The Last Adventurer

“The Orderlies that helped me didn’t help you.”

“Well, fellow, I wouldn’t say…no, they didn’t.” The Stranger said resignedly.

“I know how you’re going to prove that you’re real.” Bart said proudly. “If you are you can have it. But if you’re not, I’ll take it, and maybe you’ll go away. I want you to go talk to the Orderlies, while I watch.”

The Stranger sighed.

“That’s not really a viable option.” Seeing Bart’s look of incomprehension he paused, and started again. “I can’t do that. It’s not for the reasons you think, but I just can’t.”

“Why?”

“Why? Why? Why is it always why?” He sighed again. “I’m not supposed to be here. I don’t live here. You could say I snuck in. If they found out, I’d be in trouble.”

“That sounds like something that someone who wasn’t real would say to get out of doing what I said.”

“That’s clever. What you’re saying is that your brain refuses to do such a thing because it knows it’s impossible. Which would be true if your brain made me? But it didn’t. But I see I’m not going to convince you with words. Look. Let’s make a deal. I’m going to do something that will affect everyone, but not have me get caught by the guards. When I do it, you’ll watch what happens, because I see that’s what you do – watch – and when you see that it affects everyone, and everything, you’ll give me your pill because then you’ll know I’m real. Is it a deal?”

“How are you going to do something like that?”

“I just can.”

“Ok.” Bart said slowly. “It’s a deal. But it doesn’t involve me, right?”

“No.” The Stranger said. “It doesn’t involve you. But I’ll give you my standard warning that I give in all of these situations: if things don’t return to normal, it’s not my fault. After all, you could have just cooperated and then we wouldn’t have to take this risk.”

“Are you saying that you’re going to hurt someone?” Bart said starting a bit.

“No.” The Stranger sighed again. “I’m not going to intentionally. But I’ll explain it like this. I don’t know if you feel this way, but I’ll try – quickly. It started when I looked at things, and it felt that they weren’t real, like I could change them – or reach past them, you know? Anyhow, that was fine. And some things happened that aren’t important right now. But in short, it got worse. And then it got much worse. And now we’re at the point where as you said, imagination can do damage. And in this case, it’s a lot of damage. So, let’s get on with it, because I need that pill not to imagine, and I’m running out of time, so let’s do this example, like I’ve had to before, and hope everything will be alright.”

“This is silly.” Bart said. “Now you’re just talking in things I don’t understand and words I thought and said.”

“Fine.” The Stranger said. “Just pay attention and hold that pill by your ear. Yes, like so. It’s going to get very wet.”