Tour Down Under Rest Day- Chaos Stratagem

Early morning, Monday, a rest day.

Wittgenstein is out on the road.

He is inventing a poem.

On a post card once, he read how to do it.

Take a newspaper, choose an article, cut it up into words and phrases, mingle them in a hat.

Ah, but he would have to stop if he should wish to take off his helmet.

Worse, he does not have a newspaper.

He is about to panic when Gaius rides up behind him.

May I join you? says Gaius, (and then) Jumping Jupiter! What's the matter?

Do you have a newspaper? asks Wittgenstein.

No, of course not, says Gaius. If you're after today's schedule, it's not worth the paper it's written on.

Why is that? asks Wittgenstein.

Champagne Happy Hour at the Hilton from four till six, or some such nonsense, says Gaius. I for one won't be going.

Wittgenstein is soothed. Gaius won't be going. They ride on in companionable silence.

They are passed  by Ion and Gorka Izagirre, of Team Bahrain-Merida, who are probably brothers.

Ion is saying: One must grit one's teeth, and develop the cran.

Gorka replies: Yes, the cran.

Cran! thinks Wittgenstein. A new word is like a fresh seed sown on the ground of discussion.

Gaius has not heard the new word.

He is thinking of the foolishness of a Happy Hour lasting two hours.

....

And it is foolish.

Ask Sweezus, Arthur and Pablo tomorrow.

But for now they are happy that the Happy Hour lasts for two hours.

Pablo is divulging Richie Porte's stratagem.

Throw out a brick to get a jade gem, says Pablo. It was, I think, chapter five number three.

Brill! says Sweezus. I get that.

What exactly? says Arthur.

There must be two more, says Sweezus.

There will be, says Arthur. Unless the numbering system is the brick.

What is this? says Pablo. Are we thinking it is a trickery?

Good thinking, says Sweezus. Is he here?

Over there, says Arthur.

They wander over to Richie, champagne glasses in hand....

....in time to hear Richie saying to his fellow Team BMC members:

.....and that's Chaos Stratagem, chapter four number one. Keep it quiet.