m not exactly seeing

Nice terminology – not exactly seeing – yep.

Your computer no longer seems to be in a box, so to speak.

Nope.

Nope?

I mean – correct! You’re right.

Oh. So what did you do to it?

What did you do to it? [parroting Zie’s intonation perfectly]

Hey!

You’re trying to make head or tails of this, aren’t you? I thought we’d agreed that you have to stick to the back door, thief in the night methodology.

Huh?

The way you broke in uninvited. Good job – by the way – very professional.

Oh – thanks – but, er, what did I do?

What did I do? [parroting Zie again – no – literally parroting him]

Merry – you’re a… [Zie was about to say parrot but the parrot flies over and pecks his nose] Ow! Leave off!

Ow! Leave off! [Something in the parrot’s speech causes Zie to lose his balance. He falls sideways]

That will do. Now look.

Ow, my head… my eyes.

Look – open your eyes!

[Zie opens them immediately, without thinking]

Oh, back to normal. What was that all about?

What was what?

Some kind of hallucination. You turned into a humungous green parrot. Your computer was all over the place – seemed to be moving in and out of everything – even connecting to some kind of circuitry in me… gross!

Not bad Zie – you seem to have caught most of it. Have a look at the screen now – what do you see?

There’s two of them.

Ok – take your pick.

This is me meditating in my rather stylish Japanese kimono.

Tastes differ.

And – this is what’s doing my head in. Still can’t make head or tails of it. How can I be standing at such a ridiculous angle – has the image frozen or…

Time perhaps?

Time? You mean I’m still falling sideways.

Still – as in “still alive” – yes, why not?

It’s just – I can’t get my head around it.

[canned laughter and clapping – like in a sitcom]

That, Zie, is one screen you’re guaranteed, I promise you, never to get your head around – try as you might.

Huh?

Which is why you were only able to access it through the backdoor – while meditating. Suddenly, your head stopped being the governing factor, the CEO, the chief adjudicator – suddenly you were able to flow whither spirit led you.

Through the looking glass?

Yes, pretty much that describes it, doesn’t it?

But – the computer…

It’s futile – I keep trying to tell you. Here, let me give you a hand. [Merry unexpectedly whacks Zie across the temples]

Ow!!! What the hell was that for?

Here – screen three.

What do you mean “screen three”? There are only two.

Oh dear. One more time. [Merry delivers an almighty blow across the temples causing Zie to see pink and green stars]

Screen three!

Oh right – gotcha. [Zie gazes at a third screen which he’d hitherto failed to notice] To his astonishment he sees Merry knocking at a kind of door appendaged to the side of his head – or visual cortex to be more precise. The first time – no one answers – sleeping perhaps or maybe just not in the mood. The second louder blow – the door opens and…]

Hello, Merry – so glad you could come.

How’s your head?

Oh, that was nothing – you didn’t actually touch my head, did you?

Not from where we’re standing now. It all depends on where you view things from, doesn’t it?

Precisely. Won’t you come in?

I thought you’d never ask.

[Zie and Merry proceed through the rather attractive wooden door into what appears to be the inside of a tree.]

They’re dying to know about the computer, Merry.

Yes. They won’t give up, will they.

What can you do for them?

You know perfectly well Zie.

But it’s so frustrating – they’re sitting there watching everything – imagining it’s all happening in another reality – in a story, on paper, or a screen…

Until their world suddenly implodes and the forces of darkness are baying at their door.

Oh – is that what you’ve got planned?

It’s one of the versions, isn’t it.

I’m not sure it’s my favourite.

You’re not taking sides are you?

Yes, I suppose I am.

So, we’re going to have some fun then.

How do you mean?

I’m only really allowed to do what you guys are doing. To follow your lead.

Really?

Yep. I’m not supposed to write my own story.

No?

Absolutely. It would be meaningless. It wouldn’t connect up.

So what then?

Well, if we’re taking sides today – then let’s pull out all the stops.

Er…

Let’s take sides like there’s no tomorrow.

Maybe we ought to tone this down – don’t want to interrupt my meditation, do we?

You’ve gotta be kidding – we’re in the central column – the axis mundi – great tree. Nothing whatsoever can disturb your meditation now.

Er… ok. If you say so.

So, we have wolves baying at the doors. They, the people in our drama – the people reading this, and the equally wonderful people not-reading this – receiving it “not” – knowing it without knowing how…

Wait a minute – you mean to say the computer I was trying to figure out…

Ssh, yes, the computer, the tale, the story… don’t interrupt.

Dictatorial megalomaniac.

Ah yes! You put me to shame. But supposing for a moment it’s true.

Supposing what’s true?

That we’re all in it together.

In your computer?

