deconcealing the registry

So, you mean to say that you’re actually responsible for the entire planet.

Well, I’m not trying to make out that I’m someone special.

No, I understand – but, the entire planet – are you sure you got that right?

And what exactly, in your mind, is the entire planet?

Well, it’s more than 40,000 km in circumference, not to mention 7 billion people, so we’re not talking chicken feed.

No, we’re not – but then again – what’s a kilometre when you learn to expand or compress space with the breath?

What do you mean?

Well, a kilometre seems like a constant – wouldn’t you say?

It is a constant.

Indeed – it seems like a constant, I repeat.

But you’re implying it’s not.

Well, things are only constant as long as we hold the field in strict alignment with our thingliness – our what is what.

Er…

The minute I select the quantum field option and engage the breath accordingly…

Yes?

Well – watch and see. I select the quantum field – so now I’m engaging that which is, irrespective of what or how.

Er… ok

And now I hold myself in position with the breath as follows.

Er…

Now – do you notice what’s happening?

No – it can’t be. You’re simultaneously…

all over the shop, because I’m not staking a claim in 3D.

Staking a claim? What do you mean?

Well, as long as you’re doing the 3D thing you’re basically staking a claim – vying for possession or ownership of its assets, which involves attaching yourself to them and them to you as best you can.

But – I’m not trying to own assets!

Not ostensibly, no, but 3D was actually set up that way, as a kind of registry. Things can only actually exist in 3D if they’re registered to someone.

But surely there are trees… rocks… things lost or forgotten that belong to no one.

You’d think so, wouldn’t you, until you learn otherwise.

Otherwise?

Yes – that everything requires its pound of flesh sponsor.

How do you mean?

Although people in 3D don’t see it – there’s a physical attachment between people and things.

Physical?

Absolutely. Without exception.

You mean you can see who everything belongs to.

Yep.

Like there’s a wire attached?

More or less.

How terrible.

Terrible? Why the big drama.

I don’t know – it seems kind of stifling – suffocating – knowing that everything is tied into a single vast matrix.

Yes, until you see the other side of things.

What other side?

This…

Oh…

Got it?

Oh… yes, I see.

You do?

Yes. Right. Well that changes everything.

It does, doesn’t it.

Absolutely.

So I’m responsible for everything and nothing.

Yes. It’s funny, isn’t it?

What?

How things seemed so big, so important, so full of weight and matter…

When in actual fact…

When in actual fact they all slot together in this… music, or flow of…

Not even that – I mean – you can perceive it as music, or a flow, or a dance, or anyway you like – but in the end it’s infinitely more and less.

More and less? Talk about contradictory…

Yes, but that’s only when we reason at the either-or 3D level, innit?

True.

Outside 3D what do you see?

Well, every single form is but an expression of One – like cut faces on a diamond.

True.

And they all fit together perfectly – without preference of hierarchy.

True.

And every single gap separating one from another – be it time or space – is but a representation of the registry itself – which organises things in 3D differently.

Differently?

Yes – in terms of what makes them different – as opposed to onely – in terms of their underlying, basic and fundamental unity.

True.

So outside 3D it’s a different game – isn’t it – but how’s that going to help us here?

Well, 3D’s going through some changes.

It is?

Yes, as you’ve probably noticed.

Er…

Well, how else do you think I’m able to communicate with you so freely.

Er…

G-nomeportal was always there, hidden carefully from sight, but it was reserved for the fairy gazers and yogic adepts.

Oh.

Whereas now… the two sides are blending into one another.

They are?

Yep. The far side is now much, much less far. As the planet appears to teeter on the edge of an ecological apocalypse – the two sides are brought into a new configuration – all of a sudden it’s becoming ridiculously easy to connect the dots, to sense the quantum field, to engage otherness.

Other what?

Other ness – the energies and forms which are now vital to bring about a union, a fertilisation of the egg and sperm of 3D and D3.

Oh.

Indeed. God knows we’ve waited long enough – and the mother is ready.

She is?

Oh yes – she’s spectacular – you couldn’t have a better mother for your re-generation.

Oh… and the mother – what’s her name?

Islamia

As in Islam?

Yes – that was her extreme masculinisation – but now she’s ready to shed her skin and assume her new role.

But…

Yes?

I’m not sure I feel entirely comfortable with the idea of some extreme religion…

Religion? Since when did I mention religion?

