Man Boots

Kong wakes up early.

Ying stumbles out of her room.

Daniel O'Connell pushes open the lid of his soap box.

Any news? asks Daniel O'Connell.

Yes, says Kong. Gaius found a clutch of spider eggs. Very promising. You look well this morning.

And why wouldn't I? asks Daniel O'Connell. What kind of eggs are they?

They don't know, says Kong. They need shoes.

You don't say? says Daniel O'Connell. They might be those tap-dancing spiders.

Use your head, says Kong. It's Gaius and Sweezus who need shoes.

Arthur has been feigning sleep until this point.

Now he feigns waking up.

Yawn!

Why do they need shoes? They had shoes.

They can't get out of the Caldera, says Kong. They need non-slip shoes.

Lucky we're going shopping this morning, says Ying. We'll buy them some shoes. What size are they?

Round about the same as me, says Arthur.

That is quite likely.

Soon they are out and about in Las Palmas, looking for shoe shops.

Geox.... Foot Locker.....Camping.

Camping has a sale on.

These ones, says the assistant, have thirty percent off.

Arthur likes the look of the shoes, which are called 'Marges'.

Soft suede and cork, ridged sole, cushioned latex insole, lightweight etc.

Try them on, says Ying.

Arthur is trying them on when a kerfuffle erupts in the doorway.

Two large Pesquet's Parrots are trying to force their way in.

Arthur stands up, in the comfortable Marges.

Merde! It's them! He pulls two sea urchin spines from his pocket.

Mother Pesquet looks pleadingly into the blue eyes of Arthur.

Father Pesquet darts forward and shits on his shoe.

Santo cielo! cries the assistant. You can keep those shoes now. But you must leave this shop, pronto!

A good outcome.

Arthur thinks so. And Ying is pretty happy. Saving money. Only Kong has reservations.

I have reservations, says Kong.

We only scored one pair, says Arthur. Is that it?

And that pair is yours, says Kong. You left your old shoes in the shop, remember. We're no better off.

So they head off to Foot Locker, who also have a sale on, and buy two pairs of Timberland Hiker Hombre Botas, in two random sizes, 43 and 44.

Arthur offers to be the one to deliver them.

Kong is only too glad not to have to. He goes off to look for a tea shop.

We're getting warmer, whispers Father Pesquet to Mother Pesquet, in the dark reaches of the highest palm tree, as Arthur heads for the bus stop.