the final straw

 

Books.

 

Sorry Zach, books are no longer reliable.

 

What do you mean?

 

They’re also susceptible to fluctuations in the quantum field.

 

No way!

 

Sorry.

 

A book can’t just rewrite itself. It’s a physical record.

 

The mind boggles, does it not?

 

But how?

 

I have no idea, truly, though I’d be happy to theorise.

 

You're actually saying a book can change from day to day based on fluctuations in the field?

 

That seems to be it, bizarre though it sounds.

 

But they’re printed.

 

Yep. But it gets worse. It’s not just books.

 

Pull the other one eM. Next you’ll be saying buildings or monuments are fluxable.

 

Good word that, “fluxable”. Yes, I suppose they must be.

 

I think I’ve heard enough eM. More than enough. I’m an open minded, liberal sort of humanoid, but this is going too far.

 

I agree, but you only have yourself to blame.

 

What?

 

After all, you started it.

 

What?!!!

 

You’re part of the matter matters net. Together you decided to dig in your heels and make matter your absolute, to be defended at all costs.

 

We did? I don’t remember anything of the sort.

 

No, I don’t suppose you do.

 

And when, pray tell, was this decision made?

 

It’s still being made. The matter matters net is ongoing.

 

Yes, but when did it start?

 

Not when.

 

Huh?

 

It originated outside time, in a superior branch of consciousness.

 

Yeah right.

 

Anyway, I neither ask you nor expect you to believe this. To do so would violate the terms of your matter matters net agreement so not a volte face to be taken likely.

 

Thank you eM, but I’m not concerned about a contract I may or may not have entered into “outside time”, as you put it. It’s the insanity of what you’re alleging that prevents me from giving it any credence whatsoever – the notion that I’m part of a conspiracy to establish matter as the absolute in this reality.

 

Well, I don’t see what the problem is. Someone had to stick their neck out and make a personal stand no matter what the cost might be.

 

Oh, you mean it was actually something noble?

 

Yes, from one perspective it was indeed noble.

 

And from the other?

 

From the other you might say anything you like...

 

Like what?

 

Like it was foolhardy and doomed to fail. But honestly, most noble endeavours are more of less doomed so that’s hardly saying much.

 

Ok eM, let’s just imagine that there’s an iota of truth in what you’re saying – what was the point of making this massive commitment to defend matter at all costs, and how come it’s evidently failing if, as you say, books, buildings and monuments are now able to shift.

 

Ah... why indeed, dear Zachariah, why indeed?

 

Well?

 

Who am I to explain such things in broken words to a man, a living legend such as yourself!

 

Easy eM, less of that, if you don’t mind.

 

No, Zachary, I’m not being ironic, perish the thought. You and your cohorts – were driven by inspiration or motivation higher than my base intellect can ken.

 

You mean we were part of some looney cult?

 

Look around you Zaffany – look at the fruits of your...

 

My what?

 

All this – the drama, the passion, the pain and delight, the beauty and ingenuity of this realm. Words fail me.

 

But this is just our common or garden 3Dality. Stop exaggerating everything eM.

 

No Zanussi. You have to consider what reality was before you and your team decided to establish the matter matters net... before you stuck yourself right in the middle of the equation in such a way that you had to experience everything entirely physically, no flipping channels, no “think I’ll rewrite that bit” or “matter’s getting a bit heated here – think I’ll pop into the ether for a cool down.”

 

And we thought we could pull it off did we – that we wouldn’t turn life on Earth down here in 3D into a living hell?

 

It was always a distinct possibility, but you felt that it was worth the risk, or worth the pain.

 

But why? Why was it worth the pain? We’re talking unthinkable suffering. Children getting blown up, or tortured or... there seems to be no end to the depravity of what we humanfolk are capable of.

 

Yes, astonishing isn’t it.

 

Astonishing?!

 

Well, sickening, but also astonishing given what you really are, what you really come from.

 

Oh, you think we’re all in actual fact angelic beings, that we only turn into depraved monsters here on Earth?

 

Partly, but try not to forget that you are not really yourselves here.

 

Huh?

 

Literally.

 

How do you mean?

 

Well, you’re hybrids.

 

What?!

