Level 7

JUNE 28

The brave and foolish pair have decided to stop where they are and go no farther. They themselves seem to be bored. The scene in one place is identical with the scene any where else. There is no point in moving around. Even if they could circle the world, it would probably be the same story. They must have realised that.

And they are exhausted—tired by the driving and weakened by the sickness within them.

So they just sit in the car, resting, and occasionally transmitting some personal impressions. These become less and less descriptive and more and more emotional as time goes on. At times almost poetic—or perhaps delirious. They must be an interesting pair. And very sick by now.

There is something about the quality of these occasional talks which makes people listen again. Interest in the couple revives—interest in them personally, rather than in the surface of the earth.

Here comes one of their talks now. I will try to scribble down their exact words. It all sounds pretty odd. Delirious already, perhaps.

She: “We’re a pair of doves, sent out by Noah to see if the flood has gone down.”

He: “The flood is still around us, the water is deep. We’re the doves which didn’t fly back.”

She: “But the dove which didn’t return to Noah was a sign that the flood was over. It was a sign of life and hope when it stayed away from the ark.”

He: “How right you are, my dove! We’ll stay here, outside the shelter, until it’s all over. For this is a much worse flood than the one God made. Men caused this tide of blood to rise and leave no hope for man or dove.”

She: “Listen to us, you people down there in the caves. Hear what we have to tell you. The flood is around you, the poison is trying to get inside you. Your blood is still red, but the world is black. Stay below in your man-made caves as long as there is air to breathe, as long as water seeps so deep, as long as spirits don’t go down and drag you up!”

He: “Stay in the ark for ever!”

They must certainly be delirious. But not everyone in delirium can talk that way. It is broadcasts like that one which have people listening, fascinated. Almost everybody. Even P has stopped making disparaging remarks. After one of this morning’s transmissions I do believe I saw an unusual shine in her eyes. As if they were wet.