The Sky's Indifference

Gaius is looking out to sea.

Is that a dolphin?

Belle watches François-René growing small in the distance.

Terence and Baldy sneak up to the box.

Saint Malo is in it, still pointing.

Now what? asks Baldy.

We lower the box, says Terence. Ask your bird if he wants to stay in it.

He wants to, says Baldy.

Saint Malo doesn't want to.

He moans.

See, says Baldy.

Okay, says Terence. Help me push the box over.

The box is light with only Saint Malo inside it. So it's easy.

Pwoosh! it slides down the slope and stops at the shoe.

Saint Roley is not expecting a visitor.

He is so surprised to see Saint Malo and the box that he utters his first complex diphthong.

Aie!

Aie! answers Saint Malo.

It's just the beginning.

......

François-René walks towards Cancale, expecting to meet Arthur, returning.

To pass the time, he composes a fragment:

The wind blinds him
to the sky's indifference......

hmmm......what rhymes with indifference?

And what the devil has happened to Arthur?

......

Arthur has caught up with Maclou.

Maclou has convinced him that he has not abducted Saint Roley.

Certainly not, says Maclou. If I were to abduct one of your newly-hatched oystercatchers, it would not be Saint Roley.

Thought not, says Arthur. But he has disappeared.

I realise that, says Maclou. I specialise in lost things. In fact I could probably, if I stopped to think about it, locate him.....

That would be helpful, says Arthur. Go on.

Protocol demands that you pray to me, says Maclou. Just a quick one.

Merde! says Arthur.

No need to be rude, says Maclou. It's just the way things are done here.

Okay, says Arthur. Tell me, where is Saint Roley?

Call that a prayer? says Maclou.

Yes, says Arthur.

Maclou makes a generous decision.