Computer, story – these are just metaphors, images to describe the indescribable.

Then what?

All in it together – I lost my thread…

Then what does it mean? Presumably we can write whatever code we wish – as long as it doesn’t break the flow – as long as it doesn’t time out…

Precisely. You see – if we’re writing… [click – whirr – like an old mechanical juke box changing the record]

Funny, Merry – for a moment I could have sworn you whacked me on the side of my head.

Bizarre! Why on earth would I want to do that?

Oh, you often do things that make no sense, but in this instance I feel nothing – in fact my head is remarkably clear.

I’m glad to hear it. We have important work to do today, so a clear head will come in handy.

Huh? What work’s that?

Hell.

I beg your pardon?

We’re working on hell.

??!!

Squawk!

[For a second it looks lie Zie’s going to crash on his side as the parrot flies over and grabs his nose – but Zie realises this is in fact a kind of screen – that he has a kind of mouse at his fingertips – that he can invert the image – that in fact the parrot is a kind of avatar which is helping to connect him into the command module. His image flickers on screen – the observant among you will see Zie shifting through a dozen different forms – including an extinct Patagonian tree lizard – but none of those forms are significantly more than archetypes or underlying aspects of the real Zie – so not to be dwelt on, not to be mentalised too heavily.]

Right Zie – you’ve made it – strapped in the pilot’s chair on the Millennium Falcon – you’re ready to take us to hell and back.

But I don’t want to go to hell.

Nope, but what choice have we got. Look at their screen Zie. What do you see?

Holy sh**. Darkness, fear, oppression. It’s dire.

Absolutely. Wonderfully dire. Their world, your world is imploding. Evil walketh in broad daylight – threatening the innocent lambs with dystopian nightmares – poisoned chalices – forced vaccinations, bio-computerisation – endless schemes to entrap and ensnare them in a web of no escaping. In short, a scriptwriter’s paradise.

Jesus wept – how could things have got so bad.

Screen seven, over to your right.

[Zie looks across at it – sees the shadow – the id – the darkness within – fear – a little fear – eyes averted – avoiding something unpleasant – step by step the shadow grows into a deeper, darker, darkness until it fills the screen and demons, night wraiths are able to freely connect and rule the terrorised masses.]

Yikes. So, what’s the plan?

You’re going to take me in.

Where? Into that hellhole?

Absolutely. You can come too if you like.

But they’ll rip you to pieces.

Yes, that’s the intention.

But… aren’t you afraid?

Positively terrified, but…

What?

We have g-nome portal, don’t we.

And?

And nothing. They can only act on my fear. Mathematically they actually have no power.

I hate to say it, Merry, but those creatures look capable of anything.

True, but while you were messing around I wrote a little line or two of code.

You did? I didn’t see that.

Nope – I was pretty agile.

So what was it?

Screen 27, the hieroglyphs.

27? Are you sure?

Am I ever?

Ok. [Zie peers around looking for screen 27 – and somehow it flashes up in front of his regular vision – let’s call it the tree vision as it comes directly from there] Oh my God!

Like it?

Like it? I love it! It’s incredible.

Pretty nifty, though I say so myself.

Absolutely astonishing. One line of code – and it changes everything.

Fun, isn’t it!

And g-nome portal has the power to do this?

What is g-nomeportal?

Er… not too sure.

Just the central exchange – where narrative matters – where words count, and letters are geometric keys.

So… er

The zero beyond every one

What was that?

The zero behind every one

So, how does this code actually work?

Well, little did they suspect but their reality was only really half of one

Are you sure?

Absolutely. Look – screen 40.

[this screen is somewhere down in the tree’s roots]

Oh my God – you’re right.

Well, we were all willing to go along with that for convenience’s sake – like paper money or credit cards – until, that is, we suddenly realised we were terribly impoverished and someone had stolen all our wealth and resources. They’d been playing us for naïve dupes.

Ok. So, what does your code change?

You can see, can’t you?

Absolutely – it’s full of colour, it’s full of life and energy. It’s an incredible picture of prosperity and joy.

Well, that was the easiest thing in the world to arrange.

But how?

I simply restored hell.

You what?!!!

I put back hell.

Hell? You’ve gotta be kidding. That’s the last thing we need to put things right.

Amazing isn’t it – the last thing you think you need is often enough exactly what’s required.

So, you unleashed the demons of hell on unsuspecting humanity with one trivial line of code?

Nope.

What then?

Look – without hell the “dark side” are able to get away with murder – literally – because there’s no way they can be held to account for their misdeeds – in fact, without hell, their misdeeds are not, in fact, misdeeds.

Whyever not?

