Chronicles From The Future: The amazing story of Paul Amadeus Dienach

Does her work have such significant value? I knew that she had a very unique personality, but from the little acquaintance I had with her, she hadn’t given me the impression of such great worth. Of course, she never talked about her work. She had never dropped the slightest hint about the colossal superiority of her work in relation to Stefan and his own poor engagement. I just found out from Hilda that her classmates at school used to make fun of her “love affairs with the Incas” and of her habit of writing her ideas down everywhere: on the margins of her books, on her desk, she even wrote on her lap once, so that she wouldn’t lose her inspiration!

It is said that, after her break-up with Eric, she is never escorted by the same person more than once, since there are many who would be glad to label anyone her fiancé. It seems that this kind habit of people not to intrude in other people’s personal lives only applies to mere mortals. And I praise God for making Andreas Northam one of them.

Anyway, this incident with Aria and my mistaken first impression of her made me sceptical about how many things I can truly perceive and understand around me. Today has been a hundred and thirty days and nights since I started my new life and I still wonder to what extent I have grasped any of the concepts, beliefs and habits of this new world. And, of course, quite a remarkable part of my life and attention revolves around Silvia…

I query whether I perceive everything I see around me in the right way and therefore, whether I capture it correctly…

At midday today I had a conversation with Stefan about the concert. He had the nicest things to say about the maestro, the orchestra and the choir that he had brought with him from Norfor. The soloists were the top of Blomsterfor, Norfor and New Göteborg. Now I only remember the name of the blue-eyed soprano Hilda Diran. I changed the subject to our own Beethoven, since the entire 9th was played at the concert last night, right after the second part of Ruthemir’s composition.

I finally got a chance to tell him what I had thought to myself a long time ago, but never had the courage to say to him: “We must have had some strange ‘barbarity’ in our time, for you to take our works of art and turn them into prayers…” I uttered, looking forward to his answer. Last night, despite his discretion, I noticed that he was watching me while the 9th Symphony was being played. When the drums entered and played their part and my eyes filled with tears, he firmly gripped my hand. I felt touched and proud throughout the whole time the 9th was being played, a feeling slightly different from the one I had during Ruthemir’s composition. It was something “mine” this time, something from home!

But Stefan didn’t seem at all shaken by my statement. From what I’ve heard, I take it that they consider Beethoven “one of them”, same as they considered Christ and Socrates “their brothers who were wandering in the darkness of prehistory”. He said that we understood very little of what they said and tried to convey through their work, and that they didn’t deserve to have been born in those times. Finally, he rhetorically asked how we managed to spare Beethoven’s life and didn’t poison him or crucify him too and then added that culture isn’t made by certain people and their work, but by the impact and appeal they have on those around them…

He also told me something very nice about the deafness of Beethoven: that today they liken him and his impairment to Prometheus, who was punished by the Gods because he stole fire. Just like Prometheus, he too was punished for having given this divine music to the primitive, immature and astonished humanity by being imprisoned in a soundless world!

For them, Beethoven and Ruthemir are precursors and evangelists and it is no coincidence that their works were played together.

Today the 9th is seen as some kind of a universal the national anthem that preaches love and loyalty to humanity and its divine destiny. Indeed, they find that it is improper to listen to it sitting down...

MARKFOR (EX-ROME): THE MEGACITY

Visiting the Reigen Swage Palace16 — XII

(At our villas at dawn)

I’m writing these few and hasty words in the dawning light: the news of last night made me very happy! Tonight we’re leaving for Markfor, where the four of us will be staying for the whole autumn, perhaps even for the winter! Regular, permanent residence in a big city with all its wonders! Walking the Roads of Jasmines! I'm extremely excited!

(Sunrise)