I fell across the doorway. Once again in the relative quiet of the atrium. I am not quite sure why the old man had bothered me so much. A rotting prune of a man pining for a fantasy life, why should that be the essence of fear and loathing (in or out of Las Vegas)? But I was afraid, shaking and dripping with sweat none the less. I wanted no more of this place - I was done with explorations and oddities. I wanted out, but how. I know the bathysphere was back up the passageway, but it seemed to distant - the intervening ground too fraught with danger. But like so much in my life, wishing something to be simply does not make it happen. And right on cue...
THUMP
... the whole place shook. I inwardly groaned. As you must have surmised by now, I was weary of the mysterious and unexpected of this place. It is almost as if this place knew what I was thinking and responded, like some kind of cheap Dharma knock-off. I stood, waiting for what I knew would come, exactly what I would not want.
The water was cool around my feet, swirling and filling the place. One of the windows must've cracked in Anois, letting in the ocean. Fine, the end then, at least it is a way out. Adolescent irony at its best - the fount of life on this planet, bringing with it so much crushing death. Or is it perhaps the weight of all that life is what crushes the unprepared and willfully ignorant? I didn't know then, and you will have to draw your own conclusions.
One more mystery appears, this one a distance of a few steps away. I bright column of light. Sort of like a PRD. As the coming flood gathers, I stare into the light and imagine I hear voices. Whispers of safety and security; tales of conquest and victory; words of comfort and joy. One voice in particular comes through with an almost disturbing clarity...
...my mind and being is invaded by the author of this most compelling of voices. I find myself screaming, again and again as the water fills the atrium. Breathe into me...! Breathe...!
When life is crashing in and you are in danger of drowning within yourself, the Saviour is always there, ready to answer your call, ready to breathe His life into you, ready to take your burdens, and ready to be exactly what we have called Him...Saviour.
