DAY 30, LAWSUITS, NARRATIVES and SIMULATIONS

 || days 30-20 || 2-12 March || Campaigns, speeches & reactions  || (30) 5:30, studio 3, workout. ‘I was surprised to hear you’re back,’ Alice said, smiling. ‘I promised to return in March. So, here I am,’ Master Lee replied. He still looked like an Asian monk, bald, ageless face, the calm presence of a person who has mastered inner balance. As Alice and Master Lee moved through the practice, breathing, stretching, flowing, tapping into the energies, Alice managed to take stock of what was going on inside her, and she realised how much she was keeping a lid on. After an hour, Master Lee smiled. ‘I am here whenever you want to practice, even if it’s just for a few minutes.’ Alice took a deep breath and nodded, still feeling the tensions she had allowed to enter her mind, frustration about how much the team had to push to stay ahead of the negative publicity, the useless and senseless bashing of the project’s ideas for no other purpose than to be against something, bleeding clickbait. The silence of other figures: scientists, journalists, writers who seemed to consider the town project too frivolous for their worlds. Even Robin, who was a renowned scientist, had complained about her colleagues’ reluctance to engage with the project, or, at least, to acknowledge that this experiment was a chance to discover something. Master Lee put a hand on Alice’s shoulder. ‘Let your body feel your frustration. Let it feel what it feels. Ride it — until you’re ready to redirect your frustration with a chuckle.’ ‘Turn shit into flowers, you mean?’ Master Lee laughed. ‘Exactly, just like nature.’ Alice laughed, too, and Master Lee added: ‘If you react to frustration, it will solidify. But if you let it be, if you observe it as something that is happening but doesn’t have to take hold of you, then frustration will remain liquid, and eventually you can swim through it to the shore, towel yourself off and walk on.’ Alice smiled a little. ‘I’m glad you’re back.’ ‘Tell me, when was the last time you wrapped yourself in silence?’ ‘Oh. Oh, I … I don’t know. I doubt I tried after you left. I never got the hang of it again, not after the ride on the King’s horse and the loss of Giselle. Though, I used a cutting-off ritual over Christmas.’ ‘You did? Why?’ Alice grimaced. ‘My mind was playing tricks on me and I wanted someone out of my system. It worked. Sort of. But— Could we try wrapping silence? I remember that it was a powerful way to focus in an unpleasant situation. I might need it.’ Master Lee nodded. ‘What do you remember?’ Alice closed her eyes. She had discovered wrapping silence around herself some time after Jazz had begun to train her in the art of deep energies. She needed— Yes, that was it: she needed to sense every single of her energy streams. It was a bit like acknowledging each of them, and once she was aware of them, she could wrap them around herself, and they would create a shield. Not a solid shield, a shield that made it impossible to attack her because every blow would go right through her. And once she was in this safe space, she could focus. Voices, her own included, sounded distant, but her mind achieved an incredible clarity. How could she have forgotten about all of this? Alice took a deep breath and sank into the silence at the centre of her energy streams. That was another thing, you didn’t have to think in here.’ Master Lee said something, and Alice let go of the silence, smiling. ‘I remembered.’ ‘Indeed, you did.’ At half past seven, Alice joined the Campaigns & Negotiations Team, and Emine exclaimed happily: ‘Alice! They are coming for us!’ Alice raised her eyebrows. ‘Who?’ ‘Everyone! We have a massive influx of lawsuits against us. And against you personally, too. This is a reaction to the start of the campaigns and to your meeting with the regional mayors.’ Alice shook her head with a chuckle. ‘Shouldn’t you take some credit, too? After your interview.’ ‘Oh, yes. But. That was nothing. Sorry if I was a bit enthusiastic.’ Alice smiled. ‘It’s great to see you happy.’ ‘Oh, I’ve been dreaming of this! I just wish Javiera was on our team, too.’ ‘Can’t—’ ‘—No, no!’ Emine interrupted. ‘The Business Expansion Team need her. And here comes her call. They’ll have gotten lawsuits, too. The game is on, Alice! This is great! They are rattled. They throw nonsense at us! But our lawyers— Oh, this is a dream! We will shred them. I swear!’ Alice took a deep breath and Emine answered her phone, jumping into another ecstasy. ‘Well,’ Alice said to Rohana (coordination), Troy (illustrations) and Navarro (society) who had listened. ‘Let’s hope we get some happy moments, too. Rohana, could you have one of your people take a look at Emine’s happy letters, just so I can get a taste of what is brewing out there?’ ‘Yes. There’s one case which might require an immediate reaction from us.’ ‘Oh?’ ‘Yesterday’s Longevity Campaign did events at a housing estate raising a wide range of critical issues from mould to the lack of playgrounds, sports fields, shops, arts, libraries, plus high rents, loan sharks and so on. Apparently, the event emboldened the tenants and some are calling for action, sparking fears of violent riots.’ Alice frowned and Navarro said: ‘It’s probably propaganda by the owners, but just in case, we should record a statement that we, as a project, are committed to non-violence.’ Alice nodded and Troy chuckled. ‘I had a session with Kahu. She has a story about a planet where the people protested by laughing at the ridiculousness of those who thought they owned the world. Maybe that’s what we can do for those housing estate people: provide ideas for how to protest in unexpected ways and with that ridicule their opponents. Because if they get violent, they hand the victory to their enemies.’ While the Campaigns & Negotiations Team continued to prepare their speeches, there were some sixty groundbreaking ceremonies worldwide for new dot.stations and new Hub Stations. Meanwhile, the Building Site Team began with their seven campaigns, and at a few minutes to noon, the Narratives Campaign was launched in seven UK cities (Edinburgh, Newcastle, Liverpool, Cardiff, London, Bristol, Exeter) with challenges, comedy acts, thinking sessions, comic murals, concerts, reading hours, poetry slams, story workshops and debates, all themed: Pick your favourite narrative and take it on a stroll. The opening in London had everyone talking, and some complained of mental and physical dizziness. When Navarro returned to the seventh floor of the Compound’s Central Building, everyone present applauded. Navarro blushed surprised. ‘What’s happening?’ he asked. Skye smiled. ‘Your idea of building this windy path where, when a person takes a moment to think, the grounds turns wobbly, that’s a hit!’ ‘A tech masterpiece,’ Hayley added, grinning. ‘You’re people did it exactly as I imagined. Thanks so much for that,’ Navarro returned. Skye smiled. ‘I love the whole thing. It’s fantastic to let people experience what it’s like when solid ground turns wobbly, and how they can create stability by building rails together, by holding on to each other. Spectacular! Everyone is talking about it.’ ‘It’s a great idea,’ Raiden chipped in. ‘A great way to illustrate that our world is built on invented narratives and stories, and that the moment we grasp that something is just an invention, we lose stability, but we can create new stability, a stability we shape consciously, a stability we build together.’ Robin nodded. ‘Great job, Navarro! I also like the angle that we don’t have to understand everything. We can learn to deal with uncertainty, and we can gain security by making exploring, shaping and testing into a habit.’ ‘You’re too kind! All of you. Thank you,’ Navarro returned, blushing deeply. ‘I might add, any idea is only as good as the team who bring it to life. The Narrative’s Team, the Tech Innovations Team and the Crafts Team made all of the Wobbly Path of Enlightenment possible. And the visitors were great, the responses sometimes overwhelming. People wept, others thanked us, some got angry. It was very intense. Actually, I’d suggest we set up the wobbly installation here at the Compound, build more for the other cities, and invite people to use it, alone, in groups, to experience the un-reality of our reality. We could offer conversations about the experiences afterwards.’ Dennie (security) nodded. ‘The green space left of the Front House could work.’ Hayley nodded. ‘We’d need a team on location. Could we have a twenty/four seven team, Isabel?’ Isabel nodded. ‘I’m already texting the Narratives Team. We’ll try.’ ‘I’ll text Security,’ Dennie said. ‘They should be on location, too. And we’ll need mood lights during the night.’ Some minutes later, Navarro sat down next to Jack, sighed deeply and wiped his face. ‘Are you okay, Navarro?’ ‘Yes, yes. Just. Jack how does everyone know? I mean. Yes, it was my idea. But. You know, I was actually more interested in the second part, in questioning whether we really gain that much security from establishing truths, customs, fixed ideas about life, work, nature and so. It is true that we can create a sense of security if everyone agrees on What is What and on how this or that is done. But, to quote Robin, “if we tell people What is What, then What will always remain What and never evolve. So what if we could learn to turn exploring into our modus operandi, our motivator and guide? In the sense that so long as we explore, so long as we keep asking questions, so long as we unstuck ourselves as soon as we get stuck, or as soon as we discover something damaging— What if that could gives us security because we know that we keep in motion?’ ‘Just like nature,’ Alice said, joining them. ‘Yes! Nature is always in motion, not fixed, not carved in stone.’ Jack nodded and said: ‘We are safe so long as we remain curious and keep exploring. It’s brilliant! We could challenge this thought by testing it for historic events.’ Alice’s eyes lit up. ‘A simulation! We pick twelve historic events from the last twelve centuries, and for each event we build scenarios of how a flexible, exploring mindset might have changed the events and their outcomes.’ ‘Already sending the idea to the Narrative’s Team,’ Navarro said. ‘And I’ll talk with Andy,’ Alice said and asked: ‘Navarro, do you have the notes for the thinking sessions?’ ‘Press Pause Campaign. Not yet. Quintessa and her team are still working on the details. I meet with them later today.’ ‘OK. Thanks.’ ‘Alice?’ Emine called across the common area. ‘Coming,’ Alice returned. ‘Jack, can we postpone today’s voice training?’ Jack raised his eyebrows. ‘Absolutely not, my friend! You know how it is: if we make an exception today, we’ll keep making exceptions. Besides, I have a special session planned for you, today.’ Alice smiled a little. ‘You’re probably right. I just have—’ ‘Alice!’ ‘Coming!’ ‘You go. I’ll pick you up and will dare anyone to stand in the way of your bit of daily fun.’ Alice chuckled and left. Jack sighed and Navarro frowned. ‘You two spoke, haven’t you?’ Navarro asked. ‘You know?’ Navarro nodded. ‘Sort of. But you’re not together?’ ‘No,’ Jack said with another sigh. ‘Sometimes it feels like we never spoke. Like we still … There are moments when I wish we could just run away together and— I can’t believe that we might have another thirty days of this.’ Navarro smiled a little. ‘We put so many hopes on hold. There are moments when I can’t help but wonder whether we really should, how much we risk by not claiming life for us right now. What if there’ll never be a right time to be with the ones we want to be with?’ ‘Sammy?’ Jack asked. Navarro nodded. ‘I like our arrangement. We both have our lives, and occasionally we enjoy each other’s company. But I have become so accustomed to our precious days together that— It’s only been nine days of this campaigns marathon. I don’t think, I have ever missed anyone this much.’ ‘I know what you mean. The first bit, too. What if we never get a chance to make up for these weeks?’ Navarro shook his head. ‘I never thought, I’d ever talk with you about longing for someone. Never thought I would ever long for someone.’ Jack smiled a little wistfully, and Navarro asked: ‘How come everyone knew the wobbly ground installation was my idea?’ Jack chuckled. ‘Oh, that. Someone leaked the info.’ ‘Really? Who? Not—’ ‘Yes. Sammy, our star guest architect gave an interview this morning and happened to mention you.’ Navarro blushed. Meanwhile Alice and Andy talked about simulations for the campaigns. ‘We should use simple simulations, too,’ Andy said. ‘They are faster to compile and usually as effective.’ ‘Like a black image, you push the slide and night turns into day?’ Alice asked. Andy nodded. ‘A planet covered in water sliding to a planet turned into a dessert.’ Alice nodded. ‘A farmers market overflowing with fruits and vegetables sliding to an empty market with just some canisters with some kind of vital nutrients mix.’ ‘Or plain empty, no more food, no more people,’ Andy returned. Alice frowned. ‘You’re not usually this dark.’ Andy smiled a little. ‘I’ve been working on gruesome simulations for nine days. I had to hire more people for my team so that people could get longer breaks between shifts.’ ‘Then the simulations are working.’ ‘Absolutely. To be able to see what effect a narrative has on society, on nature, on communities, to be able to go back and forth, gives me a chill every time and more over time. The worst are the changed narratives. I mean most people understand by now that if you cut down a tree, it’s gone and something vital is missing. The destruction human’s cause becomes more and more obvious to more people. But what really gets me and my team is everything we already forwent. The missed chances. Millenia worth of unused potentials. I have nightmares.’ Alice frowned. ‘That’s not good. But it’s very good.’ Andy smiled. ‘Alice, I love you.’ Alice chuckled. ‘Let’s prioritise simulations that focus on what we and our planet missed out on, and what we can gain if and when we change our destructive narratives and stories. Yes, let’s visualise what we have forgone and what we have to win.’ Andy smiled. ‘Will do.’ ‘Maybe we’ll have to add a nightmare warning?’ ‘One with hope value.’ Alice and Andy bumped their fists together and smiled. In the afternoon, Alice and Fran met with the Conference Team. They finalised the schedule with key talks such as: Women and men — where does it come from? // Human Nature, Human Energies // Intelligence, creativity, laughter and other human specialities // The war against ourselves, AI and diets // Family and domestic violence. //

© Charlie Alice Raya, book 4, building, 2025