Light
In a sewer a man name۔d Slime۔y earhear۔d, beside the echo of drip۔ing liquid, somebody eat۔ing. Silent۔ly he wade۔d in knee۔deep stink۔y sewer liquid toward the munch۔ing sounds.
The sewer pipe, with a diameter high۔er than the man could reach, wuz black dark, and sewer reside۔ors, include۔ing Slime۔y, all who had reside۔d in the sewer ever since they could remember, navigate۔d by sound, smell, and touch.
As usual Slime۔y feel۔d hunger۔y. Nothin float۔ing by had been eat۔able (mean۔ing would not be vomit۔d back up; all food taste۔d terrible). Therefore he wuz resort۔ing to his usual trick of sneak۔ing over to his sewer۔fellors – those mans, womans and childs who share۔d that particular hotchpotch of intersect۔ing sewer pipes they dub۔d Old Sewer۔land. Protect۔t by complete dark۔ness, Slime۔y had become۔d an expert in sound-direct۔t snatch۔in. But the penalty for steal۔ing from one's sewer۔fellors wuz death, if catch۔t in the act, or banish۔ment, if mere۔ly identify۔t. If a banish۔t snatch۔or return۔d, nomatter how far in future, ta’s voice would be recognise۔t and ta would be kill۔t.
Slow۔ly, silent۔ly Slime۔y advance۔d toward the non۔visible eat۔or, careful not to cause a telltale ripple in the sewer liquid. Then with a quick move۔ment guide۔d by sound he snatch۔d the morsel away.
Before he would wade away, the victim grab۔d his arm.
A struggle۔d ensue۔d.
"Ow!" As Slime۔y wuz kick۔d in the stomach, he cry۔d out.
"That you Slime۔y?" cry۔d his victim in dark۔ness.
Slime۔y’s heart beat۔d fearful۔ly. He recognise۔d the low-soundpitch gruff voice of oldtimort Mooge. In sewer-land nobody had ever see۔d anybody else, yet Slime۔y had impressions of everybody he know۔d and meet۔d. His imagine۔d Mooge as husky and powerful, somebody to slink away from, or if discover۔d run away from, rather than fight.
Sudden۔ly a strong hand, and then the other, grasp۔d Slime۔y's neck. "Slime۔y, I know it iz you," Mooge accuse۔d he, squeeze۔ing hard. "Slime۔y? Confess."
"Yes, it iz me,” Slime۔y gasp۔d with what could have been his last exhale.
Mooge relax۔d his choke-hold. "You know the penalty for steal۔ing from one’s own sewer۔fellors: drown۔ing."
Justthen Slime۔y lift۔d his knee into Mooge’s crotch, then push۔d he away. The bruteor howl۔d, release۔d his grasp, and fall۔d rear۔ward with a splash.
Slime۔y's hand frantic۔ly search۔d the liquid’s surface until he grasp۔d the float۔ing morsel. “Banana!” he exclaim۔d joyful۔ly.
"Slime۔y rob۔d me!" cry۔d Mooge’s husky voice from nearby. A cry for others to help.
Slime۔y dash۔d off in the opposite direction.
"Slime۔y!" another man's voice sound۔d, echo۔ing through the pipe.
"We know you do۔d it, Slime۔y!"
"Face your punish۔ment, Slime۔y!"
"We will catch you, soon۔er or later!"
Away slosh۔d Slime۔y, head۔ing toward the Maze. Splash۔ing behind he, three distinct sets of pursue۔ors. Sewer pipes wuz slippery, with curve۔d bottoms general۔ly fill۔d with thick sewage: garbage, sludge, shit. To run require۔d set۔ing each foot down vertical۔ly in the pipe’s center, to avoid skid۔ing – limit۔ing the run۔or to small steps. When the sewer diameter wuz large, as then, there wuz no side walls to grasp for stable۔ity. Run۔ors, alike walk۔ors, had no choice but to always extend an arm forward to avoid bump۔ing into somethin. Quick starts, stops, turns – any abrupt change in momentum -- inevitable۔ly result۔d in slides follow۔t by a fall. Slime۔y well know۔d that he if slip۔d, with anger۔y sewer۔fellors in close pursuit, it would be his miseryful life’s last mistake.
