Stage Twenty: Marseille Time Trials - Progress

The time trials.

Unless Froome has a mishap, there will be nothing to see.

Luckily, other things are happening.

Baldy is cracking a fruity.

Wah! says Baldy.

What? says Terence. Did you see the clowns?

Noo! cries Baldy, pointing upwards.

But Baldy is always pointing upwards.

Tiny Sacrifice happens also to be looking upwards.

He sees a golden statue on top of a Basilica. The golden statue clasps a golden baby.

Does that make you cry? asks Tiny.

Yes! snivels Baldy. She's got a new one.

Who? asks Terence, looking upwards at last.

Mama! splutters Baldy.

You're an idiot, says Terence. This is a new town. That can't be your Virgin. AND, your Virgin is orange.

Like you, he adds helpfully.

Yes, say Tiny. That's a golden Virgin, up there. And you're orange.

Baldy looks at himself.

He has not done this before. Yes, he is orange.

Terence is grey.

Except for the winged hand and the claw on one finger.

Baldy is learning.

He looks up again at the golden baby.

It's a rubbish baby. It waves indiscriminately.

I have to go, says Tiny. It's nearly time for Third Sister's time trial.

Come on! says Terence.

No, says Baldy. I'm going on a mission.

You can't, says Terence. What is it?

To teach that stupid baby to point properly, says Baldy. It must be my cousin.

(Hearing which, we cannot but be surprised by his linguistic progress).

Okay, says Terence. We'll watch Third Sister. Then go.

They head to the stadium. They get there just in time to see Maciej Bodnar finish strongly.

Go Maciej Bodnar! That's the best time so far!

Third Sister is next. But no one is cheering. Perhaps they can't see her.

A pity, because she beats Bodnar's time by three seconds.

Did you see that? says Tiny. My sister's a champion.

Yes, says Terence. She can be in my parrot gang if she wants to.

Parrot gang, says Tiny. I thought I was your parrot.

She can be in MY parrot gang, says Baldy.

You haven't got one, says Terence.

Baldy thinks otherwise.

Come on, says Terence. Let's go  and teach Stupid to point.

This is how parrot gangs form, with ambivalent intentions.

They head back to the Baslique Notre Dame de la Garde.

It won't end well. Let's leave them to it.

We want to know how Froomey will do.

Froomey comes third, cementing his GC position.