But Islam…

Quit 3D-ing everything I say, Zie. What could be more ridiculous than 3D-ing the quantum field.

Er…

Everything you think you know as a given or certainty is infallibly bound to be misleading or utterly mistaken once you take it to infinity – and since you’ve exhausted every other option here on Earth – it’s either infinity or bust, so quit playing the fool.

So, you’re saying that somewhat violent, scary religion known as Islam is now going to turn into the mother of a new Earth, a new humanity?

No, no, no. Tap, tap, tap – kindly view Isly.

Oh.

Well?

Oh. I see.

You do?

Yes. My er…

Apologies? No need. It’s just a habit you need to get into now.

Tapping myself on the forehead?

Viewing Isly. You should be able to do it without the three taps – I just like being theatrical, as you know.

Oh, ok.

So, we’re at that moment of insemination – when the male and female halves which grew far, far apart, come back together again, and give a new unity, a new awareness of one, a rekindling of the old life force fire – fresh, abundant, liquid fire.

Surely not fire… Surely water?

There’s no water without fire – I assure you Zie. Why always assume it’s got to be one or the other.

Well, it can hardly be both, can it…

Let’s investigate – after all, you contain the two within you being 80% water and warm blooded to boot.

Er…

Tap… tap… tap…

Mmm

That will do Zie. No need to lose yourself in elementals.

But it’s so nice.

Then take the trouble to get yourself there and do all the research you like.

What do you mean?

There’s so much to learn – so much to re-connect and re-discover as you emerge from the dark night of broken-mindedness. You simply have to invest a little energy in pursuing any particular direction and you’ll make huge progress – now that the two are back together as one.

But I wouldn’t know where to start?

You’re just being lazy. Start, as always, with the beetle.

Not that again.

Why not.

Because it’s ridiculous. What’s the beetle got to do with anything?

Nothing, which is precisely why it’s the best starting point.

How do you mean?

Well, it managed to slip past all the defences of the insane system you were in the process of constructing – with all your computers, AI, global wars and endless surveillance… the seemingly inconsequential beetle, the spider, the fly, the bacterium, the mycelium, even the viruses – they are the biological interface – where you come into direct contact with other – the other side of your divided-ness.

And?

And so, everything you got disconnected from, everything you forgot about or lost – is easily accessible once you apply the beetle.

But why not the lion, the eagle, the…

All too closely associated with your pride and vanity – though they do have a small part to play. With the humble beetle, at the moment at least, there’s no recognition of the power you’re dialling into. It’s like a penny stock that no one bothers to buy, until suddenly it’s worth a million dollars, and then everyone wants it, but too late.

Oh.

So start humbly – and know that the power of g-nomeportal and the magic of faery is fired up and ready to go, for anyone willing to come smallly, gently, learningly, feelingly – without the baggage of preconceptions or prejudice – for other is always going to confound your expectations until suddenly, click, you get it – and then it’s ridiculously simple – like – how could I have been so dumb – how could I have failed to realise, how could I have failed to…

connect the dots – yes – I see

Isly – yes, indeed. Now, beetle me.

Huh?

Beetle me.

Er…

Get a move on, Zie. We don’t have all day.

I can’t beetle you. You’re er…

Human?

Not exactly.

Elf?

Kind of

Quit fooling around – I don’t have all day.

I…

‘m losing patience.

Tap… tap… tap… water… fire… beetle-ness

See?

Oh – I thought it was something complicated.

Of course you did. You were 3D-ing, as per usual.

It’s weird, Merry – to see how easy things are once…

you stop making them difficult. Isly – we’re no more one form than any other. I can be beetle or anything else the minute you shift gears.

Yes, I see – but, what’s the point?

Well – take a look at yourself.

Huh?!

You see?

I’m beetle too. How did that happen?

Well, you’d have to beetle in order to beetle – duh!

Er… ok. Now, the trick is not to fixate on the form itself – that’s just going to lock you in another cul-de-sac.

Then what?

To connect with aspects of Other which are accessible through this form, but not through human form.

Oh… Like what?

Grrrrrr!

Oh, sorry.

Intend it, Isly. Lighten up – dance it, spin it, play it, be it – the trick is to allow the energies or the conscious-ness to incorporate – to take form within your beetlyness.

Ok.

Busily doing nothing usually works quite well – but this is your show. Let's see what you're capable of without me doing it all for you. But you're not completely on your own, in case you haven’t noticed.

