Dead Bird Platform

Careful! says Splosh.

Wow! says Belle. It's lovely.

They have rounded the headland and reached the Sculptured Rocks.

The bizarre carved faces of the Rothéneuf clan glow eerily.

Their lumpy reclining carved bodies seem to sparkle and heave in the moonlight.

The open mouths of the sea monsters blow out iridescent thought bubbles.

The lower rocks make a platform, on which are painted dead birds.

The bubbles shed faint light on their stiff painted feathers, and upturned stick feet.

How have you done it? asks Belle.

Trade secret, says Splosh. But no rocks were harmed in the process.

Where are the clown ones? asks Terence.

Here, says Splosh. Their names are Arthur, Eugéne, Auguste, Bernard and Jean.

Terence becomes bold because one of the clowns is named Arthur. And it's okay, because Arthur's a rock.

He tiptoes over to Rock-Arthur, with his red pencil.

How would you like a moustache?

He wants a black one, says Baldy.

He doesn't want one at all! says Belle.

He does, says Terence. Look, his eyes are bulging.

All their eyes are bulging, says Splosh. The Rothéneuf family had super-normal eyesight, from drinking water rich in certain elements.

What's this? says Gaius, looking up from his examination of a thought bubble.

Supposedly, says Splosh. Who knows though?

Crunch crunch! It's the sound of footsteps approaching.

A flash of torchlight flits across the stone eyes.

The thought bubbles bounce up and down gently.

Everyone freezes, except Terence.

....scratch.....scratch....

He is finishing the red moustache on Rock-Arthur.

The waves lap at the dead bird platform... slap... slap...

A gendarme's hat appears behind the great rock known as Durand.