Among the Wonderful Read Free Page B

the papers for years, as you know.”
    “Quite right.”
    “But there’s a whole other element, you see. To my job here.”
    “Oh?”
    “Yes. ‘Illuminating the exhibits,’ Mr. Barnum says. ‘With Historical, Scientific, and Astonishing Facts.’ ”
    “Yes, it seems like more descriptions and explanation would help visitors,” Guillaudeu said.
    The final layers of wrapping fell away from the bundle and Guillaudeu put a small mounted specimen on the desk. He then jumped back as if the creature had spoken.
    “I see,” Archer continued. “But then he mentions something I can’t understand:
The Representatives of the Wonderful
. What or who are they? What does he mean by this?”
    But Guillaudeu neither comprehended nor even heard Mr. Archer’s query. He tugged his mustache and then grabbed the crate, searching for a return address. He tore through the packing material.
    “What on earth is happening over there? Did you hear my question?”
    “This is unthinkable … definitely impossible!”
    “Good gracious, sir.” Mr. Archer rose from his seat. “I don’t see that there is cause for such a loss of composure, no matter what it is.”
    Guillaudeu looked at him. “Have you ever seen anything like this?”
    The stuffed animal specimen was only a foot long. The creature had a dense coat of smooth brown fur fading to brassy blond at its belly. Its head was round, with no discernible ears and tiny black eyes.
    “Look. Its tail is like a beaver’s,” Guillaudeu whispered, picking up the specimen. “But rounded, and short! And its feet. They are fully webbed, but these long claws … look at them!”
    Mr. Archer by this time was standing next to him, arms folded across his chest. “Obviously someone’s a humbug, Mr. Guillaudeu. Look at its beak. There’s nothing natural about its beak. What would you call that, anyway?”
    “It seems to be cartilaginous. It has nostrils just here.” Guillaudeu brushed the top of the animal’s broad fleshy muzzle. “It appears to have part of a spoonbill’s beak attached to it. Perhaps with an epoxy of some kind?” Guillaudeu searched the creature’s face. “If it’s manufactured it was done by a master.”
    “You mean you think it may be real?” Mr. Archer scoffed, his chin jutting.
    “That’s difficult to say. Even the mermaid was so well made it was hard to say for sure.”
    “You must be joking, monsieur. China has been manufacturing mermaids for centuries! Men are born into the mermaid business over there.” Mr. Archer took the creature in his hands. “Its tail does seem quite real, though, doesn’t it?”
    “See.” Guillaudeu pointed. “It has a coat like a seal, with longer hair on the outside and a sort of downy layer near the skin. This animal lives in the water. At least part of the time.”
    Guillaudeu pawed around in the crate, finally discovering a crumpled sheet of stationery. “Thank goodness. A letter.” He held it up.
    Mr. Archer cradled the creature in the crook of his arm. “Well?”
    “Dear Mr. Barnum: here is
Ornithorhynchus anatinus. A-ha! Let’s see … bird … snout. Duck-like snout.”
    “Not terribly helpful.”
    “I can scarcely believe I’m parting with it, but your price was too generous to pass up. So here she is, all the way from Botany Bay. I know she will draw a crowd, even in New York. Yours, V.”
    “Who is ‘V’?” Mr. Archer handed the specimen back to Guillaudeu.
    “I don’t know.”
    “Is it real?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Guillaudeu examined the junction between the specimen’s bill and its skull. He could see no stray stitches or gloss of adhesive. It seemed to have an entirely natural transition from fur to flesh. “I don’t know.” He turned the animal over. “I see no mammaries. If it is a she, as ‘V’ suggests, there should be mammaries. If it’s a mammal.”
    “How could it be anything else? Look at her fur.” Mr. Archer brushed a finger along the animal’s back. “It