Say FLY

I'm not! says Jeanne Jugan.

Of course not, says Belle.

LA LA LA! says Terence.

What's that for? asks Baldy.

So Saint Roley won't hear it, says Terence.

Hear what? asks Saint Roley.

She's pretending she isn't, says Terence. It's a witch trick. Come here.

Saint Roley jumps down from the basket.

That was GOOD flying, says Baldy.

It wasn't flying, says Saint Roley. I think I know the difference.

Come over to the edge of the cliff, says Terence. You stand there. We'll trick her into saying a spell.

Okay, says Saint Roley.

He stands at the edge of the Pointe de Grouin, looking down. The tide is out, and several walkers are making their way to the bottom.

Behind him, Terence and Baldy are hatching a plan.

I know, says Terence. We'll make her say FLY.

Easy, says Baldy. We'll catch a fly and ask her what it is. Then she'll say it.

Yes, says Terence. Start looking.

But the first insect he sees is a bee.

He tries to catch it.

Jeanne Jugan has no idea that Terence and Baldy are planning to make her say FLY.

She is talking to Belle and Gaius.

Gaius is explaining the mission, and that oystercatchers are generally slow learners, but Saint Roley is quick witted, so the plan is for him to act as a role model, using cheeses as eggs, for safety reasons.

But we don't have the cheeses, says Belle.

We mislaid them, says Gaius

I may be able to help, says Jeanne Jugan. I am good at begging.

Of course! says Belle. You founded the Little Sisters of the Poor, and went begging for food for abandoned old women.

What do you think THIS is? asks Terence coming up behind Jeanne Jugan with a dead bee.

A dead bee, says Jeanne Jugan.

It's a FLY! says Terence.

It isn't, says Jeanne Jugan.

Terence is defeated.

But Baldy is not.

Isn't what? says Baldy.

A fly, says Jeanne Jugan.

WHAT? says Baldy.

FLY! says Jeanne Jugan.

Saint Roley hears the spell. He believes in it, fully.

He leaps forward
fluttering in mid air
above the cliff face
a soft wind takes him
he is blown out
the wind drops him
in a bush at the bottom
ploosh
but he is uninjured
finding himself at the mouth
of an atmospheric grotto.

Up on the cliff top, not everyone is pleased with what happened