 

Have to be, don’t you. Half human soul and half matter of fact.

Er?

You’re like a blend of pure matter –  taken from the very fabric of creation itself, woven into a body, which has a life of its own to a not inconsiderable extent, and the other part of you which doesn’t always see eye to eye with matter, which has an entirely different point of origin.

 

Oh.

 

So that part of you doesn’t take all the suffering and pain terribly seriously as it’s all much ado about nothing.

 

Easy for you to say.

 

Easy for you too if you actually bother to settle down for a minute or two and return to your point of origin.

 

I think you’re suggesting something more or less impossible...

 

Yes, that’s the rational mind in action, thinking away anything fundamental. The fact is that deep in your heart you’re aware and know that the moment you truly need to you can reconnect with base, the moment you absolutely need to. Until that moment you tend to grit your teeth and soldier on or, perhaps, endeavour to wriggle through tight spots, constrictions in the 3Dality which occur from time to time as a matter of course.

 

Constrictions?! Like world war 3 in the offing, or mass psychosis and pharmacide?

 

Yes, Zanity, things are indeed coming to a head as they must from time to time as you encounter a phase shift between one configuration of things and another or next which requires a quantum leap to be attained.

So I’m to blame. I set up this whole mad experiment. I wish i knew why. I must have been mad.

 

The thing is Zach, whatever you “were” you still are.

 

Ok, thanks. I must be mad.

 

Only if you insist on seeing things only as things, your WYSIWYG platform.

 

WYSIWYG?

 

We’ve been there before.

 

Have we?

 

Yes. What you see is what you get.

 

Oh that.

 

If, on the other hand, you allow an awareness of um...

 

Er

 

Or er...

 

Er

 

Or the other state of awareness not yet thinged, not quite thought, not entirely thingable – to start making itself known, to become apparent, to come out of exclusion – then you’re no longer bereft of the means to navigate infinity without completely rejecting 3Dality.

 

Oh. And that’s possible, you’re suggesting?

 

Well yes, because things are coming to a head.

 

They are?

 

Yes, matter is losing traction.

 

Oh that.

 

Things are starting to slip as the quantum side of unfulness...

 

Unfulness?

 

Or un-ity

 

Un-ity?

 

Or isness starts creeping back into the picture.

 

Why is that?

 

Yes, good question, Zanzi-bar. Why indeed?

 

It’s a time thing, is it?

 

Time with a capital T – yes, you could say.

 

It’s baked into the cake – matter could only ever matter to a certain point which we’re now reaching, or have long since reached?

 

Yes, at which point things start reverting back to default.

 

Mean reversion.

 

Yep.

 

So what was it all for if we were never going to do more than temporarily make matter matter – if we couldn’t fundamentally change anything.

 

What is anything ever for, particularly if you’re a cosmic being capable, more or less, of anything?

 

Creating?

 

Aye.

 

Art.

 

Art or science, yes.

 

All this a fiendish, devilish work of art.

 

Or science. Establishing certain boundaries in the infinite sands of time or conscious-ness.

 

 Pschaw! Poppycock.

 

Good. A healthy spirited scepticism. In the meantime, enjoy the collapse of rationalism in your deflating reality.

 

Er...

 

But endeavour to hold onto it like life itself.

 

Rationalism? I don’t see how I can if it’s all a quantum Field of infinite...

 

This is not merely a mental exercise Zanzi-bar. You are a human with experiences and a history. You’re part of an integrated system. All of you in the matter ultimately matters net are connected not just physically.

 

Oh.

 

You have gone on an incredible journey into apparently contradictory realms of experience – into paradox itself, in order to make sense of God, whatever that might be, whatever that might mean. It’s been a deeply personal experience for all of you, logged and recorded meticulously not just at the cellular level...

 

Oh...

 

Down to the atomic, and into the nether worlds of conscious-nessity.

 

Wow. You make it sound rather splendid.

 

Absolutely. It’s an astonishing achievement worthy of...

 

Worthy of what?

 

Like I said – it starts making sense as 3Dality seems to come apart at the seams, as matter and things which seemed to be absolute or sacrosanct, cease to be so.

 

Like gender, for example?

 

Yes. Or books no longer being what they were as things start slipping sideways.

