Wednesday, December 29, 2021

in which Seth discovers the darkweb

I’m not saying anything.

 

Finally. I thought you’d never realise.

 

 

The beauty of silence.

 

 

The wisdom.

 

 

The…

 

Oh shut up!

 

Hey, you…

 

Leave me alone. I’m not saying anything if you’ll just quit bothering me.

 

Ok. Ciao.

 

Finally...                  thoughts don’t count, do they?      I mean – I can hardly stop myself from thinking,      can I?

 

I can hear you.

 

What the heck?

 

Beep!

 

Hey, sod off. You’re not allowed to listen into my thoughts.

 

Sorry bro, can’t help it.

 

Whadda you mean – can’t help it? Of course you can. My thoughts are my own personal, private property.

 

I agree.

 

Then what do you mean by listening in to them. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.

 

It’s really not my fault Seth.

 

Seth? Aren’t I Sebastian?

 

Well yes, you are in your regular physical frequency, but here in the dark net you’re Seth, ain’t ya?

 

I am?

 

Apparently so.

 

And this “dark net” malarkey – what exactly is it you’re referring to?

 

It’s probably not what you’re thinking it is.

 

Oh, and how would you know what I’m thinking…? Damn. You bloody well [Beep!] know everything I’m thinking. Effing [Beep!] cheek.

 

Look Seth…


I wish you wouldn’t call me that – it gives me the creeps.

 

Yes – it’s a tricky one to handle, I’ll admit – but it just happens to be where your thoughts are all being posted – in real time.

 

You mean to say my thoughts are being live streamed even as we speak – er – think aloud together?

 

Well evidently. How else do you imagine I’d be able to hear what you’re thinking against your express instructions?

 

You know Tiberius – the thought had crossed my mind – you know – do I need to spell it out?

 

Not for me – no – only if you want them to get it too.

 

Them? You don’t mean to say they’re in on the livestream too?

 

Naturally, but only what you think aloud.

 

And how many exactly are they?

 

How many drops of rain are in an ocean? How many chickens in the chicken colony of free-range sentient chickens on Planet Primo Gallinae?

 

Er… No idea. In short – I don’t see why my thoughts have to be shared with you Tiberius, still less with 24 million chickens on Primo Gallinae. As far as I’m concerned there must be some kind of diabolical agency at work. Either that or I’ve apparently lost my marbles.

 

Yes, it looks bad, doesn’t it Seth…

 

Cut it out Tibs.

 

Sorry Seth – it’s just that I’m communicating with you over the dark net and their protocols apply. You could theoretically invite me to come back to chat with you in person.

 

Never. [Seth raises his hands demonstratively] Avaunt, foul fiend!

 

Thought as much. We could try using the Zeeta account.

 

What’s that?

 

That’s for anyone who has lost their user log-in and password.

 

Ah.

 

The Zeeta account – usually just Zie for short – is a good place for freeloaders and freebooters who want to remain more or less anonymous.

 

“Freeloader or freebooter”? I’m not sure I like the way you choose to categorise me.

 

I understand. In that case we can stick to your personal Seth account.

 

No. Zie is fine.

 

Ok. Could you just temporarily drop your connection with the dark web, please.

 

Er… how?

 

You need to simulate unconsciousness – just for a second or two. And as you reboot automatically I’ll enter a few hash strokes. Should do the trick.

 

Er… simulate unconsciousness – like pretend to be in a swoon?

 

No – this needs to be a real simulation. It needs to disconnect you briefly from the dark web.

 

Er…

 

You can use water, fire, earth, even air.

 

Oh God [Beep!] – this sounds so ridiculous – I hope they pay you well for this farce.

 

Ha ha. At least I didn’t suggest you hit yourself over the head with a hammer as they used to do.

 

So how do I do it with water?

 

You need to take an ice-cold shower.

 

Fat chance of that. With fire?

 

You need to walk across burning coals.

 

Oh God. [Beep!] With Earth?

 

You need to bury youself in the earth at least a metre deep to block your signal.

 

Jeez! [Beep] I don’t suppose I want to know about air, do I?

 

Air’s problematic if you don’t have a parachute.

 

Wait a second – what about the fifth element?

 

Ah – thought you’d never ask. You need to reach the transcendental state of inner quietude – recommended course of action 40 days fasting in a wilderness of your choice.

 

Recommended – you mean there are alternative routes.

 

Like climbing a mountain – you bet – but the well-trodden path is slightly more reliable.

 

I can’t believe I’m actually falling for this garbage…

 

Garbage? What do you mean Seth?

 

Ow! – quit using that name.

 

Sorry.

 

But I’m going to take the cold shower – if that can stop you using that dreadfully not-me-bearable name.

 

Sure. But er Seth…

 

Yaow! Cut that out.

 

Oops. Make sure it’s cold. We need to simulate unconsciousness so a good healthy shock to the system is required.

 

I got you, I got you – now leave me be.

