Two Rivers

Two rivers from the same source.
On those rivers people trade.

On one river (the Clinker) they trade goods – the trinkets of memorabilia, prized axes and jackets – discs of secret information like modern day Rosetta Stones.

On the other (the Psike) they trade ideas. Information, evidence, imagined happenings and illusions. Hopes salted with light regrets feed claims, accusations, moots, turns, resolutions and new starts.

These rivers run through the border country. On one side rises the Grand Mercantile. The other stares into the Outlands where hungry thieves and victims make daily peace to live one day more. They wait for their letters of transit to the vend-land of riches beyond the two rivers.

Those who live in Vendland have no need for the goods of the Outland. Not until their gardens decay or the blinding blight sends them begging. And then they have no choice but to camp near the river of thoughts and wait on an isthmus of the two rivers for the Outlandish to emerge from their ditches and caves and bogs and rocks.

On such small land bridge did the twenty-fifth reunion of Mad Max take place. They read the liturgy Celebration, reconciliation and renewal. Beyond the order of service a small fire was ferried to the circle's centre, guarded as if by nomads still yet unconvinced of their incendiary potential. That fire is the imagination. It burns on the marrow bones of the good, the bad and the ugly.

And on the site of that little island now is built Mad Max Online. The folk of the site surrender to the twin monsters of Mammon and Leviathan. Surrender everything but the story and its art. They assuage those beasts with trinkets and trappings of legion. Pictures, broaches, tokens and tales. Drip-feeding just enough life that the Vendlanders see no need to fear the Outlaws but still carry off their precious seeds and vials at a fraction of their worth. And in this shadow world pulses beat: "Now tickling skittish spirits on one another side sets all on hazard."

And in plain speak that means a website in two parts. Trading things and trading thoughts.

– Tim Burns (Johnny the Boy)

Comments

[Sparks]

There is a lot to mull over here, a most poetic read!