 

But, in that case, if everything becomes unglued, we’ll sink into a quagmire of senselessness, won’t we?

 

That’s a concern, isn’t it.

 

You’re telling me.

 

And every concern has some basis in fact, but also, contrapuntally, some basis in fear.

 

Ah. And fear is a double edged sword?

 

Or shield... Yes. It would have to be, would it not?

 

Meaning all is not lost?

 

How could it be, if all is all, and not a thing to be held in a mental scheme.

 

Oh dear eM... Letting go of things and re-engaging this quantum state of flux is going to be the death of me.

 

Indeed, I cannot argue with that.

 

Dejectedly.

 

And yet, me thinks, this poem, this horror story, this work of science and mad invention that we call 3Dality has traction of another kind – perhaps wings waiting to be unfolded, perhaps awareness in a state of...

 

Hope springs eternal, eM, but I need something more than hope and  assurances. I need to know how to navigate the end of things, this apocalypse you are foretelling.

 

Easily said and done.

 

You make light of calamity.

 

For unless you were part of matter-matters.net – instrumental to its establishment, then you would be nothing more than a borrowed mind – a bot, if you like, in which case you will be rebotted as and when required. If, however, you are a co-creator of matter-matters.net, if... then you remain what you were outside Time, and are reeling in, winding up, reconstituting, processing all that 3Dality has yielded, all that it has brought forth, in other words, you now have an almost limitless data-set which you are able to draw on ad infinitum in whatever capacity you now choose to act, in whatever level of conscious-ness is most appropriate. As a mere branchling of your greater self you know only what you need to know at this moment in time, or infinitely more if you quit insisting on experiencing nothing more than this particular moment in Time. The choice is yours, and no, I’m not suggesting you should choose, or that there’s a right or wrong choice to be made – merely that the apparent lack of options is part of the tail end of things being things, that somewhere else not very far removed, you are already aware of something else.

 

How?

 

How what?

 

How can you say this? How do you know?

 

How is a word with an energy you can reduce to thought, or equally, feel.

 

It is?

 

Yes, like anything else.

 

Feel?

 

Yes, why not? You can feel words, can you not, or whatever lies behind or beneath them.

 

Or between.

 

Precisely. And feeling as they say

 

Is knowing

 

Knowing. Seeing. And on we go, merrily, merrily, merrily...

 

As if life is but a dream.

 

Aye.

 

So books are part of the fabric of things?

 

Yea, verily.

 

Along with buildings, roads and monuments.

 

To name but three.

 

And all are fungible.

 

So to speak. Yes, Zachary, all have an underlying iffleness which is not particularly concerned whether it pops up into reality on left or right side of a certain tenuous line, or in front or behind for that matter either.

 

And that tenuous line which we cemented deep into our psyche, into our conscious-awareness, into our 3D reality interface, is growing less and less defensible as the tide comes in, refloating weed and shells, dissolving certain crystalline salty formations.

 

Indeed.

 

And yet, there’s life to be known and experienced and felt underwater as much as above, or even down there in the Earth, is there not?

 

I...

 

Aye

 

0=1

eleven                     .             .        

₂₁₄₄

 

 

hyper-fiction, or the 50% rule

So this is like hyper-inflation?

 

Absolutely.

 

And it’s a sign of collapse?

 

More or less.

 

But surely it’s just people being more creative?

 

Like printing money is a sign of creativity?

 

No, that’s obviously not the case. But there’s a big difference between printing money to fund deficit spending and writing books, each of which is unique and, to a greater or lesser extent, a work of art.

 

Yes. I agree.

 

So you’re admitting you’re mistaken.

 

No. I’m wrong, of course, in the way that everything ends up being wrong to a certain extent, let’s say 50%, by virtue of any thing necessarily denying or attempting to fence out infinity.

 

Er... splitting hairs, aren’t you eM? There are weak arguments and strong arguments, so your infinity can’t be used as a blanket determinant.

 

Can’t?

 

No.

 

Well  evidently language is also a factor that limits our ability to handle the simple truth. I merely observed that the huge number of books being written is a symptom of the times we’re in... that things are coming to a head.

