The Golden Tortoise

Gaius and Kong have reached the foot of Roque Nublo.

A 67 metre basaltic rock on a lunar platform.

Three German climbers are preparing to climb it.

Gaius approaches. Kong hangs back.

Excuse me, says Gaius. I see you are planning to climb Roque Nublo. Would you care to make a small contribution to the field of natural science?

Nein! says the leader. We have not brought money.

You misunderstand me, says Gaius. I merely wish you to peer into nooks and crannies as you ascend Roque Nublo, and inform me of the presence of a particular species of spider.

Ach! You mean the endemic lineage of loxosceles, says the leader. I don't think we will see any. I believe they are only active at night.

Drat! I had forgotten, says Gaius. Well, thank you, young man. Enjoy your climb.

The three Germans start to head up Roque Nublo.

A setback, Kong, says Gaius. The spiders are active at night.

I hope you're not thinking of waiting, says Kong. You must return home to your team mates.

I am torn between duties, says Gaius.

Listen to this, says Kong. It may help you:

There is only one Carved Cloud, exquisite always,
Yet she dreads the spring, blowing cold in the palace
When her husband, a Knight of the Golden Tortoise,
Will leave her sweet bed to be early at court.

Ha ha, laughs Gaius. A Knight of the Golden Tortoise! Very funny! Of course he'd get up early!

Kong frowns. It's not the response that he hoped for.

Overhead, a skittering is heard, and a bump!

One of the Germans has slid to the bottom of Roque Nublo. His carabiners were faulty.

........

A cool day in Adelaide.

Sweezus, Arthur, Pablo and Diego are out for their first practice ride.

Diego is riding Gaius's bicycle.

Good bike, says Diego. But what if Gaius comes back?

No worries. We'll give you the Schopenhauer, says Sweezus. You speak German?

No, says Diego. Just Spanish and English and Silbo.

Cool, says Sweezus. The philosophy won't affect you.

He looks back at Arthur and Pablo.

I reckon we'll smash it this year, says Sweezus.  Good legs on everyone.

I hope so, says Diego. But the other teams have famous riders. The Team Philosophe has Marcel Duchamp. And there is a Parrot Team...... are you not worried?

What Parrot Team? says Sweezus.

Equipo de Loro, says Diego.

That's just some nutso rumour, says Sweezus.

Arthur said... begins Diego.

Oh yeah, Arthur said... replies Sweezus. No harm in being creative.

.......

Equipo de Loro is no fantasy.

It is evolving in Gaius garden shed.

Baby Pierre is the leader. He has a bicycle with wheels made of green fluoroelastane.

Rider Two is the Pesquet. He has Baby Pierre's other bicycle (really his cousin's).

Rider Three is Daniel O'Connell. He doesn't yet have a bicycle.

Nor does tiny seven-legged Dedalus, rider Four.

Fortunately their Team Manager, Terence, has found his old scooter.

But if you don't mind me asking, says Daniel O'Connell. How do you propose to make one scooter into two bicycles?

Terence looks at the Pesquet. After all, he's the smart one.

I know! says Dedalus, who has matured quite a lot since two days ago.