We often find it easier to communicate if we place titles on
most everything from objects to people and even ideas.
Some titles grab our attention more than others
as we are perusing the papers of a deceased loved one.
Gene surely wanted these nearly cryptic, tiny writings to be found.
The envelope
holding the
double-sided, translucent, napkin notes
had only two words on it that would beg anyone to open it.
"SECRET STUFF"
"There are certain moments when I can tell that they are not monitoring me. (I am not always aware when they are – but there are moments when I can tell that they aren't.) This being one of these times [...] take the opportunity to explain (to some extent).
I'm thinking about responding to [...] from them (the aliens) whereby I would allow my body to be non–functional ("dead" to our way of perception) while they "usurp" my spirit and enter it into one of their forms. In this manner I could travel with them (indefinitely in our terms) for approximately 10,000 years and experience things beyond most of our comprehension. They say it is possible for me to return here [...] that since my body will have been destroyed (commonly buried or cremated – as is our customary practice), that should I return my spirit would have to occupy the body of a different human being (ie, one which at that time may be making a similar "trade", one which might be entering the "normal" "passing").
They do however point out that in the future humans might be in a position to better accept communications from spirituous life forms thereby making it necessary to occupy another human form. In any event, according to them at the time of a possible return (no matter where the human race might have progressed) there would no longer be anyone here who would remember my existence anyway. All friends and/or relatives now living would have by then "passed on" at least due to normal (as we know it) aging processes. On the one hand it could appear to be a trade of [...] immortality for (in essence) obscurity; on the other hand it is worth pondering
A) if it could ever be construed as immortality if "everyone" around "you" also lived to the age of 10,000+ years,
B) if "life" is really intended to go on for those difficult to understand lengths of time (could there be negatives involved that our limitations can't allow us to think of)
While I'm on the negative side it's worth mentioning that I find their "form" somewhat offensive (I think it's because it is so different from "us").
They have three arm like appendages with three pairs of opposable (opposite) "fingers" somewhat longer (but with the same joint structure) than ours. These "fingers" cross in an alternate fashion (like our intertwining of our fingers from both hands (to, say, offer a boost or step up when another might be mounting a horse or climbing a wall).
One of their "palms" then have an equivalent size [...] to the bottom of our own and have a fold in the center line.) The [...] "pockets" formed when their "hands" are at rest (with the fingers intertwined and [...] or the "palms" [...] what we would call their "thumb" (longer and stouter than ours and having a the end of same a "finger eye." [...] Thumb on each of three [...] has an eye which [...] by the equivalent of a "fore–skin" which can be withdrawn at will by a voluntary muscle contraction.) Like ours their fingers have three [...] each while their thumbs have [...] 'hands" then in comparison to ours are strange and powerful containing several appendages each (as contrasted to our five).
Their arms have wrists, elbows and shoulders much the same as ours, except that they seem to have more circular motion abilities in their "shoulder" joints (they seem not to experience any difficulty in extending [...] arm and turning their "palms" from a "palms down" position through a "palms up" around to and past a palms down position. It seems to me that this added mobility in the "arm" comes from an ability to turn this upper arm in their shoulder [...] direction.
Their arms are attached to a large torso [...] prismical shape while the lower one–third blends into more of cubical kind of appearance (again with rounded edges and no "real" corners). The point where the torso changes from "triangular" to "squared" in appearance they have an ability to twist or turn the upper torso in approximately 120 degrees in either direction. This point I would call their waist. They have no ability (it seems to me) to "bend" either "forward" or even backward from their waists. All their bending seems to come from the "hips" and "knees."
This "waist" appears to have a "fold" of "skin" over the lower cubical portion of their torso emanating from the upper "prismical" portion. This "flap" of "skin" looks to be about 2 1/2 inches in length (except that it is difficult to say for sure since there is fabric from garments worn covering this area –– I am given to understand that their civilization would normally not wear clothing, but that since our sun is closer to our planet than theirs is, clothing seems to be required by them on Earth. Especially, it seems, on their torso and it seems specifically at least at this "over–flap" of "skin".
