"I have long wondered," Taku said to the Wisest Stone, "about lies. If I falsely claimed to be a child, what would be the opposite of my lies? For I once was a child; one day I will be old, and later still I will not be. Truth, then, is not the opposite. If I say that I never was a child, that is opposite, but still a lie."
The Wisest Stone said nothing at all.
After a time, Taku nodded. "I see," he said. "The opposite of falsehood is silence."
"Oh, were you talking?" said the Wisest Stone.
Showing posts with label Wisest Stone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wisest Stone. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The People with Knives
Taku sheltered from the blades and cudgels atop the Wisest Stone, who had little to fear except chipping and scratching.
"An interesting aspect of their philosophy," the Wisest Stone said, "is their belief that they are dead."
"Nihilism?" asked Taku, primarily feeling thankful that the mob was in short supply of missile weapons.
"Not quite. They hold that they have already died and thus come to this world, which they will never escape."
"A world of eternal violence," Taku mused. "Born into damnation."
"That is not their perspective," said the Wisest Stone, as the gleeful shouts from below redoubled.
"An interesting aspect of their philosophy," the Wisest Stone said, "is their belief that they are dead."
"Nihilism?" asked Taku, primarily feeling thankful that the mob was in short supply of missile weapons.
"Not quite. They hold that they have already died and thus come to this world, which they will never escape."
"A world of eternal violence," Taku mused. "Born into damnation."
"That is not their perspective," said the Wisest Stone, as the gleeful shouts from below redoubled.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
It May Have Been the Plan from the Beginning
Taku and the Wisest Stone encountered an itinerant monk. Taku asked after his mission.
"I seek Truth!" the monk said.
"That is admirable," said Taku. "Have you found it?"
"Oh, yes. I was gifted with inspiration, and I wrote for seven days and nights until I had gotten it all safely written down. I had pinned Truth to the page. There would never be any doubt again."
"Where is the manuscript?"
The monk grinned, his eyes hollow. "I burned it and scattered the ashes."
"Very wise," said the Wisest Stone. "You don't want to get that stuff on your hands."
"I seek Truth!" the monk said.
"That is admirable," said Taku. "Have you found it?"
"Oh, yes. I was gifted with inspiration, and I wrote for seven days and nights until I had gotten it all safely written down. I had pinned Truth to the page. There would never be any doubt again."
"Where is the manuscript?"
The monk grinned, his eyes hollow. "I burned it and scattered the ashes."
"Very wise," said the Wisest Stone. "You don't want to get that stuff on your hands."
Monday, February 28, 2011
Opening the Veins of the Wind
They sat becalmed for many days, the sea as still as gelatin around them.
"Please," the sailors begged. "We don't want to die."
Taku consulted with the Wisest Stone. "There is a way," he said at last, "but it is ugly."
"Tell us! On our own heads be it."
Taku handed over his obsidian knife. "Climb up the mast. Hold this overhead. Then whistle, so." He hummed a few notes that quavered eerily.
The bravest soldier followed Taku's instructions, and soon the sails were full of good, strong wind. Taku shook his head when they offered him his knife back.
"Please," the sailors begged. "We don't want to die."
Taku consulted with the Wisest Stone. "There is a way," he said at last, "but it is ugly."
"Tell us! On our own heads be it."
Taku handed over his obsidian knife. "Climb up the mast. Hold this overhead. Then whistle, so." He hummed a few notes that quavered eerily.
The bravest soldier followed Taku's instructions, and soon the sails were full of good, strong wind. Taku shook his head when they offered him his knife back.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Tortoiseshell
Taku prodded the brownish lump. The turtle retracted its head further, but did not otherwise move. "Remind you of anyone?" he asked.
"No," said the Wisest Stone.
"Don't be difficult."
"The turtle misunderstands the purpose," the Wisest Stone went on, settling deeper into his mossy bed. "He builds the hard shell, but then he lives within, letting the world break against it."
