Page 23 - Effable Encounters

Aesop’s Stables

transmission have been struck dumb, in general, sooner than its
proponents. Thus we come before you, not as deities—despite many
humans perceiving us as such—but as teachers with an urgent
mission. Each of us here has some specialization in a branch of the
natural sciences; and each, in turn, will impart the essence of his
knowledge to you. You will have the responsibility of carrying that
information to your human masters and seeing to it that it is
recorded. If either of us fails in this task, the loss will be
immeasurable.”
“But—but, why me? I am not a philosopher. The men of science
would never pay any attention to me.” Aesop was bewildered.
“You must try, nonetheless. Once the value of our teachings is
apprehended and appreciated, you will not want for an audience
among the wise men of this land. Certainly, we prefer contacting
them directly, but they cannot understand us. Only you, a man not
quite as removed from the soil, retain the knack of knowing what we
mean when you hear us talk. Now, it is time for your first lesson.
Rabbit: please explain the theoretical basis for travel at speeds in
excessive of that of light. That may come in handy if you really make
a mess of things here and are forced to evacuate and resettle on
another planet.”
A scraggly hare with alopecia bounded up. Nose twitching, it
carefully enumerated the theorems of hyper-relativity. Aesop sat back
on his haunches, mouth agape, listening to the stream of symbols and
constructs. After what seemed like hours, the explanation was
completed. The stork reappeared, as the other animals began to slip
away into the first glimmerings of dawn.
“We shall return, Aesop. As often as it takes, until none of us is left
to carry on. May your race take advantage of our knowledge before it,
too, finds itself speechless before the next generation of conscious
entities.”
Then the bird stalked off at a dignified pace. Aesop blinked. Had
this really happened? He groaned and rolled back onto his pallet.
Barely had he dozed off than a loud imperative voice rattled his
brain.
“Aesop: wake up, you lazy crippled bum! Get out here and get to
work! Or do you want a little trouble to start off the day?”
The old slave groped in the darkness for his crutch.

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