Their skin is "seal–like"; smooth but thicker and consequently tougher than ours (except that even though their skin is thicker, it seems to e more sensitive than ours. They can sense their surroundings, temperature and water content in the air for example more quickly and to, it seems, a precise degrees variance) and the color differs vastly depending on its location on the body. For example, the arm and shoulder would be dark blue on those areas showing (say if an arm were in a relaxed position against a side of their body what shows outwardly from the shoulder down to the palm would be a dark shade of blue for a full one–third the circumference of the arm. A one–sixth of the arm's circumference on either side of that third outward facing (in that position) would blend from the dark blue toward a light blue (grey). The remaining one third ( the length of the arm against the body) would blend to a near pure white (from a few feet back one might view an outstretched arm as having blue, grey and white stripes, except that the lines separating the various colors are not that precise).
The lower torso (near cubical in overall appearance) culminates at the lowest plane with the hip placement of which there are four ball and socket joints carrying one leg each (four legs, each with the same size and characteristics).
The legs operate independently of each other although they can use them in pairs (either in "opposite pairs" – AD/BC, AC/BD). It is their use of paired legs that is, I believe, the most fascinating aspect of their anatomy, as this feature offers seemingly unlimited combinations of mobility.
One move (I will call the jag–vault) is executed by (assume leg "A" is facing northward and all feet are touching ground, the body at rest) by supporting the weight on legs B and C and springing "forward" (northbound) by swinging legs "A" and "D" northward (leg "D"s new placement being approximately where leg "A" started out. As leg "D" is planted, legs "B" and "C" begin their weight shift forward (north); as legs "B" and "C" begin forward leg "A" is coming down in its new position (approximately one meter from its original position) as let "A" touches down in legs "B" and "C" travel forward (northward) weight having been "shifted" aft to fore on the pad of "foot" D (in a "walk" there appears to be 3 feet touching ground at any given moment, while in a "run" it seems that at times there is only one touching when D comes through B and C and touches down; it seems B and C may be lifting off just before "A" touches down again, the weight being shifted forward on "foot" D in preparation for the vault into the next step.
The real "nifty" thing about this "gait" is that they seem to be able to change directions at will and more gracefully than the description might sound. Consider for example, that leg "D" has found its new position; leg "A" is coming to its new position: as leg "A" touches down B and C are thrust eastward (or westward depending on the direction desired) leg "C" coming thru the imaginary arc of A and D if the new direction desired is eastward.
This entire method of movement sounds quite clumsy especially concerning the direction changes however it must really be viewed to be fully appreciated. They are quite adept at it (as I suppose they should be) and prefer this gait especially when their need is to move fast.
Note that when it is necessary for them to change directions by 180 degrees, especially when at a full "gallop", they seem to prefer to take a single step sideways (east or west when traveling northward) and then taking the next steps southbound. Although they can change directions, by 180 degrees, in a single step they seem to require a momentary pause to switch their inertia.
As I have said they seem to be able to use their legs in all of the conceivable combinations of pairs. They could head in a northbound direction by lifting "A" and "D" forward, planting them and then moving "B" and "C" forward (much the same as a dog would walk, or a cat, etc.) This seems to be their preferred means of walking while the "jag/vault" is their preferred means of "running".
They can also "push off" using legs C and D as pairs and "pull" with legs "A" and "B" as pairs like a big cat or a horse at full gallop. And although it seems somewhat awkward to them they can rest their weight on "A" and "C" lifting and moving in unison "B" and "D" forward when B and D are planted weight is shifted to them and "A" and "C" are moved forward.
As I've mentioned previously their four "legs" are attached to the lower portion of the lower (cubical like except that the edges are not sharp) nor are the "corners" pointed [...] (somewhat similar to our hips except they seem to have more [...] in all directions [...] maybe just seems that way however due to their speed and [...] especially when viewing them at full gallop in the jag/vault [...] the variation of possible directions at high speed).
