Stephen's Secure Blog #338
These stories about Stephen began was when he was 10 years old, and
moving to a new part of the country to attend a special school for
gifted students, in the 1950's. This was from a time before computers
would fit on a desk, and when people communicated with friends in other
countries by actual letters sent through the postal service. He wrote
225 of them to a friend. He stopped writing to his penpal, but found he
still wanted to record his life, in case he lost his memory again, and
wrote 30 entries in his first logbook. Then he wrote to an artificial
intelligence called Geenee, in the master computer in his school for
gifted students, which he started attending in 2016. Now it's after
2018, and he's continuing to save his memories in a secure blog.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
The stories may not be posted in chronological order.
Stephen is 17 in this story, in the Winter of year 8 of his special
school.
Stephen's Secure Blog #338 "There Be Dinosaurs"
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After giving the hospitals in Tibet enough notice to be prepared, I
put in all new wall sockets for electrical power. It didn't disrupt
anything. In fact, if I hadn't told them, they might not have noticed
them for weeks. They could make the switch to using the new ones any
time they wanted to. They were colored blue, so they could be told
apart from the older ones. For larger things which were directly wired
to the service, we had to schedule their minute of downtime, so I could
change the installation. I could have changed the hospital service from
the outside, but that would have required some life support machines to
be off for a while. I wanted to save lives, not end them, and making
separate independent sockets was much safer, because they didn't need
to use all the wiring in the walls, which could cause fires. I received
a lot of thanks.
Chad had announced the pending publication of my Buddha book, and had
posted some selected passages. There was some controversy in the
discussions that caused. I was asked to comment. Chad told them I
wouldn't do that before the whole thing was published, and maybe not
even then. That annoyed some people. Chad loved it. I put together my
big book on the history of Tibet, and made some preprinting copies
myself, to give to people who might be interested. Lhamo loved it. So
did Rhamcha. Reting was delighted, and laughed a lot. I think he REALLY
likes me now. Lhamo said in a meeting, "I never thought I would ever
say this, but I like Reting now. You changed him." I said "Not really.
He changed himself. It was caused by all the good people he met when he
came back to Tibet. All of us, and I include you in that, showed by who
we are, who he should be, and could be, and why. The rest he did
himself." He bowed to me in respect.
The Pope's people asked me when I would be available. I gave them a
list of dates and times. They chose one. The part of being alone with
me caused a problem, but I was firm. They had to accept when I
mentioned the Seal of the Confessional, but they assumed it was I who
would be confessing my sins. Chad laughed really hard at that. I don't
have to mention that Hawk did, or how long it took for him to recover.
While we were waiting for the gallery to open, Hawk said, "This time,
you're going to beat all for strangeness." Rose said "I agree. The
jewelry alone should qualify." Hawk said to her, "You WOULD think
that." He got poked. When it was time, I went to the door and greeted
the people who came in. Then I stopped the line of people and said to
one man, "Mike, guns are not allowed here." He said "But it's fully
licensed." I said "If you want, I can port it to your home, and
guarantee your safety until you are safely home, but that thing isn't
going to get through this door. Allow that, or step aside." He said "I
accept your offer." He told me his address. I said "It's in your safe
now. Please be welcome." All was well, except for Hawk's laughter,
until one tried to enter with a nonmetallic miniature compressed air
blowgun and poison darts. I let him in, and Hawk almost went hysterical
with laughter, in anticipation for what I might do with him.
When all the guests were inside, I extended my Ki, and used
suggestion to make them draw away from the blowgun carrier. He looked a
little apprehensive at that. More so when I walked up to him. He was
martial artist enough to feel my Ki, and that made him even more
nervous. I said "Mr. Chin, you have an interesting weapon with you. I
let you in so we could discuss it. Why do you have it here?" He didn't
speak, but he made a move toward where the blowgun was, and stopped. I
said "Right. You won't have the slightest chance to use it here. My Chi
tells you that, even if your knowledge of me didn't, but should have.
