On Being Certain/In Two Places At Once

[Michael Bailey]

On 3/12/08, robinlandseadel wrote:

>  There is a sense that Hassan gets his orders from "higher up".
>

what if Hassan is the Doosra's Master, masquerading
as his servant - and guides Kit and Prance, imparting wisdom
on the journey and gifting them with ganja, disappearing when
they reach what they think is their destination...

this goes along with Frank's encounter with Espinero; they like
him but do not find him quite of the caliber to join the family---
also with the Chums and their map, distracted as they are by
notions of fame and oil wealth, never coming to Shambhala

the aborted spiritual search, due both to the imperfection of
the seekers but also perhaps to the not-readiness,
even the non-existence of the shining spiritual goal...

Hassan, Espinero, the Sfiumato Itinerary, Shambhala,
all existing imperfectly themselves, the traditions they represent
fading in cross-cultural interpretation:
the killing of magic by science, as in M&D, here embedded
within the stories of AtD, people searching for something
worth searching for...

but what of the hut, now sinking in the mud because the
magic no longer holds it up?