Saint Gildas: A Rest Day

Today is a rest day. Belle et Bonne has organised a picnic for Teams Provenance and Philosophe. They  meet at the picturesque 12th century abbey of Saint Gildas, and look for some grass to sit down on.

Belle et Bonne spreads out some rugs, and produces a large picnic basket.

What's in the basket? asks Sweezus. I'm starving!

Just wait till you see, says Vello. Belle et Bonne has excelled herself today.

Abbey of Saint Gildas, says Gaius, to Niko. Do you know him?

Oh yes, says Saint Niko. Gildas Sapiens, meaning Gildas the ....

You forget I'm a Roman, says Gaius. I know what Sapiens means.

You don't need to be a Roman to know what Sapiens means, says Surfing-With-Whales, unexpectedly.

What? says Unni, surprised. What does it mean?

The Wise, says Surfing-With-Whales. Mum had it on a coffee mug once.

Unni is impressed. He is not such a dill after all.

Come on, says Arthur. Get the food out.

Hear, hear, says David. I'm hungry. Let's get this picnic started.

Belle et Bonne opens the basket and produces specialities of the region, one after the other. Somehow she has managed to keep some of them warm.

Galette de sarrosin, says Belle et Bonne with a flourish. That's pancake stuffed with eggs, meat and cheese. Followed by Kig Ha Faz, dumplings in belly bacon stew. Also, we have Moules Marinières, mussels steamed in white wine, and an Assiette de Fruits de Mer, with langoustines, crabs, oysters, mussels, clams, whelks, and cockles.Watch out. They're fresh and raw.

Euww, says Unni. I'm not having any of that.

And finally, says Belle et Bonne. Fromage du Curé Nantais, cow's milk cheese. You can eat this, Unni. It goes well with this beautiful Muscadet wine, or this Gros Plant, which is drier.

Yum, says Sweezus, grabbing a bowl and spooning everything in. The others do the same, except Ageless, who is sitting slightly apart from the group.

What am I meant to eat? grumbles Ageless. I get nothing, and I'm the captain.

You can eat all of these things, says Belle et Bonne. Lobsters eat anything, even other lobsters. You know that very well.

Then give me a crab, says Ageless. Belle et Bonne hands him a crab.

Not bad, observes Ageless, crunching the crab, and taking another. He looks around. Someone is missing.

No, here he comes now.

Professor Freud! cries Belle et Bonne. I'm so glad you found us! You're just in time for dessert.

How delightful, says Freud, sitting down on the rug, and pouring himself a large glass of Gros Plant. And what do we have for dessert?

Prune flan, says Belle et Bonne, crepes filled with jam, caramel cakes, and butter cookies.

The food is heavenly. They all eat too much. They stretch out on the grass in the sun.

Inside their bellies, the meat and the fish and the dumplings and the raw seafood mingle with the crepes and the caramel and jam. The Muscadet and the Gros Plant begin to bubble and sour and rise upwards.

Tomorrow they ride to Saint-Malo. If they can.