The Boy, the Girl, and the Great Eastern Head by Chipka
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Description
We aren’t always certain of what histories constrain our lives she said. But like the Great Eastern Head, they exert their quiet influences. The Great Eastern Head is the most complete, and when spring-time erosion is particularly intense, we can see that we exist on top of something else. Our lives are like the landfill this city is built upon, and though a gigantic granite head stares out at us, we’d be fools to assume that the head is all there is. The spring rains and the erosion that they bring reveal more and more of the monolith’s neck. Some people think that in the centuries to come, erosion will have worked its way down to the Great Eastern Shoulders. There’s a whole statue—probably on a pedestal—underneath the Eastern Fringe, and only the slow work of rainwater will ever reveal it.
She spoke with a passion he’d scarcely heard in a mere tour gide. The Great Eastern Head meant something to everyone and he remembered his own childhood obsessions with being the first human to scale the monolith. But the Head was always little more than a curiosity from the Age Before. For this woman, employed by the city, the Head was something else: intimate and alive.
“The Heads—all twelve of them—are a part of our national heritage,” he’d said. “Their influence is obvious.”
Of course, she said, But there’s more to them and it can only exert itself in subtle ways. We live in a civilized age, or at least we like to think so. But in the Age Before, we were a different people and for as long as the Heads remain, they’ll remind us of that. There are lessons to be learned. I couldn’t begin to tell you what they are, but they’re there, and they’ll come out, slowly, as rain erodes the land surface we’ve piled up over the old city. The Twelve Statues are enormous; they’re the grandest structures ever built. But our own city is a grander thing built on top of them. Our current city outdoes anything we might have accomplished in the Age Before, but it’s a flimsy thing, and for as sophisticated as we think we are, what shattering accomplishments lurk under our feet? What do they have to say about who we are and who we were? And how much of that filters into our thoughts when we look at those Heads and realize that there are shoulders and arms, chests, stomachs, legs, and feet so much further down? What happens if we let erosion run its course and our city washes out to sea, leaving only a ring of twelve enormous statues built long before we decided to cover them up?
The thought was a disquieting one, and he felt a chill plucking his spine like fingers on a strange and knotty harp. He knew as much about the Age Before as any Joe-Average might, but in light of this tour-guide’s words, he realized that he knew very little. She knew something else! Something bigger and maybe even darker and it lived in this very city. Below it.
For a moment, he thought he sensed motion beneath his feet—a faint vibration as if from some ancient leviathan snuffling in its sleep.
Well, she said. The State Museum is just over there…let’s go in; there’s something else I want to show you, and I think it’ll put the Great Heads in a better perspective. Afterward, we can stop for lunch, then make our way to the Head itself.
He nodded, enraptured by her small display of enthusiasm. He could hear in her voice that she loved the heads and what they represented. It was time, he thought, to learn what she saw and what she felt when looking at them.
“Sure,” he said to her, smiling as casually as he could. “Lead the way.”
***
Half of this composite photograph was taken on Renderosty Ninja Saturday...the head and grunge effects were added substantially later. My "digifiddle finger" was itchy and so this is the result of satisfying that itch. And as always, thank you for viewing, reading and commenting.
Comments (22)
jac204
Great work and great story to go along with it. Thank you.
Foto-Arte
Awesome stuff! keep it up!
alessimarco
Cool stuff!!
bmac62
Quite a story. Makes me invent all sorts of my own versions of possible histories to go along with what you've written. Sounds like there is some dark history that the citizens of this city want to forget. For some reason there is a parallel in my mind with Nazi Germany. This is a history people want to forget. The Nazi's idea of architecture was to build on a grand scale. A scale that says to the people...the state is vastly bigger and more important than you are. I find myself stopping there but the parallels are strong for me. This city could be a version of Berlin. Fascinating. Well done Chip.
mbz2662
Very interesting. Made me wonder about the Age Before.
watapki66
Very cool!
Killebrew
That's pretty snazzy!
zulaan
The past and the present days... and your artwork... this picture is very poetic ! :)
helanker
WOW ! That story made me think about the big film "Planet of the Apes" And I like your photo manipulation alot. Excellently done Chip.
faroutsider
What a superb idea, and a wonderfully tantalizing glimpse into a grand culture poorly understood. I want to get to know the guide a lot better...
MrsRatbag
Very thought-provoking story; makes me think of Crowley's "Engine Summer", have you read it? If not, I think you'd like it.
flavia49
fantastic work!! wonderful image and extraordinary text!!
beachzz
Everything about this is just fantastic, the words, the fotos, all of it--wow!!
durleybeachbum
Totally believable! And a marvellous image to boot!
sandra46
terrific great image!! i love the surrealist mood and the story is fabulous as always...BRAVOOOO!!!!
auntietk
I love the idea of an epic novel, sort of Michener style, where we learn more and more about the Age Before as erosion reveals the secrets of the statues. Perhaps carvings from latter-day vandals, giving clues to the downfall of those who came Before? Hmmmmm ... The couple at ... what ... Grant Park? ... is the perfect image for this story. She really does look enthusiastic about whatever she's saying!
blondeblurr
It leaves me a bit speechles, what Bill (bmac62) has to say ? Oh, brother! *** Anyhow, it's a bit like Atlantis, sunk - but not forgotten, it might reveal itself one day again ? When I first read the story, thoughts of Easter Island came to mind, with those big heads, the same could happen there ? maybe not! I love the dgi-fiddle around the two main characters, just like 'atmosphere'. BB
Mousson
Fantastic photo!!!
kgb224
Outstanding work and story my friend.
Alex_Antonov
Excellent!
Trigue
Wonderful image, and I really really like the story (no type-o that's two really's :) ) ! Ancient wisdoms forgotten or in stasis, but still with a great potential to change the present way of things - is the ominous feeling I got from reading this....Great stuff !
_eastbay_
this story, with the sense of history as a construct of perspective with the wonderfully architectural context of the prose and picture brings to mind borges in all the good ways. thanks chip ! inspiring as always ! steve