May They Be Fried

Evening, in Place Saint Méen.

Arthur, François-René and Maclou stop in front of Les Laveuses d'Huitres.

The bronze Laveuses are washing their oysters, in bronze baskets, creating a fountain of water falling into a tub.

Very fine, says François-René. It's good to see the common people honoured.

It is indeed, says Maclou. Now.... I wonder if Méen is at home. You wait here. I'll knock on his back door.

He leaves Belles's bicycle propped at the side of the fountain, and disappears round the back of l'Eglise Saint Méen.

He left his potatoes, says Arthur.

That's probably their dinner, says Francois-René. Along with the clams and the chestnuts that you polished off.

I was hungry, says Arthur. I still am. You wait here and...

NO! says François-René. Stay with me and mind the potatoes.

Arthur sits on the edge of the tub into which water drips from bronze oysters.

Maclou comes back, beaming.

He's at home, says Maclou. He's invited us all to dinner. Come in, boys!

They wheel the bicycles and the cheese bag of potatoes to the back entrance of l'Eglise de St Méen.

The door is open.

Méen is inside.

Like his colleague Maclou, he is dressed as a fisherman with a beanie that buzzes.

Welcome, welcome, says Méen. I know of your trials. You must be exhausted. Sit down. Have a canapé.

He indicates a low table on which is:

a pile of thin wafers.

Yerk!

And have you brought clams? he continues.

The chestnuts were hot and we thought the clams may have gone off, says Maclou, diplomatically.

Where are the chestnuts? asks Méen.

Long story, says Arthur. But, you know of our trials.

Yes, yes of course, says Méen. Tragic. Perhaps you'd like to pray before trying a wafer.

You start the potatoes says Maclou. I'll take them over to the Chapelle des marins.

Good man, says Méen. Potatoes take some time to cook. Should I peel them?

No need, says Maclou. I washed them in the sea after the clam débâcle. And don't throw out the cheese bag. Gaius wrote something on it.

I wasn't going to, says Méen.

He takes out four potatoes and folds the cheese bag.

Maclou leads François-René and Arthur to the Chapelle des marins péris en mer.

It is hung with life buoys and crossed oars. Priez pour les marins de Cancale péris en mer, reads a banner.

Does Méen know something we don't know? asks Arthur.

Yes, says Maclou. And I too know something.

What is it? asks François-René.

Your two little avian charges have perished in the ocean, says Maclou. The cardboard box, with them in it, was on the point of being rescued by a lady botanist, when it slid into the sea. They then floated away on the tide. It's most unlikely they have survived. But .... you might like to have a go while the potatoes are boiling.

Do they have to be boiled? asks Arthur, who much prefers fries.

François-René nudges Arthur. This is no time to be ordering alternatively cooked potatoes.

Maclou leaves them, to assist his colleague with the cooking.

It's weird how they know some things and not others, says Arthur.

Shut up and pray, says François-René. It may not be too late.

If you say so, says Arthur.

François-René prays silently for the souls of the two little oystercatcher babies. May they not perish.

Arthur prays for the potatoes. May they be fried.