A library discovery in La Paz, Bolivia
My Dear Alice,
I found a secret place recently. Someplace I think you would enjoy. The La Paz Public Library. Not where you would expect to find a hidden English section. Let alone a rare book. In yet? The room was in the back section. I had gotten into the library, which is closed to most via accident. And? Forgive me. I was an explorer of sorts in my time. And? I got lost. I walk among old books from the 30s, 40s, 50s, to 2018. Seems that funds had run short since. In the back corner of the marble library. One could see that a room was there. Why? Well, the square outline of the wall reached out from the window. I went to see if there was a door or what was there? And? To my surprise, the complete wall was covered with books. Now this perturbed me. So, I looked again. And? Well, one shelf hid a door knob. And? Well, I turned the knob, of course. I am an explorer of sorts, like I said. Did I enter? Of course. It was lit by the sunlight of a window on the other side of the wall. Inside? I found a treasure of foreign books. Someone’s foreign book club. I found French, English, Italian, and, of course, Portuguese, and a few Spanish books. However, these were much older than the 1900s century. The Spanish books were of the 1500s century. Old hymnals or something. A few were in Aymara, even. Which, if you get a chance, has some wonderful musical songs. The foreign book table now. That was unexpected. Seems like a few of the books. Maybe I should say journals belong to personal people. One? A according to a note. An ending of Che Guevara by Che? According to this. Meaning my Spanish is poor. His ending, or at least the last six pages, was of interest. “I am at the Bolivian military airport,” scribbling some names of people and I think Castro or an agent of the CIA. “They have betrayed me” Then a drawing of sorts. Wonderful, I can say Che knew how to draw. “Every move I make, the CIA tells the Bolivians” Then a blood-soaked page is hard to read, but the words? “T was not the CIA but Castro who betrayed m” Interesting, no? The next journal I found according to the note next to it belongs to Harry Alonzo Longabaugh? Humor, the note stated, Sundance Kid? Humor reading it was fun. According to Mr. Longabaugh or Sundance, they had just robbed their seventh bank in Bolivia. And? So, here is something no one seems to realize. Seems Harry and Robert LeRoy Parker, or Butch Cassidy, had a falling out. And? Cassidy was going back to the states. Meaning? Seems Butch or Bob referenced in the journal left before the last page of the journal. And? Most likely according to the note Robert LeRoy Parker or Butch or Bob per the note lived in Nevada until 1927. The next note was something wild. It was a complete book in English called the Bolivian Time Traveller. By Clinton R. Siegle. If you find the first two stories hard to believe, his story is wildly speculative fiction. A moving cafe, or bookstore? Or at least that is what I thought in 2019. Now in 2021? I realized I was reading a time traveller journal. Some of which you can find online if you search “Wandering mind through the multiverse”. The book, more than a journal, references almost everything he talks about and shows photos. Finally, I got the rare book and a map. A picture book by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Let me be honest. Lewis Carrol books in Bolivia are not what I expected. I opened it. I had to rethink reality for a moment. Why? Child pornographic or a person taking photos? Not what I expected. There were at least a few short stories. One on the Ways. For those into the Wheel of Times. It would seem Mr. Dodgson knew magic of a sort. According to the story, one night while he was practicing something. His mirror opened up well. Gave him a scare. The entire story was absurd, of course. Now? Now in 2021, I wonder if I am the one that is absurd. I had the gall to ask the person running the library if I could take three of the books with me. Seems the person, let alone did not care. But she was happy to be rid of some of the books. It seems the new political party was planning to destroy parts of the library. And thus my dear Alice, my adventure in the La Paz Library. Oh, I did finally finish Rewriting the Bolivian Time Traveller. Attached is a copy. https://www.minds.com/newsfeed/1263522769311731712 Please write. It has been eons since I have heard from you that long ago night on Sagittarius, or was it just a dream?
Sincerely, Clinton R. Siegle
A date with Alice
We got seated at a table. My date, Dorothy, had just gotten back from Kansas and was telling a whooper of a story. Witches, flying monkeys, green horses, and the adventure with three complete strangers. As she told how she killed two of the witches over her shoes. I was taken aback. Our double date was with Alice and she agreed reality stories could be different and told how recently, as a child of twelve, she had fallen down a rabbit hole trying to get her kitten. The hole leading to a world where a queen tried to kill her. And on the most recent trip there, she had killed some monster with a sword. Her date, some young man whose name I forget but profession as a hatter, was memorable and chirped into her story every so often, making me believe he was there with her.
Now the reason I was with Dorothy is told such wonderful tales. And she loved mine as well. I was Ender Talon. Mysterious pirates and so forth, visiting Shangri La and elsewhere. When I told my tale, that is when the issue stirred up. Again, the young man with Alice would not have my story. Meaning? Well, I told a story about a ship, time travel and visiting my recollection of Cafe Shi in Ping China.
The young man with Alice seemed rather upset. He did not know that cafe Shi moved around the world’s plural. Meaning from one time frame or spacetime reality to the next Cafe Shi might be one reality in China while in another reality be in Oz.
