The Mysterious Depths

It's dark on the sea.

Saint Roley floats in what he hopes is the right direction.

Up and down on the waves.

Wait a minute.

It occurs to him that an oar would be helpful.

Is it too late to go back to the plain piece of cardboard?

Not that there was an oar.

But there was that dermal denticle which would make a fine one.

He stares back at the floating piece of plain cardboard.

He turns his head slowly, and stares at the shore.

A few lights flicker in the distance. Yellow red blue green white electric.

Music.

A scent of oysters.

Bumppp! Splash! Hey-aah!!!

Saint Roley has bumped into an oyster farm, and woken the oysters.

.....

Way out in the seascape, Saint Malo is floating towards the horizon. The horizon is dark. The all knowing finger on his cardboard vessel is no longer visible.

This is good for Saint Malo, who need not know

that the finger has bent away from the hand

due to a crease which has weakened the cardboard

and is now pointing downwards

into the mysterious depths of the ocean

where god only knows what goes on......

......

It is bright and noisy in the Jardin du Bourg.

Arthur helps Albert with his absurdist novel, while Francine orders more pizza and beer.

What if, says Arthur, the novel was set in Algiers?

It already is, says Albert. I grew up there.

And became a botanist, says Arthur.

No, a journalist, says Albert. Botany's a hobby.

And Francine? asks Arthur.

She's a mathematician, says Albert.

Francine brings back a pizza with mixed seafood topping.

Oysters, says Albert. I LOVE oysters!

Eat up, says Francine.

.......

In the Eglise de Saint Méen, Baldy looks for his cousin.

He turns a corner.

There before him on a plinth stands a shiny white Virgin, with her hand on his fat little butterball of a cousin.

Hi Fatty, says Baldy.

His name is BUTTERBALL, says Aunt Marie. Hello Baldy. How's your mother?

Good, says Baldy. (A safe answer). Can Butterfatty come down and play?

Butterfatty looks hopeful. What will she say?

He's busy right now, says Aunt Marie. Doing his homework.

This seems to be true.

Butterfatty is standing on a blue globe of the world, his fat little feet on the Arctic Circle.

We can help him, says Baldy. Terence is here.

This revelation receives a lukewarm reception from aunty.