Somewhere Else Entirely -138-

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In a hospital room, interested parties gather to observe the impending death of a patient. However, events do not proceed as anticipated and further events cause many questions to be asked. Unfortunately, most will never be answered.

Somewhere Else Entirely

by Penny Lane

138 - Hiatus

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2010-2016 by Penny Lane. All rights reserved.



The hospital room was crowded. Beside the patient, lying in bed connected to equipment that sustained his existence, there was an intensive care nurse and a senior supervisor. Standing back against the walls were the consultant in charge of the case, the hospital administrator, the deputy district coroner and the next-of-kin of the patient. Also standing clear were three lawyers, one for the hospital, one for the next-of-kin and one for the healthcare company who were funding the patient's care.

The death of a patient required no less attention.

The next-of-kin was Bradley Campbell. For today he wore a suit and tie, though this was not his customary attire. To show he was a man of the land, however, he still wore one of his checked shirts. He was alone, since he had decided to spare his family the sight of the death of his nephew and his children's cousin.

"We have to do this?" he asked, of no-one in particular.

Etheridge Barron, the healthcare attorney, replied, "Well, Mister Campbell, we've been over this. You know that your brother's health plan had specific limitations -"

"I know all that," Campbell cut in irritably. "I suppose I'm just trying to delay the inevitable."

"Mr Campbell," the consultant said, "in this particular case it isn't just about the money. As far as medical science can tell, Gary Campbell is brain-dead. You know that for months we have been trying tests to see if he has locked-in syndrome, but everything we have tried has come up negative. So far as we are able to determine your nephew will never emerge from his coma. Keeping him like this serves no constructive purpose and his body will inevitably begin to deteriorate. It would be kinder, as we have already agreed, to give him a clean ending, which is why we are all gathered here today."

Campbell nodded sorrowfully. "I know that, Doctor Sorenson. I just don't like to see the death of a bright guy like Gary. I understand what you're saying. Tell me, what happens next?"

Sorenson replied, "Why, we simply switch off the equipment and let nature take its course."

Campbell considered. "Look, can you get rid of all those tubes and wires? If he's going to die, let him die with dignity and not like he was some part of a machine."

Sorenson turned to the others. "Would this cause any of you any problems? No?" He turned to Campbell again. "We can do that, but you must be aware that he could just die while we are doing that, especially when we remove the ventilator."

"I accept that, Doctor."

Sorenson turned to the two nurses. "Remove the wires, drips and feeding tubes, please, and then the ventilator tube. I think we'll leave the finger monitor on for now, to give us an idea of when life becomes extinct."

The two women began to pull drips from veins, sensor pads from skin and the feeding tube from the nose of the patient. Finally, they untied the ribbons holding the ventilator pipe and gently pulled it from his mouth.

"Doctor! The patient is still breathing!"

There were a tense few moments as the onlookers watched the patient's chest rise and fall without assistance. Finally Sorenson shrugged and turned to Campbell.

"What you see happens in a very small number of cases, Mr. Campbell," he explained. "Normally, this is just a reflex after having the equipment in for so long. It may only last a short time. Very occasionally the breathing is sustained and then we are forced to take other -"

Sorenson's explanation was cut off by the abrupt ringing of bells and the raucous rise and fall of a klaxon. The administrator, who was nearest the door, opened it and looked out briefly before ducking back in.

"It's a fire," he said tersely. "There's thick smoke at the end of the corridor, and it's close. We have to all leave - NOW."

The supervisor nurse objected. "What about the patient, Mr Patrelli?"

Patrelli cast a long glance at the bed and shook his head. "No time. We must concern ourselves with the living, not someone who is shortly to become dead whatever we do. Out, all of you. Go!"

Two of the lawyers began to object but Patrelli held the door open and gesticulated with his free hand. Campbell cast a last look at his nephew and followed the others into the corridor, where the visibility was already becoming difficult. He followed the others away from the choking smoke and to safety.

Some time later, the same people filed back into the room. Patrelli had had discussions with the fire department and the hospital's maintenance team and discovered that a fan in the air-conditioning had seized solid, causing an electrical fire and spreading smoke throughout that wing of the building. Once isolated, things had rapidly returned to normal.

In the room the single monitor which was still functional emitted a high-pitched whine, indicating that no pulse could be detected. Everybody had expected it and gazed down upon the body respectfully. The two nurses moved towards the bed and began to tidy the sheets and coverings.

Campbell said, "I suppose we ought to have called the hospital chaplain?"

"If you wish," replied Sorenson. "What denomination was he?"

The younger nurse said, "That's funny... the finger clip fell off."

The senior nurse straightened suddenly. "Doctor Sorenson! This patient is still breathing!"

Everybody's attention went instantly back to the bed. At a nod from the senior nurse, the junior one clipped the sensor back onto the patient's finger, whereupon the monitor promptly began to sound the blip... blip... blip... of a normal heartbeat.

"Well," Campbell said. "This changes things."

"To a point," Sorenson agreed. "We have demonstrated that he is capable of breathing without help, but there still remains the problem of the brain injury. We may have to take positive action to end -"

The patient's arm twitched. Nobody could have missed the movement. There was a rough cough, and then the eyes opened briefly. The arm moved again, an attempt to bring it up to his face, and the words which came out were slurred but distinguishable.

"Ow. My head hurts!"


Excerpt from the Hays Examiner March 23rd

COMA BOY WAKES UP

By our Medical Correspondent. Teenager Gary Campbell, who had been in a coma for exactly a year, spontaneously regained consciousness yesterday when his life support was switched off. Campbell, 18, is the only child of David and Myra Campbell who were both killed in the auto smash which left him in a coma last March. A spokesperson for the hospital, who did not want to be named, said that such events were unexpected but not impossible. Physically it appears that Campbell is recovering strongly although (turn to page 7)


Excerpt from patient notes March 23rd

For someone who has spent a year in a coma Gary is making a remarkable recovery. After a single day he is able to stand and make his own way to the bathroom, with help since his balance and coordination are understandably poor. He is able to take solid food although of course we are careful what we feed him at first.

An odd feature is that he speaks with a strange accent and appears to have amnesia. The nurses have reported an occasion today when he was struck with a strong headache. It might be that this physical recovery will only be temporary and that his brain damage may ultimately prove fatal.

Sorenson


Excerpt from patient notes March 24th

The patient had another headache this afternoon. Although he appears to be physically strongly recovering, I am concerned about brain damage. I have scheduled an MRI scan for tomorrow morning.

Brandt


Excerpt from patient notes March 25th

The MRI scan was successful and the patient was able to climb on and off the table by himself. On this basis alone I would recommend physiotherapy to bring his muscles back into tone, although having examined them already I cannot see much wrong with them.

I am concerned about the results of the MRI scan and will consult with Dr Sorenson this afternoon.

Brandt


Dr Sorenson's office, March 25th, 7 pm

"How's our young Lazarus doing, Tony?"

"Well, Dr Sorenson, that's a problem. Physically, he's actually doing all right, in fact I would say that he is ridiculously healthy for someone who has just spent a year in bed. It's almost like we have the wrong patient."

"He's on the road to recovery, Tony. What did you expect?"

Brandt eyed his superior sceptically. "Walking after a day? Taking normal food? Perhaps calling him Lazarus is right, Dr Sorenson, but it is his latest MRI scan that specifically concerns me."

"Oh?"

"Yes, may I use your terminal?"

"Of course, here you go. What seems to be the trouble? Have you found the seat of these headaches he's been having?"

"That's just it, Dr Sorenson. Look, here's the one we did this morning... and here's the most recent one we did three months ago. The damage is all gone!"

"That's unusual, but not... absolutely... impossible. We know that damage in the brain can be repaired, if only very slowly."

"Well, yes, but look at these two scans! They could almost be of entirely different people!"

"You might be correct about these scans," Sorenson said, "but the fact remains that these have to be of the same patient, don't they? What possible thing could have happened, Tony? Did you think maybe aliens swooped down and stole our patient, replacing him with an identical healthy copy? This is the same young man, I was there, I saw it happen. If he's getting better then our duty is to help him do just that, so that he can be discharged from this hospital and free up a valuable bed."

Brandt sighed. "You're right, Dr Sorenson. I'm sorry, perhaps I've been working too hard. I'm still concerned about the headaches he's been having though."

Sorenson pointed at his terminal. "If you can find a reason for his headaches on these then we'd have something to investigate. But there's nothing, as you can see."

"I know, and that's what concerns me." Brandt shrugged. "I'll keep a close eye on him, Dr Sorenson, but because of his physical condition I'd like to schedule a physiotherapist if I may."

"Go right ahead, Tony. Now he's conscious again his healthcare plan covers rehabilitation."

"Thank you, Dr Sorenson."


Excerpt from patient notes March 26th

The headaches seem to be increasing in frequency and severity. They appear to be accompanied by flashes of returning memory, though no-one can understand what he describes. I have prescribed painkillers and rest. In all other ways the patient appears to be improving, although still amnesiac. His strange accent is very gradually becoming softer.

Brandt


Excerpt from physiotherapist notes March 27th

This new patient puzzles me. I have been told that he has spent an entire year in bed in a coma but his muscle tone looks like that of an ordinary unfit young man, i.e. a normal teenager. Despite his amnesia he is quite willing to undergo the tests I wanted to do and to try out some of our gym apparatus. Bearing in mind the headaches Brandt has told me about, from a physical perspective I see no reason that this patient couldn't be discharged in a week or so.

Chavez


Excerpt from patient notes March 28th

The impossible happened today. After the most severe headache attack yet recorded, I had to call for a crash team when the patient collapsed unconscious on the floor. Before they could arrive he recovered and he then informed me that his memory had returned. We allowed him time to recover fully and then asked our staff psychologist to examine him. Extensive questioning proved that he knew who he was and that although there were gaps in his memory he remembered most of his previous life.

We had to call for a counsellor when the time came to tell him of his parents' death in the car wreck that put him into a coma. He did not take the news well. He is essentially an orphan although his uncle, Bradley Campbell, has visited him daily and has promised to look after him on release.

Brandt


Excerpt from patient notes March 30th

The patient continues to improve now his memory has returned, but his mood seems to have changed. I would not say yet that he is depressed, but after learning of the death of his parents it must be a real concern. Not only does he need to grieve but he must also have survivor's guilt and he may well have PTSD.

Three of his former school friends visited him again today but he turned them away without explanation. Because of the changes in manner noted I would strongly recommend that he see a therapist.

Brandt


Excerpt from patient notes March 31st

I have spoken with the patient at length and agree, there appear to be some deep-seated psychological problems, most likely relating to the events surrounding the death of his parents. It is my belief that the sooner we can get him out of hospital and into familiar surroundings the better.

I know that he has barely been back in the world for a week but he appears robust and in control of all his faculties. If Dr Sorenson agrees, we should consider the discharge procedure in two or three days.

Rosen, Clinical Psychologist


Excerpt from patient notes April 3rd

I have concerns about releasing this patient, but only because he appears to be getting too well too quickly. Rosen is right, the sooner he is out of here and in a familiar setting the sooner we can begin to resolve his mental issues.

I have asked that he return here at three-monthly intervals for a checkup and an MRI scan and of course his uncle can bring him in any time if there is any significant change in his condition.

Rosen has given me the name of a good local Psychiatric Physician in Hays who will prove easier for the patient to attend. I will write him a detailed letter explaining the circumstances.

Sorenson


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

April 5th

On the face of it, this seems a straightforward case, even after considering the specific points Sorenson has to make. The poor guy has not only lost both his parents and a year of his life, he has also lost his home and the familiar surroundings of school. He has to come to terms with his new surroundings, grieve for his parents and the loss of his former life and consider what he might be able to do in the future.

At this initial consultation his uncle, Bradley Campbell, accompanied him. He explained that after the death of Gary's parents their bookshop had been sold and the money placed in trust should Gary ever recover. Subsequently, the house they shared with their son, empty for several months, drew the attention of undesirables and was also sold. These funds, together with certain life insurances held on the parents, mean that in practical terms Gary might never have to work again, assuming he led a modest lifestyle.

(I must note here that my own consultations with Gary are paid for out of his healthcare plan.)

The downside of this, which the uncle recognized but I did not spell out in front of Gary, was that he was now essentially rootless in the world. No home, no school, no job and no close family apart from that of his uncle and his wife and children. The uncle has undertaken to offer Gary a home for as long as he needs but their farm is many miles away from anyone else Gary would have known before the accident. While not being exactly in my job description I will try and see if some kind of compromise arrangement can be found.

We have agreed that Gary should attend for a consultation once a week to begin with. His uncle will bring him for the first few sessions until he can be considered safe enough to be reissued with a driver's licence.


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

April 5th

I took on a new case today and it promises to be as unique as all the others. Of course, every case is unique, but this one strikes me as being the strangest I have yet come across. Gary Campbell's sudden revival and subsequent discharge from hospital are unusual enough but his new circumstances are almost guaranteed to add to his worries. He is presently living with his Uncle Brad on a farm some sixty miles away and I am concerned that while he is in a familiar setting he won't get the stimulation a young man who has lost a year of his life will need to return to society.

I also noticed a certain tenseness between Gary and his uncle when they came for the first consultation. Perhaps he doesn't like his uncle? Perhaps there was bad blood between the brothers? Something to explore in the future, I think.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

April 12th

Like a great many men Gary finds it difficult to deal with his feelings. I have warned him that, in order to resolve his outstanding issues, he will need to embrace them and express them and do so voluntarily.