There are two additional [...] the leg ( [...] the hip) which [...] "knee" and "ankle" except that they are ball and socket joints (one could, say, rest its weight on legs [...] lifting leg D [...] from the ground straight up, approximately 2 inches from the ground and then bend leg D at the "knee joint" approximately 60 degrees (compared to level ground) and then cause the lower leg to rotate so that the pad (foot) would scribe a near perfect circle (in the air). A similar description could be ascribed to the [...], of the pad (foot) at the "ankle" joint.
A cross section of the lower leg (below the "knee" joint) would appear much the same as the leaf shape of a four–leaf clover. It is as though there were a calf muscle running the length of the lower leg (knee to ankle) on each of four sides of the lower leg bone (of which there is only one per leg – as opposed to our two). A similar description could be applied to the upper leg except that the upper leg is about 1 1/4 times the length and about 1 1/3 times the breadth of the lower leg.
At the "hip" joint the muscles appear to come up and over the joint blending into the lower torso (so that one does not actually see a bone joint but rather a muscle bulge at the "joints"). The same is true at the "knee" joint as well as at the "ankles".
All four legs are equivalent in size and shape (as opposed to the differences between front and back legs of the four–legged being we are familiar with; like a horse or dog or cat).
The "feet" are more properly called "pads", I would think (at least we would view them more as pads than feet) having but four discernable "toes" on each pad. The overall shape of the pads is probably best described as a squat conical with a squared (w/rounded corners) base. A side view would look similar to the following, poor, diagram. From the bottom the pad would would appear squared with rounded corners; at each of these "corners" would be the placement of a "toe". The pad seems to have a unique flexing ability.
If a slow motion film were being viewed of a full gallop "jag/vault maneuver" it would appear that the weight would strike first (on the down step) on toe 4 and be them spread evenly and inward toward the center line of the pad (center line in this case being an imaginary line connecting the middle of "toe" "2" with the middle of "toe" "3"). The weight is "rolled" from this center line then outward to "toe 1". These toes, of course, are much bigger and broader than even our "big toes". A median sized pad would be approximately 12"x12" "square" ((of course this depends on the size of the being who range in weight from what could be considered small (100 to 150 pounds and an overall height of 3 1/2 to 5 feet) to what would be considered large (350 to 500 lbs and 7 to 9 feet in height). The average or "normal" size would be about 200 to 300 lbs with a height of from 5 to 7 feet)).
The toes seem to have three "simple" joints (two of them are similar to ours), one very near to the perimeter of the "pad base" and another approximately midway between the first and a "dead center" middle of the pad; the third joint being the point at which the "toe" is "attached" to the "ankle socket". A mechanical drawing of the bone structure might look as follows.
Of course I have only represented one "toe" bone structure in the "poor" diagram. It should be noted that all toes are "attached" at the ankle socket across from a toe and 90 degrees from either "adjacent" toe (hopefully this description will make some sense to someone).
I can't even begin to describe the muscle structure in a "pad" and concerning especially how that muscle structure "interconnects" one "toe" with the rest but it seems important for me to explain that to me the "toes" are not dissimilar to our own thumbs.
If one of these beings were to be standing on one foot (or all four feet, or any two, or even three feet –– it seems to make no difference at all) and were to constrict certain toe muscles the drawing together of the toes would cause them to rise slightly (approximately 1 1/2 – 2 inches). I believe that a quickened constriction of these same "toe muscles" to be a factor in their ability to "spring off" into a jag/vault gait.
The one remaining important aspect of their feet is that (see the previous rough diagram of the bottom of the foot) the middle (circular) section of the under part of the foot is a large powerful suction cup type device (not dissimilar from that found on an octopus tentacle... Only larger than any I have seen).
I would say that the diameter (of an average medium weight male) of a "pad cup" is about 5 to 7 inches ((concerning the muscle structure; again I know very little about this subject; I am given to understand that there are a series of overlying layers of "sphincter type" muscles surrounding this "cup".