"Like a rock in a stream, yes?" Taku plucked a green leaf and placed it in front of the turtle, who remained stubbornly hidden.
"To be rock is to be the shell, not to be behind the shell."
"No," said the Wisest Stone.
"Don't be difficult."
"The turtle misunderstands the purpose," the Wisest Stone went on, settling deeper into his mossy bed. "He builds the hard shell, but then he lives within, letting the world break against it."
"Like a rock in a stream, yes?" Taku plucked a green leaf and placed it in front of the turtle, who remained stubbornly hidden.
"To be rock is to be the shell, not to be behind the shell."
Friday, December 3, 2010
Nerves
They gathered around their captive. A heavy vise gripped the Wisest Stone.
"He will come for us! I'm sure of it," said one of them.
"But now we have his teacher. We will learn all the same secrets." The scarred man nudged the Wisest Stone with his sledgehammer. "Well, Stone? Have you nothing to say?"
"No," said the Wisest Stone.
"We will smash you if you do not speak? Why risk that?"
With a soft sigh, the guard at the door crumpled. Taku strode in, knife in hand.
"Because I saw him coming down the hallway," said the Wisest Stone.
"He will come for us! I'm sure of it," said one of them.
"But now we have his teacher. We will learn all the same secrets." The scarred man nudged the Wisest Stone with his sledgehammer. "Well, Stone? Have you nothing to say?"
"No," said the Wisest Stone.
"We will smash you if you do not speak? Why risk that?"
With a soft sigh, the guard at the door crumpled. Taku strode in, knife in hand.
"Because I saw him coming down the hallway," said the Wisest Stone.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Contrarywise
"To lie," said the Wisest Stone, "is to create worlds. Each falsehood leads to a new universe, a place where it is truth instead, and in turn changes this world by rendering it impossible."
"Lies such as, 'Stones may fly'?" Taku asked.
"Yes. I chose for this world to contain that truth, and thus made it a lie somewhere else."
Taku pondered as they ascended to the next terrace. "How is one to tell a truth from a lie, then?"
"That is the simplest part," the Wisest Stone told him. "When it never occurs, you know it was a lie."
"Lies such as, 'Stones may fly'?" Taku asked.
"Yes. I chose for this world to contain that truth, and thus made it a lie somewhere else."
Taku pondered as they ascended to the next terrace. "How is one to tell a truth from a lie, then?"
"That is the simplest part," the Wisest Stone told him. "When it never occurs, you know it was a lie."
Friday, September 3, 2010
First of Many
The Wisest Stone is still suffering from amnesia. I think I'll wrap up this pseudo-continuity next month. Taku is starting to show the strain of having to be the master for so many stories in a row. In the meantime, happy sort-of-beginning of the month! Only two more shopping months until Mirrorshards' second anniversary. What are you getting for YOUR friends and family to celebrate?
"Why is the Weed King so intent on capturing us?" asked the Wisest Stone.
Taku grimaced, sweat rolling down his face. "You called him a wastrel and a mendicant, and demanded restitution for all of the stone and mountains his roots have destroyed."
"Ah," said the Wisest Stone. "And was I correct?"
"Technically," Taku admitted. "But also unkind."
"Hardly relevant."
"One can be truthful without being cruel. Do you not see this?"
The Wisest Stone considered. "If we are honest, we cannot help but be cruel. Life is harsh."
"That is why the first lie we tell is to ourselves."
"Why is the Weed King so intent on capturing us?" asked the Wisest Stone.
Taku grimaced, sweat rolling down his face. "You called him a wastrel and a mendicant, and demanded restitution for all of the stone and mountains his roots have destroyed."
"Ah," said the Wisest Stone. "And was I correct?"
"Technically," Taku admitted. "But also unkind."
"Hardly relevant."
"One can be truthful without being cruel. Do you not see this?"
