In the Marches

johndallman · 03-12-2015, 02:01 PM

"Oh, no. Not more hallucinations!"

"I'M AFRAID THIS IS NO HALLUCINATION. YOU ARE, IN FACT, DEAD."

"But this is ridiculous. I don't believe in Death, he was just something I used."

"AS YOU WROTE YOURSELF, WHAT MATTERS IS NOT IF YOU BELIEVE IN SUPERNATURAL THINGS, BUT IF THEY BELIEVE IN YOU."

"But ... I'm dead. It's all over. I can't be talking to you. I'm an atheist. Ah..."

"ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN. THERE IS A GOD. AND A LUCIFER. THERE IS A HEAVEN AND A HELL. NONE OF THE RELIGIONS HAVE THIS STUFF QUITE RIGHT, BUT MOST OF THEM HAVE PARTS OF IT. EVERY HUMAN HAS A DESTINY, WHICH WILL LEAD THEM TO HEAVEN, AND A FATE, WHICH WILL LEAD THEM TO HELL. YOUR DESTINY WAS TO SMUGGLE LITERATURE INTO THE HEARTS OF CHILDREN. YOUR FATE ... WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING UNFORTUNATE AS A PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FOR A NUCLEAR POWER STATION."

"So, where is this?"

"THIS IS THE MARCHES, THE LAND OF DREAMS, WHICH BORDERS HEAVEN AND HELL. APART FROM DREAMS, THINGS THAT PEOPLE IMAGINE, OR BELIEVE IN BECOME ACTUAL HERE, AT LEAST A LITTLE."

"Are you the Death I imagined?"

"AND WHICH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE READ ABOUT. VERY FEW OF THEM ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN ME, BUT A LOT OF THEM WANT TO."

"And what happens now?"

"THIS IS A LITTLE IRREGULAR. SOMEONE LIKE YOU WOULD GO TO THE GATES OF HEAVEN. NORMALLY. BUT WE FIND OURSELVES HERE. I PRESUME THAT I AM TO ESCORT YOU THERE. BUT SUCH AS I ARE NOT PERMITTED IN HEAVEN."

"But ... that's ridiculous. I'll speak to somebody! Who?"

"I'M AFRAID THAT HEAVEN IS SOMEWHAT INFLEXIBLE. I HAVE BEEN KILLED MORE THAN ONCE, WHEN PEOPLE REALLY WANTED ME TO ESCORT THEM THERE, BUT IT IS MY DUTY."

"Well, if they want me to go in there, they're going to have to allow you too."

At the gates, Tolkien and Wodehouse led the welcoming party. And from that day on, the angels bowed to that ethereal.

robkelk · 03-12-2015, 04:58 PM

Thank you, John.

When pTerry was knighted, he chose the motto Noli Timere Messorem ("Don't Fear the Reaper"). Knowing that that adds just a bit more to your story... at least, so I think.

johndallman · 03-12-2015, 05:11 PM

You're welcome. The idea occurred to me several years ago, but the words would not come until today.

03-12-2015, 02:01 PM	#1
johndallman Night Watchman Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cambridge, UK	In the Marches "Oh, no. Not more hallucinations!" "I'M AFRAID THIS IS NO HALLUCINATION. YOU ARE, IN FACT, DEAD." "But this is ridiculous. I don't believe in Death, he was just something I used." "AS YOU WROTE YOURSELF, WHAT MATTERS IS NOT IF YOU BELIEVE IN SUPERNATURAL THINGS, BUT IF THEY BELIEVE IN YOU." "But ... I'm dead. It's all over. I can't be talking to you. I'm an atheist. Ah..." "ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN. THERE IS A GOD. AND A LUCIFER. THERE IS A HEAVEN AND A HELL. NONE OF THE RELIGIONS HAVE THIS STUFF QUITE RIGHT, BUT MOST OF THEM HAVE PARTS OF IT. EVERY HUMAN HAS A DESTINY, WHICH WILL LEAD THEM TO HEAVEN, AND A FATE, WHICH WILL LEAD THEM TO HELL. YOUR DESTINY WAS TO SMUGGLE LITERATURE INTO THE HEARTS OF CHILDREN. YOUR FATE ... WOULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING UNFORTUNATE AS A PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FOR A NUCLEAR POWER STATION." "So, where is this?" "THIS IS THE MARCHES, THE LAND OF DREAMS, WHICH BORDERS HEAVEN AND HELL. APART FROM DREAMS, THINGS THAT PEOPLE IMAGINE, OR BELIEVE IN BECOME ACTUAL HERE, AT LEAST A LITTLE." "Are you the Death I imagined?" "AND WHICH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE READ ABOUT. VERY FEW OF THEM ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN ME, BUT A LOT OF THEM WANT TO." "And what happens now?" "THIS IS A LITTLE IRREGULAR. SOMEONE LIKE YOU WOULD GO TO THE GATES OF HEAVEN. NORMALLY. BUT WE FIND OURSELVES HERE. I PRESUME THAT I AM TO ESCORT YOU THERE. BUT SUCH AS I ARE NOT PERMITTED IN HEAVEN." "But ... that's ridiculous. I'll speak to somebody! Who?" "I'M AFRAID THAT HEAVEN IS SOMEWHAT INFLEXIBLE. I HAVE BEEN KILLED MORE THAN ONCE, WHEN PEOPLE REALLY WANTED ME TO ESCORT THEM THERE, BUT IT IS MY DUTY." "Well, if they want me to go in there, they're going to have to allow you too." At the gates, Tolkien and Wodehouse led the welcoming party. And from that day on, the angels bowed to that ethereal.

03-12-2015, 04:58 PM	#2
robkelk Untitled Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: between keyboard and chair	Re: In the Marches Thank you, John. When pTerry was knighted, he chose the motto Noli Timere Messorem ("Don't Fear the Reaper"). Knowing that that adds just a bit more to your story... at least, so I think. __________________ Rob Kelk “Every man has a right to his own opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts.” – Bernard Baruch, Deming (New Mexico) Headlight, 6 January 1950 No longer reading these forums regularly.

03-12-2015, 05:11 PM	#3
johndallman Night Watchman Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cambridge, UK	Re: In the Marches You're welcome. The idea occurred to me several years ago, but the words would not come until today.