Bird Blood And Finger

Now they are flying to Queensland, on a plane.

Gaius and Dries are in seats 13A and 13B.

In the overhead locker, inside the orange back pack, are Terence and baby B-B.

The locker is shut. It is dark, not even faint light through the cracks.

The two bicycles, dismantled and in flat packs, are stored in the checked baggage compartment.

This place is the darkest.

In this dark place, Schopenhauer's bicycle, dismantled and flatpacked, has time to reflect on its situation.

If the purpose of life is not suffering, then existence is most ill adapted to its purpose.....

For it is absurd to suppose that the endless affliction we see every day should be accidental....

Misfortune is generally the rule......

I hope my San Marco saddle has been properly wrapped.....

It's awfully hot in this flat pack.....

Gaius's bicycle on the other hand, being insentient, is simply glad of the rest.

.......

In the overhead locker Terence and baby B-B are playing I spy.

Orange, says baby B-B.

Everything's black, says Terence.

That's right! says baby B-B. Your turn.

Orange, says Terence.

.........

Gaius and Dries are nutting out plans.

When we get there, says Gaius. We must reassemble our bicycles.

Okay, says Dries. Then what?

Ride directly to the Brain Institute, says Gaius. It's part of the Queensland University.

Good, says Dries. Then what?

Meet with Professor Marshall, and Dr Gagnon, says Gaius. They're the ones who made the ground breaking discovery.

What was it? asks Dries.

Previously, says Gaius, they showed that the mantis shrimp, or Gonodactylaceous falcetus, is able to reflect and detect circular polarising light, a rare ability in nature.

And now? asks Dries.

Their new study shows that the mantis shrimp uses circular polarisation to covertly advertise its presence to aggressive competitors, says Gaius.

It doesn't seem all that important, says Dries.

On the contrary, says Gaius. Circular polarised light travels in a spiral which humans can only detect with special lenses.

Still doesn't, says Dries. You are yet to convince me. Would you like a mint?

Thank you, says Gaius, accepting a mint.

The conversation turns to the refreshing nature of mints, TicTacs in particular.

Gaius is relieved, having not yet figured out the importance of mantis shrimps using circular polarised light either, although he suspects it has something to do with possible applications.

A loud cracking is heard in the overhead locker.

A flight attendant comes running and opens the locker.

Two drops of bird blood and a small cement finger drop out.