Thus if you piss off the owner of cafe Shi. She might let you step out in the doorway to hell. Alice and Dorothy let us go at it over the tea table. Why?
I knew Dorothy from Oz. Meaning I had been there on her fourth or fifth book, which was written some years after I had visited that world. Well, I was there to swipe some magic, to be honest. Out of 18 books. 18 books? Yes. Here you have only 14 books sad, I know. But each held a bit of magic don’t you know?
Yes. Most time lords are magical. However, some needed a boost from time to time. And most realized that cafe Shi could open up to wherever they wanted to go. The young man, however, insisted that Cafe Shi was only some place else. That I had been to Alice’s reality, too. Made the discussion hit until punches thrown. The issue was we were in cafe Shi at that moment and well. At that moment, cafe Shi was in London, England right next to a rabbit hole.
At which point, Dorothy tried to get me back while I pushed Alice’s friend back. Then I asked him to tell his story of his first time in cafe Shi? He realized where he was at and location. This seemed to dawn on him all at the same time he realize d my story was most likely as true as theirs. Now, after the argument, we went drinking and having fun elsewhere and dancing with the girls was a different story.
So there Ender was standing on land. Watching Wind leave him with parting gifts. Brutus laughed when Ender asked if he had any ideas why she gave him to Ender. Giving a wink. Seems they will never solve some mystery. Turning around, Ender spotted two paths.
Since Brutus only seemed to laugh. Ender started down one way. When he heard a voice, “I would not go that way.” Turning around, he could not find the source of the voice. Deciding a friendly warning was all he needed, he started down the other path. Again a voice, “I would not go that way.”
This made Ender think for a moment. And in that moment a cat floating above him poofed into thin air as by magic. Ender introduced himself and the dagger to the cat. And the cat? Just smiled and said, “I know. But you can not guess my name can you?” Thinking about the books he had read about Alice and Wonderland. Ender said, “ I think you look like the Chester cat, only younger.” At this the cat poofed away with laughter but his tail sort of pointed towards a third path that was hidden by a tree.
So off, went Ender down that path. Walking down the path he heard the most unlikely song. “A very Happy unbirthday too, you.” The voice sounded like Alice. So Ender followed the noise and found her sitting among a table with a hare, a tea mouse, and a man wearing a hat. Who was the Mad Hatter assumption there and the Chester cat.
Ender not wanting to be rude said, “Hello, may I join in?” Alice said, “Yes, most certainly.” While the Mad Hatter said, “No room, no room, no room.” However, Chester cat went and whispered something into his ear and then in conscented with a come in wave of his hand.
The conversation was all about something dealing with politics and a new tax on memes and whoopies cushions which made no sense to Ender. Because in the 1990s memes were an unheard of thing and but whoopie cushions. He listened. Evidently a President could not abide by the memes and put a penny tax on everyone's memes. Which put several social platforms out of business. Now this not being something Ender understood he just listened and wondered.
Anyways, after some tea Ender asked if there was an inn or town nearby that's safe for the likes of him? Being dressed like a pirate he was kind of worried that he might be sent someplace different but Alice said,”Sure, follow me.” And with that the two of them left and for some reason the older Alice held out her hand expectantly as if holding hands was something common for the two of them to do.
They walked hand in hand for a few miles coming upon. Well, let's be honest, what looked like a town made out of porcelain china? A sign said, “Welcome to Quadling Country.”
Alice was specific. She looked for a cafe. A sign read Cafe Shi. It was not made out of porcelain. It was. Well, it was. A Chinese tea temple looking cafe evidently in the middle of the land of Quadling country close to the land of Oz. That Wonderland and Oz were close was something that Ender had not considered however, he was bound to re-read his map book because something was more interesting happening. Anyway entering the cafe. Alice sat at a table and a well. A dragon appeared at first but then she mortified is the best way to say her transformation into a beautiful lady. Alice asked for a meal. While Ender was a bit unsure about prices and such. Checking his pocket he came upon the small chest and he wondered if he held it if he was small would it grow like his clothes did? So he laid it down and ate a bit and shrank down. Then he drank the growth potion just a little and he and the chest grew together. So that instead of a handful of tiny precious items he had a small fortune he could spend.
With that he asked the lady dragon what he could get with one of the smaller rubies. The lady dragon’s eye seemed to smile. She knew her prices very well and said, “With that you could purchase this cafe once upon a time.However, for today I will take that coin.” Ender had not noticed but there were a few gold coins in the chest as well as well. He asked what he could get for it. The lady dragon smiled and said, “Free tea, meals, and room for as long as you live.” Ender now knowing that there must be something special about the coin was undecided but he asked anyway. “What is this place?” The lady dragon seemed to be lost in a trance and spoke. “This is the cafe Shi of the spirit realm. A place outside of time, space and the mysteries of reality. Oh, time traveling guest.”
And with that Ender gave her the coin because he had no clue as to its value nor could he think of a reason why one thing would be so valuable and if he was to be able to live here forever to eat and drink so be it.
