Heaven in a Wild Flower


I had a MARVELLOUS time with some "oong" on Koh Phan Yang (back before it had roads) - it was my 23rd birthday, and a cup of the local mushroom tea was in order. So with a couple of friends, I scarved down about half a pint of dirty grey liquid, and ate all the slug-like lumps at the bottom. Nothing happened.

After about 10 minutes, I had a bit of a tummy ache. In fact, all of us did, so we staggered to the beach to watch the sunset. This was a secluded spot, the only slight distraction being some German tourists - too far to be visible, but just within earshot as the sound travelled across still evening wires. The sun went down, and I slowly realised that I could understand what they were saying, only now, they seemed to be in a bubble. So on my left was German world, entirely separate from the rest of my psyche. Strange things were happening in front, too. The sunset, molten lava to the sea, was as spectacular as every night, possibly more so this evening, but now dusk had settled, what was that on the waves? Cortex brain said "It's a boat, and the lights you can see are from the portholes, reflecting on the water.". The rest of my brain decided it was the most splendid creature, strutting proudly across the sea on orange carrot legs. I asked my comrades and they agreed. I asked the Germans, and they too concurred, despite the distance.

A sober friend, who had warned of perils and pitfalls, had joined us, not wanting to see us drown I guess, but he was putting a real downer on the experience. So much so, in fact, that his face would stretch, lit with the neon lines of a Looney Toons cartoon, and every expression would be magnified into Elmer Fudd. Enough. He was consigned to a private world, a bubble, like the Germans, but a dark one. I would try not to look there.

To my right, everything was happy. Like looking through the clearest crystal, the beach was pristine, pin sharp, perfect. The few beach shacks looked so inviting, there was music playing and all was well in the world.

But what is this? My legs are lengthening before my very eyes! Stop it! Cortex takes over and says "it's the oong, relax" and they return to normal size. But not for long. There they go again. They will be in the sea soon! Every time cortex shrinks them, they sneakily stretch out. I can stride across the ocean! Well, if I could stand up.

And what am I lying on? great boulders, shards of jagged rock. I can feel every one, touching every nerve. If Blake could see the world in a grain of sand, I'm lying on the Universe. Oh hell, I've somehow tried to eat the beach and now my mouth is full of giant rocks. I can feel the sides of each cube with my tongue. I am one with the sand.

My legs have returned, and thick, arterial blood is oozing from between my toes. Luckily, swarms of insects have appeared to devour it, I let them, because cortex can make them disappear.

And so the evening passed into night, and the three of us lay there sharing visions, listening to the waves that broke only for us and occasionally laughing at some German joke which would drift in on the wind.

Enough, the Germans are incomprehensible. Elmer has returned to the hut, my worlds are no longer compartmentalised and I badly need to pee. Legs, recognisable, but still not my own, make their way to the bushes and the night draws to the end.

It was so perfect that I've never had the inclination to repeat it.
(Mousy Tongue ...Generally bemused by life..., Sat 18 Sep 2010, 9:02, Reply)