 

Five minutes later – Yaooooooooowwwwwwwwww! Geez! [Beep!] Chris*! [Beep! Beep! Beep!]

 

There – gotcha Zie.

 

Zie? Who’s that?

 

That’s you.

 

Me – but aren’t I Sebastian still?

 

Well obviously – Sebastian or whoever else you claim to be – it really makes no difference. Could you – er – make yourself decent.

 


What?!!! I thought this is a thought channel.

 

It is for anyone tuning in with their correct user log-in and password. But you’ve come in on the Zeeta account which means that the dark web adds visuals to distinguish one Zeeta from another.

 

Wait a second – you didn’t tell me anything about that.

 

No. There didn’t seem any point, did there. You weren’t exactly happy with the Seth identity.

 

Seth – whyever not?

 

Funny isn’t it. It doesn’t bother you now.

 

Bizarre. What was I freaking out about?

 

I guess you were freaking out about the dark web – the Seth account is your direct personal login – so you found that disturbing.

 

But why?

 

Because the darkweb connects you with the dark side of your consciousness.

 

Oh shi – you don’t mean the demonic side – do you?

 

No, I do not – though how could I possibly persuade you otherwise if you were intent on assuming the worst?

 

Good point. So, the dark side of consciousness – it’s like the unconscious me – is it?

 

It’s like the you that is everywhere that the conscious you cannot go or be.

 

Huh?

 

The conscious you is kind of limited.

 

It is? I’m not sure I appreciate these constant marks of denigration.

 

No denigration, nor disrespect. The conscious “me” – whoever it be – is by definition limited to certain aspects or “moments” of the greater mebe.

 

Mebe?

 

The me be.

 

As opposed to the I am?

 

Well yes – obviously – as the I am is your divine aspect – or your connection to divinity if you prefer.

 

Whereas the me be…

 

Is not exactly divine – more like regular Joe – trying to get on with life and making ends meet in multiple settings.

 

Hey – why would I want to explore the mebe if I can just connect right away with the I am?

 

Good question Zie.

 

Seb.

 

Zie – now kindly put your clothes on – our chat is filling up with indignant comments and a few rather cheeky remarks that I’m not going to publish.

 

Damn cheek.

 

The I am is the be all and end all. What would be the point of going back to the be all and end all if you haven’t yet been all and ended all? It would be like taking a million dollars from a travel the world and experience life trust fund – only to return after 60 days – money still unspent – experiences unlogged – nothing to show for the immense capital outlay.

 

You mean the be all and end all would block my return?

 

Not exactly, no. You can try it now if you like?

 

Hey – does that mean like I’m going to die?

 

In a manner of speaking yes – but then again – what is death where the great I am is concerned.

 

Er…

 

Don’t be shy. Experience is probably the best way to figure out what is what – and validate whether or not you’re happy to work with the dark web.

 

It’s just…

 

Zie – enough procrastination – repeat after me – I am that I am – mission accomplished – return me home instantaneously.

 

Almost powerless to stop himself – partly afraid – partly fascinated – Zie repeats the words. For a minute his connection to the dark web drops. Zero. Neither conscious nor unconscious. Merry makes a cuppa tea the good ol’ fashioned way – a blackened kettle suspended over an open fire in a rather attractive log cabin somewhere in the Ural Mountains. Chaga – he decides at the last minute – gotta move with the times. Beep beep beep – a signal indicates that Seb/Seth/Zie is back online. Fortunately the dark web is mind programmable and remembers exactly which login to ascribe to Zie.

 

Ah, there you are Zie.

 

Hi Ti...[Seth pulls a Gershwin, effortlessly switching key from cranky Tiberius to sonorous ] Merry!

 

Long time no see. 

 

Yes, rather. I had a wonderful time back there I-am-ing.

 

Yes, I thought it would be fun.

 

You did?

 

Yes. It generally is.

 

You mean I’m not the only one you’ve volunteered to send back?

 

You could say.

 

Oh, right, I get you.

 

So what happened?

 

Well, you probably know all this, don’t you?

 

Yes, but they don’t.

 

Oh fair enough. Well, first there’s reception – detox and a few formalities – i's and t's...

 

Ah ha.

 

And then it’s like – welcome home bro – you’re doing great. We’re so proud of you – frankly that was rather surprising – I mean – I don’t really think of myself as a great success you know. Then after a brief period of R&R it was back to the grindstone – metaphorically speaking of course.

 

Yes?

 

Oh yes – different classes to attend – various mind and consciousness sessions – managing data and discernment upgrades – all kinds of fascinating courses – nature integration – living biosystems – universal awareness – fascinating – if only it were true [little rumble of thunder overhead] – oops! Well – fascinating stuff. And I was giving classes too.

 

You were?

 

For newbies – guys who are actually choosing to follow in my footsteps. It’s rather strange – I mean – there are billions of people on the planet right now, but for some reason they all seemed to know me – like I was a minor celebrity.

 

I expect you were. Fresh from the front – battle scarred – with lots of tips for the new recruits.

