The Light that Burns the Brightest: Chapter 7 - Lugosi and Si Ye at the Birdpark

When Si Ye begged us for help in choosing a tourist spot, he wasn't expecting...



Si Ye : THE BIRD PARK?!!!!



Jun : Well, we've been to the zoo -
M : And I can't get into Zouk -
Si Ye : What are we going to do at the Bir-



Lugosi : The Bird Park is nice.
Si Ye : - Isn't it beautiful.



Lugosi : Some of the best music comes still from nature. Some of these birds might well
have Uno bested.



M : Very nice - TOURIST SHOT!!!
Lugosi + Si Ye : ...



M : TOURIST SHOT!!!
Si Ye : Aren't you taking this a bit too far...



M : TOURIST SHO - I say, is that a mutant penguin?!
Si Ye : Quick! Now we can make our escape -

A few harried minutes later...



Lugosi : M is nice, but once in a while it feels good to escape the camera's lens...
like these koi, free in the stream. And yet, they are always yet caught in the pond. Perhaps there
is little escape for us as well. Sometimes I wonder what they think of it.
Si Ye : ...There is an ancient Chinese tale in the book of Zhuang Zi. I cannot properly translate
what I know of it in Chinese...so I'll defer to Graham's 1981 transcription...



Si Ye : "Zhuangzi and Hui Shi were strolling on the bridge above the Hao river. Zhuangzi said,
“Out swim the minnows so free and easy, this is the happiness of fish.” Hui Shi said, “You are
not a fish. Whence do you know the happiness of fish?” Zhuangzi said, “You are not me.
Whence do you know I don't know the happiness of fish?”



Si Ye : "Hui Shi said, “Granted that I am not you, I don't know about you. Then granted that you
are not a fish, the case for your not knowing the happiness of fish is complete.” Zhuangzi said,
“Let's trace back to the root of the issue. When you said, ‘Whence do you know the fish are
happy?’, you asked me already knowing I knew it. I knew it from up above the Hao.'"



Si Ye : I have never cared much for that passage - I consider Hui Shi's appearances in the
book perfunctory, playing a narrative function rather than a reflection of his historical
personage. The point of the argument itself, to me, has never seemed any more than mere
semantics. But standing here, now, like this - I cannot profess to speak for the fish, but I know I,
at least, am happy.



Lugosi : ...This is the first time I've heard you speak, I think, without anxiety or hesitation muting
your words. It is very pretty.





Si Ye : Ah. Well. *blush*



Lugosi : The coloration on that koi is most interesting.
Si Ye : Where?

Unfortunately, freedom is short-lived...



M : HOW could you just RUN OFF LIKE THAT without TELLING US?!!



Lugosi : We're really sorry.
Si Ye : We promise not to do it again.



M : Well, good! Now stand still for a tourist shot...
Si Ye : *nudge*



Lugosi : ?



Si Ye : !



M : What the - YOU COME BACK HERE NOW, I'M WARNING YOU!!!!!

* * * * * * *




Lugosi : As much as I feel slightly bad for deserting them -
Si Ye : They'll live.
Lugosi : Yes. Yes, they will.

















Si Ye : Mm.



Si Ye : I think it's getting late.



Lugosi : Yes, I suppose we should regroup.

Meanwhile...



M : @#$#@@#$ IT'S 6.30 AND THE BIRD PARK IS CLOSING WHERE THE !#@@$#@
ARE THOSE BRATS?!!!!

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