Being Elsewhere

Time passes slowly in the Lotus Garden.

People come and go. Some of them take photos. Some of them search for bugs and slugs.

On Saturday the dragonfly returns.

Hello! Is it Sunday? says the Titan.

It's Saturday, says the dragonfly. Watch out for weddings today.

The Titan imagines a wedding. The bride walks slowly down to the Lotus Pond wearing a dazzling white dress.

The Titan is dazzled by the dazzling white dress.

He falls off the lotus leaf and into the pond.

A duck eats him.

Luckily this does not happen.

Tk-tk-tk! says the Titan. That really could happen.

What could? asks the dragonfly.

The Titan explains what could happen.

Whereas this also could happen, says the dragonfly. You could be attracted to the dazzling white dress, jump foolishly onto it and cling. Then one of the bridesmaids who thinks you're a stick knocks you off with her bouquet of flowers. Then you're stuck in the bouquet of flowers, so the bridesmaid.....

Shut up, says the Titan. Obviously many things could happen. Not all of them will.

This may happen.

A man and a woman will be walking towards the lotus pond. The man will be vision impaired. The woman will say to the man, What you say is profound.

This will be in answer to an observation that the man had just made. The Titan will not know what it was.

Thank you, the man will say. I see you understand me.

A man in a tiger suit will walk by. They will not see him.

But Titan will say to himself: Tk-tk-tk! Time to go.

...........

Tick-tick-tick.

It is Sunday. Stage Six has not yet begun.

Rumours are rife among the riders gathered on King William Road.

Some say Professor Freud of Team Philosophe has recovered his Titan.

Others say Team Ethical's Arthur Rimbaud plans to awaken the miraculous powers of the dormant frog cake in his pocket.

Today's contest may be unfair.