Magical Realism and The Enlightenment

Hideo stands there, dripping. Then turns away and walks off down the path.

The gold coin lies forgotten in the grass.

What just happened? says Rosie.

I don't know, says Belle et Bonne, but it was spooky. Let's get away from here.

She picks Kobo up and drops her in the backpack.

Don't forget the bucket, says Ageless. I could use a lift, Arthur. I'm weary.

He climbs into the bucket. Arthur picks it up.

They start the long walk back to their hotel.

..........

It is lunch time. Belle, Arthur and Rosie are having lunch with Vello and David in a cafe.

David is sceptical about the otter story.

I know otters,  says David. I have known them since my childhood. An otter may attempt a robbery. But an otter will not disappear into thin air. Nor are they known to be very avid readers.

Vello nods wisely, knowing nothing of the world of otters.

Stop nodding, papa, says Belle et Bonne. I tell you it did happen. Didn't it Arthur, Rosie?

Arthur and Rosie agree that it did happen.

Let's run through it, says David. A man jumps in the water. An otter comes out.

No evident causality, says Vello.

The otter enters the backpack, and the occupant claims the otter steals her book, says David.

 No book, says Vello.

The otter is then captured under a bucket, says David.

By me, says Rosie. You can't argue with that.

I have no argument with that, says David. But you claim you heard the sound of paper being eaten. What does that sound like?

Chomp chomp chomp, says Arthur. We all heard it.

Chomp! says David. It was not necessarily paper. Who is to say it could not have been grass?

Assuredly, says Vello. And then you say that when the bucket was upended, the otter was no longer in the bucket.

Habeas corpus, says David. No otter. And then the man climbs out of the water.

Habeas corpus, says Belle et Bonne.

No, says David. Non habeas corpus. It was the man who jumped in earlier. A different corpus. It's perfectly explicable. You have all suffered a delusion, perhaps occasioned by the sunshine. Ah, here comes our lunch!

Well then, if you're so reasonable and clever, says Belle et Bonne, where's the missing book?

Here, says Arthur, pointing.

Kafka By The Shore ( the second half, starting at Chapter 22), has just been served up to them on a plate.