The Mark Of The Claw

David has come to the airport, to meet Katherine.

Hello mother, says David. Good flight?

Very good, says Katherine. Until the end. I suppose you saw Victor?

No, I missed him, says David.

He's taken my parrot, says Terence. But we're getting him back.

That's good, says David. Now mother, would you like to go home, or straight to the office?

Why would I want to go to the office? asks Katherine.

To talk logistics, says David. We're leaving for Copenhagen tomorrow. 

Tomorrow! says Katherine.

What about my frogs? asks Terence. Are they back yet?

What frogs? asks David.

Sweezus and Arthur are driving back to Adelaide with his frogs, says Katherine.

They'll be enjoying that, says David. 

It's a two seater, says Katherine.

How very funny, says David, imagining Sweezus and Arthur, in a two seater with frogs.

Let's go straight to the office, says Katherine. Will I meet N F S Grundtvig?

No, says David. He lives in Copenhagen. He's already there.

How well do you know him? asks Katherine. 

Not well at all, says David. Vello was looking for new blood. He heard that Grundtvig was trying to reinvent himself as a cyclist, so he got in touch, and Grundtvig was only too happy to join Team Philosophe.

Reinvent himself, says Katherine. Do you know from what?

The usual, I suppose, says David. Being perceived as old fashioned. His criticism of rationalist tendencies, his nationalism, his style of writing....

At least you three will have something to talk about, at the back of the peloton, says Katherine.

Don't underestimate us mother, says David. Vello and I have completed some rigorous training. By the way, you asked about Baby Pierre.

Is he going? asks Terence.

Gone, says David. Last week he posted himself to France in a box with his bicycle.

However will he get out? asks Katherine.

I believe he has posted himself to a post office in Copenhagen, marked poste restante, addressed to Terence, says David. 

How did he know I was going? asks Terence.

He didn't, says David. At the time, nor did I, to be honest.

This sounds suspiciously like David had not expected Baby Pierre's box to be opened, but let's not go there.

What if he can't breathe? asks Terence.

He's a pebble, says Katherine.

Beats me how he does it, says David. No visible legs either. How does he pedal?

The Mark of the Claw, says Terence.

David must have forgotten.