Fiction Point Episode Sixteen: A State of Delusion

 

Fiction Point Episode Sixteen

A State of Delusion

All species, throughout the universe, will face existential threats, moments of catharsis and epiphany - and this was especially true for our own species. We were forced to vacate our origin planet, having exhausted its natural resources, and took aim at a rocky sphere, travelling light years through folded time and space.

 

Cast adrift from all previous tents which had bound our species together, we knew a different perspective would be required once we were established on our new planet.

On arrival, structures and systems were re-built, but curiosity regarding previous species habitation, encouraged us to commence numerous archaeological digs. We were then able to establish they called themselves human and their planet Earth, but we were unable, with any great certainty, to determine what led to their extinction.

However, their misfortune, was our opportunity. By design or luck, we discovered, at a crucial juncture of new societal unrest, fragile fragments of a text recording the planets previous inhabitants. As we slowly deciphered their ancient text, we found faith, hope and harmony in:

   The Four Seasons Total Landscaping Catalogue 2020

 

Over a period of continuous study and evaluation, we began to realise there was a mix of imagery and affirmation, which could only come from a complex civilisation. Once fully translated to the best of our ability, it precipitated a rebirth of our species, and an ideological, political and social reconstitution.

Therefore, our leader, who had been troubled for so long by the disintegration of our species in the new land, was able to announce himself as: The Great Landscaper.

New imagery appeared, demonstrating our leader’s newfound confidence, showing in one hand the shovel, and in the other the transplanting spade, symbolising the key tools needed to reshape our stumbling society. Much was also made of the rake, a method of cleansing the soul of ill-judged thoughts. This was also supplemented with the weed killer, a name given to the detoxification required of societal members, who tried to resist the Great Landscapers benevolence.

And so, to my own role in this evolution of the new morality and law. I stood side by side with the Great Landscaper, for it was I who had been entrusted with interpretation of the human system of governance and faith. Dutch hoe, garden fork, lawn shears and lawnmower, pruners and trowel, all found some translation into our system of government, rebuilding and making our species, ‘great again’.

Nothing would have shaken me from this path we were on, but for one fateful day, when I was confidentially advised of a new archaeological find. We eventually understood it to be called a library, and it contained a great wealth of information, casting doubt and then ridicule upon our adoption of the ‘Landscaping Faith’.

I ordered the site to be sealed, and with trepidation approached the Great Landscaper, with the news that we had based our new world order on manual labouring tools, which had no meaning to humans beyond their obvious function.

Effectively, I said, we had based our society on falsehoods, and a failure to understand reality. We were probably, living in a state of delusion.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ said the Great Landscaper, calm whilst he ate through his cheeseburger. ‘Destroy this thing called a library. After all, the more deluded they are, the better it is for us.’

And so, it was thus.

Amen.

 

END

Flash fiction by Simon Marlowe, 11th July 2022