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.