He does tell me that he is finding it difficult to adapt to the modern world and I am not surprised. These days, a missing year can mean missing a great many developments. In particular, he said that cars went too fast and that everywhere was extremely loud. Considering he has just spent a year in a quiet hospital room, I'm not surprised.

I have given him a list of items I want him to consider before our next session. It should help him focus on his feelings concerning his parents.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

April 19th

We have concentrated on Gary's feelings for his parents today and I must say that he is taking an unusually mature attitude to their death. Perhaps it is the fact that the event happened a year ago helps put things in perspective, but against that he has also lost access to both his childhood homes and almost all of his childhood belongings. His uncle has stored a few mementoes but as is often the case the ones chosen are sometimes the wrong ones or inappropriate.

Concerning his relationship with his uncle, it seems that he is being pushed into activities and attitudes he does not care for, a common response with young men of his age. Attempting to explore this relationship further produced a blank wall, however.


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

April 19th

Gary certainly seems to be more mature than I had expected. In some respects his response to his parents' death is cool but that is not unusual these days, especially among young men. However, I get the sense that, while he no longer grieves for his parents, he seems to be grieving for someone or something else. Perhaps there was a romantic connection before the accident? One which has not been renewed? More issues to explore, and there is something about his living at the farm which is causing him further stress. I must see if I can make some gentle suggestions at our next session.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

April 26th

Although I am only supposed to listen to clients, I also have a duty to help resolve any issues they may have, and so today I have suggested to Gary that he finds somewhere in town to live. It will get him away from the farm, it will bring him back to familiar streets and it will also make it easier for him to visit me. Having to wait for a relative to bring him each time makes the whole business a day's outing for two people. He agrees with this suggestion and I have given him the details of some real estate acquaintances who specialize in town rentals.

He has lived with his uncle on his uncle's farm for just over three weeks and he tells me that he finds it stressful most of the time. I asked him when he didn't find it stressful and he said he felt the most peace while out riding the ranch's pastures. I didn't know Gary rode until that disclosure.

He has taken the trouble to re-familiarize himself with driving while on the ranch, using his uncle's quad bikes, cars and trucks. He is wondering what he has to do to convince the DMV to give him his license back. I told him to wait a month or so and then see what they say.

Personally, he is still closed to me. I get the sense that he is somehow keeping many secrets, but this is scarcely the first time a client has done that. I do wonder, though, what those secrets could be when he has spent a year unconscious. I have again pointed out to him that I cannot help him unless he is willing to open up to me.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

May 3rd

The session was unproductive today. Gary's focus is on getting away from the farm and back to town. Naturally, his uncle doesn't want to see him go and appears to blame me for apparently driving him away from his closest relatives. He has already viewed several properties and will look at two more after our session finishes.

One consequence of this focus is that he isn't focusing on any of his problems. I have warned him that in effect he is only putting matters off, and that once he has found somewhere and settled in he could suffer a sudden dose of reality. He gave me a strange look when I said that and I can't imagine why. Another issue to be resolved, perhaps?


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

May 12th

Gary has now found a small apartment, at a reasonable rent, right in the middle of town. When he arrived for this delayed session he seemed much calmer but it is apparent that there is still something serious bothering him.

We worked through some of his childhood and his relationship with his parents and he only has good things to say about them. It could be that this is why he has so easily overcome his grief at their deaths. We also talked about the farm and his reminiscences about past visits seemed to indicate that he liked going there on previous occasions. I cannot imagine what might have happened in the twelve months he was essentially missing to cause his attitude to change.


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

May 12th

We are now into the standard 'hard part' of any consultation. Gary is now comfortable with coming to see me but has not yet realized that he needs to relax his guard completely and let me understand what it is that is bothering him.

I am slightly concerned that he is effectively at a loose end, since he tells me he isn't going to try for a job or college until "this business is sorted out". Since the accident happened so near to the end of his last school year, he has been passed out in his absence. He tells me he expects to spend much of his free time in the library or on the internet, once he eventually becomes connected.

I asked him if he wanted to step up the sessions but he declined at the present since he is still getting himself organized.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

June 30th

Gary surprised me today. Our sessions since he moved back into town have not been very productive. I was more convinced than ever that he is hiding a secret but it has taken me six weeks to even get a whisper of it. Today he amazed me. Naturally all sessions are recorded but I'm including a transcript of part of it for clarity and reference.

- - -

"I'm struggling to understand your problem, Gary," I said. "You are obviously very upset about something but if you refuse to tell me anything I can't even give you an opinion about it. Look, if you won't tell me anything, then perhaps these sessions have become a waste of your time and mine and we should cease them."

His reply was cautious. "I'd like nothing more, Doctor, but I'm in a strange situation and I really can't continue without somebody else's help. The only problem is, if it's you then you're not going to believe me since you'll likely say that it is all in my mind, isn't that right?"

I spread my hands wide. "I can't even offer an opinion on anything unless you tell it to me, Gary. Just treat me as a sounding board, if you like. If you want to tell me something that shouldn't be treated as part of the session, we can do that too, but you must understand I'm a professional and I'm more likely to know what might be relevant than you do."

"Well, Doctor, see, that's the problem. A while back you mentioned reality and that's what is stumping me. Now, suppose I told you that last year, all the time my body lay in that hospital bed, I was actually somewhere else entirely? Somewhere where I had another body and a full and interesting life. While I was there I wondered whether I was dreaming or not and which was the reality and now I'm back here I have to ask myself if I really was dreaming or not. My problem's this, Doctor. Was I really there or did I dream it all?"

"You dreamed? That's not possible, Gary. As far as anybody can tell, a body in the state yours was in doesn't dream. The brain just isn't active enough. Okay, if you had suffered from locked-in syndrome then, yes, maybe you had dreams. But you personally didn't have that syndrome."

"That's exactly what I mean, Doctor. What you're saying is that I made up a whole year of living and I just can't accept that." There was a pause and then tears started to come. "I just can't."

I gave him tissues from my desk and he wiped his face. Such a strong reaction! I find myself interested.

"You say you dreamed for the whole year?"

"Just about." There was a weak smile. "There was some travel time involved. The B-"

"The what, Gary?"

There was a long pause before he replied. "Doctor, I think I've made up my mind that I have to tell you some of it, but I don't think I want to tell you all of it. Some of it is going to sound... wacky. Would you let me go away and consider how I'm going to explain all this to you? In any event, you're probably going to decide that it's all irrelevant anyway."

"Gary, I don't think any of it is irrelevant, since it appears to be the seat of most of your problems. From that point of view I want to hear your story. Besides which, I'm intrigued. I've never heard of a case where someone came out of a coma and remembered anything at all from being in it."

"What do you mean?"

"Just what I say. I think, before I see you again, I'm going to do a bit of research of my own. Apparently I don't know sufficient about recovered coma cases, which might be because the numbers are very small. Anyway, I want to find out what other patients who have recovered might have experienced."

"That sounds interesting, Doctor, but I can't promise that my case is going to be like theirs. Anyhow, when do you want to see me?"

- - -

In the end we settled on a week, since next week contains 4th July and everybody will have the day off.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

July 5th

Gary seemed composed when he arrived today, and it was obvious that he had been thinking carefully about what he was going to tell me. My researches concerning possible dream states of coma patients has not turned up very much that appears useful, not at this stage. Once I have heard Gary out then maybe I can research some more.

I asked him if he was happy to continue and he said that he was. I have included some snippets from the transcript:

- - -

"Well, Doctor, it's like this. I sort of woke up on another planet. Or rather, I was found. You know how I had amnesia for five days after I came round in the hospital?"

I nodded.

"It was the same as that. I was found on a mountain road which is a trade route between two major towns by a merchant caravan and I actually did the whole journey down to Palarand before my memory returned."

"Um, Palarand? Could you spell that, Gary?"

"You're taking this seriously, aren't you, Doctor?" He spelled the name before continuing. "Okay, the most important part of my story is that I didn't have the same body I had here. I was... shorter. Different but maybe I looked like I could be a relative."

"You have any explanation for that, Gary? Is it possible you were unsatisfied with the body you had before the accident? You know, wishful thinking."

There was a long pause before he replied. "No, I don't think so, Doctor. I didn't think of that one. I thought it was more to do with DNA than anything else."

"I see. What happened when you reached this town, this Palarand?"

Gary grinned. "It isn't a town, Palarand is both the name of the state and the name of their capital city. Once there I was cleaned up, given some more appropriate clothes -"

"More appropriate?"

"Damn. Excuse my language, Doctor. What I mean is that, because I was shorter than before, the clothes I was wearing didn't fit me any more so they found me something similar to what the locals wore."

- - -

Reviewing this transcript, it occurred to me that Gary was being very careful choosing his words. He already told me that he wouldn't tell me everything, so what is he hiding?

- - -

"As a matter of interest," I asked, "what were you wearing?"

"Actually, although I didn't know it at the time, I was wearing what I had on during the accident. They had never seen anything like the tee-shirt I was wearing or the machine stitching on my jeans."

"Oh? Why was that?"

"Because this society was like, oh, maybe about where we were in the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries - with one very important omission, no gunpowder weapons. So everybody had swords and knives and there were crossbows and longbows, nothing else. The clothes were out of medieval movies, all tunics and tights, that sort of thing."

"So it was like you had gone back in time?"

"Exactly, although I didn't know then that I wasn't still on Earth. Then," he continued, "the merchant took me to the palace to meet the King, since he would be the best person to know what to do with me."

- - -

The next forty-five minutes were the most astonishing I have ever spent in my career. Gary's story is so incredible and so detailed I now understand why he has difficulties separating dream from reality. His memory of his time spent on this planet, Anmar, is so clear that he tells me that he can tell me where and what he ate for every meal during his time there.

I have a problem with believing that all this happened while he was in a coma. To me, it seemed most likely that he dreamed this after he regained consciousness, but he steadfastly refused that explanation. Indeed, he says that his memory is much better than before he 'left', as he puts it, and he can tell me everything that happened after he awoke back here as well.

The story is so vivid and so detailed that we have barely begun to scratch the surface of it. I have scheduled another session for three days time so that he can tell me the remainder while it is still fresh. This last statement of mine was greeted by strained laughter.

"Doctor, I'll never forget anything that happened on Anmar!"


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

July 5th

Gary's story is fascinating, but it must be just a story. It doesn't sound like anything I've seen on TV recently and I don't think there is a movie around with a plot like that or I would have heard of it. His father owned a bookshop so it might be out of some obscure sci-fi novel he read years ago. Still, the detail is most convincing and the society he describes is consistent, without the usual bizarre jumbles and odd jumps you usually get in a dream sequence.

Against my own professional caution I am interested to find out what happened in Gary's story.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

July 8th

Today was more of the same. I am having the recordings transcribed but there would be little point in filling the case notes with what would be essentially a full-length novel. I will summarize for the record what he told me.

The King made him a baronet to give him some protection in a strange land and ultimately adopted him. He was given some lands in the far north of the Kingdom which turned out to be rich with coal. Gary introduced them to the idea that coal could be turned into coke and thus able to be used for steel production, effectively beginning the Industrial Revolution in that society. He also told them about many things from our world such as electricity, railroads, astronomy and the college system.

Certain details were not clear but it appears that another state nearby tried to kidnap or kill him to prevent his knowledge becoming public. This degenerated into a full-scale war which his side won when he introduced powder weapons under protest. I'll correct that, since it appears that another boy from Earth was used by the other side and they used powder weapons first, thus letting the cat out of the bag, so to speak. Gary hadn't wanted firearms to become known on Anmar, which speaks well of his judgement.

Details of what happened once the war was over are vague but Gary says that it has encouraged the other nations to think of a Federation, and they had just signed the agreement when he left to return to Earth.

Of course there is much that he isn't telling me. This is obvious from gaps in the story and sometimes by abrupt changes of subject or evasions. My feeling is that something he isn't telling me is what is causing him his difficulty. To live, as he thinks he has done, for a year in another society means he must have made many friends and perhaps even romantic attachments. If they are real to Gary, I must treat them as though they are real to me, but if he will not reveal all it will be difficult to make progress.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

July 15th

Today we left the detail of Anmar and concentrated on why he found it so important.

- - -

"You see, Doctor, I spent a year among those people and I started something big. Now, if it is a fantasy, which I'm sure is what you're going to tell me, then what I dreamed doesn't matter, does it? If it isn't a fantasy, though, but the actual truth, then I would like to go back there because there's a job there only I can do. It seemed real enough to me there but evidence here is a bit thin on the ground. I don't know how I can convince you that I didn't just make all that up." He paused. "Or what we do if I do convince you."

"Let's leave the philosophy for a moment, Gary. Tell me, were you happy there?"

"Oh, yes! Oh, well, most of the time. While we were being attacked by enemies or by wild animals it wasn't so much fun. I had to put up with human nature a time, too. Some of the people I met you couldn't convince of anything if you beat them over the head with a stick. Of course there were also those who were just out for what they could get." He shrugged. "Just like here, really."

"So, a similar society to here, then."

Gary shook his head. "No, not like here at all. Okay, their society has its faults but there are ways it is much better. I had an opportunity to stop them making some of the mistakes we made, for example. Hindsight is always 20/20 and I could do that there."

"I think what I meant was, would you prefer to be there rather than here? Was there anybody there you were... romantically attached to, perhaps?"

The response was so immediate that I suspect that he had worked out a prepared position in advance.

