O Grandpa Do

All is not well in Belle's panier velo.

The frogs have damaged the carrot.

Stop jumping! cries Terence.

They stop. But it's too late now.

What's happened? asks Belle, slowing down.

Look! says Terence.

Belle stops altogether, and looks at the damage that the frogs have done to the carrot.

The carrot, already soft and flaccid from its river adventures, has turned mushy around the o-ring.

Ooh, says Belle. This is no good.

I know, says Terence. The frogs did it.

They never liked the carrot, says Belle. I shouldn't have put them together.

Now what? asks Terence.

Let me think, says Belle.

We're sorry, says the knowlesi. We thought it was rubbery.

It was, says Quiet-tartus. Rubbery. Until it went mushy.

Carrot! squeaks the carrot. 

I may have to throw it away, says Belle. Which would be a pity, as it was gift from that nice gardening woman.

How about we squeeze it? says Terence. Then the mushy bits will ooze out.

But will it still hang together? asks Belle. I guess there's one way to find out.

She picks up the carrot. Presses its two ends together. The mushy parts ooze out.

She wipes away the mushy parts with her finger.

Wipes her finger on her bicycle seat. 

Yuck. Regrets it.

Checks the carrot. Has it remained in one piece?

Well yes, but only thanks to a thin fibrous core down the middle.

Give it to me, says Terence.

She gives it to Terence.

Terence holds the carrot by two sad feathery carrot leaves.

Swings it.

The o-ring falls off.

Terence puts the o-ring back into his pocket.

Carrot, murmurs the carrot.

Give it here, says Belle. I'll tie it to your damp shorts at the back of my back pack. If it dries out in the wind, it might stiffen up again.

Stiffen up again, saya Terence. Hear that, frogs?

Stiffen up again, says the knowlesi. Let us pray.

We don't need to pray, says Quiet-tartus. What are you?

Ommmm, says the knowlesi.

That's not praying, says Terence. This is praying: O grandpa, do something!

Please do something, says Belle.

Please do something, says Terence. I don't usually say that.

You don't usually say O grandpa do something, says Belle.

Because it doesn't work, says Terence.

It might this time, says Belle. 

She ties the fine-waisted carrot to Terence damp shorts, (which are almost dry now), and continues cycling towards Le Havre.

The carrot looks back along the road they have travelled, hoping to glimpse Terence's grandpa.

A Matter Of Suspension

Belle is preparing to leave, when Nico returns with the carrot.

A canoeist had it, says Nico. The tide's turned, so I've brought it to you.

A canoeist? says Roo-kai. That explains why I couldn't find it. 

But I didn't see the frogs, says Nico. 

Don't worry, says Belle. The frogs have come back.

Including Parsley? says Nico.

Yes, says Belle. 

Here I am, says Parsley. Let's go.

In my pocket? asks Nico.

Pocket is fine, says Parsley.

Goodbye, says Quiet-tartus.

Goodbye Parsley, says the knowlesi. 

Have a good life, says Parsley.

They do have a good life, says Terence.

Not as good as back home, says the knowlesi.

True, says Quiet-tartus. Back home, we're endangered. 

Yes, says the knowlesi. Whereas here, no one knows who we are.

I'm off then, says Nico, dropping Parsley into his pocket. 

She waves to her frog friends, through the hole.

Wait, says Terence. This is for you to put in your Musée.

He hands Nico his sketch of impressionist sausages.

Thanks, says Nico. I'll hang it next to the Sisley.

That would be so cool, says Belle. Wouldn't it Terence?

Yes, says Terence. Can you make it so people can see the back too?

I'm sure I can, says Nico. It's just a matter of suspension.

Yay! says Terence. Everyone will know I'm good at sketching AND bird spotting.

But not writing, says Quiet-tartus.

I'll take care of that, says Nico. Au revoir. Let's keep in touch!

Yes, let's, says Belle. I'll call you when we get to Le Havre.

Carrot! says the carrot.

Time to go.

Nico cycles off towards Rouen, in that direction.

Belle cycles towards Le Havre, with Terence, two frogs and the carrot, in her panier velo.

The frogs bounce up and down on the carrot, which is soon in a very bad way.

Nothing For The Daughter

Shall we get going? asks Belle.

I won't come much further, says Nico. 

It was nice of you to come this far, says Belle.

I have enjoyed it, says Nico. But yes, look at the time. I should probably head back right now.

Bye, then, says Belle. Hey, what about Parsley?

What about Parsley? says Nico. 

Could you take her back to where we found her? asks Belle.

If she wants to go, says Nico. Where is she now?

Still down at the river, says Roo-kai, looking up from Terence's impressionist sausages.

I'll see if I can find her, says Nico.

He stands up and walks down to the river.

