The Fate of the Multiverse

One fine morning, a young man was walking through Highland Park in Minnesota.  His eye was drawn to a perfectly shaped walking stick. Picking it up, he used it as a saber, slashing at the bushes around him.  Bored, he tossed the stick into the forested area out of his view.  “Ouch” a voice cried.  The young man, fearing the worst, ran through the forest to offer help.  There he came upon a soothsayer.  He recognized the woman as a soothsayer because he had seen images of them in books and movies.  Still he was surprised to find one in Bloomington Minnesota.

 

“Gee I am really sorry I hit you with the stick”, the young man apologized.  “You are not quite what I expected” the old woman said. “I expected you to have fewer freckles, like your other counterparts.” “Counterparts, what counterparts?” The soothsayer was amazed that the young man had never heard of the multiverse.

 

The woman explained that the multiverse was the great expanse beyond all of space and time itself. “The multiverse is where all beings roam on different paths from the other ones.”  Walter looked confused and said, in a not so kind voice, “right, well listen strange old person, I have some things to do, so good-bye.”

 

The soothsayer was surprised that the young man did not believe in the multiverse and would rather go to school than save the worlds.  Feeling disgusted, she replied, “Really, and just where does Walter Ghose have to be that is more important than the fate of the multiverse?” The young man turned around and asked, “wait, how do you know my name, I don’t recall meeting you anywhere?” The more Walter stood looking into the sparkling eyes of the old woman, the more uncomfortable he felt.

 

The woman answered, “Oh, I don’t need an introduction, I know everybody’s name, it is a gift I possess.” At this point, Walter wondered if he was talking to a kindly soothsayer or someone less benevolent.   Just then, the woman reached out her hand for Walter, and after a moment’s hesitation he grabbed it and before he knew what had happened, they were launched into the air and soaring through a black hole in the sky.

 

“Ahhhhhhhhhh” screamed Walter as the two hurled through the air, “What the hell is happening, who are you? where are you taking me?” The old woman answered, “I am the beyonder, one of those ancient beings that can exist in all of space and all of time.” “For millions of years, we have watched every person in each dimension and now a great thereat is upon us all.”