 

Well, I think I was able to help orientate them to the live situation on Earth – the unvarnished nitty gritty. I mean – their text books are a little dated – 1990s in my opinion.

 

So er… Zie

 

Yes?

 

What brought you back?

 

Oh, you know how it is…

 

?

 

I did all the courses, took up fly fishing, then started making matchstick villages…

 

Really? Fascinating.

 

Then tried my hand at planetary design. You know the way I used to complain about the coastline of Norway – how utterly flat and uninspiring it was.

 

Yes... No!  You don’t mean to say…?

 

Well yes – did the timey-wimey thing – and finally I think you’ll find if you log in to google earth or your dark web equivalent – that the coastline is anything but boring – in fact – though I say so myself – I’d venture to boast that it’s rather spectacular.

 


Goodness gracious Zie – I had no idea you were…

 

Of course – I had a little help from my assistant, Slartibartifast who was on a sabbatical from his home planet…

 

Magrathea

 

Oh, you know do you?

 

Yes, he claimed it was his own work.

 

The cheeky sod, did he really? I mean – he helped position some of the larger rocks and… come to think of it – perhaps that was the reason he was so insistent I signed his internship form.

 

Which you didn’t bother to read?

 

Well, I’ve never been a great one for reading forms, have I?

 

Well, don’t worry Zie – the dark web has a wonderful way of putting the record straight.

 

It does?

 

Yes. There are no lies or deception in the dark web.

 

Come on – you can’t really expect me to believe that?!

 

No – don’t believe it. Test and verify – is the motto of dark-webbers.

 

Test and verify – that sounds good. But how does it work?

 

Well – just imagine the amount of data in the conscious section of human awareness –

 

Er… bit tricky.

 

Well, let’s try that another way. How much did you learn and discover about yourself which you weren’t aware of before returning back home to I am that I am?

 

Oh you have no idea.

 

Bet you can’t remember any of it now.

 

Funny – now that you mention it…

 

But you might remember the scale. Are we talking more or less than 1 percent.

 

Pah! Infinitely less than 1 percent. Though I can’t for the life of me remember what.

 

Ok. So there’s a whole lot more to you than meets the eye.

 

I guess so.

 

And the same is true for almost everyone else.

 

Almost?

 

Yes, there are, as always, a few exceptions.

 

Like illumined beings?

 

I guess so – or a few simple humble folk who go through life completely unnoticed, and therefore untroubled.

 

Right.

 

So what happens to all their consciousness?

 

Er…

 

It doesn’t just switch off, do you imagine?

 

How can it. It’s what you are. It can’t be destroyed or anaesthetised by your physical embodiment.

 

Correct. So among other things – it goes into the dark web.

 

Among other things – you mean there’s more?

 

Yes, but not today.

 

So the dark web is actually run by our celestial consciousness that couldn’t quite fit into to the poky little earthly vessel?

 

Well yes, more or less. In any case – the dark web is awash with data – all possible data – and data is only meaningful – is only data per se if it is verifiable with a provenance or chain of custody, if it's cross-referenceable.

 

Is it?

 

Yes, absolutely, otherwise it’s just noise and fluff which invariably gets filtered out.

 

And the dark web is able to filter noise from the system?

 

Absolutely – because data actually loves to link up to itself creatively.

 

Wait a minute… you don’t mean to say that it’s alive?

 

Well, not in the sense that you are – but yes – it is alive.

 

So any data coming in that is verifiably true will automatically connect with corresponding data?

 

Yep, and more, it does so in a way that reveals the underlying data flow, the evolving sequences of which we're all a part.

 

But how does it know?


It?


Data – how does data know?

 

How do you know which are you shoes or socks?

 

It can smell?

 

Not exactly – but the metaphor will do.

 

So data is self-correcting in the dark web?

 

Yep.

 

And what happens to all the false data?

 

It goes into the garbage pile.

 

And then?

 

And then it gets recycled.

 

How?

 

Back through its source.

 

You mean like karma?

 

Yep, more or less.

 

But…

 

What?

 

That doesn’t seem to work.

 

How do you mean?

 

Well, we’ve been hearing about karma for donkey’s years, but it’s never stopped people from lying and manipulating – look at the state the world is in.

 

Yes – but look at the new coast of Norway.

 

Huh?

 

How do you think that was possible?

 

Perhaps because I’m a genius?

 

Without a doubt – but everyone who made your life difficult to unbearable helped fund your account, unbeknownst to you – with karma credits.

 

They did?

 

Yep. And you burnt through a load of them doing something very beautiful.

 

So?

 

So you took their dross and turned it into gold.

 

But did they pay?

 

Do you want them to?

 

Yes, I mean – I don’t know. They were doing their own lifey-life experience thing. I don’t know.

 

The point is – that with the dark web 22 now up and running – there’s a fully operational real-time karma credits exchange.

 

There is?

 

Yep.

 

And how long has this been operational?

 

How long does it take me to make a cup of tea?

 

Oh – it’s a timey time thing is it?

