Message In a Bottle

The topic this week at Writer's Island, is 'Message In a Bottle.' Here is a fable of a message in a bottle that the sea washed ashore, here tonight:

It was the ancient science of alchemy - back in its forgotten golden years, long before Man dreamed again of what he'd once known and had long forgotten - an enchanted meeting of base metals, incantations, intoned and inscribed, that had kept the bottle sealed tightly, through the many centuries it had floated around the world. Season after season, it had sailed throughout the known seas, and even some that were invisible to the eye, and thus uncharted by man. For as much as Man has learned, there is still more knowledge to be gained; other lands, other seas, other dimensions, still to be found.

The bottle had floated over a million miles, during the thousands of days adrift in the sea. It had tossed and turned through hundreds of storms. Sometimes getting caught up in a fisherman's net, then just as the men would heave the net towards the boat, with a mighty wave, the ocean would claim it again.

Once, it had almost been swallowed by a blue whale; but it had managed to bump against the whale's baleen sideways, so that the whale spat the bottle back out, like a fisherman with a tobacco chaw. The bottle had nearly washed up on dozens of uninhabited shores - but with a shift of weight, it would float back out, with the rising tide. It knew what it was waiting for; till then, it was biding its time..

It listened to the sounds carried through the ocean currents, as the great ships passed it by. The sailors aboard, never seeing the little bottle bobbing in their wake -- but the bottle saw them. More importantly, the bottle heard them: their conversations, their primitive communications told it where the people were in Time, as the human race grew from the age of petulant childhood, through their turbulent adolescence - the bottle waited, listening and watching from afar, as mankind stumbled towards adulthood.

When it sensed the vibrations of the right time,  it would know - when the generation might be born - so that it might be found by the one - the one who would know. Then, it would turn towards the north star, to guide it through the sea. Let the tide carry it high upon the shore, to settle down upon the sand, amongst the seashells, and the driftwood, for the last wait to be found - by the one who would know. For that is the task it had been charged with, to find one who would know what to do with the message it carried.

                                                                    ~

In his last moments of life - even as the earth shook, sending the columns and pillars that had held his observatory tower tumbling -- the alchemist had sealed the secret in the bottle, had charged it with its purpose. He knew there was no escaping the tsunami that was about to obliterate their land - it was doomed to sink back to the bottom of the sea, returning to where it had been born.

There were others on the island who knew of the secret force that powered the vessel. The leaders who had misused it, thus sealing their doom. Now, the result of their misuse, was carrying them below the sea - rather than soaring above it, as he'd dreamed this energy would one day be used.

Less than a hundred years after his death, men would speak of his skills as magic - in the songs of bards, he would be called a sorcerer. Though if the alchemist were born today, he might be called a scientist. But in those early days of Man, poetry and dark emotion were still stronger than science. Mathematics, science  - in the alchemist's day, these were merely budding art forms -- though he had used them to the best of his ability to create the star vessel. Then, as the disastrous abuse of its power source destroyed their island - he had used his skills to etch, encode and charge the bottle with its duties, so that all would not be completely lost. Though the alchemist's knowledge and skills would sink to the ocean bottom with him, lost for centuries - till others would discover them again, and claim them as their own - he would see to it, that at least the secrets of the star vessel would survive.

Thus, he did his best in those last moments, to ensure the bottle would hold secure the mathematical formula, the plans for the vessel, the DNA of the power source - till Man was ready. When humanity had reached a balancing point, at the pinnacle of the pyramid of life...where the poetry of the soul and the vision of the scientist would meet at last, to dance by the music of the constellations - then, the bottle would reveal its message. When humankind would be ready to spread its wings and fly...

                                                                       ~

The bottle floats still upon the ocean, holding safe its message, waiting patiently. It listens to the vibrations passing through the atmosphere, across the ocean...catching a word here, a phrase - there...words that resonated to the frequency the alchemist had intoned: harmony, brotherhood, consciousness, quantum physics. It can tell, the time for its great Purpose is growing closer - but it is not here just yet. There are other words, other vibrations it must wait for:  'peace,' must be the one with the strongest value, and 'war' must be heard the least.

It has waited centuries already, it can wait a bit more, still. Perhaps, it won't be long, till the bottle can deliver its message, and sail no more - when Man will sail to the stars...

To find other bottles, other messages - visit this week's Writer's Island.   

Comments

[kai]

Oh, I like this Tinker..It's a very interesting story. I read it a couple of times, pondering the underlying meaning to it..
You're a good story crafter :)
Peace n hugs, Kai xx

[artzyjudie]

Oh my, what a delicious and intriguing story. I wonder if the bottle will ever be found. Mankind does not seem to be searching for it.

On a lighter note, once I found a bottle on the beach in some seaweed. It was dark and I couldn't see inside and the label was foreign. I decided to open it, and I was very disappointed, because the odor and yellow liquid that came out told me that some foreign sailor probably threw it over as a joke as his ship left our local ports.

Oh sigh, see? If only people like him could believe in a future. GREAT story, Tink!

[gautami]

Beautiful interesting story. I am still thinking over it.

[Pacian]

Very nifty. :-)

Like something Lovecraft might have written if he hadn't been a nihilist.

[Mary t.]

Compelling to say the least!

[tongue in cheek]

My daughter found a message in a bottle. WShe added her note and threw it back to the sea.

Interesting story and wonderful photo!

[Paris Parfait]

Well I have to say you had me at the first mention of alchemy, which fascinates me no end. Your story is wonderful, Terri! And the photo is a great accompaniment. xoxox

[Lisa M.S. Oceandreamer]

You write like a masterpiece that hangs in a grand museum. Where one can stand before it, or in this case, read over and over....each time making the mind reel with its message. I savor your ability to spin your words like you are weaving a fine silk.
Will mankind ever make Peace the strongest value? we can only hope the message gets through!
Bravo!
XOXOXO
Love,
Lisa

[gemma]

You are an accomplished writer Mz. Tinker.
Love the story and all it brings to mind.

[Robin from Israel]

What an enchanting story (pun only semi-intended)! I love the magic and the granting of sentience to the bottle and the message it carries both within and without.

I'll definitely be back to read more.

[marja]

Great story even the travel of the bottle is already exciting. Hope the time will come and somebody will be ready to find the message

[Tammy Vitale]

How fun! I always wanted to find a bottle with a message...guess I am not worthy (yet - maybe next year). A friend of mine sent a bottle out once, but no one found it I guess because she never heard. Aren't bottles adrift with messages wonderful mysteries?!

[Pam Aries]

Whoa Hoo! You are very talented missy! I loved this tale . It is a very fine story!

[paisley]

how meticulously told and written this is really a work of art,,, as is that amazing picture... bravo!!!!

[Tumblewords]

Oh, I love this! The magic, the reality, the hope and mysticism. It's a lovely piece and the photo is fascinating!

[UL]

That was brilliant... I loved every twist and turn of words, as well as the bottle..Thanks for sharing.

[Alison Whittington]

A fascinating story, Tinker!

[Redness]

Wow, Brilliant ... I want to know more, Thank You!

[Carmen]

Bravo!!!
xxooxx
You are such a treat!

I have a bottle given to me when I was 17. I never opened it. Goofy me. I suspected it was a lovecraft ;-)
I guess I have to open it.
(Sorry, I am rambling)