Napoleon and Terence the Fearless

Gaius rides angrily through Roissy-en-France.

Arne-Doppelganger is way ahead in the distance.

Gaius is determined to catch him, and make him swap bikes.

After all, thinks Gaius, it's virtually my bicycle. Schopenhauer left it with me. Why do they need it?

These thoughts race through his head as he flies through the country.

Now Arne-Doppelganger speeds into the town of Senlis. Will he stop there?

Gaius hopes so. It looks charming, and the Chantilly Forest is nearby.

One might find interesting specimens in an ancient French forest. Specimens of flora and fauna.

Arne-Doppelganger stops.

He has a puncture.

Gaius thinks: This is a great piece of luck.

........

Montereau-Fault-Yonne (where the Yonne falls into the Seine).

On the town bridge there, long ago, in 1419 ( in September), John the Fearless was killed.

We can blame Tanneguy du Chastel and the Sire de Barbazan for that crime or service, which happened in the course of an interview with the dauphin (later Charles VII).

An interview, we may gather, that took place on the bridge.

Dauphin: Who's that going trip trap over my bridge!

John the Fearless: Me, John the Fearless.

Tanneguy du Chastel: Nick off, John! I'll give you Fearless.

etcetera.

Of course I was not there.

Nor was Napoleon, who might also have had an opinion.

Vello and David wheel their bicycles onto the bridge, to show Terence the statue.

Here we are, Terence, says Vello. Napoleon on horseback!

Napoleon looks down. Terence looks upwards.

What a dear little face, thinks Napoleon. Reminds me of me as a child.

He smiles down on the cement curls of Terence.

What's so funny? says Terence.

Napoleon doesn't answer.

Are you in the circus? asks Terence.

The circus? Why does the infant think that?

Circus? says Vello. Why the circus?

His funny clown's hat, says Terence.

Napoleon shifts in his saddle. Who is this cheeky young whipper snapper?

We had a circus in Barcelona, says Terence. You were in it.

Napoleon glowers.

I lived in a palace, says Terence.

He's not a clown, he's an Emperor, hisses Vello.

Which is better? says Terence. A prince or a clown?

Vello and David decide that it's time to move on from the bridge.

Napoleon adjusts his clown hat with his pointing finger.

When the finger comes down, it is no longer pointing towards Vienna.

......but towards Barcelona.