The Hirsute Civil Servant

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(246 242 238 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>The I in this fable is an orangutan. As far as he knows he's always lived in the zoo where he believes he is employed as a functionary to educate people about nature. Although he considers his mission futile - visitors average eighteen seconds in contemplating him - he's basically good natured about his lot. There are the regulars and his keeper whose antics keep him amused. As for the rest of the visitors he has a way of distinguishing them as either fifteen or four million year people depending on their attitude; that is to say if they seem to think that our common ancestors parted ways a long time ago or relatively recently. Occasionally when it all becomes too much for him there is 'the Java' a gunny sack which he pulls over his head by way of escape.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(246 242 238 1); color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>One day a visitor leaves behind an open umbrella on the floor outside his cage. The following night a small bird flies out from the dark blue vault of the umbrella and abducts him from his cage... </span></p><p></p>