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Grrr. Arghh. There's been something about the sense of smell that's been bothering me in this story for a while, and I still can't put my finger on it.
Wednesday, August 31. 2005Macon Craig
It's rather odd when you think about it. Sometimes, the very smallest of things can trigger world changing events. I'm not talking about the whole butterfly in China thing. I'm talking about something rather closer to home.
It seemed to be a day like any other. Well, actually, if you want to be technical about it, it was night time in the real world. I've been keeping track of it now, and, with one exception, my graduation, I've never seen Rocio during daylight hours. She's only here at night. I asked her about it once. She never gave me an answer. But anyway, that's all beside the point. We were together, just like we always were. For some reason, Tommy asked me to create a cowboys and Indians type environment, and I had just finished it, so Rocio and I were checking out the new digs. We were sitting on a rock outcropping overlooking a mountain meadow. Below us, cattle fed on the rich green grass, lowing lazily in the bright sun. I don't know what she was thinking about. I was watching her think, watching as she breathed, and blinked, and made those tiny movements that we all make when we're pensive. And that's when it happened. "Let's go up to the lake. These cattle stink." "What?" My incredulity must have been obvious, because she looked puzzled. "Is something wrong?" "The cattle stink. You said that they stink." "So?" "Never mind. Let's go to the lake."
"No, hold on." She grabbed me by the arm, and looked up into my eyes as I stood up. "Something's weird here. Why is it such a big deal if I say that the cows stink? Cows always stink. If they didn't, your simulation would be bad." It was my turn to be puzzled. "But they don't stink. Only one thing here has any smell at all, and that's you." Her face turned white. "That's how they knew." Her hand dropped to her side. "How could I be so stupid? I just assumed . . . you guys are so advanced in every other way." She turned away from me, and looked out over the vista that spread itself below us. I stood there, wondering what I should do, how I should react. "Well," she said smiling wistfully and shrugging as she turned back to me, "I guess it's too late now. Let's go to the lake." We were about halfway there when we heard the pounding of hoofbeats coming toward us. Two ponies raced out of a nearby draw, their riders yelling and urging them on. One pulled slightly ahead of the other, yelling triumphantly and raising his hands over his head as he crossed between two large trees that stood in the middle of the meadow. Just then, he saw us, and nearly fell off his horse. I thought about running away from him when he came charging towards us. I didn't know who he was, and he was armed, while I only had a stick that I had picked up a few yards before. He jumped off his horse, babbling and staring wildly. "You're alive. But you can't be. I shot you. But you're here. And you walk. And" He held his hand in front of Rocio's mouth. "And breathe." He stopped, transfixed for a moment. "You're not going to kill me, are you?" He fell to his knees, blubbering. "Please don't kill me. I didn't mean it. I'll do whatever you ask. Please. Please. I'm trying to redeem myself. Please." I'll bet there was an audible click when I finally realized who he was. Brain_Stem. This big, blubbering cowboy was the illustrious doctor. Rocio looked over at me. "He didn't know?" I didn't know what to say. I hadn't even thought about him. I suppose I should have. "I . . ." She saved me. "Let me talk to him alone, OK?" I nodded. I wanted to speak, but a tight feeling in my throat stopped me. I guess that even then, I knew that this was one of those things, those very small things that can trigger world-changing events. Trackbacks
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Grrr. Arghh. There's been something about the sense of smell that's been bothering me in this story for a while, and I still can't put my finger on it.
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