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[Trailhead] Samuel Lane
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Trillian
Decorated


Joined: 13 Aug 2008
Posts: 262
Location: Germany

 		I asked Sam if he's an artist, since he mentioned his 'studio' in yesterday's e-mail:

Samuel Lane wrote:
1st ¶ what are you talking about
2nd ¶ the only art i know about is my writing
3rd ¶ and also 2nd
to quote from book 17, explanation
born in the future, existance in the past
knowledge of what will last
forced to do what I know
no knowledge of what has happenedow


I'll try to get some answers re. his writing & the book he quoted from...

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:28 pm
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Leyton Stone
I Have No Life

Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 2302
Location: London (NOT Ontario!)
Trillian wrote:
I asked Sam if he's an artist, since he mentioned his 'studio' in yesterday's e-mail:

Samuel Lane wrote:
1st ¶ what are you talking about
2nd ¶ the only art i know about is my writing
3rd ¶ and also 2nd
to quote from book 17, explanation
born in the future, existance in the past
knowledge of what will last
forced to do what I know
no knowledge of what has happenedow


I'll try to get some answers re. his writing & the book he quoted from...


Think there could be something in those symbols that pop up after 1st, 2nd and 3rd?
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:30 pm
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Trillian
Decorated


Joined: 13 Aug 2008
Posts: 262
Location: Germany
Leyton Stone wrote:
Think there could be something in those symbols that pop up after 1st, 2nd and 3rd?


I didn't really think about them since I assumed they were formatting- or copy&paste-errors on his part. But I don't know.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:46 pm
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blessedSophia
Boot


Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 60
Location: Washington, DC

 		1.) The symbols after 1st, 2nd, etc are just paragraph symbols. They indicate that you should break the text into a new paragraph at that point.

2.) "Sam" is a main character in Danielewski's other book, Only Revolutions--but the female lead is Hailey, not Rachel. (For some reason, though, the name Rachel keeps jumping out at me. Wish I could pin it...)

A reason Sam might be an Only Revolutions reference:
Spoiler (Rollover to View):
(from Wikipedia) "...the teenagers move through various places and moments in time as they try to outrace History." But I never got far enough to see how their stories ended. Sad


PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:58 pm
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Trillian
Decorated


Joined: 13 Aug 2008
Posts: 262
Location: Germany

 		more "conversation":
Quote:

SAM:
haha
i write for nobody but myself
because otherwise I forget
I've learned to read quickly
constantly rereading what I write
so I constantly know even the basics
rereading emails, do not remember a breakfast

me:
Glad you're mood is improving! Smile
The breakfast we were talking about was TODAY's breakfast, but never mind!
I'm still confused about the books you're quoting from. Book 17, book 38, book 49, book 8675309,
what are they?
Also, coming back to yesterday's problem, do you still remember Rachel and do you still want to find her?

SAM:
line 1: i have been told I confuse, so I try to make more sense
2: today is the past
3: ok
4: they are my books
5: of course I do, it's what I'll be doing for as long as I remember

me:
If today is the past, what is your present?
Regarding Rachel: Do you remember the name of the train station where she'll die? If not, can you describe your surrounding at that time? Street or shop signs, something like that? I think we need more information to find her, blond and glasses isn't enough...

SAM:
now is the present
didn't you do clocks in like elementary school
nothing is visible
not even a station
freight, i suppose


I'll give up for tonight, but if anybody wants to give it a try, he is very quick with replying at the moment. Good luck!

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:01 pm
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witsEkr
Boot

Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 40

 		Robert Smith?
Okay, I just e-mailed Samuel, got a reply, asked him if there were more books, and got THIS:

Quote:
Robert Smith to A55A551N


We have an experiment going on here. I'd quite enjoy if you stopped meddling; it bothers us to no end. This experiment will determine the exactness of memory and precognition, and determine exactly what causes it. Your entrance was quite unforeseen and disturbing.
If you would kindly bow out, it would not be without much sincerity, and perhaps some flowers.

Robert Smith, Smith Laboratories.


WHAT the..... Question

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:41 pm
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icerimp
Decorated


Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 230
Location: Los Angeles, CA

 		A new character just entered -

Quote:
from Robert Smith <smithlaboratoriesSPLATgmail>
to THE A55A551N <leytonstone2009SPLATlive>
date Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 10:32 PM
subject Please.
mailed-by gmail.com

We have an experiment going on here. I'd quite enjoy if you stopped meddling; it bothers us to no end. This experiment will determine the exactness of memory and precognition, and determine exactly what causes it. Your entrance was quite unforeseen and disturbing.
If you would kindly bow out, it would not be without much sincerity, and perhaps some flowers.
Robert Smith, Smith Laboratories.


