It's sunny in Cambridge. Stage Three has begun. The Tour rolls through green pastures.
Sweezus and Arthur form an early breakaway.
Sweezus keeps looking behind him.
You'll have to face him sooner or later, says Arthur.
Yeah, I know, says Sweezus, but it makes me ride faster.
It wasn't your fault, says Arthur. If anyone's, it was Unni's. She should tell him.
Nah, says Sweezus. I'm cool. Anyway, he's getting heaps of publicity. The German reporters ......Wish they'd come after me.
Activist you? says Arthur.
Yeah, says Sweezus. Yeah, activist me.
Let me guess, says Arthur. Save the Cuttlies.
Genius! says Sweezus. How'd you know?
The fliers, says Arthur. But Gaius says they won't need saving. They're increasing in numbers.
Awesome, says Sweezus. That's a win-win for me and for Sweezie's Tender Cuttlies.
He looks behind him again. Schopenhauer is gaining.
Sweezus powers out in front. At this rate he could win the stage.
Schopenhauer catches up with Arthur, and passes him, panting. He is followed by Kittel and Sagan.
They draw level with Schopenhauer.
What's this about your new philosophy? asks Peter Sagan. You now reject human suffering?
All nonsense, I assure you, says Schopenhauer.
There is room, though, for optimism? asks Marcel Kittel.
Certainly, says Schopenhauer. Always room for the dreams of the foolish. I include myself among them....
Arthur drops back. Soon he finds himself level with Ageless.
What do you know about Team Management courses? asks Ageless.
Nothing, says Arthur. Why?
Because our manager is doing one, says Ageless. It's already taken two days. That's two days without snacks. Team Crustacean is becoming dysfunctional.
Professor Freud? says Arthur, reaching behind him and grabbing a gel pack to suck on.
Got any more gel packs? asks Ageless.
This is a competition, says Arthur. I can't help you.
I'll remember that, says Ageless, his eyes narrowing.
Ageless takes a deep breath and continues to ride without sustenance.
...........
It's been raining in the City of London. The roads are slippery and wet.
Professor Freud stands near the finish line. Crowds are cheering. Flags flutter. Buckingham Palace forms a large part of the scenery. Marcel Kittel is not far away.
Professor Freud's head is full of ideas he has gleaned from the Team Management training course.
The Five Reasons why a team is dysfunctional.
Absence of trust, fear of conflict, lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability and inattention to results.
Who comes up with these wonderful concepts?
He supposes it's all psychological. And, he remembers, all those years ago he made his own contribution.
Freud feels a sense of warm fuzziness.
He fingers the paintball popper in his pocket. No, he won't use it today.
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