He Is Yourself As You Might Be

Goolwa appears in the distance, just as Nietzsche is speaking of distance.

A synchronicity lost on his listeners.

Have you got that right? asks Sweezus.

Love the distant, says Nietzsche. That's right. Not your neighbour, but the Superman, the man of the future. He is yourself, as you might be.

I don't remember that, says Sweezus. What page is it on?

Page sixty three, says Nietzsche. Penguin Classics.

Uh. I haven't got up to there yet, says Sweezus.

Nietzsche frowns.

What about the neighbours? asks Ageless, who normally cares nothing for neighbours.

Man's love of his neighbour is his bad love of himself, says Nietzsche.

Heavy, says Sweezus.

They cycle towards Goolwa in silence.

Nietzsche is miffed. Sweezus hasn't even got up to page sixty three of Thus Spake Zarathustra.

Sweezus is puzzling over the meaning of bad love of himself.

Ageless is looking over the edge of Nietzsche's basket at the Catcher. How he hates the Catcher.

The Catcher has learned something useful.

Love the Distant. The Superman, yourself as you could be.

Do not tremble at the thought of what's coming.

(What's coming is WHALES. And he has committed to catch one).

Well then.

Bring it on.

.........

The cyclists arrive in Goolwa.

Now to find Surfing-With-Whales.

Sweezus calls his number.

I'm on Goolwa Beach, says Surfing-With-Whales. Just about to take a group out. Come down.

........

The beach is long and wide. The surf is crashing. A fine salt spray mists the pale air......

Surfing-With-Whales is standing in the centre of a small group of people.

He is giving them a preliminary lecture.

First of all, says Surfing-With-Whales, I want to make one thing clear. We can't go near any whales.

Aww, says a group member.

But the good news is, says Surfing-With-Whales, that it's early in the season.

Why is that good news? asks another group member.

There probably won't be any whales, says Surfing-With-Whales.

Wait a minute, says a third group member. What are we paying for? Aren't we supposed to be surfing with whales?

Not exactly, says Surfing-With-Whales. You're surfing with Surfing-With-Whales. That's me. And I HAVE been surfing with whales. Now, is everyone okay with that?

No one is, really, at first, but the surf looks kind of awesome, and it sort of makes sense not to go near the whales and there might not be any, so....yeah. Okay.

They head for the surf.

Which is what usually happens.