Timeless Crimes

-- How did it go?

-- Wait. Where am I?

-- You're in the floorboards, under the gurney.

-- ... The floor?

-- Take a moment.

-- ... Oh. It happened.

-- Yes.

-- At last.

-- Indeed. How did it go?

-- I suppose it wasn't too bad. I had some trouble breathing.

-- Yes. That's usual.

-- Then, I felt giddy. And the lifting of an enormous weight, one I hadn't even noticed I was carrying.

-- And then?

-- After a few moments, the whole not-breathing-issue became less of ... an issue, I suppose. And then, poof, here I am. With you. In the floorboards, for some reason.

-- Well done.

-- Thank you. There was some... loosening, right at the end.

-- Ah, that's extremely common. Not to worry.

-- Oh dear. Was it messy? I hate mess. It drives me absolutely crazy.

-- Messy? Not by your standards, no. Not in the slightest. Your medical team had it... covered, so to speak. I've seen a lot worse.

-- Oh good. So, how am I in the floorboards?

-- Well, you no longer have a body. You can forget all of that 'location' business.

-- When you think about it, that was all very odd.

-- I have heard that it is very limiting.

-- How wonderful. I am Dimensionless.

-- Exactly. Good. You're picking this up very quickly.

-- I always felt so constrained.

-- Yes, didn’t you?

-- It gave me a terrible temper.

-- I know.

-- Do I have to stay here?

-- In the floorboards? Not at all.

-- I don't suppose we could leave? I don’t like this room. Too much glass. That window, full of faces.

-- Of course. Where would you like to go?

-- Let’s have a look around the place a bit. This has been my home for so long.

-- You bet.

-- Ah, better. I always liked the kitchen. Hardly ever had any trouble here. I just got on with things.

-- Yes. But there was that one time?

-- That guy? He had it coming. I kept a clean station. Spotless.

-- Was the food any good?

-- How come we are speaking to each other?

-- We’re not. Not really. This is Thoughtspace. This is where we exist. We are just sharing tendrils of spirit. For now.

-- Neat. And.. and it’s clean?

-- Clean?

-- There’s no way for you, excuse me, to infect me in any way? Please don't be offended.

-- Not at all. No risk of that at all. Zero.

-- I hate infection.

-- I know.

-- Now. This is even nicer. The roof. You can see the sunset. I liked to watch the traffic on the interstate. Like watching a river of light.

-- Lovely.

-- How long do I stay here?

-- Isn’t there more you’d like to see?

-- Not really. When do I move on? What’s next? I always knew there was more.

-- There’s plenty to see here though. The whole planet. All these stars.

-- I'm not interested in all that.

-- What about your family?

-- What’s your story?

-- My story? You mean, how long have I been here?

-- Yeah.

-- I’m as old as Time. Time cannot exist without me.

-- Really.

-- Hmmm.

-- Can you be killed?

-- I was wondering when you’d ask me that.

-- Well?

-- No. I cannot die in any way. Time is a circle for me. It travels through me and I am always at the centre.

-- Where are you going?

-- Going? I am going nowhere. Weren’t you listening?

-- Wait! Come back.

-- But I’m not moving. It’s you. You’re the one moving.

-- Wait! I’m not moving! I’m still on the roof of the Penitentiary!

-- That’s right. You have to stay.

-- What??!

-- It’s complicated.

-- I don’t understand.

-- The only way I can explain it is like this:Because what comes next is outside Time, you have to move to stay in one place. Sorry.

-- Help me!

-- Actually, I’m not really sorry.

-- But I don’t wanna stay here.

-- That’s too bad.

-- What can I do?

-- Travel to all the places. All the stars. All the galaxies. For as long as you like. Every pebble on every beach. Every speck of dust.

-- What then?

-- Time will end. Eventually.

-- And what about me?

-- You will end with it. Along with all the others who have to stay.

-- Please stay with me a little longer.

-- You're out of Time.

-- This is unfair!

-- You deserve this.

-- But why?

-- Because of all the children you murdered. Don’t you remember?

-- Oh. Oh, yeah.