Terence is excited. Today he is going to see the Kindlifesserbrunnen.
Are you sure you're all right on your own? asks Belle.
I'll look after him, says the Elegant Parrot.
On the way, the Elegant Parrot flutters over Terence.
O look at the little boy and the parrot, cry three children of Berne, (in German). May we follow him?
Nein! says their mother.
Terence follows the Elegant Parrot, all the way to the Kornhausplatz.
Close your eyes, says the Elegant Parrot.
Terence closes his eyes.
A pointless precaution. He has already seen the horrible fountain.
Open them! says the Elegant Parrot.
NO! cries Terence. It's a HORRIBLE fountain!
That hadn't occurred to me, says the Elegant Parrot.
How could it not have occurred to the Elegant Parrot that Terence might be alarmed by the Child Eater Fountain?
To her, it is merely a large sculpted ogre, eating a child, while three more hapless infants squirm in a bag at his side, their limbs like little fat worms, plump and delicious....
Is it TRUE? shouts Terence.
No need to shout, says the Elegant Parrot. We'll go back to the picnic.
She leads the eye-shuttered Terence back to the site of the picnic, an open plaza near the Münsterplattform.
Belle: You're back early! How was it?
Parrot: He didn't like it.
Terence (opening his eyes): It was a giant eating my head, and keeping me in a sack, and I was CRYING.
Parrot: There were nice carved warlike bears round the bottom.
Terence: No, there WASN'T!
Parrot: I suppose I can't blame him for not noticing the bears. He was petrified.
Vello: Ha ha! Terence was petrified.
Belle: Papa!
Vello: Well you must admit, he has a head start.
Belle: Terence, dear, as a treat, would you like to have dessert first?
Arthur: Can we all have dessert first?
Belle: No, just Terence. Look Terence, try some Hasselnusselkuchen.
Terence (sniffing): What is it?
Sweezus: Go on. Try it. It's like gingerbread without the ginger.
Belle: So YOU'VE tried it. I might have known.
Gaius: Is there any real food?
Belle: Of course. Try something from the Berner Platte, and some onion tart, or zibele chueche.
Marx: This sauerkraut is good. It goes well with the Schneider Weisse.
No reply. They are liking the pflümli.
David: I say! Is that Richie Porte up there on the Münsterplattform?
Sweezus: Yeah it is. Hey Richie!
Richie comes down morosely. He sits on the grass next to Sweezus.
Sweezus: How's it going?
Richie: We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
Vello: A Zen-like philosophy, Richie.
Belle: Well this is what happens. You're joining our picnic. Have a nice glass of Träsch. Then some onion tart, and a pig's ear. After that, some Hasselnusselkuchen. Oh, where is it?
Sweezus: Don't worry I saved some. It's awesome, no ginger.
Richie brightens.
What does it matter that springtime has gone
While you are here, O Prince of Friends?
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