ALLEGORY: Grimpil and the “Land of Ocula”

At an opportune time in his journey, Grimpil found himself in a land called “Ocula”. He sojourned into the village, and discovered that none of the citizens spoke—they all used sign language.

“Are all of you hearing-impaired?” he signed to one of its citizens (for Grimpil was fluent in sign and many other languages).

“What is ‘hearing-impaired’?” the citizen replied.

“Why, the inability to perceive sound,” Grimpil replied.

“What is ‘sound’?,” she replied.

“It’s like THIS” and Grimpil shouted a loud “Hello! Hello!”.

The citizen signed: “I saw you exhale with vigor, but I still have no idea what you mean by ‘sound’.”

“OVER HERE! OVER HERE” Grimpil heard, and following the sound he found a young lad shut up in a pillory.

“Are all the citizens of this region deaf?” Grimpil asked Pillory Boy.

“Only by habit,” Pillory Boy replied. “Infants can hear well enough, but by upbringing, and the mockery and pressure of their peers, they soon learn to shut out and turn off their God-given ability to hear.”

“And why are you shut up in this pillory?” asked Grimpil.

“I had the temerity to suggest that they use their ears to hear! To LISTEN!” replied Pillory Boy.

“This is ridiculous!” said Grimpil. “I shall speak to the magistrate at once and secure your release.”

With just a few inquiries, Grimpil soon found the Magistrate.

“Is it true,” Grimpil demanded, “that you have pilloried a young man for the supposed crime of suggesting that people use their ears to hear? To LISTEN?”

“That is a very serious crime, a very serious crime indeed!” said the Magistrate. “All of our scientists agree that there is nothing beyond the four senses. This ridiculous and discredited notion of ‘sound’ is nothing but the deluded ravings of deranged minds.”

“But I can hear perfectly well,” said Grimpil.

“Of course you… CAN’T!” said the Magistrate. “Any supposed experience of an extra-sensory perception like ‘sound’ would have to be irrational and contradict the four senses.”

“Not at all,” said Grimpil. “My experience of ‘sound’ dovetails perfectly with my experiences from my other four senses. I have never experienced any contradiction at all!”

“You speak very dangerous words, stranger. In times past we have tortured and even killed those who have suggested the existence of this so-called “fifth sense.” Such ravings are a threat to our society and we won’t have it! I suggest that you leave our village immediately, or you’ll be joining your friend in the pillory—or worse!”

“Can I take Pillory Boy with me?” asked Grimpil.

“Begone with you both!” signed the Magistrate, who ordered the bailiff to release Pillory Boy and escort them both under heavy guard to the edge of their land. “Return at your grave peril!” signed the Magistrate.

So Grimpil shook the dust off of his sandals and hurried away on his journey with his new companion Pillory Boy.