Katabasis: A Journey into the Mind

By John Walters

After traveling to India to take advantage of cutting-edge psychiatric technology, a jaded ailing old man embarks on a guided journey through his memories to locate and correct errant decisions that shaped his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Walters
• Release date: Jul 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386557616

John Walters

John Walters recently returned to the United States after thirty-five years abroad. He lives in Seattle, Washington. He attended the 1973 Clarion West science fiction writing workshop and is a member of Science Fiction Writers of America. He writes mainstream fiction, science fiction and fantasy, and memoirs of his wanderings around the world.

Book preview

Katabasis

They sat on the balcony of the four-star hotel as the sun neared the horizon, watching it stain the water blood red, tangerine orange, and quicksilver.  Waves lapped gently on the almost-flat beach.

It was all wrong.

We can't watch this from here, said Devon.  Let's go down where we can get our feet wet.

Mythri smiled, said, All right, and retied her long shimmering black hair.

By the time they had descended the steps and walked out over the warm sand until it became damp, he had felt the change ripple over the landscape, causing him to experience slight nausea and dizziness.  Mythri was gone and he was alone.

A barefoot man with chopped-off unkempt hair in beige trousers and a short-sleeved red shirt approached him.

I thought I had more time, said Devon.

It's always up to you, said the man.  And for you, this is all it took.

I hoped to...

What?  Remain at the edge?  Rest up?  Prepare yourself?  What would be the point?  You are ready, are you not?  This is what you came for.

Where is Mythri?

She brought you this far.  That was her task.

She is very...congenial.

The man agreed Indian-style, by smiling and shaking his head from side to side in a western negative gesture.  She is a wonder.  And I am not much of a replacement.  But I will not be with you for long.  I am only here to set you on the right path.  It has been many years and you may not remember it.

Thank you.  I appreciate the guidance.

It is nothing.  This way.

He led Devon over the deep sand, under palm trees and between huts thatched with palm fronds.  They came to more solid ground where