Though humans occupy a vast number of planes in spatial-temporal phenomenon known as Escherelm, other life forms have come to occupy various ecological niches. The vast majority of these cohabiter life forms are imports from the Human ancestral world of Earth. Indeed, anything known to have lived on Earth lives on Escherelm. Earth-imports are not the only life, metalife, or aLife occupants of Escherelm; extraterrestrial imports exist in vast numbers as well, but very few such life forms have direct causal or temporal interactions with Escherelm’s Earth-derived occupants. Perhaps the most famous native of Escherelm is the “schrödingercat.” As the name of this distinct quasi-life form indicates, it is difficult to describe. There is substantial debate on various Escherelm planes as to whether these things are even alive or not. On many planes, schrödingercats are considered to be a nuisance. They are disruptive creatures in that they exist only partially within the realm of four-dimensional space/time: their “physiological intrusions” into human-standard dimensionality are generally cause for massive physical disruption. Things break. Things fall. Things distort. On many planes, the presence of a schrödingercat is marked by a set of “contra-real” footprints: on the plane of Varia, for example, a schrödingercat will leave footprints only where it has not walked, whereas on the plane of Helenia, a schrödingercat leaves footprints in the opposite direction of its travel. Among the Kek’k’ki of the Gaula’deu plane, schrödingercats are known to manifest themselves in distinctly felinoid manner. Only on the plane of Kek’k do schrödingercats actually look at least superficially, like cats. It is because of the Kek’k’ki manifestations that the human inhabitants of Escherelm know anything at all about such creatures. Recent studies indicate that schrödingercats are actually a self-manifesting form of archaic algebra: in short, they are redundant reality-equations that have become detached from the Grand Existential. They are, as some theorists maintain, remnants of a concept that has refined itself. Studies have not yet led to any coherent theory as to how or why these algebraic remnants survive, though tantalizing evidence does seem to indicate that the schrödingercat is the ancestor of the meme, a virus-like idea that propagates itself within the matrix of consciousness. In the decades (if not centuries) of studies ahead, schrödingercats will, undoubtedly reveal more of their nature and function, but until then, they are, as their name implies, temporal/causal riddles that challenge, and indeed defy direct attempts at human observation. * * * Okay, the Escherelm thing is really taking off. I’m one-third of the way through the first Escherelm tale, and yes, there are schrödingercats involved…they’re leaving footprints in all sorts of odd places, and…well…I’m as curious to learn about them as the various scientists at home in Esherelm’s various realms. I hadn’t intended to do two Escherelm posts in a row, but I suspect when schrödingercats are involved, a particular number of…um…violations…are to be expected. As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week. I’m off to write, now, as I have two characters (im)patiently awaiting their next bit of dialogue and action.