It's a rest day, the first of the Tour.
Belle has organised a picnic for Team Philosophe and Team Condor.
The clowns are invited.
She spreads out a rug on the grass near a Gallo Roman tower.
Nice spot, says Gaius.
Thought you'd like it, says Belle. Now who's for a glass of white wine?
What is it? asks Vello.
Ugni blanc, says Belle, or you can have the Côt, which is a nice malbec.
The white, dear, says Vello.
What's to eat? asks Sweezus.
Belle opens a large wicker basket.
Specialities of the region, says Belle. Périgord paté, baked duck, mushroom omelette, walnut cake and strawberries. Clowns, would you like some fresh bread?
Grimaldi opens his trick suitcase and draws out a bread knife.
Pickelherring takes a strawberry, and hands it to Terence.
Terence tries to take it. Pickelherring whips it away.
Wah! says Terence.
Everyone laughs. It is delightful the sweet way the clowns have with Terence.
By now everyone has a glass of white wine, a chunk of fresh bread, and a dab of truffle and foie gras paté. Arthur is already on seconds.
Terence is eating a strawberry, half squashed by Pickelherring's thumbs.
Pity about Richie, yesterday, says David. I feel a bit guilty.
Yeah, me too, says Sweezus.
Why is that? asks Belle, pouring each of them a second glass of Ugni, and offering a thick slice of baked duck.
Jinxed him, says Sweezus.
He jinxed himself, says Arthur. With the demons.
Yeah, but.... we all wished that Froome would fall off, says Sweezus.
It's true. They had all wished that Froome would fall off.
Come on, says Belle. In that case, you should only feel guilty if Froome fell off.
That's not how guilt works, says Jacobi.
True, says Vello. We should all have been happy if Froome fell off.
What if he'd got hurt? asks Belle.
Heaven forbid! says Vello.
Even Vello will not go that far.
There is a scratching sound, coming from the suitcase.
Can Tiny come out? asks Terence. He LOVES strawberries.
Not yet, says Grimaldi.
Is Tiny still in there? asks Belle. Let him out at once!
Grimaldi is reluctant. He makes a mime face depicting reluctance.
Go on! says Belle. Or there will be no walnut cake for anyone.
The group pressure mounts on Grimaldi
Walnut cake-walnut cake-walnut cake.....
It occurs to several of the picnickers that they do not like walnut cake.
Too late. Grimaldi loves walnut cake.
Grimaldi opens the suitcase.
And so on, .... right down to the fifth suitcase.
Or the sixth, who knows? Everyone is eyeing the picnic basket.
Because it looks like, after the walnut cake, there'll be cabécou du Périgord cheese.
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