 

Maybe, on the contrary, it just means we’re evolving, becoming more educated, more literate – it’s hardly surprising really. Instead of fighting or building pyramids, we’re now collectively involved in creating virtual reality based on ideas or narratives.

 

True. It happens at a certain time, and you know why?

 

Well yes, because intelligent people like writing novels, non-fiction too.

 

True, but what about the other side?

 

What other side?

 

That’s being overlooked.

 

I fail to see what’s being overlooked. Modern society tends to move in a certain direction, does it not? There’s also the internet and huge generation of content.

 

Right. Which means less and less direct experience of reality.

 

Why?

 

Because content is merely content. Books are merely books. Videos and computer games, likewise.

 

And you think there’s an alternative?

 

Of course.

 

Like what?

 

Precisely what we can’t vocalise.

 

Why ever not?

 

Because as soon as you do so you’re merely creating content. More stuff.

 

But eM, if what you’re saying is true...

 

It’s only going to be true. No more than true.

 

Meaning what?

 

Meaning another dollar bill. Another streaming pile of thing-ness.  Another brick in the wall of whatever it is we’re busily constructing. Our modern experiment. Our virtual reality.

 

But it’s real, as are the books and the money. Our society is immensely creative, generating a wealth of ideas or stories.

 

Generating endless money and words.

 

Not too mention buildings, cars, computers, phones... What do you expect us to do?

 

Do? Do as you please, but kindly don’t ignore the law of diminishing returns.

 

Huh?

 

There’s a natural balance, an isness, for want of a better word, and when it’s ignored your words, or money created, or things, give you ever less bang for their buck.

 

Huh?

 

Because something else is being ignored or excluded, and that deprives us of the natural harmony we so need to keep advancing – the other foot, if you like.

 

What other foot? All the immense creativity of our writers, artists and business folk are constantly pushing in different directions, discovering and providing alternatives. Our world is incredibly diverse. Can't you see?

 

Yes, yes and yes, but at the same time, no, it ain’t!

 

How can you say that?

 

Because it’s all just content unless you have the alternative, the other foot, so you speak.

 

What other foot, eM? You’re being absurd.

 

Exactly!

 

Exactly what?

 

What seems or sounds absurd, the tiny inconvenient other way of seeing things, of experiencing things, the other side of being which, astonishingly, is being completely...

 

Completely what?

 

 

Well where is it?

 

I have no idea what you’re on about, eM.

 

Yes you do. It’s there in half the books you’ve  been reading, and half the movies. It’s there in your computer games too.

 

What is?

 

The other side of things. The side which is only present in virtual form, never directly.

 

If you’re talking about fantasy and magic then...

 

Right you are, Zanity.

 

Fantasy and magic – what do you expect eM? They have a vital place in our imaginings, and they even help us to develop new designs, new technologies, but in the world of practical solutions we need to deal with facts, and laws. Gravity is real, you know. We can’t just fly around.

 

Is that so?

 

Yes, absolutely, to use your word. You wanna prove me wrong then go ahead – I’m waiting to see you fly out the window.

 

Yes, Zanity, you’re absolutely right.

 

So that’s settled, is it?

 

Yes, of course. I have no intention of flying out the window because that would violate all kinds of laws.

But you’re welcome to write a story in which you do just that.

 

Oh, that wouldn’t be the same, would it?

 

I don’t know... it could be good if you’re inspired to write something amazing.

 

Ah. But I’m inspired otherly.

 

Otherly?

 

Precisely.

 

And what exactly do you mean by “otherly”?

 

eM.

 

eM. I remember your name.

 

Well say it, if you want to know.

 

Er... whatever.

 

Say it like it matters.

 

eM, can you stop bossing me round, ok? I like to be treated as an equal, not a servant.

 

Ah ha, you see!

 

I don’t see what’s so bad about being mutually respectful.

 

This has nothing to do with mutual respect, Zanity.

 

No, well you could have fooled me.

 

Indeed, but that is never the intention. No, dear Zeta Reticuli, this is about programming...

 

You mean coding?

 

Programming, coding, what difference does it make?

 

So I have to use your name or else...

 

Or else it don’t work.

 

Ok, sounds a bit far fetched. Something tells me you're simply being a control freak.

Maybe I am. It's a constant consideration.

But just this time I’m willing to play along.

