The Potentiality Of The Void

The oily cabbage passes through Farky rapidly.

He needs to go outside.

A powerful stench fills the garden.

Holy crap! says Sweezus.

Good for the roses, says Gaius.

Gaius's phone rings. It's Vello.

Yes, yes, says Gaius. Almost done. I'll drop it by shortly.

You writing something for Vello? asks Sweezus.

Supposed to be, says Gaius. I'd agreed to write an article on Professor Xu Xing. Then I had the fall and concussion.

Did you have an angle? asks Sweezus.

Oh yes, says Gaius. Ninety degrees.

I meant for the story, says Sweezus.

Indeed, most intriguing, says Gaius. See that bicycle, in the shed there?

Yeah, says Sweezus. Professor Xu Xing was riding it. Looks like Schopenhauer's.

It is, says Gaius. The remarkable thing was, whoever rode it began to think like Schopenhauer.

No kidding, says Sweezus. Did they want to keep stopping at restaurants?

Not that aspect of Schopenhauer, says Gaius. No. They made various pronouncements on suffering.

Doesn't everyone? says Sweezus.

Farky comes bounding up, feeling lighter, to prance around Sweezus, whom he likes more than anyone.

No intention of making a comment.

But Farky has reckoned without his Omniscient Teeth.

Ask me about suffering, says Om-Farky.

You see? says Gaius. And this hound has not even ridden the bicycle. He's simply in its vicinity.

Yeah, but...... that wasn't a pronouncement, says Sweezus.

Gaius bends down.

What do you know about suffering? asks Gaius.

How to r-i-i-ise above it, says Om-Farky. How to harness the void and its latent potentiality.

You hear that? says Sweezus. Sports-Med-Psychology!

Yes, says Gaius. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Yes, he is, says Om-Farky. But I warn you, you're heading for discord.

Nonsense, says Gaius. You'd give us a tremendous advantage.

Massive, says Sweezus. You're coming with us to Utrecht!

Farky leaps up, wagging his tail.

His Omniscient Teeth are reluctant to spoil the joyful moment.

But truth above all.

You two are on different teams, says Om-Farky.

Not necessarily, says Gaius. I could ride for Team Condor.

Sweezus does a quick mental calculation.

Him, Arthur, Pablo. That's three. Yep, there's room on the team for another.....but....Gaius? He was going to ask Surfing-With-Whales.

The universe trembles.

A yellow leaf falls from an apricot tree.

The results of the Tour de France (possibly) hang in the balance.