Felicity – A Philosophical Fable [Chapter 14]
Ryder knew more lore than anyone and he had never heard of a Felicity reading. The thought disturbed him, though he didn’t know why.
When Tripp told him about Mimi and her book with the colorful illustration of a little boy, he didn’t think much about it. Not at first. But then, he hadn’t given much thought to Mimi since her capture. He had been much too busy.
Ryder took little interest in the arts and enjoyments of the others. He aspired to stewardship, an honor only bestowed upon the most learned of physicists and mathematicians. So he was always studying. But the more he thought about Mimi reading, the more it disturbed him.
It probably meant nothing. He didn’t even know if she was actually reading. She might just be looking at the pictures. And even if she could read, what did it matter if she amused herself with poetry? It was an innocent enough pastime. Though unusual, it probably meant nothing. Just that Mimi was brighter than the average Felicity.
To put his mind at ease, he decided to investigate.
He tapped on Mimi’s door. She was reading and Ryder asked to see what it was. He sat on the floor. She handed the book to him. A slender clothbound book. He read the title out loud. Meditations on First Philosophy. He opened it and began to read.
What he read disturbed him greatly. It wasn’t a pretty little poem. It was metaphysical speculation. An inquiry into the nature of existence. First philosophy. The ultimate questions. How could Mimi be reading this? It shouldn’t be possible.
Ryder didn’t know what to make of it, but he knew he should put a stop to it. Metaphysics was no plaything for a Felicity.
“You shouldn’t have this Mimi,” he said as gently as he could.
He got up to leave with the book. He didn’t like having to take it away from her. She looked unhappy. In sympathy he added, “One of the others can give you a more suitable toy.” And he left.
Tripp, Wave, and Fae were sitting on the sofas when Ryder left Mimi’s room. They were talking. Sunny was painting.
Then Mimi came out of her room. She glared at Ryder. Everyone sensed that something was amiss. Everyone except Sunny, who had not looked away from her painting, but soon would.
Mimi roared. She glared at Ryder and roared. That same terrible awful roar they had heard once before. Sunny whirled around to see what the others were seeing.
The outline of Mimi wavered. Darkened and wavered. But only for an instant. Then she fled into her room.