The Glint of the Luopan

Chapter 5

The brown bottle sat on the middle board of my shelf all week. From time to time, I would steal a glance at it, catching the reflection of my face on the surface. It was strangely distorted as if I was already tripping.

I tried looking for more information online. First came a picture of an old man on a bicycle. 'Albert Hofmann, inventor of LSD' read the caption. Apparently, he had accidentally taken an extreme dose and had ended up cycling frantically through the streets of his hometown.

I clicked on to an article. It said that LSD had been used for psychological treatment in the 50s and 60s. Afterwards, the Hippies had discovered it for recreational purposes. Timothy Leary had propagated the drug nationwide, doing research and speeches. After his death, his mortal remains were shot into space, where they burned up as shooting stars onre-entry into the atmosphere. Life and death were apparently glorious for those who confided in the drug.

On another website, I saw different brain scans showing how LSD slowly activated all parts of the brain. Whereas the first few scans showed a slow increase of neuronal activity, in the 8th picture, the brain seemed to be on fire, like a city seen from above alive with firework explosions on New Year's Eve. Beneath the picture, it said, During the course of one's life, certain areas of the brain take over distinctive functions. They develop routines and 'freeze'. LSD forces the separate areas to cooperate again and to take over unusual tasks.

Could the drug activate parts of the brain which had become inactive after my accident? Parts that stored memories that dated back to previous times? It seemed to be my only chance anyway, considering that my grandma and the databases were spitting out nothing useful.

But did I even want these memories back? What if they were horrible? I'd not be able to trade them for others. Some people in my mnemotherapy group had fallen into depression as soon as they had unearthed certain memories.

So I was pondering, pacing up and down in my room. I looked out the window, admired the Luopan, ran my finger over the raised grey areas of the world map that you were supposed to rub off as soon as you had traveled to a country. Finally, I grabbed my phone and texted Suresh.

I want to try it. I think it could incite my brain to go on an inner scavenger hunt. 🗝️

I knew you would like my present 🎁 But don't do anything on your own. I should be your trip sitter 😊

What, like a babysitter? 🍼

Yes, just to make sure you won't do anything risky while tripping, like falling down the stairs and breaking your beautiful head.

Oh no, that only happens to you.

Fair enough 😜

☯☯☯

Suresh came by around 4:30 on Friday. I felt on edge. Maybe my whole life was going to change in the next few hours.

"I thought that this might happen," Suresh said. "So, I brought some Ayurveda tea to calm you down first."

"Wow, you've already proven yourself as a trip sitter." I gave him a kiss on the cheek and he pretended, as he always did, that he was a little embarrassed and wanted to withdraw. By now it had become a game, just like the thing with Mr. Socio and his other personalities.

I went into the kitchen, put on the kettle, and unpacked the tea. "For you as well?"

"No, thank you. I am not really keen on that stuff, but I thought you might like it." This guy never seemed to want anything for himself.

I came back into the living room with a little teapot and a cup and put both on the coffee table. Then, I went back to the kitchen to fetch Suresh a glass of water.