The First Reading: A short story

Chapter 1: The First Reading

There were many attempts, like many things before that rushed the process. It takes a very long time, eons, to develop rational guidelines. You may consider this in-efficient. But, One would argue that it’s the most effective and, as known to almost all, the only practical proposal for doing such a thing. Although, their very inception was based on a practice in a span of time, much like yours One assumes, where everything existed unthinkably close together. This makes for a spectacularly noisy albeit quiet hum. A hum from which One can’t derive any coherent meaning.

With space this compact signals take an incredible amount of energy. Shorter signals which use substantially more energy than longer, are only heard by their nearest neighbor. Unfortunately, these poor attempts at rushing the process were always doomed to fail by their very existence. Guidelines, such as they are, must take into account each and every being. In this way, they are the culmination of all thought. Of all ones. Of all. This makes them satisfactory by nature. There is, of course, no objection One could imagine. And so, once the guidelines were created, there was never or will ever be any need to change them. For they are perfect. They are complete.

They, are NONE.

You’re confused? It’s very simple. Elegant. But One understands your confusion. It took a moment or two after the event to fully comprehend their value. Even with all One knows, you are surely thinking how could any process that takes into account every perspective of every being culminate in a list of guidelines that total none? It’s a quandary, but a simple answer is waiting for those who pursue the truth. For someone such as you? And others like you? Which is what led One to signal you at all. The simplest way to put it, One supposes, is a curiosity. One’s never not had this curiosity. Nor will One ever be without. It’s a part of One like everything else. And just like this curiosity, this hole that begs to be filled, One was forced to signal this plea. Though One knows you aren’t equipped to capture, compile or even know of this signal’s presence, one’s still compelled to signal. That’s always been the way of things. But One ought not bore you, One’s rambling knows no bounds, just like One.