Time May Yet Defeat Us

Things which are happening.

Mango and baby B-B are flying towards Cootamundra.

This is three days ago now.

Gaius is in Paris at COP21, with Carl Linnaeus.

The spirit has gone out of Paris.

This is Paris, right now.

Vello, David and Terence are leaving Ferney (which is dull), and are heading for Paris. Terence has not been allowed to bring BANG ( his pet parrot, which is really a crane). He is sulking.

This is two days in the future.

Sweezus is thinking of how he and Arthur (and Dries and Pablo) might get out of Adelaide before Mango and baby B-B get there. The problem is, he ought to remain in the office until Vello and David come back.

This is right at this actual minute.

He thinks of a plan. Not a great one. He calls Gaius in Paris.

What is it? says Gaius. Have you forgotten the time zone?

Shit, sorry, says Sweezus. How's everything going?

Dreadful, says Gaius. We're not allowed to do anything. Costumes are suspect. The Climate Guardian Angels, lovely Australian girls, were stopped in the street by gendarmes.

Heavy, says Sweezus. By the way, you got anything for me? Anything that means travel?

A task? says Gaius. You didn't perform very well on the last one. The funnel web spider was eaten and the bristlebirds died. All due to your inattention.

The baby bird's on its way here, says Sweezus.

Is it? Good. Just make sure no one teaches it anything, until I get there.

When's that? asks Sweezus.

End of the week, says Gaius. Friday.

That's four days from now, (if we know when now is).

Sweezus leans back in his chair.

The phone rings.

No wait, that can't happen.

Two days later the phone rings.

It's Vello.

Hello? Sweezus?

Vello? Hello! What's up, boss?

We're heading for Paris, David and I. And young Terence, of course. How's everything in the office?

Cool, says Sweezus. Gaius is in Paris. He says everything's in lockdown. Cops everywhere. You can't do anything.

We'll see about that! says Vello.

Got any jobs for me that ...er...involve travel? says Sweezus. There's not much happening here.

Travel? says Vello. No, no, just sit tight till we get home. Should be....um...sometime next Friday. By the way, Terence is sulking. We made him leave his pet crane in Ferney.

Tell him there's a new baby bird coming, says Sweezus. In six days. He'll like that.

Wonderful, says Vello. That'll cheer him up. Goodbye now.

Damn. Stuck in Adelaide till at least Friday.

Still got two days after that though........