"Yes, Doctor, there was. But I know that if it's all a dream it will be just that. I wouldn't grieve over someone who didn't exist, would I?"

"You'd be surprised. Plenty of women get upset when their favorite character dies in a soap, for example. They know it's not real but they grieve nonetheless."

Gary was silent then for a while.

"You're right, but then I'm not a soap-watcher, am I? I'm a regular guy who likes sport and adventure stuff. I know what's real and what isn't... usually. Problem is, I think Anmar is real."

"And that about sums up your problem, Gary. There are many young men like yourself who can get sucked into something, like for example a video game or maybe Star Wars or something. It can seem so real they struggle to connect to reality. You have to ask yourself if this isn't something similar."

"I don't think so, Doctor. I'm here on Earth and I have to make my way in this world, not the other one."

"Perhaps, but until you can resolve your issues you'll always be wondering, won't you? You'll never get the closure you need."

- - -

I can see Gary's dilemma but I'm unsure how to resolve it. Perhaps his grief is for the whole society he has now left behind. I have had patients who were refugees who dearly wished to return to countries that no longer existed. They are forced to live with their memories and I wonder if Gary will end up the same way.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

July 22nd

A difficult day. Gary refuses to respond to my suggestions and our session was cut short.

Because I am going on vacation we won't meet again until September 3rd, but I have asked Gary to think carefully about all he has told me - and all that he has not. This case is proving one of my more intractable ones but I am convinced that, once past the blockage, we should be able to come to a reasonable resolution.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

September 3rd

Gary surprised me again today, and I'm not sure what to think of it. He came into the office all smiles and said that he had a way of convincing me that Anmar was real. When I asked how he said that, while there, he had learned three languages!

It had not occurred to me beforehand that the language of his dream would not be English. One of the languages, he says, is what they normally speak in this Great Valley, and the two others are from distant countries of which he had met several people.

I asked him to demonstrate and he did so. The languages were completely different and nothing like I had ever heard before, but in the first there were words which could have come from English, or French, or Latin, or Arabic, not that I am familiar with the last two. The other two samples are of different tongues, certainly, but I can't place either of them.

Another mystery to solve! Assuming these languages are based on real ones, where and when did he learn them?


Dr Sorenson's office, September 3rd, 7.30 pm

"Excuse me, I was looking for Dr Rosen. Oh, hi, Bill!"

"Marcus! Do come in. This is Dr Sorenson, our leading clinician with regard to cranial injuries at this hospital."

Gottlieb shook hands with Rosen and then Sorenson.

"Do join us, please," Sorenson said. "We were just making small talk before going to the club. Can I get you anything?"

"Bourbon and ice, if you wouldn't mind, Dr Sorenson."

"Call me Ingemar, please! You're a friend of Bill's and you don't work at the hospital so there's no reason we have to be formal. Here you are."

"Thank you, uh, Ingemar."

"Take a seat, do! No reason we have to stand around. Now, you've obviously hunted down Bill for some particular reason, is it something you can discuss in company?"

"I don't see why not, uh, Ingemar, since you started the whole ball rolling. It might be more useful speaking to both of you together, in fact. It's your mystery patient, of course. Gary Campbell. Obviously I can't give you patient privileged information but I can tell you both there are still some unresolved problems and the explanation is pretty wacky, I can tell you!"

Sorenson leaned forward. "Oh? Take your time. How is he, generally?"

"You still see him here, don't you?"

Sorenson nodded. "We do, although I'm beginning to wonder why we are bothering. He's just a fit young man now. Remarkable change from a year ago, wouldn't you say?"

Gottlieb nodded. "I agree, and he'd be completely normal mentally if it wasn't for this very peculiar problem. You see, he believes that while he was in a coma here at the hospital his mind went elsewhere... for the entire year. He says he spent that year living among a sort of medieval cum seventeenth century society. I think he grieves for what he left behind there."

"I've never heard of that before." Sorenson shook his head. "Coma patients don't dream - at least, we can't detect REM sleep or anything like that. If they ever wake, then they don't usually remember anything that happened while they were comatose. Oh, except for the locked-in ones, of course."

"Of course. But you said Gary wasn't like that."

"He most certainly wasn't! We spent weeks trying to see if anyone was in there. When he finally awoke we were all completely surprised. So what's the problem? This has to be some kind of imaginary thing from before or after, surely?"

"Ingemar, he took two whole sessions to tell me what happened, in incredible detail. It all seems to make sense and there was none of the usual stuff you get with dreams. Now, here's the kicker, today he came and said he had learned three languages while he was there."

Gottlieb dug in a jacket pocket and pulled out a USB key.

"That sounded so remarkable that I edited down the session recording and put just the language excerpts on here. I was going to talk to Bill about it. Perhaps you could play them and both of you tell me what you think?"

There was a knock at the door and a cleaning woman came in.

"Oh, sorry, Señor Sorenson, shall I come back later?"

Sorenson waved a hand. "No, that's all right, Mrs Gutierrez, you come in and carry on. I wouldn't want you to be late home on my account."

Gutierrez ducked her head and entered, going first to the consultation room attached to Sorenson's office. Sorenson plugged in the USB key and then fiddled around trying to play the voice samples. Finally he managed it and the three listened to Gary Campbell's voice. The first sample was longer than the rest and elicited no response, but the second had Sorenson sitting up with recognition. The last sample again met with no response.

Rosen said, "Hmm. That first one, I thought I recognized some Germanic words in there along with some Latin and one or two I thought were English. What did you think, Marcus?"

"It mostly passed me by, but I thought there were English words there as well as French, Latin and possibly Arabic. I'm no language scholar, I'm afraid." He turned to Sorenson. "But you know that second one, don't you?"

"I do! I can't believe I'm hearing that tongue after all these years and here, of all places." Sorenson explained, "When I first went to medical school in Stockholm I thought that I would probably end up as a country doctor well north of the arctic circle, so for my electives I studied Nordic languages such as all the dialects of Swedish, Norwegian and even Icelandic, together with Sami and some Finnish, though I didn't get on with that one. That second clip sounds just like a dialect they speak in a region called Alfheim. Basically, that dialect is the closest modern survivor to Old Norse that still exists."

"Old Norse?" Gottlieb echoed. "How on Earth does a Kansas teenager get to know Old Norse?"

Rosen shrugged. "With the Internet these days, anything is possible. Unlikely, maybe, but possible."

"Yeah," Gottlieb agreed. "The Internet makes our work so much more difficult and so much easier at the same time. Dr Sorenson, Ingemar, can you tell me what he said?"

"Oh, something about how King Embrikt had a daughter who didn't like the man her father wanted her to marry so she ran away to sea." Gottlieb's eyes widened. "They sailed north and ended up on the shores of someplace that sounded like Plif, though I've never heard that name before."

"You won't, since Plif is on this planet Campbell was talking about. He told me the whole of that story in English. So, it is a real language, then, and Gary can apparently now speak it. What about the other two, then? Anything sound familiar?"

Rosen gestured. "Ingemar, can you play those clips again?"

"Sure." Sorenson replayed the sound samples.

Gottlieb asked, "Anything?"

The other two shook their heads.

"That proves nothing, of course, there are hundreds of languages on Earth including made-up ones like Klingon."

"Of course," Sorenson agreed. "If you like, I can ask around, I know some linguists -"

"Excuse, Señor."

"What? Oh, Mrs Gutierrez, of course, you want to empty the trash?"

"Señor, I listen to the voices as I work. My grandmother speaks that last voice."

"What? Explain, please."

"My family is originally from Guatemala, Señor, from Peten. My mother's family still speaks the old language."

Rosen pointed a finger. "Peten, eh? Does that mean your family that side were Mayan?"

"Si, Señor. I understand what the young man was saying, but not all the words."

Sorenson said, "Tell us then, Mrs Gutierrez."

The woman closed her eyes and thought before opening them.

"He says, he has an armsman, is that right? I do not know what an armsman is."

Gottlieb said, "I think he would be what you might call a security guard, Mrs Gutierrez."

"Gracias, Señor. He has an armsman who comes from... a name I don't know, where his father is the Over-Tender to the fisheries." She paused. "Over-Tender is an old Mayan title, Señors. It is sort of like Manager or Chief Executive."

"Ah? Ah! Thank you very much, Mrs Gutierrez. You have been a great help to us." Sorenson turned to the others. "Well! I don't know what to think, now. There's obviously some kind of mystery here. I mean, he has to have been my patient, right? And we have cast-iron records of him being here in a coma for a full year, right? So how did..? Wait a minute, I remember, Tony Brandt, my houseman, had some crazy idea Campbell had to have been kidnapped by aliens and replaced by a healthy copy. That's nonsense, of course, but I've yet to hear a better explanation. Look, time's getting on, would you like to join Bill and myself at the club, Marcus? Maybe we can come up with a better explanation over dinner."

"Well, I'll have to phone my wife, but... yes, of course."


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

September 10th

Today Gary seemed much happier and I believe that his difficulties may have been in part resolved. I have made no mention of my discoveries concerning the languages he revealed at our last session. It seems that as with many people he found keeping such a big secret (as he sees it) to be a burden, and once he had shared it with me the tension has lifted.

However, I am sure that there is much more he is hiding from me. Now everybody has confidential information which they never tell anyone else and I'm sure some of this is the same, but not all of what he is hiding is of that kind.

However, I think he is now sufficiently well adjusted that I will see him once more and then drop our sessions to monthly. In the meantime I am continuing my own researches concerning the material he has already revealed.


Excerpt from the case notes of Marcus Gottlieb for Gary Campbell

September 17th

Gary seemed different today. I think he has now put the events of the last year and a half behind him and is looking forward to the future. He hasn't told me in so many words but I believe he is now working to some definite plan, perhaps with a future job or career in mind.

I have asked him to come and check in at monthly intervals and of course he can always phone if he has problems.


Excerpt from the Hays Examiner November 3rd

COMA BOY DIES IN FREAK REPEAT TREE WRAPPER

In a macabre echo of the smash which killed his parents and put him a year-long coma, Gary Campbell, 19, of Grant Court, Hays, yesterday died when his truck hit the same tree at the now notorious bend on the West Sowerbridge road. The patrolman who arrived at the scene said he appeared to have died instantly. The visibility was good and there were no other vehicles around.

There have already been complaints about the number of accidents on this section of highway and the Police Department said that Highways had previously refused to consider mitigation measures due to (turn to page 4)


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

November 4th

I am shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Gary Campbell today. It puts a premature end to what has been my most puzzling case, and one that I now have to accept I must count as a failure. In fact the shock has been so great that I am considering early retirement. If I can get this one wrong, what other patients am I putting in harm's way?

However, I'm still following the case in a non-professional capacity and there appear to be further disturbing features which are just coming to the surface. I may have to tap some old friends to get some further information.


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

November 7th

Now that is a surprise! As Gary's counsellor I have access to the police report of the accident and I learn that a factor in the crash may have been the fact that he was wearing a hunter's vest which was crammed with all kinds of bizarre goods, making control of the truck more difficult. The coroner is putting the death down to accident due to impairment but I'm not so sure any more. However, I'm not going to challenge the official account.


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

November 10th

That's it. I have had enough. I'm not taking on any fresh cases and when I have concluded almost all those I have left I will pass the few remaining ones to a colleague and call it a day.


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

November 18th

I have had a word with Arnold Crowley in the Coroner's office and he has kindly emailed me a list of the items Gary Campbell was carrying when he met his death. The list is incomplete, unfortunately, and likely to remain so since no-one seems interested to follow up what was obviously an accident.

What we have so far is:


A replacement bulb pack for the deceased's truck

A Samsung smartphone, model not recorded

Two identical ruggedized tablets, make unknown, preloaded contents unknown

A solar USB charger

A wind-up USB charger

A normal wall-wart USB charger

An English pocket dictionary

A English-Latin pocket dictionary

A translation of the Magna Carta

A copy of the Declaration of Independence

A copy of the Constitution

A second-hand copy of the Logarithm tables

An astronomy primer

A chemistry primer

An organic chemistry primer

A physics primer

An advanced math primer

A paperback copy of Gray's Anatomy, 40th edition

An antique steel and glass medical syringe in original case

A digital multimeter

An 18-foot/five meter steel rule

Two ziplock bags filled with about fifty micro SDHC cards, contents unknown

A ziplock bag containing an assortment of nuts, screws and bolts

Two photo albums, 6"x4", full of photos of things from all around the world

A plain white underwired ladies brassiere, size too small to fit the deceased

A five pack of pantyhose


The last two items have thrown me completely. Crowley also tells me that there was a label attached prominently to the vest, with writing in an unknown script.

In addition to the above a backpack containing all Campbell's clothes was in the passenger footwell of the truck. It is theorized that he was leaving to move somewhere else and packed on his body everything that wouldn't fit in the backpack. Why he would do that and not just buy another bag is a question nobody seems to be asking.

I'm fairly certain now that Gary Campbell's death was not an accident, but I'm also not sure that I can call it suicide. I'm certain that I have missed some important flags in my dealings with him and that worries me for the future. I'm also certain I can't tell anyone else what I know.


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

November 30th

I'm about to close my files and put them into storage but I can't do that without thinking about the death of Gary Campbell. My initial impression was that I had failed him but with what I have now deduced I think it was always destined to end this way. My belief is that Gary has tried to return to that planet, Anmar, using the same method he went there originally. He had packed about his body things which would be of use to the society he is expecting to return to, since I remember him telling me that was what had happened to other travelers, that anything they were wearing or were carrying was transferred as well.

