Six Snips

Marx pays for the drinks.

They sit down. 

Ten and a half hours, says Pierre-Louis. It is a long journey.

But relaxing, says Gaius.

Yes, relaxing, says Marx. And the windows are wide.

The countryside is becoming more.... yellow, observes Pierre-Louis.

That's the canola, says Gaius. 

How can it be canola? asks Terence. Canola is brown.

You are thinking of cola, says Gaius. 

Is it yellow? asks Terence.

No, says Gaius. Brown

Gaius said brown. Terence knew he was right.

He looks at his feather.

There is only one feather. And he needs three objects for his series of sketches.

Terence has a brainwave.

He tries to break an end off the feather.

But feathers are strong.

What are you doing? asks Pierre-Louis.

I want to break the feather into three pieces, says Terence. 

Why? asks Pierre-Louis. 

One for each drawing, says Terence.

Marx puts his beer down.

I suggested you find three different things, says Marx. Not the same thing cut into three pieces.

Each piece would be different, says Gaius. 

True, says Pierre-Louis. A quill, a central feathery piece, and a tip.

A quill or calamus, the fluffy lower afterfeather, the vane, consisting of barbs which grow from the rachis, and the tip, says Gaius.

That's ten! says Terence.

Not quite ten says Gaius, But if you look closely at each barb you will see it is composed of a little shaft and tiny barbs calle barbules.

I know about barbules, says Terence.

(It's ten to one that he doesn't).

Marx has been considering the artistic merit of Terence's plan

Yes it is lazy, but on the other hand, the effect could be dynamic.

I have nail scissors, says Marx. 

Ah! says Gaius. One of the many benefits of train travel.

Can I use them? asks Terence.

Certainly, says Marx. 

He unzips a bumbag.

He takes out a nail file, a toothpick and....at last! nail scissors.

He hands them to Terence.

Terence starts snipping.

Anyone for another? asks Gaius. My shout.

Yes, they will all have another.

The view from the window contains momentarily, a cow, and seconds later, a hay bale.

Not that Terence has noticed. 

Snip, snip, snip, snip, snip, snip.

He stops. That must be ten.

Too late he remembers that ten is too many.

What's happened? asks Gaius seeing his face. Too many pieces?

Way too many, says Terence.

A job for the fish glue, says Gaius.