 

Yep.

 

So the game has changed.

 

Has now.

 

Which means the bad bunch are going to get their comeuppance?

 

Which means the free lunch brigade are going to have to pay back everything they’ve stolen if enough people get wind of the dark web connection.

 

Ah – but they’re not, are they?

 

No?

 

How could they? It nearly killed me logging on as Seth.

 

Because you were due a trip back home perhaps. Maybe you had a karmic credit debt to Norway.

 

To Norway? The country?

 

Well, to the being or entity that stands behind Norway.

 

You mean Slartibartifast?

 

Yes, but I think you’ll find that’s not his real name.

 

No?

 

I think that’s what you used to call him, rather unkindly, in the playground when you were a weaner.

 

Don’t remember ever…

 

Wanna scan your dark web files?

 

No, not really... Oh go on then.

 

Beep beep beep beep beep beep…

 

Unbelievable. You’re right. Slartibartfast. How could I have forgotten?

 

Well, technically you didn’t forget.

 

No?

 

No, you only remember your present lifetime.

 

You mean this was reincarnation?

 

Not necessarily. Just another fork in the delta – if you like.

 

But how can I be responsible for another fork?

 

Where we go one, we go all.

 

QAnon? No way!

 

No, this predates your latest iteration of collective responsibility.

 

But if I’m trying to lead a good life and another part of my total consciousness is doing the opposite – am I going to get saddled with all their dross?

 

Absolutely not.

 

Then what?

 

You want me to explain it – it’s not going to work here in regular linguistics – is it. We'd need schematics and frequency charts, flow dynamics, torsion fields and wacky woo.

 

But for them?

 

Ok. For them – a gross simplification – paradox will do.

 

Paradox?

 

Yes.

 

Like…

 

Paradox. It appears to make no sense – or making sense to be entirely contradictory – does it not?

 

Yes.

 

You are what you are – and yet – you’re part of a collective – be that humanity, religion, nation, kith or kin…

 

Ok.

 

In actual fact the karmic credits exchange is not punitive.

 

No?

 

It’s a way of spreading the wealth.

 

It is?

 

Of ensuring everyone gets a piece of the cake, a bite of the apple.

 

Really?

 

Yep. Those who have more than they need are almost bound to start making karmically extravagant choices – which instantly credit the have nots directly.

 

Oh wow. But what if they decide to do nothing – to avoid squandering their wealth?

 

That in itself becomes a karmic choice.

 

OMG [Beep!] – this is beginning to sound like Communism.

 

Well yes, except that it isn’t political, not even religious.

 

No? You could have fooled me.

 

It’s just the way data prefers to arrange itself. It likes to go with the grain, not against it. It’s like the block chain – it has a perfect record of who and what – and would much rather stay configured that way – without any desire to punish or reward.

 

Simply data self-organising? Incredible.

 

So, you still didn’t say why you chose to come back?

 

I met a newbie.

 

No way!

 

Yeah. She was supposed to be born this year.

 

Huh?

 

But we put in a timey-wimey request.

 

You’re kidding.

 

No. And to our amazement it was accepted. She was shunted back twenty years into the "past".

 

Unbelievable. Well there you go, there’s a first time for everything. So do you know where she is?

 

No, but she knows of the blog – and she can track me down if she remembers what we agreed.

 

If… it doesn’t always work that way Zie.

 

I know Merry – but I have a good feeling about this.

 

You do?

 

Yes.

 

And do you remember her name?

 

No can say [clunk!] – if I’ve learnt one thing it’s the need to master occlumency…

 

Like in Harry Potter – the ability to close your mind. But why?

 

Because this has to be in accordance with the plan or not at all. If it’s meant to be it will be, if not we’ll meet up again at the next Earth-graduation ball... not so far downstream from where we are now.

 

Fair enough. Now, do you want to reactivate your Seth account?

 

Sure, otherwise I won’t be able to post while taking a bath.


Damn cheek.


[Beep!] It's time for the Seth account to kick butt – there's a whole world of karma itching to share the wealth once I can bridge the gap and bring your dark web karmic exchange to the people.


Huh?


Zie enters the silent zone for a second or two, emerging from timelessness with the eyes that know: There's gonna be an app. 


An app?


It'll be a doozy. Karmic credits will upload in real time – outside time in fact – even without a signal, as they'll be coming into each person's device directly from darkweb, through their own conscious-ness carrier wave. 


Nice!


There'll be a "follow-the-data" option which will allow the karmic metadata to suggest compatible and harmonious products or investments to further optimise the velocity of karmic credits (karnickles) in circulation. 


Darn! 


That should see the end of the dollar and other fiat currencies within a year... six months in fact.


Yikes! But isn't that going to crash the global economy?


Why should it? On the contrary! unaccountable, crony-capitalism's dinosaur-dollars have been eroding the wealth for decades now. Quite the opposite in fact –there's going to be an explosion of pent up wealthification.


You think so?


