And The Climax Was When

Under the tree, in the grounds of the University de La Laguna.

White Slits is becoming impatient. It is well after lunch time.

She practises some dance steps.

What are you doing? asks Baby Pierre.

Practising dance steps, says White Slits. This is the spider dance.

She shakes her legs, one after the other.

It's A spider dance, says Baby Pierre. Not THE spider dance. Daniel O'Connell's is different.

This is a female spider dance, says White Slits. Made famous by Lola Montez.

Was she a spider? asks Baby Pierre.

No, she was Irish, says White Slits. A human.

So, two legs only, says Baby Pierre. How did she do it?

It was in the mid 1850s, says White Slits. She wore knee length skirts with lots of petticoats.

What are petticoats? asks Baby Pierre.

Frilly under-skirts, says White Slits.

Okay, says Baby Pierre. Then what?

Then she raised them up and flicked them and touched her legs with her fingers. I can't do that part.

You could if.... says Baby Pierre.

He stops. What if she ....? But it might be inappropriate.

No, says White Slits. I couldn't. But she could. And the miners went wild.

Miners? says Baby Pierre. Oh I get it. Was it in the goldfields?

Yes, in the goldfields, dancing for the miners, says White Slits. And the music got faster and faster, and she pretended there were spiders on her and she had to shake them out of her petticoats and she was flicking, and showing her legs and the music got more and more feverish and the climax was when she found a spider and stomped on it. Bam! But I don't do that bit. I just go faster and faster. It's fun.

She twirls faster and faster. Then she drops on the grass beside Baby Pierre. A few yellow leaves from the tree drift down beside her.

You see! says White Slits. When Lola stopped dancing, she was showered with gold.

Baby Pierre likes this story. It's perfect.

What time is it?

 Half past two.

The Rector pulls up in the Opel Astra.

Kong gets out. Then Gaius and Terence. They are on their way to the Eng and Tech lab, but first they must go past the tree.

Here they are! cries Baby Pierre. They're coming!

Which one is him? asks White Slits.

None of them, says Baby Pierre. That's Gaius, that's Kong and that's Terence.

So where's Daniel O'Connell? asks White Slits, arranging her legs prettily.

I don't see him, says Baby Pierre.