Osie, Osie, Osie, Osette and Ostelle

It's Sweezus.

This is a surprise, says Gaius.

Is Arthur with you? asks Sweezus.

No, says Gaius. But no doubt he will be as soon as he ....

So he isn't, says Sweezus. Where is he?

Why? says Gaius. Is there a message?

We're in Rennes, says Sweezus. Me and Sartre. About to head out to Saint Malo.

Arthur is not there, says Gaius. I am at Pointe de Grouin with Belle and Jeanne Jugan, a lady.

And Terence, says Sweezus. Is he there?

Yes, of course, says Gaius. He and Baldy are currently making red balls from a rhubarb pudding.

Cool, says Sweezus. How goes the mission?

We're at a crucial point in the mission, says Gaius. We've sent a young oystercatcher across to Ile des Landes, a bird sanctuary, and are awaiting developments. Jeanne has brought some binoculars.

Yeah, well, says Sweezus. Good luck with that. Where IS Arthur? Is he with someone?

François-René de Chateaubriand, says Gaius. But no. Arthur's at the Hotel Nuit et Jour. François-René stayed in the church and slept on the cushions.

Nuit et Jour, Cancale? says Sweezus. Okay, thanks Gaius.

Burrr.

Was that Sweezus? asks Belle. Is he coming?

It would seem so, says Gaius. He's in Rennes at the moment.

So he must have finished with Sartre, says Belle I wonder how that went?

Sartre is coming, says Gaius.

THE Sartre? asks Jeanne Jugan.

Yes, says Belle. I'm surprised too.

He is probably interested in birds, says Gaius.

But Belle thinks this is unlikely.

.......

Meanwhile Saint Roley is wading in the shallows in search of the oystercatcher conference.

Every now and then he stops for a mollusc.

Stab and twist. It's easy.

Correction. It could be easy. First he should put down the cheeses.

He wades ashore, scrapes a hole in the sand, and drops in the two damaged cheeses.

Then he goes back to wading and searching for molluscs.

Stab and twist. It is easy, this time.

He is unaware that he is being watched by the conference.

The conference has five members. Osie, Osie, Osie, Osette and Ostelle.

All of the members are oystercatchers, concerned at what has been happening since the tides have been rising.

Fool. Someone should warn him, says Osie.