GOOD NEWS FROM PLANET X

                                          GOOD NEWS FROM PLANET X

                              HARRY THOMAS DANVERS

             

   Since everything was concentrated on the head of a pin: that is to say economics, social structure, technological progress and perhaps art, the said planet found itself in a state of turmoil. That is to say, everything was functioning as usual, while the X part of its denominated space, offered the basic, algebraic symbol of uncertainty.

   Thus, the planet existed on such a high-tech level, that no printed books were made, neither magazines nor any other periodical.   It was direct, digital, deceiving and definite.

   Apparently something was happening, but the guise of future statistics had not been born.  Then the off button was flicked on and history (which never existed on Planet X) bared itself as either a new born virgin or an old whore.  It was fantastic, for the history (which was not history) suddenly

(and only momentarily) came to life.

   It was decisive, since it was unexpected and flaunted as being human. This was due to human error as well as natural causes.

   The bad news was that the people were dying, but people had always died on planet X. There were natural causes and wars.  Xerxes, the son of Darius, assembled a host of the best fighting appaparatus in the world, in order to conquer Greece.  Apparently the gods did not agree, so the Persians retreated, with their tails between their legs, back to the land of the barbarians.

   Then the English constructed such a formidable fleet, that they were certain to subdue China.

This created some good news for the aging planet X, but the fleet rusted and the ancient dragon woke up.

   The X part was handled by physicists and dealt with only by numbers and consequent theories.

   The planet, itself, was an abstract number.  It was so abstract, that it represented nothing. Yet there were people; plants, animals and such denizens of diversity (which were also united) so that if one element was dismissed, it seemed that the whole pattern was broken up.

   It was still filled with vices and virtues and hollow laments for its lost civilizations, but it was nevertheless intact and at best, this was good news for the Planet X.