The Leap

The social self

Chapter 6  The Leap

 

 

 

 

They laid out the body from the pit on a table in the middle of tent. The collection of stone artifacts were placed on a table next to it.  Bob joked that it reminded him of the death of an uncle who thought he could take it with him.

 

“Well actually the police didn't mind too much that we withdrew the missing person report,” Susan spoke as they moved about setting up their collection. “But Tom's boys from the garage had some problems. They used a customer's pickup that was sent in for repair and along the way it fell into a ditch and the entire left side was totally crushed.”

 

“Where do you want the arrowheads?” Bob cut in.

 

“Set up another table,” Charles advised.

 

“Drunk,” said Bob, looking at Susan.

 

“Tom is a curious sort of fellow,” Susan chipped in. “ He's into this new age thing about fairies and goblins. He thinks Obama is a fairy prince from another time who's finishing up something he started previously.”

 

“What's he finishing?” Charles asked, lighting up a cigarette.

 

“Well he says the American experience is a role model for the creation and cultivation of the world idea.” She seemed quite pleased saying it.

 

“We don't have another table. Can I use the one in your tent?” Bob asked Charles.

 

“Go ahead,” Charles offered.

 

Bob left the main tent to go to the sleeping area.

 

“ It's all about the mysterious forces that cultivate life and how they influence the living experience to engage our energies to finish what was started a long time ago.” Susan continued.

 

“ Can you handle the photos,” he asked her.

 

“Yeah okay,” she said.

 

“Check in the crate. I don't think we have unpacked it.”

 

Bob walked backwards into the tent with the table held out in front of him and positioned it near the main table.

 

Susan returned with the digital camera and some notepads.

 

“I'm doing the catalog?” she inquired.

 

“Could you?” Charles responded.

 

“How about a scaled miniature model of the landscape,” Bob asked, very pleased with himself.

 

“An excellent idea, Mr. Mulberry,” Charles responded with equal enthusiasm. “ A powerful way to built a picture of the life that went on in these parts.

 

They broke for lunch, Charles brought in more wood for the fire.

 

Bob went over to Charles and whispered something in his ear. Charles turned to Susan and asked,

 

“Susan, did Tom give you anything when you left. Like a jug or something?”

 

“Yeah, but you can't possibly drink that thing. It burns.”

 

“I'll have the keys to the car if you don't mind,” Bob asked rhetorically.

 

“It's in my tent. I'll get it.”

 

“ We're facing a national crisis without beer but she'll only drink 12 year blends?” he spoke in a hushed tone to Charles.

 

“Unaccustomed to life's usual rigors,” Charles commented dryly.

 

Life in the camp was not without the usual comforts of home. A generator set supplied electricity, a freezer kept food fresh, three computers, TV and a dvd player ensured that they didn't face a great deal of disorientation while in the field. That was an important factor in staying stable on issues.

 

Bob did some painting and though much of it was amateurish, it provided a welcome relief from the work for him.

 

“I get curious visions,” Bob once said to Charles. “ I see a little kid talking to god and telling him what he ought to do for the world.”

 

“Its a painting in Carl Jung's red book,” Charles responded. “ Have you seen it?”

 

Bob shook his head.

 

“He used bright bold colors in his depiction. It included a tree stump and other things. But he portrayed god as stiff and unmoving, creating  favor for the mind of the child that was the active component in the painting.”

 

Bob seemed amused, but didn't say anything. He preferred instead to deal with these issues on a personal level and would not be engaged to speak freely of it.

 

The moonshine was great, and everybody thought Charles's rendition of  the Andy Williams great  ' Moon River ' was stunning.

 

Reviews

[Wendy Seames Garner]

Charles and Bob seem very professional until the moonshine is introduced, then things take on a more comfortable mood. Interesting that you introduced Carl Jung.