I don't know if that was his right course. My point of view must be that he has gambled his life in pursuit of a dream, yet I am uncomfortably aware that there are many clues which indicate it wasn't a dream. If you made it, Gary, you have my best wishes.


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

December 5th

I'm sealing a copy of the Campbell file, together with what I believe is a full explanation of the events of the last nine months, and I am donating it to an organization which specializes in leaving prophesies for the future. I have labeled it "To be opened in the event that a planet named "Anmar" is discovered."


Excerpt from the personal journal of Marcus Gottlieb

December 6th

Dear God! I've been such a fool. The clues were all in front of me, despite Campbell not telling me everything. "Diminutive height", "appropriate clothes", the bra and pantyhose, his whole attitude to the questions I asked. Or perhaps I should say her attitude, since I now realize that Campbell's responses were not those of a teenage boy but those of a young woman.


Somewhere Else Entirely

"Sire! Sire! Come quickly! Something wonderful has happened!"

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Comments

Spec-tac-u-lar

Podracer's picture

And what a relief that Gary worked out of his terrible shock from the crash, coma and loss. It is no wonder at all that Dr. Gottlieb could not get a handle on the case. He was working unknowing on something well out of his training and experience. Still, he did seem to help.

"Reach for the sun."

I am very impressed with Dr. Gottlieb

WillowD's picture

He strikes me as someone who is highly intelligent and very good at thinking outside of the box.

EVIL I was wondering how you

EVIL I was wondering how you would handle the earth side stuff and like how it was done. Though the cliff hanger SUCKED. You are EVIL!!!!

Penny

It has been awhile since I have commented on this story, you have done a marvelous job with this story. I like how you handled the return to earth in one chapter. Can not wait till your next chapter.

SDom

Men should be Men and the rest should be as feminine as they can be

Penny,

Penny,
This chapter has got to be one of the most intriguing ones I have ever read in a story.
It shows how medical science can be "fooled" by their machines, especially when a patient seemly comes back from "the dead" in a manner of speaking.
Should keep the doctors speculating for some time to come.
Gary seems to have adjusted enough and fast enough to have gotten what she was sent back for.
Although I would have thought she would certainly bring some up to date knowledge of machinery, weapons, tools, and the like that would be needed by Palarand and the new Federation to give all of Anmar "a leg up" in advancing their civilization into a more modern one.
I am guess the various SD cards, and sim cards that contained unlisted contents on the outside, carried such information.
It will be most interesting to see how Garia looks now, and how she will be able to offer all this new information to her husband, his father the King, the Queen and the populace of Palarand and Anmar.
Garia will indeed make a most popular and loved queen when she and Keren assume the thrones.
The articles she carried on her and with her, remind me of the end of the story "The Time Machine" regarding what books and information would you take with you, if you could.

Somewhere Else Yet Again

terrynaut's picture

I like this chapter. I'm a bit disappointed that you didn't add much from Garia's perspective. I would've liked to see how she handled turning back into a boy. Still, it read well and it kept me engaged. Nice job.

I'm looking forward to see all of the goodies put to good use, and I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing Garia reunited with Keren. Young love is so sweet.

Thanks and kudos (number 42).

- Terry

Maybe In the Final Chapter

It's possible that Garia will discuss her time back on earth with Keren or some of the group that was in the know or even Nurse in the final chapter.

I'm curious what was said about her disappearance (Carried off by Grakh?). I assume we'll learn that one in Julia Philip's fine Julina series, or maybe in the final SEE chapter.

Penny has done a remarkable job on this series as have both authors who have companion series. I'm also hoping for the happy ending that we pretty much all want.

Hope

I truly hope the story doesn't end here. I wonder why Gary/Garia needed to return to earth? Perhaps because of his body being still "alive"?

At least he/she was able to return with a lot of "goodies" (I hope)

I love this story
Joanna

While the ...others... can't

thliwent's picture

While the ...others... can't intefere directly, they can transport, and Garia has a very limited knowledge of many of the things in those books, along with the other technology, Garia will be able to push a lot of things forward now, with better designs and tools.

Surprised I am!

You surprised me with the handling of Garia's return to earth and it was a wonderful surprise too! The speed, noise, and attitudes of the modern world were probably a shock to Garia after such a long time away. I am glad she got her task completed in such a relatively short time and hopefully remains intact on her return home to Keren.

Looks like she brought enough stuff to whet the appetites of the Guilds and Questors along with more samples of modern items. They will need to get their pens ready for all the translations they will have to do.

Wonderful story! Thank you!!

Jeri

Jeri Elaine

Homonyms, synonyms, heterographs, contractions, slang, colloquialisms, clichés, spoonerisms, and plain old misspellings are the bane of writers, but the art and magic of the story is in the telling not in the spelling.

Wow!

I hope that this story NEVER ends lol. Of course as with all else all good things must come to an end.

Vivien

There is another possibility.

Imagine for a moment a universe that had no beginning and will have no end - it is easy if you just think of it as a Cycle, one of events and of physical and chemical evolution through a circular Time.

The beauty of this alternative means you don't have to contemplate any need for a creator, nor contemplate a fiery finish. I am sure this is the way the Multi-Dimensional Beings would see it, or do see it, depending when and where they fit into the never-ending Cycle of Alternative Time Lines.

I am glad that Garia's stay on our planet was as short as this chapter - Anmar is much more interesting, and with the way this poor planet is going I doubt we will exist much longer anyway.

Briar

There is another possibility.

Imagine for a moment a universe that had no beginning and will have no end - it is easy if you just think of it as a Cycle, one of events and of physical and chemical evolution through a circular Time.

The beauty of this alternative means you don't have to contemplate any need for a creator, nor contemplate a fiery finish. I am sure this is the way the Multi-Dimensional Beings would see it, or do see it, depending when and where they fit into the never-ending Cycle of Alternative Time Lines.

I am glad that Garia's stay on our planet was as short as this chapter - Anmar is much more interesting, and with the way this poor planet is going I doubt we will exist much longer anyway.

Briar

A Brilliant "Shopping List"

joannebarbarella's picture

The list of things that Garia/Gary took with her was brilliantly selected to progress civilization on Anmar from the point that it had reached due to her previous interventions, both technically and socially. It is often not realised that some paths are linear and cumulative and require patience and persistence to implement.

I am reminded of Arthur C. Clarke's dictum that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

As for this chapter....well! A tour de force! Bravo!

Locker?

There was a backpack of clothing in the truck.

Because it was in the truck and not on Gary, it didn't get transferred.

The purpose of the backpack was to satisfy the authorities that Gary was just moving on.

The smartphone? Gary of course would have bought a smartphone, no self-respecting young adult would be seen without one.

Penny

It could be dialects "butting heads."

It could be dialects "butting heads." [British vs. American vs. Australian.]

"In addition to the above a backpack containing all Campbell's clothes was in the passenger footwell of the truck."

Maybe that person is more accustomed to the expression 'passenger floorboard' than to 'footwell'.

Smartphone

Plus, it's an example of what is possible.

Maybe

The tablets would do the job if it came to that.

Penny is just suggesting that it was just an instinctive thing to have.

more like

More like EXPECTED. Just like the backpack of clothes that wouldn't even make the trip, the cellphone was partly to avoid suspicion by authorities. Only the shrink has any real suspicion of what really happened, and of course the "tin foil"ers he donated all his records of his dealings with Garia to.

The fact that the cell phone was ON GARY, and so would make the trip, is either, completely coincidental, because men generally keep their phones in pockets on their person, and therefore it'd've been suspicious if it hadn't been on "him", or perhaps it is meant to serve some dual purpose. If the latter, I'm sure we'll find out that second purpose from Garia's perspective in the next chapters.

Abigail Drew.

did the air bags deploy

did the air bags deploy and was be wearing a seatbelt? Those 2 items must be on the report or they lose federal funds.

The last time I looked, most

The last time I looked, most accidents are never reported to the feds, so it wouldn't matter much. That's part of why the statistics on deaths caused by 'speeding' are lousy. What's reported are usually "did the accident involve speed" - which can include someone driving 25 in a 65 zone, and being run over by someone doing 55 coming around a curve. It's the fault of someone going to slow, but they count it as 'speeding kills!'


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Well done

Nice one.

Garia will have to be careful

Garia will have to be careful with how fast she disseminates the knowledge into the world of Anmar.
advancing a civilization to fast can be damaging in itself if the society is not ready for it.
Look at what Yod tried to do with the little knowledge they gained.

I sense that the story could

I sense that the story could continue but may only be a way of 'writing into infinity'.
I'm sad that this looks like the end of the story.
I hope that Garia loves her prince and they live happily ever after.
Thank you Penny for a wonderful story. It has been something to look forward to, right the way from Chapter 1.
The prose, the characterisation, the universe you created are all logical and acceptable. I fell in love with the prince and wished to be Garia.
There is no more accolade than that in a book.

Oh help us Julia Philips you are our only hope

To get more Anmar fixes going forward.

Julia has done a wonderful job with Julina and I quaintly hoped that she would last beyond 999 episodes so she would be forced to move the Gazetteer to 9999 :).

To me I agree the lack of direct perspective of 'Gary' was a bit disappointing. The items that were brought back will probably be debated back and forth. To bring it back in dead book format I admit to be a bit puzzling since all that can be done more compactly. A film camera would have made more sense too though a view camera would be too bulky unless it is a 4x5 format one.

Well you can't have everything but the choice of a tablet (?) vs a Macbook will need a bit of explanation.

mac

Apple products are slick and slim, but not rugged. They are designed to last long enough for the Next New Thing to come out.

Gary wisely chose ruggedized tablets instead of something that'll bend if you put it in your pocket.

Bendgate is passe

That is done and done with current model, as so many youtube video has shown, so please don't spread FUD.

The ruggedized thing is useless if the components themselves go bad. If the tablets are are kept in a controlled environment (and they are too precious not to) they will not encounter any physical jarring. In such a situation, the usual interior wear and tear will destroy them sooner. Plus ruggedized does not necessarily mean fanless so that is another failure point.

Nothing beats quantity. Two units versus the 10 or so that fits in the same space means the 10 will have a greater net utility even if each of the ten might have a little less life to them, which is unlikely. It is also highly unlikely they will treat it like a frisbee and test how rugged they are. Plus I have not seen any of them that run linux necessarily, Windblows and Android mainly. Having a full keyboard is nice too on a laptop. Consequently any of the tablets (Apple's too) don't make the cut really.

The idea is to have as much technology utility as possible for as long as possible along with the best workflow.

Bendgate?

Yeah, Apple's PR team did a good job on that one. "It's not fragile! You were just too rough! wah! wah! wah!"

No guarntee that it's fanless? I have yet to see or hear of a tablet with a fan.

No guarantee that it'll run Linux? Android IS Linux. Some of the device drivers on some tablets are cosed source, but there are open source alternatives for some tablets. Android itself is open source.

As for ruggedness, you rarely see a computer fail due to the electronics. At least, not in normal use. Dirty power and overclocking will fry things, but the actual electronics has a very long mean time between failures -- once the break-in period is over.

My Acer laptop has been beat to jackstraws, but it is still working fine -- the electronics, anyhow. I have had to replace the fan, and the keyboard and touchpad are rough. Still, since I prefer to use a regular USB keyboard and mouse, the system works fine for me.

Oh yeah, I am also careful with the battery. Lithium Ion batteries are great, but they don't last forever. Hopefully, Garia will keep the tablets powered up so that they don't cycle the batteries much. That will make them last a whole lot longer.

Oh yeah, the screen is less than stellar. It never was good. That's something else that I would hope is better on the ruggedized tablets.

By the way, I'm writing this on a tablet (Samsung 10.5 inch) using a bluetooth keyboard. It's a small keyboard, and not ideal. If I was taking a tablet to Anmar and planning on doing lots of writing, I would use a larger USB keyboard and a mouse.

But I wouldn't use this particular tablet. It's slim and slick, but not particularly rugged. The screen is beautiful and very high resolution (better than the much touted 'Retina' display,) but that really isn't a practical consideration for a device that will be used to kick-start the industrial revolution.

I have to wonder what Gary packed in that terabyte plus pack of micro sdhd cards. I expect that there is lots of technical stuff, including the source code of several flavors of Linux (for use in fifty years or so.) Also, I suspect that he decided to add some favorite movies and music just as an indulgance, and perhaps to show the higher-ups on Anmar the good and the bad that can come from technology.

War movies and documentaries would be a good thing. A good picture (as much as possible) of what happens inside totalitarian regimes would be a very good thing.

And the results, as graphically as possible, of nuclear weapons is vital. You can't get out of your own star system without nuclear power. They need it, but they need to get past the dangerous part as quickly as possible.

I suspect that Gary chose tablets over laptops is because he was really running out of room on that vest of his

Hmmm - hardware in the vest.

I believe that Garia/Gary was a lot cleverer than it seems.
I assure you that I have not discussed this in any way with Penny - we had a brief 'chat' about some of the contents of the list - but details of exactly what is taken have barely ever been mentioned.

