Case Notes, Day Two

Undercover at Bamboo Zoo

I decided it would be unwise to investigate from a distance.

So today, I blended in.

The Bamboo Zoo shop is calm on the surface — soft things, warm colours, pleasant music —
but it is not quiet.

People linger.
They hesitate.
They tell you far more than they intend to.

I met many new faces today.
Some of them felt oddly familiar —
as if I’d seen them on television before.

No one mentioned it.
Neither did I.

They spoke instead about texture, weight, expressions.
They debated which panda felt “right,” as if choosing a companion rather than a souvenir.

This was useful.

Between conversations, I observed the local environment.

British food continues to challenge my expectations.

At lunch, I was presented with something that looked like bamboo.
The shape was correct.
The colour was convincing.

The taste, however, remains difficult to describe.

It was neither bitter nor sweet,
neither firm nor soft,
and left me uncertain about its original purpose.

I ate it slowly, out of professional courtesy.

A colleague noticed my hesitation and offered reassurance.
“This isn’t proper,” they said.
“You should try the European asparagus.”

This was said with confidence.
I have written it down.

Tomorrow, I will investigate.

This city respects quiet decisions.

By closing time, my cover remained intact.
My notebook had grown heavier.
And I had learned something important:

If you wish to disappear in London,
be useful.
Be calm.
And never rush.

End of entry.
Case ongoing.