The Wisest Stone considered. "If we are honest, we cannot help but be cruel. Life is harsh."
"That is why the first lie we tell is to ourselves."
Friday, July 2, 2010
Lift
"This is not going to work," said the Wisest Stone.
"I am trying as hard as I can, my friend," said Taku. He was bent nearly double, sweating under the weight of the Wisest Stone.
"I can see the Weed-King's armies from here."
"As always, you are most encouraging." Taku forced himself another step up the slope.
"You know," said the Wisest Stone conversationally, "in many ways you are lucky to be carrying me."
"Oh?" said Taku, thinking he knew the end of this familiar song.
"You can choose to put me down and not bear my weight any longer."
"I am trying as hard as I can, my friend," said Taku. He was bent nearly double, sweating under the weight of the Wisest Stone.
"I can see the Weed-King's armies from here."
"As always, you are most encouraging." Taku forced himself another step up the slope.
"You know," said the Wisest Stone conversationally, "in many ways you are lucky to be carrying me."
"Oh?" said Taku, thinking he knew the end of this familiar song.
"You can choose to put me down and not bear my weight any longer."
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Weight
"Are you not the Wisest Stone?" Taku stared in confusion and no small amount of fear.
"Of course," said the Wisest Stone.
"But you do not recall how you came here?"
"I do not."
"Our struggles against the Weed-King's armies?"
"Not a thing."
"Your short career as a professor of philosophy?"
"In truth, I feel as though a great weight were lifted from me."
Taku sighed. "I hope you recover soon, my friend. Come."
"I am a rock."
"But you have flown many leagues with me upon your back!"
"Ah," said the Wisest Stone. "It appears I have forgotten how."
"Of course," said the Wisest Stone.
"But you do not recall how you came here?"
"I do not."
"Our struggles against the Weed-King's armies?"
"Not a thing."
"Your short career as a professor of philosophy?"
"In truth, I feel as though a great weight were lifted from me."
Taku sighed. "I hope you recover soon, my friend. Come."
"I am a rock."
"But you have flown many leagues with me upon your back!"
"Ah," said the Wisest Stone. "It appears I have forgotten how."
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Sissy
While Taku and the Wisest Stone paused their journey atop a hill, they heard grunting and moaning. Soon, a man appeared, shoving a boulder uphill. Just as he reached the top, the boulder slipped and rolled away.
“That seems difficult,” Taku remarked.
“I am cursed. I defied the gods, and now must forever roll that rock.”
“Have you tried asking it for help?” asked the Wisest Stone. “Many are friendlier than they appear.”
The man’s eyes widened, and he fled.
“Most rocks cannot speak,” said Taku.
“Yes,” said the Wisest Stone, “but even failed conversation is easier than pointless strife.”
“That seems difficult,” Taku remarked.
“I am cursed. I defied the gods, and now must forever roll that rock.”
“Have you tried asking it for help?” asked the Wisest Stone. “Many are friendlier than they appear.”
The man’s eyes widened, and he fled.
“Most rocks cannot speak,” said Taku.
“Yes,” said the Wisest Stone, “but even failed conversation is easier than pointless strife.”
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Boulder and Braver
It's the first of the month again! How time flies...
Mirrorshards has something like a reader base now, which is pretty cool, even if most of ya'll are pretty quiet. For those folks who haven't been reading this since it started (Hi, honey!), on the first day of each month I trot out the general favorite of my slim cast of recurring characters (defined as anyone who's shown up in at least three non-consecutive flitterfics): The Wisest Stone and his friend/acolyte, Taku. If I could, I'd write about the Wisest Stone every day, so I limit him to once a month on the grounds that anything I like that much is probably annoying.
If you click on the "Wisest Stone" tag, you'll see all 15 or so of the previous stories. Thanks for reading, guys! See you next month.
---
When the would-be bandits had fled, Taku hefted one of the fallen scimitars. “I wonder each time if I will forget my lessons, if this time I will feel the bite of their blades.”