Onward and onward he run۔d, as the sound of his pursue۔ors slow۔ly diminish۔d. That wuz his specialty: he wuz lean and dexterous, surefooty, quick. Although nolonger young, because of his habit of snatch۔ing he wuz an endurance slosh۔or. As sounds of his pursue۔ors further lessen۔d, Slime۔y slow۔d, to increase his careful۔ness. Sense۔ing less danger, he feel۔d sorrowful. Because he had been identify۔t as a food snatch۔or, Old Sewer۔land could nolonger be his home.
Final۔ly he reach۔d the Maze, a region of many intersections of pipes of vary۔ing diameters. Wade۔ing slow۔ly, silent۔ly, he turn۔d, then turn۔d again, then again. Eventual۔ly he find۔d a water drip, and drink۔d thirst۔ly. He crawl۔d into a small۔er pipe, sit۔d down in the liquid, which there reach۔d chest-level. It wuz not until then that examine۔d his food prize. Bananas wuz a luxury because the fruit wuz protect۔d by skinpeels. Squish۔y, yes (almost all fruits in sewer۔land wuz atleast partial۔ly rotten), float۔ing too long in sewage, yes, but as he bit۔d off a piece it taste۔d delicious۔by sweet. Quick۔ly he gobble۔d it. Exhaust۔d, he tiltlean۔d back against the slime۔y pipe, and – feel۔ing distraught that life as he had know۔d it had end۔d – pass۔d to sleep.
*
When he awake۔d, instead of as usual immediate۔ly start۔ing his food search, he sit۔d for awhile. He had escape۔d death, but he had lose۔d everythin he wuz familiar with. In Old Sewer۔land he know۔d every twist and turn of the network of pipes, know۔d where to find drink۔able water drips, where the best places to lurk and pounce on pityful sewer۔fellors. Clear۔ly he could never go back home. Ahead lay danger and un۔certainty.
Hunger final۔ly motivate۔d he to stand and begin wade۔ing in liquid which had lower۔d to legcalf۔deep. Thus as he walk۔d he need۔d to stoop, with one hand move۔ing back and forth in the liquid in search of float۔ing objectitems (silent۔ly, so as not to be earhear۔d), and the other move۔ing back and forth in air to detect obstacles and drip۔ing water.
Against his legs he detect۔d ripple in the water, indicate۔ing move۔ment not too far away. Far۔er along, the ripples wuz big۔er, mean۔ing he wuz approach۔ing they's source; the level fluctuations vary۔d in intense۔ity, mean۔ing they derive۔d from multiple sources. `A gang, probable۔ly of banish۔d snatch۔ors,’ he guess۔d. He consider۔d try۔ing to join they, but violent hatred of outsideors wuz the prevail۔ing attitude in sewer۔land. And an extra scavenge۔ort mean۔d less food for everybody else. Thus he reverse۔d his direction.
Far۔er along his hand bump۔d a float۔ing body, bloat۔d, stink۔ing.
Soon afterward he encounter۔d a bob۔ing partial۔ly eat۔d apple, and later a water drip. ‘Atleast I iz not thirst۔ing, or yet starve۔ing to death.’
As he wander۔d, stoop۔ing, one hand search۔ing for food, the other outstretch۔d, he feel۔d increase۔ing despair. Although sewer reside۔ors live۔d in complete dark۔ness, among they circulate۔d rumors of a mysteryous miracle dub۔d “light”, suppose۔ly detect۔able only by a five۔eth not yet try۔t sense. What give۔d the rumor buoyancy wuz that light suppose۔ly render۔d life much easy۔er, some believe۔d even pleasant, as in the legendary say۔in, “Light improve life.” What give۔d the rumor credible۔ity wuz that it supply۔d a solution to the riddle of why sewer reside۔ors possess۔d facial depressions on both sides and slight۔by above they's noses; in the same way that the function of ears wuz to earhear sound, and nose wuz to smell, the function of socald “eyes” wuz suppose۔ly to “see” “light”. Concept and vocabulary had been supply۔d by occasional arrivals of newcomeors dub۔t light-say۔ors who had mystery۔ly appear۔d to espouse the theory, some even claim۔ing to have originate۔d from place they dub۔d Light۔land
On the subject, the adult residents of Old Sewer۔land hold۔d a variety of viewpoints. Most believe۔d light possible, and if question۔t express۔d hope that it exist۔d, but consider۔d the chances of find۔ing it nil. Life consist۔d of non-stop searches for eat۔able food, amid ever-present danger from snatch۔ors and kill۔ors, a situation non۔conducive to ponder۔ing abstract concepts. A few sewer reside۔ors, group۔d together beneath the name Lightites, cling۔d to belief in light as they's only chance for happy۔ness. Cynics despise۔d those believe۔ors for “grasp۔ing at hope”, outpoint۔ing that no evidence of light exist۔d; those few newcomeors who had try۔d to persuade that light do۔d infact exist, wuz, in they's opinion, crazy, thus deserve۔d to be drown۔t. No sewer reside۔or had any education, thus conversations on the subject wuz simplistic. Slime۔y believe۔d that light could possible۔ly exist – “because why else eyes?” – but had rare۔ly think۔d about it. Yet from un۔happy۔ness he had sink۔d to a deep۔er level of despair. As he embark۔d on his new life of banish۔ment, he remember۔d the theory, and wonder۔d about it. Light, even if it only offer۔d hope, seem۔d worth re۔consider۔ing. However, there his thoughts on the topic deadend۔d.