Ender had a wonderful meal. He however, insisted on inviting the lady dragon and Alice to a cup of wine from his goblet and that was when things became a blur.
The dancing came from music just floating about. All of a sudden there was Bacchus right there in cafe Shi and he was having a lovely dance with the lady dragon while Alice and Ender waltzed and continued to dance.
Then walked in the Shadow pirate and crew. They too for some reason got caught up in the dancing and some China dolls entered and the party continued until everything was just a blur.
The next day. Ender awoke in a four poster bed with nothing on and well. Three ladies staring at him from the end of the bed. Smiling. Wind, a porcelain doll, and Alice. They all said at once, “Rico.” Laughing they left Ender to get dressed in his blushing mannerism.
Ender sitting on the bench realizes now that it is some place else. A blonde lady is sitting next to him. He looks at his pack and all the books are still there. He introduces himself. She replies with her name. She said, “My name is Alice.” Ender introduction was more in line with his latest adventure. “Ender Talon, traveling explorer.” He said.
She talks a bit. And Ender realizes that this lady is talking about dancing with Charles Lutwidge Dodgson. Now for those in the know. This made the bench rather interesting. Ender looked around and down the path he took to the sea. The line of stones leading to and from the bench were not or gone.
Alice was talking about her time with Mr. Dodgson as if it was yesterday, but her dress was as if in the 1990s. Making this entire conversation wonderfully delightful. Ender asked, “So, how is the Queen of Hearts?” Alice just smiled as if that was a dream and looked bored for sometime not speaking. Like she was in a trance dreaming about some place or someone else.
Ender wondered, so he took out his book he purchased lately and looked through the maps, finding the one with Wonderland scribbled on top. Sure enough, there was a path now showing from the bench to a way was it a tree or a hole under a tree?
Ender looked at Alice, she looked bored or her trance was taking places and making her think. Ender, thinking along reality time wise, recalled that it was 120 years since the publication of by Lewis Carroll and that he passed a long time ago in the 1880s. But this Alice sure seemed to think she was dreaming about dancing with him right now.
Ender snapped his fingers. But this did nothing to Alice, so he thought for a moment. Before setting out down the path shown on the map to the tree. Being rather uncertain again of reality, he placed every few feet on a stone or stick so he could see a path back to the bench. Not wanting to get lost.
Ender reached the tree in about a half hour and 20 small stops along the way to make sure that he could see his path back to the bench. Looking around, he saw a White Rabbit hopping around exclaiming, “Oh, dear, oh dear!” And then hopping down the hole.
Not wanting to be lost forever. Ender took a more careful approach to the hole. Looking around, he found some branches that seemed to have were cut recently and built a sort of long pole, which with some string that he had in his pack he felt comfortable enough that it could hold his weight. Pushing it down the hole, he found that it never reached the bottom. This made Ender think before doing anything else. He tried to remember all the stores. First there was water, and or was there a room? Ender memory of the complete story was a sort of jumbled at that moment.
Rethinking his plan, he saw if he could do anything else besides lose his pole that he had put down the hole. Holding on to it he began reaching for hand holds which did nothing it seemed. And just then he heard a lady’s voice from behind him and turning he was face to face with Alice. Who just pushed him right into the hole.
He felt but could hold on to his pack, and the pole and in time found that he could slow his descent by brushing the pole width wise against the outer edges of the tunnel or hole’s edges. This slowed him down. However, midway down Alice passed him. She was free falling with her voice singing some sort of song. Alice singing, “It’s a very happy unbirthday to me?”
Ender kept his slower passing of time by using his pole against the edges of the hole and sort of spreading his jacket out like a flying squirrel just to ensure he did not hit hard.
It did not matter. Why? Well, instead of a dry bottom fallen into, he was met with water coming in through a tiny door. In a tremendous splash he groped for anything to float finding a table and on it was Alice eating something or was she drinking something and shrinking and she handed him something with a brush of a kiss and Ender himself shrank along with Alice and the table.
The two of them along with the table were a sort of washed into the doorway that somehow either had grown larger or their shrinking had been much more than Ender realized, and into an open ocean they all were being moved.
Ender realized that the bottle that he had drank from was bigger than himself and Alice, so they both got into it and using his water proof jacket as a top secured a sort of mode of transportation. Now during this entire time. Alice just kept on singing, “I wish you a very happy unbirthday to me?”
This was some adventure that Ender was not counted on. Being down a rabbit hole in the middle of an ocean this time because tasting the water was salty was not his grand idea of an adventure. At least he remembered to dry off and used a cloth to dry Alice off to who just kept on singing that “I wish you a very happy unbirthday song.”
Now, Ender had not said a word during this entire part of the adventure and watching Alice. He realized she was entranced with the idea of some Mad Hatter’s unbirthday party or nuts. In either case, he was in a pickle as far as he could see.
At least his waterproof pack held all the books he had been with, three loaves of bread and Alice stuck in a bottle in the ocean. Ender laughed thinking what an adventure.