From the novella/short story collection The Poison Garden © Meighan Chimera, 2014.
*****
Suibhne is looking at photographs. Photographs are more or less confusing than holographs. Photographs are less confusing because there are actual physical patterns of ink. They are more confusing because they are flat. Holographs are more confusing because they are patterns of energy. They are less confusing because they take up space.
Did you know that many Cu’enashti are potters? Dolparessan pottery is famed throughout the galaxy. It is sold at a premium to the tourists.
Do you see the connection?
I don’t either, because Suibhne is not looking at pottery, which would be something easy for him to understand.
This is why Suibhne likes to play with toy soldiers. Davy plays with him. Davy likes toy soldiers because they are a kind of puppet. Davy likes puppets. Everything is a puppet to Davy. By inference, Davy should like everything. But Davy doesn’t like broccoli. The logic is correct, but the conclusion is not.
Story of my life.
Oh, it’s nothing personal about the broccoli. Broccoli is actually quite pleasant. Not very talkative, but who is?
People. People never shut up. That’s why sometimes it’s nicer to sit in a field of broccoli.
Suibhne never shuts up. By inference, Suibhne is a person.
No. If I said that girls never shut up, so by inference, Suibhne is a girl, it wouldn’t be true. I’ve made a mistake.
But Suibhne is a person. I’ve reached the right conclusion with the wrong logic.
Story of my life.