The model ship tosses on the waves.
The cherubic captain tries to deal with the sails.
Flap flap! It's not easy.
He almost wishes he was back on his sea horse with its powerful tail.
Look! cries Terence. It's the kid from the museum! He's done it!
Stolen a model! says Gaius. This cannot end well.
Terence starts waving.
Bertille's mother comes down the cliff steps, carrying binoculars.
Can you believe it? asks Bertille's mother. It's that cherub! In a stolen vessel! Jean-Claude and I feel it's partly our fault.
How is that? asks Gaius.
Bertille and Terence encouraged the cherub to come down from the sea horse, says Bertille's mother.
I didn't, says Bertille.
I only said 'nice sea horse', says Terence.
There are many ways of saying 'nice sea horse', says Bertille's mother.
What are they? asks Terence.
Jean-Claude and I were listening to the audio, says Bertille's mother. We did not hear you.
So you can't blame Terence, says Bertille.
What's that you're eating, Bertille? asks Bertille's mother.
Potato soup, says Bertille. It's pink, but not because of dead beetles.
What then? Not food colour E124? asks Bertille's mother.
Yes, says Saint Arnoc. Is there a problem?
Coal tar and azo dye are the problem, says Bertille's mother.
Dear me, says Saint Arnoc.
Are they poisons? asks Bertille.
Azo dye is mildly toxic, says Bertille's mother. If I were choosing between E124 and cochineal, I'd choose cochineal, except for the cruelty. Seventy thousand tiny red insects swept off their cacti and boiled. All to make one pound of red powder.
Wah! says Terence.
No need to be upset, says Gaius. We're ingesting the E124.
But the ship's sinking! cries Terence.
The model ship appears to be have hit a snag, and is foundering.
Fortunately it is close to the shore.
Even more fortunately, the oystercatcher is making his evening appearance.
He grabs a loose rope with his long pointed beak, and drags the ship to the sand.
A good outcome, except that the cherub is no longer in it.
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