A Simple Story


    Once upon a time, a little sphere was bouncing along a particularly rough path and beginning to wonder if his journey was worth the trouble.  He was of the race of Hedrons and like most, should have been very proud of his race.  (Weren't they the only race they knew of and, therefore, the best?)  This particular sphere wasn't really a sphere, but a many-sided polyhedron.  His many sides made traveling rather easy.  The Hedrons had merely to push their muscles forward, throw their balance off, and roll in that direction.  Most Hedrons had many less sides and traveling was much harder.

    The little sphere finally felt free after leaving school for the last time.  The Hedrons school was a crowd of youngsters led by a few elders who would basically teach them how to travel in life.  They would follow paths (well-marked, of course) around Hedron-land, in the "Plain of Life", as they coincidentally called it.  The elders would point out various hills and mountains, which they generally referred to as "knowledges", and meticulously avoided and even forbade approaching the valleys and depressions, named "pleasures".  The little sphere felt free because at school he was made to travel slowly along with all the few-sided Hedrons.  The elders, mostly few-sided hexahedrons or even decahedrons, could move faster than the youngsters because their sharp edges were worn a little smoother.   However, they felt that all the youngsters should travel together so as not to hurt the feelings of lesser-sided Hedrons.  They remembered how it had been for them when they were young.

    Then again, most little Hedrons wanted to stay with the other little Hedrons.  They didn't want to be standing out from the group, and perhaps, risk the chance of being judged on their individual skill of traveling.  However, they were only "doing what their elders told them."  Above all, they were told never to touch each other in certain ways.  In the beginning of time, if a Hedron touched the soft side of other Hedrons, they would cleave into smaller Hedrons.  The Hedrons came to forbade this sort of thing because too many Hedrons were already around.  Now, in order to travel with the others, they abstained, even though times had changed, and cleavage could be controlled...   They simply believed it was too dangerous, to travel on their own.

    The little sphere pushed forward ever more vigorously at these memories of school.  But suddenly, he slowed down again.  He remembered going along with his friend one day by a well-worn path to a large valley.  Close by were many other acquaintances easily rolling down the slopes.  Most were few-sided Hedrons who found it easier traveling downward.  The little sphere could just make out in the far distance dull-sided pentahedrons and hexahedrons sitting alone at the bottom of deep depressions.  What made him leave was the sight of the steep slopes into those depressions - he knew he'd never be able to push himself out once he fell in.  Besides, this valley was so deep that it was rather dark.  Others were much more pleasant and even sensuous.  In some, the ground was electric and vibrant.  Some Hedrons even stayed for life, as was obvious by their squatting shape and immobility.  He was horrified by the prospect of ever being unable to travel though, and soon left there also.

    The little sphere recalled how he'd next recognized a very dusty path, but well-known to all and traveled by many.  The path to another valley was well-marked with light (only from within)  and the words, "This was to Heaven."  A crowd pushed him from behind as they circled the entrance admiringly (but continued on off the path).  He couldn't believe though that some legendary Hedron no one had ever seen or heard could reflect the horizon (which was called "awareness" or "truth") into the valley for him.  So he wandered on.

    He wandered past great Hedron-made foundations, formed of the bodies of dead Hedrons (mostly few-sided, for extra stability).  On top sat appointed Hedrons (mostly many-sided) who ran the land for all other Hedrons.  Few Hedrons were around, but that didn't matter to the ones on top.  They could tell everyone what they needed anyway.

    So he went on and started up the slope of a great moutain.  After awhile the view was exhilarating.  Many crowds were up this far and had a clearer sight of the horizon, from which a glow eminated ( much brighter than seen from the plain).  Continuing upward, some crowds asked the little sphere where he was going and he would point to a crowd a little higher up.  This happened several times and each time the crowd became more disgusted with him.  "After all," they shouted, "what do you think the purpose of traveling is?"  They were satisfied, because they cold barely see the words, "THE TRUTH" on the horizon and were sure they had the answer.

    The little sphere though only pointed up ahead to them.   He remembered how he had caught a glimpse of the tops of yet more letters.  He had been still for a while, remembering all these things.  He knew now that the people on the side of the mountain were unaware that the mountain hid a great part of the horizon behind itself.  He resolutely turned away from the mountain base, the plain, and the valleys and pushed forward.  He could see almost all the horizon, but the tip of the peak hid the last words from him.  He could read only, "THE TRUTH IS, LIFE IS" and he wondered, "What does the peak cover?"


                                                                                                                    Kyle Davenport
                                                                                                                    c. 1978