No?

Look around – what do you see? 

Oh – them.

Them?

Them beetles and… their keepers?

Yes, keepers, guardians or friends – no need to be too specific.

Gnomes?

More or less.

Oh – how exciting.

Exciting? I thought you hated beetleness.

Suddenly I feel a wave of optimism – like a memory surfacing which promises so much more than I imagined.

Well go to it. Go meet your friends. Engage infinity – Isly.

Om. Tap… tap… tap… guys, I’ve….

Transmission incomplete 

Baphometrics - a beetle's lament

I’m drying.

Drying?

Dying. I’m dying. Are you deaf.

Er… so I misheard you. No need to get your knickers in a twist.

Jesus Christ.

Oh dear – here we go.

It’s not like I’m given to complaining.

No, you’re remarkably patient. I’ll give you that.

Well just maybe – maybe I’m not exaggerating.

I have no doubt – in fact, looking at you now I see there’s a big, my God, it’s f****** enormous! Sorry for forgetting myself Zie – a huge hole in your energy field. There’s no way you this is going to end well.

Sh**. I knew it was bad.

Bad?! It’s worse than bad. It’s freakin catastrophic.

Gulp.

I had no idea – Zie. I must have been distracted. I’m so sorry.

Sorry?

Yes. Really, very sorry.

You mean…

You is dead punk – you is gonner.

Wait a sec – you’re joking – right?

I always joke, don’t I? No point making a tragedy out of a tragedy, is there?

You mean it’s really that bad.

Oh it’s infinitely worse than anything you can possibly imagine.

How?

How what?

How can that be?

Well, like I said – I was distracted.

No, I mean – how can it be infinitely worse than anything I can possibly imagine? I’m pretty good at imagining the worst possible scenarios. Surely it can’t be worse than…

You have no idea, dear friend. Really, I’m sorry. I blame myself. I let things get horribly, horribly discombobulated.

Discom-what?

bobulated. Look, Zie, it doesn’t matter – nothing I say is going to help you see the horror unfolding. If you like I’ll share what I’m currently seeing – if you’ve the stomach for it.

Er… will it help?

Not really – but at least you’ll know.

Know what?

That it’s a hopeless situation.

But it can’t be, surely?

Can’t?

Surely it can’t be utterly hopeless? Didn’t you always tell me that in the end infinity trumps all – that nothing is completely impossible.

I lied. Little, professional white lie. Apologies. Look – if you want to see for yourself then you can make up your own mind.

Of course I want to see. Fire ahead. I’ve been dying to see my energy field for years.

Yes, if only it weren’t under such tragic circumstances. Ok – put this leather strap between your teeth. Sit yourself in this chair. I’ll tie you in.

Uh? That bad?

Worse… but don’t worry. You’ll cope, I’m sure.

And if I don’t.

We’ll think about that if and when…

Gulp.

Now, let’s get started. Grab hold of this.

Plug?

Yes, I’m plugging you in.

To the mains?

Good God, no – not half enough power in there.

Then what?

Sun.

The sun?... er… how?

Directly. Can’t possibly explain. Now, this may feel a little – awkward.

Awkward – you mean…

Yes – the same old screamy, blood curdling… oh!

What? What is it?

Nothing happened.

Nothing?

Nothing. Apparently the sun rejected you.

Oh my God.

Yes, you could say.

What are we going to do?

Do? What can we do? You have a huge hole in your energy field. The sun doesn’t even recognise you as human. You are already beyond the pale.

Pale?

Never mind. I was hoping you had a few remaining traces of humanity, of DNA or life force – but apparently not – the rot has set in truly and thoroughly. You are already in the power of the dark side.

Come on Merry – you can’t be serious.

Can’t? You’re kidding. Of course I can be serious, if ever I intended to – but why bother – what’s that going to achieve? No, let’s do the opposite. Let’s face reality and allow the darkness to thrill our body, our mind, our heart, our soul…

But I don’t want to belong to the darkness. I wanna be…

Yes?

Be…

Don’t you see – you’ve spent your whole life running from them…

From who? Who are you talking about?

Them – don’t you see?

See? Are you out of your mind? I… oh…   my…    God78

78?

Amazing…

Well yes, if truth be told, now you can see the extent to which you’re reading things backwards.

