Humboldt and David are close behind Gaius.
Humboldt sniffs the air.
Do you smell fish glue? asks Humboldt.
It's Gaius, says David. Last night he mended Terence's bird book.
Then why does he smell of fish glue this morning? asks Humboldt.
Ask him, says David.
Humboldt speeds up to ride level with Gaius.
It is now that he sees Gaius has a book propped up on the handlebars before him.
He is reading a bird book.
I say, says Humboldt, isn't that rather risky?
Couldn't put it down, says Gaius.
I thought it was a just child's book, says Humboldt.
Not this one. says Gaius. Terence has that. This is The Genius of Birds.
Then why does it smell of fish glue? asks Humboldt.
Does it? says Gaius, slowing down.
Don't slow down! yells David.
Alex Kristoff and Peter Sagan speed past Team Philosophe.
I didn't mean you, mutters David.
Did you see that? asks Alex Kristoff.
Yes, says Peter Sagan. He was reading a bird book. It was the one I gave to the little guy, Terence.
I gave him one too, says Kristoff. It was The Hidden Lives of Owls.
Good choice, says Sagan. Everyone should learn about owls.
That's what I thought, says Kristoff.
But all birds show genius, says Sagan. Did you know that Clark's Nutcracker can hide up to 30,00 seeds over a wide area and find them months later?
No kidding? says Kristoff, trying to remember an equivalent fact about owls.
They have now caught up to Michael Schär, the last breakaway rider, and must concentrate on their riding.
In the streets of Valance.
Teams Lotto Jumbo, Trek-Segafredo and Bora-Hansgrohe take the lead in quick succession.
Groupama FDJ moves to the front.
Arnaud Démare leads with one k to go.
And is overtaken, YES! by Sagan and Kristoff!
Note to Gaius: This proves that there is a time for bird books and a time to put bird books aside.
No comments:
Post a Comment