On that side of the statue, the vines were not decayed, so I was able to get handholds and rise with the water instead of being swept away. I stayed close in that crevice, but soon had my head above water.
While the torrent raged in the center, a reverse eddy formed in and around the statue. Downstream on the dark side of the figure, it was more turbid. I could see a whirlpool forming and branches sucked down into it. But on this side, the water was actually tending to push me against the stone figure, keeping me safe.
There was that peace again, but with a clearer mind than before.
And so I wanted to hold that thought forever...
26
Again, nodding, Joe started awake. Daydreaming again.
"What was this book I was reading?" he thought to himself. It's that psychology text again. No wonder.
His eyes fell on a passage under his fingers: '...in certain belief-systems, it is held that a witch-doctor can enter the dreams of another and change them as needed. It has been experimentally proven with experiments on animals (Kouretsky, et al.) that their REM patterns were affected through stimulations via electrodes with a small voltages..."
Joe slapped the book shut and looked out the window for a long while.
The day was brighter, but still hazy.
The air in the room was clean, as fresh as the scrubbers could make it.
Joe just sat there and enjoyed the view for a long time, calming his mind and finding the peace within.
The sun shifted toward the west and he continued to sit there.
At last he rose, gathered his books and placed them carefully on the "To Return" table, then walked out into the hall and the hospital proper.