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THE ZANNA FUNCTION

but without bones, all you’d have is goop. So let’s talk about the
function.”
She tapped at her lips, as if a thought had just occurred to
her. “What a strange word that is. Function. It means purpose,
doesn’t it? Like, this bit of metal’s function is to be a handle and
open the door. We use it to sum up what an object does. If that
bit of metal breaks, it no longer functions as a door handle. We
melt it down and reshape it into something completely new.
We have changed its function completely.”
Dr. Fitzie paused to let her words sink in before continuing.
“Everything has a function. Every atom. Every mote of dust.
Every planet and every star. ey’re massive, whirling, mag-
nicent confusions of functions, all competing and working
together to make something exist.” Her voice dropped. “But
you know what the best part of it all is? ose functions can
be changed. If you know how.”
Zanna caught herself leaning forward, drinking in every
word. It sounded like raving madness, but then again, the last
two days had been nonstop raving madness, so Dr. Fitzie’s lec-
ture was in good company. In fact, when Zanna glanced around
the classroom, the only person who wasn’t absolutely xed on
Dr. Fitzie was Cedwick. Even Nora and Amir, who must have
already known all of this, were listening intently.
“I’m getting quite ahead of myself,” Dr. Fitzie said. “We cer-
tainly aren’t going to start ddling around with solar systems
and constellations today. Let’s look at something a wee bit
simpler.”
She lifted a nger, as if touching something in the air in
front of her. When she lowered her hand, a black dot remained
stuck there. “Can everyone see that? In the back, can you see?”
“Not really,” a girl said.
Dr. Fitzie made a white square appear behind her, as if she

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