-pg131-

Tale #41

Eye

-pg132-

Alpha

I went out walking one day with the camera.
On the way home, Ojisan picked me up.

-pg133-

Ojisan

Hey, there...
You want ta take pictures of somethin' besides an old man...

Alpha

Nope.
You looked really fantastic for a second, just then.

Ojisan

I see, for a second.

-pg134-

Ojisan

You won't ever want ta look at that kinda photograph.
People would much rather look at you.

Alpha

Hmmmm........but...
No one can see them but robots.

Ojisan What!
You mean you can't print em out!

Alpha

Yeah. (Don't let go!)
Even if we could use a printer or monitor...
I don't think they've invented a way to let you see them yet.

Ojisan

Hrumph.

-pg135-

Ojisan

Well if it's like ya say it is, what's the point?

Alpha

It's um...y'know...
Like....no....
Mmmmmm.....I mean?

Ojisan

...............well...
We don't have a printer anyway.

Alpha

........right.

Ojisan

Wonder if we could make it show up on a TV?

Alpha

Ah ha ha.

-pg138-

Alpha

I couldn't find the words fast enough to explain to Ojisan about the
photographs.
I don't think the pictures I take with this camera are very different from
photographs.

-pg139-

Alpha

The picture of Ojisan I took earlier....

-pg140-

Alpha

Time turned back from evening, spreading the earlier scene perfectly before
my as as if lying to them.
It wasn't moving, but it looked like it might at any second.

-pg141-

Alpha

I hadn't ever really worried about it.
When I looked at the pictures this camera had taken, it made the past real
for me, no matter how much time had passed.
I feel as if I am seeing each moment of the past.
I can't be sure of it, but...
An older photograph...

-pg143-

Alpha

The feeling I had was that I was really using this camera for the fun of
it.

-pg144-

Alpha

.......
When I open my eyes, there a moment when I can't tell which is real, the
present or the past.

-pg146-

Alpha

Right now the photo of Ojisan...feels very precious to me.

Tale #41: Closing