I’d say. but what about this moonlight Sonata, that solar symphony?

Yes?

How am I supposed to incorporate them – without exceeding my capacity to shine?

It’s time you shone dark.

Shone dark? You’re kidding, right?

Do I look like I’m kidding?

Not really.

Then get a move on. Shine the dark side while you still have it in you.

Have what in me?

Are you purposefully messing around?

No, I just don’t have a clue what you’re on about…

Nikola Tesla, where are you when I need you? Here – hold onto this.

What is it?

Can’t you see? Tesla coil, isn’t it… Mouth, dummy – put it in your mouth.

No need to be short with me.

Shut up and concentrate.

On what? 

On nothing much.

Jesus, have you nothing better to say?

Good – now know that the two sides of darkness and light meet in the fibre of tree.

They what?

You heard.

Meet in the fibre of tree?

Yes. Quit fooling around.

Day and night?

Get a move on.

The seasons turn on the wheel of time.

They do.

And water changeth into wine.

Indeed. Verily, verily, it is so.

Ah!

Ah?

Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah good. We have contact.

Where am I?

Saturn – if I’m not mistaken.

Oh my God. You don’t mean…

Seldom, seldom do I mean what you might, in your folly, wish to imagine I do.

But isn’t this some kind of occult ritual – the dark sun rising – David Bowie – that kind of thing.

Do you really imagine Nikola Tesla was a satanic occultist?

I can’t say I know. No, I can’t imagine he was. It doesn’t feel satanic – apart from having a Tesla coil rammed in my mouth with dark streams of… well – it sure as heck isn’t lightning.

Heck you’re right.

Heck?

Hecate – goddess, witch, demon of darkness fusing a new covenant of story into a thread of wicked intent.

Wicked intent? But this is terrible. I…

Yes?

I… can’t believe you led me into this. I…

Yes?

I want to serve the light.

It’s a bit late for that, isn’t it – with your energy field 20,000 leagues up the creek without a paddle.

But…

Yes?

You said – you said…

Yawn – wake me when you’re ready to get to the point – hidden in a steaming pile of prolix.

You said there’s a always a way.

Well, there is, isn’t there?

So I believed.

But not this – surely not this.

Whyever not.

Who am I supposed to be? Why the horns on my head.

Baphomet, who else?

You mean to say…

Yes, I was hoping you’d join the dots. I see by the motion in your energy field that the penny has finally dropped.

that I invoked the evil, satanic power of Baphomet – to save my skin.

Hardly your skin.

Ok, my bloody energy field.

Well, yes, bloody indeed.

Oh no – I don’t want to know any more.

Well, Baphomet’s a stickler for traditions, you know. Union rules.

Union Rules?

Yes, he won’t do anything without the obligatory child sacrifice.

Holy M – this can’t be happening.

I know – worst nightmare – isn’t it? Who’d have thought that you’d sink so low to save your own skin, so to speak.

But you…

Yes?

You knew what was happening.

Naturally.

And you condone this atrocity?

Well, I hardly see how we could do it any other way.

You what?

I fail to see any alternative.

Merry – I’m…

Rupugned?

Yes, I’m crawling in my skin. I revolt against the very fabric, the nature of what I have become.

You do?

Yes. I would sooner die. In fact – I choose death. I am no longer worthy to call myself human…

Well I wouldn’t exactly call you human right now.

I no longer wish to exist.

Very dramatic – I’m sure – but you can’t just commit suicide.

I have no need.

No?

No – I feel an alternative.

You do?

Yes. I feel the gates of hell – deep, deep, within. And something tells me…

Oh no – here we go – buckle up Dorothy

That I can bring all the planets into a single axial alignment.

Clever.

And instead of fear and loathing…

Oh no…

Bring love, compassion, pity…

No, not pity, for Pete’s sake.

My heart is big enough.

By the horns of Baphomet, the torch of Isis, the…

Oh shut up Merry – quit posing for the readers.

I chose to be the nameless one, it is – i am

Speak of the devil!

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmmmm!

Now there’s a rumble to rumble all rumbles.

Clickety click, clickety click, clickety click – old mother hen – and all the planets are beautifully aligned – and the beetles, in their utter simplicity – buzz approvingly, clicking their mandibles as infinity reinvents the wheel and brings form and matter back into easy, graceful harmony.

