Ripped Into Science

Victor is now eye to eye with Alexander-Red-Hook.

How did you come by those knucklebones? asks Victor.

I picked them up, says Alexander-Red-Hook. They had been put down.

Put down, eh? Where might that be exactly? asks Victor.

On the table, says Alexander-Red-Hook. When Lauren was offered a biscuit. She put them down.

All right, says Victor. So they were Lauren's.

Not at the time, says Alexander-Red-Hook.

Ho! A complication.

Victor will need his notebook.

He turns to see Arthur showing the notebook around.

Belle and Marie are admiring The Short and Tempestuous Life.

It's beautiful, says Belle.

It's not meant to be, says Arthur.

She means the font, says Marie. You used Curly.

Yes, the font, says Belle. It's nice. But the poem is dark and regretful.

That's what I was going for, says Arthur. And an undertone of natural violence.

Let's see, says Sweezus, coming over.

He reads the The Short and Tempestuous Life.

Sheez! How does Arthur do it? He's captured the pathos of Curly's life and casually ripped into science.

Cool one, bro, says Sweezus.

Thanks, bro, says Arthur.

Is this Victor's police notebook? asks Marie, noting the blue cover, which is visible.

It is! says Victor, appearing behind them. And I need it back immediately.

He wrests it from Arthur's hand.

This is not proper procedure, but Victor is in a hurry.

He dashes back to the table under which Alexander-Red-Hook is already rearranging the evidence.

Terence is down there as well.

Look! says Terence. She can juggle.

It's true. She has learned it from memory.

She can juggle with five.

Now then, says Victor. Why did you claim they were not Lauren's knucklebones AT THE TIME?

I know! says Terence. Ask me!

I'm not asking you, says Victor. I'm asking the crab.

See this medal? says Terence. It's mine AT THE TIME. We both won them!

Victor is almost glad that he does not have the pen that he left with Arthur.

And can not write this nonsense down.

What would he write, anyway?

But he should get his pen back.

He turns to find Arthur.

But Arthur has waded into the sea to retrieve the sad little body of Alexander-Curly.

Before which, he has handed Victor's pen to Gaius.

Who has been delighted. A pen!

Which he has pocketed.

He can always rely on the providence of Arthur.