Absolutely, this will bring about non-inflationary wealth creation on an unthinkable scale, being karmically efficient – eliminating the temporal waste of those vast reservoirs of trapped, stagnant karmic chokepoints, locked away in festering vaulted gold or ill-gotten off-shore accounts, concealed by NDAs, legal chicanery and false narratives. All this is immediately brought into play without even needing to prosecute individuals, sequester their bank accounts or go near the electronic digits supposedly concealed therein. They were only ever as good as the karmic encryption protecting them – and as you and I both know... kerching – the bust is in! We have the keys – the "emperor" you've all been blindly following is buck naked. 😊



Merry is, perhaps for the first time in recorded history, almost lost for words...


Holy macaroon – I'm flabb...


Silence... be golden... let the dance of the karnickles 💰 begin!



The end 

0=1 not-withstanding

        

Saturday, December 25, 2021

Byron's barouche

Alone on stage, pacing back and forth, identity unclear, lost in thought...

 


So it’s not just a blog?

 

Or a website?

 

It’s something else?

 

Something more?

 

I’m not going to understand it, am I?

 

Can only go so far with questions and questioning?

 

Until my brain pops and I…

 

Oh hi Merry.

 

Hi Zie.

 

I thought we were dead?

 

Me too. It happens from time to time.

 

Like Mark Twain – “The report of my death was an exaggeration”.

 

Yep – but often enough the death actually happened in an inferior story line.

 

Huh? What’s that meant to mean?

 

Oh – the universe, a.k.a. the universal-mind allows various storylines to run concurrently – at least it does in cases such as our own.

 

It does? Er…

 

Why?

 

Yes.

 

Because, in cases such as our own Qufie’s flipping disks.

 

Oh – that’s it, is it.

 

Not really – not if your mind is saying what I think it’s saying.

 

What’s my mind got to do with this?

 

Well, it didn’t click-thunk-zing through a half-dozen levels of interconnecting spheres.

 

Didn’t it?

 

No.

 

And is that bad?

 

Not really.

 

Then what’s the problem?

 

No problem whatsoever.

 

Then why the commentary?

 

Well, for you to really understand something you need to reference, i.e. sniff or dab the datapoints with your mind’s proboscis.

 

I do?

 

Yep.

 

Why?

 

Because ultimately data is physical.

 

Really?

 

Yep.

 

And can’t I just understand something intellectually – just by grasping the gist?

 


Yes, of course you can if the concept in question pertains exclusively to your inertial or reference frame.

 

Right.

 

But if it don’t…

 

Doesn’t Merry – could you kindly use standard grammar, if you please.

 

Nope. I’m still feeling Byron.

 

Huh?

 

The last post – omicronically notZie.

 

No!!! Don’t mention it. The imposter. Frauds. Copyright infringers.

 

Deep breath Zie. No one cares – in any case – you can hardly blame notZie – he was insistent on not being you.

 

Oh – well – now that you put it that way.

 

Strictly speaking you too are an imposter, a fraud, a copyright infringer.

 

I beg your pardon.

 

Apology accepted.

 

The converse – I defiantly beg your pardon.

 

Defiantly?

 

Yes.

 

You mean you’re defying me respectfully.

 

Yes, I think that more or less describes the situation.

 

The point is that you’re no more Zie than notZie is.

 

Aaaaaargh! I’m not hearing this. Not. Not. Not. Not. Not. Be gone. Avaunt foul fiend!

 


Ok – but you do realise that you won’t actually exist if I leave.

 

What?

 

You won’t exist.

 

Of course I will.

 

Wanna test my assertion?

 

Not really – I just want you to go.

 

Ok. I’m gone.

 

Bloody cheek. As if I could stop existing just because Merry has gone.

 

THE LAMP must be replenish’d, but even then     

It will not burn so long as I must watch. 

My slumbers—if I slumber—are not sleep,          

But a continuance of enduring thought,        

Which then I can resist not: in my heart 

There is a vigil, and these eyes but close

To look within; and yet I live, and bear   

The aspect and the form of breathing men.         

But grief should be the instructor of the wise;            

Sorrow is knowledge: they who know the most   

Must mourn the deepest o’er the fatal truth,      

The Tree of Knowledge is not that of Life.            

Philosophy and science, and the springs 

Of wonder, and the wisdom of the world,                   

I have essay’d, and in my mind there is  

A power to make these subject to itself—            

But they avail not: I have done men good,           

And I have met with good even among men—    

But this avail’d not: I have had my foes,         

And none have baffled, many fallen before me—

But this avail’d not:—Good, or evil, life, 

Powers, passions, all I see in other beings,           

Have been to me as rain unto the sands,

Since that all—nameless hour. I have no dread,          

And feel the curse to have no natural fear,          

Nor fluttering throb, that beats with hopes or wishes,     

Or lurking love of something on the earth.           

Now to my task.—

 

Are you done yet, Zie?

 

I thought I asked you to leave.

 


Yes, you did.

 

So what are you doing here, for God’s sake.

