Chapter 4.
   The Picnic  
   From “Stellar Graffiti”, Copyright 2001 Richard Allan Olson
    




   The crystal ship of the Golden Ones blinked back into physical reality not far from a familiar, average star.  The trip had been instantaneous.  One moment, the ship had occupied a position in a distant galactic cluster.  The next moment, it was here.  Long ago, a highly advanced race of builders had finally invented the “warp drive”, a long sought after means by which to sidestep the vast barriers of time and space between distant galaxies.  Without this technology, intergalactic civilization would have been impossible. 

   “Let us see where we are.” thought Taa.  Glowing silver eyes examined a hovering view screen.  Faa, floating not far from her mate, participated telepathically. 

   “A young Type One star… orbited by… a small, scorched planet… quite common… and then, farther out… a slightly larger planet with a dense, toxic atmosphere… a familiar pattern unfolds…  and then, pulling back…” 

   Suddenly, the golden beings shared a single, astonished thought.  

   “What in the name of all Creation is this?” 

   They beheld the monstrosity of architecture that was the derelict Monument.  They saw clearly, on the view screen, the towering vertical structures that appeared to be hand-crafted mesas and mountains, with deep, shadowed canyons, seemingly bottomless below countless other visible tiers and levels of the structure. 

   Taa and Faa studied the Monument in stunned silence.  At great length, Taa turned to his mate. 

   “And just when I was CERTAIN I had seen everything.”  


   Luna awoke on the boat.  She yawned and rubbed her eyes, and looked over to notice Milo alert at the helm.  She crawled the short length of the small skiff’s deck and nuzzled up next to him.  “I’ve been having the strangest dreams, recently.” she yawned.  Milo didn’t reply, and after a few moments, she shook her head and then leaned back to examine the sky. 

   “Well, by the position of the Temple,” she began, “I’d say I’ve been asleep for quite a while.  And by our current location,” she went on, noting the familiar features of the land, “I’d say you’ve been making very good time while I slept!” 

   “Yeah,” said Milo, straight faced, “perhaps there’s a connection between the two, somehow.  Besides, the wind’s been good.”  The pair had been at sea for more than two days, traveling east along the coast, never straying far from the mainland. 

   “Anyway, at this rate,” said Luna, “we should reach Isle Viro by sunrise.  Good job, Milo.  I’m glad to say you’ve been more useful than ballast on this trip.” 

   Shortly before the derelict Monument began to set, while there was still plenty of reflected light to illuminate the landscape, the pair made a quick stop upon one of the many small islands hugging the coast.  They ate from its plentiful berry bushes and fruit bearing trees, and collected as much as they could carry.  Also, Luna dove into the shallow water and spent some time gathering clams from the ocean floor.  After climbing back into the boat, Milo raised anchor and got them under way again, while Luna busied herself at the bow preparing the clams.  Her diminutive companion, the Aquatoo, clung fast to the bow cleat and cautiously peered over the edge of the boat. 

   “You’ve finally got it through your thick little head,” said the girl to the little animal, “that salt water is definitely NOT your element.”  She offered the creature a scrap of clam, which it took with no hesitation and eagerly began devouring.   

   After dinner, Luna rummaged through a wooden chest she’d brought along.  She pulled out a leather sack and emptied out the contents onto the deck.  Among the miscellaneous items was a small, sealed jar made of glass.  Luna held it up and closely scrutinized the objects inside. 

   “Here they are!” she said, proudly.  “Six little Flora Orbs, possibly the first of their kind ever discovered and described.  I’ll be so delighted if the mentor is unable to identify them!  That means, I will get to name the new genus, species, or sub species, whichever it would turn out to be!  I’ve even got some names in mind for each eventuality!  If it’s an entirely new genus, the name will be-” 

   Milo interrupted.  “Excuse me, dearest, but I’ve seen your orbs about a dozen times, now, and they are indeed remarkable.  But there will be plenty of time to discuss botany when we get to Viro’s.  Right now, I think we need to be at least a little concerned about the three or more Tiger Fish that have just started following us.” 

