Romantic Philosophy

Are you going to walk barefoot? asks Gaius.

One foot bare, says Humboldt. I shall favour the shod one.

Then we need to find a shoe shop close by, says Gaius. I'll lock up, and we'll ask the neighbour.

He locks up, and they go next door.

Knock knock.

Hello again, says the neighbour. Did you deal with the smell?

Not yet, says Gaius. In fact, there is something more pressing to deal with. Where is the nearest shoe shop?

Head down Espejo to Mercado y Terminal Oriental, says the neighbour. They sell shoes there. Would your friend like to borrow a scooter?

Would you? asks Gaius.

I'd appreciate it, says Humboldt. But I don't have a licence.

It's not that sort of scooter, says the neighbour. It's my ten year old daughter's.

Very kind, says Humboldt.

The neighbour fetches the scooter, which is a red one.

Come back soon, says the neighbour. That smell will soon be escaping.

Promising to hurry, Gaius and Humboldt head off.

Humboldt soon gets the hang of the scooter.

I'm glad to see that you have excellent balance says Gaius, walking fast to keep up.

Always had it, says Humboldt. But why are you glad?

I have a proposition, says Gaius. How would you like to ride in the Tour de France, for Team Philosophe? Our captain has piles. Very painful.

Are you a team member? asks Humboldt. And who is, or was, the captain, and who else is in it?

I have been a team member on and off, says Gaius. Our team captain is Vello, otherwise known as Voltaire. Everyone knows him. He is, and I hesitate to say it, not above cheating. The other team member is David Hume, the great empiricist. He is overweight, but practical. At times we invite other philosophers to join us. We've had Schopenhauer, Nietzsche.... So, will you consider it?

I need to think about this, says Humboldt. I am a polymath, geographer, naturalist, explorer, and exponent of Romantic philosophy, but....

Romantic philosophy? says Gaius What sort is that? Does it mean you don't like competition?

Nothing of the sort, says Alexander von Humboldt. That's not the stumbling block. The problem is....

A shoe shop! says Gaius. Stop scooting!

The shoe shop is called Full Shoes. A promising title.

They go inside.

Alexander is taken by a pair of blue hiking boots with silver laces.

He decides to buy them.

What size sir? asks the assistant.

No idea, says Humboldt. Do you have a foot measuring machine?

He sits down. Thrusts out a bare foot.

It doesn't look as bad as might be expected.

But the assistant gets out the sock box.