Or I'll Deck You!

The guard skids to a halt, (not in the egg slime), and says:

What was that smash?

Vello, who dislikes all forms of authority, has kicked the pith helmet aside.

Dropped my hat, says Vello. Is that a problem?

Pick it up, says the guard, and there won't be a problem this time.

Vello picks up the little pith helmet with a flourish, removes his own pith helmet, and places the smaller one on his head.

The guard gives him a quizzical look, and marches away.

Ha! says Vello. I think I dealt with that rather well.

But no one is listening.

Du Fu, Wang Wei, May Li, Em, Oscar and Terence are staring at the egg slime, in the middle of which, a tiny bird struggles.

Who's going to pick it up? asks Em. Not me.

Not me, says May Li.

That rules out the ladies.

I will, says Du Fu. A crane is lucky.

I knew it! says Terence.

Du Fu picks up the damp baby crane and holds it out to Terence. It doesn't look lucky.

It's dead, says Oscar.

No look, it's gasping, says Em.

I'll take care of it, says Terence. It's my lucky parrot.

How sweet. Vello is moved. He reaches up to remove Terence's little pith helmet and return it to Terence. Perhaps Terence would like to make a soft bed for his charge, out of torn strips of cotton, and carry it round in his helmet until it recovers.......

But he can't remove the pith helmet. It's stuck to his head.

Curses, says Vello. Pull it, Em, will you? Gently does it.

Em pulls it, until it comes off.

Terence drops the lucky bird in it.

Time we were going, says Vello. We must return to Ferney for dinner.

Good bye, says Em to Du Fu, Wang Wei and May Li. Thanks for taking care of Oscar and his little friend here.

Yes, thank you, says Vello. Very kind.

That's okay. Enjoy the rest of your day, says May Li.

They walk off in different directions, leaving the egg slime on the floor in front of the Woman With Doves.

........

The egg slime remains. It hasn't dried up.

The Australian Immigration Minister, Peter Dutton, enters the hall with his Chief of Staff and his media person.

Where is this meeting? fusses Peter Dutton.

I just want to show you this beautiful painting first, says the Chief of Staff. It's so inspiring.

Have we got time for this? grumbles Peter Dutton.

Yes, says the media person. Two minutes. Oh, it's amaaaazing!

Peter Dutton is reading a text message from Tony Abbott (Australian Prime Minister).

DON'T GIVE ANYTHING TO THOSE UN BLEEDING HEARTS OR I'LL DECK YOU!!!!

So he is not looking at the beautiful painting, or even the floor.

Swuuuuurrrrpppp! he loses his footing and goes for a slide in the egg slime.

The luck of the crane is selective.