CROSSOVER

“ I am going to try and reason with the sniper , OK?”

“ Certainly , but shouldn’t we try to help the injured boy first? He will bleed to death.”

“ I know , but try to believe me when I tell you that his departure from the world is not a bad thing. He would have been responsible for a number of deaths and a considerable amount of pain.”

More shots rang out.

“ What is it you want , whoever you are?”

“ Your death , and even more especially , the boy’s.”

Two more shots.

“ I find it illogical that this person should desire to kill anyone , but especially baffling that both of us appear to be the intended target” , adolescent me observed.

I smiled at him. “ You remind me of myself when I was your age. I too practised the arts of strict logic and self-discipline. I was very proud of the extent to which I could keep a tight rein on thought ,   emotion and pain. Of course , I would never have admitted to being proud. It all began when I was 11 and strove to be like a certain master of logic in a well-known science fiction series. In some ways I even surpassed his self-control.”

“ Curious. Your  description is virtually  identical to my own path. Yet you speak of your desire for logic as if it is no longer an issue.”

“ That is because time has ground away the hard corners of my self-discipline. I often wish I could recapture those days – my ability to subdue even the most tempestuous desires and feelings. I felt better for it , now I just feel tatty and undirected like most of this sad species.”

“ Surely self-discipline and logic would become easier with maturity?”

“ It does not work quite like that unfortunately , Marc. Most people would say that I have become more ‘rounded’ and fuller as a person. But from my perspective it is more a matter of no longer having the spiritual energy to continually maintain barriers against the chaos of other people. I envy you this time – adolescence – Marc. You are at the height of your powers.”

“ You do not appear to be lacking in discipline or ordered thinking to me. It is thus not logical for you to envy me.”

“ Of course.” I smiled at the youth.

Five more shots rang out , followed by more heckling from the sniper. “ Come out you cowards. Come out now. This is my opportunity to cast off the restrictive shackles you have been placing around me all my life. I hate you both ; I want you both dead and out of my hair.”

“ His voice seems rather similar to yours” , adolescent me remarked. “ What do you believe is at the root of his antagonism?”

“ Hard to say , son. Maybe he doesn’t like the colour of our shoes.”

“ I do not believe this situation lends itself to humorous annotations. One person has already been killed.”

“ Therein lies the difference between us.”

Another volley of shots rang out , followed by “ Die , you bastards.”

“ On a count of three could you throw this piece of masonry to your left as far as possible? Then we will make a dash for my car over there to the right.”