God's Finger

The melon is divided.

Belle, Gaius, Arthur, Maclou and François-René sit on rocks to eat it.

Excellent melon, says Gaius.

Petit gris, says Maclou. The melon of melons.

Terence  and Baldy are not eating the melon of melons. They sit by the box.

The box has not been described yet.

It is difficult, perhaps that is why.

The saintly box, which until recently held hot chestnuts, warm clams and new potatoes, and now none of these, is a cardboard box of medium dimensions and nondescript colour.....

No, no!

A cardboard box of recycled cardboard, with the hand of god on the lid (boldly depicted).

God's finger points to a tab. His words are printed neatly alongside.

In French. This may or may not surprise you.

The words are: TIRER ICI POUR OUVRIR.

It is typical of god that he thinks an instruction is needed.

But then again, we humans often run into trouble with this type of tab.

Inside the box are Saint Malo and Saint Roley flat on their backs recovering. The lid is ouvré.

They open their eyes.

You've got a box, says Terence. Belle threw the shoe in the bushes. Ants are in it.

Saint Roley tries to stand up.

He can just see over the rim of his new cardboard vehicle.

Maclou notices the feathery head, the little eyes blinking.

Is this the one that's named after me? asks Maclou.

No, says Belle. That one's Saint Roley.

I don't know a Saint Roley, says Maclou.

He's a model, says Terence.

Role model, whispers Belle to Maclou.

Bless him, says Maclou. I'm sure he will be an excellent role model.

I am less sure, says Gaius, wiping the melon juice from the melon of melons from his chin. In fact I'm not confident that either of these chicks is mature enough for our purpose.

Courage! says Maclou.

We are not lacking courage, says Gaius. We are lacking in time.

I can't help you there, says Maclou. I too am lacking in time. I promised Méen I'd be in Cancale by supper time.

Would you like to borrow my bicycle? says Belle.

Thank you, that is most kind, says Maclou. You can pick it up at the Church of Saint Méen in Cancale when you get there. Now then, where are my potatoes?

In the cheese bag, say Belle. Careful! You'll be unbalanced.

Maclou mounts the bicycle, and wobbles off down the wide path of the Grand Randonnée, rattling and buzzing.

WHERE'S SAINT ROLEY! yells Terence.

They all peer into the saintly box.

Oh no! Saint Roley is missing!