In Negative Spaces

The next day, in France.

Stage thirteen, heading for Puy Mary in the Massif Central.

Team Philosophe is somewhere in the main peloton, eating snacks.

Vello: What are these green balls Belle's given us?

David: Delicious aren't they? 

Sweezus: Puy lentils. 

Vello: I might have known. 

Richie Porte (coming up behind them): That smells good. What is it?

Vello: Puy lentils.

Richie: Thought so. The jewels of gastronomie Auvergne.

Sweezus: Want one?

Richie: Ha ha, no thanks. Too volcanic.

He speeds up.

Vello: Probably wise.

But Sweezus thinks differently.

He speeds up too, determined to prove Belle's green lentil balls efficacious.

He draws level with Richie.

Richie: How come no Arthur this year?

Sweezus: He couldn't work for Vello.

Richie: I wanted to show him my poem. It's finally finished.

Sweezus: No kidding. What's it called?

Richie: Space May Be There For a Reason.

Sweezus: That's a line of Pablo's.

Richie: I know. I pinched it. But the rest of it's mine.

He speeds up again.

Sweezus can't match him.

Roman Bardet passes, with his team around him.

Roman looks slightly concussed.

He was in a crash earlier, but continued.

Why do we do this? thinks Sweezus. 

A negative thought, for which we may blame the Puy lentils.

.....

Meanwhile on Kangaroo Island in Gaius's back pack Baby-Glossy is also having negative thoughts.

This orange seed is no good for Baby-Glossy. Yuck-spoo!

And there's water, inside a plastic bottle, swishing around as the bicycle moves.

Baby-Glossy can't get it.

If he can't get it, he'll die.

It looks bad for Baby-Glossy