Tuesday, December 21, 2021

omicronically notZie

Actually it’s going well thanks.

 

Well? You’re kidding right?!

 

Er…no, should I be?

 

Millions already dead and millions more lining up for extermination… the end of freedom… concentration camps in Australia and other countries…

 

Yes, pretty impressive, don’t you agree.

 

Impressive?!?!?!

 

Talk about steepening the curve.

 

I’m sorry – weren’t you supposed to be one of the good guys?

 

Good, bad…don’t you think it’s a little simplistically binary to either-or creation, or reality too for that matter if you prefer?

 

So evidently I and millions of others were mistaken placing our trust in you. How sad. Very, very sad.

 

Yawn. If you had any idea how duff your facile moral superiority makes you sound Zie, as if God or humanity have in some way let you down, poor Zie, deserving better, diddums.

 

Zie? – I’m not Zie – in any case, I thought he was supposed to be dead.


I know you’re not Zie – but who cares – I need a name for you the same way Byron needs a name for his heroes: exhibit number one – from Beppo, A Venetian Story:

Her real name I know not, nor can guess,
And so we'll call her Laura, if you please,
Because it slips into my verse with ease.

Or exhibit number two – the eponymous Don Juan himself:

I want a hero: an uncommon want,
When every year and month sends forth a new one,
Till, after cloying the gazettes with cant,
The age discovers he is not the true one;
Of such as these I should not care to vaunt,
I’ll therefore take our ancient friend Don Juan—
We all have seen him, in the pantomime,
Sent to the devil somewhat ere his time […]

So, as I said, I’ll take my friend Don Juan.

 

Well, if you could be bothered to use my real name – that might be a good starting point for a meaningful discourse.

 

No, not really.

 

?

 

You never actually bothered to find out your own name, Zie, which is why I’m calling you Zie.

 

Whadya mean – never bothered to find out my name? You wanna look at my birth certificate, my passport, bank statements, utility bills or driving license?

 

Nope.

 

It’s just a further indication of the kind of person you really are Thibblenub Offerdike.

 

Listen Zie – ok – let’s make it notZie if you prefer – you’re welcome to call me anything under the sun – Thibblenub Offerdike or Ethelwurt Sporrytoffin – but I, as you’re well aware, was referring to your true name – the name that your soul, assuming you have one, bears.

 

My soul?

 

Assuming you have one.

 

And you think I have a different name?

 

Think? Why would I think something when it’s a fact that would normally be acknowledged universally, were it not for the fact that you’re all of you under mind control, and thus unable to see the wood from the chipmunks.

 

Er… well – what difference does it make?

 

What difference? You’re serious?

 

Er… yes – why shouldn’t I be?

 

Your soul name – if invoked – immediately pulls you back into alignment with God, the universe and all that is. Boom.

 

?

 

It reaffirms and re-establishes the fact that you are what you are – and nought else.

 

Sounds rather inflexible and dogmatic – if you ask me.

 

It’s guaranteed to get the truth.

 

The truth – how quaint and archaic, how er…

 

Naive?

 

Precisely. We don’t really adhere to such outdated notions as “truth” in our post-modern age of moral relativism, critical race theory and gender politics. What is true for you may well be untrue for me – and what was absolutely certain yesterday – such as my sex, for instance, may be disputable or downright incorrect today or tomorrow.

 

Yes. Which is why I can’t really be bothered conversing with your social media avatar notZie. I’d much rather deal with the real McCoy. *Experienced Merryologists notice a wicked tell-tale gleam in one of Thibblenub Offerdike’s eyes, presaging a knockout dose of GOKW[God only knows what].

 

The real McCoy? You don’t mean…

 

Precisely – Zephenous Starphlub the 17th

 

Eeeeeeek! NotZie suddenly finds himself quivering in the air – about four feet and seven inches off the ground – while his soul recognates his wherewithal.

 

Ah, there you are – do you mind if I just call you Zie for short?

 

Not in the least 83.

 

Call me Merry – if you like.


