NoRule
06-08-2011, 02:29 AM
I will try to post the subsequent parts daily as I write them. Enjoy!
PART ONE - THE INTRODUCTION
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Overwhelmed with uncertainty, I am being led by a strange man down a corridor of a building I have no recollection of entering, not even sure of why I am following this man. Each step is marked with the jingle of keys on a keyring the man is holding – for this I decide to refer to him as the keymaster. Every couple of paces or so I pass a door on either side of me, each with a golden plaque engraved with black numbers. I suppose they are room numbers, but it is difficult to comprehend a building with billions of rooms, unless the operator of the complex prefers large numbers over common ones. Each door is similar to the rest but not quite the same – some resemble rosewood, others oak, others mahogany. Occasionally the doorways are inlaid with glorious veneers. At this point I am astounded at what I am witnessing.
We continue our pace; my footsteps are synchronized with the rhythm of the jangles. The keymaster is slightly ahead of me and his right shoulder is aligned with my left. His arms are unordinarily long, and the length is accented by his hunched posture. Studying him further I realize for the first time that both he and I are bare from head to toe – with a shot of adrenaline I feel my blood heat my ears and my palms begin to perspire. Where the **** am I? Panic ensues and my thoughts are cluttered and inebriated. Where the ****… My mind races with assumptions, imaginary situations and plans for escape. I figure I should try to converse with the keymaster. Before I speak, I test myself by quietly humming. The keymaster responds to my prudence with a chuckle and a sentence,
“It is funny how many people hum before they speak when I am guiding them to their residence.”
Dumbfounded, I halt for a moment; the keymaster continues at a steady pace. I hear another chuckle resonate from his direction.
“Come, friend, it is not much further now.”
For some reason his referring to me as “friend” calms my nerves. I walk quickly enough to catch up to him, and then follow as I was before. I feel comfortable enough to speak.
“Where am I?”
“Ah, the most frequent introductory question I am asked,” he brags. “You know… well of course you don’t know because you are not me, but the rest of the time I am either met with a threat of violence or a bribe to set the person free. I have been promised wealth ‘beyond my imagination’ and beautiful women who ‘will satisfy my wildest desires’ – as if they had just finished watching a cheap film. Those who promise me women disgust me the most, because I imagine that some of them had the resources and power to actually fulfill such a promise. Disgusting. The threats – well, I never feel threatened at all. People make threats about my murder, and sometimes the murder of my loved ones. I have been threatened with torture and castration. People are crazy, I tell you. At least it keeps my job interesting.” He pauses for a few moments. “To ease your distress, let me assure you that you are safe from harm. I certainly have no interest in harming you. As you get to know me you will find that I am as approachable as can be, unlike many of the others. I am aware that it is easier said than done, but if you simply stay calm, follow my directions, and ask questions as they come everything will fall in to place shortly. Do you have any questions?”
I open my mouth to speak and close it promptly, for so many ideas are racing through my mind that they jam when traveling to stimulate my vocal cords. As if he knows exactly what I am experiencing, the keymaster says,
“Do not worry; give yourself some time to organize your thoughts and things will gradually become easier.” He stops and turns around. I am stunned at what stands before me. The keymaster has the stature and appearance of a man long lost in time, as if he was the first human to walk the Earth. I stop, too. “We are here,” he utters.
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PART ONE - THE INTRODUCTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overwhelmed with uncertainty, I am being led by a strange man down a corridor of a building I have no recollection of entering, not even sure of why I am following this man. Each step is marked with the jingle of keys on a keyring the man is holding – for this I decide to refer to him as the keymaster. Every couple of paces or so I pass a door on either side of me, each with a golden plaque engraved with black numbers. I suppose they are room numbers, but it is difficult to comprehend a building with billions of rooms, unless the operator of the complex prefers large numbers over common ones. Each door is similar to the rest but not quite the same – some resemble rosewood, others oak, others mahogany. Occasionally the doorways are inlaid with glorious veneers. At this point I am astounded at what I am witnessing.
We continue our pace; my footsteps are synchronized with the rhythm of the jangles. The keymaster is slightly ahead of me and his right shoulder is aligned with my left. His arms are unordinarily long, and the length is accented by his hunched posture. Studying him further I realize for the first time that both he and I are bare from head to toe – with a shot of adrenaline I feel my blood heat my ears and my palms begin to perspire. Where the **** am I? Panic ensues and my thoughts are cluttered and inebriated. Where the ****… My mind races with assumptions, imaginary situations and plans for escape. I figure I should try to converse with the keymaster. Before I speak, I test myself by quietly humming. The keymaster responds to my prudence with a chuckle and a sentence,
“It is funny how many people hum before they speak when I am guiding them to their residence.”
Dumbfounded, I halt for a moment; the keymaster continues at a steady pace. I hear another chuckle resonate from his direction.
“Come, friend, it is not much further now.”
For some reason his referring to me as “friend” calms my nerves. I walk quickly enough to catch up to him, and then follow as I was before. I feel comfortable enough to speak.
“Where am I?”
“Ah, the most frequent introductory question I am asked,” he brags. “You know… well of course you don’t know because you are not me, but the rest of the time I am either met with a threat of violence or a bribe to set the person free. I have been promised wealth ‘beyond my imagination’ and beautiful women who ‘will satisfy my wildest desires’ – as if they had just finished watching a cheap film. Those who promise me women disgust me the most, because I imagine that some of them had the resources and power to actually fulfill such a promise. Disgusting. The threats – well, I never feel threatened at all. People make threats about my murder, and sometimes the murder of my loved ones. I have been threatened with torture and castration. People are crazy, I tell you. At least it keeps my job interesting.” He pauses for a few moments. “To ease your distress, let me assure you that you are safe from harm. I certainly have no interest in harming you. As you get to know me you will find that I am as approachable as can be, unlike many of the others. I am aware that it is easier said than done, but if you simply stay calm, follow my directions, and ask questions as they come everything will fall in to place shortly. Do you have any questions?”
I open my mouth to speak and close it promptly, for so many ideas are racing through my mind that they jam when traveling to stimulate my vocal cords. As if he knows exactly what I am experiencing, the keymaster says,
“Do not worry; give yourself some time to organize your thoughts and things will gradually become easier.” He stops and turns around. I am stunned at what stands before me. The keymaster has the stature and appearance of a man long lost in time, as if he was the first human to walk the Earth. I stop, too. “We are here,” he utters.
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