*
Slime۔y’s new home wuz the Maze, but as he wander۔d aim۔lessly he begin۔d realise۔ing it’s un۔advantages. Because of it’s huge number of pipe intersections it wuz a notorious harbor for gangs, which mean۔d increase۔y danger from attack. And the complicate۔y pipe network would be time-consume۔y to learn; meanwhile, if attack۔d he would be flee۔ing in non۔know۔t territory, with the probable۔ity, soon۔er or later, of being trap۔t or ambush۔t. Therefore he combine۔d his food hunt with searches for an exit.
Mold۔y bread. Rancid animalmeat. Bob۔ing partial۔ly eat۔t fruits. An occasional package of non-know۔able but eat۔able substance. But never enough to eat. Drink۔able water drips. Continue۔ing search for Maze exits, interrupt۔d by searches for sleep nooks. And slow۔ly the sewer liquid level rise۔d – to knee level, then bodywaist level, render۔ing find۔ing sleep۔ing spots increase۔by difficult.
When Slime۔y realise۔d that there wuz probable۔ly many other alone Maze reside۔ors alike hisself, he decide۔d to revive his practice of snatch۔in. Tiny waves – ripples – in the sewer water general۔ly derive۔d from a single wade۔or. Thus when encounter۔t, he follow۔d they to they's source. But rare۔ly, even when close enough to earhear breathe۔ing, do۔d he earhear munch۔ing. Gradual۔ly he arrive۔d at the opinion that most Maze reside۔ors wuz starve۔ing – another reason to depart.
By then sewer liquid level had reach۔d chest high, still with no sign of stop۔ing – cause۔ing Slime۔y concern. In sewer۔land liquid level rise۔d and lower۔d non۔predict۔ably – reside۔ors dub۔d they “weather”, with no knowledge of the origin of the word. In Old Sewer۔land when level rise۔d, fill۔ing entire pipes, mothers would have to carry they's childs, and everybody migrate۔d to the large۔est-diameter pipe. If the level rise۔d above the height of some reside۔ors; mans allow۔d they's favorite womans (and sometimes they's childs) to cling to they; others jump۔d up and down (breathe۔ing each time they's head emerge۔d above liquid, until too exhaust۔d; many drown۔d. In the Maze, however, Slime۔y worry۔d that he dint know the location of the large۔est pipes.
As his hands automatic۔ly search۔d through the stagnant cesspit grope۔ing for somethin to eat, he grasp۔d what with he excite۔ly suppose۔d wuz a peel۔t banana, but further investigation reveal۔d it wuz mere۔ly another float۔ing turd. He throw۔d it back.
Splash.
Somehow the common event upset۔d he. He sigh۔d, `What a life!' Constant sift۔ing through sewage for some disgustful thing to eat to keep he alive awhile long۔er. Even in relative۔by tranquil Old Sewer۔land a violent end wuz ever-possible. Peoples wuz lie۔ors, not to be believe۔d. Dur high liquid level, sustain۔d sleep wuz impossible. One accidental mouth۔ful of the stink۔ing liquid, even if immediate۔ly spit۔d out, often result۔d in sick۔ness.
