Happy 4th of July to us USians! And happy late Canada Day, and…whatever other holidays are occurring now. (Er…at least, when I started this it was July 4th…)

And to think, it all started with tea…

DISCLAIMER: Ooh, another Goliath picture. *spazzes* Time to write a story…

"…and that is why the Clanker powers will always be superior."

"I'd think not. Would you like a cup of tea, Count?"

"Certainly, Dr. Barlow." He set his cup in front of her, and she poured some of the floral-scented liquid into it. Volger took a sip of it, and as Dr. Barlow began pouring a second cup for herself, the two of them heard the rumble of cannon fire from outside. Dr. Barlow dropped the teapot, which landed back on the table with a clink.

She walked over to the window, and sighed. "The Japanese navy has arrived. Really, I would appreciate it if they could refrain from causing such a ruckus. It's not good for the loris." She nodded at the creature, which was curled up in a ball on the table, squeaking in fear.

Volger set down his teacup and joined her at the window. A German steamship bristling with guns and cannons was chugging through the water, its kraken-fighting arms snapping menacingly at the air. Smoke poured from its cannons as the German crew fired again at a slim black warship flying a flag with a single red circle against a white background.

Another peal of thunder shook the air. The Japanese ship had fired back, but their guns were much smaller and they seemed hopelessly outmatched. "See, Doctor? The Clanker way of battling is more superior than your godless beasts." He turned away from the carnage below, confident in his victory.

Suddenly, an unearthly snarling came from outside, followed by the shouts of the crew on the German warship. "What in blazes?" Volger looked up, startled, and turned back to the window.

A dozen or so scaly green crocodile-like creatures were swarming in the water around the warship. One of them attempted to climb aboard but was blasted away by the German crew's cannons. Even as it fell back into the water, its brethren clambered aboard, soon overwhelming the crew. One of them clamped its jaws around a crewman, and the unfortunate man's shrieks carried all the way up to Volger's ears.

Dr. Barlow appeared next to him, looking to see what was causing all the ruckus. "Oh, it appears the Japanese navy has unleashed their kappas," she said. "Another Darwinist victory, it seems. Care for another cup of tea, Count?"

"I figured that Japanese boffins would take their inspiration from creatures like kappa (who are water spirits), even if they were using the life threads of real creatures to make them…Anyway, that was my thinking behind the kappa, and about how Japanese boffins would approach fabrication overall. Also, the Japanese Navy was bad-ass back then, so they had to look pretty scary too. And Keith is good at scary." – Scott Westerfeld.

Answer: At the last Westerforum meet-up, I asked the question from chapter 21: "Does the Leviathan have a tail?" He replied: "Yes! You will SEE it and we will GO back there in Goliath."

Question: If Russia has fabricated fighting bears, and Japan has fabricated kappas, then will China have fabricated pandas? *crosses fingers*

I appear to have an obsession with kappas…What? They're awesome. See Keith Thompson's picture.