Green Words Black Words

Victor has decided to follow Splosh and Baldy.

His reasoning: They appear to possess criminal implements, viz. a box of paints, a green pencil. Furthermore, they are on foot, and will be easy to follow.

He follows them circumspectly, unaware that he himself is being followed.

Splosh and Baldy walk down the Avenue du Général Patton to the Grand Aquarium de Saint Malo.

I have made a clever choice, thinks Victor.

Splosh and Baldy go in.

Victor enters, ten seconds later.

He looks around. Where have they gone?

Aha. A clue. He has spotted a green Prismalo pencil. Someone has dropped it. The infant known as Baldy. Potential child activist, and oystercatcher impersonator.

He picks up the pencil. He might as well use it. He takes out his notebook, and writes in green lettering:

G'rd Aq'um de St. M. 10 am. Two suspects enter. 2nd suspect drops exhibit 1, a green pencil.

Baldy comes running up to Victor.

That's my pencil! I dropped it!

But Victor can't give it back now it has been recorded.

........

Meanwhile, at the Rance Estuary, Gaius has won the confidence of the oystercatcher by revealing he too has no time for seagulls.

Bane of our lives, says the oystercatcher. Always dumping their eggs in our scrapes when we aren't looking.

Gaius does not contradict this.

The oystercatcher continues:

But we're wise to 'em. We've been through a lot. This barrage, see it? Yes, course you can. Know why they put it here? Highest tidal range in France!

You don't say, says Gaius. What is the range? Do you know it?

Let me think, says the oystercatcher.

Should I get out a pencil? asks Gaius. If you don't know the figures, I won't bother.

It's coming to me, says the oystercatcher. Get your pencil out.

Belle! calls Gaius. A pencil!

You've got one, says Belle A grey one, remember.

Yes, of course, says Gaius, feeling in the pocket of his chinos.

Average tidal range, 8 metres, says the oystercatcher. The spring and neap range can be as big as 13.5 metres. How about that!

Remarkable, says Gaius. Terence, lend me your pencil. Belle! Got any paper?

I didn't bring any note paper, says Belle. Use this cheese bag. And it doesn't look like Terence wants to lend you his pencil.

What's that kid doing? squawks the oystercatcher.

He's found some eggs, says Belle. Terence! Don't touch them!

I wasn't, says Terence. I was just drawing on them.

Holy-guanoly! says the oystercatcher. What did he draw?

Words, says Terence. Black ones.

That's called writing, says Belle.