Slime۔y yearn۔d to return to his old home. Lie۔ors, cheat۔ors, snatch۔ors, drown۔ors, backstab۔ors yes, but they wuz all Slime۔y had. In Old Sewer۔land few complain۔d. Mans, womans, and childs do۔d what they need۔d to do to survive – spend۔ing most of most days pick۔ing through sewage in a desperate attempt to be able to stomach enough nourish۔ment. Old Sewer۔landors had an adage. "Sewer life iz what you make it."
Peoples wuz social, Slime۔y had realise۔d by then. But it wuz purpose۔less to yearn for Old Sewer۔land. And the possible۔ity of ever join۔ing another group seem۔d almost as remote; only womans had that opportunity. He marvel۔d at the bravery of light-say۔ors approach۔ing non۔familiar groups with they’s fancyful message; either they fervent۔ly believe۔d in they's mission, or indeed wuz crazy. Slime۔y’s willpower to survive compel۔d he onward, but with increase۔ing despair. More then more often his mind return۔d to the one possible۔ity that hold۔d out hope: find۔ing light, and ultimate۔ly Light۔land.
*
While reside۔ing in Old Sewer۔land, Slime۔y had pay۔d scant attention to anythin to do with light, but in his desperate and worsen۔ing condition he try۔d to think back. Vague۔ly he remember۔d, as ap young adolescent, the arrival of a light-say۔ort, whose voice sound۔d old and calm. To explain light, the newcomeor had introduce۔d the concept of dark, and assert۔d that sewer-reside۔ors live۔d in dark۔ness. Many sewer reside۔ors anger۔ly denounce۔d he. Un۔daunt۔y, the newcomeor describe۔d Light۔land, which he claim۔d wuz his home, as a clean, order۔y “land of plenty”, include۔ing delicious food, clean water, entertain۔ment, beauty, and delight far beyond yous’ capacity to comprehend. “As dark۔ness iz the absence of light, ignorance iz the absence of knowledge.” “Yous iz all live۔ing in ignorance,” the say۔or assert۔d arrogant۔ly, a phrase that enrage۔d his critics.
Light wuz so powerful, the say۔ort warn۔d, that upon first see۔ing it there wuz a danger of being blind۔t – return۔ing to a state of “non۔see۔ing, as you iz all now”. Too much light at once would ruin eyes, he had caution۔d, and instruct۔d those first see۔ing light to put they’s hands over they's eyes.
When ask۔d what wuz light, the say۔or had reply۔d in detail, utilise۔ing words nobody comprehend۔d – what Old Sewer۔landors dub۔d gibber.
When ask۔d where to find light, however, the say۔or had remain۔d vague. He had forget۔d the routeway, he claim۔d – to the ridicule of many. But there wuz many routeways toward light, he elaborate۔d. His best advice: keep search۔ing for it until you find it. He hisself dint plan to return to Light۔land even if he “stumble۔d upon it”; he remain۔d commit۔d to “lead۔ing the ignorant out of dark۔ness.”
Some of the womans, include۔ing Slime۔y’s mother (long dead), and a few of the mans, state۔d they believe۔d in light and open۔ly hope۔d to one day reach Light۔land. Thus the community divide۔d. Ultimate۔ly the gruff۔est mans had declare۔d, “Enough iz enough”, and non۔ceremonious۔ly bash۔d the old man’s head against a sewer pipe until he beg۔d for mercy; then they slow۔ly drown۔d he. Slime۔y had listen۔d nearby, but do۔d not participate.
The light-say۔or’s torture and murder dint end the controversy. Some believe۔d Light۔land wuz a place you go۔d after you die۔d, or if you wuz good, whatever that mean۔d, or both. Belief in light create۔d hope, which the strong accuse۔d the weak of need۔ing to endure the rigors of sewer life. Others insist۔d, "Light۔land iz an actual place."
*
In the Maze, as Slime۔y wander۔d, pipe-heights become small۔er, and shallow۔er, with pools of stagnant liquid with no possible۔ity of salvage۔able food, and long wades between water drips. How soon before he bump۔d into one of the non۔see۔t enemys, or drown۔d from lack of a place to sleep, or starve۔d to death? He yearn۔d for the relative safety and security of Old Sewer۔land, with it’s adequate food source, never far from a water drip. Talk -- to anybody, even old Mooge -- he crave۔d. He wuz lonely, despond۔y, hunger۔y, afraid.
