Scientists Before They Are Patriots

Dr Zhu Min rushes forward to pick up the pieces of Entelognathus.

Disaster! cries Dr Zhu Min. There goes the holotype!

Gaius steps forward, swinging his back pack off his shoulders and rummaging inside.

Superglue, says Gaius. That's what's needed.  I never go anywhere without it.

We have superglue, says Professor Lanpo Jia.

Not like this superglue, says Gaius, holding a glass jar aloft.

I think you will find your superglue will not measure up to our superglue, says Professor Mee-mann Chang.

That's where you are wrong, says Gaius. This is ancient Roman superglue. It lasts for two thousand years.

How can you know? says Dr Minchen Chow.

I know, says Gaius, because recently a Roman legionnnaire's helmet was found in Xanten on the Rhine, with silver laurel leaves stuck to the sides. The glue was still holding after two thousand years.

This is impressive. The doctors and professors are scientists before they are patriots. They come forward to look at the glue.

What's it made of? asks Doctor Minchen Chow.

Bitumen, bark pitch and beef tallow, says Gaius. And a secret ingredient, soot. Or is it sand? Or quartz? I can't quite remember. Anyway, it will repair the Entelognathus admirably. It will last another two thousand years.

Everyone agrees that two thousand years ought to satisfy anyone. It is a very long time.

Only the Entelognathus may not think so.

...........

Arthur, Sikong Shu and Not-Richie have eaten a quick lunch of fried pigs liver wrapped in Chinese small iris, and shredded mung bean skin salad, and are now on their way to Mentougu.

It is quite a long way, at the Western edge of Beijing, twelve kilometres out from the centre.

Remember it, Richie? says Arthur.

No, says Not-Richie. I don't. But you know, I've been trying......

That's a good sign, says Sikong Shu. Let's climb to the top of the mountain and look at the view.

They set down their bicycles.

We should lock them together, says Not-Richie. That way they won't get stolen.

Arthur thinks this is another good sign.

Sikong Shu locks the Team Sky bicycle and the Two Flying Pigeons together.

They begin to climb Mount Mentougu.

It is a stony path lined with stones. Up and up.

Stony.

I ...says Not-Richie. I thought..... for a moment....that I may have been here before.

They sit down at the top of Mount Mentougu.

I think we should call your friend Sweezus, says Sikong Shu.

Go on then, says Arthur.

What's his number? says Sikong Shu.

But Arthur's phone has a flat battery, and he doesn't know.