By a certain series of rapid muscle contractions and releases (of the muscles surrounding this cup) and with no weight on the specific pad (at the time of these muscle manipulations) they are able to secrete an adhesive conducent liquid (the consistency and color of Johnson's baby oil – except that it is not oily to the touch, but rather slightly sticky: after the "stuff" dries it has a more pronounced feeling of "tackiness" –– kind of like the effect of an evaporated sugar solution).))
Normally ((and especially on planets like ours with rough terrain (I am given to understand that their planet is smoother; less "grainy" and "textured"; even "slick" to our standards) )), there is a "pad boot" worn over this cup which is a simple "shoe" constructed of a heavy wear resistant fabric and a round cushioned center. The four straps come up between the "toes" and draw around the top of the "pad" (beneath the ankle) by means of a draw string run through a fold over at the ends of the straps.
There are fancier "pad boots" (some have thicker, or thinner, cushions; others may be made of a silkier, shinier material) but I have seen them throw together quite a few "pairs" of "padboots" using canvas, pillow stuffing material, and a few lengths of twine for a quick jag/vault through some new terrain.
I understand too as an important aspect of comfort to them the cushioned center portion of the "padboot" must be slightly larger than the diameter of the "pad cup". It is not likely that any one of them would have all four "pad cups" of exactly the same size (in many cases, however, one may require only two different size cushions; two of each size; owing to the fact that many of them have two "pairs" of slightly different size pads.. In a few cases some of them will have all pads of different sizes... In a very few cases, although it does happen, all pads will be near enough to the same size that all four padboots can be of the same size, remembering that nothing is exactly perfect).
Before closing, concerning the pads, it should be noted that the "pad cups" are very sensitive and cannot take extremely cold nor extremely hot temperatures for long durations (although they could utilize the cups for climbing near vertical walls it would be very likely that were they to attempt to climb up the side of an iceberg the "pad cups" may suffer frostbite).
The "pad cups" are sufficiently sensitive that to a certain extent they are commonly used in erotic foreplay: two "cups" affixed to the face of a, say, granite wall would be of sufficient adherence so as to allow them to "hang on" to a vertical facade for about 15 to 20 minutes before losing enough "suction" that a new placement or "grip" would be required (in other words a grip of any two "pad cups" is sufficient to hold their weight on a vertical, smooth, non–porous surface for a limited duration).
Their heads are somewhat "egg–shaped" except that the shape is "squatter" (not as elongated; comparing length to width; as the dimensions of an egg but yet with the varying circumferences: top compared to bottom, as is the case with an egg shape) with the larger dimension at the top–most portion of the head.
There are three large (enormous, compared to that of a human) eyes, space, it appears to me, with some degree of relation to the placement of the "shoulders" [that is to say, as mentioned previously, there are three shoulder joints at the upper, horizontal plane of their prismically shaped torsos: these shoulder joints being equidistant from either adjacent shoulder (I would say that the shoulders like 60 degrees apart from the adjacent shoulder). If one (of these beings) were in a "normal" relaxed position, say "facing" due north the "center" eye would be in line with (that is to say an imaginary vertical center line; perpendicular bisector; would lie on the same vertical plane of an imaginary vertical bisector of the upper torso) the "middle shoulder" joint. Each of the remaining two eyes would then "face" in a similar line with their similarly positioned shoulders (approximately east by southeast and west by southwest respectively – although these "bearings" may not be exact).
The "head eyes" are very much more complicated than those of the human species (while their "thumb eyes" are very similar to the human eyes). Their "head eyes" each seem to be divided into four separate quadrants (if you were to look into one from just a few feet back you seem to be reminded of a large star sapphire you know as though the eye and its quadrants were casting the star image seen when looking at a star sapphire ring) each quadrant can operate as an entity separate from the rest of that particular eye although it appears that they never look at anything with less than two quadrants. (Sometimes from the same eye but more often with two quadrants of different eyes.)
They never have all three "head eyes" functioning at the same time as one is opened another is closed and may quadrants of any specific eye can operate in conjunction with any other quadrant of either of the remaining two eyes or any of the three remaining quadrants of that particular eye (although, again, it is most common for them to view something from the perspective of two quadrants each of a different eye.