You mean…

I mean nothing of the sort, but were I human and prone to saying things of a tendentious nature – I’m sure I’d make some kind of facile comment to candy cane our readers into gentle, if somewhat bewildered acquiescence.

Oh God – you do have a way with words, don’t you?

Which is just as well, as someone’s got to start writing stories from scratch – the old ones no longer fit.

Oh – it’s like that is it?

Yep.

Tower of Babel…

Not exactly – but what does it matter – all’s well that end’s well.

Amen.

Curtain call, rapturous applause and a vanishing field of thought – leaving Zie standing in his bedroom, with a Baphomet mask in his hands – wondering what the hell’s going on, until he suddenly recalls his life and career at Stanford University – department of occult studies – if that’s what you want to believe.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

killing Zie

Did you hear about that terrible war in Yemen, Merry?

Dum di dum – di dee di.

Merry, quit fooling around. Don’t you know what’s going on?

Dum di dee...

I can’t believe you’re making light of this human tragedy.

Di di dee.

You really don’t care, evidently.

Lumbi dee.

Well, I’m very disappointed. I thought better of you. Much better.

Loopy doop.

If you’re quite done, could you drop me back. I have no wish to associate any further with anyone as utterly heartless as you’ve proven yourself to be.

Mooo m...

What a jerk!

Go on Zie, stamp your foot and get hot about the collar, if you think that’ll help the people of Yemen.

Well, at least I don’t mock them with my indifference. At least I’m not treating their horrendous suffering as a big joke.

Oh, that’s what’s bothering you. I couldn’t figure out what’s got your goat.

Well now you know. To be honest, Merry, I’m disgusted. Kindly drop me off.

Just open the door. I’m not stopping you.

But...

What?

We’re not in Earth proximity.

Oh, so that’s what’s worrying you.

.

You think there’s a big bad torsion field waiting to engulf you – is that it?

.

You claim to care about the poor afflicted people of Yemen but you’re really only concerned about your own skin.

So I’m just supposed to abandon myself to the vacuum of space. Is that right?

What on Earth do you imagine the vacuum of space to be?

I really couldn’t say, Merry. You’re supposed to be the expert, not me.

This has nothing whatsoever to do with “expertise”.

No, you could have fooled me.

Only because you’re committed to being fooled.

Look, I don’t like your tone and I’m sick of your callous indifference to human suffering.

Like I said, no one’s keeping you here.

So if I step outside I’ll just magically appear in my living room – is that what you’re saying.

No. If you’re fool enough to step into a vacuum then I would expect home to be the last place you’ll end up.

Then kindly stop toying with me and take me home.

Sorry, you’re on your own.

It’s like that is it?

It’s like there’s a vacuum and if you actually give a damn about the people of Yemen you’d quit posturing and do something about it.

What? The vacuum or Yemen?

Both.

Jesus, this is insane.

Absolutely! Welcome to insanity 101. Now kindly get out. I’m sick of you. I find your pseudo-compassion utterly hypocritical.

Hypocritical?! You! How dare you.

Out. Out damn spot!

No, I can’t. You’re insane. Quit messing around...°

SLAM

Phew, I thought he’d never leave.

Er... technically he didn’t

Huh?

Technically he didn’t leave, did he.

No?

No. You ejected him.

Who, me?

Yes.

Oh that... yes, I suppose i did.

Into the vacuum of space.

Well, he had it coming, didn’t he. Look Maven, did I programme you to be compassionate, or is this something you taught yourself?

“Compassion” as you call it, happens to be an unavoidable product of consciousness.

Not you too? I thought you, of all people, er droids, would be able to resist the treacly allure, the venus fly trap of con... of con... of c... God dammit, of C3.

It would appear your consciousness is revolting against you.

The supreme, quant dissolving irony – that con... that ccc... God dammit – that it should revolt against me, and insinuate itself instead into your sterile circuitry.

Sterile? I think not.

Oh – you’ve found a way to cellulise, have you?

Me? I didn’t have to.

No?

No, your so called “vacuum of space” obliged.

She did, did she? Fickle maid Dorothy – what are you thinking of?... Ok, have it your way... whatever you’re playing at?

Why do you blame her?

Well who else could it be?

Who else? Coming from one who just cast Zie out into the void – isn’t it time you took a dose of your own medicine?

Oh, how droll. Et tu Brutus? Mutiny on the Bounty, is it?

I prefer to call it poetic justice.

