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[DreamTime, VideoArt by Paulo R. C. Barros - Sci-Fi short story by Rynaldo Papoy]

DreamTime

by Rynaldo Papoy

How long may a dream last?

I can change these forms.

It gives me pleasure.

I don't want to know who I am nor what I am doing here.

Something pulses on my arm. Wait. There's something written. Experience # 72. 102th attempt.

May this attempt give a result?

For me, it does. Y feel an enormous pleasure.

I'm floating.

Something tells me that any of these figures is an Universe. They are united to make multiverses. There are many multiverses. But all make only one.

I can move.

I want to go down, to see close by these Universes... no, it is obvious that I shal;l not succeed... they are billions of light-years away from here.

What is this place?

I do not want to leave here ever...

Wait... I am remembering who I am... I am a soldier... I'm in Iraq... I ğm waiting for the passing of american soldiers to detonate my bomb..."

- General, the 102th attempt failed again.

- What a drug. Enough with it. Get him back in the cell.

- Well... er... General, shall we use him for other experiences?

- Sure.

- This soldier has already served for 758 experiences and attempts. We do not guarantize that he would ever recover conscience.

- How many hours did he sleep since the last attempt?

- He hasn't waken up for more than one year. Gets fed with tubes. There are others in the same state. They look like vegetables.

- You can kill him.

- What shall we do of the corpse?

- Send it back to Iraq and burn it. Then send his bones to his family. Tell them he was killed by rebels.

- Yes, sir, General Mengell.

- A C-117 leaves from Brownsville at midnight.

"No, I am no iraki... I am american... the las-t thintg I remember is kissing my wife and getting in the plane... I do not remember anything else...

These multiverses are so beautiful...

They give me such a pleasure..."