How The Future Will Happen

It turns out that Lavender doesn't know the future.

Shu comes back with the bike.

My bike! cries Baby Pierre. Is it damaged?

No, says Shu. It's just dripping like a water spout. All over my tennis shoes.

Is that a sad poem? asks First Dirty.

No, it isn't says Shu. It is simply an observation.

He jigs up and down in his shoes.

Whereas I AM damaged, says David. What was your bicycle doing out there?

Mouldy was on it, says Baby Pierre. Where is he?

I didn't see any Mouldy, says David.

He must have fallen in, says First Dirty.

He asks Lavender. Is that what happened?

Yes, says Lavender. That's what I meant was going to happen.

First Dirty and Second Dirty tend to believe her.

She does know the future. But not to whom it will happen.

It has happened to Mouldy, instead of the bicycle.

Now Mouldy will see out his days in the waters of Lake Clifton, with the thrombolites. Perhaps he will even learn their way of knowing: Bloop~~~number one is coming~~~

We must get going if we're to meet Gaius at Lake Jasper this morning, says David. Will you drive, Arthur? My ankle is sore.

Sure, says Arthur.

Arthur scoops up First and Second Dirty, Lavender and Baby Pierre, and drops them into the tin. Shu carries the tiny bike at arm's length, and places it on the cracked vinyl seat of the camper.

Everyone is on board now, except Mouldy. Arthur drives off.

He likes driving the camper. He drives fast.

Not so fast, says David. We don't want any trouble.

Arthur slows down.

They drive past the pure tuart forest.

No one pays any attention.

They are listening to those in the tin, making up a sad poem, for Mouldy.

After many alterations the poem is ready and Lavender is going to recite it, because she is new, and because she foresaw the sad fate of Mouldy.

For Mouldy

Water drips onto Shu's shoe
Like our tears
Green and blue.

Mouldy was trying
To ride fast and low
When he bumped into David
And vanished below.

Now water drips onto Shu's shoe
Like our tears
Green and blue

A sweet poem.

Shu and David clap softly, because they are both mentioned in it.

Arthur doesn't, because he is driving the camper.