PART TWO
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD

THERE WAS A DIZZY, SICKENING SENSATION OF SIGHT
THAT WAS NOT LIKE SEEING; I SAW LINE THAT WAS NO LINE;
SPACE THAT WAS NOT SPACE. I WAS MYSELF AND NOT MYSELF.
WHEN I COULD FIND VOICE, I SHRIEKED ALOUD
IN AGONY, “EITHER THIS IS MADNESS OR IT IS HELL.”
“IT IS NEITHER,” CALMLY REPLIED THE VOICE OF THE SPHERE.
“IT IS KNOWLEDGE; IT IS THREE DIMENSIONS.
OPEN YOUR EYES ONCE AGAIN AND TRY TO LOOK STEADILY.”

—Edwin A. Abbott, Flatland