 

Er beep… sorry to be a crushing bore dear chap – but could you kindly refrain from taking-in-vainities?

 

No. Not unless you leave.

 

But I did leave.

 

Yes, for seven minutes, and then you returned… and I’m perfectly well thanks.

 

Seven minutes?

 

Give or take.

 

Zie – I’m not one to thrust the hard pumice stone of reality down the throat of a pelican…

 

No?

 

No, in fact – I’m rather enamoured of poetic licence and allowing people to see things howsoever they like…

 

Merry – what on Earth are you on about?

 

I’ve been gone 27 years.

 

Nonsense.

 

Give or take a few hours, minutes and days.

 

Utter… My God – what’s that?

 

It’s the latest smart conveyance.

 

Smart conveyance – like a car you mean?

 

Well yes – used to be cars – before we made a little quantum leap forward in our understanding of space and inertial frames.  Actually, I like to imagine I played not a small part in that discovery.

 


Merry – would you kindly quit twittering. How on earth can your car fit into a pocket device. Jesus Christ!

 

Beep!

 

Ok, ok – I get you.

 

Zie starts hyperventilating. Luckily Merry has a defibrillator, a box of ice and a hundred-gallon tub of cold water waiting in the wings – just ready for the occasion.

 

Splash!

 

Was that absolutely necessary?

 

Yes. I think it was.

 

Oh.

 

You see – the time jump is manageable until you start to think about it – that’s when the circuitry starts smoking and… well, things can get messy very quickly.

 

In that case, thank you Merry for saving my life.

 

You’re welcome Zie.

 

Zie… but am I actually Zie – I mean – apparently I ceased to exist for 27 years while I recited the opening lines of Manfred.

 

Manfred? That’s nice. Glad to hear you weren’t wasting your time. By the way – what’s Manfred?

 

?! You’re kidding, right?

 

Er… no.

 

You’ve got to be.

 

I assure you.

 

It’s one of Byron’s most famous poems.

 

Byron – who’s that?

 


Oh God.

 

Beep!

 

How on earth am I supposed to avoid cussing if the entire world I thought I belonged to has been completely rescripted?

 

Well, what do you expect?

 

How about continuity?

 

Continuity? Do you really want to go back to the old world you came from – where it takes hours to drive from a to b physically – and where people actually sat down with pens and a piece of paper – or at computers – tapping away – slotting words together in order to access the quantum field in the process of writing what they called pottery.

 

Poetry. We call it poetry, not pottery.

 

Ok, big difference.

 

Actually, I rather like the old world of cars and trains, of tapping away at plastic keys and letting thoughts flow through a…

 

A what?

 

Funny – as soon as I was going to say “mind” my mind stopped working – self-consciously.

 

Yes. Which is why, you were unable to evolve beyond your paradigm – in the old days.

 

Er…

 

Because the mind was always fixed to some kind of frame – and could never actually, never really unmask itself.

 

Er…

 

Great at moving deckchairs, at twiddling nobs and understanding “things” – the things you’d write about and describe in inordinate detail – assuming that you were approaching the truth – the sum total of knowledge – while in fact…

 

In fact we were merely describing the outer rim of an inertial frame – that we were mentally bound to see a certain way – until/ unless we were ready to deal with the root issue.

 

The root issue – precisely.

 

The connection point.

 

Yes. You nailed it.

 

Which is what I’ve been doing all this time.

 

Which is precisely what you’ve been doing for the last 27 years.

 

So I wasn’t just reciting poetry.

 

No, of course not.

 

But did I exist at the time?

 

At the time?

 

Yes – during those 27 years.

 

Ah – you see – it’s only 27 years in terms of the new now – the new here.

 

It is?

 

Yep.

 

And in terms of the old ‘un?

 

That’s just the thing.

 

It is?

 

How to break this to you in the gentlest possible way?

 

No – you’re not going to say a Vogon construction fleet blasted my beloved Earth out of the sky in order to build a hyperspace bypass, are you?

 

Do I need to?

 

No. I know it’s more or less true, isn’t it?

 

More or less. Of course there are countless ways of describing what happened to the old Earth – depending on your culture and preferred mode of perceiving reality.

 

Merry pours another bucket of ice into the already frigid tub and gets Zie to take another dip – precautionary measure, you understand. It’s just the circuitry is rather delicate and does have the propensity for melting when significant quantum events are encountered.

 

Splutter – bubble – globby glop.

 


Yes Zie – I think you’re looking much more secure now. Your field seems to have firmed up considerably.

 

It has?

 

Yes.

 

You’re just saying that to make me feel good, aren’t you?

 

No, I abhor deception of any kind.

 

Ha. Good joke.

 

Zie has his first full-on laugh in the new version of reality he now finds himself in. Good move – nothing like chesty or even throaty laughter to firm up the field.

 

Teeth chattering Zie emerges from the tub. Merry touches the screen on his smart conveyance and Zie’s clothes are instantly dry.

 

Pretty smart, that car thing of yours.

 

You could say.

