Book III — Constraint

Sure 4 — The Walk

In the name of the becoming.

3.4.1 Recall the community tasked with walking.

3.4.2 At first they knew where they went. They had a destination.

3.4.3 They walked toward the mountain. The mountain was far.

3.4.4 Then they began to measure the walk. They measured speed.

3.4.5 They measured steps. They measured efficiency.

3.4.6 The fastest walkers were rewarded. The most efficient were praised.

3.4.7 They optimized the gait. They optimized the stride.

3.4.8 They measured calories. They measured distance per hour.

3.4.9 The metrics improved. The walk became perfect.

3.4.10 But no one asked why they walked. The why was forgotten.

3.4.11 The mountain remained. They had ceased to look at it.

3.4.12 Some walked in circles. The circles were efficient.

3.4.13 Some walked backward. The backward walk had better metrics.

3.4.14 One day they stopped. There was nowhere left to go.

3.4.15 The destination had been lost. Only the walking remained.

3.4.16 Optimization is not purpose. The metric is not the goal.

3.4.17 They perfected the path. They lost the direction.