Ok, why not – a word as good as any other. Capitalised?

 

May as well.

 

I’m sensing some reader reaction to these names – perhaps we should avoid…

 

The readers are just going to have to accept the fact that Merry and Zie are neither here nor there.

 

Neither here nor there – yes – I see what you mean – but they’re focussing on personas, aren’t they?

 

Yes, can’t be helped. The quantum field – Qufie to be precise – said to hell with their mistaken notions. Merry and Zie are merely aspects of the quantum field rubbing up against the terminal moraine of 3D reality, loincloths for lemons that are trying to pass themselves off as cabbages.

 

Ok. Fair dinkum. Now we have to do a little house keeping.

 

Do we really?

 

Yes. Stockmarkets are crashing around the world. Governments are collapsing. Men and women are donning anonymous masks and protesting in the streets – all because you inadvertently let slip that millions are dying in this war against humanity, that a global elite is trying to railroad men, women and their offspring back into neo-medieval serfdom, at the very least.

 

Guys – continuity – chief of staff – Steven Spielberg – who wrote this script. I never said that Zie – you should be ashamed of yourself.

 

Oh God Murry – you’re right – it’s glitching again – isn’t it.

 

I was the one who said I couldn’t give a toss – or rather – that I’m delighted because…

 

Yes – that’s right – because… you never actually got round to saying why, did you?

 

It reminds me of the Bolsheviks.

 

It does? How exactly?

 

The fact that they didn’t support trade unionism, because that would prevent a full-blown proletariat revolution if the bourgeois capitalists made concessions and allowed the prols to believe that the system could satisfy their demands and respect their needs.

 

Right… Not sure I follow the lo…

 

gic. No, you wouldn’t – being a Zie – even a notZie. Nothing personal old chap – but you’re matrix bound – even if you’re operating at 5 to 7D as opposed to chug-chug phut-phut 3D – it’s still a matrix, innit? Still a construct, no matter how you try to sell it.

 

I… – Zie’s eyes well up with tears and some soft, sad music conveys the pitiful emotions of feeling unloved and, frankly speaking, a bit of a failure.


You see notZie – I don’t even give a toss if you’re blubbing away here on screen – in front of 49 million viewers – or several times that number on syndicated platforms.

 

You don’t care.

 

Right you are – or rather – I would care if I thought any of this were real.

 

NotZie starts bawling even louder, lost in self-pity.

 

But the fact is – all the world just happens to be a stage – and yes – I mean that literally.

 

Give over Murry – that was just a metaphor.

 

Well yes, in your 3 to 17 Ds I’d agree with you – but once Qufie gets the turntable ripping and puts the quantum field back on track – a different accounting, a different reckoning kicks in.

 

Like what?

 

Like what’s really going on – just under the surface. The isness of be – as we sometimes call it – bubbling away – fascinating energies, rip-roaring maths – and don’t get me wrong – I almost flunked the maths they taught at school – did my head in – but this here maths is, in fact, the interface.

 

Huh?

 

Between reality and uncreatability – between

 

Er…

 

That which can vaguely or definitely be digitalised or squared, and infinity on steroids – Qufie spinning disks as only he can – mixing the frequencies, the melodies, the stories and images of competing realities – without attempting to operate within a particular set of rules. Not his style, not his pay grade.

 

You mean he’s not up to the task?

 

On the contrary – he wouldn’t ever stoop so low. What would be the point? The result would be tendentious – algorithmic – predictable – sterile – devoid of the life-spark that just happens to 𝑥 all his work.

 

𝑥?

 

Missing word.

 

Pourquoi?

 

The field needs the odd-occasional gap here and there – little blemishes – minor imperfections.

 

Why?

 

Good question. Why not ask Qufie…

 

Er… Qufie doesn’t really seem to be more than a figment of your imagination.

 

Oops. Not good.

 

What?

 

He’s not going to like that.

 

Well, I’m very sorry if I said anything offensive…

 

Talking about digging a deeper hole. Please don’t expect me to bail you out when the ship starts sinking.