 

Merry – I’ve been meaning to ask…

 

Yes?

 

How many narrative versions are we…

 

Part of?

 

Yes.

 

Oh – numbers – you know – silly little things really.

 

But really – is there no way of telling?

 

There’s always a way – if you really want it – but ask yourself this – is it worth the price?

 

The price? What price?

 

Well – you can always access the data – but if to do so you literally have to move heaven and earth – to reorganise the universe – you might find that’s more trouble than it’s worth.

 

But surely…

 

Surely what?

 

Surely it can’t be so difficult to get a simple answer to my question?

 

Well – remember how your mind froze up when you started probing your inertial reference frame – I’m mixing these terms up to keep it nice and vague – you understand, don’t you?

 

Yes, of course – vague and safe from harm. Yes, I remember. What of it?

 

Well, the same is true of God.

 

Of God?

 

Or the universal mind.

 

Ah – I see.

 

Yes. Whenever you endeavour to pin down the universal mind – to force him/her/it to definitise what is concurrently running on multiple channels – you’re basically asking him/her/it to stop dead in his/her/its tracks. To please you. To satisfy a vague need to know. An urge. A – dare I call it – a whim.

 

Yes, now that you put it that way – I see what you mean.

 

The universal mind – or God – if you don’t mind the term – doesn’t exactly remonstrate – but it’s rather a palaver – and more to the point…

 

Yes – I’m getting some kind of intuitive download Merry.

 

Excellent. That means you don’t need to definitise anymore – which means you’ve rebooted and are no longer compulsively fixing things in 3D mindspace.

 

Ah – that’s what we were doing, was it?

 

Yes.

 

The whole time?

 

Towards the end – yes. But earlier in prehistory right through to the dark ages – there was some of that going on – but far less. There was plenty of good ol’ aboriginal dreamtime or shadow walking. Dragons and quantum anomalies abounded.

 

So as we came towards the end of cycle, into the age of compulsive materialism known as the modern – everything went haywire – we… how bizarre.

 

Bizarre – but at the same time – completely normal.

 

Really?

 

Yes. How else were you to bring the old paradigm to a conclusion?

 

You mean to say – we overloaded it intentionally?

 

Yep. I mean – obviously you weren’t consciously aware that was what you were doing – but that’s how your collective i, collective conscious-ness got you to do what was required.

 

So we were salmon swimming back to our old spawning grounds, were we?

 

Yep. More or less.

 

And what happened to those extraordinary mind maps we created? Colossal monuments of things pinned, things tagged and cross-referenced, twisted and shaped into vast data cities in a matter-denominated metaverse?

 

Oh – they’re all on display.

 

All of them?

 

Yep.

 

There must be millions?

 

Yes. 92 billion – give or take the odd gap in the records caused by glitches or blindspots.

 

Hey – how come you can name that figure but not…

 

Theory of y-nay-wist-ology. Great topic for a winter’s eve by a crackling log fire. Somewhat precipitous to dive into at this juncture in the proceedings. Why not focus on what we have and can for the time being. Like I said – they’re on display at the central gallery of the conscious mind. We can go there this afternoon – if you like. It’ll help you come to terms with the shift.

 

Oh. I’m not sure I should.

 

Righteo Zie – no one’s forcing you to do anything – but seeing those mindscapes that you and your fellow 3Dlings were creating so fervently, even obsessive-compulsively – it will definitely help bring closure to that phase of your existence.

 

Existence…

 


Zie suddenly grows morose – then starts shaking convulsively – recalling the fact that he doesn’t apparently exist without Merry’s oversight, nothing more than an occasional character in a faceless blog.

 

Tut tut tut – rather self-indulgent if you don’t mind me saying. Never mind. No one’s perfect. I myself…

 

Glip! – Zie seamlessly continues Merry’s narration:

 

myself am peculiarly susceptible to draughts… ha bloody ha.

 

Beep!

 

Oops. Look er Merry – have you got any more of that ice? I fancy another quick cool off.

 

As if by magic – no – let’s not use that expression – in this version of reality things are the least of our problems – they just happen to happen without any great difficulty – the quantum field being what it is – or nought – so yes – with the aid of Merry’s smart conveyance – another tub of ice-cold water is now wheeled in by lab assistants in white coats. None of us pay any great attention to that detail – as our spidey truth sense tells us it’s peripheral – a bit like Qufie having a laugh – or God for that matter – keeping things unpredictable, as he is wont to do.

 

Zie emerges from the tub an hour later – positively shining with health and vigour.

 

No need Merry – he says – as he dries himself with the flick of a finger.

 

Oh – impressive! Well done Zie. You’ve joined the dots.

 

Apparently the smart conveyance is a training tool for newbies – just till they get the hang of things – i.e. of things not being the big deal they used to be – while in the mindspace of matter-matters-inordinately that we hitherto called 3D.

 

Yes – I think that would be a great idea Merry – I haven’t been to a good exhibition for donkey’s years.

