The Documentarian
An introduction
First things first, when it comes to me, it’s important for you to know that I have been around longer than most. Because of this, over the ages, I’ve seen many things. Much of it mundane, and thus forgettable, yet other things, due to their fantastical nature, I will never forget.
As for my name, who I am doesn’t really matter. What I will say though, is that I am a Documentarian, a hunter and gatherer of stories. I do this so future scholars will have an easier time following what happened throughout history, thus making it easier for them to unearth important lessons. In other words, if I was to work on a farm, it would be my job to separate out the wheat from its chafe, leaving the unneeded historical husk on the field, with the remainder being the ingredients needed to create a tasty cereal which a scholarly mind would like to consume.
I’m not going to pretend that I am an immortal, although you might come to think of me that way. What I will say is that I’m one of the ancients, and as such, I am older than most. Because of this my work has afforded me a long term view of our worlds; interconnected worlds; worlds with many levels, some of these worlds existing beyond, and some hidden within. Worlds where multiple realities, often complimenting or contrasting, even diametrically opposed, can, and do exist. I know this to be true as I’ve made it my business to study these worlds. Doing what I can to figure out how these overlapping worlds all fit in.
Yes, I do find my work to be interesting. In fact, there is nothing else I’d rather do. I say this despite how much of what happens can be pretty blasé. Not only that, but knowing that history tends to repeat itself this can leave one to presume that history is predictable, thus boring. However it never repeats in exactly the same way. The beauty being that there are always so very many things happening. And amongst these I can’t help but to find new and exciting things.
What I’m saying is that there is a sort of magic related to knowing how and why things have happened in the past, as this knowledge can give me a heads up on what might be coming. In fact, I would go so far as to say that my understanding of history gives me the ability to divine the future, not unlike a seer. In other words - knowing ones past helps the likes of me to see when big things are coming. This is because when certain types of things happen, they, often follow oft repeated patterns. As certain types of events tend to lead to one thing and another, and to yet another, which all together combined, reveal seemingly inevitable power shifts. As such, they sound a certain kind of alarm. An alarm which informs me that something big is coming.
With that being said its time to take our ring side seats.
I say ringside seats because, with watching these worlds unfold, it’s like watching a dizzying show; a show akin to those three ring travelling circuses of old. Where existing under and around those Big-Top tents a universe full of excitement exists. Picture how each of the three circus rings within are worlds unto themselves as each host a myriad of unique shows. Shows which are often simultaneously presented next to, and often overlapping with the neighboring rings. Bear with me and I’ll explain exactly what I mean:
Imagine yourself under one of those massive, sky high, canvas tents. It so large that, due to the haze and shadows, you are unable to clearly see to the far side. You’re sitting centred over the middle ring of three, about two thirds of the way up. Your nostrils fill with the scent of candy floss, popcorn, sweat, perfume, candied apples, as well as foot-long hot dogs. Sitting there, with suspense filled awe you’re looking down through the excited crowd. The reason being that the circus rings are empty, silent. There’s not a thing to be seen - not even a footprint.
Still the crowd is rambunctious. They’re here for a show, and they don’t like to be kept waiting.
The thing is though, as any good entertainer knows, making an audience wait,
for just the right amount of time
helps to build the excitement.
Suddenly, seemingly out of a limitless sky, a spotlight from way above cuts through the shadows. Like a laser cutting through the haze, it draws everybody’s attention. It paints a perfect circle in the middle of the three rings. More surprisingly, smack in the centre of that circus ring, bathed in this circle of light; appearing out of nowhere there stands a top hatted, red vested, circus Ringmaster.
Only, how did the Ringmaster even get there, as they weren’t there half a second ago.
Smiling and taking in the murmuring crowd, the Ringmaster holds their left hand up, palm open, facing the crowd.
In anticipation of what’s to come, children are shushed as the audience grows silent.
Once satisfied that they have everyone’s attention; when it’s so quiet that you can hear your own heartbeat, the Ringmaster winks at the crowd and bows with a flourish.
The audience is on pins and needles.
Straightening up, with a loud booming voice, magnified by a megaphone, the Ringmaster starts his speech.
Knowing they have us exactly where they wants us, they invite the crowd to look up,- way, way up.
Following his direction, our hungry eyes can’t help but to climb the tall tent poles. They so stupendously long and tall that their upper ends disappear in the shadows; leaving everyone within gobsmacked.
Strung between these poles, exists a multilevel maze of cables and rigging, implying that the show to come has no upper limits.
It’s at this point when those looking on have to wonder - Where are the people, the promised performers.
In an answer,
SNAP,
just like that,
a spotlight comes to life.
Perched high upon a lonely pole, there stands a solitary clown.
I know, not the kind of beginning you might have imagined.
Standing there, readying themself to take a plunge into an impossibly small pool, it located so many stories below, well, it’s clear to all that the dive looks impossible to survive.
Watching as the clown works up the nerve to take the plunge, all go silent.
The clown launches himself and all that could be heard is the crowd exclaiming in unison - LOOK! THERE THEY GO!
Concerned gasps, collective inhales. The audience holds their breath.
Plunging down, the clown cuts through the air.
Another spotlight flashes revealing a couple walking the high wire! Where did they come from!
With the slice of yet another spotlight, beaming brightly, a team of sequined, high-flying, trapeze artists, dropping out of the shadows above, suddenly appear.