   Luna quickly set the jar down, rushed to the stern of the boat, and crouched down next to Milo.  Three fairly large triangular fins were slowly gliding just above the water’s calm surface, keeping pace with the little sailboat.  Then, a sudden gust of wind filled the sails, and the skiff picked up a little more speed.  Following suit, the fins cutting the surface of the water also began to accelerate.  Luna cursed and leapt back to the bow. 

   “Aquatoo,” she said, prying the creature from the cleat, “we need you to move away from the edge of the boat.  Come on, now.”  Together with her pet, Luna crouched down in the middle of the shallow hold below the deck. 

   “I think we’ll be alright.” said Milo.  “They probably won’t try anything against a boat this size.  Not if it’s only three fish.”  He tried to look hopeful.  Then two more fins appeared and joined the others.  “FIVE fish, however, greatly effect the attack probability.”  The wind then suddenly calmed, and the skiff began to stall.  The sinister fish started circling the boat. 

   “Time to make for deeper water.” said Milo.  “Nice and easy.  Can’t afford to excite them.  Just have to hope we can discourage them, somehow.”  As Milo carefully turned the boat out to sea, one of the fish bumped its angular snout against the hull, and the boat lurched.  At that, the Aquatoo panicked and jumped off Luna’s lap.  Before the girl could react, the little animal sprang up and over the edge of the boat and landed in the water with a splash.  Luna moved fast.  Leaning over the edge, she seized the creature by a hind limb, and frantically snatched the Aquatoo out of the water and hauled it back into the boat.

   “Nice save!” said Milo with a dry, nervous chuckle.  “But it might be a good idea to throw him back in.” 

   Luna laughed.  “Yeah, he’d be a single bite.  YOU, on the other hand, might actually detain them a while.”

   Milo had by this time drawn in the sail, and was trying to keep the boat as still as possible.  Luna kept a tight grasp on the Aquatoo in the hold.  The fish continued circling the boat.  Just then, something jumped, not far away.  Another, smaller fish.  It was enough to attract the attention of a few of the large fish encircling the skiff, and they went off in that direction to hunt.  After several tense moments, the other fish followed, and the tiny boat was forgotten.

   Milo let out the sails again, and set back for the mainland.  Luna let the Aquatoo relax in the hold, and she went to give Milo a hug.  He put his arm around her and there was a strange silence.  They said nothing.  It was the same, unusual silence that had arisen whenever there had been occasion to speak of death, dying, or nearly dying, or even dying someday.  It was as if there had been a mutual, unspoken decision to avoid such discourse, ever since learning of the impending fate of the cosmos.  They both knew it would come up again, once they told Viro the news.  Until then, they were still absorbing the impact of the situation, themselves, each in their own way.  Silently. 

   The Derelict had just set behind them, in the west, and the sun was just beginning to appear before them on the eastern horizon.  “There’s the cape.” said Luna, indicating a tiny point of land, still a considerable distance ahead.  “Isle Viro is practically just around the corner, now!” 

   Before long, as they drew near the point, Luna spotted something and jumped to her feet.  “There he is!  Look!”  Another, very similar boat was sailing around the end of the point.  “That’s him!  That’s the mentor!  It has to be him!”  A few minutes later the two skiffs were close enough for visual confirmation.  From his own craft, the figure in the other boat stood up, waved with both arms, and shouted, “Ahoy!”  After another minute, the two parties slowed and came to drift at a comfortable talking distance. 

   “Hey, old man!” Luna said loudly, with a wide smile.  “Where do you think YOU’RE going?  Looks like you’re loaded up for quite a long trip!”  In fact, Viro’s little boat was indeed filled with items one would take on a fairly lengthy sea voyage. 

   Viro, who was elderly, but not “old”, grinned back and replied, “Why, I’m setting off to the west!  On my way to the village to pay a visit to my favorite adventure girl, I am!  Care to join me?”  He started laughing.  It was an odd humor he seemed to find, as though he were laughing at something else, something much more amusing.  This made Milo feel a little uncomfortable.  He didn’t know Viro as well as Luna did, and in the past had always regarded him with a degree of skepticism. 

