The Nearly All-Knowing

Six pieces of cardboard.

Which one to sail on?

The bird babies must make a decision.

Saint Malo thinks it's a no-brainer.

The one printed with the hand of god and his all-knowing finger.

Saint Malo jumps onto that one.

Saint Roley tries to warn him, by raising his feathery eyebrows, that the all-knowing finger points to the horizon, and a good chance of drowning.

But Saint Malo is firm.

He floats off towards the horizon, trusting in the all-knowing finger.

Is it nature or nurture? Who knows? But at least he has had a nice dinner.

Saint Roley remains on a blank piece of cardboard.

O for a sign!

A bigger piece of cardboard nearby catches a swell. On the cardboard, still visible, in purple Prismalo, are the tidal ranges of the Rance estuary, that Gaius recorded when Maclou went off with the cheese bag, upon which they were originally jotted.

If that's not a sign...!

Saint Roley leaps onto the larger piece of cardboard.

A life-affirming decision.

This is not to discount the potential of the all-knowing finger. Just my opinion.

.......

Eglise de Saint Méen.

Arthur has eaten a token quarter of one boiled potato.

He has stood up and walked to the door.

There Francine sees him, when she arrives with Baldy.

Hello, says Francine. I hope you knew we were coming. I've brought Baldy. Albert's retrieving Terence from the fountain.

I've just eaten a quarter of a boiled potato, says Arthur.

Poor you, says Francine. Look, Albert and I are heading to the Jardin du Bourg for a pizza. Want to come with us?

Sure, says Arthur.

Albert arrives, with Terence.

I'm wet, says Terence. That's a good fountain. You should have come, Baldy.

No, says Baldy. I'm going inside. We have to wait there for Gaius.

Okay, says Terence. Let's go inside.

Is anyone in there? asks Francine. We shouldn't just leave them.

Yes, says Arthur. Méen and Maclou, and François-René de Chateaubriand. They're eating potatoes, and congratulating themselves on their half-baked predictions.

Old guys, says Francine. Let's go and get pizza. Albert, are you good to go?

Good to go, says Albert.

....

Surprise! cries Baldy.

It is no surprise, says Maclou. We knew you were coming.

Surprise! says Terence.

And you, says Méen. Sit down and have a bite of potato, and wait quietly for Gaius.

How did you know? asks Terence.

If you live long enough, you know, says Maclou.

What about our parrots? asks Terence. When will they get here?

Maclou looks sad with the sadness of aeons......

How to tell the dear child?

Which parrot is yours? asks Maclou.