Time For Some Kudos

Yippee! says Terence. This ear's a winner!

What about mine? asks Louisa.

A spare,  says Terence.

So you've got two ears, made of orange peel, says Arthur.

Yes, says Terence.

How will you know if they work? asks Arthur.

If they hear me, says Terence.

But how will you know if they hear you? asks Arthur.

Good question, says Gaius. The orange peel has but one property, its ears.

Two properties, says Terence.

One faculty, says Gaius. The point is, that with no other properties, such as a mouth, it can't demonstrate that it heard you.

Or legs, says Louisa. Legs could demonstrate that it heard you.

Watch this, says Terence. Orange peel up!

The orange peel with the ear made by Louisa does nothing.

The orange peel with the ear made by Baby-Glossy twists up.

See, says Terence. This one heard me.

Baby-Glossy thinks it's time for some kudos.

Squoo! says Baby-Glossy.

The orange peel with the ear made by Baby-Glossy, says softly Squoo-yu!

Where did that come from?

Does it have a mouth after all? It must be a small one.

Anyway, Baby-Glossy looks contented.

Remarkable, says Gaius. But trivial, in the circumstances.

True, says Louisa. We're in Flinders Chase and it'll soon be night time. We have to figure out what to do.

Indeed, says Gaius. We have no food but oranges, and no camping equipment. All the Glossy Black Cockatoos will be resting. What might we do that is useful?

Head west to the Ravine des Casoars, says Louisa. Then we'll get a good start in the morning. And don't worry. We also have chocolate.

This is news to Arthur.

He thought he'd finished the chocolate.

Sometimes, the unexpected happens.

As in France, at the penultimate stage of the Tour, in the Time Trials.

Primoz Roglic cracks on the gruelling climb up to La Planche des Belles Filles. He loses two minutes to his rival Tadj Pogacar, who will wear the yellow jersey in Paris.

And Richie Porte pedals himself to third place on the podium.

Which was (to be honest) not unexpected.