   Luna laughed and shook her head.  “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

   “Not this time.” Viro chuckled.  “Remember what I told you about synchronicity?” 

   “Yeah.” she replied.  “More reliable than a sundial.” 

   “You see,” explained Viro, “all I had to do was load up my boat, with the INTENT of paying you a visit.  Then, the next thing I know, here you are!  It is as magic!” 

   Viro then turned to Luna’s shipmate and nodded.  “Milo, it is good to see you again!  You MUST tell me of the Saurians, and what they’ve been up to, lately.  You know I like to stay informed, and you’re the one with the green tongue!” 

   Milo, trying his best to sound dispassionate, replied, “Yes, Viro, sir.  We’ve plenty to tell you, alright, including a VERY  interesting Saurian anecdote.” 

   Luna quickly thought up a way to interject.  “But, why, Viro?  Why were you on your way to see me?” 

   “I might very well ask you the same question.  And I intend to do just that.  But, before the questions and answers, why don’t we find a cozy little island retreat?  I know of one, just the other side of this point…”  Then, addressing Milo, he said, “How about it, Captain Milo?” 

   So, the two skiffs began sailing towards the mainland.  Having nothing to do but watch and wait, Luna could hardly remain patient.  When she spoke, she fairly bubbled over, as if in song.  “Viro, I found some Flora Orbs on my last trip through the interior!  You really must examine them right away!  I’ve never seen a type like this, and I’ll bet you haven’t, either!  This must be our first order of business, once we’ve docked!  Oh, and look what else I found…”  She grabbed her new pet by the scruff of its neck and held the creature aloft.  “An Aquatoo!  Can you believe it?  When was the last time you saw one of these?  And what’s even more incredible- I found this one not far from the village, just south of the gorge, at a freshwater pond!  What do you think?  At first, I couldn’t believe it, either!  Then I started thinking, it’s an escaped specimen… you know, somebody else found him first, much farther to the east, confined him, took him west, then he escaped, then…”  And Luna rambled on like this all the way to Viro’s island home. 

   The isle had once been the site of an elaborate Archian temple made of stone, now ancient and crumbling and overgrown with jungle foliage.  Over the years, Viro had restored and customized parts of it, finally fashioning a practical and functional place to live and conduct his biological work.  Adjoining the temple ruins was a large, wide, open garden.  These grounds were adorned with numerous pathways, now mostly obscured by the elements, and with strange and archaic statues, so weathered as to be nearly featureless.  In the center of this long untended garden, Viro had cleared away a spacious and pleasant picnic area.  Here, Milo laid stretched out on the grass, weary from travel, while Luna and Viro sat at a nearby stone bench.  In accordance with her request, Viro was busily examining Luna’s botanical discovery. 

   “Well,” said Viro at length, “you were right.  This is a species I have not encountered before.  Although, I think it’s safe to say it does belong to the Amacybe genus.  Notice the texture of the stalk, the shape of the cap, and the slightly convex placement of the gills.  It is almost certainly an Amacybe of some kind.” 

   Luna was irrepressibly gleeful.  “But it’s a new and unknown member, right?  You just said so, yourself!  I mean, come on!  An Amacybe… with a reddish cap and white speckles?” 

   “Yes,” replied Viro, “obviously an unknown species.  And, it follows, an extreme rarity.  Congratulations, my dear!  By what name shall this new species be known?” 

   Luna smirked and looked over at Milo, sprawled out on the ground.  “Amacybe milosa!” she proclaimed with a laugh.  Milo rolled his eyes and turned away.  “I’m not worthy of the honor.” he retorted.  She gazed at him with a pitiful expression and shook her head. 

   “Oh, he’s just tired.”  Then she picked up one of the orbs, held it beneath her nose, and inhaled deeply.  She shot a mischievous smile at Viro and said, “Let’s try them!” 

