tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post1634966667946306373..comments2023-03-06T03:21:52.791-08:00Comments on Manhattan, 1924: The Swamida solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07707340424343007670noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-6137857630008018412009-04-02T09:14:00.000-07:002009-04-02T09:14:00.000-07:00Henri looked after Jones."I hope he does not do so...Henri looked after Jones.<BR/><BR/>"I hope he does not do something foolish," he said with a sigh. "I thank you very much for your help, <I>mon ami</I>. You are kind as well as lovely. I must go home and feed Pierre and sleep. <I>Merci, ma cheri</I>." Henri lifted her hand and kissed it an old-fashioned way. "Shall I hail you a taxi?"<BR/><BR/> He turned and started looking around for a cab.Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-31279856387727173582009-04-01T15:16:00.000-07:002009-04-01T15:16:00.000-07:00"I think I am going to find out for myself what ex...<EM>"I think I am going to find out for myself what exactly is going on."</EM><BR/><BR/>Thelonius pocketed his vial before slipping his battered fedora down over his head.<BR/><BR/><EM>"I'll meet you at the shop in the morning. Hopefully, I will have something to report."</EM><BR/><BR/>And with that, the reporter headed out of the building, and back out to the street.Thelonius Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18309163000063435942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-50383138502340486462009-03-31T22:13:00.000-07:002009-03-31T22:13:00.000-07:00"Do you think it really happened or was it all a d..."Do you think it really happened or was it all a drugged dream? There was a man there, looking for a horse, and a creature that was going to help him find it. It seemed very real—very horrible and very real—at the time. And it is true that I dreamt things M. Swami said and he could not have known. Do you think it's true, or an impressive trick? If it's true, I do not trust Ramanuja, I do not think. If it's not true," he gave a shrug, "it does not matter."Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-22787834971269769942009-03-31T19:46:00.000-07:002009-03-31T19:46:00.000-07:00"You sat in the chair and looked completely ossifi..."You sat in the chair and looked completely ossified," Cati told him. "You said a couple things, like you were talking to someone. I think... you asked about a horse? It was all very strange."Teresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06718715011259568557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-38840098642807350762009-03-31T09:15:00.000-07:002009-03-31T09:15:00.000-07:00Henri accepted Cati's offer of help up and moved o...Henri accepted Cati's offer of help up and moved out of the room and down the corridor toward the door.<BR/><BR/>"What did you see?" he asked her once he thought they were out of earshot of the room. "What happened to me?"Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-6428150263097184412009-03-29T20:04:00.000-07:002009-03-29T20:04:00.000-07:00"Come on then," Cati said, offering Henri her hand..."Come on then," Cati said, offering Henri her hand to help him up. "Let's go outside. I could use a ciggy anyhow."Teresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06718715011259568557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-17872516475698909312009-03-29T19:11:00.000-07:002009-03-29T19:11:00.000-07:00"I would like some fresh air," Henri said weakly f..."I would like some fresh air," Henri said weakly from the floor, not looking up. "Would someone help me, <I>s'il te plaît</I>?"<BR/><BR/>As he spoke Henri removed the pocket square from the breast pocket of his jacket and tossed the peach silk handkerchief onto the floor, giving it an angle so it slid under Ramanuja's bed.Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-46499757328191478262009-03-29T00:12:00.000-07:002009-03-29T00:12:00.000-07:00Thelonius and Cati helped Henri up from the floor ...Thelonius and Cati helped Henri up from the floor and replaced him a chair.<BR/><BR/>"It makes one weak," Ramanuja said, "The first time. O, but you've demonstrated ample is'trength in pursuing this end and you may take heart in that." After a pause - "Henri, you . . ."<BR/><BR/>The dressmaker looked more than tired. His eyes were lined with weariness. He gritted his teeth despite his exhaustion.