Will you sign now? asks Océane Conscience.
No, says Gaius. I cannot approve of the time frame.
Very well, says Océane. That means your friends will be liable. Who holds the money?
What money? says Arthur.
I know you have it, says Océane. The entire Twenty Names Committee saw you collect it.
What a woman, thinks Pablo. Mind like a detective.
Just don't spend it, says Océane Conscience.
The very fast train passes through Saint Quentin.
Arthur and Pablo get up to go to the toilet.
Gaius feels compelled to make conversation.
What will you be doing in Paris? asks Gaius.
Pre climate talk meetings, says Océane.
Ah yes, the climate talks, says Gaius. Let us hope they will be productive. But PRE climate talks, did you say?
Yes, I'm meeting with various ecologists, says Océane, one of whom you may know.
Who? asks Gaius. Is it Xui Li? Or perhaps her best friend, Hui Zhong?
No, says Océane. It's a Swede. I'll give you another clue, if you can't guess him.
Yes, says Gaius. I have no idea. No, wait....no.... I haven't.
Océane scratches her chin, feels the yellow stickiness, scrapes it off with a finely sculpted finger nail, deposits it into her mouth delicately, and swallows it.
He is sometimes known as the Pliny of the North, she says. There's a clue for you.
Jumping Jiminy! says Gaius. Not Carl Linnaeus?
Carl Linnaeus, that's him.
What the dickens is HE doing at the climate talks? mutters Gaius.
Arthur and Pablo come back.
Pablo brushes past Océane as he sits down.
She undulates a little. But he notes that her chin is not sticky.
He thinks about offering her a Spanish fruit jelly. He would if he had one.
What's wrong, Gaius? You look perturbed, says Arthur.
No, not perturbed, says Gaius. I've just heard that an old acquaintance will be at the pre climate talks in Paris. I wonder if I could possibly get out of my........
Why not? says Arthur.
But who'll begin training the birds? asks Gaius.
He is already losing interest in training the birds.
We will, says Arthur.
Maybe just Arthur, says Pablo, testing the waters.
Oh no, says Océane. You have both signed the contract, and another member of the Twenty Names Committee will meet you at Paris Nord to continue your journey.
Pablo looks shocked.
Arthur looks hopeful.
The train approaches Compeigne.
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