   Overhearing this, Milo sat up.  “What?” 

   “Oh, come on.” said the girl.  “They’re not poisonous.” 

   Milo jumped to his feet and came to stand at the picnic table.  “You don’t know that!  You just concluded that it’s an unknown species!  How can you say it’s not poisonous?  You can’t!” 

   Viro calmly responded, “True, indeed, but none of the known Amacybes are dangerous in this small quantity.  You see, the orb seems to produce a mild, psychoactive chemical agent.  When consumed, the effects are really very subtle.  One does not experience sensory distortion.  Rather, the Amacybe creates a well grounded and lucid enhancement of the ordinary senses.  In our daily lives, we take so much experience for granted.  All the while, we overlook the great majority of what is reality, and what is readily observable, only because we don’t know how to perceive.  The Amacybe simply removes some of those subconscious blinders that are installed in our minds.”  

   “Yeah,” said Luna, “and besides, you need to relax and lighten up, pal.  This is your remedy, right here.”  As Milo was about to voice another objection, Luna turned back to Viro and began calculating.  “So, a total of six… that would be two orbs each.  Perfect.”  She dumped the jar onto the table and divided up the contents.  Milo absently sat down next to her. 

   “We should have them with lunch.” said Viro.  He began to unpack a basket he’d brought along.  “Citras are good.  We’ve got plenty of those.  So are the pulpas, and most of the vine berries.  We’ve got a little of everything, here.” 

   As Viro prepared the table, Milo watched in apprehensive silence.  Luna placed two of the Flora Orbs in front of him.  He picked one up and studied it.  Then he looked at Luna.  She was happily intent upon the task and oblivious to his concern.  He watched, as, without a word, Viro and Luna unceremoniously ate the orbs, and then began having lunch.  After a few moments, Luna looked over at him.  “Go on, dear.  Don’t worry.  They don’t taste bad.  They don’t taste like anything, really.” 

   Milo finally gave in and hastily consumed one of the orbs.  Luna smiled cheerfully.  “See?”  He nodded, and she turned back to her meal.  He picked up the remaining orb, shrugged, and took a small bite out of it.  Then, after making sure his two companions weren’t watching, he covertly dropped the rest of the orb under the picnic table. 

   Luna took a bite out of a piece of fruit and with a mouthful said, “So let’s have it, old man.  Why were you on your way to the village to see ME?” 

   Viro considered the question for a while.  Then, he said, “Well, over the past several nights, I’ve been having an odd, reoccurring dream.  Rather, a succession of dreams, all with a similar scenario, and all with you, Luna, as the central figure.  In each dream, you have been faced with a very difficult undertaking of some sort… a task which demands of you tremendous strength or resolve.  And implied in the dream, somehow, is that the outcome of this task is of very great importance…”  Viro trailed off. 

   “So, how do I come out?” asked Luna. 

   “You always meet the challenge with the greatest of ease and simplicity.  You stand your ground with almost no effort at all.  Then, in some way, the requirements of the conflict become even more demanding.  But your resolve is always just a little stronger, no matter how great the struggle becomes.”  

   “I’m almost afraid to ask,” Luna said, “but… what is the final outcome?” 

   “That’s the problem.  In every instance, the dream ends and I awake before I get to see the outcome.”  Viro puzzled for a moment.  “I find myself very unsettled by this.  Usually I have no difficulty recognizing the underlying meaning or purpose of my own dreams.  This is why I decided to seek you out.  I thought that if I saw you again, and heard your voice again, it might bring that uncertainty to light.  I’m afraid it hasn’t.”  

   “Perhaps you were thrown off when we surprised you by showing up here so suddenly.” 

   “Well, then,” said Viro, “the surprise would now have to be considered part of the overall process.  Perhaps now my clairvoyance will allow me to extend that horizon farther ahead in time.  I don’t know.  Unfortunately, I have foreseen something else that may well render this matter moot.  You see, during a meditation three days ago, I was able to clearly divine that I am going to die very soon.  I don’t know how or when, exactly, but I’m quite certain of it.”  As Viro finished, he smiled at Luna, then turned to gaze out across the ocean.  “That was my other reason for deciding to visit you.” 

