Rattling down highway 4 at Warp5 (Jean-Luc never traveled like this),
a length contraction has transformed our minibus into a Microbus. i
feel a certain camaraderie with the chickens in the coup that just
shot past us (or did we shoot past them?). at least i think it was a
chicken coup; warp speed does funny things to familiar points of
reference. we stop (somehow), and a weathered old man boards. carrying
a cane. of course. whatever happened to his original voicebox i
cannot tell you, but out of necessity he has deftly hijacked one from
a hyena (because one is Always deft when carrying a cane). and some
time ago, as it seems this voicebox is well worn-in. I wish i could
understand what he is saying, as the back-end of the Micro in stitches
(and this time, it's not about me), and he doesn't draw breath for 2
hours.
looking beyond these husky tales, the landscape is in constant
contrast to itself. i realise there is something oddly
self-referential about today's sojourn, but just can't turn around
fast enough to catch the punchline. moving outside our contracted
vehicle, the Euphrates wrenches a deep emerald streak through the
desert, narrowly carpeted on either side by luscious wheat belts. a
single glimpse brings this all into focus, and makes for a stunning
image to imprint on the back of the brain-case.
hugs and love from the Dawn of Civilisation
joe