What Games To Play?

Gaius, Vello and David are standing in the road discussing alternative events to cycling.

They have pretty much decided to register for Lawn Bowls when who should come up behind them but Arthur, accompanied by a man with black crinkly hair, old fashioned clothing and a long expression.

Arthur! cries Gaius. You're here! I thought you were getting on the train.

I was, says Arthur, but something happened to prevent me.

Hello Arthur! says Le Bon David. How nice to see you. I trust that what went wrong was not too serious.

Not for me, says Arthur.

For Ageless then? says Gaius. Tell us all about it.

Arthur shrugs.

Ageless was kicked off the train because he didn't have a ticket, says Arthur. So he got into a basket that was sitting on the platform. It was a deep basket. He got in but he couldn't get out.

Why did he want to get out? asks Vello.

Because the basket turned out to be a picnic basket, says Arthur. It was full of cheese and salads and smoked salmon, crusty bread and bottled water.

It was MY picnic basket, says the crinkly haired man, not waiting to be introduced. And it wasn't going on the train. And nor was I. We had just got off.

So where is Ageless now? asks Gaius.

Still in the basket, says the crinkly haired man. I'm teaching him a lesson about determinism.

Arthur, pray introduce us to your interesting friend, says David.

This is Baruch, says Arthur. Baruch Spinoza. He's here for the Masters Games. He's entering the archery competition.

Archery! says The VeloDrone. We hadn't considered that. That sounds like fun.

Fun! says Baruch. What has fun got to do with games?

Arthur looks admiringly at Baruch, who has already come up with many clever aphorisms.