Poppy Works The Now Harvest

To resume: "Hello Poppy!"

"Hello Geo.! So glad I finally got through."

"Poppy, the backporch phone is calibrated for the Hawking radiation signal spectrum."

"Uh huh... That's the only frequency that can escape from where I am."

"Did you fall in a hole? Poppy, you ok?"

"I guess. It's these shoes. I was assigned to explore humanity's place, its role in the Cosmos. I walked and walked, poked into ages and eons then walked some more. I was walking across The Einstein-Rosen Bridge when I realized I'd worn out my footwear. I stopped to lean on the railing. The view was wonderful! That's when it happened."

"Want to talk about it?"

"No...Yes, I fell through a hole in my shoe! A Black Hole! Is your view-screen still in the living room, Geo.?"

"Yes, of course. I'll patch your x-ray transmissions through to my hearing aids and go down the hall...

....What am I looking at here, Poppy? It's blurry!"

"Well, Geo., they're sunflowers that bloom above the clouds, and put your glasses on. No offense, but your photos are crappy. Could you get Norma to do the rest?"

"Ok, better. What's that thing flying around?"

"That's my rocket ship, Geo. It's called "Harvester".

"Gee, the sunflowers are huge."

"No Geo., they're normal, only about ten, twelve feet high. Everything else is miniaturized by gravitational compression. Sunflowers thrive on all the trapped light in here. Their seeds are the only form of local currency and are collected in rocket ships. Lookee:"

"Gosh, Poppy, it's like watching a hummingbird go from blossom to blossom."

"Yes, very close analogy. Except this isn't seasonal; this is all the time."

"Ah, as in a Black Hole, time doesn't proceed sidereally --as determined by the stars."

"Right. It's always just NOW. I know worlds go through adolescent phases where everybody wants to live in the present, the exclusive now, and that's ok, I guess."

"But?"

"But, Geo., even though NOW is just fine, I hate being stranded in it. Seed harvest is hard work!"

"There's no tragedy in hard work, Poppy. I've done enough of it. What you need is a plan." 

"I'm open to suggestions, Geo."

"Land, spend your seeds, get your shoes resoled, refuel Harvester and put the pedal to the metal."

"What heading?"

"Hmmm,  Barrie good question. 'Second star to the right and straight on 'til morning.'"

"But I can't see any stars from here. It's all one light! No up. No down!"

 "Then try forward, Poppy."

"Oh my gosh it WORKED!!!!!"

"Thought it might. Forward has always been one of my favorite directions."

"Should I go back to the Einstein-Rosen Bridge?"


"If you wish, but I'd steer clear of this part of it."

"Because?"

"Superbowl's coming to Santa Clara. All Bay Area bridges will be clogged up."

"Even theoretical ones, Geo.?"

"Especially theoretical ones, Poppy. Now look for that star."

"Second on the right, right?"

"Right, and straight on 'til morning."