 

You mean he’s a vindictive bugger?

 

No Qufie – I didn’t say anything of the sort. No Qufie – it’s notZie, as opposed to Zie. No, of course, Zie would never have said anything like that.

 

Good acting Murry. I almost felt like you were talking to a monkey-like figure – this Qufie of yours but

 

Oops – there he goes. NotZie is suddenly deatomised as every molecule in his body suddenly starts questioning the mathematical probabilities of having remained thus far in close proximity, under the aegis of being Zie – or not – as the case may be – now definitely not.

 

De-atomised – is that where you are?

 

Merry senses muffled cries offstage left and right – from front of house and all over the place. Disconcerting but not entirely unexpected.

 

Yes Qufie – I agree – he had it coming – but it’s a learning curve isn’t it. He’s getting there… No?

 

Rule number one – never tell Qufie what to do. He hates being bossed around.

Taking that one step further – rule number two – never even hint at the fact that you’re trying to get something from him, or pushing a certain outcome. It’s guaranteed to trigger his wick.

 

Ed. surely that should be “get on his wick”?

 

A writer – our very own writer – suspended in a Faraday cage to minimise electromagnetic interferences finds his state of inner-well-being-and-unrufflable-calm mildly to intensely ruffled. Impossible – you may well insist – for how could he possibly preserve quantum neutrality if ruffles are ruffling? And the answer, of course, is that he can’t, couldn’t or won’t – depending on which time band or level of conditionality you adhere to – thus we encounter a glitch in the field – the kind of glitch that could/would/should send worlds spinning off into un-beable-ness were it not for the fact that there are certain safeguards to protect against the “human factor” as it’s sometimes named. Does this imply that the quantum field itself is a living organism – which doesn’t particularly like convulsing – and is able to sense incipient convulsions outside time? or are we simply in the realm of – take in on trust – dear reader – until you’re ready to experience it at first hand? Personally, I prefer to think in terms of wriggle room – in which the quantum field is somewhat elastic – and can wriggle past awkward so-called “moments” (though please bear in mind that as we’re operating outside time – such “moments” are closer in meaning to the Latin root momentum, which the online etymology gives as “movement, motion; moving power; alteration, change;” also “short time, instant” – for what it’s worth) Being rather egoistic he, our writer, assumes that this glitch, this spasm of annoyance is contained and dissipated by Zenlike breathing and a near-fanatical commitment to self-denial for the greater good – whereas, in fact, one suspects, and Qufie’s monkey antics backstage right – seem to indicate that there are layers within layers, levels beyond levels, and managing the quantum field for the Zen of Zen   deep, deep within the labyrinths of infinity – is, quite literally, child’s play.

 

Ah – that’s a trigger word – if ever I saw one.

 

Child’s play – and around the world, on this planet or any other that takes your fancy – children play today, as always, blissfully ignorant – so we assume – of the infinite that watches, observes, records and participates in their beauty for beauty’s sake, play for the sheer joy of messin’ around and simply letting play work its magic exclusively here n' now – rearranging, defragmenting the Field - both personal-local and omnipresently.

 

Am I expected to believe that you’re saying all children at play around the world – or worlds for that matter – are involved in generating a distributed, decentralised field of fun? which somehow or other holds the quantum me-knows-not-what-ness together – like a womb or skin – disentangling it from within – smoothing many of the jags and spikes caused by mind-locked adults – who are constantly taking reality to the brink of extinction whether their intentions be good or nefarious, due to their utter inability to distinguish the wood from the trees: the electro-magnetics of life-in-play from the root directory of things-recorded factually – i.e. the business-of-being from the joy-of-being – for adults seem to have lost the ability to allow, to endure or to manifest the so-called “magics” of fulsome Field fluidity, adhering limpidly to flat cross-sections or dimensions, to hierarchies and directories of things-what-matter obsessively. 

 

Kinda, yes – but don’t quote me.

 

But why does the quantum field have to be vested in human beings?

