Psychic Sound Club

MARGARET LISS:

A few years ago I scanned all of Dave Sim's notebooks. He had filled 36 notebooks during the years he created the monthly Cerebus series, covering issues #20 to 300, plus the other side items -- like the Epic stories, posters and prints, convention speeches etc. A total of 3,281 notebook pages detailing his creative process. I never really got the time to study the notebooks when I had them. Just did a quick look, scanned them in and sent them back to Dave as soon as possible. So this regular column is a chance for me to look through those scans and highlight some of the more interesting pages.

Last week we look at some of the "(t)wenty pages of closely-spaced Suenteus Po / Cerebus dialogue" as Dave called the many pages of text found in notebook #2. We saw pages 2 and 3 wherein Cerebus was telling Po how he could steal some money from Lord Julius, but couldn't figure out a way to do it in some unused dialogue from Cerebus #28.

Notebook 2, page 4

So Dave's text continues. . .

Cerebus: Cohesion and force. It wasn't just that they wouldn't tell Cerebus where his conspirators were, they didn't know where they were. No one did. Except Lord Julius of course.

Po: So you left.

Cerebus: Aye, after that Cerebus met some T'Gitans with a solid plan for conquering Palnu's  territories. The plan looked solid, anyway. Cerebus was in Togith trying to find some loot for a [illegible] when he  ran across Perce and Wenda. (Margaret notes: the events of issues 18 & 19.)

Po: You got away though.

Cerebus: In a manner of speaking. Cerebus woke up about a month later in Beduin and found out the T'Gitans had been wiped out by Palnan city-guards. Cerebus still doesn't know how he managed.

Po: No idea how you got there. Well you're safe anyway.

Cerebus: to escape while drugged.

Po: Mm. Possibly Kevilinist, as a splinter group of rebellion within the ranks the Cirinists organization, they might have had a good reason to see that you didn't throw in with Wenda and her people. Possibly orthodox Tarimites with an eye on Wenda's activity decided you were too important to throw to the lions leave in their bonds.

Cerebus: Important? Why would Cerebus be important?

Po: Well I th... everyone's important. They might have been trying to to the [crossed out].  They might have thought the Cirinists had recruited you. As far as they knew you were a threat to their plans for Togith, a dangerous unknown comodity (sic). They saw their chance to get you out of the way.

Cerebus: Then why didn't they jail Cerebus

Po: Who do you think I am? His Holiness? I don't know how they think.

Notebook 2, page 5

The dialogue continues on page 5:

Cerebus: What about your own little group?

Po: The Illusionists? We're not really that major a force of any kind. We tend to just gather together to exchange opinions on the state of the world. Those of us who have learned to meditate deeply enough to reach the seventh sphere. Keep track of what others in the group are doing.

Cerebus: Sort of a psychic sound club.

Po: I'm not sure I like your tone.

Cerebus: Come on -- you've just finished describing the complexities of government and the state of the confrontation in almost every city of Estarcion. You really expect me to believe that you have no motives besides a little chit-chat?

Po: Naturally, we are interested in the ongoing state of our environment, but we are very peaceful and introverted by our nature. In our view each person must find his own way. Interference in the process of self-determination tends to pollute the process itself.

Cerebus: You haven't got the tiniest foothold anywhere -- No illusionist in high places. In high places the great consuls of the world.

Po: I've Followers of our disciplines have a great range of occupations, we don't find making a living to be mutually exclusive of following Illusionist discipline.

Cerebus: And if an illusionist happened to be -- say -- director of secretary of the treasury for a major city and if he decided, with no influences from you, to siphon off a few copper bits for the illusionists collection plate, that would be his business, right?

Po: There's no evidence that has ever happened.

Cerebus: There's no evidence that Lord Julius is robbing his people blind either, but I don't think either of us would be inclined to doubt it.

Po: Haha -- a point well observed.  You know it - all types tend to be cut from the same cloth.

Cerebus: You love to astonish flash your knowledge and not theories.