The Institute Page #3

and things like that.

And then, at the very end of the

cycle, it comes together, and

it's the same face that was in

the alley.

About the same time, I got a

text message saying, "Tune in to

Radio Nonchalance in

upper Dolores Park. "

I actually drove up here in my

car because I didn't have a

radio.

And I sat in my car for about a

half an hour listening to this

station.

Over the course of an hour,

there were strange news factoids.

There was an interview with the

proprietor of the world's

smallest postal service.

There was talk of strange

conspiracy.

There was a rant against

Octavio Coleman.

There was all sorts of fun

stuff.

It felt very much like listening

to someone like Art Bell on the

radio.

You can't tell if he's for real

or not.

And now cryptic radio brings

you the secret of Nonchalance.

What is Nonchalance?

And who are its hidden

followers?

This is your announcer,

Commander 14, broadcasting for

a limited time on this special

frequency.

Keep tuned for vital

information.

Follow along as we disclose a

world whose secret presence may

mean the difference between

enlightenment and total

incomprehension.

And just what do we mean by

nonchalance, anyway?

A casual way of sauntering down

the street?

A kind of cool, perhaps?

You like cartoons, don't you?

Of course you do.

Everyone likes cartoons.

Observe as our animated

protagonist stumbles blindly

out of bed, down the stairs,

and out the front door, onto a

busy street.

He easily but narrowly dodges

impending danger, seemingly

without effort or awareness.

Bricks from a construction site

almost but do not fall on him.

At the last minute, as he's

about to step into an open

manhole in the street, he's

miraculously spared the fall.

And after numerous similar

close calls, his unconscious

path is turned around in a

revolving door.

And in his own building, by

fortunate coincidence, he's

somehow returned to bed,

unharmed by the end of the

cartoon.

This ability, to be supported

and guarded by extraordinary

good luck, is called

"divine nonchalance. "

By definition, the nonchalant

is wonderfully scattered and

lacking in all external

direction.

The ride is fantastic, but the

destination remains uncertain.

You are listening to

Radio Nonchalance, dispatches

from Elsewhere.

Support for this program has

been provided by the

Elsewhere Public Works Agency.

Now back to our program.

Well, the EPWA's position on

the Jejune Institute is that

they were selling false

nonchalance.

And what they meant by that, as

best as I can tell, is that

that creative spark which drives

humanity cannot be marketed,

cannot be sold, cannot be given

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