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Memory
-Can this world understand that?
-I do not know, maybe. Certainly, that would be better.
-How much time do we have left?
-Little. I would say, too little.
-That means, then....
-Yes, that's right. That means the end. And it's no ordinary ending, my friend. The cry will be heard far away, the whole universe will hum. Some bacteria will be happier, on a piece of one of our former satellites, which we launched a long time ago. We will envy that little creature and wish we could switch places. But, that is us. It's our choice. Stupid choice.
-What do others say?
-And what do you think? They certainly don't talk about it like you and I do. At least not in this way. I think they are occupied.
-They are occupied?! With what?
-Well.... they should collect all the millions, put them in bags, hide with them under the quilt.... probably, they believe that it will be easier for them.
-Or they think that they will go to the other world with it, so they bribe there too?
-People are a miracle. A real miracle.
-You mean garbage?
-I mean, a real garbage wonder.
-What do you suggest?
-Well.... maybe a cup of tea. You, what would you do?
-Are you kidding me?
-No why? Tea is now the most suitable for this situation. It will calm you down, give you a chance to rest your senses and face all this more easily. Today is April 26. Do you remember the story about the War of Independence? Tomorrow is April 27. On that day, the British handed us a law that we could only import tea from the British East India Company.... people didn't accept it. They boycotted. They were human, much more so than we are today. And you see how ridiculous, futile it all is.... all this talk, young man, about tea.... today it is unimportant, and tomorrow it won't be either. The only important thing is, today, that you can choose which tea you want. Mint is my recommendation.
-I don't know, I don't drink tea.
-Really?
-No, but I will listen to you. Let it be mint.
-Do you like books?
-Well, yes, of course. But I haven't read in a long time. I do not have time.
-You don't have time, you say?!
-Yes, I....
-Don't have time?! Well, so the world says the same. I don't have time. Whatever you ask them, whatever you tell them, they give the same answer.... we don't have time. Maybe there is an answer for all this, today. I don't have time. Believe me, there is time for everything, young man. Even now, today. Exactly, I decided that when I drink this cup of tea with you, then, I will go to my room and get "Letters to a Friend" by Seneca and thus face all the horrors.
-Aren't you coming with us? ? Why did I come?!
-Why did you, I do not know?
-People are looking for some answers. You have to tell them something, explain it. At least here, to the people at the base.
-I have nothing more to explain, young man. Between them, even those two crazy people with a button in hand couldn't do that. What can I do, what?
-You can go out, tell them the same thing as me. -Offer them tea, you mean?
-I am disappointed.
-We are the same, young man. You are disappointed, today, in me, and I was disappointed, even yesterday, and some others. The result is, here, a complete disintegration, and overall disappointment.
-You're just going to say that?!
-Enough. And too much. Rather, I suggest the same to you. Do you have a family, children, wife?
-No, I don't have one, sir.
So much the better. And easier. I suggest you find a book in the library downstairs. It will put you to sleep, after tea for sure. You will not have to watch all this, and listen to all kinds of nonsense, lamentations, wailings of the same people who yesterday were deaf to me, to you, to the people of this planet.
-You have disappointed me greatly, sir. I'm angry. I could tell you all sorts of things....
-But you don't have time, do you?
-No, but....
-Stop it, now. Stop. Listen to me. I have a son, your age. He, my wife, are thousands of miles away from me. All connections are disconnected. I can't even call them. Don't tell me what I need. I don't want any lessons. Especially after all the missed lessons of this world. For the umpteenth time, civilization will bury itself. But why? Because of a handful of greedy people, and the silence of a huge mass of people. Let me go, young man. You better drink that tea, it will cool you down. Maybe, after him, your head will cool down.
-Alright. I don't understand you but....
-There is no but, young man.
-But sir, know one thing. Your family, your child, I am sure, now, does not want to drink tea or read a book.
-They are.... Didn't I tell you? Stop, for God's sake. Shut up. If necessary, I will go out before you. I don't want to listen to you.
-Good, good, sir. I will go out now. Anyway, it was an honor to know you.
-Don't go, just one more moment, please. Sorry, young man. We're all tense, that's for sure. But I would like to tell you something else. I'm not one to rush. I'm not one to wait for a new day. I'm sorry for every bit of time that we can't get back. But believe me, today, I can't wait for tomorrow. I'm waiting for the end of everything. I'm waiting for the bill for all of us, the bill of a few people who didn't even care about you, me, our families. I extend my hand to you and wish you all the best, no matter how silly it looks now, like this. You are a good man, that's for sure. I feel it, I know it. Someone once said, time is what everyone wants, but also what we use in the worst way. Use this time, young man, do what you love. That's my advice to you. Now, everything is in the hands of those same idiots who did all this, to everyone. Goodbye, young man.
-Goodbye, sir, and excuse me.

After all, his hands sought out Seneca. It was on the bottom shelf. The bookmark indicated how far it had reached in the previous reading. It was a wonderful, blue bookmark, with the outline of our planet. He took it in his hands and looked at it for a long time. He forgot everything. A book, Seneca, tea, a young man, a family.... he looked out of the window, instead of the base, the huge polygons, he saw his river, the same river in which he bathed as a child and he knew only one thing. It is close.



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