We have only three things in life that we can give to others that matter: our word, our love, and our time. Everything else can be purchased.
All me All the time
So, you’re the writer?
Well, yes, in a way, Though I view myself more as the reluctant executive producer.
Reluctant?
You would be too if you knew how much work goes into bringing this work of K’me K’ea to you. It’s not all fun dinner parties and giggly talk-show appearances you know. It’s 14 hour days taking notes and editing and proofing galleys. Then there’s the times spent settling arguments between printers and shippers and web page makers and graphic designers. And working with the marketing folks trying to figure out how to get the word out there. Not to mention keeping some rather ideosyncratic characters in tow.
There’s got to be some upside…
OK, I admit, it is a lot of fun -- especially that last one: keeping those characters in tow. And I do get to work with some rather amazing people. After all, it’s not often that one gets an audience with the High Priestess; if one can gain an audience at all. Yet she takes my calls; well, usually - when she’s not annoyed by me pestering her about clarifying some aspect of the story. She takes the story-telling too much for granted, you know. But that’s my job, to get it all sorted out so we can report Ahmenar’s adventure faithfully and sensibly.
So why are you doing this?
I read an op-ed piece in my local paper the other day by the editorial director of the paper Wanted: Novels that inspire us. And I realized that’s exactly what I am inspired to do: deliver a body of work that inspires people.
So who are you really?
I’m just an everyday guy who’s been launched on a strange and profound ossayu.
That sounds vaguely familiar.
I have this notion that somehow through this effort I’ll find my annayu. It’s my way of reaching my paradise found.
What’s with all these strange words?
Don’t ask me. I was hired to bring this story to the public, and that’s what I’m doing. These strange words are theirs. Where I can’t find any equivallent in English, I transliterate their word. Annayu means “one’s purpose in life.”
I thought you were the writer?
Well, in a way I am. All the words in the book come through my fingers. But it is their story. Early on, when I first accepted this assignment, I tried to make the story up and do some writing on my own. That didn’t work at all. They are in control of the story. It is a story told by the High Priestess.
Let’s back up -- How did you get involved in this?
In the summer of 2002 I was doing some personal writing. That’s when I first encountered you, when I sent some material in the the Unseen Zine. As editorial director, you rejected that material.
You, uh, don't hold a grudge I hope.
Of course not. That’s why I’m giving you this second chance. «he grins»
Is there a connection between that writing and this work?
None at all.
How did you get started on this?
While I was working on that other material, I received a visit from an otherworldly gentleman by the name of Hege Inuoue. (pronounced hedge in-you-way)
Hege! There can’t be two.
You know him?
Yeah. In fact, he was in my office the day your submission came in. Some gentleman; he was rudely poking thorugh the stacks of submissions on my desk when I walked in to my office. He talked his way past the receptionist.
Sounds like the Hege I know. «chuckles»
Yours was one of the submissions he held; asked if he could keep it.
You let him?
Why not? I wasn’t going to run the piece?
Isn’t that unethical, to pass my work along without my permission?
Seems to have worked out for the better, I’d say.
Yeah, sure does. I’d thank you if you weren’t such a scoundrel. Anyway, in truth, I didn’t know what I was getting into when I agreed to be the publisher of Ahmenar’s story. But I wouldn’t back out now, even if I could. Reading his story has launched me on my ossayu.
There you go again with strange words. Clue me in.
Ossayu is a journey to connect with one’s life purpose, which is one’s annayu. But ossayu seems to be a really big topic. You might say that trying to understand ossayu has become my annayu. So, what’s your purpose?
I just need two things now -- kind of simple really. First: a reason to read the book. Second: a juicy sound bite.
Ossayu isn’t the only strange word you’ll encounter. There’s quite a bit that’s foreign. What would you expect - the story takes place in their world, not ours.
You’re not hearing me.
I heard you plenty clear. I’ll give you both of what you seek.
I’me ready, fire away.
Do you know why the story is so long?
Uh, no, I haven’t found that out yet.
The Journey is more important than the Destination.
Good. Which do you think that was: sound bite or the reason to read the book?
Both.
Nah. Can’t be a sound bite -- it’s an old truism.
It sure is. So, it must’ve been the reason to read the book.
So, what’s the sound bite then?
The Ossayu of AHmenar Ishtam: it's your journey too.
Great. Thanks. Who’s the book for?
You.
Me?
No. All of you.
And why should all of us read it?
What else are you going to read, Da Vinci Code?
What’s wrong with Da Vinci Code? I loved it.
Me too. Dan Brown told a great tale. And I learned alot from him about writing. So, tell me, what did you learn?
Well, that the Church is maybe not what it’s cracked up to be. And that there are these secret cabals that actually control events.
