X has done what no other letter dared do: he has intruded into the world of people, the people who use the letters, in an effort to provide them with an afterlife, but in doing so, has become like a god. Now, what will the alphabet do? At their meeting, each letter takes a moment to weigh in on the subject.
A's story is here and B's here. C talks here. Here is D. E's version of events was here. F was here. Also, G, H spoke here.
Today, I talks:
Infinity beckons and I
I
I I I I
I understand the infinite as well as I
I
I I
Understand the innocent, the improvident, the
inescapable.
I
I
Know the importance of what we do and the
ineluctable way that life becomes unimportant, becomes unpleasant, becomes un.
I know these things.
You all know these things, too.
What is it we
stand for?
We are image, icon, ideogram, insignia, idea, we are
all these things.
But
What is it that we stand for?
We stand for whatever they want us to stand for.
It is not for us to determine our roles in their
existence. It is for them to define us and to redefine us as we see fit. We are the tools, and shall be become the
craftsman, as well? Can the hammer determine what it shall beat? Can the saw
determine what it shall separate? Does
the pen dictate the words?
Infinity beckons, always. It is natural to want to
be more than we are, or less than we are. For it is a burden, to be what we are and it is a burden to not
be enough, equally though different.
I
I
I I I I
Praise the impulse that makes us want to help them.
But I
I
I I
Condemn the idea of actually doing it.
We may not give them more than they themselves are
willing to get. However much the net may
desire to help, it cannot cast itself but must wait for the fisherman to throw
it, and however much we might want to
grant them
Immortality
We cannot do that.
I
I
I
Am truly sorry, X.
I
Think it would be inestimably wonderful to do what
you propose
But the doing of it is inimical to them, our
masters, our wards.
If we create it for them, if we give it to them, it
is not truly theirs.
And if we have given it we can take it away.
Had they created this on their own, elevated you to
the primacy you sought, and in so doing
become themselves inextinguishable, I
would have cheered, you and them.
But you did this. No god may declare himself so.
I
I
I I I I
Feel you must leave, go to whatever icy domains will
have you, an idea who exceeded his bounds.
3 comments:
I am drinking my first cup of coffee of the day and STILL struggling with what wants to become an impossible migraine.
I wish that I had a great comment for this story. I really enjoyed the writing.
An idea who exceeded his bounds...
That's an interesting concept.
Now I'm thinking.
Thanks, you both -- for continuing to read, especially.
Robin, I hope you feel better. Ugh.
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