Archaic thinking

Peratallada, Palau-sator and Pals, situated in the south-eastern corner of Girona province, offer well-preserved medieval town centres where tourists can purchase regionally made handicrafts and eat expensive dinners in carved-out restaurants or simply walk through deserted backstreets. While some of the merchandise on offer is definitely worth serious contemplating, it does condemn the spectacular surroundings to a background role. Don’t worry about sentiments, the houses seemed to say, we’re just décor.

 

The subterranean traveller and Trandi Romantic would not agree. Rather, they appreciated how these tiny towns had been protected against perceived outside danger by enormous stone walls and towers. There are more of such fortresses around Spain and the two of them had been discussing the fear induced mindset of the original townspeople before, so silence accompanied them this time. What was there to say now that people all over the world appear to have fallen back on an eerily similar perspective on life? Rehashing unpleasant truths is not their favourite pastime.

 

Follow the science, mate, this technique is at least 15 years old. They know what they are doing.

You think so? They’ve never tried it on humans before. They admit it’s a test which will be running for a good year more.

Well, my friend got sick, so I took it for him.

And I don’t want no messing with my genetics. I’m not a potato.

Don’t worry. When its work is done, the information will get lost.

Really? Who told you so?

 

Fear is the great equaliser. There are no stone walls to hide behind these days, nor enemies that can be held by them. Everyday life has all become so incomprehensible, that surrender to the force majeur seems the sensible solution in the eyes of many who believe society should be ruled by an ever more efficient and invasive government. Yet, surrender always turns into submission. There soon will be no freedom left to think or make decisions. There will only be the prescribed way, which one must follow to the letter, or else. Back in the day, in Eastern Europe, prescriptions came on paper and could relatively easily be falsified. Those dreamy days are over. The Holy Digit has got us in an iron grip.

 

Relax, mate, we all follow the science here. No need to bother us with your theories.

My theories, as you call them, come from scientists who have been active in the field of genetic manipulation most of their working life. It’s them who say the jabs aren’t safe.

That’s a bit late, then, to say so.

I’ve been saying it from the beginning, but nobody was listening.

Still, I haven’t seen you at the vaccination centre.

To do what?

Warn us, dammit! Now we’re stuck with this poison, as you claim.

Cleanse your body. There’s still info out on the net. You’re not alone.

 

The only way to somewhat survive seems to be focussing on preferred narratives time and again to at least preserve a token of what was once considered reality but is now dismissed as conspiracy theory. Imagine that, our collective memory has apparently become a lie. We were not who we thought we were, nor are we now. Can we accept a completely new reading of what we believe to be our profound being? The traveller and Trandi for sure couldn’t. Their need to feel free, whether real or not, was grounded too deep to simply abandon their faith in the face of collective hysteria. As they were used to from long before the covid madness began engulfing humanity, they were once again spending a good deal of money on a weekend retreat in the countryside, and they were not going to have their fun spoiled by depressing metaphors.

 

I had nothing more to say in my defence. My private thoughts on the matter I kept quiet. Were they actually going to vent their anger on me? I quickly built up faith to resist their reactions. They were four thirty-something office workers of the gym-type. Not muscular, but definitely fit. While their thinking was not very exciting, their collective strength was certainly impressive.

I believe I must be going. My family expects me.

You got a wife, then?

Or is it a husband? With a dog for a kid.

Gentlemen, my private life is none of your business. So why don’t you let me go my way? I’m just a vax-free neighbour. Don’t get all upset.

At that point my telephone ran out of battery and recording stopped. Since memory fails me here, there is no other end to this story than you make of it.

 

Inevitably, their attention got caught by an overripe moon hanging in the midnight sky, pretending to be eternal and emitter of forever flowing energies. Its sparkle on the rippling surface of a slow-moving sea only exacerbated its pompous self-importance. The moon, of course, is there only for those who want to see it, whereas the sun is inescapable. They tried to capture the beautiful spectacle before their eyes on camera but failed miserably. Big Digit wouldn’t allow for a fair rendition of nature’s vibrations.

 

Yes, there is something magical about watching the moon bossing it over turbulent waters, directing the rhythm of the waves with the help of its bleak authority, she who makes darkness a living part of day, forcing the restless currents to submit to ancient tradition and nature’s demands. Free waves are just a meme, girl, it never was like that. We all surrender to Earth’s desire, we have no choice. Do you go down for fun or service? I guess it’s only natural people mistake power for life. Just take what kills you and you will be okay.