The Future Is E

Sorry, says Saint Roley, hopping back again.

Yeah okay, says Sweezus. It's the feathers.

I try to keep them clean, says Saint Roley.

 It's not that, says Sweezus. It's more the ugh factor.

Ugh factor? says Saint Roley.

Shouldn't've said that, says Sweezus. Bad mood.

Want some more cake? asks Saint Roley?

Is there any more? asks Sweezus.

No, says Saint Roley.

They drive on in silence.

Until.

Easter, says Sweezus. That's why the bad mood.

What is Easter? asks Saint Roley.

An extra long weekend, says Sweezus.

What for? asks Saint Roley.

Nothing, says Sweezus.

Is there food? asks Saint Roley.

Sweezus doesn't want to think about it in that sort of detail, but he owes it to Saint Roley.

Fish, says Sweezus.

Can't be too bad, says Saint Roley.

Eggs, adds Sweezus.

When is it? asks Saint Roley.

Dunno. Soon. It's always different, says Sweezus.

Saint Roley resolves to find out more about Easter.

But not from him.

.........

There's a better mood in the other vehicle. (Katherine's)

Gaius is explaining the Newcastle research to Arthur in detail.

I assume you'll be coming, says Gaius.

Sure, says Arthur. Are we driving?

No, says Gaius. We'll fly. Then hire bicycles.

One for me? asks the Growling Grass Frog.

Here's one for you, says Gaius.

Huh? says the Growling Grass Frog.

Take some more salt out.

The Growling Grass Frog takes out a handful of salt.

Scatter it, says Gaius.

Where? asks the Growling Grass Frog.

Good question, says Gaius. That shows you are an intelligent pupil. Hop into the front with it.

It's difficult to do, holding salt, but the Growling Grass Frog does it.

Scatter it over my chinos, says Gaius. The right one, so Arthur can see it.

Scatter.

Now let us look at the picture, says Gaius.

The prognosticating sea salt has formed an E on the right leg of Gaius's chinos.

E, says Gaius. Can you all see that?

Arthur glances down. Yes. The Frog, too, can see it.

I was hoping for an R, says Gaius. But an E will do nicely. Arthur you can have a degree of faith in your sea salt.

R? says Arthur.

For Riobamba, says Gaius.

This means nothing to Arthur.

The sea salt says nothing, being sea salt.

But the Growling Grass Frog is excited. The Riobamba are his endangered cousins.

Endangered cousins.

That starts with E.