The Hirsute Civil Servant

By Aileen Hennes

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.

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1837940894
• ISBN13: 9781837940899
• Release Date: January 2025
• Publisher: Vanguard Press
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.3"