Audio log: Dreams

Two characters discuss dreams.

## Location

Head to the upper side of the cavern elevator. There's nearby a double shortcut that leads to the swamp area. Climb up the stairs, on your left you'll soon see a small tree. Check down the roots to find another tape.

## Transcript

Then the occupant of the first would shout to keep him clear. And if the other did not hear the first time, nor even when called three times, bad language would inevitably follow. In the first case there was no anger, and in the second there was; because in the first case the boat was empty, and in the second it was occupied.

And so it is with man. If he could only roam empty through life, who would be able to injure him?

Zhuangzi, 4th century B.C.

So how'd it go?

I don't know. I don't remember.

What?

Oh, it's not - it's normal for me. I never remember my dreams. If I try right when I wake up, I can just barely remember fragments. Later in the day, even 20 minutes later, those fragments are gone. Unless I wrote them down - then if I read them later, it's like, \_these are the ramblings of a crazy person\_.

Yeah, but, then, how do we know there aren't side effects, I mean, do you remember everything else? About your life?

It's fine! We're just doing suppression, not - lobotomies. Everything's still there. In dreams we often take on personalities that are a little different; We forget details of our waking life and 'remember' fictions in their place.

How does that happen?

Well ... we're just using the same pathways. It's fine.

But really, how should I know if something's missing? If you forget a few random little things, how would you remember that you forgot? Nothing big is missing. I don't think.

Wait. Who are you, again?

Oh God, why did we let you go first.

First hasn't happened yet! I was just dipping my toes into the pool. \_Real\_ first happens when someone dives right in and gets to decide for themselves when to come out.

Who's \_that\_ going to be? You?

Ugh. I long for the days when we weren't so sure we'd be doing anything this scary.

It'll be fine! It's not scary. It'll be fun. So fun you don't even remember.

Okay now. Shoo. I want to re-record this one before I go home. I have some new ideas about it.

What, because of the test?

Yes, because of the test. Possibly.

I thought you didn't remember anything.
Hmm. Interesting.

Yeah. Have a good night. I'll see you tomorrow.

## Story implications

This is a big one when it comes to story. Here, we hear that the project that we are in is some sort of project where the subject is put into a dream-like state and some kind of experience is simulated throughout their conciousness. There were worries that some parts of the brain might get overwritten throughout this experience, leading to possible memory loss.
This would fit well with the Secret ending where we see the main character waking up, having been in the simulation for multiple days and see them unable to function normally in the real world anymore.
The implication here is that the main character has been on the island so long that his brain has been rewired to the point where he can't function normally anymore.

There is also the implication that there is going to be some sort of longer-term test planned where the subject will decide for themselves if they will come out or not. It is unclear if the main character is doing that test or if something has gone wrong with the project and the main character is the only one left on the team.

The quote starts with  The Chuang tzu log.

## Relation to the six themes of the Witness

This relates to Theme 3: Faith.

The character who has already gone into the experience believes that the only way to learn more about this thing is to actually go through with it, despite the risks. She looks forward to someone "diving right in" in order to find the real truths they have been working towards.