So biblical -- that’s my problem with it. With most everything nowadays. We live in this amazingly complex world. We have profound power. Our impact on the world is huge. And yet when we look for wisdom we turn to people from ancient days who didn’t know what we know.
Isn’t there wisdom in biblical thinking?
Sure there is. But that’s beside the point. Listen: our mythic tradition is rooted in the biblical era. Yet our problems are so beyond biblical wisdom. Those ideas and approaches are actually in the way of our survival, of the very survival of the human species.
Yowza! And to think that Dan Brown raises some people’s ire.
We need to have our ire raised. But this ire needs to be channeled in a productive direction. We live in a world of demonization. So, who’s your favorite demon: Dubya? Saddam? Bin Laden?
You’re not going to defend them, are you?
Of course not. They’ve all commited an atrocious and heinous acts. Above those, they’ve villified someone else. They’ve demonized someone else. And they’ve done so with utter righteousness. The truth is, they’re just using each other to perpetuate a very sad situation. But worse yet, the bigger problem is: we accept it. We play their game. Do you know why?
Uh, because we have to?
No. Because that is the biblical tradition: to cast evil into the world, to embody it, and to then seek salvation by rising up in holy righteousness to vanquish the evil we create. That model is how we see contemporary geopolitics. That model has been amplified by our beloved fiction. Truth is: there is no Sauron; never was, and never will be.
Well, we seem to have hit a hot button. Does this have anything to do with the story?
Sure does.
Care to elaborate?
They’re not the only ones that I’ve got a hot button issue with.
Who else?
All of us. We’re driving to the edge of a cliff -- quite literally. Right now it’s ineluctable because we’re blind to it. As were the Atrians in their time. That’s why they’re here to tell Ahmenar’s story. So we can see ourselves in him and their world. Individually, and collectively.
So, there’s evil in their world?
No, not in the biblical sense. Just like there isn’t any of that here. But there is a lot of evil projected into the world from the mind’s of men. It is mostly men who do this, you know. That’s why Ahmenar’s story is told by a woman - the High Priestess - she can see so much more clearly. Besides, women care much more about survival. Men say they do, but rather oddly they approach survival through destruction.
Well, if not a biblical evil, then perhaps evil men?
No. Just horrible situations.
Created by men?
It seems to be atavistic pandemic phenotype.
Are you going to make me get out a dictionary?
It’s genetic. We’ve got to realize our propensity to project. The old biblical solutions worked when we were clawing our way out of primitive existence, when we were the subjects of/to the gods. The problem is: we are the gods now. We’ve got more power than any of the gods of old. We can’t behave like an ancient greek bad-boy god and hurl fireballs. Because we won’t survive such angry antics. There’s no alian cavalry waiting over the ecliptic that’ll come riding in to save the day at the last moment. That’s why we need something post-biblical -- a way to think about huge problems with blame or expecting answers to come from beyond, whether from god or alians.
How do you know all this.
It’s my river.
Huh?
That’s a colloquial expression on Atria: being in one’s river means being connected to one’s annayu.
Ahmenar understands all of this?
In a very laid back kind of way.
Is he enlightened?
I can only pray that he is.
Does K’me K’ know you pray? She seems opposed to the notion.
I didn’t mean that in the way to which she’d have objected. She’s opposed to the way that prayer seems to be an abdication of responsibility, or a way to seek redress. She’s opposed to the notion of looking outside for salvation.
Do you get along with her?
She’s an amazing woman. Let’s just say I have a professional respect for her.
As a Priestess? Or the storyteller.
They are one in the same. I have great respect for her as a Priestess, and in that capacity, she has takenon the role of storyteller. But let’s move off this religious thing, it’s not at all what the book’s about.
So, can you tell me what it is about?
It’s an adventure story.
Really?
And a mystery.
A Whodunnit?
No. More like a connect the dots puzzle -- keep going until you can see the whole picture.
I get the feeling there’s more to that than what meets the ears.
Of course there is. And there’s more to the story than Ahmenar’s adventure and the mystery of the puzzle that he has to solve.
Tell us.
Hey, if by now you’re not interested in reading the book, especially since you can get a chunk of it for free, then you’re never going to cross the divide.
Which divide is that?
The one that separates those who know the story from those who don’t. No more questions. Thank you for listening.
Can you at least give us a taste of what you mjean by a puzzle?
Look not there,
The answer is
everywhere.
When you find it,
you’ve found the key.
With the key,
open the door.
Behind the door,
there is a stair.
Climb the stair,
the better to see.
To see the answer,
you came to hear.
Is that a puzzle in the book?
No. That’s a koan I just made up.
What next?
I already have it.
