Is There No Escape from the Keeper of the Tale?

The sudden quality of the downpour is such that it catches you completely off guard. Certainly it has been overcast today so rain was not a surprise in that regard. After a few starter rain drops, the rain came down in buckets. Sheets and sheets of rain fall, obscuring your vision, making you happy that you are not driving, as that would be dangerous. On the other hand, in the car, you would likely yet be dry. You manage to dive into the covered doorway of a nearby building before becoming completely soaked. The rain sprays as it impacts upon the pavement, increasing your general wetness. In an effort to stay somewhat dry, you enter the building.

Inside, you begin to relax; not getting further wet will do that. As you grow more comfortable, you realize that your surroundings are familiar. While the hallway is in a state of being re-constructed, its basic structure is still visible. Carefully you walk on the work mats so that you will not drip on the floor as you walk down the hallway.

When you reach the main room, you find that it is also in a state of transition. Ladders and drip mats litter the area, transforming the view of what is also a familiar room to you. In the event that there was any doubt left within you, the Keeper of the Tale emerges from a back room carrying a can of paint. He whistles cheerfully, not immediately aware of your presence. As he sets the paint on a covered table, he suddenly starts and turns to face you. “Oh, hello. You haven't been waiting long I hope.” You reassure him that you just arrived. “Good, good. You, ah, look a bit on the wet side. Not soaked I hope.” While certainly wet, thankfully you are not soaked through. “Good. Still, if you like I could run your clothes through the dryer. Should only take a few minutes and you would feel more comfortable.”

This offer makes you hesitate. While you have no great worry that the Keeper of the Tale will do anything... inappropriate, the idea of being semi-clothed in his presence does not appeal to you. At all. The Keeper seems unaware of your concerns. Preparing a chair, he gestures towards a nearby door. “You'll find a robe in there. I'll get the fire going to warm you.” Still tentative, you investigate and find the situation is as described.

Soon, you are wrapped up in an overwhelming thick white robe that trails on the floor. You are curled up in the chair next to a roaring fire. You are much more comfortable.

You are made further comfortable when the Keeper brings a drink to you. This is nice. Outside is cold and wet but here you are warm and dry. As you were not in a particularly hurry, this temporary delay is not distressing. As delays go, this is one of the better ones you can recall.

The Keeper sits in a chair across from you. “Well, as you have a moment before your clothes are dry, I'll distract you with a Tale.”

Your opinion of this delay drops off rather abruptly.

The night was quiet and calm. Occasionally a gentle breeze appeared from off the lake, chilling Carmen. She took the opportunity to sit closer to Douglas on the bench. If he noticed this attempt to leech from his body heat, he did nothing to acknowledge it. His concentration was on the sky above them. The park was enough of an oasis from the light pollution of the City to provide a view of the stars above. “Believe you intelligent life up there?” he queried.

Carmen adjusted her position in order to better facilitate conversation. “I don't know that I believe in intelligent life down here.”

Douglas chuckled. “I suppose I left myself open for that humorous response. More seriously, do you believe in life living on other planets, intelligent or otherwise?”

“Sure,” Carmen answered. “Clearly it is intelligent as it has yet to contact us.”

Douglas sighed. “Yet another humorous reaction. While I do find them amusing, I am not convinced that they accurately represent your feelings on this subject.”

The chill from the lake returned, causing Carmen to draw into Douglas again for a moment. “I am not sure that I have many actual feelings on this subject. If there are people, or something like people, on other planets, does it affect what I do on a daily basis? Should I not eat ice cream because there is life on other planets? Or should I eat more ice cream?”

“I shouldn't eat more ice cream because it gives me a tummy ache,” interjected Douglas.

“I thought you wanted a non humorous conversation?” Carmen questioned.

Douglas nodded. “An excellent point. My apologies. Although I should point out that, while my comment may have a humorous note to it, the comment is also accurate.”

“Unfortunately I am well aware of that,” Carmen stated. Returning to the topic, she added “From a philosophical perspective, it might affect how we perceive the universe around us but I don't believe most people take this topic seriously. If little green men do live out there somewhere, I am happy for them. I hope they are well. I don't believe it is something I will ever have directly impact my life.”

As they watched, a bright light in the sky became brighter and brighter. It flared before disappearing. Once they blinked away the spots before their eyes, they saw it hovering before them.

