White Slits

Diego stops eating his bocadillo.

He's seen a hat walking by, with a spider.

Diego reaches out and whips the hat off Baby Pierre.

Why'd you do that? asks Baby Pierre.

Because you might be looking for me, says Diego.

Don't tell me you know Daniel O'Connell? asks Baby Pierre.

If that was his name, says Diego.

It was, says Baby Pierre. Did he have a hat on?

He did, says Diego. A hat in the style of Don Quixote.

That was him, says Baby Pierre.

I thought I was meeting James Joyce, says the Black Jumping Spider.

Then you didn't listen, says Baby Pierre.

False pretences, says the spider. I'm here to learn dancing.

From DANIEL O'CONNELL, says Baby Pierre.

She'll be lucky, says Diego.

(SHE! Isn't he observant, to have spotted the white triangular slits on the spider's prosoma!)

Why? asks Baby Pierre. Has something happened to Daniel O'Connell?

Yes, says Diego. He won't be teaching anyone dancing until he gets the hang of his new legs. He lost three, in an accident.

Disabled! This really sucks! says the spider.

Where is he? asks Baby Pierre. This is a serious setback. It's a crowd-funded expedition.

Do you have insurance? asks Diego.

I don't know, says Baby Pierre. Ying will know. Is she here?

I don't think so, says Diego. There was this Roman guy, Gaius, and this Chinese guy, Kong, and a little statue of baby Jesus that turned up out of nowhere....

That was Terence! says Baby Pierre.

The spider starts backing away.

If James Joyce isn't of the party, she's heading straight back to the bus stop.

WHERE ARE THEY? hollers Baby Pierre.

Gone on an outing with the Rector, says Diego. They'll be back later. You can wait here. Or in the biology lab, if you'd rather....

Baby Pierre thinks about it.

Should they wait here? What does White-Slits think?

Yi! She is running down the driveway towards the road and the bus stop!