work on a plan for when I phased out. However, it seems like I might as well be looking for a person without a cell phone in the middle of Times Square—an impossible task.
With my proverbial tail tucked tightly between my legs, I return to the Temple, my slow pace making the trip back mind-numbingly boring. On my way, I decide that Joining with the Enlightened won’t be the end of the world. I wanted to refuse them out of principle, because I didn’t like the way Paul was ordering me to Join. However, I have to admit, a part of me is rather curious about the Joining. When I shared Caleb’s mind—which, let’s face it, was not the friendliest of places—it was less than pleasant. This experience, however, could be very different—perhaps enlightening in some way?
When I get back to the Temple, I make my way up the stairs decisively.
Caleb sees me coming and gets up from his lounging position next to the Hall. Was he just meditating? Though I guess this place would drive anyone to try it, Caleb doesn’t strike me as the meditative type at all.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone,” I tell him and raise my hands. “I’m ready for the stupid Joining they want to do.”
“You’re such a fucking idiot,” Caleb says, and before I can respond, he enters the Hall and slams the door behind him.
Belatedly, I realize I should’ve nicknamed Caleb ‘Mr. Personality.’ As I wait, the thought of entering that moniker into my phone and one day ordering it to ‘call Mr. Personality’ helps me deal with my jitters.
Rose peeks her head around the door. “Thank you for coming back.”
I enter the room. I have to hand it to Rose—she doesn’t gloat or say, “I told you so.” Neither does Paul, really. Instead, they methodically bring their spouses back into the Quiet.
“So we’re doing the Joining now?” Edward asks when he appears in the room.
“And if so, how many of us?” adds Marsha, who appeared in time to hear Edward’s question.
“Might as well be everyone,” Paul says. “We only need to look back a few weeks. I can handle that much.”
Everyone looks at one another excitedly. I ponder over the ‘handle that much’ comment.
“Let’s get the others,” Edward says and walks over to another old man frozen in meditation.
My newfound grandparents, their spouses, and the people they bring in all touch more of the white-clad figures—a ritual they seem to have performed many times before.
When everyone is in , I realize this is the largest crowd of live people I’ve ever witnessed in the Quiet. The ‘handle that’ comment makes sense now. I recall Eugene telling me how, when you bring people into the Quiet, you share your Depth with them. That means Paul’s depth is split with everyone here, yet he doesn’t seem concerned. But I guess even he has limits, and it sounds as though the Joining will have to be limited to ‘a few weeks,’ which I’m guessing means those weeks of my memories are what they’re most worried about.
I’m mesmerized as each of the Enlightened sits in front of his or her own frozen self, Grandpa being the only exception. They end up forming an inner circle—the very circle I thought was potentially missing earlier. Rose and her husband leave a bit of extra space between them.
“Sit next to me, please,” Rose says, pointing to the empty spot.
I walk over and take my designated place, mimicking the dignified lotus pose everyone is sitting in.
“Place your hand on the Abbot,” she says, pointing to the white-haired man in the middle.
I reach out and gingerly touch his shaved head with the tip of my index finger. As I do this, I notice each person in the circle does the same. Together, we make a strange bicycle-wheel-looking circle—our hands and arms serving as the spokes, our bodies forming the rim, and the Abbot guy being the hub in the middle.
Once everyone is touching the monk, Rose says, “Read him and then let us in, the way you did with Caleb.”
I
With my proverbial tail tucked tightly between my legs, I return to the Temple, my slow pace making the trip back mind-numbingly boring. On my way, I decide that Joining with the Enlightened won’t be the end of the world. I wanted to refuse them out of principle, because I didn’t like the way Paul was ordering me to Join. However, I have to admit, a part of me is rather curious about the Joining. When I shared Caleb’s mind—which, let’s face it, was not the friendliest of places—it was less than pleasant. This experience, however, could be very different—perhaps enlightening in some way?
When I get back to the Temple, I make my way up the stairs decisively.
Caleb sees me coming and gets up from his lounging position next to the Hall. Was he just meditating? Though I guess this place would drive anyone to try it, Caleb doesn’t strike me as the meditative type at all.
“I’m not here to hurt anyone,” I tell him and raise my hands. “I’m ready for the stupid Joining they want to do.”
“You’re such a fucking idiot,” Caleb says, and before I can respond, he enters the Hall and slams the door behind him.
Belatedly, I realize I should’ve nicknamed Caleb ‘Mr. Personality.’ As I wait, the thought of entering that moniker into my phone and one day ordering it to ‘call Mr. Personality’ helps me deal with my jitters.
Rose peeks her head around the door. “Thank you for coming back.”
I enter the room. I have to hand it to Rose—she doesn’t gloat or say, “I told you so.” Neither does Paul, really. Instead, they methodically bring their spouses back into the Quiet.
“So we’re doing the Joining now?” Edward asks when he appears in the room.
“And if so, how many of us?” adds Marsha, who appeared in time to hear Edward’s question.
“Might as well be everyone,” Paul says. “We only need to look back a few weeks. I can handle that much.”
Everyone looks at one another excitedly. I ponder over the ‘handle that much’ comment.
“Let’s get the others,” Edward says and walks over to another old man frozen in meditation.
My newfound grandparents, their spouses, and the people they bring in all touch more of the white-clad figures—a ritual they seem to have performed many times before.
When everyone is in , I realize this is the largest crowd of live people I’ve ever witnessed in the Quiet. The ‘handle that’ comment makes sense now. I recall Eugene telling me how, when you bring people into the Quiet, you share your Depth with them. That means Paul’s depth is split with everyone here, yet he doesn’t seem concerned. But I guess even he has limits, and it sounds as though the Joining will have to be limited to ‘a few weeks,’ which I’m guessing means those weeks of my memories are what they’re most worried about.
I’m mesmerized as each of the Enlightened sits in front of his or her own frozen self, Grandpa being the only exception. They end up forming an inner circle—the very circle I thought was potentially missing earlier. Rose and her husband leave a bit of extra space between them.
“Sit next to me, please,” Rose says, pointing to the empty spot.
I walk over and take my designated place, mimicking the dignified lotus pose everyone is sitting in.
“Place your hand on the Abbot,” she says, pointing to the white-haired man in the middle.
I reach out and gingerly touch his shaved head with the tip of my index finger. As I do this, I notice each person in the circle does the same. Together, we make a strange bicycle-wheel-looking circle—our hands and arms serving as the spokes, our bodies forming the rim, and the Abbot guy being the hub in the middle.
Once everyone is touching the monk, Rose says, “Read him and then let us in, the way you did with Caleb.”
I
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