   With a sudden chill, Luna sat bolt upright.  “Viro, I…I…”  She turned to Milo, who was just as stunned as she.  As they looked into each other’s eyes, a lifetime seemed to pass between them in that instant.  She could tell he wanted to say something, and that he held his tongue only for her sake.  She could also see that he did so with some anger, and that the words were about to spill out, regardless.  She shook her head urgently, pleading with him to remain silent.  But he could not. 

   “If it’s any consolation to you, Viro, we’re ALL going to die, in a few days.”  Luna covered her face with her hands.  Viro looked up, puzzled.  Milo went on, “Luna and I listened in on a meeting of the Council three days ago.  Our friendly galactic neighborhood scientists, the Green Ones, have informed us that we live in a cosmos which is about to expire.  The end of the world.  That’s right, Viro.  The end of all Creation.  ‘Super-gravitational collapse’, the Saurians call it.  The entire universe, crushed out of existence by its own infinite gravity.  It’s all quite fascinating, really.  Would you care to hear the scientific explanation?” 

   By this time, Luna was in tears.  She rocked back and forth, quietly sobbing.  “No… No…”  At the sight of her, Milo suddenly felt very ashamed of himself.  He moved to take her in his arms, then caught himself, thinking perhaps, he shouldn’t. 

   “Luna, I… I’m sorry.  I… it was wrong of me to hurt you like that.  I just wasn’t thinking.  I…”  He looked at Viro helplessly.  Viro smiled at him, but it was a sad, empty smile, an expression of utter, soulful sorrow.  Then Viro turned back to watching the ocean. 

   After a while, Luna took Milo’s hand in her own, looked at him with wet eyes, and said, “Milo, my love, you didn’t do anything wrong.  You’ve only been helping me to deny this… and that was really very sweet of you, by the way… but the truth had to be confronted and dealt with, and you were not wrong to come out and speak it.”  She laid her head against Milo’s chest and sighed. 

   “Synchronicity…” said Viro, in a trance.  “It suddenly all makes sense.  My divination… I certainly don’t understand the Saurians and their ways, but I never doubt them, especially in matters of science.  And my dreams… the challenge that Luna faces… dream upon dream… upon dream… “  Viro then became lost in deep contemplation. 

   Milo and Luna were quite absorbed with each other, for that matter.  A great weight had been lifted, it seemed.  They spoke not of death, but of life and love, of being together to the end, and perhaps beyond, if the bond of their love should be so strong.  They spoke of things they had done, and things they wish they had done.  Finally, they felt free of this oppressive silence which had estranged them over the past few days.  Somehow, they had found themselves again. 

   At some point during their conversation, Viro had broken out of his trance and was watching Milo, suddenly studying him, as if for the first time, with a strange new fascination.  Abruptly, he made a fist, and planted it firmly on the table top. 

   “Milo,” he said, “we know each other, you and I.  We seem to hold very different ideologies.  After all these years, I want to have it out with you.  What do you say?  We’ll tackle anything you want.  The Creator.  The Monument.  The Saurians.  Science.  This whole space and time, living and dying thing.  You name it.  What say you, oh Rational One?” 

   Without hesitation, Milo grinned and replied, “You’re on, pal.  The other guy will choose the topic, we’ll take turns, and I’ll have my say first.  So, what’ll it be?” 

   Viro thought for a moment.  Then, looking up to the sky, he said, “Alright, tell me what you believe about the Holiest of Holies.” 