It was a disk perhaps six or seven feet across and a couple feet tall at its thickest in the center. Subtle lights pulsed around the disk, flashing in a pattern that likely had a meaning to someone. As they watched, the top of the disk split open and two small creatures emerged. While neither was fully visible, they appeared to be less than a foot tall. Their arms were thin and spindly. Their bodies wide and round, covered with a dull gray cloth. Atop their spherical heads sat a square blue hat. Goggles covered squinty eyes. Their flesh did not appear to be like human flesh; their flesh had larger pores and a soft, almost spongy look to it.

Douglas grinned. “They are little silver men. Does that still count?”

Carmen's big brown eyes were wider than normal with surprise. “I'll say yes.”

The creatures in the disk chittered and beeped at Douglas and Carmen. “Mertleladop phash plash hossenschmeck.”

Carmen nodded. “Interesting. What did your friends say?”

“I'm not sure,” Douglas admitted. “It might be a dialect I'm unfamiliar with.” To the visitors, he asked “Do you know any English? I'm reasonably handy with English.”

The visitors looked at each other, growing what appeared to be excitable. One noted to the other. “Hamtep sansetjem panemblah.”

The other nodded as it responded. “Schmeckfleck pandlebross andlebrech mossposs.” This creature's hand disappeared into the disk to retrieve a metal gun. It looked heavy in the soft hand of the creature, bowing the arm working to lift it.

“Oh dear. I appear to have offended.” Before Douglas could speak further, a green ray emerged from the gun, bathing Douglas in its energy. He glowed briefly and then collapsed against the bench.

Carmen gasped. “Why would you do that?” Her hand shook as she reached out to Douglas. His body was quiet. Calm. His cheek was warm as she stroked it. “Douglas...”

She barely noticed the visitors near him. “Mertleladop. Mertleladop. Mertleladop. Mertlela...ings. Greetings. Greetings.”

“Greetings?” Carmen echoed.

“Success has been reached,” declared the one.

The other nodded. “Storing translation device.” The heavy metal device was returned to the interior of the disk.

Carmen remained upset. “You killed him for our language?!?”

The one appeared confused. “No termination has occurred. Shock from knowledge transfer has caused rest.”

As if to prove their point, Douglas began to stir. With this motion came a low groan. Slowly he sat back up, causing a smile to be born anew on Carmen's face. She leaned him up against her as he continued to recuperate. “Was it a bus or a truck that hit me?” He shook his head to clear it and then visibly regretted it.

“That's an interesting device you have there,” Carmen stated. “Should be careful with whom you point it towards.”

“Information accepted,” declared the one.

Douglas blinked. “Any particular reason you hit me with this ray? Or just to add some English to your lexicon?”

“Instructions are required. Understanding such critical to reaching destination,” stated the other.

“At least there's that,” Douglas muttered.

Carmen encouraged him to rest. “How can we help?”

“Do you know the way to San Jose?” asked the one.

Carmen considered this for a moment. She pointed behind herself. “That way. Southwest from here.”

“Coordinates received. Appreciation extended.” The one and the other disappeared back into the disk which sped off back into the sky.

Douglas sighed. “It was nice of them to stop by. They should stay longer next time.”

“Maybe next time they will zap me,” Carmen offered.

“Oh I hope not. It's very unpleasant.”

Douglas moved to sit up but Carmen stopped him, encouraging him to remain resting on his shoulder. “Take your time. You don't need to look tough in front of me.”

He put an arm around her to increase the comfort associated with this sitting position. In response, she nestled deeper into him. “Okay. I can still see the stars from him.”

They sat there and saw the stars.

The Keeper of the Tale grinned as he wrapped up his Tale. For a moment, you hope that this grin is due to the happy nature of the ending. Realistically, you know this is not likely to be the case. You are too familiar with the Keeper to believe this for long. “Of course, the moral of the story is: Asking for directions shouldn't be alien to you.”

After this statement, you find yourself unable to look directly at the Keeper. Absorbing his moral, you turn to the side, observing the windows. “Oh. It's stopped raining. Still, do you have time...” His speech ceases when he sees you have already risen from the chair. “Ah. Yes, well, places to go, people to see I'm sure. Your clothes are ready for you.”

Upon returning to the changing room, you find this to be so. Quickly, you dress.

As you depart, the Keeper waves. “Thanks for visiting. See you soon!”

While you wish him no ill will, you hope it will be some time until you next see the Keeper of the Tale.