New Blood New Tactics

Sweezus, Arthur and Pablo are sitting outside a city cafe, waiting for Dries to turn up.

They are talking race tactics.

The ones to beat are Simon Gerrans and Rohan Dennis, says Sweezus.

And Jack Bobridge, says Arthur.

And what about Richie? says Pablo.

Yeah, Rohan and Richie came first and second in the individual time trials at Buninyong, says Sweezus. And Bobridge was the overall winner. But Phil Liggett reckons.....

At last! Dries has turned up.

With him are Terence and baby B-B on a scooter and hover board respectively.

Baby B-B hops up to Arthur, who smells just like he remembers. Of coffee.

But Baby B-B thinks coffee is poisonous now.

Woah! Dries! says Sweezus. We're just talkin' tactics.

Cool, says Dries. What tactics have we?

Nobble the others, says Arthur.

Ha ha, laughs Dries. Not this time. This time we are clean, right? I have Schopenhauer's bicycle to think of.

There are many ways to nobble the others, says Pablo. Poetry for instance, works sometimes.

Yep, 'specially with Richie. He gets distracted, says Sweezus.

I do poetry, says baby B-B.

No kidding? says Sweezus. What kind?

Sad kind, says baby B-B. Elegaic.

Like what? says Arthur.

Mango with you I was happy...... starts baby B-B.

Silence from the cyclists.

But only because they are thinking.........with who (or whom) was I happy?

I do it too, says Terence.

No you don't, says Sweezus, but I see you have a scooter. That could be useful.

Terence does a few complex moves on his scooter. He is really quite talented.

........

Gaius has turned up at the Velosophy office.

Back so soon? says David.

Soon? says Gaius. I thought the race started on Sunday.

Still hopeless at irony, says David.

The main thing is, have you been practising? asks Vello.

Yes and no, says Gaius. And I should inform you, I'm being tailed.

That could work in your favour, says Vello. Who by?

Victor, says Gaius.

Vello brightens.

How is Victor at philosophy?

Vello! says David. You're not thinking......?

We need a fourth rider, says Vello.

But a policeman, says David. It's totally opposed to our position.

Which is coming last, says Vello, and likely to remain so. We could do with new blood.

Just then the door opens. It's Belle.

There's someone to see you, says Belle.

What a coincidence if it should be Victor.

But it is not a coincidence, it's a Chinese man.

Sikong Shu! says David. What the dickens are you doing in Adelaide?

Looking for Arthur, says Sikong Shu. And it's Ssü-K'ung Shu these days.

It sounds exactly the same, says Vello.

The difference is mainly in the spelling, admits the Middle Tang poet.