there used to be something between units of information that was not itself information this substance was so exquisite so fine-spun that we were altogether oblivious to its presence it possessed inexplicable powers it could part to let a thought pass through and then close seamlessly behind it without making the slightest sound it transported millions of glances and gazes without entanglement or confusion there is no doubt that this era which lasted throughout most of history was the most wondrous of times now when we are lonely as we are always lonely it’s because we miss the free space even those of us who were born after it was already gone a few people claim we can bring it back by getting rid of a whole lot of information but of course there’s no place to send the information away to others say the space must originally have come from somewhere so all we have to do is go get more of it even if we have to fight whatever country claims it as their primary natural resource still others hope that whatever it is that we’re inside of the galaxy the universe reality itself is imperceptibly expanding so that the space will at some point naturally spring up everywhere taking up the slack of course I don’t know if any of this is possible and I don’t know if even once during all those years someone might have noticed it and treated it gently or at least respectfully looking into it now and then instead of only at it or away
Claire Bateman | Mudlark No. 44 (2011) Contents | Last-Known Coordinates in Hand