It wasn't a dream

I’m not sure how to describe the experience, but it was not what we would experience as a dream. Several times I literally patted and pinched myself to prove that physically I was aware. You can’t have a physical sensation like that in a dream – you’ve got to have a physical body and sensory systems.

The visual imagery was “normal” that is, fully three dimensional – objects with mass. Now it was intriguing that a lot of the inter-personal communication was non-verbal but thoughtful. I spoke, made sounds, and I heard sounds, but at the same time it was possible for me to know blocks of thought from others.

The experience was recognizable yet distinctly different. I wondered, for a while, if perhaps I had been drugged as a part of the experiment and the experience a hallucination or mental construct. I don’t know of a hallucination (whatever that truly is) or mental creation that includes bumping into things.

Professor Krismere

I never had the chance to sit in on one of Krismere's lectures nor really have the opportunity to discuss philosophy and such with him.  The following is reported as occurring:

“Consciousness is life and life is consciousness,” stated Krismere in the cozy lecture hall. There were a dozen students at his presentation, one of two provided by Krismere each day on the subject.

“The degree of life matches the degree of consciousness. Consciousness knows this and wants to expand,” Krismere said. He held up a stone.

“A rock is a rock is a rock. Yet this stone has a degree of consciousness. Is it self-aware? Unlikely. It possesses the consciousness of minerals. What does a rock want? Imagine this rock could speak. I ask, rock, what do you desire? What does it say?” Krismere asked the class.

Rhea was quick with a response. “I want to be like a plant, to stretch my being to the sunshine, to absorb rather than shed water, to release oxygen rather than corrode. It would be fun being a plant.” Some in the room laughed quietly.

Krismere smiled. “Indeed. A rock would desire to have more fun and, for a rock, a plant is an exciting existence.”

Another student remarked, “So, when I look upon a mountain with trees, I see the plants eating the rocks and the rocks thinking more, more, make me a plant?” There was muffled laughter. Krismere smiled at the image of trees devouring a mountain.

“Yes,” he said, “that’s how it appears to be. Life must be born into this realm and a manner for a rock, minerals, to become a greater consciousness is to become a part of a plant, which produces the seed that births a new plant – of which the rock is now a part.”

Another student asked, “By this process a plant may desire to evolve into an animal? A desire to move around freely, not rooted in the ground?”

Krismere noticed Arund-Du step into the rear of the room. Time to end the class.

Max and Junior

I never learned the true identity nor true roles of these two.  My encounters with them were as balking scientists (engineers as Thomas Snead called them - a reference Max refuted) on the project.  It was clear that Max was senior by many years but both struck me as from East Europe, English was a second language.  I specifically recall Max's question to me when I interviewed them, "Do you believe in ghosts?"  I thought at the time he was wanting to know my definition of believe and not the constitution of  whatever ghost may be.

Whether they designed the experiment or managed it is unknown.  They were intimately involved and truly stunned when the project deviated from the plan.

The Food

Regarding their diet and manner of eating, I really can't say much.  The only experience I had was after Arund-Du sent Rhea (with me tagging along) in search of the creature Ency.  Before departing we stopped off at what I'd describe as an open-air food court or market/fair type area.  Rhea went to a stand (best word I have for it) operated by a man and women who appeared mature - age wise, that is.  They were wearing the casual tunic/robe as most Temple people which resembled what we believe was everyday dress in Ancient Greece (then again, maybe Greece was hanging on to a more ancient style of clothing?)  and were grilling a grain concoction - think heavy dough, thick brown "stuff" that upon eating reminded me of a pancake/beignet item.  Quite tasty.  Added to the paper-like plate were sliced vegetables and a melon type fruit.

I was curious about compensation systems, that is, how would I pay for my food?  I have money in my pocket but of course that'd be useless.  As best I could tell, there is no monetary exchange system as we'd know it.  Rhea sent me some concepts something like people simply do what they most enjoy.  If that's preparing food, then that's what they do.  Their needs and desires would be met by others providing that service or product - because they wished to do so.  I can't describe it more than that since I had very little time to observe the aspects.