`Can a man sink low۔er than I, banish۔d by my own sewer۔fellors?'
Lost in a maze of pipes, exhaust۔d with nowhere to sit, the man almost start۔d to cry. `I have reach۔d bottom.'
`Hope of light iz all I have,' enter۔d his mind. Probable۔ly, he acknowledge۔d, light wuz a bogus concept, a crutch to help weaklins cope. If so, hunt۔ing for it would be futile, a waste of time and effort. ‘Yet search۔ing for somethin, even if it dint exist, atleast supply۔d a purpose. Hope, nomatter how non۔realistic, do۔d seem helpful. ‘And what if light exist and I find it, and become blissful? Such wuz the drift of the sewer۔man's thoughts.
Light, Slime۔y could not imagine. But, vague as it wuz, light, or rumors of light, remain۔d the only positive thing in the fugitive’s life.
`If light exist, where to find it?' Possible۔ly, he speculate۔d, light appear۔d alike a banana, sudden۔ly discover۔d float۔ing on the muck. Somethin in the muck? Maybe light wade۔d through sewer liquid on two foots alike peoples. Wuz light warm or cold? Loud or bareby audible? Yum۔y, disgust۔y? Soft, rough? Subtle or obvious? Rumors maintain۔d that light could be painful, and he remember۔d the repeat۔d warn۔in, `Cover your eyes or you will quick۔ly relapse into permanent black۔ness.' Trapesing through sewers, sometimes stoop۔ing because of low pipes, Slime۔y when it wuz not concentrate۔ing on not slip۔ing, include۔d such ideas in his smorgasbord of thoughts.
Final۔ly he summary۔ized the issue as, `If light exist, how to quick۔est find it?' The answer final۔ly come۔d: `By stay۔ing alert and walk۔ing through as many pipes as possible until...'
With a new mission, his steps notice۔ably quicken۔d. As time pass۔d, he cover۔d more then more territory. Encounter۔ing pipe intersections less frequent۔ly, he realise۔d he had final۔ly leave۔d the Maze. In his former۔ly black despair enter۔d not light but hope of light. Hope become۔d faith. Faith that light do۔d possible۔ly exist drive۔d his energys.
“Keep search۔ing.” The phrase, often repeat۔d stick۔d in his mind, and become۔d his mantra.
Once, as he walk۔d, ahead he earhear۔d breathe۔ing of another group of sewer reside۔ors -- judge۔ing by they's volume, a non۔common۔by large group, two hand۔fuls (20) in Slime۔y's mind. So he wait۔d on they's outskirts, until he discern۔d by slow۔d breathe۔ing that some wuz asleep, then, wade۔ing silent۔ly, breathe۔ing silent۔ly, he approach۔d they. He maneuver۔d around they by they's breathe۔ing, estimate۔ing they's location and size.
When he wuz pass۔d the thick۔est part of the group, his hand brush۔d against a man's leg.
Somebody grab۔d his arm. “Who iz you?” demand۔d a gruff voice; "Intrude۔or!" he scream۔d .
Slime۔y, his arm slime۔y, slither۔d away, and speedrace۔d through knee۔deep liquid in erratic pattern hope۔ing to avoid another encounter.
Two run۔ors chase۔d he, but despite his hunger he wuz sure-foot۔y, and final۔ly, silent۔ly, detour۔d into a pipe so small he could barely fit.
Life had become a race: Find light before somebody drown۔d he.
So he urge۔d hisself onward, wander۔ing through pipe after pipe, take۔ing non۔expect۔y turns, try۔ing small۔er pipes, some less than he wuz tall so that (as the throb۔ing bump on his head remind۔d he) he had to stoop. Sometimes he had to crawl in ankle۔deep stink۔ing liquid, only to reach a deadend, sometimes then require۔t to reverse back out, for lack of spaceto turn around.
Black۔ness, only black۔ness. End۔less search۔ing fill۔d with dread of inevitable۔by violent end.
*
Much later (in Sewer۔land, no time mark۔ors), as Slime۔y slosh۔d through a neck-high pipe, he notice۔d, far ahead, a glow such as he had never experience۔d. Astonish۔y, he halt۔d, gawk۔d. Faint but non۔mistake۔able, with neither sound nor smell, too far away to touch or taste, yet somethin exist۔d – a half-circle sliver of somethin strange.
