Saint Roley flies back to the playground. Is Terence all right?
Yes, he is playing with Claudine and Alfonse, Perrot's children.
One by one they shoot out from the bottom of the tube slide.
Plop! Out pops Alphonse.
Plop! Out pops Terence.
Plop! Out pops Claudine.
Saint Roley decides to take a break from his self-imposed responsibilities.
He flies down to the shore and starts looking for molluscs.
Way down at the other end of the bay, Gaius is inspecting a fossil.
Porntip pokes at the sun-warmed orange lichen.
Yes. This is happiness.
Further down the road, heading for the burnt regions, is Arthur.
Some distance behind him is Louisa.
Giving him some space.
Arthur is imagining various scenarios.
One: Sweezus has crashed and broken a clavicle.
Two: Arthur flies to Nice.
Three: Arthur replaces Sweezus in the team. No one is any the wiser.
Arthur decides that although this would teach everyone a lesson it's not worth the effort.
His phone rings again.
Sorry bro, says Sweezus. Fell off my bike.
Thought so, says Arthur. Break anything?
No way, says Sweezus. And the bike's good, which is lucky. Boss paid for it.
Vello? says Arthur. How come?
I'm riding for Team Philosophe, says Sweezus. Yeah I know, bummer.
Who else is in Team Philosophe? asks Arthur.
Just me, David and Vello, says Sweezus. Imagine being in a Team Bubble with them.
What do they talk about? asks Arthur.
Who'll do the freakin' picnic on rest day, says Sweezus. Belle isn't here.
Merde! says Arthur. Who fills your musettes?
No one, says Sweezus. It's shithouse. We have to carry .......ARGHHH!
It seems he has fallen off his bike a second time.
Let's hope he's okay.
At least Arthur feels better.
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