7.0: Teaser: The Subtle Intents of the Disorder of Catastrophe

Fabian is carrying out his morning chores. Just after breakfast, every day, he is charged with walking (or slithering: it is up to him!) through the Potting Shed and checking all is in order and dealing with what is not. Colleagues clear their breakfast crockery themselves. Others do the washing up and putting away. Still others sweep the floors. Fabian’s job is to cast an eye over everything and deal with anything that has been missed. Most mornings, there is nothing to be done. But today he sees that the waste paper bin near Alcock’s office area has not been emptied.

No one in the Potting Shed has their own room. It is not a big enough building for that. The fact that Hipparchus has somehow carved off a private study using bookcases is an exception that everyone is too polite to mention or even feel envy about. He has his own cross to bear: he teaches Lottie! 

Even the Chairman of the Potting Shed does not actually have an office. By tradition, the corner beyond and to the left of the front door is regarded as his, once breakfast is over, and colleagues try to stay away if they can see he is having a meeting. The waste paper bin that Fabian has to empty today is located in that corner. And this would not have been a matter of any concern except that he spots a fragment torn from a letter.

It seems to say “and don’t kick off. If Fabian becomes a burden, send him off to sports camp in U.S… I don’t think he is ever going to bring in any significant race winning prize money”.

What can this mean? Who would be in contact with Alcock, the Chairman of the Potting Shed himself, about Fabian? Does the fact that the letter has been ripped up suggest that Alcock does not agree with the writer? Or is the fact that he is in correspondence with any such person an indication of what he himself already thinks?

In truth, Fabian cannot fault the sentiment of the fragment. Why, after all his past failure, should anyone trust him, or rather his ability, now? Nevertheless, he feels a powerful urge to rebut the message, to redeem himself in everyone’s eyes including, goddamit, Alcock’s! There has been too much disappointment. His past failure cannot determine his future.

But what can he do?

(The Subtle Intents of the Disorder of Catastrophe will air later in 2025, the studio willing.)