They Gnash Their Teeth and Melt Away

Back on the plane. A seven hour flight from Dubai to Barcelona.

Edith is reading the thought for today.

Blessed are those who fear the lord
and delight in his commandments.
The wicked see it and are angry.
They gnash their teeth and melt away.

If only, thinks Edith.

Terence appears, in his sun hat.

Hello, says Terence. You lost your ribbon.

I know, says Edith. I don't suppose any of your party thought to pick it up.

How do I know? asks Terence. BUT, would you like a new one?

That's very kind, says Edith. Do you have one?

Yes, says Terence. It's really a cord. But Baby Pierre called it a ribbon. Have you got any scissors?

I hope not! says the man who has now finished reading The Girl on the Train, and is continuing to Barcelona, to Edith's annoyance.

Edith looks at him sideways.

No, of course not, dear, says Edith. And I wouldn't like to damage your sun hat. Anyway, a bible marker must be a flat one.

Cannot but be, says Terence.

What? says Edith.

It's a game, says Terence. Baby Pierre and me were playing it.

How do you play it? asks the man, putting his new book down.

You make it up, says Terence. Say you see a bee.

I see a bee, says the man.

No, I mean PRETEND that you see one, says Terence.

All right, says the man.

It cannot but be, says Terence.

It cannot but be a BEE, says Edith.

Terence doesn't like being corrected, except by smart people.

He turns and walks back up the aisle.

Kong Fu-Zi and Sweezus are deep in Neo-Confucian discussion (second generation).

It has a more socio-political aspect, says Kong. All the social and political theories of the world are connected in essence.

Heavy, says Sweezus. So how come they're different?

For the answer to that you must ask Master Mou, says Kong Fu-Zi. I'm just outlining the theory.

Did she want it? asks Baby Pierre.

No she didn't, says Terence. She said a bible marker must be a flat one.

Cannot but be, says Baby Pierre.

Terence and Baby Pierre begin helplessly laughing.

What's so funny? asks Gaius, looking up from his notes on salticidae, and the Macaroeris nidicolens in particular.

Everything, says Baby Pierre.

Can you be more specific? asks Gaius. You have interrupted me. I should at least like to know the reason.

Baby Pierre chooses the more conventional option.

Edith said a bible marker must be a flat one.

Ha ha, laughs Gaius. As if it matters! A feather would do!