A canoeist is dragging his canoe out of the water.

Bonjour! says Nico. Have you seen a small green spotted frog?

Non, says the canoeist. Only this carrot.

Alors! says Nico. That's it!

It cannot be a frog, says the canoeist. It is a carrot.

Desolé says Nico. What I mean is, that this is our carrot, which is travelling to Le Havre independently.

You may have it, says the canoeist. But as the tide has just turned, I would not recommend that your carrot returns to the river. Do you have a bicycle?

I do, says Nico. It is back there, a short distance. But I have decided to return to Rouen, as I have an early start at work tomorrow,

Does the carrot really need to go to Le Havre? asks the canoeist.

Its companions are going, says Nico. In particular, a kind hearted young woman who is following a pebble.

A pebble, says the canoeist. How does one.....?

And an infant, says Nico. A remarkable infant who sketches.....

But the pebble, says the canoeist. Are you suggesting it moves?

It moves very well, says Nico. I gave it a lift for some of the way, but it's chosen to walk the next part, with its cousin.

Its cousin! say the canoeist.

In fact I believe the pebble normally rides its own bicycle, says Nico, but it lost its wheels in a Tour de France crash. 

The canoeist says nothing. What is there to say?

I see you look sceptical, says Nico, but take a look at this carrot. See this o-ring jammed round its tail? This o-ring is one of the the wheels of the damaged bicycle.

How did it get round the carrot? asks the canoeist.

You know that pond with a waterfall, in Square Verdrel? says Nico. The carrot was in the water, needing to be rescued.The infant leaned over too far and fell in. The wheel fell out of the infant's pocket, and the carrot manoeuvred itself into it. Or so I heard. I was in the Museé des Beaux Arts with the young woman, showing her the impressionist paintings.

A satisfying story, says the canoeist. And now I must go. I intended to give the carrot to my daughter, but now, as I won't have the carrot, I must stop at a green grocers on my way home. Au revoir, mon ami. I hope you find your frog.

The canoeist ties his canoe to a tree, and heads off to find a green grocer. 

Nico walks back to Belle with the wet flaccid carrot.

At least he has that. Too bad about the frog.

Impressionist Sausages

They cycle through woodlands, past fields, and villages.

They see cows, horses, orchards, thatched cottages, and long views of the river.

This area was an inspiration for Sisley, says Nico.

THE Sisley? asks Belle.

Ha ha, laughs Terence.

What's so funny? asks Belle. 

Sizzly Sausages, says Terence.

Terence can be annoying. Belle now sees the beautiful landscape as it might have been painted by Sizzly.

 Sausage cows, (long and brown), sausage horses ( curved and brown), thatched cottages( pink sausages at the windows) , and the river, (a never ending sausage, a work of art on its own).

Honestly Terence, says Belle.

Why don't you try sketching, says Nico. 

I don't have an itch, says Terence.

Sketching is making a drawing, says Nico. It will be a change from bird spotting.

Okay, says Terence. Can we stop while I do it?

It is time for a break, says Belle. Let's sit here and look at the river, while Terence sketches.

They stop.

Terence sits on the grass and spreads out the paper bag, which once held his damp shorts, and on which is his short list of birds. He turns it over, and starts sketching in ( he imagines) the manner of Sizzly.

The three frogs are enjoying their freedom. 

Let's race to the river! cries Parsley. Go!

She hops towards the river.

Quiet-tartus and the knowlesi look at one another. What a cheater! 

Nico takes Baby Pierre and Ouvert out of his pocket, and sets them down on the grass.

We might walk on from here, says Baby Pierre. The open road beats travelling in a pocket.

Yes, says Ouvert. Now we know.

Are you sure? asks Belle.

Yes, says Baby Pierre. O for a life on the open road!

Okay, says Belle. See you in Le Havre.

The pebbles head off. 

Hey! calls Nico. Le Havre is that way!

They change direction.

Terence has filled his whole paper with impressionist sausages, when  Roo-kai returns from watching the frog race.

Who won? asks Terence.

Parsley, says Roo-kai. But the bad news is, I couldn't see the carrot.

The river here is tidal, says Nico. It may have gone backwards.

Like Baby Pierre and Ouvert, says Terence.

Have they gone? asks Roo-kai. 

Yes, says Belle. Perhaps you could keep an eye out.

Roo-kai sighs. 

Carrot floating backwards. Frogs racing. Pebbles rolling forward.

But he cheers up when he sees Terence's Sizzly. 

Canoeist Canoeing

Roo-kai flies back to the others.

Guess what? says Terence. 

What? says Roo-kai.

I'm spotting birds, says Terence. See this paper.

He holds his paper aloft, so that Roo-kai can see it.

