Riding On Flying Pigeons

Rosamunda and Margaret bite tentatively into their preserved plums.

Achh! says Rosamunda. Cough medicine!

Very nice, says Margaret, taking a large gulp of tea.

Good for the throat, says Professor Mee-mann Chang. And for mucous.

Ah, says Margaret. I thought so.

She places the remains of her preserved plum on the blue and white paper.

Rosamunda spit hers into her hand.

The niceties having been observed, the conversation turns scientific.

What are you currently working on, professor? asks Margaret.

I am working on cypriniformes, says Professor Mee-mann Chang. In particular, the catostomids and the cypronids, and their various transpacific distributions.

How fascinating! says Rosamunda. What actually are cypriniformes again?

Ancient sucker fish, says Professor Mee-Mann Chang, of the Eocene, the Miocene and the Pliocene....

Yes, says Margaret. I have heard of the enigmatic nature of the distribution of these fossils. They have been found in North America, the Japanese Islands and China, I believe.......This surely must have been caused by related geological events. I myself am a geologist......

Are you really? says Professor Mee-mann Chang. Then you will know......

She and Margaret are getting on swimmingly.

Rosamunda coughs in a theatrical manner. The cough becomes more of a choke.

Oh my! says Professor Mee-mann Chang. She whacks Rosamunda on the back. Are you all right my dear?
Take another plum......

She starts to unwrap one.

Rosamunda hurries to the window for fresh air. She looks down into the courtyard. There is Arthur, with a bicycle. And there is Sikong Shu. They look tiny.

And here comes another man, who looks like a doctor or professor, wheeling a second bicycle.

He presses it upon Sikong Shu.

Sikong Shu shakes his head. He tries to climb onto Arthur's rear carrier.

Arthur lets go of the handlebars. The bicycle tips over at an alarming angle, between the legs of Sikong Shu.

Sikong Shu staggers sideways.

Both he and the bicycle fall.

Another doctor or professor comes running. He picks up the bicycle, pushes Sikong Shu out of the way.

The other doctor or professor props his bicycle against the wall of the Institute building, and remonstrates with his colleague.

Arthur stands there, waiting.

Sikong Shu accepts the second bicycle graciously.

Everyone bows. ( Except Arthur )

The two poets ride away on Flying Pigeons.

The doctors ( or professors ) pat one another on the back, and vanish inside.