Factors:

a) What is transferred is limited to what the transferee is wearing and carrying. (That backpack of clothes was never intended to be transferred so it can be left out of the equation) A very strict limitation when you think about it.
b) Gary/Garia can only have access to readily-available equipment and content; unless Hays, Kansas is an unreported secret geek's supply centre.
c) Gary/Garia knows that with the right guidance, EVERYTHING will be able to be manufactured - EVENTUALLY - they won't need computers for years to come

My conclusions:

a) Don't take anything that won't be of relatively immediate use. There is no point whatsoever in taking up extremely valuable transport space with something that MIGHT be of interest in only 50 years time.
b) Up to this moment (= heartbeat in Palarandi parlance since 'moment' there is what we call 'minute') no-one on the whole of Anmar has ever seen a photograph, let alone a digital image. The screens are going to come as a HUGE shock to them.
c) Microfiche was never going to be an option. Far too bulky to carry, and far too time-consuming to gather the information. The little cards hold FAR more information than microfiche.
d) Load those cards to capacity with information, and have backups (!)
e) Now we need some way of retrieving that information. What could be handier than a tablet? No need for a laptop, we are just talking about data retrieval, thus there is practically no need for data INPUT. Keyboard functions are severely under required! Take a spare tablet as a back-up reading device.
f) Train a compact and select team to operate the tablet. Restrict access to these 'Oracle' devices. Reduce the dangers of destroying the only method they will have to access the data.
g) Teach a solid team English, so they can translate the information - and make HARD COPIES of it as they go along, in PALARANDI
h) On the principle of "Don't run before you can walk", no need for printers, hard drives and all the peripherals. Yes, the manual production of documents is time comsuming and highly laborious, but at first they do not have any facilities for anything more complicated. (I foresee standardised abbreviations being invented at an almost alarming rate; I wonder how long it will be before TLAs creep into the language). So what if it takes twenty years to get the data, they will still have more data than they can cope with, and have it far faster than they would ever have had it left to their own development.

And so on.

IMHO

Joolz

a different view on tech use

B. Geek central it is! At least 3 computer stores with support for individuals and businesses. Wal-Mart in store and site to store. Then you got Dell, CDW, Tiger Direct and others for mail order.

C. Anmar may not be ready for computers but Gary can carry only so much.

In my opinion;
a. Laptops with printer may need to wait a few months until printer usable paper is made locally. Start printing reference materials (like CRC handbooks) onto paper and begin building a reference library (in English), translation can begin at a less hectic pace and on more than 2 texts at the same time.
b. They're somewhat used being shocked by Garia with Mylsi and Julina doing a good job of keeping people shocked themselves.
c. No disagreement. They'll build it on Anmar if, they want it.
d. Yes, do have redundant equipment when possible.
e. Top of line laptops, some tablets and LED projectors (lecture hall use for teaching large groups).
f., g., h. Ramp up time tto teach BASIC English 2 years. Neither teacher has Engineering backgeound. Gary's 2 tablets are likely to catastrophically fail before half of one SDHC card is manually transcribed. Then you have to BOTH translate it as well transcribe it again. Garia can teach only so much. The PROBLEM is, Palarand ends up with a information bottleneck because only 2 people know English and can only teach part-time. SOLUTION, bring in more instructors and technical supplies.

Just an FYI - I have a cheap

Just an FYI - I have a cheap-o tablet at home (Coby) that I picked up for testing purposes to check things. It's out of date now. It's three or four years old, but still runs fine. The battery will give out first. Then you have to run it off of straight 5 volt current.

There's a good chance the tablet could last 15 years or more in read-only mode.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

cool!

That means they'll not get past the half way point on ONE SDHC card's storage capacity with manual transcription. Might as well have music and videos on the rest.

"Photography: A method by

"Photography: A method by which a picture can be taken of an object, and preserved for later viewing".

It's the SAME blasted thing I keep saying over and over again. You don't need "High tech" answers to everything! You need to get the data, then have a way to disburse it. They won't be able to build a computer, other than a Babbage Engine, for at least 30 years. There are too many tools that need tools, that need tools. However, they _will_ be able to do microfiche, or if you must be crass, photo negatives. Black and white photography requires some basic chemicals (not hard to produce), lenses (they already have these) and for bulk use, the ability to make celluloid plastics (again, not hard to produce, even with limited resources. With some more modern information, it can be produced from oily plants, such as jojoba. ). Within a very short period of time, they'll be able to use one device to open up resources, set the camera above the tablet, and do a 'snap', page down, 'snap', page down, 'snap'. Boring, but you'll be able to set the font really small, and do 30 pages a minute. Then the film goes to someone else to be developed and duplicated. Not _cheap_, but extensively faster than trying to make that first copy by hand (or typewriter).

You're also assuming those SDHC cards are 64 gigabytes. Even if they are, I suspect they DO have a lot of video on them - which means you'd need to set up a microphone and movie camera. Again, doable with not much change from what they have now. (Wire recorders were developed by the Nazi's, the ancestor of our cassette tapes and all modern magnetic media. Even etched records like the original 78's would work - they're alcohol soluble)

My assumption would be that the Beings are supposed to be as hands off as possible to avoid excessive cross contamination. You seem to think they can build a two way 'pass the parcel' and have people going back and forth like crazy. If that was the case, they'd just duplicate a few tool warehouses, factories, and the library of congress and be done with it - it'd be far cheaper than trying to move the 'life thread' of people back and forth constantly, making both sides insanely suspicious.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Android is hardly Linux

It might use the Linux kernel but its functionality all hinges on a Dalvik runtime which Oracle is suing them over. It is not likely any application runs directly through the Linux kernel so it is hardly the traditional Linux distribution.

Yawn, Apple PR. The bendgate issue is done, get over it.

I admit I misread a spec on some ruggedized tablets that have fans, they are probably only the semi-ruggedized ones.

And your POS Acer is nothing. I've been through a lot of Acers and they have not been any kind of rugged shake a stick at and they typically break at the drop of a hat. The Apple Macbook has a far nicer screen which yields the benefit of clearer images to be photographed (especially at small fonts.)

As for electronics, reliability figures don't lie. I started off in Reliability and Maintainability engineering. The failure rate of commercial grade components (ICs) according to MIL-STD-38510 of MIL-SPEC versus commercial grade for Reliability predictions, especially for high integration ICs is at least 7 to 1 based on reliability models with commercial stuff having 7 times the failure rate or worst.

And yes, I learned about what causes the bathtub curve for failure even for electronics that 'just' sit there as I had to understand FMEA and having look at failure problems under an electron microscope.

Typo

Commericial vs 'Military' 38510 qualified parts is 7 times the failure rate.

So how do the military cope when they cannot get a mil-version of a device? Yep, they add redundancy, either hot or cold spare depending on circumstances.

Linux

The kernel is what makes it Linux. There is a large group of programs that make up the GNU suite. Then, there is the X-window GUI and all its myriad descendants, like gnome, KDE, and other spinoffs.

I never claimed that Android used any of that.

It's a Linux system that happens to run a whole bunch of the standard apps that you see bundled in most distros.

As for my 1080p Acer with the 4 core 8 thread processor, well... it's heavy and clunky and has a mediocre screen and has been beaten up.

But it still works well.

And that's the point.

It has consumer grade electronics, and it still takes a liking and keeps on ticking. Just imagine how much better a hardened device with milspec parts will do.

Gary doesn't even need to buy pre-burned parts. He just needs to run them for a month or so before leaving for Anmar. I'll bet there are even programs that will ensure an effective burning.

You'd be right too.

"I'll bet there are even programs that will ensure an effective burning."

This is indeed correct. In a pinch, a standard set of GNU tools will do if you know how to write your own bash. It shouldn't be too hard to find pre-written burn-in scripts using standard GNU tools either.

Generally speaking Android runs on the linux kernel, and, thus, it IS linux. It does NOT run GNU tools in default userland. However, they are not difficult to install in an unlocked device. It's the unlocking without bricking that can be challenging for a non-techie. While Gary and thus Garia were not exactly computer savvy to begin with, the upgrades she and then he were given by the Beings should have enabled her to learn enough within the time she was on Earth to do these things.

As to the argument of ruggedized android-based vs mac. Ray is again correct, Apple is great at being "hip", but they are always behind in tech, and that includes stability. A Macbook might have been shiny and flashy but it would have had an even shorter lifespan before death than even my Sony Vaio that's over 10 years old and still running, though I've had to replace a few parts here and there, original ram died, original hard drive died, and I had to drill a few holes to help the fan out. Nothing major there. I also still have a Nokia N810, nothing changed there at all, as though I could. This is a tablet computer from before tablet computers. Nokia invented that product, though they've since left the market to much larger competitors. Though the N810 still runs flawlessly for its specs, it's now horridly underspecced compared to the newest tablets.

Abigail Drew.

Sounds anecdotal too me

Lots of macbook owners have similar stories. The latest Macbook does not have a fan as you probably know. There is no long track record yet for the fanless macbook so that is just surmise. Still, the Macbook is no doubt smaller and more portable than your vaio and more powerful too, plus it has an ssd drive. RAM of course is just as vulnerable but *shrug*

Vaios vary all over the place too from what I hear, though they are even more expensive then macs. The thinkpad is what was built like a tank in its hey day and it is probably better than a mac imho. But for portability and retina screen quality and usability for a given size a fanless macbook is a good machine since the idea here is to photograph the screen to create a copy of the data. And as you know, OSX is very UNIX-like just like Linux.

A ruggedized tablet is a good machine, don't get me wrong but it has limited sound quality as well as poorer specs screen-wise. It will absorb physical punishment well but ultimately they will fail just like all electronic devices, ruggedized or not. However ruggedness comes at the expense of bulk and in turn that means fewer devices transferable to Anmar.

This is all academic as Penny has chosen what she has chosen as the 'ideal' payload.

No

IBM Thinkpads aren't really any better than Sony Vaio's. Or Samsung's similar product category. Those are the top three though for consumer grade category. None are milspec though, and milspec WILL beat all of them for sheer lasting power. I think the concept you are missing that tells all is something they do with computer chips called binning. You can bin for different things, and some of them are generally exclusive of each other. Two very major such are to bin for either performance (IE, how much you can pump out of it without caring how long it lasts doing it) or reliability (IE, how long you can keep the damned thing working, and who cares what it's performance is.)

In the end, it's the same chip. With the same parts number. Same almost everything. But it has different specs. Milspec are ALWAYS binned for reliability. These are parts that, despite sharing everything else with their performance-oriented cousins, are binned to last. They are binned to put up with far worse environmental stress external to the chip itself, for longer.

Other things involved in milspec aren't even the same parts at all. Examples are VRMs and capacitors. A ruggedized unit is NOT going to use the same VRM and caps as a consumer unit. These days, there's little difference anymore between different consumer units when it comes to those things, though that wasn't always true. But there is a huge difference between consumer grade and milspec. The biggest difference between a mainstream and enthusiast consumer platform when it comes to VRM and caps are mainly a numbers game. Enthusiast parts are going to have MORE, they'll have redundant VRM, and high numbers of capacitors to ensure as close to a ripple free power curve as possible from a performance perspective. A ruggedized part will take the Enthusiast part and use BETTER VRMs and caps to absolutely guarantee a ripple free power curve even in extreme external conditions, for several years. Reducing ripple in the power supply improves longevity for the entire system.

Abigail Drew.

great

what a great chapter. I love the way you led us through garias time back on earth. keep up the good work.
robert

001.JPG

Somebody wants to give her husband a thrill

An underwire bra and pantyhose?

Oooooh. Sexy.

Plus more useful clues to help Anmar's manufacturers by reverse engineering them. Synthetics are well beyond them for now but the basic principles could be useful.

There were various ways you could have covered Gary/Garia's time back on Earth but I think this worked well..

After all she had so changed, become a different person that it likely felt much like an out of body experience to her.

BIG Q: I have as a reader, beyond all the info she tried to take back... BTW did it survive the trip? -- Will she be back in her old female body, a close copy as the vast multi dementias said they couldn't keep her Anmar body "on ice" so to speak.

Or will she be in an entirely different body?

Will be fun to see how you tie this all up.

LOVE the bit about the doc donating all his notes to the society intent on finding off Earth civilizations.

Would be a hoot of many centuries in the future Earth and Anmar made contact and the truth of their great Queen Garia's origins became public.

John in Wauwatosa

John in Wauwatosa

Pantyhose

Well, problem is, Palarandi women don't shave their legs (Penny said so) and frankly I find the combination of hose over leg hair is offputting. So does she now shave her legs? Five pairs won't last very long, especially if they are the sheer kind, FWIW.

Garia MK2

Well maybe she might get enhanced muscles or a bit of genetic optimization, longer life etc. I don't see why that is not possible. As long as she keeps her female body of course. And of course a few more inches in height would be great. Being diminutive can get old after a while.

I love how Penny slipped in the whole confirming that Anmar Was Not A Dream thing for Gary, by showing that Gary has the same magic language knowledge ability Garia had on Anmar. That must have been an incredible relief of course.

Bras and pantyhose

I would imagine that most of the items taken back to Anmar would be for reference only. I don't see anyone ever wearing the bra or pantyhose.

They are merely technology demonstrators, just as the syringe will be for the healers and the bulb pack will be for the electricians and glassmakers.

Penny

Okay

Tech demos make sense. Though it would have been to nice to get a copy of 'The Boys First Book of Radio and Electronics' by Morgan (and the whole series actually) but it would've had to be scanned since they are bulky hardcovers. I learned my basic electronics from that when I was 9 years of age.

Point is, vacuum tubes are the next step really and the electronics stuff deserves a primer of its own. I am sure they are either on memory cards or the devices themselves.

I am sure that that vest probably had more things hidden then Batman :)

Cool!

The book I mentioned is available on scribd.

But no knives at all?

But no knives at all? I would have thought one or two knives would be carried, just in case they were needed on Anmar.