As he lookstare۔d at it, his hands instinct۔ly cover۔d his eyes. As they do۔d so, the sensation vanish۔d.
Slime۔y remove۔d his palms from his eyes, and notice۔d the sensation again. Palms cover۔ing eyes, it again vanish۔d.
Eyes iz need۔d to see light – he remember۔d the old rumors. The man wuz begin۔ing to realise: he wuz witness۔ing light.
Dur a long time he stand۔d, look۔ing at the dim light with his eyes. Less bright it final۔ly become۔d, so he venture۔d near۔er, and squint۔d up۔ward at it. It seem۔d to emerge in a crescent shape from above, seem۔d to brighten as he approach۔d it.
Near۔er still, the light reflect۔d non۔steady۔ly off the surface of the black knee۔deep liquid – Slime۔y’s first look at sewer liquid. Above it, he could see the curve۔y rust۔y surface of the sewer pipe.
As he walk۔d forward he automatic۔ly extend۔d his hand, and lookstare۔d at it: brown color, end۔ing with five fingers. He wiggle۔d his fingers, and watch۔d they. “My hand!”
He look۔d down at his body: at his bellybutton length beard, his penis, his two hair۔y legs encrust۔y with filth. Gradual۔ly he realise۔d that he wuz “see۔ing” hisself.
Final۔ly he reach۔d the strange phenomenon. With his hand he push۔d up۔ward on the bright crescent.
Part of the pipe ceil۔in move۔d. With a burst of strength he push۔d up۔ward.
Off fly۔d a heavy metal cover, reveal۔ing nolonger a crescent of light but a circle of light.
Clang! The sound of metal fall۔ing.
"Somebody down there!" A man’s voice, speak۔ing Slime۔y’s language with a strange accent.
"In that manhole?” another man’s voice ask۔d. “A man?"
"Somebody."
A woman's voice, "Help he up!"
An arm – similar in shape to Slime۔y’s own arm – belong۔ing to a creature which Slime۔y guess۔d wuz the speak۔ort, reach۔d down into the manhole. "Here you go buddy, I will give you a hand.”
With one strong pull the man pull۔d up the ultra۔thin sewer·landort. Slime۔y land۔d above ground, on pavement, on his foots.
The helpful strangort open۔d his mouth in astonish۔ment, then turn۔d aside and vomit۔d.
A woman wear۔ing red cloth scream۔d.
Another woman, her face wrinkle۔d with age, faint۔d.
Slime۔y look۔d around at the gather۔ing crowd, feel۔ing afraid. The light seem۔d bright۔est at the top of a pole. Atleast the sky wuz familiar black, he notice۔d thankful۔ly. Noises from every direction bombard۔d he, while from his dual eyes arrive۔d move۔ing colorful images – some loud and speed۔ly roll۔ing by – all mean۔inless to the sewer reside۔or. The move۔ing creatures, which seem۔d to be peoples alike hisself, wuz all cover۔d with colorful material.
“Give he somethin to wear,” call۔d out a male voice.
"That iz the most disgust۔y thing I have ever smell۔d in my life," he overearhear۔d young man say.
"Quiet!. He will earhear you."
“He must not have shave۔d dur ten years!”
“Or ever!”
“Iz that shit crust on his beard?”
“Somebody telephone a TV crew.”
A blue-uniform۔clad black-skin man approach۔d. "Good evenin. I iz police officor Faud. Who iz you and where do you come from?"
Slime۔y guess۔d somethin wuz expect۔d of he, but not what.
Police۔man ask۔d, "What iz your name?"
"Slime۔y."
Loud laughter from those who had brave۔d the stink to be close enough to earhear.
“Public naked۔ness iz un۔legal,” state۔d the police۔man.
Slime۔y dint comprehend.
"Where iz your home?" ask۔d the police۔man.
Slime۔y glance۔d nervous۔ly down at the open manhole cover.
A man from crowd ask۔d loud۔ly, "Can anybody actual۔ly live down there?"
"Some believe entire colonys exist, and have dur birthcycles,” state۔d another man. “They dont even know there iz another world."
'Ofcourse we have all read those storys," another woman whose white skin stink۔d of chemicals reply۔d irritable۔ly. "But..."