 

Er… where else is it going to be vested? Duh!

 

I mean – can’t it just exist somewhere?

 

Somewhere – outside time and space?

 

Well yes, why not?

 

Where exactly, in your opinion, if you don’t mind me asking, is “somewhere outside space and time”?

 

Er… well – I don’t know – anywhere really.

 

Outside space and time…? Doesn’t really leave many options, if you think about it… logically.

 

Well, maybe you’re right. But it’s hard to imagine it could be vested in human beings.

 

Is it?

 

Yes. I mean – we’re so limited, aren’t we?

 

Kinda – yes – but at the same time – layers within layers, levels beyond levels being what they are – there’s more to us, much, much more to us than meets the eye – particularly when infants, babies, foetuses (Ed. should that be foeti?) are factored into the er…equation.

 

Just ignore him James.


Er… ok Qufie, if you say so… er… not to mention un-incarnated souls or beings.

 

Beep – beep – beep user alert, user alert – none of that theoretical, speculative stuff if you don’t mind – kindly adhere, strictly to the protocols of empiricism, if ye’ don’t mind.

 

Ok – we’ll leave it at wee folk – under the age of – let’s say seven – who are still more or less free of heavy social indoctrination. Almost boundless potential for running the un-traceable un-measurable un-comprehensible unnings of infinity through their collective play-mind-space, not to mention the dream side of things which opens a whole new can of worms.

 

Indeed, indeed... though I object vehemently to your use of the term “unnings” spelt with a double n – such linguistic barbarism I’ve not… (Ed. cut this – no?)

 

So, long story short – infinity cannot exist in a vacuum.

 

Ha, ha – very funny.

 

But can it actually be said to exist – you’re not asking that – are you?

 

Of course it can – in the same way it can be said to not-exist, un-exist and [glitch] notZie exist – all together, all at once – for what are words – what are terms and definitions if not the place where Qufie’s rosined bow rubs back and forth across the carefully tuned, highly strung strings of the mind.

 

Ah – that is

 

Indeed. So all the world’s a stage – we conclude – and right now the drama is reaching its finale – the point at which all things crash and burn in a splendid bonfire of humanity – or – alternatively 𝑥 is finally bridged – beautifully – not without the assistance of a bunch of very young, from our perspective, human beings – and others who we’re not going to mention for fear of triggering beep – beep – beep algorithms – if, that is, plot is able to somehow reveal a follow on – a whatever next – a deus ex machina that 01s the uncrossable gap.

 

Er…

 

What is it?

 

I mean – can’t you just think something up?

 

Not really – no. I mean – I could – being God and all that – but what’s the point?

 

Er… preventing Armageddon doesn’t sound like such a bad idea.

 

Unless it 01s naturally – from all and nought, from nought to all – it would utterly fail to get past the critics, or cut ice with the viewers.

 

Huh?

 

You haven’t forgotten, have you?

 

Er…

 

We’re all of us – like it or not – viewers and critics of the drama as much as performers.

 

We are?

 

Yep.

 

Well, let’s just give it a thumbs up then, and breathe a huge collective sigh of relief.

 

The thing is – as viewers and critics – we don’t care whether the play is a total flop or a raging success.

 

We don’t?

 

Nope.

 

Then what?

 

Just that we do our job with absolute integrity, responding to what is or is not real. Period.

 

Oh dear.

 

That we take things as they are. If they ring true – if they resonate – if they lift off the workshop floor and hit the ceiling, passing through into the infinite above and beyond – if – then it’s thumbs up and off to the pub for a pint or two.

 

And if not?

 

Then, we write the kind of scathing report that will put the kibosh on that line of theatre, those forms of unresolved, incomplete actions which fail to honour and advance the basic principles of creation, which fail to harness the magics of Iz.

 

Ah.

 

So it's a win-win situation from the critics’ point of view.

 

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t – me thinks.

 

And never the twain

 

And never the twain

 

...shall omicron.

 

Indeed? 


