Ideas Of Perfection

While they wait for their Miami connection, Gaius examines his map of Barbados.

It is shaped like a slice of that grilled turkey ham which is still causing him indigestion.

He puts the map back in his folder, and stuffs the folder into his back pack.

Draws out a copy of Nature Communications, and flicks through the pages.

What's that? asks Terence, looking at one of the pictures.

An Anchiornis, says Gaius. A bird-like dinosaur. With advanced laser imaging techniques we can now see how their wings looked. See, a red crest, like a woodpecker.

Terence likes the Anchiornis. It has four wings with black and white feathers, and a red crest. It's perfect.

Look, Nose, an Anchiornis!

Nose sniffs.

Is that your idea of perfection?

Yes, says Terence. The perfect parrot.

Sorry to disappoint you, says Nose.

Work on it, says Terence.

Terence, says Gaius. It takes years of evolution....

She got pink feathers in five minutes, says Terence.

That was not an evolutionary process, says Gaius.

No it wasn't, says Nose. The Monkey was sticky.

I'm not sure that's true, says Gaius. If the Monkey was sticky, your fur should have stuck to the monkey.

She lied! says Terence.

I wouldn't go that far, says Gaius. But something more went on there than we were aware of.

Griff can't hold his tongue any longer.

You lied too, says Griff. You claimed Nose was a hybrid.

That was to get us all out of a pickle, says Gaius.

Griff ponders. What would the Lord think?

Then he remembers the guidance he was given at the end of his prayers.

GO FOR IT!

Was the Lord referring to ways to get out of a pickle?

It's still a few hours to departure.

Kobo is restless.

Ageless, is there a bookshop anywhere in this airport?

Yes, my beloved, says Ageless. There is a Hudson's.

Go and get me a book, dear, says Kobo. I'd be so grateful.

Ageless scuttles off to the Hudson's.

Looks through the titles.

What would she like to read, his beloved? She is so intellectual.

His attention is attracted by Big Girl's Panties.

No way. Kobo would not like to be seen reading Big Girl's Panties.

What about Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty?

He can't remember whether Kobo likes Liane Moriarty.

Here's one. All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr.

Perfect for Kobo, enclosed as she is in her clam shell....

He is about to take it when he is confronted by the shop owner.

He scuttles away, back to his party.

What did you get me? asks Kobo.

Nothing, no money, my sweetness, says Ageless.

Here, says Gaius.

Ageless is surprised. Is Gaius, against type, going to give him some money?

No he isn't. Gaius hands Ageless his own dog-eared copy of Hesiod's Works and Days.

Perfect for a little light reading, says Gaius.