I need to restructure my soul so that it is better able to interact with the outside world without opening itself up to be hurt by it,

says the parrot.

And how are you planning to do that,

asks the Pirate Who Does Not Know the Value of Pi.

I’m not entirely sure,

says the parrot.

Do you find the fact that we’re on a deserted island to be of any help,

asks the Pirate Who Does Not Know the Value of Pi.

Well, says the parrot, there’s a good deal of nature around us—admittedly I don’t know any of the precise terms for the things we see here—

and that’s relaxing, the presence of nature I mean, even when not elucidated by language.

Yes, agrees the Pirate Who Does Not Know the Value of Pi,

except when we go skinny-dipping in the lagoon I can’t help imagining some shark mauling me from below.

Neither can I, says the parrot,

do you have any opinion why that should be the case?

It can’t be the actual presence of shark, says the Pirate

Who Does Not Know the Value of Pi,

since we searched the lagoon thoroughly and did not see any shark, ever.

What if the shark was behind us all the time we were looking for it,

asks the parrot.