Mind Games And Treachery

Team Condor has moved on to Kafe Belgie, a cool local bar.

(Belgian beer too is a health food).

Belle arrives, with Arne and Terence.

Sweezie! says Belle. You made it! Hi Arthur! Hi Pablo.

Where's Farky? says Terence, who is partially bandaged.

Terence, says Sweezus. What happened?

I broke the Oculus Rift, says Terence. And it broke me.

It wasn't his fault, says Belle. Oculus Rifts are mental.

Farky-Om-Farky sticks his head up to see.

Dear me, says Gaius. Is that the virtual reality head-mounted display that he's broken?

Yes, says Arne. But don't worry. They have plenty more. I'm Arne, by the way, he adds, looking at Sweezus.

Oh yes! says Belle. Arne really wanted to meet you. So I brought him.

Terence makes smoochy noises.

Sweezus scowls.

Farky-Om-Farky says softly, Terence, come under.

Terence bobs his head under the table.

Tell me more of the Oculus Rift, says Farky-Om-Farky.

If you're so SMART, says Terence, you should know about it already.

I said MORE, says Farky-Om-Farky. And I was just trying to get your attention. Don't make smoochy noises.

Why not? says Terence, making another. Smoooo-pwch!

Because, bone head, says Farky-Om-Farky, Sweezus will get jealous. And that isn't good for the team.

You're the BONE head, says Terence. We're on Opposite teams.

You're not even on a team, says Farky-Om-Farky. Your team is disqualified.

As if you knew ANYTHING, says Terence. I bet you don't even know .....anything.

See, says Farky-Om-Farky. You couldn't even think of anything I wouldn't know.

What's in my pocket? says Terence.

Balloons, says Farky-Om-Farky.

(To be fair, he can see them poking out).

On a higher level:

What's the story with Surfing-With-Whales? asks Belle. Papa might end up un-disqualified, but so far he's only got two in his Team.

Ask Arthur, says Sweezus.

It was an unfortunate coincidence, says Arthur. But funny. Surfing-With-Whales got caught by Customs with a package on the day they became Border Force.

What's so funny? asks Belle.

He should have kept quiet, says Arthur. It was only Ginko Biloba. But he shouted: You guys ought to know what this is!

They kept goading him. What? What? Repeat that!

IS! repeats Surfing-With-Whales. IS!IS!

Got that, sir, say the Border Protection. ISIS. We're taking you into custody. You have no right to say anything further, you traitor.

Wow! says Belle. That WAS pretty funny! But......he might end up on Nauru!

Nah, says Sweezus. His mum's on the case. He'll turn up. Tell Vello not to worry.

But then, he would say that, wouldn't he.

What intrigue this year's Tour de France holds......