<BR/><BR/>The swami drew a long breath and rubbed his tongue across his teeth. "Henri, we. Shall take you as my new pupil? . . . But, no. All the explanation has yet to come. Reporter, Miss, I apologize. You shall take those jars and pour them into the harbor, do away with them. You shall try to get along with the affairs of the rest of your lives.<BR/><BR/>"Henri, brother, as I said, in that place there are words somewhere. When they are is'poken at the ordained time and place, they will call upon the aide of two great sages, Lopamudra and Agastya."<BR/><BR/>"<I>Why would we need </I>more<I> sages?</I>" queried Thelonius.<BR/><BR/>"To repair the world. It is not an unfamiliar idea, I believe. <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal_Shem_Tov" REL="nofollow">Baal Shem Tov</A> and the <A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasidic_Judaism" REL="nofollow">Hasidim</A>, hold that by bringing the correct order into one's life, one would be doing God's work of reorganizing the universe back into the harmonious alignment of is'pirit and matter that He had first intended. This is not unusual thinking in the modern world either I am thinking.<BR/><BR/>"The Besht was a little bit wrong. Realigning the world is a work that can only be accomplished by great minds, not by our limited understandings . . . Lopamudra and Agastya are the great minds that can bring the world back into God's harmony. So great is the force of their minds that in a philosophical argument thousands of years ago, they tore creation apart, and now they dwell in separate worlds. Their reconciliation is what the sacrifice seeks.<BR/><BR/>"But, you see, such is the ferocity of their dispute, which was over matters forgotten to history as well as to memory" - the swami tapped his water glass and glanced to the vials in Thelonius' and Cati's hands - "that there can never be a resolution of their argument. In working the sacrifice, one is bound to either favor Agastya or Lopamudra's point of view. <BR/><BR/>"The nordic people - did they not believe that there would be a great conflict before the world was repaired? Christians think likewise, yes? Lopamudra and Agastya wreak this conflict in an instant, saving people from the pain of doing it themselves through bloody war. Only one of them, Lopamudra or Agastya, will draw on the power of their bested double and rebind the worlds.<BR/><BR/>"Yes, two worlds! A world of is'pirit, in which dwells Agastya, and a world of matter, in which dwells Lopamudra. We dwell in the world of matter with her and it has been the duty of my line to remember her and to protect the mirror, which is the key to the sacrifice and the arcade that Monsieur has seen with his own eyes."<BR/><BR/>At that moment, the police officer posted in the hallway knocked on the door. He opened it from his seat. Without so much as looking over his shoulder into the room, he said, "Hey, don't be much longer," and closed the door.<BR/><BR/>"Very well then. I have already explained as much as can be said easily. Tomorrow, Henri, please come here and we will shed light on this. We will discuss your dreams. Tonight, take the notes and look at them. They will not be so clear to you, but then this is why you shall visit me tomorrow.<BR/><BR/>"Reporter sir, Miss. You have been courageous, I am alive for your work. You are my eternal friends, and I yours; whatever I have in this world is always yours. But you may have more sense than the two of us, Henri and Ramanuja, and it will be best for you to apply that sense to things less fantastic. Take these experiences and do not forget them, but empty those vials into the sea if you wish to be protected from further involvement in our conflagration of nonsenses.<BR/><BR/>"Do assist Monsieur until he has caught his breath."<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><I>(Thelonius passed some rolls. The links to Wikipedia are for Dan's benefit as his character passed an occult check and is familiar with the philosophies of the more mystical factions of Hasidic Judaism. Regarding the name "Agastya", Thelonius passes an idea roll and recalls that he had encountered that name in a text, where it was given as a Vedic (pre-Hindu) synonym for "Thor".<BR/><BR/>If you like, wrapping up this scene or planning ahead as a group can be worked out in comments here. <BR/><BR/>Otherwise, two options: <BR/>a) Make a post in your own blog about what your character does next. I'll respond there.