The Mountain Shadow

by Gregory David Roberts

‘A thing is complex, to the degree that it expresses the set of positive characteristics,’ he replied. ‘The positive characteristics?’ ‘The set of positive characteristics includes Life, Consciousness, Freedom, Affinity, Creativity, Fairness and many others.’ ‘Where does this set of positive characteristics come from? Who made the list?’ ‘They are universally recognised, and would be recognised by your more evolved and advanced alien species, I am sure. If you look at their opposites, you’ll see why they are positive characteristics – Death, Unconsciousness, Slavery, Enmity, Destruction, and Iniquity. You do see what I am saying, don’t you? These positive characteristics are universal.’ ‘Okay, if we accept the set of positive characteristics, how do we measure it? Who gets to measure it? How do we decide what’s more positive, and less positive, Idriss?’ A black cat came to stand near us, arching its back.