MELO, says Roo-kai. I don't know that one.

It's short for melodious warbler, says Belle. 

Ah, says Roo-kai. I have seen one or two birds between here and the river. Would you like to add them to your list?

Okay, says Terence.

That's cheating, says Quiet-tartus. Because you didn't see them.

We're a team, says Terence. 

Does that mean if I see a bird it can go on the list? asks Quiet-tartus.

No, says Terence. You're not in the bird-spotting team.

Ready, says Roo-kai. Where's your pencil?

It's a pen, says Terence. 

He waggles the pen. 

Golden oriole, says Roo-kai. And a lesser spotted woodpecker.

How about you go and check on the carrot, says Terence.

I just got back, says Roo-kai. The carrot was perfectly all right, I told it to enjoy itself. Why aren't you writing?

Your birds are too long, says Terence. 

Just write GO and PECK, says Roo-kai. 

I can't, it's too bumpy, says Terence.

Give me my pen, says Nico. I'll do it.

He stops.

And writes the names on Terence's list.

Isn't this nice? says Belle, as she waits for Nico to stop writing. I wonder if we're anywhere close to our carrot?

She looks across at the river nearby.

She sees a canoe, in which a canoeist is canoeing.

It might be the very one who picked up the carrot and is on his way home.

Planning to drop the carrot into a rubbish bin.

Or rethinking that plan.

He has a small daughter. Why not take it home, cut the top off  and let his daughter watch it grow in a saucer/

Of course, Belle knows nothing of that.

The River Rules

It is a horse.

It stands at the edge of the river.

It must live nearby.

Perhaps it knows the rules of the river.

Shall I approach it? wonders the carrot. Why not? Roo-kai told me to enjoy myself. 

It floats across to the horse.

Carrot! says the carrot, jauntily.

The horse stares.

A carrot! It likes a nice carrot. 

But this one looks as though it's spent too much time in the water.

And what is that green ring, on its tail?

A choker!

The horse backs away.

Carrot! cries the carrot.

If only an intermediary would appear. One that spoke both horse and carrot.

Then the carrot could ask it: Which side of the river is the correct side to be on? Will you please ask that horse?

And the intermediary would reply: 'Certainly', and, addressing the horse, would ask it that question.

And the horse would supply the answer.

And the intermediary would translate the answer into carrot.

Or the intermediary might itself know the answer, thinks the carrot. No need then for the horse.

The horse has gone off by now, anyway.

The carrot looks around. Perhaps it can learn the river rules by observation.

There are plenty of vessels in the river. There are dinghies, rowing boats and canoes. 

A canoe paddles by. Turns. Paddles back to the carrot.

The canoer leans out and picks up the carrot.

This old carrot should not be floating about in the Boucles, says the canoer.

I shall take it, and dispose of it properly.

O unlucky carrot!

How many canoers would bother to do that?

The Unknown Perils Of Meeting A Horse

Roo-kai flies high over the Boucles, with the carrot.

This is where you'll be going, says Roo-kai. 

Carrot! says the carrot.

I know what you're thinking, says Roo-kai. 

The carrot wonders what Roo-kai thinks it is thinking.

It's long way through all those meanders, says Roo-kai. And you can see there are bridges and ferries, so travelling by road would be faster. You can still change your mind.

Carrot! says the carrot.

No one will eat you, says Roo-kai. Especially not now.

The carrot wonders what Roo-kai means by 'especially not now'.

Then it remembers the o-ring, which is still jammed round its tail.

No, says Roo-kai. Not changing your mind? So where would you like me to drop you? How about here?

It is the curviest part of the first Boucle.

The carrot has not answered, so Roo-kai descends to the water, and drops him in gently.

I shall come back to check on you now and then, says Roo-kai. 

Carrot! says the carrot.

Don't mention it, says Roo-kai. And remember to enjoy yourself.

Carrot! says the carrot.

This is a picturesque part of Normandy, says Roo-kai. You'll pass abbeys, museums, thatched cottages and castles. You'll see meadows, and pollard trees, highland cattle and horses. You will see apple trees, plum trees and cherry trees. But pay attention to the river traffic, and keep to the correct side of the river..

The carrot has never been told which is the correct side of the river. and feels a moment of panic.

And what is a pollard tree? Will he get hayfever?

Too late to start saying words other than carrot now.

Roo-kai gives the carrot a push and takes off to join the others.

The carrot looks around, at the picturesqueness.

What's that on the bank there? A horse?

 

Long Bird Competition

What are the Bookles? asks Terence.

Good, thinks the carrot. Someone has asked.

We'll be off then, says Roo-kai.

Roo-kai grasps the carrot by the o-ring, and takes off, before the carrot can hear the answer.

