Constellation 06

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Arthur is pacing on the Plane, dressed in a much nicer suit than usual. He seems to be muttering something to himself, and pauses a moment to look down at his tie, frowning he undoes it completely, then slowly begins to retie it.]   -terms space and time have not only a vague descriptive reference to a boundless void and an ever-rolling stream, but denot the exact quantitative system of reckoning distances and time-intervals...[He finishes and seems satisfied for a moment, then just sighs and begins all over again]

Comments

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Bit exciting though, too. Nerve wracking, but exciting, yeah?

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Smiles] Rather exciting. I wouldn't trade it for the world, really.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Rather impressive too. Romanes Lecture. Your name side by side with all those other notables.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[And his grin gets just a little wider] It's a free public lecture, Doctor. Anyone who wishes to come, to learn about Einstein's theory, can. And it's the Sheldonian Theater! Designed by Christopher Wren himself.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but not just anyone is chosen to speak. Like I said, rather impressive.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

It's a big honor.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Yes, it is.

[takes a step back arms crossed over his chest]

Go on then, let's hear it. Since I probably won't get a chance to see it in person, and having a practice run is always helpful, let's have your speech.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[blinks] Well, it's a rather long speech. A few hours worth, actually.

I could run over the end with you? It's the part I've had the least practice for, unsurprisingly.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[laughs]

All right, let's hear it.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[He takes a deep breath, straightening his posture and making his expression more serious] To free our thought from the fetters of space and time is an aspiration of the poet and the mystic, viewed somewhat coldly by the scientist who had too food reason to fear the confusion of loose ideas likely to ensue. If others have had a suspicion at the end to be desired, it has been left to Einstein to show the way to rid ourselves of these 'terrestrial adhesion to thought'. And in removing our fetters he leaves us, not (as might have been feared) vague generalities for the ecstatic contemplation of the mystic, but a precise scheme of world-structure to engage the mathematical physicist.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

[awww, Arthur! he is impressed and proud of you!]

That was quite good. You'll do brilliantly. They'll love it, I'm sure.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

I would hope so. It's a bit silly to be so nervous, considering I've had quite a bit of practice up until now.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Nerves hit the best of us. You'll be fine. I promise. After all, time traveler speaking, well former, sort of current, I don't know, never mind that...

Either way, I know the outcome, and you'll do a real proper fantastic job of it.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

Well, it's always nice to be assured. Thank you.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Of course. So when exactly are you due to give your speech?

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

In about...twenty minutes, I believe? Though I've been practicing here for a while now, so I could be confused about the time.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Well, time stands still while you're here, so if it was twenty minutes when you left, it will still be twenty minutes when you go back. This place is useful for things like that.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

I will have to go back eventually, though.

[handysparehand.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but in the meantime you can take as much time as you need to get yourself ready here.

[scienceandgod.livejournal.com]

[Smiles] Thank you, for the help.