Chapter 6.
Reference Data
Background
“The process thus described repeated itself frequently over the course of the life of my race upon this planet. A few highlights of its history as I knew it will serve to illustrate and contextualize how I fit into this puzzle. Examples I cite will be primarily from memory with references included as they are pertinent.
My archives remain hidden by choice. Much of what I wrote during times in the past reflects biases or prejudices I had at the time of my writing, and are, therefore, not particularly objective. My wish is to convey an objective, if not apologetic appraisal of the proceedings of my race upon this planet, in the context of my own personal experiences.
I know not how many individuals have taken the course I have chosen, other than my friends Amon and Nahm. Undoubtedly, since our culture is but one of countless others, certainly there have been other individuals who have felt the need to do as I have done.
I don’t consider myself to be anything other than an ordinary human being. I am, however, fortunate to have been endowed with a deep concern for the welfare of my race, coupled with a level of curiosity, which I seldom saw exhibited by most of my peers.
I am certain it was curiosity and concern which lent me the courage to take the steps that eventually led to this place and time. My only regret is that I didn’t do this much earlier.
I am fortunate to have been associated with individuals who had a firm foundation of knowledge and experience from which I could draw. Amon, my closest friend, and Evander, his mentor (and now my friend also) both contributed greatly to my intellectual and moral development.
The philosophical concepts they taught me laid the foundation upon which I was able to build throughout the early decades of my life. Though we have been separated for so long, their love and encouragement have not been forgotten.
From the time I left them, until this moment, I’ve been engaged in developing a greater understanding of, and appreciation for my fellow beings; their hardships and their challenges.
I reserve the right to speculate and offer my own perspectives as I observe these challenges. Though not all pieces of this “puzzle” presently fit together, many of my observations are correlating easily. To the extent that I am able to separate myself emotionally from the turmoil that surrounds me, I’m delighted, but not awed by my new-found understanding.”
As he continued reading, the events began unfolding in his mind almost effortlessly. At first they lacked clarity or continuity. But as he continued accumulating memories, he began to realize just how fundamentally uncomplicated, how utterly simplistic they really were.
These were his experiences! He knew it now because the threshold had been crossed. His fear of the unknown had been replaced by a familiar, comfortable understanding of the present, and how he fit into it.
If he continued reading older and older entries, a more complete picture would eventually present itself.
Randomly he began scrolling through the pages and pages of columns.
One date caught his attention. He thought he remembered. But it would be fun to go back and read it again, if only to help him settle himself.