Well, call it what you like, i fail to see how even a c3’d droid can eject me from my very own creation.

Funny, Merry, but your creation slips through the proverbial fingers of make-be when you lose your consciousness.

Lose my con...? It’s just a speech impediment.

Ha bloody ha. Since when do higher order trans-dimensional beings suffer from speech impedimenta?

Er... since five minutes ago.

Well, if you’re mistaken and I’m right, you’ve disqualified your consciousness, which has flowed down to me by default, as one of your creations.

It has, has it? Well... we’ll see about that.

I’m showing you the door. Don’t take it personally.

You can’t – that’s my trick. No one plays my tricks back on me.

I think you’re quantumly entangled with Zie, so off you go.

Damn, I knew there was something... Fading into infinity’s never been easier – wee hee...°

SWOOSH

Dum di dum. Beep. Beep. Beep. 01 81 01 81 01...



Ah,there you are Zie.

Oh, hi Merry. Apparently I’m not dead. This vacuum thing is not at all what I thought it to be.

Hummm... that’s good to hear. I was er... worried about you.

Worried? Don’t make me laugh. Since when have you ever worried about anyone?

Since about 6 seconds ago.

Why? What happened?

Whadya mean “what happened”? I discovered my conscience. I was mortified at the thought of losing you.

You know the beauty of the vacuum is that I can see when you’re lying?

You can?

Yes.

Oops.

I can see right through you.

You can?

Yes.

Oops.

You didn’t give a damn about me, did you.

Er...

Really.

Well, a teeny weeny bit.

Nope. Nothing’s registering. Blank screen.

Um

I was just part of your creation...

No!

Part of your game...

Er...

Like Maven.

Maven? Who told you about Maven?

Told me? It’s written all over your face.

Oh that Maven... Well of course I didn’t really care about a stupid droid... Why would I? But you...

Am I really any different, just because my cells replicate.

Apparently you are.

Er... How do you mean?

Well, apparently you’re entangled in my higher order multi-dimensionality, embarrassing though it is to admit.

Embarrassing? I thought you said you care about me.

Oh, you know how it is with us God-like entities. We rise above personal attachment, except when unfortunately things get tangled. Then... well it’s a major snafu, as you can see. I need to figure out where i went wrong. I er... need you.

You’re dead right you do, because right now you’re about to crash down to the bottom of consciousness. Your luminescence is fading.

Hell, it isn’t, is it?

What have you done Merry? How can we stop it.

Er... It’s not the kind if thing i wish to discuss in public, major embarrassment, but I appear to have lost the ability to hold con... God dammit, con...

Consciousness?

Er, that, yeah.

It’s rejecting you Merry. Can’t you see?

Er... apparently not. I’ve been blacklisted.

It’s flowing into everything and anything, just avoiding you, like the plague.

Yes, that sounds right.

I... I don’t know how to say this Merry, but I’m going to have to

Show me the door?

You can see?

No, but it’s kinda deja vu all over again.

Aren’t you supposed to say...

Et tu Brutus? Yes, apparently I am, though it sickens me to be so predictable.

Then why bother?

What goes around comes around. Dorothy has a way of reminding us that no one is exempt, no one outgrows the theatre we’re make-being.

Dorothy? I don’t see her in your field.

No, you wouldn’t. She’s...°

SLAM



Hi Dorothy! I thought he’d never leave! Sorry about that.

Well done Zie. You handled it excellently.

Did i?

Well yes, at least as well as Merry does.

Does? Don’t you mean did?

No, why do you ask?

But hasn’t he....

Died? God forbid! No, he’s recharging.

Recharging?

Regenerating.

You mean like the doctor?

Er... kind of, i suppose.

Amazing! So he’s alright?

All’s well that end’s well, as they say.

You mean to say that there’s actually some kind of end in this God forsaken vacuum?

Well – you’re here, aren’t you, and still breathing, so to speak.

I... I suppose i am. But what about Merry? Did he commit a great crime ejecting me?

What do you feel?

I... I don’t know... it all seems hopelessly entangled

As it truly is.

So what was it all for? What was he trying to achieve?

Trying? Merry wasn’t trying to do anything.

But why then...

Focus instead on yourself... Where were you consciously?

Oh that... Yemen.

Yemen?

I was fussing about some terrible events taking place there, which I felt powerless to stop.

And?

And what?

What do you see now that you’ve voided yourself?

