Few Vicars, But Windows Abound

Gaius pokes around in the yellow green siltstone of the Kuanti Formation, with Margaret's scraper.

Margaret follows him, with a notepad and pencil.

What is she writing?

Brachiopods, corals, gastropods, nautiloids, trilobites, conodonts, very abundant.

Yes, she is ticking them off.

Rosamunda perches on a limestone nodule, chatting to Sikong Shu about Arthur.

He thinks nothing of breaking a window, says Rosamunda. Or knifing a vicar.

Sikong Shu is glad that in Beijing there are very few vicars. On the other hand, windows abound.

Gaius would never hurt anyone, says Rosamunda. But he's so absent minded. He's lucky he's got me. Margaret's always so bitchy.

Mmm? says Sikong Shu. He is not listening. He thinks he will hire a bicycle, once he gets to Beijing.

..........

At the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, morning tea is continuing.

Doctor Minchen Chow and Doctor Lanpo Jia are chatting to Arthur, about Middle Tang Chinese poetry.

I very much admire it, says Doctor Minchen Chow. In these hectic days it's a pleasure to read something pacific.

Ah yes, agrees Doctor Lanpo Jia. I recall these lines, from Wei Yingwu: Destiny is a boat on the waves, borne to and fro, against our will.

I heard that quoted just  recently, says Arthur. By Sikong Shu. I thought he'd made it up. I added a line.

That was bold, says Doctor Minchen Chow.

I am bold, says Arthur.

Do you like boating? asks Doctor Lanpo Jia. I have a small craft.

No, says Arthur. I like cycling. In fact I'm thinking of hiring a bicycle.

You can hire mine, says Doctor Minchen Chow. For a very small fee. Just remember to leave it dirty.

No need to remind me, says Arthur.

Doctor Zhu Min comes into the tea room.

Good news! says Doctor Zhu Min. Our honoured guest Gaius Plinius Secundus has been cleared of wrong thinking, and will arrive in Beijing tomorrow, along with his companions.

Pooh! says Lavender, who has been chatting to Professor Mee-mann Chang about prescience. That means Ouvert will be coming.

Pardon? says Professor Mee-mann Chang.

OUVERT! says Lavender. Stupid Fish face!

Ha Ha Lavender! I'm here already and you didn't KNOW! says a familiar voice, through the mish-mash of bandages, broken kebab sticks, gold coins and half pennies in the sticky side pocket of the shorts of Arthur Rimbaud, bold young poet.