The Great Chain Of Swapping

Arthur explains how he came by the bike.

My bike was missing, says Arthur. So I  took another one.

That is actually stealing, says Sweezus.

It's the Great Chain of Swapping, says Arthur. Someone's got mine.

But not the same person, says Sweezus.

Why does it matter? says Arthur.

Because, says Sweezus. There's someone without one.

And that's bad? says Arthur.

Yes, says Sweezus. That's bad.

I was that person, says Arthur. The person without one. Now what are you thinking?

I'm thinking, says Sweezus, that radical freedom underpins human existence.

I knew you'd come round, says Arthur.

Yeah, says Sweezus, Sartre knew something. The human condition means we're free to invent ourselves. As opposed to the unproblematic world of things.

Arthur thinks about the unproblematic world of things.

The sand and the sea and the sky. The bicycle. The bamboo stick in his pocket. ( How did that get there?). His new Astroboy.

What about Astroboy, says Arthur?

What about him? says Sweezus.

Is his world unproblematic? says Arthur.

Sweezus looks at the toy. Cute little robot. Wide eyes. Glossy black geometric hair. Red jet-propelled boots.

Sure, Astroboy had his problems. Created by Dr Tenmu to replace his son Tobio who was killed in a car crash. But rejected because he never got older and couldn't express human emotions. Later he was sold to a circus.

But hey.

Yes, says Sweezus. He's a toy. Not the real cartoon one.

Arthur shoves Astroboy back into his back pack.

Astroboy smiles his fixed smile. His world is so complex you wouldn't believe. Layer on layer of sadness and misunderstanding.

.........

Meanwhile, back in Barcelona, Vello and David are in a cafe, waiting for Schopenhauer, who has been shopping.

Here he comes now, with a lady.

Hello chaps, says Schopenhauer. Sorry I 'm late. Meet Maria Goyri de Menendez Pidal, a fellow philosopher. Now then, don't look so surprised.

Had they looked surprised?

Maria didn't think so. But now she has been alerted, and her feminist hackles are up.