7.14.26 - Untitled: Chapter X
Chapter X: A Visitor
Daniel sat on the western edge of the reflecting pool for some time, staring across it at the Washington Monument, at the Egg, which, after two years, had become as solid and quotidian a feature of the skyline as the monument itself.
Affter some time, his gaze fell back down to the pool, where he watched the ducks. At times, Daniel would also meditate on the little ripples of water that the water striders would leave behind. The fact that there were ducks in the refelcting pool always amused Daniel. A manmade body of water. Made into their whole home. Where do they go when the pool is drained? Did they see this as the same as a pond or a lake? Or did something in them have a glimmer of understanding that this was made, made without them in mind? Do they recognize how alien the structures around them are, do they clock the Lincoln Memorial, or the giant obellisk to their east as artifical structures? Or are they as natural to them as the trees and grass around them?
Daniel had noticed and admired the ducks as far as he could remember visiting the pool. But he hadn't really noticed the water striders until now.
How big the pool must have been to a little water strider. To be sure, The pool was only a few feet deep--but how immense would that seem to a water strider, if it could somehow be told. A creature whose own body couldn't break the surface tension of this vast uknown, who could safely glide along its surface. To them, the depths beneath them may as well be a black hole. The surface tension their event horizon. They were little astronauts. But what the hell would they do if the pool was drained?
Just a few centimeters of penetration would surely irreversibly submerge it, Daniel thought to himself. Just one little push of his finger--if he were quick enough--could sink one for good. A precarious position. To glide on the surface of death, not knowing that the slightest change of intentions or capability of an otherwordly intelligence could end you, or the world as you knew it. As Daniel studied the water strider, a sweeping movement in the pool's reflection captured his attention just as soon as a vast shadow fell over and then passed him by, the moment he glanced up--a blinding flash of white light in front of him accompanied by a bone rattling, almost animalistic roar. His vision was blacked out, and for a moment he felt the sensation of falling, just as one does as they fall asleep. His mind involunatry lurched back into his body in a panic and he felt himself breathing heavy, looking eastward at the top of monument. The egg was gone. A grander, more grotesque, object now stood in its place. A pointy sort of dome, matte black with dark brown accent and what appeared to be an intricate and exotic molding throughout. It looked almost like a building. Just as soon as Daniel had registered the object it began to descend into the monument, slowly crushing it. The destruction produced a horrible sound, which was nearly drowned by screams and cries all around. White powder plumed out from the site and blew across the pool, choking the air.
The monument had disappeared from his sight, replaced by this monstrosity. But Daniel's eyes and lungs burned as he peered across the pool. He covered his face with his shirt, trying to catch a breath. As he shut his eyes close, he could feel the debris behind his eyelids and quickly ran down to the pool. Squinting, he fell down on all fours and began crawling to the edge, reaching out his hand until he could feel the pool's cool surface. He quickly submerged his hands, cupped them full with water, and splashed his face, hoping a little may seep through his eyelids and offer some relief. The water was dirty, damp, and muggy. Not a problem right now, Daniel coached himself. Wiping his eyes with his fingers, and then his shirt he again looked out across the pool. People around the edges of the pool began to run westward back towards the Lincoln Memorial, but many, including Daniel, sat in place, staring out at the terrible structure that loomed over them.