By Lê Vĩnh Tài, translation by Nguyễn Thị Phương Trâm

A DISSERTATION ON A ROSE

You receive news of the blossoming of an unregulated flower, your latest investigation.

You watched the petals open slightly then closed in a whirl, sprouting a tiny bud, conjuring crude imagery. You took pictures and sent them straight away to your team leader for further study. His message: “Are these the actual photos taken by you? You haven’t altered it in any way?”.

“Yes, that’s correct.” You replied.

“You must detain the person that has planted the flower immediately.” He ordered.

Stopping what you were doing, secured your helmet on the bike before heading off. A dozen curious onlookers surrounded the flower while you took more photographic evidence, before pressing the buzzer for the owner of the flower.

“Yes, I’m coming.” A voice answered from inside.

You said: “I am an agent from the…