Going Wang Wei

Belle goes off to pick up the Move-It-Yourself van.

Vello calls Gaius.

Gaius, who's with you?

Kierkegaard, says Gaius. We're preparing an early dinner

And the lobsters? asks Vello.

Just sardines on toast says Gaius.

Not dinner! says Vello. I'm enquiring about the whereabouts of two essential cast members.

Ageless and Captain Baudin have gone to the State Library, says Gaius. They should be back soon. Kobo is with us.

Yes, Kobo, says Vello. Don't forget her. We're about to head down to Gluttony in a Move-It-Yourself van. Can you meet us there by six thirty?

Certainly, says Gaius. But a reminder. Arthur has Kierkegaard's costume.

Curses! says Vello. And where is Arthur?

Don't you know? asks Gaius.

Ach! says Vello. He could still be with T S Eliot.

Better call him in case he isn't, says Gaius.

You do it, says Vello. Belle's here with the van. I have to help carry props down the stairs.

Break a leg, says Gaius.

That's not funny, says Vello.

It is, says Gaius. Because I'm saying it at the right point in time. Had you already fallen down the stairs, it would not have been funny.

Not at all funny, says Vello.  

He ends the call.

He decides to let Sweezus and David do the heavy lifting.

He packs a few costumes into a box. He looks for the coconut.

Perhaps he might risk carrying the carboard mast down the stairs.

He picks it up. And puts it down again.

He sees the box with the paper cone wrapped seeds in the corner,

He picks one at random.

He reads the scribbled poem on the paper.

...nine streams, where the colour of mountains is and is not

the dwellings of men seem floating along on ripples of the distant sky...

That's nice. Sounds Chinese. Yes, it is. Wang Wei.

He feels less annoyed at Gaius.

He picks up the mast.

And carries it down the stairs without incident.