Inventions And Interventions

We must start walking back, says the Rector. Who's going to carry the spider?

In the interest of harmony and order, Kong picks up Daniel O'Connell.

Thank you, says Daniel O'Connell. Who needs a red box anyway?

You do, says Terence.

We'll find him a new box in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, says Gaius.

That's good enough for Daniel O'Connell.

He settles down in the cupped hands of Kong.

He hasn't noticed that one leg is missing. Not one of his new microlattice ones, but one from the abdomen end of his cephalothorax.

The Rector leads the walk down.

Is there anything to eat? asks Terence.

No, says the Rector. We'll stop in Chinamada for lunch. But we must get back to the car first. You might like to try spotting a chaffinch.

Okay, says Terence.

He drops back to walk beside Gaius.

What are you doing? asks Gaius.

Spotting a chaffinch, says Terence.

Look in the trees then, says Gaius.

I need Daniel O'Connell to help me, says Terence.

I'll help you, says Gaius. I  believe the local chaffinch is a blue one. That should make it easy.

They walk down the trail, passing junipers, laurels, pines and wild olives, and not one blue chaffinch.

He sets HARD things, says Terence, I'm going  to look for a parrot.

He drops back to Kong.

Tell Daniel O'Connell we're looking for a parrot, says Terence.

Daniel O'Connell would be happy to look for a parrot.

Put me down on Terence, he says.

Kong places Daniel O'Connell on Terence's shoulder.

Oh, yes, yes! says Daniel O'Connell. The air is full of parrots. There's a blue one!

Where? asks Terence, turning quickly.

Daniel nearly loses his balance.

At this point you might think he would notice that one leg is missing.

But he doesn't. He laughs, because he invented the blue parrot,

They make their way down a deep gorge, past more abandoned stone houses.

Everyone is hungry.

At last they get back to the car.

That was boring, says Terence. What's in China-mina?

Chinamada, says Rector. There are caves. People live in them. Also a thousand year old Dragon Tree. And a restaurant, La Cueva, where I should like to treat you all to a hearty Canarian lunch.

How civil of you, says Gaius.

Very kind, says Kong.

They get into the Opel Astra, and the Rector drives them all the way to Chinamada, without stopping.

On the way the Rector asks Terence if he spotted a chaffinch.

No, says Terence. But guess what? We spotted a parrot. A blue one!

The Rector smiles indulgently.

You should take him to Loro Parque if you find you have time, says the Rector. It's on the West Coast. He'll see four thousand specimens of three hundred and fifty different species and subspecies of parrots.

Woo hoo! says Terence.

And tigers and dolphins and penguins, adds the Rector.

I love penguins, says Terence. They like jokes, and you can put rubbish in them.

Those are BINS, says Gaius.

Bins that like jokes? says Kong. That seems inharmonious.

In Tasmania, explains Gaius.

You do get around, says the Rector.

Indeed, says Gaius. Always busy. If it's not cycling, it's chasing after endangered species.....

Here we are, says the Rector pulling up outside La Cueva. Inside or out? Sunshine on the terrace or smart dark interior?

Smart dark interior.

They enter La Cueva, and are shown to a table.

A flat table. This may be a tipping point for Daniel O'Connell.