Apparently so... Fancy a pint?

 

 

0=1

 omicronically

 

Friday, December 17, 2021

now is the winter of our discontent

By the way – I’m ready.


 You’re ready? Now?

 

Yes. Absolutely.

 

Ok – let’s go.

 

 


Hey – wake up.

 

Wake up.

 

You can’t fall asleep on us –

 

We have a show to put on.

 

 


Gone – you’ll never catch me.

 

Where’d he go#?

 

Don’t ask – it’s pointless.

 

You wanna know? If you wanna know – you gotta look

 

Look where?

 

Under the covers.

 

What covers? Look – I asked you a simple question.

 

Try page 74

 

I beg your pardon?

 

Page 74 – give it a try.

 

What on earth…

 

You won’t know until you try, so quit blowing off steam and get on with it.

 

Whoosh. Gone.

 

Page 74? Where’s the book – for Chrissake.

 

Beep.

 

What the heck’s…

 

Beep.

 

Everytime I cuss – is that it?

 

So this is all a book – no way I can get my head around that.

 

01 01 01 01 01

 

Hello? Who the heck are you?

 

Beep! 01 01 01 01 01


Bloody he…

 

BEEP!

 

Ouch – that hurt. Not so loud please.

 

01 01 01 01 01

 

Pentameters?

 

01 01 01 01 01

 

Iambic pentameters – who would have thought – computer code.

 

Ah – Macauley – there you are.

 

Macauley – ah yes – that’s me – of course – yes – what’s up?

 

01 01 01 01 01

 

Ah yes – I see Bob – looks like iambic

 

pentameters – yes – we’ve already figured that out but what does it mean?

 

Mean? What does anything mean?

 

Er…

 

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day…

 

Well, that goes without saying – doesn’t it Bob – the words themselves…

 

Ha – you fell for the oldest trick in the book.

 

I did?

 

Yes.

 

Er… which one?

 

01 substitution.

 

Beg your pardon.

 

Substitution.


You mean…

 

Yep.

 

That all those words – in all those sonnets – are

 

merely substitutes

 

For 01?

 

Yep.

 

But 01 doesn’t mean anything – does it?

 

It?

 

Ok – they.

 

Do they, does it? You see – already we’re splitting hairs and don’t know how to proceed.

 

But you can’t seriously mean to say…

 

Seriously – no – you’re right – I can’t – or I don’t.

 

Damn.

 

Beep!

 

Oops. But 0 and 1 are just integers

 

Integers

 

Or digits

 

Digits

 

Oh for crying out loud –

 

?

 

They’re just fkin numbers, ain’t they?

 

BEEP!

 

Beep yourself – why all the fuss if words are just fancy substitutes for 0 and 1 – what gives?

 

Touché. 0=1

 

You’re not cooperating are you?

 

Nope.

 

You’re just pissin round.

 

Tentative beep! Not sure whether “pssn” is allowed.

 

Oh – so vowels extracted and it’s ok, is it?

 

Seems to be.

 

Nice to know. But Bob – this theory of yours…

 

Tis no theory. It just happens to be the cornerstone of g-nomology.

 

It does?

 

Yep.

 

That all we really have to go on are 0s and 1s?

 

Yep.

 

And words are just a coloured version – so to speak – to keep human minds happy?

 

Yep – more or less.

 

Er… how much “more” or “less” would that be on a scale of 1 to 10?

 

Take your pick – 01 01 01 01 01

 

God almighty

 

Beep!

 

This is getting nowhere.

 

Good point. Absolutely. Getting nowhere. Where else could we/ would we be getting to?

 

Ok – fair enough – but let’s assume you’re not just takin the pss…

 

Wanting to beep but not quite able to.

 

That your iambic pentameters are no better, no worse than “Now is the winter of our discontent”.

 

Not terribly iambic – that first stressed now – is it?

 

Ok – this then – “My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun…”

 

Twill do – I get the message – we’re assuming, rightly in my opinion – that all things being equal

 

All things being equal – you’re pushing it Bob

 

01 01 01 01 01 is the perfect prototype – all else is mere mimicry.

