Blink Eight Times

Marser Encounter Protocol

the marser encounter protocol, see below for a transcript

[transcript]

Welcome travellers.

We are pleased that you, as is customary, are interested in learning about how our collective life is organized.

You are at the Marser meeting point.

We, the dwellers, greet you, the travelling spores, and are pleased that you want to spend some time here with us.

In our region there are approximately fifty living houses. You will recognize them by the glass bridges connecting the individual buildings. Here, various species live together, subsist, and are nourished.

During your time here, we would like to request that you spend half of your days working cooperatively—just as we do.

In return, we will gladly supply you with provisions for twice as many days as you are here with us. We look forward to you sharing your knowledge and skills with us and are keen to learn from you.

You can spend the rest of your time moving freely; our meadows and houses are yours to discover.

On some hillsides you will come across black fragments; please leave them where they are, they belong to the ground. Every five days we hold a council meeting. You’re welcome to take part, if you like.

Signed,
the fifty

greeting gesture of the marsers

[transcript]

greeting gesture of the marsers

How interesting. You’ve never seen this hand gesture before. Perhaps you’ll try it out in your dimension in the coming days. In order to find out who else has travelled to this dimension. Or don’t you dare to? Either way, please turn to page 20 now.