Edit: Beaten!
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:42 pm
Last edited by icerimp on Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:45 pm; edited 1 time in total
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RikaLeigh
Veteran

Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 86

 		I got it too, I asked him what kind of flowers Smile

So do we tell Sam he appears to be a test subject?

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:45 pm
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witsEkr
Boot

Joined: 28 Jan 2009
Posts: 40

 		A55A551N
Apparently we're being referred to as "assassins." Anyone else notice?

I asked Robert for info about the experiment and got a reply from Samuel in the meantime:

With regard to how many books, he said:

Of course.
1-192, in order.
The last is not mine. It defies the order.


EDIT: Conversation with Robert:

Me:
I'm very sorry - I didn't realize I was meddling. I thought I was helping. Your experiment sounds interesting. Can you tell me more?

R.S:
Ah, but I cannot know if you will use this information to the detriment of our research. I would need to request permission from the higher-ups.
-Robert Smith, Smith Laboratories.

Me:
How can I prove I will use the information appropriately?

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:51 pm
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icerimp
Decorated


Joined: 30 Apr 2008
Posts: 230
Location: Los Angeles, CA

 		Seems to have died down for the night. Sam has no idea who Robert is, or at least can't find any reference from his books.

Meanwhile..

Quote:

Me:
Mind explaining this experiment some more? And why you chose him to do it on? Who is this Rachel he's talking about? He's pretty convinced that this has all happened before.

Robert:
I chose nothing. It has all been predesigned; I feel sorry that 02 was roped into this, but sacrifices must be made. I do not know Rachel; we have monitored only him. He has no siblings, so I'd assume a young love.
As far as I figure, you and your motley crew, given the proper direction, could bring this experiment to a fantastic end.
You mind joining in?

Me:
I could help, yes, though I don't know if the rest of the group would agree to it. It sounds somewhat interesting. He really seems to have forgotten most of everything he was originally talking about, already. What would be in it for me if I joined? Aside from the satisfaction of taking part in the scientific process.

Robert:
I would hope flowers would be enough, but how about a few 'green' roses, if you catch my drift?
-Robert Smith, Smith Laboratories.

Me:
Tell me more about what I'd be required to do, and I'll decide how many green roses it's worth.

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PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:43 pm
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blessedSophia
Boot


Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 60
Location: Washington, DC
icerimp wrote:
Seems to have died down for the night. Sam has no idea who Robert is, or at least can't find any reference from his books.

Meanwhile..

Quote:

Me:
Mind explaining this experiment some more? And why you chose him to do it on? Who is this Rachel he's talking about? He's pretty convinced that this has all happened before.

Robert:
I chose nothing. It has all been predesigned; I feel sorry that 02 was roped into this, but sacrifices must be made. I do not know Rachel; we have monitored only him. He has no siblings, so I'd assume a young love.
As far as I figure, you and your motley crew, given the proper direction, could bring this experiment to a fantastic end.
You mind joining in?

Me:
I could help, yes, though I don't know if the rest of the group would agree to it. It sounds somewhat interesting. He really seems to have forgotten most of everything he was originally talking about, already. What would be in it for me if I joined? Aside from the satisfaction of taking part in the scientific process.

Robert:
I would hope flowers would be enough, but how about a few 'green' roses, if you catch my drift?
-Robert Smith, Smith Laboratories.

Me:
Tell me more about what I'd be required to do, and I'll decide how many green roses it's worth.


EDIT: nm, I'm an idiot and missed the obvious bribe reference. Ha! Ha! English major taking over.

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:52 pm
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RikaLeigh
Veteran

Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 86

 		Conversation with Sam tonight-

Quote:
Me-- Are you planning to search for Rachel in a Spanish speaking country? Where platanos grow?

Sam-- No, but I do enjoy a good banana.

Me-- Well who doesn't? You also enjoy writing, or do you do it out of necessity?

Sam-- The latter.

Me-- Time for another question. Do you know who wrote the entries in book 8675309 (Jenny would be proud by the way).

Sam-- not a clue, who is jenny

Me-- Well it's one of the names on the 8675309 list, the first one in fact.
What is the name of book 1?
How will the last book, 192, end?

