Blood Is Coming

The mangy dog edges closer to Proust on the footpath.

Gaius can't find a stone.

Luckily Arthur is behind him.

Watch this, says Arthur, pretending to pick up a missile.

The mangy dog watches Arthur with one eye and Proust with the other.

Proust, having noticed that Arthur's hand is empty, panics, and kicks out in the mangy dog's general direction.

The mangy dog snaps at Proust's ankle.

Ach! Two holes in his sock! And that may not be the end of it. Sometimes you feel blood is coming even though you can't see it.

Proust collapses on the pavement, one eye on his ankle.

The mangy dog runs away.

Bravo, Arthur, says Gaius. You fooled it.

Too late, says Proust. I shall probably get rabies.

Nonsense, says Gaius. Let's see. Two holes in your sock. And no skin broken.

Proust examines the skin through the holes in his sock. It looks pink.

He wishes he could show it to his mother. She would tenderly take off his sock. She would give the sock to Françoise to be washed and mended. She would then make him a salve, and apply it to his foot with her own fingers before wrapping it in a lovely fresh smelling white towel......

But what's Arthur saying?

.......three bikes for as long as we need them.

Gaius is handing Arthur some money, and Arthur is walking away.

Proust feels faint.

Arthur is coming back again, with two bicycles.

Leaving them with Gaius, he goes back for a third one.

A colourful scarf has been tied round the saddle of the third bicycle.

Proust cheers up at the thought that Arthur has attempted to obey his instruction.

He hopes the scarf is made of a natural fibre, and not polyester.

Imagine the sparks from the friction!

He stands up, and walks to his bicycle, carefully avoiding a pot hole.

.......

Two hours later, a real microbiologist gets off a train and walks into the station.

He approaches the information counter.

Can I leave a message here for someone?

Sure, says Gabi. Hey! I remember you. You're that professor.

Yep. Professor Rich Boden. That's who I am.

I just saw your colleague, says Gabi. He's hired three bikes and gone up there already.

That's news to me, says Rich. Well then, I won't leave him a message.

Are you diving the cave again? asks Gabi.

Not this time, says Rich. Just checking out a few things on the surface. Okay, I'd better catch up to him. Err...... did you say three BIKES?

Yes, says Gabi. He had two companions, but I didn't see them.

Hmm, says Rich. Something smells fishy.