A lovely park, says Belle, with the river meandering through it. The meanders are the Boucles.

It is a beautiful park, where many birds can be spotted, says Nico.

You love birds, don't you, Terence, says Belle. How about making a list of all the birds that we see on our journey?

Okay, says Terence. I've already seen fifty.

We haven't even started, says Belle.

These ones, says Terence, indicating his new sweet-potato-coloured shorts with their pattern of birds.

They are all the same bird, says Nico. There might be fifty of them, but they must only count as one bird.

They don't count at all, says Belle. And Terence should know the difference. 

I do know the difference, says Terence. Give me some paper.

No one has any paper. 

But wait, Belle has a damp paper bag. The one with Terence's old shorts in.

And Nico has a pen, being a person who works in a Musée des Beaux Arts.

Don't lose it, says Nico. 

What shall I do with the wet shorts? asks Belle.

Clip them onto your back pack, says Nico. They'll dry in the wind.

Good idea, says Belle. 

Nico clips the shorts to Belle's pack. Belle hands the damp paper bag to Terence.

Ideally, says Belle, you should wait till it gets dry.

Let's wait here then, says Terence.

No, we need to get going, says Belle. Hold the bag in the air as we go. It'll dry in no time.

And keep a list of the birds you've spotted, in your head, says Nico.

Okay, says Terence. 

They cycle out of Rouen, and soon enter the park known as Les Boucles de la Seine Normande.

The first bird they see is Roo-kai gliding down into a loop of the Seine with the carrot.

One parrot with a carrot, says Terence.

Roo-kai needn't be on your list, says Belle.

I'm making two lists, says Terence.

Stop! Listen! says Nico. 

They stop and listen.

A melodious warbler, says Nico.

How do I write that? asks Terence.

Is the paper bag dry? asks Belle.

Nearly, says Terence.

Okay. M... E.... L...O... begins Nico.

Stop, say Terence. 

Have you made holes in the paper? asks Belle.

No, says Terence. But that's a long enough name.

I guess it will do, says Nico. Its other name is even longer.

What's that? asks Belle.

Hypolaïs polyglotte, says Nico.

What a pretty name, says Belle. But it's not that much longer.

Belle and Nico count the letters. Sixteen for the warbler and eighteen for the polyglotte.

And four for the MELO, says Nico.

Does that mean I win? asks Terence.

No, says Belle.

She's not going to indulge him.

What Are The Boucles?

First, Belle stops at a boutique that sells clothes for children.

She takes Terence inside.

Nico waits outside in the street with the bikes.

When Belle and Terence come out, Terence is wearing new shorts, and Belle is carrying a damp paper bag.

Nice shorts, says Nico. What's on them?  Eagles? 

They're parrots, says Terence.

The birds are not parrots. But hey.

Nice shorts, says Baby Pierre, peering out from Nico's front pocket.

Orange, says Ouvert.

It's not orange, says Terence. 

True, says Quiet-tartus. It's more like sweet potato.

Ha ha! laughs the knowlesi.

Do they have to come? asks Terence.

Of course they do, says Belle. Frogs, please stop teasing Terence. 

I wasn't, says Parsley.

I know you weren't says Belle. It seems French frogs have better manners.

Shall we go? asks Nico. Who's got the carrot?

Don't you have it? asks Belle.

No, says Nico. 

Panic. Where is the carrot?

Looking for the carrot? asks Roo-kai, from the branch of a street tree.

Yes, says Belle. 

It's asked me to take it back to the river, says Roo-kai.

Is it up in the tree with you? asks Belle.

Yes, says Roo-kai. There's just one problem.

What is it? asks Belle.

It's jammed into an o-ring, says Roo-kai.

My o-ring, shouts Baby Pierre.

It didn't know whose it was, says Roo-kai. It thought it was a lifebuoy that Terence had dropped into the pond in order to save it.

Yes, says Terence. I just didn't know.

Well it doesn't matter, says Belle. In fact the o-ring might be useful for the carrot as it makes its way through the Boucles.

Yes it will certainly help, says Nico. Tell it not to worry.

Hear that? says Roo-kai.

Carrot, says the carrot.

Could you not try to say yes? asks Roo-kai. Like I taught you?

The carrot would love to say yes. 

Bur what it really wants is to ask a question.

What are the Boucles? 

Squeezed Out

 Luckily the pond is not deep.

Terence is only in up to his knees, when he stands.

Ha ha! laugh Baby Pierre and Ouvert. You fell in.

I didn't fall in, I meant to, says Terence, looking about for the carrot.

There it is, waiting for what happens next.

What happens next is, a tiny green o-ring bobs up and down in the ripples that Terence has made.

The carrot has never seen a green o-ring, but it looks, to the carrot, like a lifebuoy.

