Tales of Seahorses

by Subcomandante Marcos
(guerilla spokesperson and strategist for the Zapatistas)

Beads and Accounts of Numbers
August 25, 1997


Roman Numeral One Tale: The 600s

The numbers in the 600s are very envious. For example, one afternoon I just happened to overhear a discussion between 609, 665, and 637. The subject, as usual 616.
”He’s so spoiled!” 609 said angrily, who can’t forgive 616 because he always follows him about.
”He’s hateful!” 637 almost screamed, who’s jealous of 616 because he’s always in front of him.
”Intolerable!” argued 665, who finds 616’s symmetrical proportions hard to endure.
”We must get rid of him!” brayed 687, who can’t stand the fact that 616 totals up to the mysterious 13 when you add his digits together.
These particular 600s conspired against 616 (the other 600s were too busy keeping their places in the tale of the sea to participate in this tale), and they took number 616 prisoner and banished him to the land of the 700s.
That’s why when the sea counts seahorses to fall asleep, when she gets to 615, she becomes confused and can’t go on. Then she falls quickly to sleep.
And number 616? He was detected almost immediately by the repressive forces of the 700s. He was accused of being a destabilizing, incompatible force and condemned to divide himself 88 times until he reached his 7 of origin.

Tan-tan.


Roman Numeral Two Tale: The 100

No one would think it, but the 100s are the most complex of all the numbers. According to them, they reflect good taste and exclusivity. “To be one of the 100s,” they say, “is a sign of superior taste and linage.”
This arrogance is reflected in the 100s daily behaviour. Number 101, for example, believes he is unique and original, seeing himself as alpha and omega. The rest share his sentiment.
“After us, there are only commoners,” goes the slogan of the 100s club, which, as its number indicate, has only 100 members.

Tan-tan.


Roman Numeral Three Tale: The 1

The number one is well known as the most elusive of numbers, and rightly so. I mean, it’s enough to know that when one has one, one wants two.

Tan-tan.


Roman Numeral Four Tale: The 200s

Frankly the 200s are numbers with aquatic tendencies. Their undeniable duck shapes, right from their opening number, makes their floating on the sea’s dreams a common sight.

Tan-tan.


Note;
Tan-tan is the two final notes in a song, which Marcos uses to indicate the end of the story.