Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Stage 11: Clermont-Ferrand to Moulins - Flatty

 A better day. Not as hot. A flat stage.

No one is in much of a hurry.

Belle has left food bags with Marcel and taken Terence to Moulins to show him something.

Marcel wonders what it might be.

He's standing next to a person in a blue cow suit.

Do you know Moulins at all? asks Marcel.

Moo, says the person in the cow suit.

I am asking because a person with whom I'm acquainted has taken my young assistant ahead to Moulins, says Marcel.

Moo? says the cow person.

She wishes to show him something, says Marcel. And I'm wondering what might be of interest to a young person in Moulins.

Master of Moo-lins, says the blue cow.

And that is? asks Marcel.

But he must wait for the answer. 

Team Philosohpe rolls by, with their hands out.

What's in our food bags today? shouts Vello.

Stuffed cabbage and pork lard brioche, shouts Marcel.

We can't see Vello's face, as he has already sped off, but Gaius looks eager to try it.

Now... says Marcel to the cow.

But the cow has melted into the crowd, which it could only have done by removing its cow head.

I'll have to find out later, thinks Marcel.

But we needn't wait. Let's go to Moulins and see what Terence is seeing.

Belle and Terence are inside Moulins Cathedral, looking at the famous triptych, painted by the Master of Moulins.

Do you like it? asks Belle. Aren't the colours stunning. And look at the garland of angels around the Virgin and Child.

Terence looks up at the Child.

He looks like his friend Fatty. Except he is flat. And one leg is crooked up to cover his willy. 

Can you talk? asks Terence.

A bit, says the Child. But it's hard with my mouth closed.

Who are those people in the side pictures? asks Terence.

Don't stare at them, says the Child. They're meanies. 

Woo! says Terence. Do you have a weapon?

No, says the Child. Do you have a weapon?

No, says Terence. But I can get one. 

Get me one, says the Child.

Terence is about to run off and look for a weapon.

Belle stops him. 

He can't have a weapon, says Belle. And they're not meanies. He's Duke Pierre the Second of Bourbon and she's the Duchess.

She looks mean, says Terence.

I'm sure she wasn't, says Belle. But what do you think of the Virgin?.

Asleep as usual, says Terence. Anything could happen and she wouldn't know.

Belle laughs.

We'd better go and wait at the finish, says Belle. Say goodbye to the Child.

Bye, Flatty, says Terence.

That's a good name for him, says Belle.

They go to the finish, where people are cheering.

A fast sprint. Who's winning? Is it Groenewegen? Bauhaus? 

No! 

Wouldn't you know it!

Jasper Philipsen triumphs again.

No comments: