Duckman
I’ve never heard of it before, but it would make more sense than what I thought was happening.” “I’m not sure,” said Dr. Vasicek. “I’ve never heard of it either. But I know that the exact opposite happens quite frequently. People often dream that they’re drowning. It usually symbolizes repressed emotions or unresolved issues. So perhaps yours is a unique case.” “What would it mean, do you think?” Pete asked, turning his head to look at the doctor. Dr. Vasicek seemed to be suppressing some kind of facial expression, but Pete couldn’t tell what it was. “I have a notion,” the doctor said, “but we’ll get to that later.” Pete turned back, a bit unsettled. “Now Pete, you mentioned that you majored in accounting. Is that what you do now?” “Yes. I’m an accountant.” “Did you want to be an accountant?” Pete shrugged. “It was practical and I’m good with numbers.” “How do you feel about that job now?” “It’s boring but I deal with it.” “Yes, I can tell. Video games and graphic novels. And other things, I’m sure.” Pete said nothing but continued bobbing his head up and down. He heard only more scribbling. He waited till it stopped. “There’s still another experience,” Pete said. “The biggest one, actually. The one that weirded me out the most. The one that scares me the most. But also the one that thrilled me the most.” “And that would be . . . ?” “I flew.” Pause. Then—“You flew?” “Yes. Like a bird. But not like a bird. I didn’t flap my arms. It was more like . . . gravity had no effect on me. Almost like being underwater. I could move freely through the sky. It started the next time I went out jogging. I was in the countryside, alone. I was sprinting, going really fast, making huge strides like a gazelle. That’s how I picture it in my mind, anyway. As I ran I came across this big boulder. Something compelled me to go straight for it, so I did. I jumped up to it, intending to climb it, but I didn’t even need to. I reached the top in one big bound, and then leaped off again, into the air, and never came back down. Not for a while, anyway. “I told myself I had to be dreaming, that this stuff doesn’t happen, can’t happen, by all the laws of physics, by all science we know now. But I felt it. I felt the thrill of personal flight. I knew what it was like to be a bird, except birds take it for granted. I was soaring, Dr. Vasicek. I can still remember exactly what it felt like. Just floating on air, floating in nothingness. I let the wind take me wherever it wanted. “I remember feeling it pass through my fingers, blowing through my hair. I didn’t flap, but my arms were still out, like I was gliding on them. I went higher and higher, bouncing along on the wind until the ground was way down below me. I could see the
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