We Don't Eat, The Virgin Just Sits There

On the way back to the van, through the shadowy bushland, by torchlight, Rosamunda speaks of chickens.

She says: Chickens are everywhere. There are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird.

I've never seen one, says Terence.

That's surprising, says Rosamunda. Didn't your mum ever cook one?

The Virgin ? says Terence. She just sits there.

What about your dad? pursues Rosamunda.

We don't eat, says Terence. We just look down on people. I mean we used to. I don't live with them now.

Just as well by the sound of it, says Rosamunda. Would you prefer to talk about Aztecs?

Do mothers cook them? asks Terence.

No, says Rosamunda. They may have cooked mothers. The Aztecs were big on sacrifice.

Oh, we do that, says Terence.

Blood sacrifice? says Rosamunda. That's disgusting.

Not really, says Terence. Just biscuits and drinks. Tell me about Aztecs. Do they have feathers?

Yes, says Rosamunda. The Aztec warrior wears a feathered headdress, and carries a feathered shield.

Like me, says Terence. Like my pants.

Exactly, says Rosamunda.

Useless, says Terence. Shield made of feathers! That's soft.

They arrive at the van.

There you are, says Katherine. Just in time for a nightcap.

Any news of Mrs Burr? enquires Freud.

No, says Rosamunda. But Terence was frightened. Something scared him out there.

Where are the herrings? asks Terence.

All finished, says Katherine. Have a glass of warm milk instead. It's UHT.

Terence is disappointed. He picks at his bum feathers. Itchy. Nothing ever turns out good in this forest.

He wanders over to Baby Pierre, who is already  sleeping. He lies down beside him, and fumes.

Katherine brings out mugs of hot Milo.

So, Gaius, says Rosamunda, you and Kong Fu-Zi are working together these days?

Gaius is about to reply, 'Not for much longer', when Kong Fu-Zi raises his eyes from his mug of hot Milo, and says, 'Unfortunately, not for much longer'.

Ah, says Gaius. Yes, unfortunately, not for much longer. Kong Fu-Zi is an ideas man. He must get on with what he does best.

These are not quite the lines along which Kong Fu-Zi has been thinking.

The rotten potatoes, and the taste of the UHT milk. And his ankle is not feeling better. He needs Chinese medicine.

So, I suppose you'll get back with Arthur, says Rosamunda.

If I knew where he was, says Gaius.

Silence in the forest, except for various swallowings.

Gaius gets out his notebook, to show Rosamunda.

What are these? asks Rosamunda.

Orchids, says Gaius. From memory. I hadn't a pencil.

Not very good, says Rosamunda. Here, let me. What sort are they?

Blue Fairies, says Gaius. Pheladenia deformis.

Rosamunda pulls out of her pocket a Derwent graphic drawing pencil, hard.

Freud and Katherine exchange looks.

Where is this going?