 

Ah – well – let’s go via Chinois – it’s a…

 

Yes – I see.

 

Problem Zie – they don’t – not all of them – our onliners.

 

Oops – sorry guys. It’s a rather special little café Merry has been frequenting for the last 14 years – while I was apparently pupating.

 

Your car or mine?

 

Oh – I love driving – let me see – Zie flicks through the catalogue – the mind’s eye is now working beautifully – how about this one?

 

Ah – the Byron barouche – retro – very nice.

 

Just tell me one thing Merry.

 

Sure. What is it?

 

There’s no way that I’m now just part of a virtual, simulated reality – is there?

 

Excellent question Zie.

 

You mean you’re not going to answer it.

 

I mean – what do you think 3D was all about?

 

Ah – testing the how-real-is-real factor to the limit.

 

Correct.

 

Through pain – among other things.

 

Affirmative. What could be more real than pain – real physical and emotional suffering?

 

But if I’m now past all that…?

 

You would be lost, wouldn’t you – in an ocean of anythingability.

 

Nice word. So what gives? How do I keep that feet-on-the-ground sense of reality if anything’s doable, n’ basically at my fingertips?

 

Er… I thought we’d discuss that tomorrow – after you’ve been to the exhibition. Close one door before opening the next.

 

Fair enough – but just a teeny-weeny spoiler would be greatly appreciated.

 

I bet it would. Fancy another hour in the ice tub?

 

Zie tosses the two images into the air above his mind – Chinois with its incredible cuisine, or viewing the next iteration of what-on-earth-is-holding-it-all-together if gravity ain’t?

 

Ding.

 

That was quick Zie. Merry feels the computations going quantum.

 

Ding – zzzzing – jjjjumbrek! Spheres spin and rearrange themselves relative to Zie’s current conscious awareness as his mind’s proboscis taps different realms of data, pulling him almost beyond endurance into contradictory or competing versions of reality. Zie back flips into the icetub, newly loaded, and keeps his bio-circuitry smoke free and hyper-operational – aware that Qufie has just bonussed him a new avatar – a cross between a dragonfly and a racoon – which is busily setting up home in a lush and leafy realm of the data-down-to-earth o’sphere.

 

That feels – wow!

 

The mind unhinged – then rehinged – yes. To infinity and then, incredibly, back to normalcy.

 

Beyond weird. In the old 3D that would have basically caused a massive cerebral embolism.

 

Er… I think more likely an aneurism – but what ho – yes – it would have devasted the fragile biology of the mindscaping mind. You were never really able to run more than one inertial field at any one time back then.

 

Right.

 

So anything you want to share with the…

 

Oh – excuse me dear readers – how inconsiderate of me.

 

Indeed.

 

Apparently all is not lost. I’m still operating aspects of my self – extensions, if you like – in multiple 3D realities. So I can still condescend – in the original sense of the word – pop down into the heavy stuff for a dose of gravity, for a little largely unattainable physical, mental or emotional pain.

 

If you so desire. No obligation of course.

 

Or even lower – down into stones, trees and creatures which are part of my family group, my lineage too.

 

Exactly.

 

Wow – that means I can literally go back millions of years into the past… to spend time researching breaks or messy links in the web of inter-connectedness – branches and splits in the narrative.

 

Yep. There’s a lot to work on. Infinity is, after all, a full-time profession.

 

Come on then – I already have an inkling what my first project’s gonna be.

 

Ah…

 

Poor old Byron somehow got scrubbed out as I transitioned through non-existence. I wonder why.

 

Byron?

 

Forget about it Merry. I’ll fill you in over lunch.


And the rest – dear reader – as they say – is history. Speaking of which – this has come in from God only knows where…

 

Beep!

 

No idea what to make of it. Looks pre-Vogon to me…

 

        Mysterious Agency!                     

Ye spirits of the unbounded Universe,   

Whom I have sought in darkness and in light!     

Ye, who do compass earth about, and dwell       

In subtler essence! ye, to whom the tops            

Of mountains inaccessible are haunts,           

And earth’s and ocean’s caves familiar things— 

I call upon ye by the written charm        

Which gives me power upon you—Rise! appear!  [A pause.         

They come not yet.—Now by the voice of him   

Who is the first among you; by this sign,        

Which makes you tremble; by the claims of him

Who is undying,—Rise! appear!—Appear!  [A pause.      

If it be so.—Spirits of earth and air,        

Ye shall not thus elude me: by a power,

Deeper than all yet urged, a tyrant—spell,                  

Which had its birthplace in a star condemn’d,    

The burning wreck of a demolish’d world,           

A wandering hell in the eternal space;   

By the strong curse which is upon my soul,         

The thought which is within me and around me,        

I do compel ye to my will. Appear!   [A star is seen at the darker end of the gallery: it is stationary; and a voice is heard singing.

 

Looks like Zie’s got his work cut out for him – little does he suspect the consequences of rescuing Byron’s ghost from the dark matter of nought-y-ness.

 

0=1

  cuckoo la la