'2000 Years From Now the Stalagmite Will Merge With the Stalactite'

“When water flows down through the ground and into a cave, it dissolves a mineral called calcite and carries it through cracks in the ceiling. The dripping water leaves behind traces of calcite, which slowly builds up on the ceiling until a stalactite takes shape. Water from the end of the stalactite leaves more calcite in a pile on the cave floor, and pretty soon a cone-like stalagmite forms. That’s why stalactites and stalagmites are usually found in pairs”, a young Slovenian lady was educating a group of tourists while giving them a tour through the Postojna cave, the biggest and the most miraculous cave in Europe.

He was some 5 years old, he was holding his mother for the hand and he was watching in wonder those ponderous icicles which were jutting from every direction and threatening him by its greatness.

“It will pass another 2000 years before this stalagmite don’t merge with this stalactite”, the guide lady was pointing at two icicles, one that rises from the floor and another one that gets down from the ceiling.

“2000 years”, he thought to himself. That has to be a lot. But I can do it! I can live long enough to see that. 2000 years from now, I will come back here and witness the moment of merging these two icicles.”

He strongly believed he will be standing in a first row once when that historical moment take place.

However, it has not passed 2000, but 20 years when he came back to the Postojna cave. This time he didn’t return with his parents, but alone. He wanted to see the icicles which have been so bright and vivid in his mind for all these years. He wanted to see has there been any change and is those icicles any closer to each other.

“When water flows down through the ground and into a cave, it dissolves a mineral called calcite and carries it through cracks in the ceiling. The dripping water leaves behind traces of calcite, which slowly builds up on the ceiling until a stalactite takes shape”, this time was said by a young guy.

But ‘he’ didn’t care for the rote learned chemistry definitions this time either. He was interested in the icicles themselves just as 20 years ago. However, this time he was not fascinated. He was rather angry! The icicles were still at the same distance one from another and water was flowing down at the same intensity.

„2000 years from now this stalagmite will merge with this stalactite”, the Slovenian said.

“Fuck you, you stupid cunt”, he thought to himself. “It’s not 2000, but 1980! Don’t you understand that time has corroded me and that my stalagmites and stalactites merge every day, that they are not smooth and majestic like these and that they make me vulnerable and tiered. Don’t you understand that I will never witness the moment when these fucking icicles merge.”

He turned in the other direction and for the last time directed a view towards the icicles. He thought about serene children which will in 2000 years witness this absolute miracle from the first row.

©Karlo Tašler All rights reserved.