No Need to Buy Tickets

Margaret pointed at the book.

C'est a vous? asked the woman in the ticket office.

Non, said Margaret. Parlez-vous anglais?

Un peu, shrugged the woman.

It belongs to my friend, said Margaret. I don't suppose there's a little stone that came with it? Une bébé pierre?

Non, said the woman, looking blank. But please take the book.

Thank you said Margaret. I'll leave it with you. Here is a note for the owner when he turns up. We are going to La Rochelle. We want him to follow us there.

Bien sur, said the woman. Au revoir.

Gaius and Margaret caught the train to La Rochelle.

Five minutes later the bus from Quillan arrived at the station.

Baby Pierre got off. Did he go to the ticket counter? No

He went back to the apartment and knocked on the door.

Amanda opened the door. She had been cleaning.

Baby Pierre! she exclaimed. What are you doing here? Your friends have already left for La Rochelle.

Did they leave me a note? asked Baby Pierre.

No, said Amanda. They didn't.

Baby Pierre felt dejected. Gaius and Margaret had gone. How was he going to find them? This was just like La Princesse de Babylone, when the princess turned up just as her lover left town. This thought cheered him up. The princess had caught up with her lover eventually. And had several adventures on the way.

He went back to the station. Did he go to the ticket office? No.

Baby Pierre does not need to buy tickets.