Gecko 13/06/2005 The short story, Svengali Comes Clean, that I wrote a few days ago, was a reflection on the manipulation people practice upon each other. It was also the occasion of my discovery of the character named Gecko. This was particularly interesting to me because I have been considering using the gecko in a story of my own; to find that the original Svengali tale included this Gecko fellow seemed a happy coincidence at first.But that was before I read this description of the character: "Gecko ... [is] a young fiddler, small, swarthy, shabby, brown-eyed, and pock-marked; a nail-biter." I was horrified at this complete misrepresentation of the real gecko and this goes some way to explain my cruel treatment of the Gecko character in my short story; it annoyed me that he had been portrayed with so little regard for the creature that gave him his name.For the gecko is the most attractive of all the lizard family. Any human character named after such an animal should have qualities to match. He would be quick in movement and intelligence, slightly mischievous, independent, elegant yet not ostentatious in looks; almost the opposite of Svengali's Gecko, in fact.Lizards are very common in Africa and are generally disregarded by humans there, with the single exception of the gecko. In my 27 years on that continent, I never met anyone who was not delighted to see a gecko. Without exception, to see one was an occasion to say, "Oh, look! A gecko!" And this was invariably answered with, "Oh, yes, isn't he pretty?"To some extent, this is the result of it being fairly rare to see a gecko. They are masters of camouflage and will remain quite still when a human approaches, unlike other lizards that scamper for cover at the intrusion of anything larger than themselves. Invariably, the gecko is only noticed when he has decided to walk up a white wall where his camouflage becomes useless.I say "walk up" a wall, rather than "climb", because this is the most obvious ability of the gecko that sets it apart from other lizards. The gecko's fingers and toes end in little round suckers that enable it to cling to any surface, no matter how smooth. Well, they are not really suckers but I don't want to get into long scientific descriptions of how they actually work; the effect is the same as if they were.This loss of camouflage does not affect the gecko's natural instinct to stay still if approached, however. He will watch a human approach and only run when it is quite obvious that he is in danger of being caught. This gives one the impression that he is fearless and impudent, traits that few humans can despise.The gecko's large eyes make it easy to see that he is watching you, too. I have noticed that an ability to interact through the eyes has a great effect on how other creatures are regarded by humans. Amongst the insects, the one that stands out is the praying mantis, a savage and pitiless creature to earn our affection. But his eyes are unlike all other insect eyes - they are globes with a pupil that allows us to see that he is looking at us. And that means that we can interact with a mantis, even if on a very primitive level.With a gecko the interaction is much more complex; the intelligence in those big eyes is quite apparent. He might just be calculating how much closer he can let you approach before he makes his escape, but it is easy to misinterpret this as a cool assessment of yourself as a person.These large eyes are also one reason we see the gecko as attractive in looks. Any animal with large eyes has a head start with us. Ever seen a bush baby? It has huge eyes (because it is nocturnal) but endears itself to everyone immediately, purely because it looks so cute.But the gecko has yet another advantage over other lizards - its skin is dry and textured, so different from the shiny or scaly skin of other reptiles. Very often lizards and snakes are accused of being "slimy", thanks to their smooth outer covering; not so with the gecko.With all these qualities, it is almost inevitable that the gecko should be so favorably regarded by humans. And any character in fiction honored with the name should have similar attributes. At least, that is the way it seems to me.I went hunting on the net for a picture to illustrate how endearing the gecko can be. The best I have found is not typical in that the pads on his toes are not obvious, but it is one of the smaller geckos and this increases his cuteness. Yes, that is a human finger he's clinging to...
Clive
Ken I couldn't agree with you more. In S. E. Asia, they have a saying that "a house with no geckos is an unhappy house". In my house, certainly, they lived behind the furniture and the pictures on the walls quite happily and were only occasionally visible stretching their legs in the evening. I killed one once, in my early days, by wielding a besom too forcefully and I still wince whenever I think of it, even after twenty or more years. Date Added: 13/06/2005
Gone Away Ah, you're a man after my own heart, Ken. Amazing how much we like the humble gecko, we who have lived in tropical climes. Date Added: 13/06/2005
Jodie Gone, we have a pet leopard gecko, one of the few geckos that does not have sticky pads and can't climb walls. One of the things that I find fascinating is that if you look at one earhole while holding him up to the light, you can see light through his head. I'd love to live in a place where they ran wild in the house. I've been gone but I'm back now. Missed ya. Date Added: 13/06/2005
Gone Away Good to have you back, Jodie. :) And anyone who has a pet gecko has to be all right. ;) Date Added: 13/06/2005
Way Jodie beat me to the punch...must be using hi-octane in that chair of hers, I 'spect. I wanted to point out the same fact; you can actually hold one just right and think you can see thru his head. I know humans who have the same feature, but they lack any sort of climbing skills, among others. We have had several as pets. I'd take them out, let them rest on my hand, approach a window slowly, where a fly sat resting. Approach, slowly and slowly, and ZAP! Dinner for one. They also poop like birds. One of my palms still has the evidence attached, even after eight years. I would hate to remove it, liking the lizzies like I do. Date Added: 13/06/2005
Gone Away Funny you should mention that, Way. When I told Mad this morning that I was going to do a post on geckos, he told me about the Malaysian ones. Apparently they are huge and, as you say, poop like birds. He knows that because one pooped in his girlfriend's hair... :D Date Added: 13/06/2005
Way ha ha ha ha ha! Date Added: 13/06/2005
Way Gads. I said palms, and I meant a house plant. Date Added: 13/06/2005
Gone Away I guessed that, Way. Couldn't really see you not washing your hands for eight years on account of a little gecko poop... :D Date Added: 13/06/2005
Mad Geckos rock. Kim called his menagarie of a houshold "The Geckos" I don't know why... Date Added: 14/06/2005
Ned I had a gecko once. Tasted just like chicken. Wait! Wait! Don't stone me, just kidding. Really, kidding.. pheww... Honestly, I never heard anyone wax eloquent on the subject of reptiles before. Makes me almost fond of geckos, although I have never seen one. The picture is cute, gotta admit. Interesting post. Just can't let the kids see it or they'll want a gecko. Date Added: 14/06/2005
Way I've plans to buy a few this year and release them out on the deck, Ned. Why you think Geico is so popular...you could just kiss them lil' things, cute as they are. (watches Ned run) Date Added: 14/06/2005
Gone Away Perhaps because they had him climbing the walls, Mad... ;) Date Added: 14/06/2005
Gone Away Way is so right, Ned, geckos are the cutest little animals. Psssst, kids, come here and look at this.... Date Added: 14/06/2005
easywriter Sweet little thing. I love Geckos! Date Added: 14/06/2005
Gone Away See? No-one can resist a gecko! How wrong was the author of Svengali? Date Added: 14/06/2005
Way Perhaps Du Maurier made a typo and meant Hecko. Date Added: 14/06/2005
Josh Oooh, multimedia! ;) Date Added: 14/06/2005
Gone Away Or even Greko! Date Added: 14/06/2005
Gone Away Yes indeedy, Josh. Seemingly, there is no limit to the technical innovation available here at Gone Away Towers! Date Added: 14/06/2005
Ned As a dutiful parent, I have instructed my children to scream and run if a strange man approaches them and says "Pssst, kids, come here and look at this...." This is the second time BE has brought me here and so I decided to comment. But, I didn't have anything to say... Date Added: 14/06/2005
Gone Away I'm just glad BE is using the credits I built up so painstakingly... Date Added: 14/06/2005
Ned I hadn't thought of that. It does seem pretty silly for it to waste a credit bringing me here, when I already read the blog anyway. I will put you on my Do Not View Again list. Then BE won't use up your credits. Date Added: 14/06/2005
Gone Away If it weren't so late, I might be able to think about that one... Date Added: 14/06/2005
Kendralynn Hello Friend Clive, Just want to let you know that I added a little "Gone Away" graphic under my Blogosphere Favorites list at Fictional Perspectives. How does it look? Date Added: 14/06/2005
Gone Away It looks very good, Kendra. Thanks very much for including my site as a favorite. Date Added: 14/06/2005
John (SYNTAGMA) I know exactly how Ken feels, Clive. When we lived in the south of Spain we woke up one morning to find a green gecko on the wall. I thought it was great, but my other half was terrified. She chased it away with a shoe. A few nights later I went downstairs in the dark to get something when there was a sickening crunch under my bare foot. It was the gecko. The eyes were closed and it looked very dead. So I put it in the loo and flushed. Just as the water started to flow, the creature opened its eyes and looked up imploringly at me. No doubt it recognized the supporter who championed its cause against the mad shoe-wielding female. Alas, away it went, to a watery doom. I still remember those eyes to this day. [Sigh]. Date Added: 14/06/2005
Gone Away Oh dear, all these confessions of gecko massacre. You make me feel guilty for bringing up the subject... Date Added: 14/06/2005
andrena ohhhh, so cute! Dropped in while surfing blog explosion, have a great day! Date Added: 14/06/2005
Gone Away Thanks for dropping in, Ankh. Date Added: 14/06/2005
keeefer In reply to jodie. Geckos are quite common here in oz and this is where their name originates. If you pick up a gecko and blow across their right ear while you plug their left nostril with a finger they make the noise 'geyyyyy' and if you bloke the right you get 'koooooo'. Fascinating huh and also the reason they are so wide eyed.....and also absoloute bollocks but wouldnt it be cool if they did Date Added: 15/06/2005
Gone Away And did you know that, if you pick a guinea pig up by its tail, its eyes fall out? Date Added: 15/06/2005
keeefer That happens when they play cricket too Date Added: 15/06/2005
Gone Away They haven't played cricket since the crickets went on strike for higher wages... Date Added: 15/06/2005
keeefer thats crickets for ya. The whole lot of em just rubbing their hands together and asking for more. If i was on the cricket board they'd be for the high jump Date Added: 15/06/2005
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