6.0: The Subtle Intents of the Disorder of Catastrophe (teaser)

Fabian is carrying out his morning chores. Since his recent arrival here, he is charged, just after breakfast every day, 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, however itsy-bitsy, that has been left. Most mornings, there is nothing to be done. But today he sees that something has missed the waste paper bin near Alcock’s office area.

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 is located in that corner but a scrunched up piece of paper is sitting beside, rather than in, it. This would not have been a matter of any concern except that he spots that it is not a paper napkin left over from breakfast but a letter, quite possibly private, to the Chairman.

Although he makes no attempt to unfurl or to read it, he cannot help seeing – as he pushes it towards the bin with his head (what else would a snail use?!?) – that the text facing outwards says “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 scrunched up and thrown away 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? How can he find a way to returning to thinking of himself as – or even being! – a racing snail?

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The Subtle Intents of the Disorder of Catastrophe will air for 20 episodes plus epilogue from 23rd March (6pm) to 28th May (at 6:30pm) 2025. The exegesis site, which contains spoilers, is here.