The Pepperman In a Cyborg World

I OPENED A DOOR AND FOUND MYSELF IN FRIENDLY SURROUNDINGS. QUITE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ADVENTURES. I WASN'T SO INVISIBLE OR OR SHALL WE SAY UNSEEN. I WAS NOT THE OBSERVER THIS TIME AROUND OR WAS I. IN FACT THIS ADVENTURE WAS PECULIAR IN A WAY. I WAS WITH TWO, SUPPOSEDLY FRIENDS. THAT WAS A FIRST. THE THREE OF US WERE CHALLENGED TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS FOR A MILLION DOLLARS. I DID NOT THINK TO ASK MYSELF WHAT IS THE VALUE. I SOME HOW WAS ELECTED OR SELECTED. NOT SURE HOW THAT CAME ABOUT. WE, MEANING THE THREE OF US, TOOK ON THE CHALLENGE. WE WERE TOLD THERE ARE QUITE A FEW QUESTIONS. I JOKED, IF IT'S TWO THOUSAND, I'M OUTTA HERE. IF ONLY EIGHT HUNDRED OR LESS, LETS MOVE ALONG. NOT SURE WHY I MADE THAT REMARK. I GUESS ONE QUESTION EVERY HOUR OR EVERY DAY? NEVER CROSSED MY MIND. I LOOKED TO MY LEFT AND MY SUPPOSEDLY FRIENDS WERE NOT THERE. ONE QUESTION EVERY HOUR? ANYWAY. THE FIRST QUESTION WAS NOT A TOUGH QUESTION. I JUST DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS. THE FIRST INTERVIEWER? RESEARCHER? DOCTOR? ONLY ASKED THAT ONE SIMPLE QUESTION. NOT SURE HOW LONG I WAITED BEFORE A SECOND PERSON OR QUESTIONNEER? SHOWED UP. I WAS NOT WEARING A WATCH OR TIME PIECE, THERE WERE NO CLOCKS IN MY VICINITY OR SURROUNDINGS. THERE WAS PLENTY LIGHT. NO WINDOWS. ANOTHER QUESTION THAT DID NOT REQUIRE A WHOLE LOT OF THOUGHT. HOWEVER, IN RETURN I DID ASKED THE QUESTION WHY THE LONG PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN QUESTIONS. AGAIN I MADE THE MISTAKE OF MAKING A, OR, THE REMARK. NO PROBLEM I HAVE NOTHING BUT TIME. WHY DID I SAY SUCH A THING. NOW I HAD TO ASK MYSELF THE QUESTION WHERE AM I? WHAT AM I DOING? MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY FAVORITE QUESTION. WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON? AM I UNDER OBSERVATION? I HAD THE FREEDOM TO MOVE AROUND. HOWEVER I RESTRICTED MYSELF IN A WAY BECAUSE I WAS WAITING FOR THE NEXT QUESTION. NOW I START LOOKING AROUND FOR CAMERAS MOTION SENSORS AND SUCH THINGS. WHY WOULD PEOPLE? RESEARCHERS? OBSERVATIONIST? LEAVE ME UNATTENDED? I STARTED TO ROAM AROUND. OF COURSE MY CURIOSITY WAS STIMULATED. AFTER ALL, I AM THE PEPPERMAN. CREATURA OF CURIOSITY. I WONDERED IN TO WHAT I THINK WAS SOME SORT OF LUNCH ROOM. I SAW A COUPLE PLATES WITH WHAT APPEARED TO BE RAW MEAT PATTIES. AT THE SAME TIME ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WALKED UP BEHIND ME SAID IT WAS VEAL. WE BOTH SAT DOWN ON NOT SO COMFORTABLE CHAIRS MADE OF PLASTIC AND FIBER. IF YOU REMEMBER THOSE TYPE CHAIRS. HE MADE A STATEMENT THAT HAD ME PUZZLED. HE SAID AND I QUOTE "IF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE MY EYES I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO BE THE RECIPIENT." I'M NOT SURE IF HE ASKED A QUESTION AFTER THAT. I WAS ASKING MYSELF THE QUESTION WHY AM I NOT HUNGRY. AFTER SEEING WHAT I WAS TOLD WAS VEAL. THE 1973 MOVIE SOYLENT GREEN CAME TO MIND. WITH CHARLTON HESTON AND EDWARD G. ROBINSON. I THOUGHT ABOUT HIS STATEMENT. WHY WOULD SOMEONE MAKE SUCH A STATEMENT? AND I HAD TO ASKED MYSELF THE QUESTION. WOULD I PAY A MILLION DOLLARS TO SEE WHAT I HAVE SEEN. OPEN DOORS IN THE UNIVERSE AND TRAVEL FORWARD AND BACKWARD IN TIME? Michael E. Harris 032221