As the clown passes the wire walkers and the trapeze artists, everyone’s quite concerned. They are pretty sure that the clown is going to miss their target. Leaving the audience hoping that the reckless clown is wearing an invisible wire. One which will save them from a certain, rapidly approaching, pancake shaped, death.
With no more than ten metres to go we now see that the approaching circus ring is no longer empty, as the diving clown now has to navigate their way past a gold-vested prince riding a dancing stallion; a veiled Arabian princess riding a decorated camel. Crazier yet, there are lions, and tigers; one with someone’s head in its mouth! Next to them is a strong man, or is it indeed a strong woman. Either way they are lifting up a half dozen big men they pulled from the audience. Note how the Herculian performer and their elevated participants are being circled by juggling monkeys riding unicycles.
With the diving clown hitting the tiny pool’s surface, it causes a jet of water to torrent up like a fountain.
Horror of horrors! Our jaws drop as we see a magician; sawing his assistant in half!
She screams!
My word, yes, she actually splits in two - she rolls apart! It’s ghastly! But look, her toes are still moving!
Witnessing this, the audience, gasps in disbelief.
So yes, with seeing all of this, it’s about now when you can’t help but to exclaim, ‘What the heck!’ It’s also around now when we might even begin to forget that the other two circus rings exist. This on account of how the ring we see in front of us, a world unto its own, has more happening within it than we can watch at once. It so busy that the audience can’t help but to forget that all worldly problems exist.
In the neighbouring rings, if you’re even able to look away from the one you’re currently watching, you will see something entirely different.
As for the one to the left, it comes complete with yet another ringmaster, different actors, and animal trainers. It also includes a parade of horses, a few contortionists, as well as suspended fiery rings; these with no shortage of people and animals leaping through them.
Next, with the assistance of the sulphureous exhale from the belch of a fire breather, we can see a young woman climbing into a giant, long barreled, cannon. It aimed at a human tower. As for this tower, it’s maybe eight or nine levels of Catalonians high.
Of the human tower, those on the bottom are belted, big shouldered, giant Castellers. As you look up from there, layer by layer, the people get smaller, and smaller. As you do, you can’t help but notice that the upper levels are becoming more and more wobbly; truly unstable. This making you ask yourself, ‘Just how long can they hold this together!’ ‘How long until they inevitably come tumbling down!’
Speaking of, climbing that living tower is a little kid. A girl, maybe four years old. Already three levels up, she has five to go. Too young to know fear, she’s giving it her all. Cinched to a belt around her waste is a flag mounted on a short pole. The way she’s sprinting up that human high-rise, Sir Edmund Hillary would be proud, as she’s climbing like an old pro. Just so you know, her goal is no less than to stand proud, flag waving, unassisted, on the shoulders of the woman on the top level. This leaving us wondering - Where are her parents! And - Who would let their kid do such a thing! And then you remember the cannon, where it’s pointed!
Back to the child, climbing up the backs of those on levels five, six, and seven, and
Holy crud, she makes it!
She raises her flag in victory!
Only, to our horror, the cannon, it fires!
Talk about bad timing!
With its firing a sudden collapse of the human tower ensues; people are free-falling, tumbling and rolling as they cascade down onto the castellers below. But not the little girl, as she is seamlessly plucked up and out of the way of the human cannonball’s trajectory. Her saviour, a thin waisted, strong armed, and fast flying trapeze artist. The timing is impeccable, how he snatches her out of the way of the rapidly approaching human cannonball. The flight of which is accompanied by the cannon’s roar and a puff of pink coloured smoke.
For the last ring, actually, just use your imagination.
Go ahead, I’ll give you a minute.
Getting back to the point I was making; regardless how these worlds all exist under one tent, they are all standalone and different worlds which host their own worldly shows. With each ring full of drama, joy, tragedies, unimaginable terrors, and otherworldly wonders, which can make one’s head spin. Each ring a world where those who exist within have to coexist.
Places where if a player’s attention strays,
unexpected consequences can soon start to manifest.
The very reason why those who work within these rings have to stay focused and concentrate on what needs to be done as failure to do so could cause a ripple effect.
It’s because of this that those performing within these circus rings have no idea what’s happening in the next; why some don’t even know that the other circus rings even exist, as they’re too busy keeping their world together to even think about what might be beyond it.
The thing is though, when things go wrong in one ring, and this does occasionally happen, this can effect what happens in the others. Just like a comet hurtling towards Earth can cause tragic and cataclysmic events. Or as Sir Isaac Newton said “Every action has an equal or opposite reaction.”
What do I mean by this? You ask.
Well, just ask the long extinct dinosaurs.
Sorry, that was a little long-winded, I was just hoping to give you an idea of how complex, yet simple, the concept of a world of worlds can be. Mind you, the worlds we will be visiting while following this coming story are more varied and complex than a Big Top circus could ever be. Something we can relate to as most of us exist within worlds not unlike the one I am about to introduce. Busy and distracting worlds, not always safe; worlds where we have to concentrate on what is happening around us as failure to do so can come with a cost. Albeit with that said sometimes things can’t be prevented even when paying attention.
For you and me however, as Documentarians, we are afforded the luxury of viewing each one of these worlds from high up in the stands without fear of injury or death. Not that I don’t occasionally leave my seat, as sometimes it’s nice to see what’s happening up close and personal.
About why I’m here with you today, it’s because I, for one, have seen a few signs that history is again repeating. Not that I know exactly what is going to happen next. I’m not even sure what all I’ve seen even means. All I know is that all of the signs show me that big and disruptive things are soon to be coming our way.