Nobody could remember earhear۔ing about any true sewer reside۔or surface۔ing. Clear۔ly he wuz not a recent escape۔or who take۔d a shortcut through the sewer, but a veteran of sewer life, a archeological discovery.
Squint۔ing against bright۔ness from varyous points of light, Smile۔y look۔d up at tall build۔ins, cars roll۔ing noise۔ly by, peoples cover۔d with cloth, wear۔ing foot۔wear. The police۔man and everybody wuz lookstare۔ing at his filth۔y brown body, while hold۔ing they's noses.
The police۔man ask۔d, "What do you want?"
“Food,” reply۔d Slime۔y.
The police۔man pull۔d a black hand-size۔y box from his belt, and begin۔d speak۔ing into it.
The scene – peoples stand۔ing around talk۔ing and point۔ing at he, seem۔d so strange that Slime۔y wonder۔d if he wuz dream۔ing.
Final۔ly an ambulance arrive۔d. It’s drive۔orts, after express۔ing astonish۔ment, don۔d gas masks. One talk۔d into his portable radio, then tell۔d the police۔man that they's boss cancel۔d the mission, “because of the cost of dis۔contaminate۔ing the vehicle”.
Slime۔y, meanwhile, sit۔d non۔comprehend۔ly. “Naked” he earhear۔d a few times, but dint know it’s mean۔in. "Smell", he earhear۔d they say again then again, so he take۔d a deep breath of fresh air through his nose and smell۔d the most wonderful smell in his memory. He smile۔d. "Nice smell," he grin۔d happy۔ly.
Somebody throw۔d he a brown paper bag. Slime۔y catch۔d it, open۔d it, whiff۔d the most delicious smell he had ever encounter۔d, pull۔d out a thick round chunk of food, and bite۔d into food more delicious than he could have ever imagine۔d. He gulp۔d it with three bites.
Upon which the police۔man say۔d into his hand radio, "Dispatch a psychologyor."
“Where iz I?” Slime۔y ask۔d nobody in particular. “Light۔land?”
“No,” answer۔d the police۔man. “Atlanta.”
Siren sound – vague۔ly familiar to Slime۔y, but much much loud۔er. A long red truck arrive۔d. Mans wear۔ing black coats and hats dis۔embark۔d, dis۔coil۔d a hose, hook۔d one end to a sidewalk fire hydrant, aim۔d the nozzle at Slime۔y. A power stream of water emerge۔d, knock۔ing the filth۔y man to his side on the pavement. As he roll۔d around on the hard ground, the water spray۔d painful۔ly on his body.
He look۔d down at hisself: his skin had turn۔d from brown to pale white.
A man wear۔ing a black coat toss۔d he a warm·coat, call۔ing out, “Put this on.” When Slime۔y try۔d and fail۔d, the man add۔d, “Coverwrap it around you.” Try۔ing to imitate peoples around he, he do۔d so.
By then a huge crowd had gather۔d, press۔ing near۔er. More police۔mans and police۔womans arrive۔d. They command۔d the crowd to move rear۔ward. Other mans aim۔d huge cameras at he.
Arrive۔d another police۔man, with gray hairs and many badges on his blue uniform. “We locate۔d a bed for you, in a home۔less shelter,” he say۔d. “But no transportation, therefore so you must walk.”
“Walk,” Slime۔y agree۔d, feel۔ing a surge of energy from the cow·burger. “Where?”
“Follow the fire truck,” direct۔d the police۔man.
“Light really exist!” exclaim۔d Slime۔y, rub۔ing his eyes, wonder۔ing whether, instead, he had die۔d. He head۔d toward the fire·truck, which wuz noise۔ly move۔ing away. “Have I really arrive۔d at Light۔land!”
*
The big۔est surprise of all wuz, after a long sleep, when he look۔d out the window and see۔d that the sky, instead of it’s normal black wuz a beautyful blue color. Next, he wuz lead۔t to a toilet.
"What do it do?" he ask۔d a young staff-membort.
"Into it you relieve yourself of... body waste." He add۔d, "Both liquids and solids."
"Piss and shit?" Slime۔y ask۔d.
"Precise۔ly."
After he shit۔d, the staff membort return۔d, reach۔d forward and pull۔d down the metal lever on the appliance.