Perhaps Terence dropped it in.

The carrot propels itself towards the green o-ring, and lines itself up with the hole.

It reverses towards it.

Hey! says Baby Pierre. That looks like one of my o-rings. Where did it come from?

It must have fallen out of my pocket, says Terence. Remember I told you I had them.

Get it back! says Baby Pierre. The carrot's trying to get its end in. 

Okay, says Terence. He wades up to the carrot.

Sorry. You can't have that, says Terence.

But he is too late, The carrot has taken advantage of a wave created by Terence's movement. And reversed itself into the o-ring. And jammed itself tight.

What's happened? asks Roo-kai.

The carrot's got stuck in the o-ring, says Terence.

On purpose, says Baby Pierre. Get that dumb carrot out of this stupid pond and give me my o-ring.

No need to be nasty, says Roo-kai. First I must assist Terence.

I can get out by myself, says Terence. But I don't want to yet.

He splashes off towards the waterfall, in the middle.

Roo-kai decides Terence will be okay plodding round the base of the waterfall. He'll have fun in the spray. And his shorts are soaking wet already.

So Roo-kai lifts out the carrot, and places it on the stone edge of the pond.

He plans to ease the carrot out of the o-ring and return the o-ring to Baby Pierre.

Then he will explain various metaphorical expressions to the carrot.

To do with eating.

And then maybe teach it to say a few extra words. Like yes and no.

These are good plans. 

But just then Belle and Nico come back.

O no! cries Belle. Terence is in the water!

Nico leaps into the pond and wades towards Terence. Picks him up without asking. And sets him down beside Belle.

Thanks Nico, says Belle. Terence and water is a bad combination. Look at you, Terence! Did you fall in? Are you cracked?

No, says Terence. I was exploring.

No more exploring, says Belle. We're setting off for the Boucles de la Seine, and Nico's kindly promised to come some of the way with us. Now where are the frogs and the pebbles? Where's that carrot? 

Here, says Roo-kai. But it's got....

Belle gathers up the pebbles and the carrot. Nico lines up the frogs. 

Terence has to take off his shorts and have them squeezed out.

Intervention At 45 Degrees

Terence tries to grab hold of the carrot.

The carrot floats further away. 

Terence will fall into the pond, unless there is an intervention.

Baby Pierre and Ouvert are watching, from not far away.

Do you think he'll fall in? asks Ouvert.

No, says Baby Pierre. His parrot will save him.

It might be too late, says Ouvert.

And it looks like it is.

Terence is now at a forty five degree angle.

No one remains at a forty five degree angle.

Roo-kai is right there beside him, still focusing on the carrot.

It is only now that Roo-kai perceives Terence's angle.

Roo-kai steps behind Terence.

He fixes his beak to the back of Terence shorts, and begins to pull Terence backwards.

Terence returns slowly to upright.

He will not fall in.

Nor does he have the carrot.

I'll get the carrot, says Roo-kai, stepping back in.

I would have, says Terence.

I know, says Roo-kai. But I feel it's my fault the carrot floated off again, when I said I might try it cooked or grated. I didn't think how that would sound to the carrot. Of course I had no intention of grating or cooking our carrot.

Yes it's your fault, says Terence. That carrot understands everything, even if it can only say carrot.

Mm, says Roo-kai, moving towards the fast swimming carrot. 

Carrot! cries the carrot, in a panicky tone.

Fear not, says Roo-kai. This is what's going to happen. I will propel you towards Terence who is there at the edge of the pond. As soon as you are close enough to dispel my fear of Terence falling into the pond, I will give Terence a signal, and he will retrieve you. Terence will protect you from harm until we can leave Rouen and throw you back into the Seine. How does that sound?

Carrot, says the carrot.

Roo-kai takes this as an okay.

He propels the carrot towards the stone edge of the pond where Terence is waiting.

But not for the signal.

Terence leans forward.

And falls in.

But fear not. This could be a good thing.

You Guys are Heroes

The carrot is floating, and not going anywhere. 

This pond is not like the Seine.

Nevertheless the carrot likes the feeling of water.

Two ducks are approaching, leaving widening ripples behind them.

Kwa-kwa! says the first duck. 

Kwa-kwa! says the second.

Carrot! says the carrot.

Roo-kai flies down.

Just as I thought, there are no arrows, says Roo-kai. And why is our carrot in the water?

Don't worry, says Terence. Ducks don't eat carrots.

You don't know ducks, says Roo-kai.

The ducks are now centimetres from the carrot.

It's a raw carrot, says Roo-kai.

I see that, says the first duck. We were hoping for bread.

Ha ha! Orange bread! laughs Terence.

It's not that funny, says the duck. What about a croissant?

Yeah? says the second duck. They're orange.

