The Boat

I awaken on a boat floating silently down a dark river.

I am on deck staring out at the surrounding jungle, waving away rabid mosquitos. The trees drift by in slow monotony. We have been on this river forever, it seems to me. 

Suddenly, I see a flicker of movement: a face in the distant trees. My heart beating, I turn around.

There it is again! 

One by one, faces flicker and begin to appear all around me. But there is something strangely familiar about them. Those familiar eyes, skin; that familiar hair falling wrecklessly to the ground. 

I have seen this face before: it is my own.

Yes, I am surrounded by myself. Everything -- the trees, the water, the mud -- are all mirrors. All of the world is nothing but me. I will be on this river, endlessly drifting, forever.

But suddenly, the river begins to widen. Crowds of people stand on the shore waving, shouting, and cheering. I wave back, weeping happily -- I have finally escaped!

But then, I notice a child staring solemnly from shore. I gasp -- the child's face is mine. All of the faces begin to change, one by one. I fall down, screaming silently; everything goes black. 

I awaken on a boat floating silently down a dark river.

I am on deck staring out at the surrounding jungle, waving away rabid mosquitos. The trees drift by in slow monotony. We have been on this river forever, it seems to me.