Man in the Tree

Not a minute after jumping from the golden obelisk, Lucky stumbled upon a bird.

It was a sallow creature lying at the edge of a bridge. And though you could tell she'd once been a beautiful bird, with indigo plume and a lovely yellow tail, all colour was drawn from her, and she had no wings.

Without hesitating, Lucky picked her up, vowed to protect the broken bird forever.

Together, they crossed the rambunctious silver river.

All the while, a naked man, a giant with a tie and a crown, perched high in a tree on the other side of the river, had seen these events transpire.

This ostentatious naked man in a tie and a crown had been reading an encyclopedia about flying creatures, when he caught a glance of the spirited boy with the bird. By reason of his tawdriness, he wanted that bird. He desired her now. Immediate, firm and final.

Overwhelmed, the man dropped his giant encyclopedia into the river. That bird would be his no matter what!

He jumped from the tree, and thundered after Lucky and the bird.

The Bird. photo@mulumbatshikuka, holland park, london.

The Naked Giant. illustration @mulumbatshikuka, boris johnson.