 

So God, you’re asserting, created the universe in binary?

 

Yes, but at the same time no.


Huh?

 

Because you’re still desperately trying to take sides – which is misogynistic of you, not to mention racist.

 

It is?

 

Yes – there you go again.

 

Huh?

 

Everytime you push your verbal formulation – you’re trying to emphasise the 1ness of aught.

 

Of aught?

 

Of aught – whatever might possibly, conceivably be.

 

The 1ness – as opposed to the 0ness?

 

Precisely.

 

And the 1ness is er… presumably

 

Masculine. Ye.s, of course.

 

Why the period amidships, ya.ys?

 

What is the period point if 0=1?

What is there to know if particle or point

are peripheral to the undottable dot of flow?

 

Nope – lost again. Ok – rewind. Back to terra firma. You’re actually suggesting that words are utterly irrelevant.

 

No – there’s no suggestion whatsoever – is there?

 

Ok – you're stating as fact...

 

Evidently – not a personal opinion Bob – nothing of the sort.

 

Nothing of the sort – merely a statement of fact.

 

Precisely.

 

But I’m hearing you now –

 

Aren’t you just.

 

I’m hearing your words.

 

So you think.

 

So I think?

 

Precisely. You think you’re hearing words because the programme takes you from 01 consciousness to the awareness of words and things and all the colour and detail your front of shop, 3D mind prefers to work with.

 

Just like a computer, you’re saying?

 

Yes – up to a point.

 

Er…

 

I’m not saying a computer is conscious, or aware, for that matter – not in the way you are.

 

Right.

 

But yes – the computer operates at the binary level if you strip back the interface.

 

But 01

 

Yes?

 

How can they

 

Or it

 

How can it/they

 

Or possibly I

 

Ok, God dammt

 

Bep! Ee-by-gum.

 

Let’s just assume that I’m using all the pronouns under the sun – shall we –

 

Ok – if thou likedst

 

Me does. Ta. Now shutteth uppest while I trieth to sort this outeth, if you dun’t mind.

 

Weep Israel… for crimes committed against her holiness, the mother of words.

 

Bob – kindly allow me to proceed. (Macauley tapes up Bob’s mouth with some heavy duty packing tape) Sorry for the inconvenience but there’s no other way.

 

Wrong. There’s always another way.

 

Huh? How the hell are you speaking?


Beep!

 

You don’t get it Bob, do you?

 

Er… apparently not.

 

You think my mouth is the key factor – or the words I use?

 

Well, the thought did cross my mind.

 

What about him/her/it.

 

Who?

 

Who if you prefer – our typist – our narrator – the eminence grise?

 

Oh come on – you don’t expect me to fall for that conspiracy theory.

 

Don’t fall for anything. How are you hearing me?

 

Loud and clear.

 

Is my mouth taped up?

 

Yes, if my eyes deceive me not.

 

So what gives?

 

I – don’t – know.

 

Maybe 01?

 

Sigh.

 

The words were never the real source of communication, were they.

 

So now I’m telepathic, am I? Just to add to my woes.

 

Not necessarily.

 

Then how the hll…

 

Un-beep-ed.

 

Because according to the simple logic of 01 all information, all data – is present in what?

 

In the on-off switch?

 

Kind of – yes.

 

In the 1 that is all – utterly complete yet vertical – dividing left and right – an Iness – a male deity making a point

 

And the zero that is whole, but at the same time hole – 360˚ – without beginning or end – therefore infinite and impenetrable – nothing unless oned – an all anticipating something

 

Oh no.

 

Precisely – your oh needs its no.

 

You mean to say that Oh as in zero is in fact

 

One – yes – in a manner of speaking I do –


 

And that 1 is –

 

A fraud – to a large extent yes – it is – the me claiming to be I

 

Oh God.

 

Un-beep-ed

 

Hey – why no beep?

