~ Chapel Perilous ~

[Malaclypse 666]

Mal's eyes widened for a brief moment at Charlie's question. That had to have been the longest speech he had ever heard from the Discordian. He grabbed for the last blueberry scone as he composed his thoughts.

"Charlie, Doc Holliday and his Baffin Flock have done an admirable job of keeping the "Zoner" in Temporary Autonomous Zoner; and as you say, they are excellent merchants and diplomats. I can't fault Doc for his leadership of the TAZ. They even remained halfway decent Discordians in my absence.

"However, I doubt what the TAZ has become is anything like what Hakim Bey envisioned when he coined the term "Temporary Autonomous Zone". I rather think your broom closet is closer to what Hakim had in mind.

"And Bey's Ontological Anarchy has no place in Baffin any more, Charlie. That's why I'm not now, nor in future, returning to the TAZ. In order to "assist" the next stage of primate evolution, Charlie, Ontological Anarchy must become our primary tool. We must leave no meme un-memed, no dogma un-dogged, no model un-muddled.

"'Homo Neophile' is out there. We just have to jar his/her reality tunnels in order to identify him/her. As I said to the TAZ Brethren, that's what my 'Revival Meeting' is designed to do. While the 'message' and the 'miracles' are Eristic in nature, they are just the window dressing.. a means to an end. Find 'em, tag 'em, bag 'em."

"Now, the purpose for visiting Med Force One is to have a complete physical and neurological workup done on our new Neophytes, on you and Cid, and on myself as well. Once done, we'll be spending a lot of time in the Geode, exposed to the vortex of energies focused there.

"I know for a fact that exposure has physical effects. My time in the Geode has cured my arthritis, improved my eyesight, even re-grown some hair. What I don't advertise is that the bloody place seems to have given me two new DNA strands as well! Whether it's a freak mutation, or an evolutionary milestone remains to be studied and proven.

"So yep, in a way, you lads and the others are 'guinea pigs'. We'll be tested often during our 'retreats', to detect any possible harmful effects. We'll also be on the 'tent circuit', identifying and inviting more potential Neophytes to join us.

"And, it will still be about Eris, and 'juggling the Apple', and achieving Spiritual Illumination. I firmly believe the time has come for 'Religion' and 'Science' to end their spat and work towards the same goal, which is nothing less than the spiritual and physical evolution of 'Homo Neophile'."

Malaclypse looked at his "watch" and stood, draining the dregs of his coffee, and brushing the scone crumbs off his garish shirt.

"Those escort snubbies should be ready, gents. Pick a color. I'm thinkin' your transponders should squawk "Chapel.Deacon.yourcolorhere". I'm having Zeb get us underway for Curacao immediately, as I promised Athena and the girls they'd be back at Pooters for the night shift. Shake 'em down and catch up with us there. Shiney?"

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