Patchwork Universe

John Angelis

After about an hour's practice at throwing cards into a pot, John had got a little better, and a lot bored.

A natural explorer, John wondered if this were really heaven (which he didn't believe) or just another patch (which he highly suspected.)

The "gods" must be pretty powerful to have brought him here after his death - if he had died - but the design of the place seemed lacking. Like it was a work in progress, a placemarker. He recalled the smooth black plain he had trekked across, and noted that other than the colour, the two places were very similar.

Perhaps "heaven" had an edge? Perhaps you could even walk out? John resolved to find out. He gathered his belongings, put the geranium back in the pot, picked a random direction, and began to walk.

The Janitor · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 2:37 pm Post subject:

John Angelis heard a curious popping sound from behind him.

Looking around, he saw the prone body of Father Michael near the geranium. The geranium failed to react.

After a few moments, Father Michael began to stir, but was obviously disoriented.

John Angelis · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 3:05 pm Post subject:

John walked over to Father Michael. He offered a hand, to help him up.

"Hello. You did something fatally heroic too then?"

"I think we're somewhere we're supposed to accept as Heaven."

Father Michael · Strong Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 98 Location: San Pietro

"Hello. It's John, isn't it? No I didn't do anything heroic, I just failed to do something sensible. Like run away." Michael paused, and looked around. "So we're dead, are we? My faith would suggest that Purgatory comes next after death, and then Heaven..."

Michael paused again, and looked around more carefully. He had never thought much about Heaven, he realised. His faith was more practical than mystical. However, there was something about this place that was not quite right. Maybe it was the geranium.

"You know, John, so much that is totally impossible has happened to me already today that I would consider all beliefs suspended. In a world containing dragons, twenty foot monsters and the ghosts of female archaeologists, maybe death isn't permanent. Let's get out of here."

Michael got up, dusted down his habit, stretched, and looked directly at John. "Which way shall we try first?"

John Angelis · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 7:06 pm Post subject:

"If you want my opinion, this whole set up is a smoke and mirrors act. I don't think anything killed us, I don't think we're dead, and I certainly don't think this is heaven."

"Still, they've put a lot of work into it. A shame not to see the show."

John looked around him.

"Direction doesn't seem very meaningful here, unless you fancy digging. This way?" John pointed in a random direction.

Father Michael · Strong Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 98 Location: San Pietro

"Sounds good to me," replied Michael, and they began to walk. "If this is a 'patch' like all the others, then we should only need to travel a mile or so in any direction before we come to a barrier.

"So, what were you doing before you ended up in this Patchwork, John? Where are you from?"

John Angelis · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 7:39 pm Post subject:

"That, father, is an interesting question. All I can remember from my earlier life is being trapped in a weird underground station that doesn't make any sense. And I remember the station used to lead to strange places, maybe like the places here. Only I can't remember any of that, other than I know it used to happen. So yeah, I'm probably getting a lot less culture shock than most people here, if they're only used to living in one world. I mean, as I recall, I've even died before. I expected to suddenly be in the station when I died - that's what used to happen."

"So, what's your story, father?"

Yarrow · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 7:49 pm Post subject:

With a popping sound an old woman manifested a few metres away. She was holding a black cat in her arms.

"Hello," she said to Michael. "The name's Yarrow. 'm a God, sort-of-thing. Here's your cat, he's been missing you."

As Pietro leapt down from her arms and towards the priest, Yarrow nodded to John Angelis.
"Howdy, she said. That was damned heroic. Oh, and good work on the station, by the way."

Considering the two men she added in a conversational tone:
"So... do either you believe in reincarnation?"

Father Michael · Strong Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 98 Location: San Pietro

Michael was sufficiently distracted by his joyful reunion with Pietro that it took a few moments for the significance of Yarrow's words to sink in.

"A God?" he said. "In my faith, I regret, we are told there is only one. Still, my faith has little to say on the subject of twenty foot monsters, and no descriptions of an afterlife that include geraniums and nothing else, so perhaps details are not so important. As to reincarnation, I've never given it much of a thought, but I have always thought that it might be nice to come back as a cat one day.

"Does that answer your question? Thank you for taking care of Pietro, by the way. He likes you. He was particularly impressed by something involving a small man and a cage, but I can't quite make out the details yet."

John Angelis · Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 9:53 pm Post subject:

"Reincarnation? If by that, you mean do I want to go back into the deathtrap of a playground that you call a universe, no. No I don't. I want you to put me and my world back where you found it."

Yarrow · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 9:03 am Post subject:

"That's not very grateful," Yarrow said reprovingly to John. "My quilt's a lot healthier than your nightmare underground. That's really whatb you want, is it? To be put back there?"

With a smile for Michael, she added.
"I'll see what I can do about the cat thing, Father M. Might cause some worries for the parishoners though."

She glanced around the empty white room and sniffed. "It's a bit bare around here isn't it? I'll have to do something about that as well... Right, see you laters then."

Her words made it clear she was about to depart.

Father Michael · Strong Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 98 Location: San Pietro

"Before you go," said Michael, "take pity on a befuddled monk. First of all, do you mean that we can go back to the Patchwork as we were? If you do, then I would be grateful for it, as would Pietro. Secondly, how can you be sort of a God. Does that mean that you are bound by this place in some way as well?"

Yarrow · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:07 am Post subject:

"Yup, you can go back," Yarrow nodded. "I just have to square it with the others before I can send you there. Though don't you want to try that cat thing, see the world as Pietro sees it? Opposable thumbs ain't all they're cracked up to be, you know."

"And yes, I'm a God, right enough. Just I have other jobs as well. Right now I'm mostly busy with collecting little bits of stuff and selling it to people. Which reminds me..."

She rummaged in a pocket and pulled out a small white stone and threw it to John Angelis. "It's a reward for heroism," she said. "May as well have it while i go and talk to the others about what to do with you."

Father Michael · Strong Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 98 Location: San Pietro

Michael noted the part of the question that Yarrow hadn't answered. He decided not to press it, as he suspected that the lack of an answer was more eloquent than any explanation.

"Thank you," he replied. "Might I ask how you suggest we occupy ourselves while we wait for you to hold your consultation. As you yourself commented, this place is a little... austere. Although I might be dead, I am also more than a little hungry, and Pietro, of course, is always just a little peckish." Pietro looked up at the sound of his name, then looked towards Yarrow, half closed his eyes and purred.

John Angelis · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:57 am Post subject:

John let the stone drop at his feet. He looked at it suspiciously.

"Last time I used one of your little gifts, the world I was in turned into a hellhole minutes later. While I've been here in this universe of yours, I've been half drowned, nearly died of hypothermia, been threatened with hanging and eventually incinerated by a dragon. Forgive me if I view your rewards with some level of suspicion. My life might have been a nightmare before, but at least it made some sort of sense at the time."