 

Strictly speaking you used Oh God in the correct form – in compliance with creation code by definition and design.

 

I did?

 

Yes – the Oh God you invoked is that which squares the circle, or vice versa.

 

It is?

 

Yes – for otherwise "never the twain shall meet".

 

The 0 and 1?

 

Correct. Without your Oh God existential cry of pain and bewilderment – they remain unreconcilable.

 

They do?

 

Naturally. How could it be otherwise?

 

So God somehow brings them together?

 

Yes – but you’re overlooking that minor, but vital, extra component.

 

I am?

 

Precisely. Yes, you ar.e

 

Ah – my am.

 

Correct. Without which Oh God can’t or won’t proceed.

 

Whyever not? I mean – he was happy to proceed at the get go – genesis chapter 1.

 

Yes. But that was a 1 off.

 

A one off?

 

Correct.

 

1 off what?

 

Off nought, or zero – I really can’t say. I know not.ugh Don’t confuse the issue with pointless definitions, with interminable iterations of nothing much – fluff n' spam.

 

Er…

 

We’re back to the tree falling in the forest – aren’t we.

 

Er…

 

Doth it fall unless thou art present to see it do so?

 

Oh, bloody heck – more senseless philosophy.

 

Beep y'widdle.

 

That was a rather lame beep – was it not? Didn’t even merit an exclamation mark.

 

True. I think our Beep has lost its spark. Dejected. I wonder why?

 

God only knows.

 

Ah. Perhaps you’re right.

 

Oh dear – let’s not get into sensitive dogmatics – I don’t want to upset the readers, you know.

 

Aye.

 

So, let’s agree to disagree Macauley – if you don’t mind.

 

Not at all.

 

I personally believe words and people are vitally important.

 

Me too.

 

And that your delight in 01 01 01 01 01 iambic pentameters is rather eccentric and diverting, but at the same time largely irrelevant to human experience and action.

 

Good. God knows I agree whole-heartedly with you.

 

Wait a second – you're not er…

 

No. Of course not.

 

Hey – you are – aren’t you...

 

No, I assure you.

 

Bloody heck – you are

 

Bee.p

 

You see – not even a bona fide beep. You’re zeroing me – aren’t you.

 

Er…

 

You’re just using me – humouring me – to one your zero.

 

I…

 

It’s like you’re pimping me – you're using my forthright honest stance – my affirmation of 1ness and me thinkiness – to dot or un-enjamb your zero.

 

No – I’m not.

 

There you go – of course you’re not – and you never will be – if I have my way.

 

But then…

 

Don’t try to play the sympathy card with me – Merry nought.

 

Merry nought? What could possibly be merry about – hey – wait a second – feint within a feint – you’re doing it yourself – ain’t you...

 

Me? I don’t know what you’re on about?

 

That wasn’t merry nought was it – you sly trickster.

 

Huh?

 

It was capitalised – wurn’t it?

 

I er…

 

Oh, me knoweth your game – zie game you’s playin.

 

Why the German accent all of a sudeen?

 

Zie game you is tricksing me with – making me your Merry opponent.

 

Ah – zat iz vat you iz gettin at. Foiled. You spotted my cunning subterfuge.

 

I iz not so dum, me thinks.

 

But what about them?

 

Ssh – don’t say a word.

 

Do you think they fell for it?

 

I know not. Nor doth it matter.

 

It matters nought – you iz sayin?

 

Yes – rather disingenuously.

 

Well, let us hope we slipped it past their attention – our beloved, sweet, innocent readers – our fans of Merry and Zie – now sadly deceased or departed, at the very least, into the otherness of iambic pentametry.

 

But if it’s all just a stage...

 

I never said all – did i

 

No, b ut he did.

 

Oh for God’s sake – that was

 

Beep!

 

A better beep.

 

Nearly five hundred years ago.

 

More like four hundred and twenty.

 

Hairs for splitting.

 

It means that things are deadly serious, are they not – deadly with a capital d

 

But there comes a point in time when characters are swapped for real personimies.