<BR/>OR<BR/>b) Let me know in an email where your character goes next - even if he or she just goes home and makes a sandwich - and I'll write a post for the Manhattan blog based on that.)</I>da solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07707340424343007670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-66476512098358514672009-03-27T17:03:00.000-07:002009-03-27T17:03:00.000-07:00"I don't feel very well. I think I'd like to sit d..."I don't feel very well. I think I'd like to sit down," Henri murmured quietly and his knees folded under him. He sat down hard on the hospital room floor.Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-60375038449570340232009-03-24T22:22:00.000-07:002009-03-24T22:22:00.000-07:00Strength came into Henri's back again, and he open...Strength came into Henri's back again, and he opened his eyes. There were points of light, and a smear of colors - Ramanuja, then Cati and Thelonius, took shape from the bright mess. How vivid a hospital room could seem after having soaked one's point-of-view in orange!<BR/><BR/>Ramanuja smiled at Henri. "You have returned. That was your first lesson. We have already learned so much . . ."da solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07707340424343007670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-59850639020477476652009-03-24T10:16:00.000-07:002009-03-24T10:16:00.000-07:00"Kaa Shi Raa Saa Gaar," he repeated carefully afte..."Kaa Shi Raa Saa Gaar," he repeated carefully after Ramanuja. "Ba Da Len Pa Honch. Lo Pa Mu Dra."<BR/><BR/>Then after a pause...<BR/><BR/>"Why a horse?" he asked quite clearly.Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-41177113523713080932009-03-24T09:34:00.000-07:002009-03-24T09:34:00.000-07:00"What are you talking about?" Thelonius asked the ..."What are you talking about?" Thelonius asked the Swami.<BR/><BR/>"<I>Zuhal</I>, Mister Jones! Simply, it is the final planet, Shani. You will call it Saturn. The things which he describes are there with him, in person, in the shadow of Zuhal! I insist there is no suggestion - no, a veil has been lifted from his eyes!" The swami's answer did little to help his credibility from the reporter's perspective.<BR/><BR/>"If you wish to see, you have only to do the same and repeat the mantra of Rishi Lopamudra, just as Henri did. 'Ka-Shi-Raa-Saa-Gaar . . .'" He kept time with his finger tip as he recited the short incantation. "This brings the two souls together and forms a bond." The swami interlocked his fingers to demonstrate the enmeshing of separate entities. "There is an attraction between Monsieur and the mirror!"<BR/><BR/>Henri yelped, interrupting Ramanuja's impromptu lesson on the metaphysics of the silvery drug. "Wait! Don't leave me alone with this thing."<BR/><BR/>"I will not! Be more cautious of the man! We don't know the number of our enemies . . ."<BR/><BR/>"How do I wake up?"<BR/><BR/>"Because you are with me, and because the mirror can never pass entirely from someone, you need only say the same mantra once again. Now that it has you . . . this is the first of many things I will teach you. Always remember it.<BR/><BR/>"Sea of Milk: Ka. Shi. Raa. Saa. Gaar." His recitation was slower, but more energetic, than before. "Changing, arriving: Ba. Da. Len. Pa. Honch." He was <I>drilling</I> Henri. "Lost Face: Lo. Pa. Mu. Dra."da solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07707340424343007670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-46375775471866128222009-03-23T17:46:00.000-07:002009-03-23T17:46:00.000-07:00"Wait," Henri cried. "Don't leave me alone with th..."Wait," Henri cried. "Don't leave me alone with this thing. How do I wake up?"Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-89744396088687789632009-03-23T15:03:00.000-07:002009-03-23T15:03:00.000-07:00Cati looked at Jones. She was clearly alarmed. "Ar...Cati looked at Jones. She was clearly alarmed. "Are we just supposed to let him go on like this?" she asked. "He's gone off the deep end!"Teresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06718715011259568557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-49327974354038074222009-03-22T17:40:00.000-07:002009-03-22T17:40:00.000-07:00"I came here through Pierre's mirror," Henri said ..."I came here through Pierre's mirror," Henri said then muttered incomprehensibly for a moment, suddenly saying "<I>Monsieur</I> Swami told me to look," quite clearly.Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-26553858772290105512009-03-22T12:33:00.000-07:002009-03-22T12:33:00.000-07:00"What are you talking about?" Thelonius asked the ...<EM>"What are you talking about?"</EM> Thelonius asked the Swami.<BR/><BR/><EM>"What did you do to him? Mesmeric suggestion under the influence of a drug? And what...how...did the ...mirror...leap into his eye?"</EM><BR/><BR/>The reporter looked desperate for answers, his eyes almost pleading with Ramanjula to explain.Thelonius Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18309163000063435942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-15125473383369550222009-03-22T12:19:00.000-07:002009-03-22T12:19:00.000-07:00"What are you looking for?" Henri asked no one in ..."What are you looking for?" Henri asked no one in particular.Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-66574804090013831572009-03-21T23:35:00.000-07:002009-03-21T23:35:00.000-07:00Was Henri drugged? This was the most likely explan...Was Henri drugged? This was the most likely explanation, though the active nature of the mirror substance as it had leapt from his hand and into his eye seemed to indicate that the fluid was not merely a pharmaceutical substance awaiting activation in the human body.<BR/><BR/>The swami, still holding his glass, offered an explanation to Henri - and, in passing, to everyone else. "The cloaked being is no danger. Do not accept its assistance. Do not speak to it! - you are not ready to meet its demands. <BR/><BR/>"Yet . . . there is another man there? This should not be . . . For, Monsieur, you are in <I>the Arcade of Zuhal!</I> My friend, you are among the planets, and there is no path to this place, in the rings of Zuhal, but through us!"<BR/><BR/>Running his finger around the edge of his glass, Ramanuja licked his lips and continued. "Monsieur . . . be cautious with this man." Though the swami was unable to ever fully cast off his showy demeanor, he did his best at this moment to communicate with Henri with seriousness and sincerity. "I fear," he said, "our enemies are lurking in the shelves as we is'peak. For, amongst the is'trange sciences that lie waiting in Zuhal's sindur canyons are the keys to the altar, and the words to be recited at the sacrifice. This is why I have shown this to you - because you must understand that Margaret and I were to find these words amongst the gallery and to restore the sacrifice . . ."<BR/><BR/>The swami tucked his chin against his neck.<BR/><BR/>"If you have seen enough, you may come back . . . this will not be your last visit. "da solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07707340424343007670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-29613343245597273942009-03-21T20:47:00.000-07:002009-03-21T20:47:00.000-07:00"Everything is orange. The light is orange. There'..."Everything is orange. The light is orange. There's a man, something like me, and a huge... library? Repository of some kind, anyway, and a thing... a thing in a cloak. I don't like it."Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-66671397795988209202009-03-20T22:52:00.000-07:002009-03-20T22:52:00.000-07:00"What do you see?" Ramanuja repeated. "Tell us wha..."What do you see?" Ramanuja repeated. "Tell us what you see!"da solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07707340424343007670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-34555571896492796412009-03-19T20:41:00.000-07:002009-03-19T20:41:00.000-07:00Ramanuja recited the words one more time . . . The...Ramanuja recited the words one more time . . . <BR/>Thelonius and Cati watched Henri as he peered into the bead of silver that he had spilled into his palm.<BR/>“Lo-Pa-Mu-Dra” – the silver leapt like oil from a hot pan into the dressmaker’s eye. Henri recoiled and clasped his empty hands over his face. His back arched in a sudden, violent shiver. <BR/><BR/>Henri felt his back contract in waves; something solid and cold, like a marble, was being pushed by his pulsing muscles up his spine . . . <I>What am I doing?</I> His hair stood on end. Beneath his skin, something rolled in his scalp, crept forward, under his hair over his skull, into his eyes.