The next night, I met Jones in the parking lot. I hopped into his car. He gave me a joint. I gave him a cigarette. The two of us could not contain our excitement about what was to come.
“Well, fair son, obviously you are the one who must go through the Gate each time. Your companions, however, will most likely change each time. I never would have thought all of this would unfold the first night I met you here in the parking lot.”
“Me neither, Jones. But who will go with me this time?”
“Those decisions must be left up to Nameno. He knows each of our strengths and weaknesses. He will make the right decision.”
“What if he doesn’t? What do you think will happen to the two of us who try to go through the Gate?”
“Well, for one thing, I don’t think Nameno will make a mistake. But if he did, I think you would come into empty space and not be able to learn anything. I am not trying to scare you or anything. Yet, if a mistake does occur, well . . .”
“Well, what?”
“Well, I think it will be the last time we barter here in the parking lot.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“Don’t worry. Trust in Nameno. He knows what he is doing. Finish off the joint. You are going to need it. Besides, everything will be fine. Remember what Selmip said. Keep your mind simple. Don’t complicate things. Just flow with all of this. You will be fine.”
I took Jones’ advice and finished the joint. Jones finished his cigarette. The two of us strolled through the propped open door and found our respective seats. Billy had already poured the Quacktails, and they were waiting for us when we sat down.
Nameno took his spot at the front by the bar.
“I believe we will take another step forward this evening,” Nameno started. “I would like to make this toast to two of our Quacks this evening. Without either of them we would never have been able to take these steps. Here’s to you, Jones, for bringing in our fair son. And here’s to you, fair son, for allowing us to venture further into our beliefs.”
“Here, here,” the room bellowed as all us Quacks finished out Quacktails. Billy soon replenished us all with another round.
“Well, I believe I know which two of us must venture through the Gate this evening. Of course, fair son, you are one of them. As for the second, I believe Lear needs to join him.”
I had never met Lear, but realized who he was when he stood up and bowed to the room. Lear was a large fellow. He sported a goatee and long hair that was pulled back behind his head. I was glad that he was a big guy – just in case something went wrong. I stood up and walked over to Lear to introduce myself. It was a very informal introduction, since Lear already knew who I was. He had a giant smile on his face, and I could see in his eyes that he seemed to know what was to come. Lear and I finished our Quacktails, grabbed another round from Billy, and descended to the Gate. On the way, I asked him a question that I wanted answered.
“Lear, what is it that you know?”
“What do you mean, fair son?”
“In your eyes, I could see that you knew something about what was to happen.”
“Nothing really. I have just studied for this moment all of my life. You probably saw my anticipation and confidence coming out.”
“Well, maybe, but what is it that you have studied?”
“I have studied everything that deals with what we are dealing with. I have read many scholars, sages, saints, and philosophers. The one thing I do know is that what is to come will come. We need not be worried.”
“That alleviates some of my anxiety. Before we go in, I need to do something.” I finished my Quacktail, closed my eyes, and let the burn course through my body. I was ready. “Ready?”
“Of course.”
We walked through the Kaleidoscope Gate.
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