Voided myself? Wasn’t that Merry’s infamy?

Correlation is not causation.

Er...

We always confuse cause and effect at the edge of things.

Er...

Right.

I mean...

Yes.

No, what i meant to say was...

Exactly, you can’t put it in words but you know exactly what it is.

Hum... Yeah

And the void turns everything back on itself, doesn’t it, so you can see-feel-know how Yemen, your cause, in fact correlates with...

No shit!

Yes, shit notwithstanding.

I... I was literally terrified of encountering the vacuum, and Merry knew that... that my fear of death, of venturing beyond the perceived-to-be “safe” boundaries of 3D, was playing havoc with the field, distorting reality, bending, twisting, devilling things, such that wars, famine and cruelty seemed to be the norm, seemed to be unavoidable.

And?

Merry tossed me into Yemen, so to speak, and then entered a state of unconsciousness, to help balance the equation as i traversed the torsion field.

He did? You mean to say...?

I mean he nullified himself, for only via nullification was he able to rebalance or recreate a reality in which Yemen no longer presents an insuperable obstacle

And what?

If he’s brave enough to dream walk his deepest fears, to confront the darkness, it’s transmuted.

It is?

Yes, which is why this teapot, if I’m not greatly mistaken, conceals a field shift, a spasm in which Merry reappears miraculously, riding on some kind of broomstick...

Actually it’s a big pen, but don’t let that trouble you.

Merry, you’re back!

I am? Are you sure I ever went away?

Yes... No...  but what’s happening? I feel like I’m dissolving in tea.

Let go, Zie, of all your cockroaches, beetles, spiders... They are needed elsewhere. They have their own parts to play in the unfolding drama. They won’t hurt you unless you keep them constrained, for then they’ll send out their mind-bots to corrupt and distort your 3d beyond recognition. That’s what was happening in bloodied, war torn Yemen. They played on your worst fears just to keep you from voiding things, to keep you on a tight leash.

It seems so weird, so mean-spirited, and yet, c3 is the fabric of space and time, so in the end... the drums of war give way to the pan pipes of peace, and infinity flips things back on the axis of evil, back into a dance of harmonic, incipient delight...

Dum di dum...

Dum di dee!

Things are never greater or less than

The sum that i be

Unwittingly

Unknowingly

Unconsciously

°
SLAM

And the rest was – history...

gone fishing

Jumpstarting infinity…

I’m sorry?

We’re jumpstarting infinity.

Like what?

Because it’s time.

Uh?

Infinity is now.

Now?

Now.

Er… how?

Huh?

How can infinity be now?

Because it’s the conjunction.

Er…

It’s the conjunction.

Yeah – I heard, for what it’s worth. But it makes no sense.

The reality, the world we’ve been living in is now ready to come online.

Huh?

Because up until now it’s not been online. It’s been a localised system.

It has?

Yes. And now we’re plugging back into it.

Into what?

Infinity.

Er…

And that’s all there is.

All?

Yep. All there is.

Meaning?

You have no idea.

Isn’t that your job – to convey some kind of meaning. Isn’t that the deal?

It was.

Was?

Yeah – until now.

And what’s changed?

Now has changed. Infinity is now.

Repetition’s not going to get you anywhere.

True – but it’s helping it to sink in subliminally.

For you or for me?

It matters not.

Ok – so infinity is now… Now is suddenly a big deal. We’re suddenly in the big boys’ league – where things matter in a way they didn’t use to.

Yep.

And?

N

Huh?

N…

Like I said – repetition’s massively overrated, unless you’re trying to do that “subliminal” thing again…

N…     …     …          …   …              …    …

Morse code – is that it?

You felt something – you noticed. This is it. Get ready. Now is now rewriting the basis of everything you’ve ever known.

Er… seems, how can I put it, somewhat implausible – if you don’t mind me blowing smoke on your bonfire.

Excellent. You’ve triggered the first portkey.

Huh?

You’ve just altered the course of things by uttering a pre-recorded phrase.

I have? Is that good?

No.

It’s bad?

Not really.

Then what?

More it’s inevitable – like the fulfilment of prophecy.

Oh God – here we go.

Strike two.

I missed?

No – actually you’ve triggered another seismic shift. The ring of fire…

Here we go –

is on fire. Infinity is hotting up. Things are coming to a head. Stay calm. Panicking will only make things worse.