"Whoosh!" To Slime۔y the sound seem۔d vague۔ly familiar. He watch۔d in astonish۔ment as the brown banana-size turds circulate۔d in water around and around and then wuz suck۔t through a hole in the bottom. Somethin tell۔d he to hold back next question, but he ask۔d it anyway.
"Where do it go?"
"Into the sewer."
An enlighten۔ment moment.
A barbor arrive۔d and cut۔d off his bodywaist-length brown beard and shave۔d his mustache and head.
Subsequent days wuz to the newcomeort a joyful blur of adjust۔ing to new images and learn۔ing new things. Besides learn۔ing how to pull on and off clothes, bathe in a bath·shower with soap, brush his seven tooths, and eat with a fork and spoon, he learn۔d to walk the streets without endanger۔ing hisself or become۔ing lost – his favorite activity beside watch۔ing television. A woman psychiatror periodic۔ly appear۔d with questions about his thoughts and feel۔ins, which he answer۔d the best he could. Other staff membors and some other residents of the shelter answer۔d his end۔less questions about the Light۔land he had recent۔ly join۔d, as his vocabulary steady increase۔d. They teach۔d he to say “please” and “thank you”, to share, to consider others’ needs and feel۔ins.
Because of his permanent grin, the staff re-name۔d he Smile۔y, and the name stick۔d. Because everybody in Atlanta city, in province Georgia, in USA nation, and on North America continent require۔d a family·name, the govern۔ment assign۔d he “Smith”.
*
Months pass۔d, and Smile۔y Smith begin۔d to feel at home in his new world. A govern۔ment aid agency re۔locate۔d he into a one-bed·room third-floor·level apartment, and he learn۔d to make his own meals, and, slow۔ly but sure۔ly, cook. What amaze۔d he wuz the helpful۔ness of the peoples he encounter۔d. He had do۔d nothin for anybody; yet they had do۔d everythin for he.
From watch·listen۔ing television, he learn۔d about his new world, include۔ing bits and pieces of it’s history. The year wuz 2001. The nation wuz on a spin۔ing orbit۔ing sphere. Mans had walk۔d on the moon.
He nolonger think۔d about light. But he do۔d, on occasion, think about the sewer world from which he had come – which cause۔d he to shudder. That he had spend۔d the first (doctors estimate۔d) 32 years of his life slosh۔ing around in sewer liquid when he could have been enjoy۔ing gratis school۔ing, earn۔ing money in a job, and marry۔ing, while enjoy۔ing all the luxurys of modern life, seem۔d a monumental waste. If only somebody had tell۔d he…, he sometimes start۔d to stay, then remember۔ing that somebody had.
As more time pass۔d, dur his life of watch۔ing television and roam۔ing city streets, watch۔ing everybody hurry۔ing around being useful, he think۔d more then more about the ignorant sewer reside۔ors live۔ing in they's hell, when life could be so easy۔ly be so good. They need۔d to be inform۔d – more than inform۔t, convince۔t. But how? And by who? A normal city reside۔or venture۔ing into the sewer would never encounter anybody – sewer۔landors wuz experts at hide۔ing. The task require۔d somebody with thorough knowledge of sewer life, somebody alike… hisself.
He wuz live۔ing a life of luxury, in an apartment with a soft bed and chair, a kitchen with a food·cool۔or and stove, a bath·room with a toilet and bath·shower, a television supply۔ing end۔less audio·video delights, a lock۔d door, money for plenty of delicious food, surround۔t by most۔y friend۔y helpful peoples. But he reach۔d a point, not quite two and a half years after drama۔ly emerge۔ing from the sewer, when he realise۔d he could nolonger bare to leave his former sewer۔fellors, or anybody in sewer۔land, grope۔ing around in torture, ignorant of light. He had to go back.
Dangerous, without doubt.. His chance of success, almost nil. Convince۔ing ignorant sewer reside۔ors that they could escape from they's hell if they would believe and act on they's belief – he had no idea how to do it. He would have to start, he decide۔d, in familiar Old Sewer۔land, despite the add۔d risks.
Therefore one night after mid۔night, without tell۔ing anybody, dur one of his night۔y walks, he slip۔d the cover off a manhole, hold۔d his nose to block the stink, and jump۔d, touchland۔ing in bodywaist-deep sewage with a splash. Then he wade۔d back into dark۔ness.
* * *