Funny I was thinking why no feminine hygiene products?

Tampons and pantyliners and possibly even birth control devices (IUD) is a boon to women who don't have to be barefoot and pregnant until they want to, freeing up more workforce to speed up this industrial revolution of theirs.

Because tampons and pads are

Because tampons and pads are basically paper and/or cloth, and require no demonstrations? IUD's are simply wire coils, and could be described in two lines.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Yes and no

Tampons suffer from superabsorbancy syndrome, leading to stuff like toxic shock, and a good example of the right degree of absorbancy is important. The right material for an IUD is important too and having one as an example to analyze for alloy is important. Pads again are not as simple as you make it out to be. A good napkin design again requires a sample for structure and material analysis for thinness and absorbancy. Womens napkins and sanitary products has changed a lot over the years.

Uhhh.. IUD's are either

Uhhh.. IUD's are either hormonal, or _pure copper_. There's no alloy involved. There's some twist ones that are talking about using memory wire, which is an alloy, but that still requires copper - and as far as I know, they aren't heavily in use (if at all). At base, a paper pad is a paper pad. Adding wings, etc, is a personal decision - and nobody needs to carry 50 different paper pads, when a basic description works just as well, and people then experiment.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

A single pad will do

And no, the most advance panty liners have far higher absorbancy and structure and material types matter. What used to require those godawful feminine napkins with the belts were THICK and the same amount of absorbancy can be had now is due to advanced materials. It is just not the sa me.

Indeed

They contain the same cornstarch / polymer / whatever grains that you find in diapers. That stuff is really absorbant. Take your toddler swimming and you'll have a diaper full of jelly.

and as for the iud

Would you like a long term medical device shoved up you which is being done as an 'experiment' based on a one sentence description? Please put up links to justify your positions. Would you like your next stent holding up your artery to be made from a description of say 'Oh it is just a tube of metal that gets shoved into the artery .about 'yay big'.

*blink*

*blink*

How did you jump from IUD to other medical devices? Like many medical devices that haven't changed much over time, an IUD is very simple. It's a t shaped piece of plastic that has pure copper wire wrapped around each arm and the main leg. It's inserted into the top of the uterus, so that each arm is terminated at a fallopian tube. The copper (or silver) damages sperm motility, and makes the environment unfriendly for implantation. Even a syrette is more complicated.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Synthetics are well within

Synthetics are well within reach of Anmar right now. Look up Casein plastics, as well as celluloid. They produced those in the victorian era. (1897 through 1960s )

The purpose of panty hose could be more than something to wear. Nylon, and the ways it can be woven, would be very important to the fabric industry.

Tablets are more portable than laptops, and more likely to last. Because of their low power usage, they'll be operable by USB long after the battery has failed. Ruggedized _anything_ are better than Macs. If you wanted a laptop, you'd have to look for a Panasonic Toughbook, or similar. At least the critical material is paper, which means it'll be able to be easily copied without having to worry about power.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

I've worked with Toughbooks

They are huge and heavy and the military versions have those awful membrane keyboards. Also, still the innards as Ray so pointedly mentioned, even for ruggedized anything, are stock parts really, unless they've been mil-burned in or SLC ssd drives (unlikely) so they have a failure rate that is pretty much identical to a Macbook which is also fanless. A MIL-spec burned in anything would be pricey and much harder to get to boot, though not impossible of course. The irony is that even the military doesn't always use mil-burned in everything these days.

And all laptops can be powered by a big stack of batteries if need be. Again, she brought two of them and for the same amount of space, 10 macbooks can be had (along with 10 screens, 10 ssd drives etc.) The sum total of usability would fit perfectly into a redundant failure rate calculation, yielding an overall MTBF to be roughly 10 times a single unit. Two ruggedized tablets (which essentially has very downclocked stock components) is unlikely to have 5 times the MTBF of them while having comparatively small storage space (like 128GB.) Plus it is a real bear to enter data on a tablet (no mention of an accessory keyboard.) And they have lower resolution screens and such.

So anyway, I found a statista.com result and a robust notebook computer does not have two times the life span of a regular notebook, statistically speaking.

So why was a microfiche no chosen then, BTW?

1) Who says Macbooks don't

1) Who says Macbooks don't have fans? The last two I repaired certainly did.
2) Penny said that microfiche was too bulky. I don't agree, but I'm not the author.
3) Storage space was immaterial. They have SD cards, and those have a shelf life of about 20 years. Enough time to hand copy everything off - or when they get photography, make negatives, and then slides.
4) As stated before, why would they be entering anything other than search queries? They certainly won't be writing treatises on these.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Alright

2015 Macbook is fanless, that was pretty well publicized. It is also no more than I am not referring to the Pro models but I am sure you knew that. It is about 1/2 inch thick and 2 pounds, lighter than a ruggedized tablet. It has the overall width and length is roughly that of a sheet of paper. That means 5 of them would weigh about as much as two ruggedized tablets and taking a little more overall volume. It would take up about the same space as a ream of paper.

Queries are a lot harder to enter on a sucky tablet virtual keyboard. A keyboard provides better workflow to write queries faster and thus extract data that much faster and like you said, I am not the author and disagree with that also. For all the virtues of microfiche, it can be duplicated by photography as I've mentioned in previous comments so using SD cards would work.

Better yet, blu-ray M-DISCS, which supposedly have 1000 year archive life, though bulkier could be used and then archived when the optical reader (again one can have multiple external readers) dies and the design for a reader for them can be hard copied out also if they take the time. This is better than the 500 year archive under ideal conditions that microfiche is capable of (looked up the wiki.)

I still believe that redundancy and speed of access still make more sense but like you said, I am not the author.

Microfiche is easily

Microfiche is easily duplicated using photographic equipment. I guarantee you that DVD/CD/BLURAY really only have a lifespan of about 10 years, 20 if you're lucky. (for the writables, which is what you're talking about).


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

mixed opinion

I was hoping to read some of Gary's perspective along the way.

Didn't notice that the recognized languages were discussed with Gary.

Why didn't anything xfr to Earth with Gary?

There is a good reason I advocated the guts to an APC UPS. It provides clean power for electronics thus helping their longevity and it is small and light.

There's no such thing as a

There's no such thing as a 'small and light' UPS. The core part is a HUGE iron square, which makes up 95% of the weight, once you remove the battery.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Teaching the new knowledge

Maybe they should do what Denmark does: Teach the new subject matter in its original language as English for example is the official language of the university there, much to my surprise.

It would eliminate or minimize the need to translate the documents, at least initially.

I Wondered How You Were Going to Do It

1st, thank you for this not turning out like the season of "Dallas" that Pam dreamed. I was almost sure you weren't going there, and I'm relieved that you didn't.

2nd, given the way that you like to dive into the detail, I didn't know how you were going to pull off the return home (to earth) in one episode. Well, you did it beautifully.

It's been a long road. I'm really hoping for/looking forward to a happy ending/new beginning for Keren and Garia.

Shrinks

Cor, I've only just begun to read this chapter and am very frightened that Gary will lose his freedom very quickly and entirely if he shares with the shrink. My own experience when I first came out ended with the shrink declaring me incompetent and foreshadowed to complete loss of everything I ever valued. This is very difficult.

Having now finished the chapter, I see it was a stroke of genius. Gary had hoped to take things with him to Anmar, It will be interesting to see if it happened.

Gwen

I too find it brilliant

Thank you Penny.
A truly excellent chapter.

I shall have to add a section into the Index/Gazetteer thingy so expect that to be updated later today.

As regards the fans' reactions, I must say that I find myself surprised at some of the comments.

One reader asked why Garia had to return to Earth - that has all been explained in the story. The purpose was to get knowledge from Earth and to return to Anmar with it. Knowledge that would aid Anmarian development to speed up. And save the entire Galaxy!

Another wondered why Gary did not bring anything back to Earth - it wasn't necessary so to do! Why would that even be necessary? The whole point was to reappear in his 'old' body. So how could anything brought with him be hidden? Something couldn't just 'magically' appear in his hospital room.

Other comments ask questions that have also been answered in previous ways, either in comments on earlier episodes, or in Blogs.

Penny has categorically stated that there shall be one more chapter.

As it happens, I do know the thrust of that chapter for Penny and I have had, of necessity, a need to closely co-ordinate. But it would be interesting to see the fans speculations as to what will be in that final chapter.

Dear Penny,

I am honoured to have been allowed to be associated with this mighty work.
I offer any assistance you might like to get it prepared for publication.
Surely this shall be a major bestseller.

Yours in much appreciation

Julia

DON'T YOU DARE QUIT NOW!

This was a great chapter, but it leaves me wanting more! I SO want Garia to have her tough, challenging and morally ambiguous Connecticut Yankee happily-ever-after! Anmar needs her. We (her audience) need her! Keren needs her!

Dunno about everyone else, but "Somewhere Else Entirely" is a highlight of my day. I can't wait to see what Garia gets up to. After all, the Industrial Revolution on Anmar is barely underway. There is so much more to be done and so many social implications to be navigated on the journey to a better world.

Love and Hugs,
-- Mischief --

cell phone

The cell phone that the coroner found is probably the phone that he has been using for the past few months. There was really no sense in leaving it behind.

Smart phone not as useless as you might think

Penny specified a smart phone, not a plain cell phone. While it wouldn't be able to do anything requiring a cell or wifi connection, it would work as a backup to the tablets and as an electronic calculator, digital camera, picture/document display device, etc. Even without cell towers and the Internet, there is a LOT of computing power in one of those things, and a lot of apps which could be on it. Heck, the flashlight app alone would be worth sticking it in his pocket :).

LittleOne

wifi connect to tablets

It can wifi or bluetooth connect to tablets.

"Sire", not "Highness"?

I hope that means that the castle just got a telegraph message, and not that a lot more time has passed on Anmar than on Earth (or Robanar died young) and that Keren is now King. Nah, Penny wouldn't do that to us, would she?

LittleOne

Well there you go then.

Not quite 'all's well that end's well, but now Gary/Garia will have some sort of evidence of his/her origins and journeys when he/she returnes to Anmar and Paraland.

The bra and tights make perfect sense. What woman wouldn't feel the benefits of more advanced (and indeed sensual) underwear to enhance comfort and attractiveness. Evidence perhaps that the advance beings were right to allow their journeyman to have insights into EVERY person's and all gender's benefits. If society's advances are to be accelerated for the 'benefit-of-all'. That necessarily includes women!!!
For society to function logically and fairly then most advanced benefits accrued to women usually devolve to those of improved environments and circumstances - (Food, housing, transport, safety etc, etc.)which are, when one comes to think deeply about it, the most important material benefits of all for all.
As for 'non-material' benefits; I'm just so so-oo glad Garia had the wit to exclude all and any of earth's bigoted scriptures.

Thanks again Penny.

Beverly.

bev_1.jpg

Enjoyed the chapter

Little did the doctors know that it WAS a replacement body left by aliens. Liked the way this chapter was written. Something entirely different than the normal writing for the tale. Appropriate. Is this the end? I sure hope not.

Of what use is a smartphone?

I have an iPhone. I use it as a phone and for Internet access. I also use it for other things:

I had a sick cat. I was going to stop by the vet (annual checkup for another cat) and I wanted to describe the current condition of my sick cat, so I pulled out my iPhone and made a short video of my cat. When I saw the vet, I pulled out my iPhone and showed the short video to the vet.

I attempted to fight a traffic ticket. When I showed up for my court date, I had several photos on my iPhone ready to show the judge (I didn't get an opportunity to use the photos, the cop didn't show- case dismissed).

I play miniature battles on Friday nights. Sometimes when I explain my hobby, it is really helpful to pull out my iphone and show pictures of the civil war and naval (WW I & WW II) battles. A picture is worth a thousand words when describing complex things.

Would I bring a cell phone if I were Garia? YES!

Regarding the end (???) of this story, there is the option of offshoots. Annmar is an appealing universe. We could read more stories based on Annmar in the future (another shameless plug for SAGAS OF EINNLAND).

What would you bring?

Regarding the backpack of clothes, it makes no sense to take the time to pack male clothing that will be left at the scene of the accident (who cares if the police have a mystery?). However, it does make sense to pack a bag containing a sample of male clothing (preferably a mixed collection of types, styles, materials, and mfg techniques) as (except for lingerie) modern male clothing is more likely to be rapidly adopted than female clothing. Also, Female jeans and some tops could be mistaken for male clothing (skirts -not) if mixed in with the male clothing.
If you remember the rule, anything carried is transferred. If Gary was holding the backpack at the time of impact, it would be transferred. It could has fallen to the floor after "death (transfer)". OR, Gary could have intended to hold the backpack but something went wrong...

You know, a backpack full of clothes would be good protection for the electronics (especially if the backpack is waterproof).

I Wonder if Garia took a selfie to show Kerin what Gary looked like???

I would have stopped at the local hardware or garden supply store and picked up many packets of seeds.

If I could have acquired it, I would have on me a package of silkworms.

I would have held a pair of (healthy, young, and pregnant) CATS (with a note on their collars - if they are harmed, you DIE!).

I wonder if they had compass technology on Annmar? If not, a bag of small compasses would be vital (if I was thinking of ocean voyages).

I doubt they would have a sextant, so I would definitely grab one along with the tables ( which would be useless on Annmar, but they could be used as a template - it would take them a few years to create proper tables for Annmar).

Things to take

This is a subject that could literally run for years, because there are so many different ways of looking at the subject.

