Gaius, Arthur, Proust and Daniel O'Connell are on board the Wizz Air flight from Constanta to Paris.
Gaius is reading Science Daily. A story about marine ecosystems being degraded by eutrophication.
Arthur is thinking about the future. Specifically, his meeting with Sweezus, when he gets home.
He has promised Sweezus a report on the sayings of Proust, during their underground cave adventure. And he can't recall anything worth reporting.
Proust is asleep.
The kiss curl on his forehead moves up and down with his breathing. His eggshell eyelids are almost transparent.
Arthur stares at Proust's forehead. Inside it are memories.
What is it that Proust will remember?
The uncomfortable bicycle saddle? The Camel Balls? The fact that he thought they might wrap around his appendix? The Nâsal cheese? The methane? The rescue of Daniel O'Connell? The Irish countess? Albertine?
As he gazes at the sleeping face he sees something move over the moustache.
It's Daniel O'Connell.
Finally! says Daniel O'Connell. I've had no end of trouble to get here
Why did you bother? asks Arthur.
To ask you this, says Daniel O'Connell. What's going to happen?
We'll all die, says Arthur.
But before that, says Daniel O'Connell.
Gaius will take you to his house, says Arthur. And you'll meet Ageless, if he's about, and not at the library. And you should get on well with Terence.
Who's Terence? asks Daniel O'Connell.
A cement statue of baby Jesus, says Arthur. He loves parrots, but he might take to a spider. Especially one who has relatives in the Canaries.
Don't remind me, says Daniel O'Connell. My chances of seeing them get slimmer.
If I want to do something I do it, says Arthur.
But that's you, says Daniel O'Connell. I'm more reliant on others for my movements.
A-huch! splutters Proust, sucking in a big breath. His moustache is tickling.
Daniel O'Connell disappears up his left nostril.
Arthur doesn't know whether to tell him, or wait and see what happens.
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