The Third Level

The third level was an imaginary subway of the Grand Central Station that took passengers to Galesburg, Illinois, in the 1890s. Metaphorically, it refers to a medium of escape from the harsh realities of the modern world. It is a psychological refuge where a man, burdened by war, worry, and stress, seeks the tranquility of a simpler past. It blends fantasy and reality in Charley’s subconscious mind.

No, Charley would never find the third level again. Although he withdrew three hundred dollars to buy “old currency” for the tickets to Galesburg, he could never locate the corridor that led to the Third Level again. It was a fleeting experience—a moment where his imagination allowed him to escape his reality. Once the moment passed, the path to that fantasy world vanished.

Yes, the third level was undoubtedly a medium of escape. Charley’s modern life was full of insecurity, fear, war, worry, and stress. This mental strain made his reality unbearable. His mind sought a refuge, a place of peace like the Galesburg of 1894. His psychiatrist friend, Sam, correctly diagnosed it as a “waking-dream wish fulfillment,” similar to his hobby of stamp collecting, which was also a “temporary refuge from reality.”

Inference: The letter is likely an extension of Charley’s hallucination or fantasy. It provides “proof” to his mind that his escape is real. Interestingly, it blends time and space: sent by his friend Sam (present) to his grandfather (past), yet addressed to Charley. It highlights the contrast between the tranquil pre-war era and the troublesome modern world.

The modern world is indeed full of stress. We attempt to overcome it through various means:

• Hobbies: Like Charley’s stamp collecting, hobbies provide a distraction.
• Mindfulness: Meditation and yoga help regain mental peace.
• Connection: Spending time with loved ones or pets.
• Nostalgia: Like Charley, we often romanticize the past to feel safer.

These activities act as our own “Third Levels”—temporary refuges that refresh us to face reality again.

Yes, the story is a brilliant intersection of time and space.

• Physical Space: The Grand Central Station exists in the present, but the “Third Level” physically transports Charley to the architectural style of the 1890s (gaslights, spittoons).
• Time: Charley lives in the 20th century but buys 19th-century currency. He sees a newspaper, The World, dated June 11, 1894.
• The Letter: The first-day cover mailed to his grandfather in 1894 contains a letter written by Sam (a modern man) to Charley. This knits the past and present into a single narrative loop.

Yes, what seems illogical today often becomes the reality of tomorrow.



Examples:

• Flight: Before the Wright Brothers, flying was a fantasy.
• Communication: Video calls were science fiction a century ago; now they are mundane.
• The Third Level: While illogical in a physical sense, it represents the concept of time travel or multidimensional existence, which theoretical physics (like the multiverse theory) suggests might not be entirely impossible. Imagination is often the precursor to invention.

Preserving the Past: Besides philately (stamp collecting), we preserve history through:

• Artifacts in museums.
• Literature, diaries, and letters.
• Architecture and heritage sites.
• Oral traditions and folklore.

Human Tendency: The human brain constantly shifts between time zones—regretting the past, living the present, and worrying about the future. While this allows us to learn and plan, excessive oscillation (like Charley’s) stems from dissatisfaction with the present. Accepting the present while cherishing the past is the key to balance.

Both stories explore the boundaries of reality and time.

• The Adventure: Professor Gangadharpant experiences a different historical timeline (where the Marathas won the Battle of Panipat) due to a catastrophe theory/lack of determinism in quantum theory. It is more scientific in its explanation.
• The Third Level: Charley’s experience is psychological. It is triggered by a desire to escape stress. He hallucinates a peaceful past.

While ‘The Adventure’ deals with parallel universes, ‘The Third Level’ deals with time travel as a psychological refuge. Both weave fantasy into a realistic setting seamlessly.