A selfie, I must admit I never thought of that. Maybe he/she did? It is possible we might find out in the future.

Seeds - no, that wouldn't work, since seeds are alive and can't be replicated. Only "dead" objects can be replicated.

Silkworms, yes, possible, but unnecessary since they already have a suitable silk prodcution method on Anmar. Did you forget, that was part of Tanon's cargo when they found Garia?

Cats - please, there are enough animals on Anmar and most are better suited to their environment. Cats introduced on remote islands on Earth can be very destructive of the local fauna - see Ascension Island, for one, where they decimated the bird life.

They have, or will have, compasses on Anmar. They already know about magnetised needles (there is a story reference) and Milsy knows about making them using electricity. The Einnlanders probably already use lodestones.

Sextant - who knows? One may turn up along the way. If you've never seen a real sextant, I can tell you they are bulky. Not the thing to be holding while you're driving a truck.

Penny

Would Garia have known what could be transferred?

Granted, we do seem to have a problem on Earth with invasive species, but considering the "bird life" on Anmar, the locals would be ecstatic to see a cat that would devastate the local "bird population" (although it would probably have to be a "great cat" instead of a "house cat")!

Sextants are large, because they became obsolete before the technology was available to miniaturize the sextant. A sextant would be useless without a set of tables to interpret the "readings". The tables we use on earth would be useless on Anmar, however they could be used as a template for a set of tables for Anmar. It would take their best mathematicians and astronomers a few years to create new tables.
Without a compass and sextant, navigation on the high seas is very risky.

How valuable is a picture or short video?

If I had been Garia, I would have maxed out the memory in my phone and taken a lot of pictures and videos. Definitely pictures of railroad tracks and train equipment as well as a video of a moving train. Ditto for large steel suspension bridges. What would be their value to the guilds men on Anmar??? If you are going to have railroads, you are going to need a permanent bridge across the River capable of supporting a train. I think you would definitely need video of a large suspension bridge.

Living things

A quick look at the history of introduced species (both flora and fauna) on Earth demonstrates vividly why transferring life forms is not a good idea. The Fly (film) acts as another useful reminder of why doing so would not be a good idea.

Besides which, given evolution has run its course on Anmar, it's likely the planet has its fair share of felines who prey on avians (well, most - imagine a feline big enough to take on a Ptuvil and win... you wouldn't want to get anywhere near it!)

Given Anmar has quite different species to Eart, it's logical that in among the scientific texts Gary packed, there wasn't a botany or zoology primer (although if there's an offline encyclopedia on the tablets, they might find the depictions of earth flora and fauna interesting from a curiosity point of view, although they'll be of no use in the planet's development).


As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!

sextant?

It might be amongst the stuff in the questor's lab at the palace. If, not then a drawing distributed to all the questors ought to turn one up. Of course a printing press is used for the "WANTED" flyer. Heck Garia may have done it before her departure for Earth.

I have actually become curious if, Gary had learned new languages while on Earth?

Won't work

A sextant is used to calculate latitude and longitude by measuring the degrees above the horizon of the sun and stars, since Anmar does not have the same stars it would have no reference. Perhaps it could be used as a model to develop a local version for Anmar.

Jeri

Jeri Elaine

Homonyms, synonyms, heterographs, contractions, slang, colloquialisms, clichés, spoonerisms, and plain old misspellings are the bane of writers, but the art and magic of the story is in the telling not in the spelling.

Re: Won't work

Correct, that is why I keep mentioning "tables". On Earth, once you take a reading with a sextant, you cross reference the time and reading against the set of tables (separate table for each astronautical body) to determine you location. The Earth tables couldn't be used for navigation on Anmar. New tables would have to be prepared for Anmar. This is not an easy task. It would take several years for their best people to prepare the new tables. The earth tables would save them decades of research.

I suggested that it may be there already

A sextant and other navigational tools may have been brought during an earlier transfer. Today, they are collecting dust or 'serou na to mouchy'.

Plot Hole ?

So, being a bit unsure how this works, I notice that Gary's body was found at the tree and he was wearing a vest full of booty. So, how is it we think that he took all that stuff with him back to Anmar? I can understand the clothes in the backpack not going.

So were Gary's possessions "copied" to the new body that Garia was to possess? I am not enough of a techie to do it but taking two smart phones might mean that she could mess with the settings and get them to act like walkie talkies through the Nearby Devices or Screen Mirroring settings? Careful, because I am only impersonating a woman who knows what she is asking.

Mistress of muddled thought processes.

Gwen

Transfer mechanism(s)

This really comes in two parts, Gwen. For anything that isn't alive, the atoms and subatomic particles which make up the object can be "sampled" at a moment in time, the information copied and a duplicate constructed elsewhere in the universe.

For things that are "alive" by most definitions, straight duplication is not possible since there is always movement in lifeforms during the sampling process. Therefore, the DNA is sampled instead and a duplicate grown elsewhere as required. This is an accelerated process. For humans, there are extra steps of (i) moving the "life thread" from the old body to the new; and (ii) snapshotting the memory (which would appear as a rope in several other dimensions) and "re-educating" the new body as it is grown.

[waves hand] That's how I'd do it, anyway. [/waves hand]

Penny

You mean the transfer

You mean the transfer machines are made of pure handwavium and are run by distillate of baloney?


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Why not?

There are a lot of commentators who do the same thing.

Smartphone uses and backpacks

Pictures on my iPhone can be "blown up" the resolution loss is high, but it is a useful function.

My iPhone has a calculator function that includes advanced math functions. Carefully explained to the Anmar mathematicians, the functions on the iPhone calculator would save them decades of research.

My iPhone has a clock more accurate than anything on Anmar. I wonder if it could be useful on another planet???

In addition to videos, my iPhone can save music. Granted, music doesn't dramatically effect technology, but I bet that the music files would be extremely popular with anyone on Anmar lucky enough to have an opportunity to hear Earth music. If I remember correctly, Garia described Anmar music as being dreadful. Wouldn't Earth music cause a culture explosion? If I were Garia, I would have pictures of instruments and a sample music file of each instrument in addition to a cross section of Earth music. (Note: in trade, luxury items usually have the highest value).

I still say the backpack could have been transferred per the "rules". All he had to do is grab the backpack before "death (transfer)". There is still time for the story to include what is in the backpack. Wouldn't something that her husband could wear be a wonderful present (along with the selfie - or is that too creepy?). I think the king and queen might like to see a picture of Gary.

And if I had been Garia, I would have begged on my knees with tears in my eyes for a cat ( or my cats if they were still alive). Heck, if my parents were still alive I would probably ask if they could come as well.

All this thought has given me a question: Was Gary selected because he was available or because he was someone special???

An observation on Technology

Sorry, but the iPhone (or any other phone made) is not an accurate timepiece. They maintain accuracy with network corrections. a few years ago, I tried it with Blackberries, Androids, and iPhones; the closest only lost 4 minutes a week while the worst was an old iPhone3 that gained 3+ hours. As for the iPhone, too bad they couldn't read the microSD or thumb drives and all that information was lost. But, if you like iPhones, use them. As with all technology, they are nothing more than tools that are meant for different uses; I don't use a Porsche to get a load of gravel, nor a truck to take the kids to a soccer game.

As music is a personal choice, might our music sound weird and cacophonous to our great-grandparents, not to mention that distant relatives in other times and places? I try to keep an open mind, but that is just me. I would hate to think what it would sound like to Anmarians(?).

As to the other questions, I'll Penny reply, although I thought I saw somewhere that Garia was available but the original never died as the Others thought it would.

Maybe I'm a bit thick,

but there seems to me to be a glaring inconsistancy here. How did the coroner, or anyone else, obtain a rather detailed listing of the items Gary had with him at the time of the accident?

If those items were intended to be taken back to Anmar, how or why were they available to be inventoried by the coroner? Did Gary/Garia or the "aliens" make copies of them all, leaving the originals with Gary's body?

Obviously, the backpack containing Gary's clothes wouldn't have made the trip back to Anmar since, as Garia, those Gary clothes wouldn't begin to fit Garia, being much too large, so those got left behind when Gary returned to Anmar... unless they got copied and transported back to Anmar for the purpose of serving as examples of modern Earth clothing manufacture to be researched and used as patterns for their manufacture when Anmar reaches the point of being able to do so. I.E. Zippers, machine stitching, etc.

So my question is: How did the Earth coroner obtain a listing of what Gary had on him? Maybe I misread or skipped over the exlanation for that?

Catherine Linda Michel

P.S. Oh yeah... almost forgot. Great story, so well done and well written. It's sure to become a classic in our genre. Thank you SO much for writing it and sharing it with us all.

As a T-woman, I do have a Y chromosome... it's just in cursive, pink script. Y_0.jpg

Coroner's Listing

This is because the basic principle is: nothing ever leaves Earth.

All that happens at the moment of transfer is that the Beings take exact measurements of every item and send them to Anmar, where a machine recreates them down to the last quark. The originals stay on Earth. They have to, to avoid raising suspicions.

They can't use that method with living things so another approach is used: analyse the DNA from a sample and then generate a whole new body at the far end. The original, again, remains on Earth.

The backpack was intended by Gary to provide a plausible explanation for why he was driving around with a vest stuffed with odd belongings: he was moving to a new home.

Penny

"Morbius was too close to the problem."

Part 1
(FYI, the title was a quote from an iconic film about the discovery of an advanced race that destroyed itself by zealously pursuing technology without understanding themselves. Morbius was also the nom de plume of an individual who extensively posted comments about a game called Civilization during the early years of the Internet on a service called PRODIGY)

In our thinking about what should Garia bring back from Earth, we all lost sight of what was truly important. Like the advanced race in the movie, we focused our thinking exclusively on bringing back technology when in fact, Anmar needed "something else entirely"!

After thinking about what Penny and Julia have written about, I decided that what they had described was a pre-industrial society that was culturally and technologically stagnant. Progress was practically at a standstill.

The people responsible for advancing knowledge were primarily engaged in keeping knowledge to themselves (especially the man at the top). "Professions" were based upon a guild system. Knowledge in each guild was restricted. An apprentice would serve for years with knowledge dribbled out by his master slowly. Typically, initiative would be discouraged and it would be several years of training before you could make decisions or direct the work of subordinates. Try to think how that would stifle the initiative or drive of a young person just entering his chosen profession. How much potential was lost by "the existing system (way of doing things)". Was Anmar mising something else entirely???

Garia's wedding was in a "Roman Amphitheater". Yet I can not remember any description of athletic competition in any chapter??? Was Anmar missing something else entirely???

The river valley civilization is clearly derived from Earth (primarily European) culture. I do not remember any mention of a pet??? Garia is part of the Anmar Royalty. Most of the people she knows are either the upper class or their servants. I cannot remember any discussion or mention of pets??? On Earth (even in ancient times), pets were common (especially among the upper class). I believe that human nature makes us have close relationships with animals. On Anmar (pre-Garia) apparently the only relationships were between Anmar "Oxen" and their drivers (and this relationship is required by the D. (Can't remember how to spell...)). Pre-Garia the frayen were treated indifferently. Was Anmar missing something else entirely???

No mention of entertainment in taverns, eating places, or inns. Garia mentioned that the music was dreadful. There was one instance where a troop of wandering entertainers ended up in Blackstone. They became very popular (even among the miners who are portrayed as being "roudy and uncouth"). On earth during the 1800(s), mine owners in the American West would build opera house(s) and import singers. Was Anmar missing something else entirely???

During the Late Middle Ages, massive cathedrals were constructed. During the entire Middle Ages, one of the things that women did was tapestries. On Anmar I don't remember any mention of tapestries, statues, paintings, murals (new construction) large public works??? What happened to Roman (Chivan) art??? Was Anmar missing something else entirely???

There was mention of military drills in the palace (which is similar to athletic competition), but (pre-Garia) unarmed combat was apparently unknown???would not there be some remaining tradition of at least wrestling from the Chivans??? Was Anmar missing something else entirely???

(Note: the first time I used the phrase "something else entirely" I placed it in quotes, because the phrase was used in a Big Closet story posted a few days ago)

Someone Else Entirely

You know, I really wish the last sentence in my comment above was written:

(Note: the first time I used the phrase "something else entirely" I placed it in quotes, because the phrase was first used by someone else entirely)

Trying to be clever is about as difficult as tap dancing your way through a minefield while listening to SPRINGTIME FOR HITLER.

Some answers and explanations

Hi Josette,

to answer some of your questions, and other things you chose to posit, then I would gently point out the following:

The Chivan amphitheatre is overgrown and has not been in use for an exceedingly long time. Penny originally said/hinted in SEE that the Chivans died out suddenly and much of their legacy has been lost. I tried to cover that in some ways in my 'Alibi Omnino' - by the way 'Alibi' is Latin for 'Somewhere Else' and 'Omnino' surprisingly means 'Entirely'! - and deliberately left off at the point where the early post-Chivan society is getting going. Thus leaving a 2000 year gap for any other authors to try to cast some light upon.

The dates in S E E all say so-and-so-many years 'since the Great Flood' - so we know there was a great upheaval - perhaps the Chivan relicts and artifacts were also lost in that Great Flood which altered the course of the Sirrel and the geography of the Great Valley.

As for athletic prowess, then certainly two types of sport have been mentioned: Shevesty and Staffglobe. There was a sports match up in Blackstone on New Year's Day, if my memory serves. Also, there are some weapons-training sessions and the like.