Sam-- book 1: names
book 192 is entitled 'computers', it ends with the following text
'windows 7 is a failure'
'macintosh users still pretentious'
'linux users still nerds'

Me-- Well it's good to see the future doesn't really change that dramatically then.
Sam, will anything unusual happen to you soon? I know that's a strange question to ask a man whose past does not exist and was born in the future, everything is unusual, but I have some concerns for your safety.

Sam-- in 3 days
by a freight train?
at a barn?
hands slip past each other
she walks off, smiling for the first time in I do not know how long it is

Me-- That certainly does not sound like a dangerous situation, I feel better now. There must be some reassurement that comes along with knowing what is to occur in your upcoming days.
What do you remember of your mother?

Sam-- book 1, people
'Mother'
see: book 2, parents
book 2: parents
blank

Me-- What is book 3?
So you have no memory of your mother or father. You have no past. Do you have any idea how you ended up in this situation?

Sam-- book 3. 'important words of the english language'
not a clue, rika

Me-- Have all of your future memories always come true? Is your future loss of Rachel completely set in stone or can we change it.

Sam-- Book 100, memories, and book 150, history, seem to synch up.
I'd assume so.
Knowledge of the future equates to a lack of free will.
i'm going to be asleep at 9:03
tonight, i'm going to dream of lions

Me-- Pleasant or fearful dreams?

Sam-- dreams of africa are always good dreams
now it is 9:01, actually it is 9:07 according to the clock next to me, but I write off my clock on the wall, and i am going to bed good night.

Me-- Sleep well Sam


PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:21 am
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RikaLeigh
Veteran

Joined: 08 Feb 2009
Posts: 86

 		And conversation with Robert (double posting so it doesn't get too long). I edited out all the back and forth banter, will post entire transcript if needed. Lots of talk about bribery, roses, and orchids.

Quote:
Robert-- I've already described the experiment, so I figure you can contact your associates.

Me-- Does your test subject know he is part of an experiment?

Robert-- You heard of the Stanford Prison Experiment?
It wouldn't have worked if they knew they were test subjects.

Me-- You didn't answer, do you have a price?
If your test subject is not aware of his situation how did you choose him? What will become of him after the experiment is over?

Robert-- I never chose him. I chose his mother.
Every man has a price.

Me-- You chose his mother as a test subject? If so, when?
What is your price?

Robert-- I never said I chose his mother as a test subject. I simply chose her.
About 20 years ago.
My price is simple. Knowledge.
Give me that, the experiment is off.
It'd have to be an awful lot of knowledge, though.

Me-- That's why I asked for clarification, because of your phrasing. Are you his father? Where is his mother now?
Ahhh, knowledge, "all men by nature desire knowledge". I naturally expand that to include women, too.

Robert-- I do not know where his mother is. Probably in the Atlantic and Indian by now. Next time you go into the ocean, if you see some black specks, that might be her.
I am most certainly not his father. What good father would use his son for an experiment?

Me-- What is his mother?
Do you know who his father is?
Do you desire knowledge of anything specific or simply knowledge.
I hunger for knowledge all on it's own, even more than I hunger for yellow roses.

Robert-- His mother is ashes, kiddo. His father, whom I like to call '01', despite his physical interactivity in the experiment being quite little, seemed to have grown insane by the end, and the only word he ended phrase he ever spoke near the end was 'omelette du fromage'. I'm assuming that either cheese omelets were really his thing, or he was watching to much Dexter's Lab while on a bad acid trip. Soon later, he shot himself and his wife with a sawed off shotgun. With a camera on top. Great picture, that one. Had to burn it before it was discovered, though, because it showed Samuel in the background.
Couldn't have him interrogated by the police.
Knowledge is a curious thing. My particular hunger is knowledge of the future, but I also have a curious love of knowledge of flowers and marine biology.
Ever read 'The Log from the Sea of Cortez', by Steinbeck? Great book.

Me-- Yes, though I actually prefered The Pearl. I'm a pretty voracious reader. Steinbeck didn't write much that I didn't enjoy on one level or another, sometimes on level upon level all at once. I don't read a lot of non-fiction, but I did that one because of the author and ended up enjoying it for its own merits.
Was Sam born with the ability he has now or was it developed?

Robert-- I'd like to say it's genetic, but I really can't. It was a really lucky catch.
The Pearl was excellent, probably my favorite Steinbeck. Cannery Row is pretty close in tow, though.