Ah! I see you didn't believe. That was your first mistake. Not in
disbelieving, but in placing importance on that." He looked surprised,
and then thoughtful. Then he said, "May I leave?" I said "Yes, if you
want to keep the weapon. Or you can stay, and it is gone." He bowed
low, and said, "Please. I will stay." I said "It and the darts are
gone. Please have a good time here." Then I stopped my flow of Ki, and
he tried to hide his surprise at that. Everybody went back to normal,
and he noticed that too, which he hadn't noticed fully before, and he
was really surprised. Hawk almost laughed his head clean off his
shoulders. Even Chad poked him. I went up to the stage, and rang the
bell myself.
After I had their attention, I said "For whom the bell tolled, is me
this time. My friend here was a little occupied." Some groaned at the
reference, which made Hawk laugh again. I sighed and shook my head, and
that made some others laugh. I said "Well, even Quasimodo had his off
days." More laughter. I said "This time I am presenting the jewelry of
the ages. That's right. All that section is devoted to jewelry worn by
men and women of history, and even of prehistory. All the stones and
metals are real and natural, and so are the shells. They are copies of
what actually existed in the past, and include that documentation with
them. Some also include paintings of who wore the pieces. You might
notice there is something of some notoriety of Egypt there. A copy of
the dagger of King Tutankhamen. It is made of solid gold, and the blade
is tempered to actually hold an edge, in a process that was lost in
time, and now considered to be impossible. Don't drop it on your foot,
or you might be in toe-rable pain." Some real groans. I said "But I
just HAD to say it You get the point." Laughter. I said "Some of you
might have interest in the jewels of Marie Antoinette. Well, if you
like cake." Some laughter. I said "She didn't actually say that. Oh,
and the prices. Don't lose your head over them." More groans and
laughter.
I said "Most of the rest of my art today, is in familiar forms, but
in this section, well, there be dinosaurs. In stone, crystal, and
dental clay, and in paint, they are completely authentic. Yes. The
colors and feathers, and all the rest. No guessing involved.
Documentation is included. I think that some of you might even prefer
the documentation, to the art. That's alright. Different strokes for
different swimmers. If my not answering some of your questions cause
you some strained feelings, you are not alone. I feel it even worse,
but some things should be, and let be, at least for now, unanswered.
Thank you for supporting the emerging country of Tibet. Have fun." I
stepped down, and mingled.
The President of PBS was at the Tibet table, looking through the new
picture book. I had to let him know I was there, he was so absorbed in
it. He turned and said, "I didn't know they had photography then." I
grinned and said, "They didn't. I'll tell you after this. When we
discuss offering that, and me, in the next spring pledge week." He
looked very hungry. I grinned my face almost in half. When he
recovered, he said, "You like doing that!" I said "Don't complain about
what you would do if you could." He laughed. I said "And don't think we
just said anything new." He nodded. He reached for his phone. I said
"You might want to wait a little. There's more. After the event." He
said "I don't know if my heart will take it." I said "That's alright.
Chad's a doctor." He laughed.
Chin was near me. I heard him asked, "Please, what is it you didn't
believe about Stephen?" He said "I would rather not discuss it." He
caught my glance and expression. He said to the woman, "I apologize. I
will tell you. My pride, I realize now, would not let me believe that
so powerful and enlightened person could exist. He has shown me that I
was wrong. I came here to kill him. That I could not, did not change
me. Who he is, accomplished that." The woman wandered off in a daze. I
said to Chin, trying to conceal my amusement, "Some answers are much
more than the questions. She realizes that all too well, now." He too
felt some amusement. We bowed to each other. I said to him, "Your
answer was for you, more than for her." He looked surprised, and then
thoughtful, and said, "Your wisdom astounds me." I said "Sad, isn't
it?" It took him a while to figure that one out, and then had a tear
and a nod for it.
Sharon came to me and said, "The Master Teacher in action. I love
watching that." I said "And I love your museum. We would be equal, but
you've got a lot of buildings." She said "But you do, too." I said "But
the Smithsonian has more visitors." She said "True, but some come to
see your art." I said "So who wins?" She said "We all do." I said "Well
done!" She curtsied, and I bowed. The Catholic Priest was nearby. He
said "I agree. Your teaching is an education. Hmm, I'm not sure I meant
it that way." Chin said to him, "He does that. Don't blame yourself."
