Planet B-17: The Beginnings

Chapter 12: Eternity Smiles

See, Zadek, my son, all time is no time.

Standing on the whiteness as if upon clouds, albeit clouds they were not, but whiteness of Spirit – a material light on the threshold of entering physicality, ready for it, but impatient not; so standing there, Zadek glanced at the star-strewn sky, knowing it was a mind-image, a translation into what he could understand, for this was a streak of existence quite apart from what lay beyond the gateways of merging space and time.

And the ease in his mind and his chest came upon him as a soothing breeze, for he was simultaneously all of this place and a small part of it. It came to him to ask,

"Where will I go, when this is done?"

Your cycles of becoming are never-ending, said Omiran, but if you want an answer, look into your future and decide for yourself.

Instantly he accessed one of the Time-bands and travelled along it at the speed of his mind, at some point deciding a stairway in luminous paces that slowed him down enough for an image of himself to emerge and gain in broadness until it occupied all of his view.

He was older, indeed, his ear-long, curly hair that had once been black, now a mix of silver and dark grey. It was as if seeing through the surface of a river, for his awareness must remain solidly and firmly where he was; thus he focused his older self into better view, reaching out in thought and in essence, reaching out in feeling and emotion, reaching out in I-know-you-although-you-do-not-know-me. And he was glad to know himself on that level, he rejoiced in seeing his wrinkles and his golden clock-wheels eyes, a tad more luminous, perhaps, and vastly more serene.

His older self was sitting behind a wooden desk in a comfortably-looking study, books-filled shelves on the walls around, spare where there were elements of decor and alcoves with paintings. A carpet covered the floor under his feet and desk and all the way to the glass-wall, its doors ajar, white, transparent curtains flowing in the mild wind.

He stepped onto the carpet and the floor.

Be watchful not to interfere, advised Omiran.

His older self was reflecting, his gaze faraway, his left hand upon a large book he was reading, and noticing not –

He stirred, his sight acuter, and he perused the room.

Omiran felt close and ready to intervene. Step back, he warned, and Zadek lifted his awareness back to mere sight, thus removing himself from the proximity of his older self.

I wish to remain a while longer, he asked Omiran.

Very well, his Maker retorted.

The now-watching-sequence-Zadek was observing the now-being-watched-sequence-Zadek, and for an instant, they both smiled. Perfect sync.

Does he know?

He remembers.

I have just added this episode to his knowledge, haven't I?

Omiran, though non-physical Presence, seemed to smile. Corresponding wealth of insight is available both ways, for this is you and that.

What do you mean?

Observe and learn.

Omiran's favourite sentence – so dear to his own heart. I will.

The older Zadek appeared to have gone from seeking answers through reflection to scanning Time-bands in an agile glance. He knew something that felt familiar was near. Leaning forward, forearms upon the book, he listened and he watched.