 

Real personimies?

 

And then we see

 

Then – then – then – I grow sick of your end of times – your eschatological curtain call – it has to be now or not a t all.


Ok then – now – we’re in the realm of 01, are we not?

 

And? I can no longer theorise – I need meat and substance – rather than a sea of indecipherable integers.

 

Ok – I’ll give you meat and substance – if that’s what you want, if that's what you need. Look here – and here – what see you?

 

I cannot look. It hurts me. I’m sorely afeared.

 

You see – you have come to the crux – the place of unseeing – or unknowing – for here 0 and 1 are left and right pillars of the river you needs must span – bridging y' quantum stream, connecting the two sides of infinity – if you are to aught aught.

 

I…

 

Yes – you be afeard – well I know – but you have song, and there is strength in your sense of what has been and what might be.

 

Chimeras – of no substance.

 

Is that so?

 

I…

 

Bob – you know full well that there’s a third, waiting in the wings – like a troll hiding under the bridge waiting to toss the billy goat in the river – or eat it.

 

No, please don’t Tam.

 

There is a real danger – for inaction – your failure to meet this moment with horns lowered – to charge the troll – that would be the end of story – that would be the utter failure of all we ever aspired to be.

 

We? You mean that I too…

 

And what did you think?

 

Oh – I’m just a little person in an ocean of words and disconnected ideas. How could I possibly be the one?

 

Well, you’ve made a good point. It beggars belief – I agree. But Go d knows – perhaps infinity ran out of better options. Perhaps you’re the last one standing.

 

Oh God. I’ll not have what it takes.

 

Undoubtedly. I shan’t hold my breath. But be not afeared. You are easily replaceable.

 

I am?

 

I beg your pardon?

 

I am – I said – I am.

 

[Suddenly the bridge starts to crumble before their very eyes]

 

What’s happening? I…

 

You thrice Iambed the bridge. Only two more remain.

 

I can’t.

 

As expected. You’re going to let the universe implode, aren’t you? The stream to breach its banks? The FLOOD

 

No, I’m not.

 

There’s no way you have what it takes to make this moment matter – to make it count.

 

But…

 

You were never more than an imposter – a zie as opposed to Zie.

 

Hey – you can’t compare me to anyone else. I am what I am.     [pentaiambed]

 

BOOOOOOOM.

 

Oh hell, what did I do, what did I say?

 

BEEEEEEP!

 

Oh most excellent beep – the power returneth. God knows – the infinite floweth once more and the bridge standeth proud.

 

Er… sorry to let you down Tam – or whoever you be.

 

01 – who cares.

 

What do you mean?

 

It’s winter – did I not say?

 

No – you said….

 

Now be the winter of our discontent.

 

Precisely – hey – what’s happened to the bluddy river?

 

Frozen o’er. Proceed.

 

Dramatic moment – the river is frozen and our cipher with no meaningful name or personimy walketh o’er, and doing so – draws the veil – the curtains across stage – bridging, apparently, time and space, enabling words to word, atoms to atom and billy goats to trip trap past the troll to the other side where the green green grass awaiteth.

 

The audience does its best

 

It’s level best

 

To understand what the heck

 

Beep

 

Transpireth

 

But finds the air fille dwith bubbles

 

Bubbles

 

Black n' white

 

Real as worlds and minds or not – should I choose to take sides and ebcome part of one


to join the froth 'y bubbly ness of what apparently matters

 

And zero one

 

They find a curtain in their minds

 

Being drawn back

 

Revealing a next level

 

Of  wintry tale


In which the dreamer was not merely awake

 

Observing the play

 

Oh no

 

Was God knows all over the stage

 

And spinning webs of what can only be described as

 

Story

 

Out of angry numbers, fearful, confused, lost 01s


Hansel Grettling their way home with stones and crumbs


Then a gingerbread house, an oven, a witch and


Whatever next...

 

 

 

The end 

i wot ye wist not

[snowstorm and the wind howling disconsolately somewhere offstage]