552. Joy, 3
Along the short shores of one of the recently risen islands, we found something.
The wrecks of a boat, and a body.
Lying there for days since the storm, probably crushed by it, the corpse was already mostly decomposed.
However parts of his or her brain were still there.
Blume and Nightmare began fighting over it.
It was the most puzzling of arguments, half in words and half in inhuman language, over the unlikely treasure.
They were snarling at each other, over whom would get to eat the delicacy of that human brain leftovers.
They were like stray dogs fighting over a dead pigeon. At least that’s how I could picture it. It was odd, and slightly unsettling.
Not that I was learning anything new, but I never saw them fighting over such a thing as food and books.
Human brains are a sweet and rare thing to them. Not that they need to eat that flesh specifically, although they can; but because they like to read the data it may still contain.
What they crave is knowledge. Human knowledge.
These two, and others, have read and copied all there is to know from my brain a long time ago. I’m like a book they already know well.
This decaying corpse is a tattered book they fight over the chance to read first before it’s completely gone and consumed.
For beings-like-them, unbound by flesh, knowledge is a greater tool than food itself. It’s a power, a tool to rethink their own being and better understand everything. It’s far more valuable to them therefore.
And humans being a rather scarce occurrence nowadays, such an opportunity is precious.
I intervened as I could in their awfully childish snarling contest. A solution was found.
With her physical urges more prominent, Nightmare would have it. However she would create a copy and share it for Blume to read immediately after. The agreement was settled.
Nightmare proceeded with watering mouth over the decomposing corpse whose bones were more apparent than flesh. Although the bones were bigger and translucent already, on their own decomposing pattern.
She really was salivating, looking cannibalistic.
After the ones I saw Blume eat before my eyes, although she had no human shape usually, I’m not that shocked about it. I get some nausea but nothing bad. I actually even find it a little amusing to see how much my sister is salivating at the prospect of touching a mush of rotten flesh. We won’t fight over that one, that’s for sure.
She skilfully cracks the skull open, like an egg. The yolk has sunk and begun to rot, but whatever’s left to read, and eat, is a feast to her. She digs her fingers inside. She reads it. And then she eats it, with gusto, until there’s naught but stains left around.
I could picture her licking the inside of the skull like a plate, but she doesn’t go that far. She does lick her fingers though.
R - So, anything good you learnt?
N - He was a catholic.
I’m puzzled. I wanted to ask what does that had to do with anything, but I realise it’s mostly that it was about all the remaining information still clear.
R - So he believed in God’s will and the Pope’s words... I wonder how he felt about the fate of the world in that prospect?
N - Probably as puzzled as you were.
Since that was a joke, that amused me.
~
Although I’m not a real believer and I know it was more for my own sake than his, I built a small cross out of wreck near his corpse. It’s more for me feeling good than him reaching heavens. Deep down I know that. But still.
We left his remains as they were, under the sky.
I didn’t really pray, but I hope there’s peace now.
My own religious beliefs were brought back to my thoughts as we sailed away.
But there wasn’t much to it, and it was more interesting to hear my sister arguing with the floating and sailing tree Blume had become.
N - I’m building it. Give me a minute!
B - You’re taking too long!
Sounds like children arguing over a toy. Reality may seem grim, but it’s actually funny.
R - Come on children, now be good alright?
Nightmare looked at me, unsure about how much I was joking. And although she had no eyes, I could feel Blume’s focus being similar toward me.
Uh oh. A bad feeling ran through my spine. They’ve just decided tacitly, without a word required to do so, to team up and tease me again. I can tell.
Nightmare’s face twisted in a grin. Oh no...
~
B - And to think I was beginning to grow the ingredients to make biscuits for her.
N - Humans can be so ungrateful.
B - She’s breaking my flowery heart.
N - She can be so hurtful sometimes. But it’s not her fault, she’s just like that.
I only sigh. I don’t get into that argument, as it’s only meant to get under my skin.
Itchy bastards.
The sailing tree slowly moves at its own pace over the waters of the oily sea. It’s already quite wide and massive, even though it’s mostly underwater like an iceberg. Yet I can tell Blume is eager to grow a little bigger even.
What would be her own bigger creation, that is also able to sail or swim over this sea?
B - Something new.
Ooh. Now I’m eager to see. She’s tickling my curiosity.
~
Nightmare is still undecided on what new creature to craft, whether it’s from her dreams or to help our current situation. Either way, I can tell she’s on the verge of letting these godly desires overflow. She wants to craft something. Blume growing around us only makes her jealous.
Blume learnt her share of the data the corpse still had in his head. Not much, but still a sweet taste to them both.
R - What have you learnt?
B - Bits and bobs. Nothing large.
N - A few memories about philosophy, I like that.
R - Anything about the current situation of the Amazon?
B - Unfortunately no.
A land above oceanic level turned into a sea. We still are clueless why. Well, a lake technically since there isn’t much salt in the water, but still.
Blume grows, and grows. And her merriment after that is contagious.
By the end of the week, she was a titanic and lush ship, sailing swiftly over the green and oily sea.
~