   “I used to believe as the Saurians did, that the Temple was once home to a high civilization, strangely departed, ages ago.  I never truly thought it to be the literal dwelling place of the one and only omnipotent Creator.  That idea went out when the Green Ones came.  Or at least, it should have.  But now, to be honest, I’m not sure WHAT to believe anymore.  As it turns out, the Saurians themselves admit they know far less about the Temple than we thought.  According to them, it is not designed to be functional in any apparent way, as one would expect the home of a high tech civilization to be.  Also, it turns out, the substance of which the Temple is made is impervious to the technology of even the Saurians.  They cannot make a scratch upon it.  What it all adds up to is this; the Temple must have been fashioned by a hand that not even the Saurians can imagine… an order of sentience so high, it might as well be called ‘Divine’ anyway.”  Milo paused.  “So, after all, I guess I’m leaning back towards a less natural explanation for the Temple.” 

   Suddenly, Viro burst into hysterical laughter and flung himself face down on the picnic table.  He shook with spasms of delight.  “Those poor Saurians!” he sputtered.  “After all that time spent getting here…”  He paused to laugh some more, and then took a deep breath, “and nearly two centuries exploring the damn thing…”  Viro doubled over with a renewed bout of laughter.  “Oh,” he finally exclaimed, “I must apologize, Milo, but it suddenly struck me as humorous.  All of that long history… all of that endeavor… and then the universe collapses on them, before they even have a clue.” 

   “Yes,” admitted Milo, “it is an irony.  The Saurians live in a very dismal world, scientifically speaking.  Yet in this world, science itself is their only comfort.  And now, their one faith has failed them at the last.” 

   Luna decided to lay flat on her back on the picnic table and gaze up at the sky, as Milo and Viro, each sitting on opposite sides of her, conversed for an hour.  At one point, Luna had felt the need to interrupt.  “Milo,” she said, “kiss me.  Don’t ask why, just do it.”  After Milo had obliged her, she said flatly, “That is all.  Carry on.”  The two men laughed. 

  “Uh… where were we?” asked Milo. 

   “The origin of sentience.” replied Viro. 

   “Right.  The first cause.  How did it all start?  Was this reality initiated by some divine, conscious intervention, or, did the stuff of the universe accidentally bump together in just the right way so that life could begin?  We could introduce a Creator to solve the problem, but then we need ask, ‘Where did the Creator come from?’, and we are faced with the same question again.” 

   “Our problem,” Viro announced, “is that we are creatures with minds that are designed to think in terms of time and space.  That is why we seek the answers to such abstract questions.  There’s no need to ask how life began.  The universe itself is alive.  The inanimate dust of Creation is itself a form of sentience.  We are divine, Milo.  So is everything around us.  It has order and purpose.  It’s as if the dust found its own magical way of turning itself into trees and animals and creatures like us who can think and wonder about itself.  Milo, we ARE the way in which the universe realizes its divinity.” 

   “Interesting.  A sentient universe that consciously initiates life.” 

   “Absolutely.  And the universe, being sentient, is also influenced by our will, by our affirmations.  This is what the ancient Magicians knew.  Thought is power.  The will is energy.”

   “Yes,” said Milo, “and the Saurians have said that energy cannot be created, nor can it be destroyed… and I have pondered this deeply, ever since learning of the Gravity Wells.  As I have explained, once devoured by the well, everything, all matter and energy, is INDEED destroyed.  At least, effectively removed from the universe.  The implications of this, you must agree, are staggering.  If thought is power and will is energy, then this challenges the very concepts of ’Soul’ and ’Immortality’.  Ordinary death is one thing.  But this…”  Milo shook his head in despair.

Luna sat up and said, “And you’re right, Milo, it IS a lovely afternoon.  I was hoping someone besides myself would notice.  You know, I’ve been laying here listening to you two, and I admit that I understand very little of what you are talking about.  But I’m pleased to say that I CARE even less.  You boys can sit and debate the mysteries of creation until the end of the world!  Literally!  A unique opportunity, indeed!  But where will it get you, well?  Where did it get the Saurians?” 

   The girl then sprang off the table and crouched in front of a nearby patch of wild flowers.  She gently took one of them in her hands.  “You see this blossom?  I’ll bet the Saurians could tell you exactly how this grows.  They would tell you the how, where, when, how often, and so forth, and prove their conclusions with volumes of information.  But the Saurians couldn’t tell you ‘Why’ the blossom grows.  And that is the simplest question of all!  It grows, so that, as we travel along the path of life, we can stop on occasion and smell the blossoms.  That’s why!”  Luna had worked herself into an impassioned speech. 

