Shongs Part Two

Shongs Part Two

If you missed the first part of this dream, that’s kinda too bad because I haven’t gotten around to updated the archives for the blogs this whole year.

When we left off, the inter-dimensional portal thingy came back with a message from another civilization and now the scientist guys wanna send our hero – me, to that mysterious place beyond. He was describing the whole range of events that lead him into being the chosen one.

Now we continue…

“So they put me in this little machine that you see now. No bigger than a clothes dryer, and now I’m here to make first contact.”

“What’s a clothes dryer?”

“Never mind.” I added.

“There is a record of that dimensional portal that you described. Some kids were messing with it when the government guys got to it. I guess they scratched the smiley face. We didn’t know about that device it vanished before we got to study it. I was kind of a mystery.” The mayor explained. “I’m just a mayor of a small town, are you sure you need to talk to me.” He added.

“Not much of a choice really, I’m due to go back in about twenty minutes. They really don’t know how much time will go by on my world when I’m gone. I just need to let you guys know we’d like to come back.”

“That is, if I make it back alive.” I added.

“We’d love future visits, obviously your civilization is more advanced than ours. I can’t even imagine making such a device.”

I looked around. The building looked like one from the 1920’s. All the detail of fine workmanship. The telephone looked like an old ten pound “Ma-bell” phone. I washed up when I first got there, and the water poured into a bowl from a hand cranked pump.

Definitely a 20’s type civilization. But it seemed odd, that they weren’t freaked out by my presence. The seemed really open to new things. Seemed like nothing would phase these folks.

I looked out the window and saw modern looking cars zipping around, seemed like the technology for these types of vehicles shouldn’t exist, but there they were. The oddest thing was the large reptiles lumbering down the street pulling trailers. They were about twice the size of an elephant, looked sort of like a brontosaurus, but without the long necks. Definitely odd seeing the modern cars zipping around them.

“What are those?” I inquired.

“Shrongs” the mayor replied.

“Why do you call them ‘Shrongs?’” I asked.

“Open the window.”

So I opened the old style, un-insulated, wooden framed window.

With each slow step of the reptile, I could hear and almost feel the vibration caused by its weight. “Shroooong.” One step landed. “Shrooong” went the next step. It was almost had the ringing effect of a deep bell ringing.

“Ok, I get it. We don’t have anything like that on our world. I mean we did, but they all died long ago.”

“I can see that happening. We have some extinct species as well, mostly they died off, because they ate Shrongs and we keep them in barns where they can’t get to ‘em. Not too many of those meat-eaters left.”

“So you guys don’t eat meat?” I asked.

“No, we don’t eat anything. Just need some sunlight, water, and a few nutrients. But the Shrongs, they graze on the grass. It’s pretty cheap to use them.”

“Sunlight and water? Are you guys are plants?’ I asked.

“No.” He laughed. “But we don’t’ have mitochondria like the Shrongs or meat-eaters, we photosynthesis instead. Do you graze?” the mayor added.

“Well, we eat plants and animals.” I admitted. Despite our technological advances, I kinda felt inferior.

“Wow, that is odd. We don’t have anything here that eats both. Most meat-eaters are violent. Are you violent?”

“We can be, but we control it. At least we try too.”

“Your not really making a good case for a future landing. If that’s what you would call it.” The mayor added.

“We are what we are.” I admitted.

“I’m going to leave you with the OK to come back, but I’ll have to alert the higher ups of your nature, we might choose to have the next crew or guy contained in a closed building…you know, to be on the safe side.” The mayor added.

“Maybe a few guards or police.” I added.

“What are those?” he inqured.

“Oh nothing important.” I said. “Time to go.” I added as my watch buzzed. “If you don’t mind, I’ll need a little help closing the door, it’s really cramp in there.”

I climbed back in the small portal and the before the mayor closed the door he added, “I hope you get back safe.”

“Thanks, I added.” As he closed the door which pushed my knee against my chest I felt like luggage being squished in a travel bag, and thought to my self, “Maybe these guys would be better off without us.”

COMING NEXT: Part III, or is it just time to call it quits on this one?