Me-- To what end do you wish to bring the experiment to?
How was it first discovered that Sam is... unique? Well, I suppose a small child who wakes up each day yammering on about the puppy he will pet tomorrow or something might give a clue that there's a unique situation going on.

Robert-- I'd like to say my first sign of success was the fact that he was walking the moment the umbilical cord was cut.
An end is simple. It ends when I get the knowledge I need.

Me-- This is quite fascinating me, have you done experiments of this extent before?

Robert-- Of course not. Smith Laboratories likes to believe itself ahead of its time.

Me-- Right into the future, even.

Robert-- Right on the money.

Me-- Bah, money, knowledge is more valuable than money.
What are your intentions about taking this further after Sam's experiment is done?

Robert-- If I have the knowledge necessary to replicate his condition in any human being, all that is necessary is the ability to replicate his condition while being able to have cognition of the past.
There are so many benefits to this I don't know where to begin.

Me-- Well the benefits are obvious on both a personal and sociatal level, being able to see a hurricane or such months before radar detected it would allow for full evacuation for example.

Robert-- If everyone was like that, however, there would be no such thing as free will for anybody. I'd like to at least give some people that privelege.
God, my ideas are reminding me more and more of Minority Report.
I think I'm going to head off to the lab to check on the tomatoes, and then to check on my bed.


PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 12:49 am
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Leyton Stone
I Have No Life

Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 2302
Location: London (NOT Ontario!)

 		Re: A55A551N
witsEkr wrote:
Apparently we're being referred to as "assassins." Anyone else notice?


Actually we aren't. "The A55A551N" is my Windows Live/Email name lol.

I'm not sure how a lot of people got it (obviously though BCC or w/e) but mine was the only email that seemed to appear.

I also got the same email and I responded to Robert:

Quote:
To whomever this may concern,

I'm sorry to learn that I have interrupted an experiment which you seem to be conducting. However I am not partial to flowers, no matter the color of their backs and am too interested to learn about the results.

I propose that I possibly get involved in helping you with this somehow; I mean considering Mr. Lane seems to be talking to me quite considerably as of late,

-L.D.S.


Sam also emailed me:

Quote:
nothing hurts the brain, just try to get out thoughts before they're gone
apologies if incoherent, I lose things quickly
One hits her, one hits someone, can't tell who
not on the same day
I do not know what 39/4 means anymore, I apologize
According to signs on wall:
Samuel Lane
2009
19
do not know the train station it will be


Not sure how to respond here.
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:34 am
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PaperbckWriter9
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Joined: 26 Feb 2009
Posts: 131
Location: where it's bleepin' Golden

 		Hello all - I've been lurking on this one until last night when I received the same email from Robert Smith...
Below is our conversation (sorry for the length)

Me: Dear Mr. Smith,
I don't take kindly to such a brass demand. If I only knew the answers to my questions, I wouldn't "meddle" so much. I will expect a reply to my future inquires to avoid futher disturbances in the lab. I look forward to a speedy response Robert.
P.S. Even w/out conceding to your full request, my favs are Stargazer lillies...

R.S. Name your questions, answers shall be provided. Perhaps in the form of flowers. I quite enjoy orchids, myself.

Me: questions...
1. How did Smith Laboratories come to acquire Samuel Lane?
2. Why has he been chosen for this experiment?
3. Is Lane your only test subject?
4. Who has commissioned this research?
5. Why is this research so important; what is there to gain?

R.S.
1. The mother of Samuel Lane, a Mrs. Jeanette Do, signed his life off to me before birth.
2. Good taste in genes.
3. Only current one.
4. I have.
5. Knowledge is to gain. There's nothing more important.


Me: more questions...
1. Why would Mrs. Do sign off Samuel's life to you? (Even more intriging, how so before his birth? Do you mean by adoption?)
2. How did Samuel obtain his surname? (If his mother is Mrs."Do", they should have the same last name, no?)
3. What in particular makes Lane's genetic profile so appealing?
4. I understand that knowledge is the ultimate gain; however, what do you intend to do with this new found information?

R.S.
1. A copious sum of green roses, in both major definitions, seemed to have helped her in that direction. And yes, he is my adopted son, but for legal purposes only.
2. His father's name is Johnny Lane.
3. He has his father's genetically mutated DNA, including a gene that I expected to create a child with both the male and female reproductive systems. It got me something quite different indeed.

I sent off another email after this reply asking about the green roses, creating a child, etc., but never received a reply.
Those green roses don't sound very good, any ideas?

PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:30 am
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