The Teleportation of Gilbert Perez

On October 24, 1593, a young soldier named Gilbert Perez was found wandering dazed in the Plaza Mayor in Mexico City. On being told where he was, he insisted that he had just been on sentry duty in the governor’s palace in Manila — and indeed he was uniform of the Philippine regiment — and offered the news that the governor had just been murdered.

He was arrested for desertion and on suspicion of witchcraft.

It’s in the history books. Look it up.

About all that’s left of me — of the boy who staggered beneath the pyramids in the late afternoon sun, covered in blood, clutching his head - is the boots. They just don’t make boots like they used to. These days it’s all steel reinforced toes and orthopediac arch support. Give me cross-bound leather any day. And dye it red.

Blue jeans, now, blue jeans I’ll take.

And the name, Gil. I’ve tried to hold onto that.