   Milo and Viro looked at each other.  Then, in unison, they both stood up and began to applaud.  Luna was momentarily bewildered.  Then she smiled and bowed.  “Thank you.  Thank you, esteemed colleagues.  And now, for the next order of business on the agenda…”  She jumped to her feet.  “Last one to the beach is a Saurian’s Grandmother!”  Milo leapt over the picnic table, and Viro managed to get up and running as Luna passed him.  The three of them made a mad dash for the beach. 

   They spent much of the afternoon simply enjoying the primordial pleasures of the sea, the sand, and the sun.  As far as Luna was concerned, this was an eternal, wonderous day.  She felt she was one of the last three people left in existence, here in this idyllic tropical paradise at the very edge of the world.  From high above the deep blue, the sun conducted a symphony of brilliance and color.  Drifting in the shallow water, Luna surrendered herself to the sublime authority of the eternal motion of the waves.  Later, she proclaimed herself to be a goddess, built a sand castle as a monument to her divinity, and then laughed as the advancing tide came in and washed it away. 

   Back at the picnic area, as they ate dinner, the trio traded stories and reminisced over the times of their lives.  As the sun began to sink towards the horizon and twilight gathered upon the garden, Luna suddenly realized it had started getting late.  She insisted they spend some time quietly watching the sunset.  “There won’t be many more.” she said.  “We can’t just let them slip by, unappreciated.” 

   After the sun had gone down, they turned to face the east, where the leading edge of the mammoth Derelict had just begun to rise.  They watched as it slowly filled the eastern horizon, and its surface features started coming into focus.  None of them spoke for a long time.  All three were taken by the spectacle of it, mesmerized with a sense of wonder.  Finally, Viro had to laugh.  He turned to Milo. 

   “Can you even imagine what our early ancestors must have felt and thought, looking up at this?” 

   Milo replied, “Why, it remains as much a mystery now as it must have been millennia ago.  Even a race as advanced as the Saurians failed to unlock its secret.  I tell you, after all this time… after all the rational, scientific reasoning, I’m almost ready to accept that it really may be… what our people have always believed it to be.  I… I’ve certainly come up with no better theory.” 

   “Perhaps it is not even ‘Real’ at all.” said Viro.  “Dream reality.  As with a dream, we often don’t realize we are actually sleeping and dreaming until we wake up.  Perhaps life, as we perceive it, is just a dreamscape playground, of sorts, a place of learning.  Death, then, would be like a great waking up into the familiar realm wherein we really exist.  I mean, look at how little is actually, truly KNOWN to us, here.  ‘Truth’ is so intangible at times, and often confused with subjectivity.  Especially now, I find the notion of dream reality to be as valid as any other ideology.” 

   “So,” said Milo, “from your point of view, Luna and I are merely a part of your own, subjective dream world?” 

   “Either that, or you are fellow dreamers, here in a shared reality of the imagination.” 

   “Yeah, but whose imagination?  Mine?  Yours?” 

   “I told you before, Milo.  The universe IS a mind.  Perhaps what we call reality is the dream of the mind of the universe, and we are merely figments of the cosmic imagination.  But the relationship of the one to the whole is the key, for we all belong to the whole, and therefore we are like unto it.  If the cosmos is divine, then so are we.”

   All eyes were upon the looming Derelict in the sky above.  The garden was bathed in its rust-orange half light.  Once more, time seemed to stand motionless.  The only sounds upon the air were the constant, aqueous rushing of surf on sand, and the gentle caress of the tropical breeze rustling in the tall palms.  The trio layed stretched out, weary from the day, and began to grow tired.  Milo was the first to fall asleep.  Then Viro.  Luna sat with the Aquatoo until the small animal, also, went to sleep.  She sighed and closed her eyes. 

   “Dreams.” she whispered to herself.  “Oh, boy.”