Stones Placed In One's Path

Howden beach is a horrible beach if you like sandy beaches. A good one, if you like stones.

Gaius likes stones. He picks his way along the dismal foreshore, looking for interesting specimens. A deceased jellyfish would be a bonus.

Schopenhauer likes stones. Or, let us say, he thinks he likes stones. It is no idle coincidence that his friend Goethe also loved stones.

Schopenhauer ventures down the beach a short distance, and randomly picks up a stone. A brown one with speckles. It looks like an egg but it isn't.

What was it Goethe said?

Even stones placed in one's path can be made into something beautiful.

(No doubt it sounds better in German).

Schopenhauer is looking at the egg stone, and not looking where he is going. He could easily slip on a jellyfish.

Arthur and Unni don't like stones. At least not in particular.

They sit huddled together on a large yellow rock near the bushes.

They are laughing.

They think it would be funny if Schopenhauer slipped on a jellyfish and stained his immaculate trousers.

A boy appears on the beach in the distance. It's Xavier Lim.

He walks past Gaius. Gaius looks up.

Hello, says Gaius. Are you the boy who found the giant lions mane jellyfish?

How did you know? asks Xavier Lim.

Just a hunch, says Gaius. This beach is not very populated. It seemed worth asking.

We're famous, says Xavier Lim. Me and my sister. And dad. He took the photo.

I've seen it, says Gaius. Have you seen any jellyfish lately?

No, says Xavier. But last summer there were lots of sightings. Lisa Gershwin says it's important to find out why they're increasing in numbers

I know Lisa, says Gaius. She seemed a bit cagey.

She's writing a paper, says Xavier. She thinks the one I found is a new species, and if it is she can give it a name. It's a secret until she's certain.

You seem to know a lot about jellyfish, says Gaius. Have you heard about the bright purple thysanostoma, found recently in Coolum?.

Yes, says Xavier. Lisa thinks they might be a new species as well. And have you heard the latest on comb jellies? It's really amazing.

No, says Gaius. I should be very pleased if you'd tell me.

Their DNA has almost none of the genes other animals use to make muscles, says Xavier. In fact, their entire nervous system seems to have evolved independently of all other animals. They've been given their own separate branch on the tree of life.

Goodness me! says Gaius. Are we rethinking evolution? Where might one find a  comb jelly?

But before Xavier can answer his dad calls him home for dinner.

Xavier runs off.

Gaius returns to the rock where Arthur and Unni are helping Schopenhauer brush something slimy off the seat of his trousers.