She Represents The Crackle Crackle

Amongst two million photos there is sure to be one of a parrot.

Nicéphore flicks through the collection.

There's one! says Terence.

It's a kingfisher, but Nicéphore says he can have it.

Where to next, boys? asks Nicéphore Niépce.

Balance, says Terence. To see my friend Willy.

Maçon, says Vello. Then Ferney-Voltaire. We're not going to Valence.

Valence is not too far south of Maçon, says Nicéphore. You could make a side trip.

Hush, says David. Don't give him ideas.

......

Vello and David head to Maçon, in the sunshine.

Behind David, in the child's seat, Terence is crooning.

parrot my parrot where are you arrot
little blue and silver humm-ee?

Crooning but keeping his eye out for signposts.

Vello: Nice to hear the lad humming.

David: But it's all out of tune.

Vello: Yes, and have you noticed he always says Balance, for Valence?

David: I have. Perhaps he has glue ear.

Vello: Good heavens! What's that?

David: My nephew had it. It improved when the ear specialist fitted him with grommets.

Vello: How very bothersome. Let's just talk louder.

But Terence can hear them quite well.

........

Meanwhile Gaius and Virtual Gaius have reached Lille.

Lille! says Virtual Gaius.

I know it is Lille, says Gaius.

Sorry, says Virtual Gaius. Dull, isn't it.

Lille? says Gaius.

No, says Virtual Gaius. Being one and the same person. We know the same things.

They are passing through the Grand Place wheeling their bicycles.

Virtual Gaius looks up at a distinctive monument, a goddess-like woman holding a fire stick.

Gaius also looks up.

I wonder who that is? murmurs Gaius. She is not any goddess I know.

Nor me either, says Virtual Gaius. But note the head wear.

Yes, says Gaius. A mural crown.

They both know what that is.

And if we don't, we're not going to find out by listening.

Someone bumps into Virtual Gaius, and knocks his sound button to ON mode.

Crackle crackle. Where the hell are you? says Arne's voice.

Lille, says Gaius. Oh, it's you, Arne! Yes we're in Lille, in the Grand Place by the monument.

The allegorical figure of the woman, with the firestick and the mural crown? says Arne.

Yes, says Gaius. What is this allegory?

She represents the crackle crackle, says Arne's voice. The Austrians laid siege to Lille in 1792. They withdrew after nine days. It was an insignificant incident. But 50 years later crackle crackle. The people called it the Column of the Goddess. It was comical because she had the face of the wife of the Mayor.

Ha ha! laughs Gaius. Yes, that was comical.

It's good you're in Lille, says Arne. That is well done. You are  nearly to Belgium. So we shall be seeing you soon.

Gaius reaches over to switch off the sound button.

Belgium. Wasn't that where Arthur was going?