They bowed to each other. The Priest said to me, "Why the Seal?" I said
"If you tell nobody, not even you know who." He said "I promise." I
said "The answer is, did you think it was for what I would say?" His
jaw dropped open in complete surprise. Then he was thoughtful. He said
"I didn't see that. Truly, who else?" He bowed, and wandered off in a
daze. I said to Chin, "When I do that, sometimes I am not sad about
it." He tried not to grin. Hawk laughed. Chin said, "I understand
something now. Your friend on the stage hears all. He too has much Chi.
Obviously your student." I said "Yes. His sister and I will marry in
the Spring. Wherever we are, she and I are never apart in mind and
heart. She doesn't laugh quite as easily as her brother. To
laugh at that.
Then she said, "Why does he come here?" I said "The Church has been
Sharon. Then she told Chin why, and they laughed again. I said
"Watching me since my previous incarnation. They know I have been, in
past lives, very important to their Church and religion, and know that
what I experienced is not exactly what some believe happened. They
should know I don't want to do anything to harm them, but can't quite
make themselves believe that. Hence their partially horrified
fascination." Chin said in his own fascination, "What an interesting
situation!" Sharon said "Absolutely!" I said "Obviously Hawk agrees."
We could hear that.
Chin said "I just realized that I hear you in English, but I
understand your speech in Cantonese." I said "But you also understand
Mandarin." He said "I do, but that doesn't answer my question." I said
"All who I speak to, understand me in their best language. Animals,
too, to their ability to understand the concepts. As to why, well, why
not?" Sharon tried not to laugh. I said to her, "At least animals obey
me." She laughed some more. I said "But you aren't related to Hawk." He
and Chin joined in the laughter. I said, "Both of you, if you wish,
please stay after the event for more conversation." They took that as a
dismissal, and left me. I went to the dino section.
A woman asked me, "Is my question one you won't answer?" I said
"Considering where we are in the room, there is a high probability of
that. But there is a way to find out." She said "You say these
depictions are accurate. There is too much that was previously unknown.
Only the impossible is available to explain it. Either you lived then
in past lives, or you personally visited those times." I said in a loud
stage whisper, "Sharon, the Director of the Smithsonian, has her
straining ears fixed on us." She turned and looked, and they exchanged
smiles. She said "We are acquainted." I said "She knows what I would
say, but is very curious how I would say it. Well, I'm a volunteer
illustrator for the Smithsonian, and a contributor of minerals and art.
We are VERY acquainted." She nodded.
I said "For years, when I became lost in my art, I painted the past,
and even the past lives of people who were near me. I once did that
here in a demonstration. Such things were verified. That ability has
grown, and I'm still exploring it. Seems to work on animals, now, too.
I just do what I do, but I know it's accurate. But of course it can't
be conveniently independently verified, so these creations are
presented only as art. Hopefully, good art. Should I hazard a guess
that you have a professional interest in this subject?" She smiled, and
said, "You would be correct. I teach it. Some of what I see here
conflicts with some current popular assumptions, but none of it is, to
our current knowledge, impossible, or even unlikely. With your
reputation, I would accept, pending verification, that you are largely
correct to the limit of the accuracy of your method of er, viewing
them. There is more, isn't there?" I said "Yes. Internal structures are
included, and some behaviors. Oh, I've seen that expression before!"
She almost strangled trying not to laugh.