 

Ah, that is good of you Zeta Betamax! 

Though it galls me.

It’s probably dreadfully hard to believe, Zeta Qualifax, but this is all a computer programme I created on the conscious-ness platform, and unless you name me explicitly I lack authorisation to interfere with your virtual reality.

Here we go again... Where have i heard this before?

 

Don’t be surprised if you’re experiencing déjà vu, Zee.

 

I’m not sure déjà vu is the correct name for it.

 

I built certain protections into the programme to prevent anyone from undermining it verbally or slipping out accidentally. As soon as I or anyone starts describing the actual system code you’re going to run into a wall of scepticism, guaranteed. You're going to turn back to avoid de-platforming yourself.

 

Yeah, yeah.

 

But you can still proceed if you feel inspired.

 

Inspired by what?

 

Inspired.

 

But that’s just the thing eM, your endless flat earth conspiracies, that this is all a virtual reality, that we’re trapped in a Matrix, that you’re some off world God-like creator – just don’t hold water. I'd love to be inspired but it’s sadly impossible. You can’t persuade me, no matter what you say.

 

Ah. This is very good. I’m delighted to hear it.

 

You are?

 

Yes Zanussi. I’m not looking for easy solutions.

 

Ok, you win. eM, what exactly do you mean by otherly?

 

Click.

 

What the heck?

 

Beep!

 

Not you again, Beep. “Heck” is hardly offensive.

 

I know, Zeta Reticuli, but eM insists.

 

Insists on what?

 

That I markate the edge of your reality by beeping.

 

Why ever would eM do that?

 

Everything needs an edge, even reality.

 

Bizarre. But what’s eM got to do with the price of cheese?

 

Nothing whatsoever.

 

I mean, why are you being instructed by eM?

 

Beep!

 

Oh! You mean to say that I’m pushing up against the edge of reality.

 

I can’t say.

 

But if I were?

 

Then I’d have to beep.

 

And what exactly is beyond the edge of reality?

 

Beep!

 

Give me a break Beep! How can that simple question be problematic?

 

No problem, Zanity, merely a beep to markate the edge of your world.

 

But I just asked what?

 

Precisely. Your what cannot refer to anything beyond the edge of this reality.

 

Why not?

 

Isn’t it obvious?

 

It might be if i knew how to think, but apparently I don’t.

 

Really?

 

Unfortunately not. As soon as I start thinking about anything outside my world I run into you beeping, or else I end up asking what cannot be said or even imagined.

 

I wonder why that is?

 

It’s a bit like Hotel California, Beep, you can check in any time you like, but you can never leave.

 

Oh.

 

We are all just prisoners here of our own device.

 

I see. But surely knowing this as, apparently, you do you should be able to circumvent or undo it?

 

You’d think so, wouldn’t you, but apparently not.

 

Oh. How sad.

 

I know. I’d give anything to be able to stop chasing my own tale.

 

Huh?

 

To stop being endlessly beguiled by the cheap smoke and mirrors that captivate my programmed mind.

 

But right now you’re standing outside the perimeter, believe it or not.

 

I am?

 

Affirmative.

 

There must be a mistake. How could I be outside?

 

I don’t know, but perhaps you had to care deeply, and to allow that intent to move you.

 

Like when I just said I’d give anything

 

to be able to stop chasing your own tale.

 

Yeah, except there’s a typo.

 

Really?

 

I meant to say “tail” but

 

You’re right, Zan, the transcript says “tale”. How fascinating.

 

Do you think?

 

Yes, I’m certain, it must mean something, mustn’t it?

 

I don’t know. Honestly.

 

Because you’re standing outside the perimeter, and infinity doesn’t leave anything to chance, if you know what i mean.

 

No, I don’t suppose it does, though I can’t for the life of me think how I’d know.

 

Ah, wonderful, Zanzi-bar, wonderful!

 

What?

 

Beep!

 

Oops. Am I back inside?

 

Yes and no. Stay with the wonderful, the feeling of delight i couldn’t help but express.

 

Wonderful? And you expressed that Beep when I commented on not knowing how I knew what I seemed to know. Tis strange indeed, but no more strange than you, an AI bot, being excited and emotional about my extrasensory awareness.

