The New Dawn of Man

Their yellow teeth smile, stained a lacquer brown. We swap greetings, though the format banal. Actions reveal bedeviled, forced manners - - - though fear could not goad me to leave, undone. The wise one approached, glistening black, shines. Covered with burned motor oil, the smell reeks. Chanting, he leads high above the lagoon. A small cave, on the outcrop of the cliff, would be where my ritual would begin. He crushes some small pods into a paste, and motions to hold it under my tongue, while I drew on a long gurgling reed pipe. I went inside the cave, but he stood firm. Confusion began to muddle my thoughts …. His finger in the flame began to burn, and his whole body shortly thereafter. It was so peaceful, I waited enthralled. Suddenly a fiery mouth engulfed me. As I shrank into the mottled abyss, the creatures converse and our minds entwine- - Their entire saga long before the earth; how this grand experiment came to be. How pleased they were with the spirit of man, and his penchant to learn and understand. The beautiful gel being, touched my chest. It felt more strange than the fire still burning. I could see all manner of strange symbols, instantly knowing the meaning of each. Equations, by the hundreds, flowing in. Faster and faster millions and millions, of bits of data flow from his vast mind ! And I awoke---how long- -what- --just a dream? My mouth funky, I needed some water. As I sipped at the table and doodled, (something which I never do) I glanced down at my college grad Buddha; I had drawn him looking at a blueprint- - An inter-dimensional transporter? for Catie's"out of body" contest.