The disturbance had arisen from somewhere along the edge of
the small, warm pond that had been home to the colony of algae
for almost a full moon cycle. The Collective Thoughts of the
billions of microscopic plant cells searched somewhat irritated
for the source of the commotion. After all, it was a beautiful,
sunny day and everybody was busy basking.
It was unheard of that the harmony of the Collective Thoughts
of a growing population of algae was disturbed. “This
better be good” permeated the Collective Thoughts to
every individual to make it clear that it was annoyed. Carefully
probing in all directions, the Collective Thoughts examined
the pathway by which the distressed thought had been communicated.
Finally, an algal cell gently basking on the northern edge
of the pond was identified as the cause of the disturbance.
The Collective Thoughts enveloped the individual to carefully
study what the algal cell was concerned about.
The algal cell was obviously very uncomfortable. It was tempted
to shut down its metabolism to avoid attention but it was
too late for that. The Collective Thoughts had already started
to penetrate the algal cell in order to study the reason behind
the alarm. The algal cell already deeply regretted its digression
from the Common Harmony and just wanted to escape but, no
matter where the frantic motion of its flagellum drove it,
the Collective Thoughts would not budge. “You have to
communicate why you raised our attention” signalled
the Collective Thoughts angrily. Finally resigned to its fate,
the algal cell let the Collective Thoughts begin the examination.
“You have only got yourself to blame” thought
the algal cell before being overwhelmed by the combined thoughts
of its billions of kin.
“Right, now explain to us what you are concerned about.”
demanded the Collective Thoughts. “I sincerely apologise
for the disturbance…” replied the algal cell somewhat
hesitatingly, “I realise that you all just want to get
on with growing and dividing and…”. The algal
cell was rudely interrupted. “Exactly! So you better
get to the point!” barked the Collective Thoughts, already
with a piercing edge. The algal cell worried. It was not advisable
to be on the bad side of the Collective as they could do nasty
things to individuals. “Dear Collective”, it continued
in a subdued manner, “I have recently been to the boundary
layer and noticed that it had moved up considerably since
I last went down.” The Collective Thoughts were exasperated.
That was it? The boundary layer, as every algal cell in the
pond knew, was the depth below which the brightness of the
light was too inefficient to sustain photosynthesis. Any algal
cell trapped there for too long was doomed. “So what?
Billions of us have noticed the same thing… and that
is why you have broken the Collective Harmonic Thoughts?”
There was a veiled threat implicated in this question, and
the lone cell immediately realised it was now arguing for
its life. “Yes, you have all noticed it, but have you
also considered why this is?” The question was a good
one and there was stunned silence by the Collective Thoughts.
No, it was obvious, none of the algae had tried to find out
why the boundary layer had been creeping ever upwards towards
the surface of the water in the small, warm pond. “You
will need to explain to us why this is important?” the
Collective Thoughts responded. “Well, it is like this.
Many, many generations ago the First One arrived at this pond.
Since then, we have been dividing and the water has become
somewhat crowded and opaque lately, as I am sure you all have
noticed as well.” Stunned silence again underlined with
a slightly raised threat level. The lone cell knew it had
to make its move. “I have been doing some calculations.
As a matter of fact, I had just finished my calculations when
the thought escaped that, ahm, awoke your interest. I calculated
that currently the Collective occupies more than half of the
total volume of water above the boundary layer.” This
revelation was yet again met with stunned silence. The Collective
Thoughts were not astonished by the mathematical feat, which
was really second nature to all of kin, but by as to why this
revelation was worthy of disrupting the Collective Harmony.
“Do you not understand the implications for tonight?”
the loner passionately asked. “The majority of us will
be dividing tonight. As a matter of fact, there is some division
going on right now pushing us ever closer to doom! One more
division by all of us and we will occupy the entire body of
water above the boundary layer. It will be filled by the Collective
by tonight!” The lone cell was exhausted. It felt the
surges of indifference, hatred, concern and, somewhere, sympathy
before the Collective Thoughts replied resolutely: “We
still do not understand your concern! What are you saying:
that we should stop dividing?” This was a preposterous
thought and a hum of amused laughter rippled through the pond.
Unbelievably, the lone cell answered back: “Yes, that
is exactly what I am asking the Collective to do. We have
simply run out of space and need to start making plans to
occupy New Water.” The lone cell could not comprehend
that its kin did not follow. It was so obvious, the calculations
were very clear-cut. One more division by the majority of
kin and the liveable area of the pond would be exhausted,
filled with billions upon billions of algae vying for some
space in the top layer of water. Although it had taken uncounted
divisions to get to this stage, only one more by the colony
would do it. There would be pushing and ramming and desperate
last attempts by dying kin to reach the top and, ultimately,
a mass die-off. It was all just one division away. The Collective
Thoughts were now boiling with anger. Incredulously, the Collective
Thoughts asked again with barely concealed anger: “So
you want us to stop growing and dividing, even though that
has been the reason for our success in this Water? Even though
this has always been the proven way ever since the First One?”
It was an outrageous suggestion and the Collective Thoughts
approached the lone cell menacingly: “You are honestly
suggesting that we are to deviate from the path that has made
us successful? You are suggesting that what has been the right
way ever since the First One is now all of a sudden wrong?”
Driven by the Collective Thoughts, the mass of algae started
to close around the lone cell. Slowly but surely the combined
mass of the Collective started to push the obviously highly
disturbed kin towards the boundary layer. There was only one
way one could deal with an aberration.
The lone cell did not fight for its life. It was pointless.
One could not fight the Collective. And as the lone cell was
pushed deeper and deeper into the dark void, it noticed that
the boundary layer had again shifted slightly towards the
surface of the small, warm pond.
