My earlier paralysis wasn't simply because I was enchanted by Geber's way of moving between realities. My mind just did its usual lock up. Geber is unable to control it at all. Sometimes here, then there, and occasionally between them both. He is strangely at peace with his situation. I would certainly have gone mad by now. Despite his zigzagging, we did have some conversations.
Geber was an observer who preceded me. He didn't slip off the rails in a rapid acceleration, but went to meet the Mumenos in person. The task there just proved too challenging. One factor was that the Mumenos are a slow bunch. Lingering in a state of deep observation has now been proven to be fateful. While Geber made a thousand observations, the Mumenos were still chewing on the first one. That's why I'm being prepared better.
And then there was me, the future observer, sitting at my odd table like a useless mushroom. Not a single, even a half-baked deduction was crossing my mind. As in the early days of my previous life's problems, taking myself by the scruff of the neck didn't even cross my mind. This required a nudge from Dig, delivered by Geber. "Dip your toes in," were the cryptic words. The mental landscape of this strange Aldebaran adventuress is gradually opening up to me. Little by little, my mind began piecing together the whole picture from the surrounding clues.
Pearl's trust in me is incredibly high. She had calmed her entire table companions to such an extent that even Babaru, who had become my close friend, had managed to wash away her built-in concern. This peculiar character, with her unassuming presence and patient ability to be always there without being obvious, had stolen a piece of my soul. It was only during this strange journey that I fully realized it. Now that she wasn't there, I realized what was missing.
As for stealing soul fragments, Pearl has taken her share too. It didn't happen quietly, but with one swift flick of her sharp-clawed paw. I can almost imagine how this impatient cat drummed her tail against the table while waiting for me to understand Dig's cryptic hint. They knew where I was. But only I could really help myself out.
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When the wrinkled pile of fat inside my head eventually managed to process enough thoughts, my rear end finally came loose from the chair. I walked steadily toward the strange, vertical surface of the lake. After peace settled over me and I began writing this entry, Cook came to see me, and we had another little chat about branes. Now I’m sure that they are not just a theory, not just some kind of mathematical concept. I just went through one.
But there I stood, gathering scattered fragments of courage from around me. My nose almost touched the brane. Inhaling deeply, still under the spell of the same strange summer day illusion. Then I pushed my finger into the membrane. There was a strange tingling sensation and coldness, similar to that of a numb limb, but deeper. Like I was getting the same sensation from two different realities. Pearl said she noticed my finger sticking out from thin air immediately. Fortunately, she has enough control over her cat instincts, and there was no bloodshed.
Soon my entire arm was swinging through the air like a cheap horror movie special effect. Regardless of its apparent grotesqueness, the sight evoked more amusement and relief than fear. When I stepped back onto my home turf, I felt like a movie star.
Pearl had shown her emotions to me once before, but now she actually purred a little as she pressed herself against me. This lasted a couple of seconds until the queen was back to her usual self. Dig also came over to give me a hug. I accidentally pressed her head against my stomach, but managed to fix the situation by kneeling down to a suitable height. Hugging Babaru made me realize that even an angular creature can be extremely soft.
Winston, Cook, and Wurp had been watching from the background the whole time. Later, I received a brotherly pat on the shoulder from those with arms and a push on the side from Wurp. He was visibly proud of his sister. And of me, too, I'm sure. Although I didn’t initially take on my position voluntarily, my commitment is now absolute. The café takes care of its own. Even though Geber's mission was left unfinished, the café would never leave him behind. No one is left behind.
As strange as it may seem, I can now easily follow Geber's wild jumping around. Conversations are not blocked in any way. I am eternally grateful to Geber for saving me. He was the one who pulled me out of that dark corner where words failed me. He was the one who sat me at that strange, glowing table in the middle of nowhere to calm down. Thank you, Geber!
Returning to that strange reality will probably not cause any problems. But I’m not ready for that yet. Right now, spending time with my friends, or should I say, my new family, is all I want to do.
Till next time.
- Johnny