“You are courageous, friend Taku,” said the Wisest Stone.
Taku shrugged. “I learned from you, how you are so fearless in the face of danger.”
“What danger could such men pose to me?” said the Wisest Stone. “I am a rock, and they are only humans. No, it is not courage to be what you are. It is brave to be what you strive for instead.”
Mirrorshards has something like a reader base now, which is pretty cool, even if most of ya'll are pretty quiet. For those folks who haven't been reading this since it started (Hi, honey!), on the first day of each month I trot out the general favorite of my slim cast of recurring characters (defined as anyone who's shown up in at least three non-consecutive flitterfics): The Wisest Stone and his friend/acolyte, Taku. If I could, I'd write about the Wisest Stone every day, so I limit him to once a month on the grounds that anything I like that much is probably annoying.
If you click on the "Wisest Stone" tag, you'll see all 15 or so of the previous stories. Thanks for reading, guys! See you next month.
---
When the would-be bandits had fled, Taku hefted one of the fallen scimitars. “I wonder each time if I will forget my lessons, if this time I will feel the bite of their blades.”
“You are courageous, friend Taku,” said the Wisest Stone.
Taku shrugged. “I learned from you, how you are so fearless in the face of danger.”
“What danger could such men pose to me?” said the Wisest Stone. “I am a rock, and they are only humans. No, it is not courage to be what you are. It is brave to be what you strive for instead.”
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Nature of Wisdom
The first of the month is here! Time for the Wisest Stone to reveal more insights from his eons of collected bon mots.
---
The pilgrims had traveled many miles. They laid down offerings of fruit and wine, and sang songs of praise.
“Will you not go out to them?” asked Taku.
The Wisest Stone sulked by the fireplace. “They are fools.”
“How can you know unless you speak to them?”
“A wise man wears fur at the antipodes, but that wisdom is foolishness in the desert. Wisdom learns where it finds itself. I know they are fools because they have come so far to question me.”
“I have sometimes wondered,” Taku said, “why any wise man would seek your advice, o my friend.”
---
The pilgrims had traveled many miles. They laid down offerings of fruit and wine, and sang songs of praise.
“Will you not go out to them?” asked Taku.
The Wisest Stone sulked by the fireplace. “They are fools.”
“How can you know unless you speak to them?”
“A wise man wears fur at the antipodes, but that wisdom is foolishness in the desert. Wisdom learns where it finds itself. I know they are fools because they have come so far to question me.”
“I have sometimes wondered,” Taku said, “why any wise man would seek your advice, o my friend.”
Friday, February 5, 2010
Guest Lecturer
OMG people. I forgot Wisest Stone Day and no one reminded me! Now I'm in for it. He's never gonna shut up about this one.
---
Taku consulted the shiny paper map. “I think the Philosophy Department is that way,” he said, pointing over his shoulder.
The Wisest Stone stood beside the sidewalk, out of place without a coat of garish paint portraying the school’s mascot. “What is the point? They talk and talk, endlessly, and yet they never take any actions to bring about change in the world. What value is someone who always criticizes and never accomplishes?”
Taku folded the map away. “You are much as they are.”
The Wisest Stone was silent for a moment. “True. But the difference is: I am right.”
---
Taku consulted the shiny paper map. “I think the Philosophy Department is that way,” he said, pointing over his shoulder.
The Wisest Stone stood beside the sidewalk, out of place without a coat of garish paint portraying the school’s mascot. “What is the point? They talk and talk, endlessly, and yet they never take any actions to bring about change in the world. What value is someone who always criticizes and never accomplishes?”
Taku folded the map away. “You are much as they are.”
The Wisest Stone was silent for a moment. “True. But the difference is: I am right.”
Friday, January 1, 2010
How Not to Fight
"I mean to kill you!" the warrior cried.
"Why?" asked Taku.