Golden-brown, says Roo-kai. Anyway. It's a carrot. Off you go. 

We do eat carrots, says the first duck over its shoulder, as they paddle away.

Cooked or grated, says the second duck. Either way, very nutritious.

Maybe I should try it, says Roo-kai.

Carrot! squeaks the carrot.

It makes a big effort, and starts floating away.

It's floating away! cries Terence. Get it!

Roo-kai is about to step in when Parsley swims by, followed by Team Romeo-Kowlesi.

I win! puffs Parsley.

You can't win, says Terence. My team is stronger.

Too bad, says Parsley. I'm here, aren't I? And look where they are.

In fact, team Romeo-Knowlesi has changed direction and is swimming for the carrot.

They reach it, and turn it around.

They nudge it towards the edge of the pond.

Yay! says Terence. You guys are heroes!

Thanks, says Quiet-tartus. A life is a life.

Show-offs, says Parsley. You only did that because I was winning. You don't even like the carrot.

The carrot is now floating within arm's reach of Terence.

Should it try and float off again? To what end? It really wants to return to the Seine, and float solo to Le Havre. But there are constant hazards. Now Roo-kai, who it thought was benign, has begun to consider it a source of nutrition.

O Carrot! 

Calm down! Breathe, carrot. Let Terence pluck you out of the water. He won't eat you.

Terence leans in.

Lessons From The Waterfall

Square Verdrel, Rouen.

Now Terence, says Belle. We'll find Roo-kai and the others, and you can stay here with them.

They'll be at the waterfall, says Nico.

Oh dear, says Belle.

It's quite safe, says Nico.

They walk to the ornamental waterfall, where water splashes down over rocks, into a pond, with ducks in it.

Sure enough, Roo-kai is there, with the carrot.

Baby Pierre and Ouvert are nearby.

The three frogs are discussing the possiblity of a swimming competition.

Roo-kai, says Belle. Nico and I want to look at more paintings, but Terence is bored, so we've brought him to you.

Right! says Roo-kai. 

Belle and Nico return to the Musée des Beaux Arts.

Yay! says Terence. Can I go to the top of the waterfall and look down?

Why? asks Roo-kai.

And can I take the carrot? asks Terence.

What for? asks Roo-kai.

To give it a lesson, says Terence.

I was thinking of giving it a lesson, says Roo-kai. 

What lesson? asks Terence. 

How to float on its back, says Roo-kai.

It doesn't have a back says Terence.

It does, says Roo-kai. See this hole. This is where the word Carrot comes out, when it says it.

So what? says Terence.

This is the front of the carrot, says Roo-kai. So, (he rotates the carrot), this must be the back.

Carrot, says the carrot.

So can I? asks Terence.

No, says Roo-kai. What would your lesson have been, if I'd let you?

I'd be at the top with the carrot, and I'd show it the rocks and the water, and the spray, and the arrows, says Terence. 

Arrows! says Roo-kai. Where are they?

You can only see them from up there, says Terence.

I don't believe you, says Roo-kai. I'm flying up to take a look for myself.

He flies up. 

Terence knows there are no arrows. Or if there are, you can't see them. He learned that in the Musée des Beaux Arts, at least.

But now he is in charge of the carrot.

Roo-kai is at the top of the waterfall, looking down

A fine mist of spray from the waterfall makes it hard for him to see that the carrot is now in the water.

Nor can he see the ducks swimming towards it, like arrows.

Eager to see if it's bread.

The Arrow And The Sausage

 Nico, Belle and Terence are inside the Musée des Beaux Arts.

They are looking at a painting by Monet.

I wish I was outside, says Terence.

Monet painted over thirty views of the Rouen cathedral, says Nico.

Is this the worst one? asks Terence.

There isn't a worst one, says Nico. They are all fantastic. Of course, we do not have them all.

It's lovely, says Belle. I like how he's captured the .....weathering

Yes, says Nico, he was good at atmospheric conditions. 

Over thirty? says Belle. What was he thinking?

This one's rubbish this one's rubbish this one's rubbish, says Terence. Thirty times.

What are you talking about? asks Belle,.

What he was thinking, says Terence. Can we go now?

Not yet, says Belle. Nico wants to show us some more.

Yes, says Nico. This one here is a Sisley.

Ha ha, laughs Terence. A sizzly!

Alfred Sisley, says Nico. L'Inondation à Port-Marly.

A flood, says Belle. You were in a flood weren't you, Terence. With Gaius.

Yes, says Terence. I lost Roo-kai's medal.

Does this painting remind you of that? asks Belle. 

No, says Terence. Being outside would remind me of that.

Why? It's not even raining, says Nico. Come and see this Pissarro.

Piss-arrrow, says Terence. Okay. Where is it?

