The Slip

Chapter 4

4

HIS EYES OPENED TO A crowded outdoor market. But they weren't his eyes; he was a passenger again. His host walked slowly along a row of food vendors, perusing the various offerings bathed in a light pink glow. The host looked up at the orange sun ringed by a red glow. It shimmered through the hazy cloud cover refracting into the pink light. It was a watercolor of pastels. The host closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of its soft warmth on his skin.

The sun was immense, dominating a quarter of the sky. Big Brother, he thought. That was the name of the sun. How did he know that? He also knew the name of the second sun, Little Brother. He could see it up and to the right of the large sun; a faint white circle a fraction the size of its larger sibling.

He felt fully connected to his host’s senses. He felt the warmth of the sun. He could hear the crunch of his feet on the dirt as they walked. There were strange smells he didn't recognize. If he tried he thought he could easily control the hosts movements. But he didn't dare, not yet.

He became aware of what sounded like a distant waterfall in his mind. As he focused on it the volume increased to a deafening roar. Individual thoughts and voices leapt out with complete clarity, before returning to the background noise just as quickly. Like little fish leaping briefly out of a pond. A very large pond.

This was the sensation that had briefly popped into his mind on the sidewalk just a day earlier.

He moved forward in his mind, to enter the waterfall but was halted by an invisible barrier. Simultaneously the roar dropped to a hush. He felt his host react. It felt like millions of people were looking at him. He panicked. Then he was gone.