"Our tribes are enemies. Come down! Fight me!"
"The Wisest Stone taught me patience. I have food."
"Pah! Superstitions. My god is greater."
Taku shrugged. "Mine is smaller, but he teaches sufficiency."
The warrior grinned. "Fight me... or I will burn your village!"
Taku thought on this, then slid from his perch. "I will fight, though I am unskilled. I was not taught warfare."
"You are soft!" The blade plunged forward. The warrior's face fell.
"No," said Taku, looking at the shattered knife. "That is not something I was taught, either."
"Why?" asked Taku.
"Our tribes are enemies. Come down! Fight me!"
"The Wisest Stone taught me patience. I have food."
"Pah! Superstitions. My god is greater."
Taku shrugged. "Mine is smaller, but he teaches sufficiency."
The warrior grinned. "Fight me... or I will burn your village!"
Taku thought on this, then slid from his perch. "I will fight, though I am unskilled. I was not taught warfare."
"You are soft!" The blade plunged forward. The warrior's face fell.
"No," said Taku, looking at the shattered knife. "That is not something I was taught, either."
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Frontiersman
Happy birthday to me!
Yes, I'm a year older today, but seemingly no wiser (nor any closer to actually being published.) May the Wisest Stone bless us all with his insight and general truculence in the coming holiday season.
If any of my fan(s) knows more about migrating Mirrorshards to its own website/server, let me know. As far as I'm concerned, the computer is the Magic Box that does stuff when I push buttons. I'd like to be able to mirror this on its own webspace; I'd feel more like I was accomplishing actual "publishing" that way. ;-)
---
The farmer found, to his dismay, that the stone which had halted his plow was rather larger than he'd thought. His digging revealed what was almost a boulder, out of place in the soft loam of the countryside. He nearly dropped his spade when the stone spoke.
“What are you doing?” asked the stone, in a polite but disinterested baritone.
“I'm a farmer,” the man answered. “I tame the wilderness to bring order and plenty.” He indicated his plow, horse, and tools.
The Wisest Stone thought a while. “I do not feel particularly tamed,” he said.
Yes, I'm a year older today, but seemingly no wiser (nor any closer to actually being published.) May the Wisest Stone bless us all with his insight and general truculence in the coming holiday season.
If any of my fan(s) knows more about migrating Mirrorshards to its own website/server, let me know. As far as I'm concerned, the computer is the Magic Box that does stuff when I push buttons. I'd like to be able to mirror this on its own webspace; I'd feel more like I was accomplishing actual "publishing" that way. ;-)
---
The farmer found, to his dismay, that the stone which had halted his plow was rather larger than he'd thought. His digging revealed what was almost a boulder, out of place in the soft loam of the countryside. He nearly dropped his spade when the stone spoke.
“What are you doing?” asked the stone, in a polite but disinterested baritone.
“I'm a farmer,” the man answered. “I tame the wilderness to bring order and plenty.” He indicated his plow, horse, and tools.
The Wisest Stone thought a while. “I do not feel particularly tamed,” he said.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Foundations
It's November 1st! Time for our monthly dose of the Wisest Stone's very best advice. This is the one-year anniversary, roughly, of Mirrorshards and my daily writing exercise. My audience is small, but apparently loyal, and even includes several members not related to me. I'm glad you're all here, and I look forward to another year of strange fragments and odd windows into other worlds.
It's also NaNoWriMo, which I will be sort of participating in. (I've got over fifty thousand words already; I'm aiming for another fifty thousand and an actual finished novel instead of one that cuts out halfway.) Happy November!
---
“It is the problem of all buildings,” said the Wisest Stone, as Taku worked to dig him out of the soft sand.
“I think it is a problem of sand,” Taku said.
“The sand cannot be blamed. The trouble comes in the weight of the thing.”
“You should not land upon the beach,” Taku pointed out. “We have spoken of this before.”
