The Encyclopaedia Against Chaos

This flow follows Bunny Junior’s use of remembered facts as a framework for surviving a journey that makes little emotional or practical sense.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

Facts at Bedtime

Facts at Bedtime Knowledge provides structure Bunny Junior recites information about the planets from The Encyclopaedia as he tries to sleep. The ordered facts give his mind something stable to hold. Knowledge cannot replace comfort He still wishes Bunny would sit with him. The contrast shows that factual mastery and emotional safety answer different needs.

The Mantis Entry

The Mantis Entry Memory continues in the car While waiting in the Punto, Bunny Junior reads about the mantis and commits its behavior to memory. The boy’s private world remains active even while his father conducts business. A child’s refuge Facts let him organize attention when the surrounding adults seem frightening or unpredictable. The Encyclopaedia becomes a refuge rather than a solution to the conditions he faces.

The Missing Mother’s Face

The Missing Mother’s Face A painful imbalance Bunny Junior can remember beetles and historical facts but finds Libby’s face dissolving in his mind. His memory stores information more securely than it stores the person he loves most. The limits of cataloguing He tries to preserve scenes like museum displays. The effort shows that knowledge can describe the world but cannot stop loss from changing memory.

The Near-Death Entry

The Near-Death Entry A definition applied to life Bunny Junior reads about near-death experiences and tells Bunny that people may encounter deceased loved ones. The entry offers a possible explanation for the visions of Libby. Facts meet uncertainty The boy tests his leg and considers whether he is dead. His encyclopaedia gives him terms to think with, but cannot settle what the visions mean.

The Rain-Damaged Book

The Rain-Damaged Book A damaged companion At the chalet, Bunny Junior opens the rain-swollen Encyclopaedia and finds the definition of fantasy. The book has survived the crash but carries visible damage from the journey. Imagination and reality entwined The definition helps frame the uncertain visions of Libby and the impossible events around Bunny. The boy’s curiosity remains, even as the book and his family life are altered beyond repair.

The first night after Libby’s death

During Bunny’s first sales call

During Bunny’s visit to a customer in Portslade

The morning after the collision

At Butlins on the final night