A Survivor's Guide to Eternity(25)
“How could you know?”
“We can only surmise, but certainly some I have rescued have been subjected to failed rescue attempts further back along the tunnel. T’is suggesting to me that there may be more communities in both directions. Many Transients that are stranded here seem to be first-timers, so t’is hard to know too much.”
“Stuck? Will I be here forever like you?” queried Ed nervously.
“Verily the choices presented to you are many, even though they not reveal themselves with haste. Of course, you could tarry here. Ageless and timeless. A strange idea indeed, but t’is truly a very peaceful and calm place, with no particular demands or rivalries. Everyone is relaxed and reflective. Some state it resembles a large sensory deprivation tank of existence - not that I have ever seen such a tank.”
“Mmm, not sure I would want to live like that. I need hope and objectives.”
“Alternatively, you could get back into the flow and become Transient again.”
“Really! How would that work?”
“Well, there is a small stairway which cuts through the rock around and above the main tunnel. There is an opening and you can jump down and get abruptly swept into the flow.”
“Really? Does it work?”
“Not always, in truth. There are occasions when ‘jumpers’ plummet all the way through the main flow into the lesser flow at the bottom of the tunnel. They drift off downstream, as when you were floating.”
“Well if there are further communities along the way, wouldn’t they get rescued by them?”
“There is not really any way to reach them at the bottom of the tunnel. Your good self was floating along at the side of the stream at the same height as the entrance. That was just lucky. Many more float past on the other side or too low or too high. T’is random. Maybe they get into a better position to be rescued further along.”
“Heavy duty. I wonder what happens to all those souls?”
“I too. Another thing you need to bear in mind is that your choice is limited by time. Just like as a Transient you have just a few days to die, once you are here, you have a similar limitation. You have four days to decide. I can tell thee, after that, t’is final. You either attempt to continue onto your next transience or else stay here peacefully forever.”
“Really? That’s intense. Why only four days?” replied Ed, as they made their way past the hub and back along the adjoining tunnel to the opening.
“Goodness knows. They say God works in mysterious ways but it seems that everything works in mysterious ways.”
“What’s to stop me jumping back into the stream after the four days have expired?”
“Nothing at all, the only thing is you will end up here again. Do you not imagine that people would have tried it already?”
“I suppose so. Can we go back and see the stream again please? What did you call it? The Transience tunnel? I’m intrigued and I want to know a little more.”
“Most certainly, whatever you wish,” replied Thomas as they got up, separated the silky curtain and moved out into the tunnel and back towards the place they first met. It was only a short distance back through the tunnels and the two men walked at a calm but assured pace, proceeding past the complex intersection and onwards to the tunnel of souls.
As they approached the opening they came across a third man dressed in an American football kit, brightly coloured and complete with shoulder pads. In one hand was a long crook similar to the one used to save Ed whilst the other clutched onto his enormous cage like helmet. American footballers looked ridiculous to Ed at the best of times. The huge brightly coloured padded costumes, crazy knee pads, testicle protectors and eye makeup that made them look like they’d sold their cheeks as advertising spaces. This gent was no less ridiculous, his fat head and crew-cut hair looking more like a thin layer of Astroturf.
“Yo, Bro,” he drawled, looking at the approaching duo before adding, “Yaw scooped one from the tunnel, Dude?”
“Greetings, Bob, yes, this morning. Bob, meet Ed, Ed, meet Bob.”
Bob put his caged helmet down onto the ground at the side of the tunnel, and after a round of customary handshakes, rested the crook against the wall and headed back into the tunnels towards the rooms.
“Yeah, Man, thought I saw one myself but then lost sight of ‘em. Maybe they’ll get them further down,” bemoaned the sportsman as he continued on his way.
“We shall readily continue our endeavours though, Bob, think you not?”
“For sure, Bro, locked and loaded,” replied Bob over his shoulder as he walked into the distance.