Seven Special Powers

Oh! says Ying. Something fell off the cathedral. A cute toy!

It's Astro Boy, says Arthur. The replacement for Terence.

Astro Boy has not yet spoken.

A crowd has gathered.

Hey, says someone. Look what fell out of the nativity! And it's not Baby Jesus.

Astro Boy addresses himself to Arthur:

Ho! About time!

Sorry? says Arthur. How was it up there?

All right as long as I kept my mouth shut, says Astro Boy.

Someone titters.

I didn't know you could speak, says Arthur.

I couldn't, says Astro Boy. But a boy grows up. A boy learns things. Have you brought the replacement?

You've waited two years for a replacement! says Arthur. Never thought of just leaving?

The good don't just up and leave, says Astro Boy.

Well said! says an onlooker.

What's in the box? asks Astro Boy.

Nothing, says Arthur.

I have seven special powers, says Astro Boy. Number three is my high intensity eye-lights. I could see in it, without you even opening it.

Go on then, says Arthur.

No! cries Ying.

Fortuitously, Terence runs forward, in his sun hat.

Yes, Terence and his party have landed in Barcelona, and headed straight for the Sagrada Familia.

Not because they wanted to. Gaius and Kong would rather have found a hotel.

But the arrangement was to meet Arthur, Ying and Daniel O'Connell outside the Sagrada Familia on Friday. And they are men of honour.

And Ying has control of the bookings.

So, here is Terence, having run forward.

Ho! says Astro Boy! You, baby! Are you ready?

Who are you? asks Terence.

Call me the Mighty Atom, says Astro Boy. Are you ready? You're going up there.

NO WAY! shouts Terence, so loud that his voice floats up to the ears of the Virgin (no reaction) and Saint Joseph, who glares down like a Gothic black thundercloud.

I'm not going up there! says Terence. That's your job, for ever!

That wasn't the understanding, says Astro Boy, Mighty Atom.

Sweezus appears, behind Arthur.

Arthur turns round.

Bro! says Sweezus.

You made it, says Arthur.

Yep, says Sweezus. What's up?

Down, says Arthur. He is. Astro Boy. He can talk, and he has seven special powers.

So he claims, says Ying. He hasn't shown any.

He's an IDIOT! says Terence.

Awesome! says Sweezus. Special powers. What are they?

A high IQ, says the Mighty Atom. I can determine whether a person is good or evil. That's number seven.

What am I? asks Terence.

Rude, says the Mighty Atom.

Terence takes off his sun hat.

A big mistake. Now Saint Joseph can see him.