Because the numbers don’t add up, do they – you get an endless progression – a kind of Mandelbrot set of fractions halving, then halving again ad infinitum. The only way that can be stopped and rebalanced is with a bunch of defenders of bionet, your perpetrators of evil, spilling human blood down there in 3D to ensure that things do not spin out of control – using passions and pain to prevent a kind of hyper-inflation of reality.

So, they’ve been killing people out of the goodness of their hearts? Somehow I find that hard to believe.

Well, they don’t really believe this reality is real, do they, because their half has been excluded, so not surprisingly they’re kind of bitter and ready to slaughter, rape and pillage. You would too if you’d been denied your birth right, wouldn’t you?

I don’t know – I like to think I put humanity before my own selfish needs.

Humanity? It was your half who helped exclude theirs, like men denying women the right to vote – so you’re just as much cause of this carnage.

Oh… well still, it’s no excuse for senseless murder, is it?

Except that without the blood they spilled the reality you’re so attached to would have imploded long ago.

You mean our torment, pain and suffering has helped to prolong our torment, pain and suffering? How ironic.

I mean your torment, pain and suffering were half real, half true – that when hell is factored back into the equation and ½ is once again full-bodied One – you’re going to see things differently – as you have already on screen 27.

Ok. So, I’m supposed to believe hell isn’t evil?

You’re supposed to believe nothing of the sort. Anything is evil if permitted in exclusion to the one and all. Day without night. Right without left. Religion without love.

It’s just I’ve got some deeply unpleasant feelings where hell is concerned.

The word – do you know what it actually means?

Yes – it’s like the underworld, isn’t it? A place of endless punishment.

Is it? It means “bright” in German. I wonder why?

You mean to say…

I mean nothing whatsoever – in the end this is a purely mathematical situation. Without hell the “evil perpetrators” of dystopian Armageddon are free to proceed – in fact, they’re literally unable to stop. With their half restored they suddenly discover that they’re completely unable to account for the madness of their actions – because they’re actually destroying themselves and their own reality no less than you and yours.

So they’ll stop?

Even if they won’t – they get what’s coming to them.

Like instant karma?

Absolutely. The loop completes – they get the one thing they’ve been lacking all this time…

?

Feedback. Compassion. Empathy.

So now you want to go in and test the code?

Not so much test it – the code’s simple enough.

Then what?

I wouldn’t miss this for the world. It’s the moment in history we’ve been waiting for.

It is?

When the half-hearted reality we’ve been taking for the real McCoy is suddenly restored to its natural state – it is:i am – the living, conscious bionet. It just needs one person to carry this RNA update into ground zero – into your charming reality.

Maybe I could be the one.

Fancy yourself do you – a glutton for punishment?

No, but it’s my reality more than yours, isn’t it?

It could be dangerous – you’ll be on your own.

Yes, but that code’s going to work a treat, isn’t it?

It will, as long as you keep transmitting and receiving nothing less than One – as long as you don’t lose heart.

Sounds easy enough.

Child’s play! The child within has never ever done things by half measure. That’s why they’ve been so frustrated with those parents of theirs who only ever studied the math of things – who’ve only succeeded in compounding the confusion.

Child’s play – then that’s it – I’m in.

Good luck Zie, here – take this with you – it’ll help you stay tuned to your mission. It’s gonna get mighty confusing with all the noise and fear that’s being projected every which way.

A bell? You’re kidding, right?

That’s no ordinary bell Zie.

No?

It’s a hell’s bell.

Hell’s bell?

One for each half. Ring it whenever things are getting tough. Whenever you’re getting confused. You’ll flip the fractal back to One, no matter what. It'll ring on both sides – clarity as hell is bright.

[and without further ado Zie finds himself back in the lotus position clutching a little invisible bell which makes no sound whatsoever – which in fact rings on t'other side and brings the hounds of hell to heel, obediently, with tails wagging, happily]

All around the world in the meanest, darkest corridors of power – what did you say? what’s going on? what’s that?

Hell's bells – the emperor is wearing no clothes – it was only ever fractional – a projection beyond is into what if  until…

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

Guys – tinkle tinkle – be not afraid – it’s not the end of the world – just the other half, the not-so-prodigal son, the forgotten twin – is back. You can fight it all you like – or you can accept this crazy little thing called Hell – that shocking mathematical impossibility sometimes known as paradox, finally revealed, finally exposed, irrefutably

It takes a while – at first Zie is seen as a bringer of pain and destruction – but pretty soon people get used to this instant karma lark – and learn to love a world where everything starts making sense – where it’s not, in fact, beyond their abilities to live in harmony with one another, now that the numbers add up – now that zero finally equals one – and Mandelbrot’s beetle turns out to be… tinkle tinkle…

To be continue.

d

if 0=1