Synchronicity On The Way To Butterfly Valley

Arthur and Bunny meet Chucky and Steve at the marina early next morning.

They climb on board the gulet and set sail for Butterfly Valley.

Soon they are floating along in the sunshine, on the clear blue Mediterranean water, passing palm trees and rocks and ancient Lycian tombs, with their lids all askew.

Arthur wants to stop and look inside one of the tombs, but Chucky and Steve want to keep going.

You guys'll love Butterfly Valley, says Chucky. It's so cool there. Like I mean really awesome.

Are there butterflies there? Bunny asks.

Mega numbers, says Steve. At this time of year.

What time of year is it? asks Arthur.

June, says Bunny.

Already? says Arthur. He starts doing calculations.

So, says Bunny, are you guys naturalists or what?

Nah, says Chucky. We're mathematicians. What about you?

I'm a.... an editor, says Bunny. I do a lot of work for Velosophy, the philosophy and cycling magazine.

Oh yeah, heard of it. Awesome! says Steve. What about your French guy?

He's a poet, says Bunny. He's famous.

Yeah, what's his name? asks Steve.

Arthur Rimbaud, says Bunny.

Ha ha, laughs Chucky.

No, says Steve. He really looks like that dude in the photo.....

Yeah, says Chucky. It's him! That's so awesome!

Do you guys only ever say awesome? asks Bunny. You know why I like Arthur?

Arthur looks up.

It's because he NEVER would EVER say awesome, says Bunny.

Yeah, well he's a poet, says Chucky. And now I know why you're an editor.

But you guys don't act like mathematicians, says Bunny. Do some maths.

It's called math in our country, says Steve. Yeah well, we're both into number theory. It's pretty exciting just now.

Really? says Bunny doubtfully.

Really, says Steve. Did you know last month someone came up with a proof for the twin prime conjecture?

Yeah, says Chucky. Do you know what that is?

Bunny nods. She knows what twins are, at least.

And, here's something even more awesome, I mean amazing, says Chucky. On the very same day, can you believe it, the VERY SAME DAY, another guy came up with a proof for the Goldbach conjecture. The weak form, that is. What are the odds?

Bunny tries looks stunned at this amazing piece of synchronicity.

Arthur hasn't been listening. A poet doesn't need to. He is about to come up with a conjecture for which the proof has already been announced.

But the gulet reaches the landing cove at Butterfly Valley before it comes out of his mouth.