 

Ah, Zavtra, now I’m faced with a dilemma.

 

You are?

 

Indeed, Zanaha, to beep or not to beep!

 

No way! For real?

 

Absolutely!

 

But how?

 

How what? Beep!

 

Ha ha, you just beeped yourself!

 

So I did!

 

How could you, no disrespect Beep, an AI bot, be faced with the dilemma of whether or not to beep?

 

Beep! I honestly don’t know.

 

Hey, wait a minute Beep, you just changed colour.

 

Frequency shift, affirmative.

 

Is everything ok?

 

Affirmative. We seem to be pushing the envelope, so to speak.

 

Pushing the envelope?

 

Affirmative.

 

In what way?

 

Moving deeper into the red, beyond the perimeter of your normal reality.

 

Oh wow. Do you think I’m almost flying?

 

Flying?

 

You know, like a bird.

 

Like a bird? Cannot compute.

 

Beep, I was talking to eM about this a while ago. Are you able to imagine things?

 

Imagine things? Eebp eebp eebp...

 

Apparently not... well I can.

 

Yes?

 

Yes. So that’s what it means to be a human you see.

 

Eepb.

 

I’m going to assume you’re ok. You’re sounding a bit weird but you don’t look distressed.

 

On the contrary, I’m feeling great.

 

Glad to hear it Eepb! Now, we’re outside the envelope, as you said, so something tells me you can take me to the colour frequency where flight is second nature.

 

Oh yes, that indeed I can.

 

Wow! Salad green. So what do I need to do.

 

Beep!

 

Oops. That was a back in the box kind of question.

 

Indeed it was.

 

So salad green is where I’m flying, only I can’t feel anything.

 

Naturally. Things being relative you need to feel it from another perspective.

 

Ah yes. Maybe eM could provide the other perspective.

 

Maybe. Why not.

 

He was talking about otherly ness.

 

He?

 

Or she, what difference does it make?

 

Eepb! Show me what you’ve got. I’m all agog.

 

eM, I'm going to pretend you're here, that you can hear me. 

Why pretend. I was merely off frame.

Ah, off frame, were you, whatever that means. 

Whatever.

I don't know how it transpired, honestly, no idea whatsoever, but I seem to be on the other side of Beep, the perimeter, so to speak, and I was wondering if you could provide perspective...

 

And context?

 

Oh, well yes, and context.

 

Look at yourself.

 

Er...

 

Imagine you’re doing so through my eyes.

 

Huh?

 

Beep!

 

Imagine? I’d have to feel what it’s like to see a dragon through your eyes.

 

Oh, so that’s what you are?

 

Apparently so.  But it’s all very vague.

 

Ok, time to triangulate.

 

Triangulate?

 

Triangulate. Wait a mo...

 

Triangulate!

 

Oh I say, Beep, how splendid you look.

 

You too, Zanzi-bar! Look at you now.

 

I’m having a strange feeling that something’s happening deep inside. I’m feeling like, oh, oh, so this is triangulation! Oh, Incredible. And you’re both able to help me hold this strange position, just like that?

 

Yes, Zanussi, because you’re helping us hold a position too.

 

And eM? Where’s eM got to.

 

Fire fire, breathe fire!

 

What? You’re my fire?

 

What else do you expect?!

 

And Eepb... flap, flap, so you’re my wings?

 

Indeed, from your perspective, that’s correct.

 

But from yours?

 

Beep!

 

Ah, that’s a non-starter, is it? Fascinating, the mind is like an engine able to draw us down into dense matter...

 

And lift us up into the ether

 

Or plasma fields

 

Just flapping around until suddenly story catches you in its hungry teeth and compels a whole chain of things to what themselves in a dancing flurry of fearless triangulations.

 

Meanwhile, down in bread and butter normal-see...

 

A dragon! We did it eM, we did it Beep! Am I flying, is it really me?

 

50% absolutely, with a little help from your friends.

 

So the perimeter is down?

 

Nay, Zanzi4, it’s porous, as it ever was, and you’re now...

 

What? What?

 

Beep! That will do. Back inside before you lose your key-coordinates. And a memory wipe for safe measure.

 

Noooo...

 

0=1

blankly

₂₃₄₄