For The Undisciplined

They are now all asleep on the plane

Gaius is dreaming of Robber Flies and Scarlet Darters.

Kong is dreaming of Black Jumping Spiders.

Sweezus is dreaming that he has met up with Arthur, in a bar, and that Ying has a girlfriend.

Baby Pierre is dreaming of Frog, in the Institute of Science, and someone has mistaken Frog for a canape.

Terence dreams of Saint Joseph, threatening him with a spade.

........

The plane lands in Dubai.

Don't forget your hat, says Baby Pierre.

Don't forget yours, replies Terence.

....

Now they have three hours in the Dubai airport, before the flight to Barcelona.

Three hours, says Kong. Should we go shopping?

Shopping, says Gaius, is for the undisciplined. Let us simply walk, and restore our circulations.

That is probably what I meant by shopping, says Kong.

Good, says Gaius. Perhaps we could look for a book shop.

Certainly, says Kong, A bookshop. And a newsagency. For a pen.

You might like to start your collection of postcards, says Gaius, to Sweezus.

Man! says Sweezus. Don't remind me.

Off they go, leaving Sweezus with Terence and Baby Pierre.

I need a red drink, says Terence.

Okay, says Sweezus.

They go to Giraffe, where Sweezus buys Terence a can of red cola, and orders fries for himself.

They sit down at the very same table where Daniel O'Connell ate the corn kernel, and threw up.

Sweezus waits for his fries.

Terence slurps his red cola.

Baby Pierre plays with his new hat.

He's not sure that he likes it.

The flight attendant had brought him a bottle top.

She had placed it on top of his head.

She had said: That is the only hat we have that will fit you. How will it do?

And he had said: Fine.

And the bottle top had a crown on, and writing that said CORONA EXTRA.

So it had been fine, until Terence started sniggering.

Also, it doesn't stay on well.

Sweezus's fries have arrived.

He eats them. Eating fries reminds him of Arthur. He could call him. What time is it in Barcelona?

Fuck knows. Arthur won't mind.

He calls Arthur.

Hell...o... mumbles Arthur

Arthur? That you?

Swee... yes! It's me Arthur.

Where are you? I'm in Dubai.

Huhrrr......okay...you....wait a...

Sweezus? It's Ying. We're in Bar Absenta. It's so cool here. We're drinking absinthe. It's green. And there are all kinds of weird rituals. And a green fairy.

Yeah, I know. Tell Arthur I'm ...forget it... How's Daniel O'Connell?

I don't know. I hope he's all right. He had an accident with a spilled drop of absinthe. He slipped in it, fell over and swallowed a mouthful. He turned bright green so he's having a quiet lie down in the Rooibos box. Want me to check on him?

Nope, don't bother. Can I talk to Arthur?

No. He's just passed out and bumped his head on the table. I'd better go now. See you tomorrow.

Okay.

Sweezus sighs. He wishes he was in Barcelona, passed out on a table.

Instead he has almost three hours to look for a postcard.