Those That Tremble As If They Were Mad

Mermaids? says Carl Linnaeus. But mermaids are fabled creatures.

Wait, says Hui Zhong. The next category is:

6. FABULOUS ONES

There you are, says Gaius. Could there be an overlap?

Overlap? says Carl. Oh I see, overlap. As in female top overlaps fishy bottom.

Exactly, says Gaius. So one can be both a mermaid, and a fabulous one.

Then why have two categories? asks the father of modern taxonomy.

You will see when I tell you the remaining eight categories, says Hui Zhong,

Mummy, says Mai-Mai, holding up her System of Vegetables. What does this look like?

A mole, says Hui Zhong, without hesitation.

It was better when it was an elephant, says Mai-Mai sadly.

Never mind, says her mummy. Why not give it a horn?

A horn? splutters Carl Linnaeus. What will that make it? A molicorn?

Mai-Mai laughs at the very idea of a molicorn.

Ah, here we are, says Hui Zhong, who has consulted her smart phone.

7. STRAY DOGS
8. THOSE THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THIS CLASSIFICATION
9. THOSE THAT TREMBLE AS IF THEY WERE MAD

I'm beginning to admire this system of classification, says Carl Linnaeus. Many animals tremble as if they were mad.

Indeed, says Gaius. I have often observed it.

( He recalls several instances where he has observed it. )

Hui Zhong continues:

10. INNUMERABLE ONES
11. THOSE DRAWN WITH A FINE CAMEL HAIR BRUSH

Mummy, I need a fine camel hair brush, says Mai-Mai.

No, Mai-Mai, says her mother. You must be satisfied with your new pencils.

12. ET CETERA

Et cetera! says Carl Linnaeus. Nothing is left out!

13. THOSE THAT HAVE JUST BROKEN THE FLOWER VASE

My personal favourite, says Hui Zhong.

Our cat did that once, says Mai-Mai

14. THOSE THAT AT A DISTANCE RESEMBLE FLIES

Most comprehensive, says Gaius.

.........

In Sydney Airport, at a distance from those you are meeting, flies are what they resemble.

And you resemble a fly to them too, if they're not short sighted.

Arthur and Pablo spot Unni just as she spots them.

Arthur, Pablo! cries Unni. It's so nice to see you!

Hello, Unni, says Pablo. This is Dries. He's come with us. He's one of the Twenty Persons.

I know all about the Twenty Persons, says Unni. Dad told me. I've brought you the egg.

This is wrong, says Dries. We are not having the egg. We are going to meet with your father and begin instructing the Bristlebirds.

So you don't know, says Unni.

That they're dead? guesses Arthur.

Yes, says Unni. This egg is the only thing we've got now. Dad wants you guys to have it. Keep it warm. It'll hatch soon.

She shoves it at Arthur.

Bad choice, thinks Arthur, taking the egg and dropping it into his pocket.

Ting!

The egg  trembles as if it were mad.