Turning Violet

Captain du Couedic finds the dinner mints.

Captain Baudin pours the coffee.

Make yourselves comfortable, says Captain du Couedic.

The philosophers sit down.

There is a faint cracking sound, when Victor does it.

He hopes it was not the thermometer.

No point looking now.

So the thermometer was stolen, says Captain du Couedic. If only I'd known that.

What would you have done? asks Kierkegaard.

Buried it, says Captain du Couedic.

Buried it? asks Victor.

Hypothetical now, says Captain du Couedic. It is recovered. Another dinner mint?

Don't mind if I do, says Victor.

He takes a dinner mint and bites off a corner.

Interesting, says Victor.

What is? asks Sweezus. The dinner mint or what Captain du Couedic just said?

Burying stolen goods, says Victor. I wonder what else is buried near this light house?

Are you accusing us of receiving stolen goods? asks Captain du Couedic.

Us? says Captain Baudin. I don't even reside here. 

That's right he doesn't, says Arthur. He lives under a rock.

My rock, says Captain Baudin. 

Me then? says Captain du Couedic. 

But Victor doesn't follow it up. He is sitting in a damp spot.

Has the thermometer broken?

Best be off, says Victor, standing up and patting the back of his trousers.

Okay, says Sweezus. Thanks for the coffee.

And mints, says Kierkegaard. 

Wait. I'll come with you, says Captain Baudin.

Captain du Couedic looks pained.

No offence, mon ami, says Captain Baudin. I need to return to my rock and check if the mail's come.

.....

Captain du Couedic sits alone at the top of his light house, gazing out at the sea.

The sun is sinking. The sky turning violet.

Life is long.

He sucks on a dinner mint.