“It is best,” the Wisest Stone went on, as if he had not heard, “to build upon a foundation of rock. But even piling rock upon rock, at some point you will still be building upon the sand.”
It's also NaNoWriMo, which I will be sort of participating in. (I've got over fifty thousand words already; I'm aiming for another fifty thousand and an actual finished novel instead of one that cuts out halfway.) Happy November!
---
“It is the problem of all buildings,” said the Wisest Stone, as Taku worked to dig him out of the soft sand.
“I think it is a problem of sand,” Taku said.
“The sand cannot be blamed. The trouble comes in the weight of the thing.”
“You should not land upon the beach,” Taku pointed out. “We have spoken of this before.”
“It is best,” the Wisest Stone went on, as if he had not heard, “to build upon a foundation of rock. But even piling rock upon rock, at some point you will still be building upon the sand.”
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Trajectory
And so, with August caught up barely in time, we move to the lovely month of September and my impending unemployment. In the meantime, here is the Wisest Stone to guide us on our way as the year circles toward autumn...
---
The boulder clipped the top of the curtain wall, knocking several smaller blocks loose. “Hello,” said the Wisest Stone amid the settling dust. “You folks seem more reasonable. Now, this territorial dispute you’re having…”
“A talking stone!”
“It’s of the devil! Fling it back!” Soldiers scattered.
“You are the Wisest Stone!” said a small block. “Why do you not simply leave?”
“Ah,” said the Wisest Stone, “but here, traveling between the two sides yet bound to neither, I am in a unique position to arbitrate.” Rough hands strapped him into the catapult. “I’m sure someone will want to listen. Eventually.”
---
The boulder clipped the top of the curtain wall, knocking several smaller blocks loose. “Hello,” said the Wisest Stone amid the settling dust. “You folks seem more reasonable. Now, this territorial dispute you’re having…”
“A talking stone!”
“It’s of the devil! Fling it back!” Soldiers scattered.
“You are the Wisest Stone!” said a small block. “Why do you not simply leave?”
“Ah,” said the Wisest Stone, “but here, traveling between the two sides yet bound to neither, I am in a unique position to arbitrate.” Rough hands strapped him into the catapult. “I’m sure someone will want to listen. Eventually.”
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Among the Fallen Stones
Taku moved slowly through the rubble and scree. He called every now and then, but without much hope. There were many boulders of sufficient size, and more that had been shattered by the force of their impact. Taku was worried. His friend had been silent a long time.
At last Taku sat to rest, holding his head in despair.
“Hello,” said the Wisest Stone from beneath him.
Taku jumped. “I could not find you amid the stones!” he said. “Why did you not answer my calls?”
“I knew which one I was,” answered the Wisest Stone.
At last Taku sat to rest, holding his head in despair.
“Hello,” said the Wisest Stone from beneath him.
Taku jumped. “I could not find you amid the stones!” he said. “Why did you not answer my calls?”
“I knew which one I was,” answered the Wisest Stone.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Pangs
As they waited, the Wisest Stone recounted the story of his creation for Taku, who had not asked.
“The ground was shattered,” he said, “and fire rained down from the sky. The sea shook with the force of the blast. Great cracks split the island and smoke blackened the sun. My brothers and I screamed as we plummeted down, hurled into the air by the violence of the eruption.”
Taku wrapped his arms around his legs. “It sounds horrible. Why was your birth so traumatic?”
“There is always pain at a birth,” said the Wisest Stone. “Nothing new comes easily.”
“The ground was shattered,” he said, “and fire rained down from the sky. The sea shook with the force of the blast. Great cracks split the island and smoke blackened the sun. My brothers and I screamed as we plummeted down, hurled into the air by the violence of the eruption.”
Taku wrapped his arms around his legs. “It sounds horrible. Why was your birth so traumatic?”
“There is always pain at a birth,” said the Wisest Stone. “Nothing new comes easily.”
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