Before you get too excited, says Belle. It won't be a piss-arrow.

What do you mean? says Nico. It's been authenticated.

Where is it? asks Terence.

Here, says Nico. Le Pont Boieldieu à Rouen soleil couchant, temps brumeux.

Great capture, says Belle. It looks really foggy.

Where's the arrow? asks Terence.

Probably obscured by the fog, says Belle. Or else it fell into the water.

Like Roo-kai's medal, says Terence. This is a good painting. Can we go now?

Shall we take him to join his parrot, frogs and pebbles in the Square Verdrel? asks Nico. Then we can take our time to look at the rest of the paintings, and perhaps get a coffee in the coffee shop.

Okay, says Belle. What have you learned about Impressionism, Terence?

It's about what's not in it, says Terence.

You mean the arrow? says Belle.

And the sausage, says Terence.

The sausage, says Belle.

Sizzly, says Terence.

Fortunately, Nico has moved on to look at a Caillebotte, and is no longer listening.

Too Long In The Seine

Shack Café. Rue Lafayette.

Belle and Nico order bubble waffles.

And a black currant juice for Terence.

The frogs have remained outside, looking for midges and flies.

Nico takes Baby Pierre and Ouvert out of his pocket and places them on the table.

Roo-kai flies in, with the carrot.

He drops the carrot on the table, next to Baby Pierre.

Baby Pierre rolls away from the carrot. He never liked it.

Hello, carrot, says Terence.

Carrot, says the carrot.

It hasn't learned anything, says Terence.

The bubble waffles arrive. They are waffles with raised bubbles, folded inside paper cones and filled with hazelnut icecream, pink marshmallows and drizzled with dark chocolate and strawberry syrups

Yum, says Belle. After this I should definitely eat something healthy.

Carrot! says the carrot.

Ha ha, laughs Terence. It's scared!

Not you, carrot, says Belle. You've been too long in the Seine.

The carrot has learned something. That was the Seine. It would like to go back there.

I can see you would like to go back there, says Roo-kai, and you will as soon as we leave the city.

It's a nice city, says Belle. Do you live here, Nico?

Yes, says Nico.

What do you do? asks Belle. 

I work at the Musée des Beaux Arts, says Nico. Would you like me to show you some of our famous Impressionist paintings?

O yes, says Belle. Funny. I imagined you more as a naturalist.

Why is that? asks Nico.

Because you recognised Parsley, says Belle. The green spotted frog.

The pelodytes punctatus, says Nico. No, I just like frogs. I was surprised not to know the species of the other two.

They're Australian, says Belle. And endangered.

How did they get here? asks Nico. 

On a plane, says Belle. Not with me though. 

Ask Baby Pierre how he got here, says Terence.

Are you Australian, too? asks Nico.

No way! says Baby Pierre. Pebbles have no nationality.

But you came from Adelaide, says Terence. And you posted yourself to Copenhagen, like a loser.

It seems quite sensible, says Belle,

Yes it does, agrees Nico.

The frogs hop in, having found plenty of flies (and several midges).

A waiter comes over. 

No frogs in here please. And please remove the pebbles from the table.

Sorry, says Belle. We're just leaving.

Very well, says the waiter. By the way, did you order this carrot?

No, says Belle.  It's ours. Our parrot brought it.

Parrot? says the waiter, looking round for a parrot.

Of course, there is no parrot.

Roo-kai is long gone.

Belle snatches up the carrot. Nico grabs the pebbles and Terence knocks his black currant juice over. 

The frogs hop out on their own.

From The Shimmering Water

There's an oystercatcher flying above us, says Nico. 

That will be Roo-kai, says Belle.

He's my parrot, says Terence.

But a parrot does not have... begins Nico.

Roo-kai descends, and flies beside Belle, at head level.

Just dropping in for a brief report, says Roo-kai.

He's a spy, says Terence.

Was, says Roo-kai. I am not spying now. The carrot is aware of my presence.

How is it doing? asks Belle.

Is this the carrot you mentioned? asks Nico. 

Yes, says Belle. It's making a parallel journey to Le Havre, in the Seine.

The carrot is keeping a course down the middle, says Roo-kai. 

The middle? says Nico. Then it doesn't know much about sailing.

It's a carrot, says Belle. We don't expect it to know anything.

It can only say carrot, says Terence.

It should stick to the proper side, says Nico. Perhaps you should warn it.

I have confidence in the carrot, says Roo-kai. But now I must return. Will you be stopping in Rouen? 

Yes, says Belle. For bubble waffles.

Tell me where, says Roo-kai. And I'll meet you.

Yes, says Terence. And bring the carrot.

Good idea, says Belle. I don't like to think of it making its way through Rouen, past all the huge vessels.

