Sand

 

"We are all on a journey," said the Sun. "But are we going round in circles or walking a straight line?"

 

"I guess a bit of both," said Left.

 

"Indeed," said the Sun. "But what is your ratio?"

 

Left looked at Right. Right shrugged.

 

The desert stretched out before them.

 

 

 

The Sun was their constant companion. But it didn't half blather on at times.

 

"Do you hear that, Right?" said Left, as they entered the shadow of a large rock.

 

Right shrugged.

 

"Exactly," said Left.

 

Right leaned against the rock and loosened his laces.

 

"No, no," said Left. "We gotta keep moving."

 

Right grimaced.

 

"I know," said Left. "But we'll never get there before nightfall if we stop at every shadow."

 

Right reluctantly emerged from the blessed occlusion and they continued on their way.

 

 

 

As they walked, they drifted. Their imaginings were mutually experienced.

 

"Watch out for that scorpion!" warned the Sun - but they were not concerned about scorpions or any manner of hazard. They were invincible, immortal. They were aware they shouldn't have existed and yet had no doubt as to their purpose.

 

Trainers.

 

Hikers.

 

Kittens.

 

Bikers.

 

Another life, another purpose. But here they were.

 

"For every step forwards," said the Sun, "your consciousness recedes."

 

"Will you just shut up?" said Left.

 

"Just saying," said the Sun.

 

"How about you not just say?" said Left.

 

The Sun want behind a cloud.

 

 

 

Onwards.

 

Left, Right... Left, Right...

 

An eternity of sand.

 

Well not really, but it seemed like it.

 

"Haven't we passed this spot?" said Left.

 

Right shrugged.

 

"We are all on a journey..." said the Sun.

 

"Oh jeez," said Left.

 

Right closed his eyes.

 

 

 

Left dragged Right into the shade of a rock. It wasn't where they wanted to be, but Right wasn't as strong as Left. Left drifted. Right snored. Twilight came and went, and the stars wheeled above them. The same stars. Left drifted... rose... dispersed... dreamt of Right. Right dreamt of Left. The circle turned.

 

 

 

"Chop chop!" said Left. "Up and at 'em!" - and such things.

 

Right groaned, but straightened his tongue, tightened his laces and got up.

 

"Time to walk," said Left.

 

They emerged from the shadow of the rock and saw a cactus.

 

"When does the circle become a spiral?" said the Sun, but Left and Right weren't listening.

 

"Was that there yesterday?" said Left.

 

Right shrugged.

 

"Come on then," said Left, and on they went.

 

 

 

A day of sand is the longest day.

 

They didn't sweat, they didn't hunger, they didn't thirst - but sometimes they wished they did. No reason to stop except to sleep. No reason to go on except...

 

"Is it the journey or the destination?" said the Sun.

 

"For God's sake!" said Left.

 

"What?" said the Sun.

 

"Are you a giant ball of superheated gas or the voice of my conscience?"

 

"What do you think?"

 

"You're the Sun, you tell me."

 

"But am I the Sun or the voice of your cons-"

 

"Enough!"

 

"You said it," said the Sun, and the desert disappeared.

 

 

 

Trainers.

 

Hikers.

 

Kittens.

 

Bikers.

 

Circles... spirals... journeys... destinations...

 

The Sun.

 

A giant annoying ball of superheated gas.

 

A carpark.

 

A disco.

 

The M5.

 

A crater on the Moon.

 

Bright white searing light.

 

"How can we survive this?" said Left.

 

"You tell me," said the Sun.

 

"No, you tell me!" said Left.

 

"Look within..." said the Sun.

 

Left did so.

 

 

 

 

A colossal bridge of fire.

 

Right was shaking, sweating, murmuring, scuffing.

 

"Solar flare," said Left.

 

"From here to there," said the Sun.

 

"Finally," said Left.

 

"There is no 'finally'," said the Sun.

 

"Button it," said Right.

 

They walked.

 

 

***