Rainbows And Other False Pretences

The crane flies towards the Palais de Nations.

The crane flies over the grounds.

She spots the Tower of Loneliness.

The roof is missing. She lands on a brick near the top.

Inside the Tower of Loneliness sits an Infant.

The Infant looks up.

What would you like best in the world? asks the crane.

A cushion, says Terence.

In the WORLD? says the crane. Think about it.

A milkshake, says Terence.

What a crap mission, says the crane.

.....

Why is Terence on his own? Where is Oscar, and the Chinese delegation?

They are inside the Palais de Nations, in the beautiful space of the Salle de Pas Perdus.

Think! says May Li. Your mother's room number.

We only came for the day! wails Oscar.

So you DON'T live here, says Du Fu. The small stone boy was lying.

HE used to live in a palace, says Oscar. The tower reminds him of home.

Wang Wei isn't having a bar of it.

THIS is a palace, says Wang Wei. The Tower is too plain to remind him of anything.

.......

Em and Vello have, meanwhile, reached the end of the Jet d' Eau walkway, and come upon Terence's pith helmet, which someone has retrieved and left at the side to dry out.

Dear me, says Vello. This is Terence's helmet.

Oh, no! says Em. That's a bad sign.

Some kids fell in earlier, says a tourist. Straight in, on a bike. But they're both okay now.

Where did they go? asks Em.

Don't know, says the tourist. I wasn't here then. You could ask around though.

Kids went off with the Chinese folk, says a man (who has been there for ages, making a YouTube video, trying to capture a rainbow in the spray from the fountain).

Oh fuck! WHERE TO? screeches Em.

The Palais de Nations, says Vic Stefanu ( his name). Kid's bike is still at the bottom. You might want to.....

But Em has run off, followed by Vello, who has thoughtfully repossessed the pith helmet.

.....

The crane flutters down close to Terence.

The thing is, says the crane, I can't do cushions or milk shakes.

What can you do? asks Terence.

Feathers, says the crane. Eggs and feathers.

Did Grandpa send you? asks Terence.

Is Forster M. Reed your Grandpa? asks the crane.

No way, says Terence.

Then I'm here under false pretences, says the crane.