And Once It Was a Cattery

Villa Howden is just down the road. A historical French or Italian-style villa built in the 1970s. A retreat, and later a cattery. Now a luxurious Band B, in beautiful manicured grounds.

Luckily, they have a vacancy, although it is late in the day.

Schopenhauer is elated. He immediately takes off his trousers. (As soon as he gets to his room).

Gaius goes into the French style sitting room, and sits by the fire, to wait for Schopenhauer to deal with his stain.

A sour-looking gentleman in a black coat looks up from his reading.

Very nice here, says Gaius. French provincial . Wonderful doors.

The sour-looking gentleman looks at the doors, scowling.

A man hurries in through the wonderful doors, wearing a gabardine trench coat.

There you are, growls the sour-faced man.

Camus! says Gaius, recognising his old acquaintance.

Gaius! says Camus. Are you here for the thinga-me-jig?

No, no, says Gaius. The jellyfish. But not here exactly. My travelling companion has sat upon something and we're really just here for the laundry.

Join us for dinner, says Albert Camus. This is my friend Beaudelaire. He's also here for the thingummy.

A literary thingummy, says Beaudelaire. In the middle of winter.  Nothing could be more tedious.

Yes, says Gaius, nothing's more tedious than a thingummy.

Ha ha, laughs Camus. Still the same old Gaius.

Gaius looks puzzled.

Arthur and Unni come down from upstairs.

Ah! says Gaius. Come here, Arthur and Unni. This is Albert Camus, and his friend Beaudelaire, here for a winter literary thingummy. Arthur too is a poet......

Beaudelaire! says Unni. My dad's a Beaudelairian! Ever since he met Charles Red-Belly, the python.

Of course, says Gaius. Charles Red-Belly! And dear Olive Python! How long ago that all seems....

What exactly do you mean by a Beaudelairian? asks Beaudelaire.

Oh you, know, says Unni. Evil is natural. The Chinese tell the time by looking into the eyes of cats.

Beaudelaire looks flattered. He glances at Arthur.

Arthur makes a face like a cat.

But before things can go any further, Schopenhauer comes into the sitting room, wearing complimentary slippers and a matching complimentary dressing gown.

Forgive the informality, says Schopenhauer, smiling. No trousers.

I believe you sat on something unpleasant, says Camus. Did you succeed in getting it off?

The main bulk of it, says Schopenhauer. but there's a pink stain in the middle.

I knew it , says Gaius. It's a lions mane jelly. We must return to the beach in the morning.

Not me and Arthur, says Unni. We're heading back into Hobart, for the Salamanca Markets.

So are we, says Camus. Perhaps we might go back together. Are you cycling?

Yes, says Unni. Are you?

Oh yes, says Camus.

Camus on a bike. Now that is entirely believable. But Beaudelaire? That does stretch it a bit.