ETTING   OME   O   LFANDRA

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Hespa's Story part 8 - Explanation

"According to the theory Hespa and I have worked out, there are two, or possibly three, different types of universes.  The first is the Unwritten universe.  As far as we know, there is only one Unwritten universe, the one known Here as Real Life.  But given the 'alternate reality' theory, there may also be other Unwritten universes that we don't know about.  An Unwritten universe is one where everything that happens, happens because of the people and other forces living in that universe.  Of course, once we started speculating about gods and predestination and other such things, we realised that even an Unwritten universe might not be as unwritten as it appears, but that's too much to think about now..."

"The second type of universe is the Written one.  Basically, for every piece of fiction created by someone in the Unwritten world, a Written universe exists where those things actually took, and are taking, place.  While the people living in a Written universe usually don't realise it, everything they are doing is predetermined.  As for what happens when the writing stops..."

She pauses, and Hespa takes over.  **lets just say, in all my thick air travels, i've never been able to enter any written universe after the point at which the story finished**

Emma continues.  "The third possible type covers places like Alfandra. This is a Written universe, in that everything that happens here is seen as text by those in the Unwritten universe, but there is a major difference.  In Alfandra, and places like it, the Written people have some measure of control over what is being written.  Although I'm Hespa's typist, I can't force her to do anything, I can only type what she is already doing, to make it... real."

**and now, of course, the situation is reversed - i cannot type actions for emma unless she is actually doing them....which is a pity, since otherwise i could simply type 'emma creates a magical door and returns to real life'....but she can't do that, so i can't type it**

"Which brings us back to how I'm getting home..."