As for pets, then Deegrum has something that is almost a pet, his grenn, a trained working 'dog'. I suggest that survival has been uppermost in most people's minds with little or nothing left over for the luxury of having a pet, which would cost valuable resources to feed and maintain. I daresay those lucky enough to be able to have a frayen would grow a pet-like affinity for the animal, whereas those that just use the beasts seem to be quite rough with them.

Entertainment - well we have seen travelling troubadours, tumblers, musicians and theatre groups, as well as choirs. They have all been mentioned. Games of chance and dicing in taverns, inns and roadhouses have also been mentioned. And dancing.

One of the reasons that this story is so good is that Penny has set it precisely at the beginning of a huge social upheaval. And it is that change that grabs the readers attention. As you so rightly pointed out, we must not look at the problems with Earth eyes and Earth knowledge, but rather with how changes can be implemented into the existing, and rapidly changing, Anmarian social system.

I have striven to let my characters make mistakes, to let the readers see that not everything fits neatly together.

I thank you very much for your continued interest, and I remain open for any and all of your suggestions, as I am sure does Penny.
(But please do not do as another has and tell me that my characters MUST do this and MUST do that. My characters will do what I determine they shall do. You have not done that at all, for which I thank you wholeheartedly.)

So, thanks again,

Julia

Brilliant!

I wondered how you'd handle Garia's return to earth as Gary - doing it entirely through third person perspective was a brilliant idea!

In-universe, congratulations to the VMB for that clever strategy for engineering the body swap.

Meanwhile, we've learned the circumstances surrounding Gary's initial transfer to Anmar and subsequent return trip; together with some of what was packed. The solar and wind-up USB chargers should help maintain the longevity of the smartphone and tablets (ooh, redundancy!) while there's certainly plenty of stuff to keep Milsy busy :D

I wonder if we'll find out which Valley language was based on Mayan...

Finally, I know Penny said last time there'd be two more chapters (indicating one more after this), but 139 is a rather odd number to end a series on - I don't suppose there's any chance of continuing into a Chapter 140? :)


As the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body, then only left-handers are in their right mind!

Languages

Firstly, it is the Six Cities which have the Mayan antecedants, so not exactly a Valley society.

Secondly, although I planned a single wind-up chapter, it looks as though that will now run to two. As for the total number of chapters, well, a tale ends when it ends and that's that :)

Penny

scene of accident

There are a lot of unknowns about Gary's accident and the scene.
1. Did the airbags deploy?
2. Whoever found him, DID THEY REMOVE SOMETHING from the cab?
3. Did something fly out of the cab or fall out later?
4. Is there something left behind in the cab that is not in the report?

That covers a lot of possibilities. From additonal tablets, phones, calculators, slide rulers, laptop down to spare batteries for the VOM and much in between.

Yea!! I was dreading the

Yea!! I was dreading the separation from Anmar. This
wasn't a drawn out as I feared..
Also took note of what was on his person..A bit like HG Wells Time Machine..What books would you take back??

alissa

What to bring and still small

Sara Hawke's picture

Pens, [Needle (Analog) multimeter] instead of digital, much simpler to maintain and copy. Earbuds for the phone. The music would be classical mainly other examples, but certain music would be just that cultural and not very understandable. Can't think of much else.

But as far as the story very indepth and descriptive without breaking the flow.

Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
Chaos, yet harmony.
Contemplation, yet duty
Death, yet the Force.
Light with dark, I remain Balanced.

This is my first comment

Which is sad for me because this is exactly the kind of story I enjoy. I used to be ascifinut. I managed to get rid of 40 banker boxes of sci fi books ( A collection I started as a teenager. (books were my friends) by having a friend sell them at flea markets. You could say I was a hoarder I came out to myself just before this epic was started. I missed the boat completely For reasons I have explained in my blogs I chose to transition as fast as I could instead o f suicide. then onJune29,2016 I had a stroke. I am still paralyzed on the left side with every hope of recovery. though the last 2 yearslaying in bed. The last 3 months this story ha sustained me in a way that is hard to explained I plan on rereading it. Maybe leaving more comments. Typing while flat on my back with one hand is a bit hard you see reading the comment at the beginning was fun. A lot of friends who nhaved passed awayhave left comments. it is as though they are still here. Thank you Penny. and please keep on writing.

Ouch

And I think I have problems...

I'm pleased that you liked what I wrote. When you're stuck in that state you need to get all the enjoyment you possibly can and I'm glad to have helped. Please be assured that I'm still writing, much of it still concerns Anmar, and that I have no plans for quitting yet - although we do know what happens to plans, don't we?

On the other hand, I am slightly disturbed by your news that you let go a whole load of sci-fi books cheaply. I, too have an extensive collection although it probably isn't as big as yours was. The problem is... some of those books were likely valuable. I know that some of mine are, dating back to the '50s. If and when I have to part with them I'll make sure that they are properly assessed. After all, these days you probably wouldn't send that big old Chinese vase to a junk shop, would you?

Penny

Items

That sounds like a good list of items to bring back with her, preloaded tablets were suggested by someone in the comments a while back and there can be a lot of book that contain knowledge there.

hugs :)
Michelle SidheElf Amaianna

it occurred to me after

it occurred to me after rereading this story that one thing Gary could have done to prove to himself that what he went through on Anmar was real was to look up the lives of Marilyn Baker and Yves Parriard on earth to see if they existed and to see if Marilyn died the way he was toldI

The untold story

Of course, as written, we don't know exactly what Gary saw and did on Earth. It is entirely possible that, given time and opportunity, I may be able to fill in some of these holes in a subsequent work.

It is also entirely possible that he did as you suggest, but even that might not prove anything. He might have "remembered" such facts while on Anmar, after seeing them mentioned on TV, on the Internet or otherwise, before he left or even after he returned.

I won't say anything more here but there were several other important factors at play while Gary was on Earth, none of which were mentioned in the chapter.

Enjoy the Epilogue!

Penny

Thanks for the update!

Thanks for the update! Frankly, I always had it in my mind that he spent his time researching _everything_, including those who came from Earth. Yves and Marilyn wouldn't have gotten any actual airplay, especially not Marilyn. Someone dying related to drugs in Chicago? Yes, that makes the news.. :)

As for me? I want to see the vignette when the Terrans find out about the letter to be opened when Anmar is discovered.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Hmm. A possibility.

I hadn't thought of that particular point in time or place, but you are of course right. Such a story probably wouldn't fit into a vignette, though, but might end up 2-3 chapters if I am really strict with the writing.

It would require significant background to be generated, though, and that will take time. I would have to invent an Earth 200 years hence, and also determine what might have happened to the "prophecy".

Unfortunately, there is already too much going on so don't hold your breath. Like many authors here I have too many irons in the fire - some of which are not yet visible. ...And there is much to do in Real Life, as always.

Penny

It likely wouldn't be a huge

It likely wouldn't be a huge group, but I'd bet they're passively supported by one or more governments - perhaps on a colony planet - if for no other reason that they'd probably be a clearing house for predictions, rumours, alien artifacts, and other 'marginal' oddities that have to be acknowledged, but nobody wants to have them public.

I can see a large warehouse (or set of them), with a half a dozen people doing correlation, and a computer program scanning and cross-indexing news, publications, government documentation, and so forth against known key words.

So, you wouldn't need to invent an entire future Earth (or Nirvana), but rather just a single department and their method to contact higher ups in case something comes up. (and maybe the higher up's reaction(s) )


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Limited ability

Jamie Lee's picture

None of those doctors are able to perceive anything which they have not witnessed or witnessed by others. Because their instruments didn't measure any brain activity, Gary could not have been dreaming, Gary could not have been somewhere else entirely.

Their problem is not being able to conceive anything not in the physical world, even though of deminsions have been theorized. Rosen is the only one who finally thought outside the box to the possibility that Gary's story is true, even though it can't be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

When those of Palarand see everything Garia brought back with her, they will go nuts. They will have her in more meetings than they had her in before. Those items will rocket Anmar revolution forward faster than it previously did when Garia first showed up.

Others have feelings too.

For future reference...

Aine Sabine's picture

When Garia comes back she may want a Kindle version of: The Way Things Work

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0544824385?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_...

it can be on one of the thumb drives for the tablets. I actually bought a paper version. It's cool! And explains a lot of our modern technology as well as the more primitive forms. I know a bunch of "Survivalists" who own copies in case of societal collapse. That way they have a reference for rebuilding. I know it sounds stupid, but it can help.

Wil

Aine

I was thinking...

Aine Sabine's picture

About this story and this chapter in particular the last few days. I came up with a startling thought. We don't actually know what was found with her when she returned to her new home.
My thinking is with the hope that all the stuff in the cab of the truck came with her, she may find the truck with her as well. It's not attached to the ground so could easily come with. It would be like the ships with Norseman. Nothing in the report said anything about the objects which may have been in the bed of the truck. Just a thought for future stories.
I really do hope the story is continued.

Aine

I know my comments are the last ones....

Aine Sabine's picture

But I was just re-reading the full story again and had some thoughts. I would really like to know what happened on Anmar during this time. I know that Milsy will take over for the duration, but what about Jenet and Lanilla. What happens to them? I imagine some of the answers will come in "What Milsy Did", but due to the popularity of " Voyage of the Visund" we have to wait.
As for my comment previously about the truck, it could easily be said that she was in fact carrying it, one word "Seatbelt" , it's tied to her, er him. But I know that would require a lot more power on behalf of the VDB's.
Anyways,just some thoughts.

Aine

Remember, the goods carried

Remember, the goods carried weren't transported. They were recreated at the far end. There would be absolutely no need to replicate a truck, as everything needed would already have been in the documentation. They were taking advantage of a loophole in their own regulations, remember?


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

I understand...

Aine Sabine's picture

That things are copied. Things "carried" is how Garia described it. Which is why I said it that way. The only reason I suggested the truck would be two reasons. One an engineering example and two with slight modification could be used as a lightweight "engine" for small trains. But of course not necessary.

Aine

Garia's return

When I finished SEE I initially thought that I would not be able to write what happened when Garia returned. This was for a number of considerations, first being the need to construct a suitable and robust story arc to cover that tale. Boy has already met and married girl, where could I go?

Next is time. It took me six years to go from one end to the other of SEE and, at that rate, I'd probably be 80+ before I finished any return story - although, I hope, it would not have as many chapters as SEE!

Next, well, I'm getting older, there is no way to prevent that. Various biological processes are beginning to be, shall we say, a little less efficient than they once were. I should be able to continue writing for a good number of years yet but almost anything could bring that to an abrupt halt: vision defects, tremors, other more serious conditions. Who knows? The current Covid thing certainly hasn't helped my general fitness, especially as I have been classed as "Clinically Extremely Vulnerable" due to my Vasculitis. Which meant almost no physical activity last year.

Finally there would be the interweaving between any return story and the stories currently in play. Those are, of course, What Milsy Did, The Voyage of the Visund and Julina of Blackstone. All these would have (will have) an important part to play in the buildup before Garia returns. As you may already know, interactions in all three of those have slowed down or halted writing of them, which I must admit is embarrassing to me. The interactions require endless research to ensure that matters do not get out of step... and that can be very distracting when one is trying to write.

In fact, the problem had become so great that I was forced to write some software to help us co-ordinate. That has become a website which may, once it is safe to do so, be made open to interested readers. But it still took time I'd rather spend writing!

However, in spite of all of the above, plot points for what I have provisionally entitled Return to Anmar just keep popping up into my head. I can't say anything of what might be to come except to say that I have already thought of two or three big surprises. The story, if written, would probably begin just before Garia's return (no spoilers there) and end at MidWinter's Night 1156... the whole of 1156 in fact, during which any number of interesting things might happen (like Snep's Day Out).

Still, I can only write so fast and a life has to be lived at the same time. I am doing what I can.

Penny

I was actually....

Aine Sabine's picture

Thinking more during the time that "Gary" was on Earth. Jenet and Lanilla were not in the know, neither was Milsy. I wonder how this affected them while Garia was on Earth and even the short while after her return. They might have even been upset with her. With Sneps day out, we know they are back with her but at her return what might have occurred. They would have been doing other things and to be pulled back might have been upsetting not having been told what was happening. Human nature can be a bitch, even when you care for someone.

Aine

Jenet, Lanilla and Milsy

Actually, I believe that Jenet was in the know, as she was part of the "Inner circle". I doubt Lanilla would even understand, and her position during the rest of 1175 will be interesting, especially once she marries Braskath!

Milsy is another matter. Even if not told, I wonder if she might figure out what is really going on.

Since Milsy has been made temporary head of House Blackstone in Garia's absence, it is likely that she will be too busy most of the time to give it much thought. She will be going to Blackstone with Keren (and Jenet) for the post rains visit and it is possible things might come to a head then.

None of the above has yet been plotted out, I would add. Things are liable to change, YMMV, etc.

Penny

Penny

Something hit me today like a ton of bricks....

Aine Sabine's picture

Gary carried a bra and pantyhose back to Anmar with him. I'm wondering why he didn't bring a box of pads and even tampons also. Even if they couldn't replicate them at this time Garia would have been able to use them for a short while. And the idea of them would be there. Save one of each, unused, and they'd have a clean example.

Aine

Probably because of how

Probably because of how simple they are? Both are just convenient packaging around "known" materials.

Pantyhose would be more critical than you'd think. It's not because of their use, but because of how they're made, and the material they're made from. Filters, seines, bags, hair nets, etc. Bra? Well, that's pretty obvious - to give people an example of the construction, including the hooks and eyes.


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.