Page 61 of The Reboot
‘Pippa’s a big fan of the Discovery Channel. I saw a lot of those nature programmes when I was with her. She could tell you anything you want to know about the life cycle of the humpback whale or the mating habits of orang-utans. But it makes sense, doesn’t it? The female wants a mate who can provide for the family.’
‘You think Pippa wanted to have kids with you?’
He smiled. ‘No, but you’re drawn to it at a subconscious level – to the leader of the pack, the dude with the biggest balls or the best hunting skills or whatever.’
‘I think humans have evolved a bit past all that.’
Roly shook his head. ‘It’s just what’s seen as desirable has changed, because we’ve progressed. Guys can afford to chase after models now; whereas in olden times, we’d have had to look for someone with wide, child-bearing hips who could win a fight with a bear. But it’s the same basic instinct.’
Ella laughed. ‘And I’m free to date a dweeb like Andrew instead of some muscle-bound caveman?’
‘Exactly! Though I think you can do better.’
Ella smiled, secretly pleased. ‘What do you suppose the two of them are talking about right now?’
‘The sex life of the dung beetle? Fourth wave feminism?’
‘How do you know about fourth wave feminism?’
‘Why, is it supposed to be a secret?’
Ella laughed. ‘By now they’ve probably moved on from the Ariana’s Boudoir spring/summer collection and are discussing the finer points of existentialism.’
‘And existentialism is…?’
‘You know, the idea that existence precedes essence.’
‘Of course.’ Roly nodded sagely.
‘Because there’s no God.’
‘Goes without saying.’
‘So there’s no such thing as human nature.’
Roly reared back, eyebrows raised. ‘Who says?’
‘Jean-Paul Sartre, among others.’
‘Does he indeed? Bloody cheek! And who’s he when he’s at home?’
‘Boyfriend of Simone de Beauvoir.’
‘Poor cow. He sounds like a right barrel of laughs. Well, Pippa won’t be having that.’
‘The idea that there’s no such thing as human nature?’
‘Yeah. I told you she loves the Discovery Channel; David Attenborough and all that.’
‘So?’
‘Well, she’d probably say what makes us so special? If hippos and wombats and stuff can have a nature, why can’t we?’
‘Good point, Pippa.’ Ella drained her mug.
‘We’re all just mammals when it comes down to it, aren’t we, Andy?’ He mimicked Pippa’s voice and fluttered his eyelashes coquettishly.
Ella laughed. ‘And Andrew will say he never thought of it like that, and forget all about Sartre because he’s drooling so hard.’
