2003.11.26
Fever Dream
I dreamt I was at work, speaking with some of the more technically inclined of my co-workers (Paul, Woody, Keith). All men with good senses of humor. They wanted me to do something for them. I knew, in the end, I would do it but, for now, I was playing with them to lessen the tension. We ended up playing a weird game of tag. If they could get a coat over my shoulders, I would do the project for them. If not, I was home free.
We ran around the hallway, laughing and joking. I knew this was ok because it was after hours. I dashed past them down the hall and looked back at them. Now, Paul was shaking the coat as if it were a toreador's cape and I was the bull. I laughed, saying, "You can't get me to fall for that one." Then, something caught my attention from the corner of my eye.
I looked to my left, down the main hallway towards the lobby and saw a great darkness moving slowly towards me. In the center of the darkness were two great shining eyes. I got the impression of a great beast with horns, on all four. I didn't see this, I felt it. In its jaws was a dark haired woman, held by the scruff of her neck. I believe the beast was attempting to camouflage its approach with the woman. The darkness followed the beast, swallowing everything it passed. I was completely terrified. Panicked, I ran past my co-workers, shouting at them to run. I don't know if they did. I wasn't sticking around for that darkness to swallow me.
Once outside, where it was much cooler, I calmed and started walking down a dirt road. It was twilight and there was snow on the ground. I seem to be repeating a lecture a biologist told me about the little burrows in the lightly wooded hillside. It had something to do with the little animals digging 3 burrows and staying in only one. As I walked and watched, I saw that the biologist was right and found this fascinating.
I stopped by one and was surprised by a baby bear popping out. It ran to me and I played with it, trapping it beneath me. We were enjoying ourselves and the baby bear was happily vocalizing. I looked up to the right and way down the way the momma bear was there. I realized that she would not see me as a playmate but, as a danger. Her baby's vocalizing caught her attention.
I started to run through the trees back to the office. It was icy now. I did a whole lot of skating and sliding. The baby bear thought this was grand fun and followed me. Momma bear took a parallel course and looked really pissed off, snarling. The only thing I could think of to do was to cross the momma bear's path so the baby bear would run into her. It worked, thankfully.
I ran back into the office, coming upon some marketing people discussing the fact that some people can eat fire without knowing it. It had something to do with mercury oxide. I yelled at them about the darkness in the building and the bear outside the building. They looked at me like I was crazy. Seeing that I wasn't getting through to them, I ran down to the parking garage. I wasn't sticking around for any of it. However, as I got into the car, I saw the darkness approaching. Frantically, I turned the key but the car wouldn't start.
FADE