Rest Day: Carcassonne - Rose Window

Carcassonne. The Cité, below the ramparts.

Teams Philosophe and Condor are having a rest day picnic.

You'll enjoy this, says Katherine, after she has set up an umbrella, and spread a blue cloth on the grass.

Is the food chilled? asks Vello. This heat is unrelenting. 

Nonsense, says Katherine. It's one degree cooler today. And whoever heard of chilled cassoulet?

Cassoulet! says David. Wonderful! As long as the wine's chilled, a cassoulet will be just the ticket.

Yeah, says Sweezus. Is it the local version, with extra mutton?

It is, says Katherine. Pork, duck, white beans and extra mutton.

Sounds a bit heavy, says N F S Grundtvig.

Try it, says Katherine.

She slops spoonfuls of warm cassoulet into thin cardboard bowls.

Spoons? asks N F S Grundtvig.

Here, says Sirene. A spoon for you, and one for you, Arthur.

Thank you, Sirene, says N F S Grundtvig.

Thanks, says Arthur.

Everyone tries the cassoulet, except Terence.

Can I go and explore? asks Terence. This is boring.

Okay, but don't go too far, says Sweezus.

Terence goes off, to explore the medieval castle, which is full of sweaty tourists.

He climbs up to the crenellations, and looks down at the picnic.

Actually, at the umbrella.

Under the umbrella, David is telling the others how N F S nearly picked yesterday's winner.

Wout van Aert came second! says David.

That was close, says Arthur.

N F S looks modest.

More wine? asks Katherine. A nice Minervois? Then I'll bring out the chocolates.

Terence hears none of this.

A man has come up behind him. He is dressed in old-fashioned clothes.

Bonjour, l'enfant, says the man. 

Hola, says Terence. 

You must be Terence, says the man.

I know, says Terence.

I am Viollet-le-Duc, says the man.

A duck? says Terence.

Not a duck, says Viollet-le-Duc. I am the person who restored this medieval castle.

Where did you store it? asks Terence.

The conversation continues in this vein.

Under the umbrella below, Katherine has produced citrons de Sicile, coated in chocolate.

Sirene takes out a Mandarelle de Rodez. The top of the cake represents the rose window of the Rodez cathedral. Very pretty.

Pablo takes a large slice.

Terence returns, with the man.

This is Violet-Duck, says Terence.

Everyone laughs, because they know him.

Viollet-le-Duc eats a citron, licks his fingers, and looks with an architect's eye at the cake.

Even with Pablo's chunk missing, he can appreciate the delicate rose window.