Sunday, October 25, 2020

Falling In Is Not Important

 Bomb! repeats Baby-Glossy.

Why have you taught him to say bomb? asks Gaius. 

He is not saying bomb, says Captain Baudin. He is trying to say bon, but he is not good at it.

Bon is not English, says Gaius.

But bomb is, says Terence. 

He pats Baby-Glossy.

When you think something's good, says Terence, say bomb, and I'll understand you.

Bomb, says Baby-Glossy. Ti ti la reeti!

Riti, says Captain Baudin.

A French sailors' song, if I'm not mistaken, says Gaius.

It is, says Captain Baudin. I have taught him to sing one which is inoffensive.

Very good, says Gaius.

Very bomb, says Terence. 

What is it about? asks Gaius.

A young woman falls into a river, says Captain Baudin. 

Why? asks Terence.

Because she is picking cress for her father, and she reaches over too far, and falls in, says Captain Baudin. But that is not important.

What is important? asks Terence.

Let Baby-Glossy tell you, says Captain Baudin.

Can he do it in English? asks Gaius.

Let him try, says Captain Baudin.

She is rescued by trois sailors, says Baby-Glossy. That is important.

Well done, Baby-Glossy, says Gaius. Except for the trois.

What's twa? asks Terence.

Un deux trois, says Baby Glossy.

He counts in French, says Captain Baudin, and sings in French, but everything else is in English.

Not good, says Gaius.

But surely not bad, says Captain Baudin.

I didn't mean that, says Gaius. What about bomb? That was French, albeit a mispronunciation.

There are exceptions, says Captain Baudin. But let him sing you the end of the song, which is sweet.

Baby-Glossy sings the end of the song in French.

It's a song to the glory of all those people of the sea, who smell of tar.

It brings a tear to the eye of Captain Baudin.

Neither Gaius nor Terence understands it, but Baby-Glossy expects a reaction.

Bomb, says Terence.

Trés bomb, says Gaius.


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