She said "I'm Head of the Department of Geology and Geophysics at
Yale University. I strongly request that you share any data you have
about this subject." I said "Sharon is my advisor on this, as my first
loyalty is to the Smithsonian, where I do some work. If she agrees,
when I'm ready to make it public, you will have it, and more. Well, I
don't plan to stop for a while yet. Please, that look would scare a
T-Rex away from her food!" She went almost hysterical with laugher. So
did my whole crew and Sharon. I said "For your interest, and to really
confound you, I can tell you about something unusual that happened
during one of my er, dino-sessions. A small raptor was taken." She said
"You mean killed by a predator?" I said "No. I mean captured." Her jaw
dropped open in surprise. I nodded, and said, "I plan to try to learn
more about that, but I'm not sure if it's possible. Following in my
mind to where it went, well, that might be VERY far away. I could get
stuck or lost." She said "PLEASE be careful! You must not endanger
yourself!" I said "I tend to agree with that. At least until after I am
married and have children. But you know very well the urge to know."
She nodded, and then her eyes went really wide, looking at a one of my
paintings of a Ssintris family. I said "Caution! We can suspect, but
that speculation MUST wait for the best time." She gulped, and nodded.
I said "Ask your President about me and Tibet. Reach me through Sharon,
when you need to." We bowed, and I went to the stage.
Chad said "That's new!" I said "Sorry, but I'm not ready to discuss
it beyond what I told her. There are complications." Rose said
"Frustrating." I said "Absolutely!" Eli, who had asked to be at the
gallery, said, "Is that Priest going to be Pope someday?" I said "I'll
shield us for this." I said to Eli in contact, +Speak carefully and
sharply that question to Chad, and we might find out. Discom.+ He did
that, and Chad said in a strange voice, "He will be Pope and more, when
more is needed." Then he went back to normal, and said, "Wow! Been a
while. Not as cryptic as the others." I said to them, "Chad has the
Oracle Talent." Hawk said "Wow!" I said "Stopping the audio shield
now." Chad accused me, "You told him in contact!" I said "You weren't
interested in knowing?" He said "That's beside the point." We all
laughed at that.
I went back to mingling. The professor asked me, "Do you know what
sounds they made?" I said "Yes. Pick one." She picked an allosaur. I
said "Funny name. Other Lizard." She grinned. I yelled, "Attention! I
have been asked about the sounds that the dinosaurs made. Please don't
think you are going to be eaten, when you hear some of them. Here is
the allosaur." The noise did startle some people. She said
"Supersaurus?" I announced that one, and, and played it, and then said,
"For your information, that wasn't from the front." Some loud laughter.
I said "If one of those seriously oversized beasties ever sat on a fire
and did that, well, we'll know, if we ever find their bones on the
moon." Some more good laughter. I said "Did you know they didn't chew
the plants they ate? They had a lot of rocks in their stomaches they
used to grind their food. Yes, even before the sixties, a whole
population was stoned." Loud laughter.
One said "Were you ever on the moon?" I said "I don't own a space
suit." He said "You could still have worn one without owning it." I
said "I have not in this life worn a space suit." One picked up on
that, and said, "Did you in a past life?" I grinned and said, "I'm not
going to say that." To their frustrated expressions and feelings, I
said "If you want good answers, ask about what we are here for, my
art." One said to me, "I'll ask you about your art. I'm from the Met
museum. May we have some of what is available of your jewelry of the
past? I'm thinking of a special exhibit, featuring them. Your excellent
documentation inspired me." I said "Yes, you can have as much as you
want, if we agree on the terms, AND if you announce it here and now, to
motivate more sales. Don't worry. I have duplicates." He said
"Unexpected in all ways. Impressive! I agree." We went to the stage,
and Hawk rang the bell. I said "May we please have your attention for
an announcement." The man from the Met said, "I am from the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. I have proposed to Stephen that we put on
an exhibit of his Jewelry of the Ages. He has agreed to provide his
work for that." I said "I'll make more, so feel free to spend all your
money on all of it here, so you can brag to all your friends that you
have something of what's in the Met. Thank you a lot." Some chuckles.
They did start to buy more. I said to him, "Anything else you want,
start listing. I can do this for musical instruments, too." He said
"Wow! I need to make some calls." I said "If you want, see me after we
close today, for more discussion." He nodded. I went back to the
professor, and said, "I LOVE museums!" She grinned and said, "Good! We
have the Peabody." I said "Fine. I'll let you keep it." She laughed.
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Grant
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