Not Treading Water

Poland, Kiritimati

Music=

1. Treading Water- Alex Clare

“If names be not correct, language is not in accordance with the truth of things.” 

- Confucius

UFOtext=
Astira reached into her pocket and pulled out her i5. She pinged the local networks and quickly found what she was looking for- the same sapphire blue hyperspace link she discovered in Prague. Using the same encryption key, she opened the link. And there it was- the black ship just departed- destination Kalgan.
"Yes, A, I think we have company." said the recovered Dragonfly, pointing to an approaching entourage of security guards.
"Anything 2 declare?" asked Astira , smiling as she slipped her i5 into a secret pocket.
---------
The next day the pale sun rose over Paris.
"I think many people live their lives treading water- chained to the past, or, more precisely, imprisoned by a false view of the past. To liberate the mind from the viewpoint of the crowd, and see things as they really are, that is the first step toward true progress."
And Princess Lei paused, looking at the Count, drinking from her cup of morning coffee. On the opposite side of their world, the stars lit up the heavens.

 UFOtwit

Departure Of The Mule

The Mule Departs

Music=

1. Pale Horse
(play once)
- Smashing Pumpkins

2. Mylo Xyloto 

(play in infinite loop = perfect circle)

 - Coldplay

UFOtext=

Suddenly the nightmare vanished- Astira knelt on the dock, recovering her senses, holding the hand of the crumpled Dragonfly. An interstellar black ship hovered just above the town for a long minute- then suddenly veered out to sea. Astira and the Dragonfly watched in morbid fascination as the dark meteor disappeared into the night sky.....

-------

"Look- every revolution that creates a new government ends up, over time, with a government just as bad as the original government revolted against. Look at your precious Foundation- I hear independent Free Traders plan to meet on Radole()- that ribbon world- and might break away from your Foundation." Sauveur * paused to catch his baited breath.

"True," replied John Atoms. "Our corrupt Foundation of today is a mockery of individual liberty and free markets for all- the Free Traders are right on many scores. But speaking of Free Traders- Toran- what's the score on the mineral shipment?"

"Checks out OK- high quality rare earths." and Toran nonchalantly eased into an available chair.

"Well Sauveur, looks like we have a deal.  This Oriental Princess of yours came through- can she do it again?"

------

The London night deepened the luminous band of the galaxy. The Count felt the evening grow long, but the Princess remained fresh as a morning in June. Their opposite time zones overlapped in two precious ribbons of time in the daily cycle.

"Count- the Pearl of Dreams remains a mystery to me. Can you shed some light on this matter?"

"Perhaps." said the Count, thoughtfully. In her wondering eyes he could see the millennia of dynasties.

 UFOtwit

The Pearl Of Dreams

Pearl Of Dreams

Music=

1. A Whisper- Coldplay

2. Like The Sea- Alicia Keys

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."- Confucius

UFOtext=

Astira had never set foot on Poland until now. Neither had the Second Foundation- at least as far as she knew.

The small spacecraft from Paradox Shipping lay floating in the water, tethered to the dock. She decided not to use the main spaceport near Banana in order to lay low. The air felt warm with a slight tropical breeze- but it cooled rapidly as twilight gave way to night.

"You know M, something just doesn't feel right about this place."

"Yes, A, I feel it too."

And the Dragonfly closed her eyes, growing her awareness. Astira then felt a great despair- a gloom of nightmare closing down her mind- dropping her to her knees. She then fought back- retaining her identity- holding fast onto the Second Foundation - not giving in. Astira faced a nadir of hope- a black hole so deep there was no escape. But then she reached above and beyond and held the hand of the Dragonfly…..She could see the stars in the night air.

-------

That evening the sun fell asleep below the sea. Princess Lei appeared, dressed in moonlight, softly iridescent as mother of pearl. She spoke-
"Count, these fantastic legends that survive history, how can you possibly believe they are true?"
The Count gazed upon the perfect circle of her earring, then looked into her eyes.
"Perhaps perfect beauty and truth are but forms in our mind. But this I know- my awakened life has been touched by the Pearl of Dreams."

UFOtwit

Free Will

Poland, Kiritimati

Music=

1. The Celestials- Smashing Pumpkins

UFOtext=

"Psycho power manipulate mind- change human emotion- alter natural flow of psychohistory- big cult movement will enslave galaxy."

"Yes- when the wind blows, the grass bends."1 said the Dragonfly, calmly.

"Free the mind!" whispered Astira, looking across the endless waves of bending ocean. Poland lay beyond the horizon, out of sight.

"Free the mind!" she repeated in thought as she turned to look at the serene  Dragonfly.

……

"The junk ships left Hong Kong- they broke the Empire embargo!" said Princess Lei, her hair drifting across her smile in the gentle breeze.

"Wonderful!" said the Count.

"No longer does the Foundation lack a supply of vital minerals- but the stars in their sky remain few!" he added.

"The junk ships cannot carry the stars of heaven!" said the Princess, with mild amusement.

"Too bad." said the Count.

And like a metronome the endless waves lapped against the docks of London.

UFOtwit