The Red Book Of Ralston - Prologue

I’ve put part of the prologue of my current novel, book two of The Red Book Of Ralston below. I hope you enjoy it. It is mostly made up of alchemical esoterica but it does have an indirect bearing on the rest of the story.

PROLOGUE

Journal Notes

There is gnosis and episteme;

all is knowledge it would seem.

Whether illumined fair by science or magic,

it remains enigmata to me.

Note I: (Tremella Alienus Aeterna.) According to a fellow chemistry major, when taken internally for longer than a week it first creates great sores on the body and makes the user very ill. Fever-like symptoms develop, sometimes causes delirium. But this effect lasts perhaps only a month. If the user survives the effect, the immune system is greatly strengthened and it revives the body and mind and can extend the lifespan. Of this, I have no personal experience, yet, only from anecdotal evidence from Nate’s N=1 experiments, and from discussions with others who have taken it for years. I’ve been told that it must be taken regularly for its effects to continue. When paired with another substance, say, red dust, the effects are unknown. I will create a new regimen to experiment with the mushroom and Blood of the Star.

Note II: Received my shipment of Tremella Alienus Aeterna, fresh from Luna. The seller also sent a short, written explanation of the history of its use. Fascinating. Would take up an entirely new journal of observations, notes and thoughts. Talked with N. again after class about the substance. When I asked if he had used this on human subjects he would not give me a straight answer. I will assume he has, otherwise he would have simply said no. I’m eager to see what effects it might conjure.

Note III: I talked with a friend some days ago about the effects of TAA. I will call it Cup of Job. Apparently it’s one of the more popular genetically engineered alien fungi. Says he knows of secret trials on human subjects but would not elaborate further. Also has performed N=1 testing. He says along with opening up the mind’s powers of perception (though he says this is not consistent), it imbues the person with great vitality and strength, frighteningly so. But it seems that in my own experiments that the red dust, when added, shorten’s the lifespan of the subject. At least in plants, insects and rats. Didn’t expect that. Disappointing. Perhaps a good thing. I was nearly killed by the insectoid and mammalian specimens. I had to put them down immediately. The plants lived for some time, robust and seemingly healthy but then died suddenly, turning to black dust.

Note IV: Added Blood of the Star with a concentrated solution of Cup of Job. Observed several specimens over seven days. Seemed to have imbued the specimens with great vitality, strength as observed in other living beings. And it seems that the red dust when added, shorten’s their lifespans. More experiments would confirm this. It would appear N. was correct. I have no idea about the powers of perception on lesser species. No way for me to tell.