Fixed, Not Fixed

Eglise de Saint Méen, later in the evening.

Méen enters, through the back door, with a lantern and Saint Roley's wet cardboard.

O marvellous! says Gaius. I recognise that cardboard. Where is the rest of it?

This is all that remains, says Méen. The little sailor is being looked after by Terence.

Bad idea, Méen, says Belle.

Bring them in, says Maclou.

Leave the cardboard, says Gaius. I need to examine it.

Méen leaves the cardboard, and goes back for Terence and his cousins.

A kerfuffle is happening.

Baldy: Let ME!

Terence: He's my parrot!

Baldy: Mine's missing. I should have half of this one.

They pull at the opposite ends of Saint Roley,

Butterfatty: Stop it! He's not breathing!

Saint Roley: Sasshoo!

(So he is breathing).

Méen: Ah there you are, boys. Bring him into my parlour.

Butterfatty picks up Saint Roley and runs with him to the Virgin.

He has forgotten about his homework.

Butterball! says the Virgin. What's that you've got there?

Saint Roley, says Butterfatty. Protect him!

There is no such saint, says the Virgin. Put him outside and finish your homework.

I finished it, says Butterfatty.

Then I shall test you, says the Virgin. Is the Arctic Circle fixed or not fixed?

FIXED, says Butterfatty.

It's the wrong answer.

Get back up here, says the Virgin. The latitude of the Arctic Circle depends on the earth's axial tilt. What does that tell you?

NOT FIXED! says Butterfatty.

Terence runs in.

I knew it! cries Terence. Bring him into the parlour. They've got cushions.

Cushions! says the Virgin. Not my kneeling cushions!

Terence doesn't know what sort of cushions.

He knows cushions are cushions. And Virgins are to be avoided.

I'll take him, says Terence, grabbing Saint Roley.

Sasshoo! says Saint Roley.

He's sneezing, says the Virgin. It may be the bird flu.

He's saying thank you, says Terence. He can say thank you. Before he couldn't.

The Virgin peers down at Saint Roley.

Say thank you, says the Virgin.

But Saint Roley won't say it.

......

Butterfatty follows Terence back to the parlour. His job is to make sure they don't use the kneeling cushions.

It sucks being a spy for the Virgin.