29 Sep 04
Originally posted by rwingettBefore the internet stands a doorkeeper on guard. To this doorkeeper PS comes and begs for admittance to the internet. But the doorkeeper says that he cannot admit PS at the moment. PS, on reflection, asks if he will be allowed, then, to enter later. “It is possible,” answers the doorkeeper, “but not at this moment.”
When PS finally came to he saw both the innkeeper and the bearded man from the previous evening kneeling over him. “Look, his eyes are open,” the innkeeper exclaimed, “I think he’s going to be all right.” PS looked down and saw that he had arms and legs again. He hadn’t really turned into a pawn after all. Or if he had, then he’d recovered since he bumped ...[text shortened]... , and a single open portal with no door. Above the opening was a faded sign which read INTERNET.
Since the door leading to the internet stands open as usual and the doorkeeper steps to one side, PS peers through the entrance. He sees a dimly lit cubicle which surely must contain the computer he needs access to. When the doorkeeper sees that, he laughs and says, “If you are so strongly tempted, try to get in without my permission. But note that I am powerful.”
This is a difficulty PS had not expected to meet, the internet, he thinks, should be accessible to every man and at all times, but when he looks more closely at the doorkeeper with his russet hair, his Russian style cap, and with a voice that rustled like fallen leaves, he decides that he had better wait until he gets permission to enter.
The doorkeeper gives him a stool and lets him sit down at the side of the door. There PS sits waiting for days and years, silently reciting his appointed internet access code and password. During all these long years PS watches the doorkeeper almost incessantly. He forgets that gaining access to the internet will not complete his mission, but will only give him what he supposes will be that final bit of information towards its end.
In the first years PS curses his evil fate aloud; later, as he grows old, he only mutters to himself. Finally his eyes grow dim and he does not know whether the world is really darkening around him or whether his eyes are only deceiving him. Now his life is drawing to a close. Before he dies, all that he has experienced in his sojourn condenses in his mind into one question, which he has never yet put to the doorkeeper. PS weakly beckons the doorkeeper to come closer. “What do you want to know now?” asks the doorkeeper, “you are insatiable.”
“Everyone strives for access to the internet,” answers PS, “how does it come about, then, that in all these years no one has come seeking admittance but me?” The doorkeeper perceives that the man is at the end of his strength and that his hearing is failing, so he bellows in his ear, “No one but you could gain admittance through this door, since this door was intended only for you. I am now going to close your account.”
29 Sep 04
Thus ends the story. Of course almost all of it was freely adapted from other sources. The part where PS turns into a pawn has been correctly identified. Who can identify the source of some of the other segments?
The part where PS is awaken in his bed is a loose adaptation from the beginning of its source.
The part in the inn is a very close adaptation from the beginning of its source.
The part with PS trying to gain admittance to the internet is a largely verbatim adaptation of its source.
10 points to the first person to identify each sequence. Google searches are not allowed.
29 Sep 04
Originally posted by paultopiaIncorrect. It is from Kafka (they all are), but not from The Metamorphosis
I imagine the awaking in the bed one is from metamorphisis (which I can't spell), but that could just be because I now have Kafka on the brain.
(edit: oh wait, that's the identified one, isn't it.)
29 Sep 04
1 edit
Originally posted by paultopiaAs I hadn't intended to model them all after Kafka stories at that point, the part where PS is awaken in his bed is only loosely modelled on its source. But the basic gist of it is the same.
really! I'll have to dig through my massive kafka collection later tonight and find it.
(have you ever read investigations of a dog? wonderful story...)
I do have Investigations of a Dog in my copy of Kafka: The Complete Strories, but I don't recall having read that one. Maybe I'll do so now.
29 Sep 04
Originally posted by rwingettAwwwww! Poor him!
Before the internet stands a doorkeeper on guard. To this doorkeeper PS comes and begs for admittance to the internet. But the doorkeeper says that he cannot admit PS at the moment. PS, on reflection, asks if he will be allowed, then, to enter later. “It is possible,” answers the doorkeeper, “but not at this moment.”
Since the door leading to the intern ...[text shortened]... ugh this door, since this door was intended only for you. I am now going to close your account.”
30 Sep 04
Originally posted by rwingettYou know, I don't think I have. *mutter* librarian girlfriend recently decided to reorganize my books. Unfortunately, my method of organizing books is "remember where I saw it last." And I have a lot of books...
Yeah, I'll read it. Have you ever read The Hunger Artist? That's my favorite one.
Ah-ha! I do indeed have it! WIll read...