Patchwork Universe

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

Michael appeared to be deep in thought.

"William," he said slowly, "you and Dr Jewel have travelled through several patches, have you not? Tell me, were they all the same size?"

Dr Jewel · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:33 am Post subject:

Jewel nodded her head, as far as she had seen they were.

She turned to William Odom, expecting him to agree.

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 471 Location: The Museum

"I'm afraid I'm not very good at estimating distances outdoors, but at least roughly, yes."

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

"Good," said Michael, "that is what I had hoped. I, too, am not so good at estimating distances, but I do know my own home. The mists surround San Pietro at a distance of roughly one and a half miles. Each patch is square, according to the map, so that would make the square that surrounds San Pietro roughly ten square miles - three miles to a side.

"William, what was the area covered by your Museum?"

Dr Jewel · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 2:54 pm Post subject:

"What about up and down?" Dr Jewel turned to Michael. "That's what you're getting at, isn't it? Perhaps the top of the Museum isn't as far away as it used to be."

She looked at Dr Odom.

"What exactly has happened to move the docking bay closer?" She asked. "Is something missing? Or is it more complicated than that?"

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 471 Location: The Museum

"Greater than that. Almost ten miles from the entrance to the loading dock, more than three times what it is now. Rounded to the nearest mile, 1086 square miles. Rounding up. Certainly not the little bit that's left."

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

"I thought you might say that. William, do you see how my thoughts are going? If the area of each patch is fixed, does it not make sense to think that its volume might be fixed also. I am certain that even if your Museum was once infinitely tall, the portion brought here is not infinitely tall any more.

"Remember exactly what Kao Sheng said - the highest accessible floor. That, surely, implies the same thing!"

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 471 Location: The Museum

[OOC: I'm pretty sure we have a heck of a timeslip here. Dr. Odom's last post is supposed to come before Dr. Jewel's and I think internal evidence supports this. -- H.]

"Oh, there are most definitely things missing. I haven't done a survey, but I know an exhibit of typewriters is no longer on the first floor. Dr. Nabb and the entire Plumbing department are missing, and considering there used to be a couple of functioning scale models of aquaducts running from one end of their 32nd floor exhibit to the other this seems like a strange thing to misplace.

"As for the top floor being closer . . . consider what it would be like for your local pharmacy to go out of business and a sign to appear in the empty window: 'Ragnarok! Coming soon!' It could prove disturbing."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 4:54 pm Post subject:

"OK. Supposing that the Museum is now only three miles high. Or perhaps only half that. How long would it take us to climb three miles of stairs?"

Jewel was thoughtful.

"I see what you mean about what we might find. However, unless you think it might actually be dangerous to any of us I would personally be fascinated."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 471 Location: The Museum

"Hm." Dr. Odom's eyes unfocussed while he thought about the problem. "Three miles. You've been to the 184th floor, Doctor. Figure six and a half times that far. I imagine I could still make it in a day at need. I don't know how your condition affects your responses to fatigue and exertion. Michael, I'm not sure how fit you are, but I would not normally recommend more than two hundred floors per day. That would make it a six-day trip to a rough three mile height. We could make it longer, take our time, see a few of the exhibits. Or . . ."

Dr. Odom looked straight at Father Michael.

"How much do you value your dignity?"

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

"Not a great deal," replied Michael. "Do go on - this sounds entertaining."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 471 Location: The Museum

"If Dr. Jewel thinks she can keep up the pace I think we can do it in two days, maybe less. We had a woman up in Periodicals -- oh, twenty-one years ago, now -- when I was still a Guide. Completely ignoring common sense, she pulled out a drawer -- the second one up, so it wasn't even the bottom drawer -- and stood on it to reach a file box on an overhead shelf. She leaned back to pull out the box, her weight shifted back, the drawer slammed shut under her, and the box came down on top of her. Her cleverness earned her a broken leg.

"If you would please stand, Michael?"

Dr. Odom reached out to grasp the inside of Father Michael's right forearm with his left hand and put his right arm across Father Michael's back so that his right hand rested on the priest's right shoulder. With very little prompting Father Michael was able to mirror Dr. Odom's actions.

"Relays of Runners and Guides formed a sort of chair, like so, and carried her down. I see no reason why I can't abuse my authority and have someone taken up this way, although if I made a habit of it there would be grumbling. I figure we could go six or eight hundred floors a day if Dr. Jewel can keep up."

Dr Jewel · Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 10:37 pm Post subject:

"Whether I can keep up depends upon whether I can over-ride my normal reactions. When I came here I felt hot until I reminded myself that I couldn't feel temperature. I'm willing to give it a go, though."

Dr. William T. Odom · Good Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 471 Location: The Museum

"Don't feel pressured, Doctor," Dr. Odom replied with a touch of mischief. "If you do we could always allow Michael to keep his dignity."

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

"Not at all," said Michael. "Pietro's dignity is never affected by being carried, so why should mine? By all means, let us try this experiment. How far away is the Museum from here?"