Eye Clapping

Elodie and Lavender have gone off to look for female peacock spiders.

Gaius is sketching Felix, who is glad to keep still.

Finished, says Gaius. Like to see it?

I'll just lie here a bit longer, says Felix.

You should really get back on the bicycle, says Gaius.

It's broken, says Felix.

Nearly mended! says Baby Pierre. But you're not getting on it.

Felix looks glum.

His round eyes fill with water.

He only came here to ride on the bike.

Maybe he will run off in a minute. Get moving.

Yes. He stands up.

Now he can see the sketch that Gaius has been doing.

Is that ME? asks Felix.

A  good facsimile, says Gaius. I pride myself on my accuracy.

But I look like a clown, says Felix.

A cat, says Gaius. See here. I've taken particular care with the two ear-like protrusions.

Felix attempts to twist round to observe his two ear-like protrusions.

But the ear-like protrusions turn with him.

Would you like to see yourself in a mirror? asks Gaius. There'll be one on the camper.

Okay.

He picks up Felix and takes him over to the camper's outside mirror.

Felix stares into his own two round eyes.

And sees two ear-like protrusions attached somewhere behind him.

Thank you, says Felix. I need to come to terms with this. Put me down.

May we keep you with us a little longer? asks Gaius.

Thank you for asking but no, says Felix. I intend to live the rest of my life as a hermit.

Dear me, says Gaius. So it's farewell, Felix.

Felix moves off in the direction from which he and Baby Pierre had arrived.

The same direction that Raoul and Markus are arriving from, right this minute.

Raoul is breathless.

We lost Baby Pierre!

Dreadfully sorry, says Markus. He's not here by any chance is he?

He is, says Gaius. He succeeded in finding a maratus felinus, and brought him back here.

Wonderful, says Markus, may we see the felinus?

He has just left us to live the life of a hermit, says Gaius.

How do you know? asks Markus.

He said as much, says Gaius. I made a sketch of him. Care to see it?

Markus looks.

It's a passable sketch. Then he spots the dead maratus cristatus.

What happened here?

A tragic misunderstanding involving a female, says Gaius.

Where is the female? asks Markus. Have you kept her?

She ran off, says Gaius. They are quick little creatures. Elodie and Lavender have decided to devote themselves to looking for females.

Great, says Markus. Okay, we'll be off again. Good news about Baby Pierre.

Wait, says Gaius. Would you like another of my team members to assist you?

Sure, says Markus.

Shu has been mooning around in the camper all afternoon, says Gaius, He needs something to do. Take him with you. SHU!

What? says Shu, sliding the side door open.

It's the first time Raoul and Markus have clapped eyes on a Middle Tang poet.