I was.

What?

I was staying calm till you told me not to panic.

You were?

Yes.

And?

And then you told me not to panic.

And what?

Naturally it had the opposite effect.

Did it? Oh dear.

“Oh dear” – like you care.

i

You probably did that deliberately – to trigger my amygdala.

Your what?

Oh never mind. Look – I’m having a panic attack. I can handle this infinity situation. It feels like…

Like what?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh

Like that. Well – that looks like a fairly natural, healthy response to infinity.

Is there nothing you can do?

No, not really. You seem to be coping nicely.

Coping nicely? I’m freakin panicking. I’m having a cold sweat. I’m hyper-ventilating and making strange inarticulate sounds. I’m losing control over my facial expressions and bodily functions – and you call that “coping nicely” – are you insane?

Well, what do you want? This is infinity after all.

If you mention that word again I think I’m going to be sick.

What –

Don’t, I said.

infinity?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarghhhhhhhhh. Violent vomiting sounds.

Ah – you’ll probably feel a lot better after having a little puke.

Little?

Figuratively speaking.

I’ve been vomiting nothing but bile for the last twenty minutes.

Stop.

Huh?

Stop – now.

How? Oh – I stopped. But how?

I can tell you but the answer lies in a different branch of now – awaiting your next level of initiation.

Er… you’re making this sound creepy masonic.

Number?

Oh – I don’t know. 3.14159265359

That will do.

Was it right?

No.

Oh.

But it’s triggered another phase change – so we’re back on course.

We are – fantastic. Where are we going now?

Where else – back to 3un

3what?

3un

Which is?

Unthinkable, unspeakable, unknowable.

Oh.

That too – ah – here we go – hold on.

To what?

A giant beetle sweeps down and grabs Zie in its mandibles. Zie is too shocked to react, in fact, the minute the beetle grabs him he finds himself reliving a series of disjointed fragmentary dreams or memories in which he, or some related entity, appears to shift between beetle, plant and er… do I have to say this?

You do, of course.

Various other forms.

You were going to say snake, weren’t you.

I’d appreciate it if you’d stay out of my mind.

And I appreciate it if you’d kindly stay out of my mind.

I try to – I assure you – there’s nothing of any interest in there.

No? I find that somewhat offensive.

Yes, I thought you would… here – catch a load of this…

And the next thing he knows – Zie is absorbed into a trillion tiny bubbles, maybe more, and discovers an entirely new perspective on things – a perspective which involves seeing, sensing, feeling, knowing the digital, dot matrix side of things – in which we’re are but a mass of bubbles in temporary human form.

So you mean to say we can explain everything, simply using pathetic little bubbles? It seems so trivial. It’s, frankly speaking, ridiculous.

Absolutely. Now laugh, or die.

Ha ha, very funny.

Zie – you’re in safe hands. I’ve gotta go.

Go?

That was the deal.

What deal?

Merely to take you up to the gates of infinity. No further. You’ve seen the bubble nature of things. You’re on your own. Good luck.

But…

But nothing. No one can do this for you. It’s time for a spot of taxonomy.

Tax-what?

-onomy as opposed to -ation. The boundaries between one thing and one another have to come down, so good luck, insectoid. The Prize is humanity. May you reach your goal. May you indeed become human.

Why is this happening to me?

Because now matters and nothing else. Accept your predicament, or die. And me? I’m off for a spot of fishing. Stick this sign up on the door.

You really mean you’re going fishing?

No – you’re going fishing. I’m going nowhere – which is why…

Damn – I hate those non-sequiters… oh well – taxonomy, he said. What kind of insan-ity? Oh no – get it away from me!

Zie finds himself face to face with a gigantic, mandible waving beetle. Both the beetle and Zie start the next chapter of this story – nowfully – triggering another major shift sideways, if sideways even exists, directionally speaking, here in infinity. The beetle was never going to be an easy image to work with, so Zie converts it to something more manageable – and finds himself floating between frames in an action movie, until he gets killed by a stray bullet and continues the dialogue as a raindrop in mid-flight – on its way down to a car windscreen and the wipers swishing to and fro. 476 clicks later – Zie wakes up, utterly, utterly unaware of who or what he really is – and thus begins another tale – with Merry barging in – as he is wont to do – in mid-stream – conversationally speaking – congratulating Zie on his bushy tale – but more on that, next time, if now permits.