<BR/><BR/>Henri opened his eyes. His irises were wide, but as if withering in a flash of light, they contracted to pinholes. His knees weakened. Henri began to fall, but he caught himself on Ramanuja’s bed stand. Cati hopped from her seat and, with Thel’s help, guided the limp dressmaker into the chair.<BR/><BR/>“Monsieur, you can hear me, yes.”<BR/><BR/>“Yes.”<BR/><BR/>“You can hear us?” Cati asked, as she loosened Henri’s collar.<BR/><BR/>“He cannot! Only I may is’peak to him now!”<BR/><BR/><I>Pushy!</I> Cati thought.<BR/><BR/>“Henri! Tell us what you see!”<BR/><BR/>Henri’s lip quivered.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><I>(Henri has spent some of his inner strength in completing the magical act! <B>-2 magic points!</B> The very fact that the process </I>works<I>, is an experience that alienates one from rational reality - <B>-2 sanity points!</B>. For Henri, action continues in <A HREF="http://ghostsandtimearcade.blogspot.com/2009/03/little-faith.html" REL="nofollow">”Little Faith”</A> in <A HREF="http://www.ghostsandtimearcade.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">The Arcade</A> blog. He may not leave his chair in this setting. He will not be able to hear Thelonius, Cati, or anything in this setting besides the voice of Ramanuja, though he may still speak.<BR/>I'm back at HQ in Delhi, so there will be no more delays for a while.)</I>da solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07707340424343007670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-70123453515687025542009-03-16T18:42:00.000-07:002009-03-16T18:42:00.000-07:00Cati looked from Henri to Jones to Ramanuja, then ...Cati looked from Henri to Jones to Ramanuja, then back to Henri.<BR/><BR/>"He's really going to do it..." she said under her breath — whatever "it" was.Teresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06718715011259568557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-81560308909105077172009-03-12T15:07:00.000-07:002009-03-12T15:07:00.000-07:00Thelonius waited, watching as Henri opened the via...Thelonius waited, watching as Henri opened the vial and began chanting the nonsense that the Swami was spouting.Thelonius Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18309163000063435942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-70735398792362784272009-03-11T08:42:00.000-07:002009-03-11T08:42:00.000-07:00Henri broke the seal of his vial with a thumbnail ...Henri broke the seal of his vial with a thumbnail and, after a moment's hesitation, poured the silvery fluid into his other palm.<BR/><BR/>He glanced briefly at the swami and then gazed down at his palm.<BR/><BR/>"Ka-Shi-Raa-Saa-Gaar," he repeated carefully, but with a slight quiver in his voice.<BR/>"Ba-Da-Len-Pa-Honch.<BR/>Lo-Pa-Mu-Dra."Monsieur Henri DuMondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04266048869207841187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025363057186728791.post-78086812063461060932009-03-11T03:18:00.000-07:002009-03-11T03:18:00.000-07:00"It may not be, Ma'am. You will be put into a tran..."It may not be, Ma'am. You will be put into a trance, a state of consciousness, from which you will be able to pierce through Maya. This same thing Maragaret had learned to do on her own, but I give you the chance to do it here, now, today. What happened to the man, Gerloch? We do not know - but it is possible he failed because he did not have a teacher. It is possible he went too far too fast. It is possible he was afraid. Ignorance, pride, fear: the prices of self-tutelage. You have a guide . . ." His finger made a stirring movement over the water in his glass. "And the danger in doing this is less, now, than the dangers we fear you will face if you do not! But if Monsieur was dreaming these things, then it is surely a sign that you are meant to know. Let it out. Into your hand. I assure you, it is not poisonous!<BR/><BR/>"We will accomplish so much more this way than by a traditional explanation! What resources you will have! It is exciting to give this thing to you now: a gift that you <I>must take</I> . . . and that cannot be returned.<BR/><BR/>"Carefully, take it to your eye, and peer into it, like a microscope! Look deeply, look beyond this world! Say:<BR/><BR/>"Ka-Shi-Raa-Saa-Gaar<BR/>"Ba-Da-Len-Pa-Honch<BR/>"Lo-Pa-Mu-Dra."da solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07707340424343007670noreply@blogger.com