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Authors: Sean DeLauder
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domed
enclosure was appropriately arcane and awe inspiring, the air stank of a moldy,
sodden swamp. Bees hummed in majestic monotone as they moved from plant to
plant, giving the dome a pastoral air that reminded Hedge of earth-home, his
ears filled with the sound of a choir that could sing just one note, but
performed it with soul-stirring flawlessness. Everything seemed fitting. With
exception, he decided, to the Plant of Ultimate Knowing. There was something
overblown and conspicuous about the copious amount of detritus and mood. There
was too much atmosphere . It was what humans called a Contrivance, where
the situation was arranged to generate a preordained opinion. This, the
cavernous room, the abundance of plantlife, the size of the Plant of Ultimate
Knowing, was designed to create Awe.
Hedge knew it
was the negative influence of humanity which brought him to this suspicious
conclusion but couldn't resist the impulse to see this line of thought through
to the end.
Contrivance was
a clever way of saying Lie, and Lie was deception. Deception was intended to
take one from the course of truth, and it was the deception that troubled
Hedge. Why would he be led from truth and what was the truth that was being
hidden from him?
The problem
wasn't so much with the chamber, but that the Plant of Ultimate Knowing didn't
belong in it. If the plant was indeed all knowing it would not only know the
question but have an answer prepared. Couldn't the plant see his thoughts?
Extrapolate his reasons for being here simply through the tilt in his gait, or
the slant of his brow or the timbre of his voice? It was the Plant of Ultimate Knowing after all, not the Plant of Mostly Knowing or the Plant of Kind
of Guessing .
So instead of
presenting his question to the Plant in a humble fashion as was befitting a
plant of its prestige, Hedge found himself being what most humans tended to be
when they were in a situation where they were disadvantaged or dubious:
Impertinent.
"Aren't
you the Plant of Ultimate Knowing? Shouldn’t you know why I’m here?"
The Plant was
unfazed.
It was a rhetorical question
Still, Hedge
was suspicious.
"So?"
asked Hedge.
So, what? the Plant replied.
"If you
know why I’m here, provide me with a solution."
There was a
pause, a low rumbling as though the plant were muttering to itself, then its
voice regained its imperious volume.
It is traditional to formally voice
your question to the Plant of Ultimate Knowing
Oh.
"I have
been asked by the Council to place humanity in storage, which will essentially
end their civilization. I know I should simply obey, but there is something
intangible, a sense of discomfort in this solution, that tells me the Council
may be in error. Surely humanity is wretched and miserable and antagonistic,
but their good features at the very least equal their bad. They care for their
elderly..."
Only in the hope that they will be
cared for when they are elderly. It is merely roundabout selfishness. A way of
performing so others might duplicate what they deem kindness. They are apes,
after all, who learn through imitation
"But there
are many other examples of their altruism that are undertaken simply to content
themselves with the knowledge that they have done what is Right. Surely no
species that seeks Rightness, in spite of their frequent inability to find it,
is worth eradication. Is there an alternate solution to propose to the Council?
What is that proposal and how do I get it to them? What must I do?"
The Plant
pondered for a moment, as though considering the question, which seemed
unnecessary, again, because it was a plant of Ultimate Knowing. There really
shouldn't be a process, just an answer. This was very strange.
The long stalk
began to stoop, bending in thought or trying to listen to a very quiet voice
over the steady drone of the bees.
"Hey,"
called a small voice from behind Hedge.
He looked back
to a row of bushes running along the edge of the enclosure where it
enclosure was appropriately arcane and awe inspiring, the air stank of a moldy,
sodden swamp. Bees hummed in majestic monotone as they moved from plant to
plant, giving the dome a pastoral air that reminded Hedge of earth-home, his
ears filled with the sound of a choir that could sing just one note, but
performed it with soul-stirring flawlessness. Everything seemed fitting. With
exception, he decided, to the Plant of Ultimate Knowing. There was something
overblown and conspicuous about the copious amount of detritus and mood. There
was too much atmosphere . It was what humans called a Contrivance, where
the situation was arranged to generate a preordained opinion. This, the
cavernous room, the abundance of plantlife, the size of the Plant of Ultimate
Knowing, was designed to create Awe.
Hedge knew it
was the negative influence of humanity which brought him to this suspicious
conclusion but couldn't resist the impulse to see this line of thought through
to the end.
Contrivance was
a clever way of saying Lie, and Lie was deception. Deception was intended to
take one from the course of truth, and it was the deception that troubled
Hedge. Why would he be led from truth and what was the truth that was being
hidden from him?
The problem
wasn't so much with the chamber, but that the Plant of Ultimate Knowing didn't
belong in it. If the plant was indeed all knowing it would not only know the
question but have an answer prepared. Couldn't the plant see his thoughts?
Extrapolate his reasons for being here simply through the tilt in his gait, or
the slant of his brow or the timbre of his voice? It was the Plant of Ultimate Knowing after all, not the Plant of Mostly Knowing or the Plant of Kind
of Guessing .
So instead of
presenting his question to the Plant in a humble fashion as was befitting a
plant of its prestige, Hedge found himself being what most humans tended to be
when they were in a situation where they were disadvantaged or dubious:
Impertinent.
"Aren't
you the Plant of Ultimate Knowing? Shouldn’t you know why I’m here?"
The Plant was
unfazed.
It was a rhetorical question
Still, Hedge
was suspicious.
"So?"
asked Hedge.
So, what? the Plant replied.
"If you
know why I’m here, provide me with a solution."
There was a
pause, a low rumbling as though the plant were muttering to itself, then its
voice regained its imperious volume.
It is traditional to formally voice
your question to the Plant of Ultimate Knowing
Oh.
"I have
been asked by the Council to place humanity in storage, which will essentially
end their civilization. I know I should simply obey, but there is something
intangible, a sense of discomfort in this solution, that tells me the Council
may be in error. Surely humanity is wretched and miserable and antagonistic,
but their good features at the very least equal their bad. They care for their
elderly..."
Only in the hope that they will be
cared for when they are elderly. It is merely roundabout selfishness. A way of
performing so others might duplicate what they deem kindness. They are apes,
after all, who learn through imitation
"But there
are many other examples of their altruism that are undertaken simply to content
themselves with the knowledge that they have done what is Right. Surely no
species that seeks Rightness, in spite of their frequent inability to find it,
is worth eradication. Is there an alternate solution to propose to the Council?
What is that proposal and how do I get it to them? What must I do?"
The Plant
pondered for a moment, as though considering the question, which seemed
unnecessary, again, because it was a plant of Ultimate Knowing. There really
shouldn't be a process, just an answer. This was very strange.
The long stalk
began to stoop, bending in thought or trying to listen to a very quiet voice
over the steady drone of the bees.
"Hey,"
called a small voice from behind Hedge.
He looked back
to a row of bushes running along the edge of the enclosure where it
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