I'll try and persuade it, says Roo-kai.

He flies off.

Hey! calls Nico. Shack Café! 89 Rue Lafayettte!

Roo-kai wheels in the sky.

Got it! says Roo-kai. 

He flies back to the river, and looks for the carrot.

There it is, in the middle. 

A tour boat is approaching, with tourists leaning over the railings. 

What are they looking for?

Impressionist scenes, for which Rouen is famous.

O look papa, a speck of orange on the water!

Very well spotted, Marlene!

But no! says maman. Look closer, and you will see it is a carrot!

Little Marlene is disappointed.

But then, a surprise for the tourists. An oystercatcher swoops down and plucks the carrot from the shimmering multi-flecked water.

The quick-thinking ones get a photo.

How Do I Look Embarrassed?

Nico draws level with Belle.

Bonjour! says Nico. Warm day for it.

Sure is, says Belle.

Are you going to Rouen? asks Nico.

Yes, says Belle. We're planning to have lunch there.

We? Yes. The kid in the basket.

Hello, young man, says Nico.

Hello, old man, says Terence.

That's rude, Terence, says Belle.

I must seem old to him, says Nico.  

Not at all, says Belle. Terence is older than he looks.

He reminds me of someone, says Nico.

Probably my friend Baldy, says Terence. 

Baldy was bald, says Belle. You've got lovely curls.

Nico looks at the stiff curls.

No. It couldn't be Baldy. Whoever he was.

But now Nico has spotted the frogs.

Frogs! says Nico. How great that you travel with frogs. This one is a pelodytes punctatus, but these other two are unfamiliar.

Quiet-tartus and the knowlesi, says Terence. My frog team.

Team Romeo-Knowlesi! says Quiet-tartus. 

Merveilleux! says Nico, forgetting to speak English for a moment. 

I've got used to it, says Belle. 

I must tell you of my own strange experience, says Nico. Just a little way back, before I saw you, I encountered two pebbles.

What did they look like? asks Belle. 

One was round with a mark on its head, and the other had two mouths, one open, says Nico. They asked for a lift to Rouen. They are here in my pocket.

Let's see! says Terence.

He leans out of Belle's pannier vélo.

Ha ha. He sees Baby Pierre, peeping out of a hole in the pocket.

You look embarrassed, says Terence.

I'm not embarrassed, says Baby Pierre. How do I look embarrassed?

Because you ARE embarrassed, says Terence. Getting a lift to catch up.

We're not catching up, snaps Baby Pierre.

You just did, says Terence.

Stop it, says Belle. It doesn't matter. Tell Baby Pierre what happened to the carrot.

It's gone, says Terence.

See? says Belle. There was no need for you to run off.

We didn't run off, says Baby Pierre. We're hitch hiking our way to Le Havre.

Is that where you're going? asks Nico. Le Havre?

Yes, says Belle. Because that's where Baby Pierre's going.

What will you do when you get there? asks Nico.

Bring him back I suppose, says Belle. If he wants to.

You are a strange one, says Nico. Not many people would take the trouble to do what you are doing.

True, says Belle.

May I buy you all lunch in Rouen? asks Nico.

We'd love that, says Belle.

I know a place that does great bubble waffles, says Nico.

Mmm! Bubble waffles! says Belle.

They keep pedalling.

Pocket Fluff

Baby Pierre and Ouvert wait at the side of the road.

Along comes a bicycle.

They roll to the middle, which is dangerous.

Nico stops.

Quest-ce que c'est?

But let us not make Nico speak French, if we don't have to.

Stop! cries Baby Pierre. Are you going to Le Havre?

Quoi? says Nico. Sorry, what?

Le Havre, says Baby Pierre.

And me , says Ouvert.

Pebbles that speak, says Nico. Am I going crazy?

No, says Baby Pierre. Did you watch the Tour de France by any chance?

Of course, says Nico. Were you at the side of the road as it passed by?

I was IN it, says Baby Pierre. Ouvert wasn't.

He crashed, says Ouvert. 

I do not believe you, says Nico. And I am not going to Le Havre, but I am going to Rouen. You can travel with me. My name is Nico.

Nico does not have a panier vélo. He sweeps up the two pebbles and drops them into his shorts pocket.

He resumes cycling, towards Rouen.

In the pocket, it is dark and fluffy. The pocket moves up and down.

What's all this fluff? asks Ouvert.

Pocket cotton fluff, says Baby Pierre. Don't worry.

But Ouvert is now sneezing badly. Achoo!

Nico! cries Baby Pierre. Stop! Ouvert is sneezing.

Nico stops. Drags them both out of his pocket.

Achoo! goes Ouvert.

Pocket fluff, explains Baby Pierre.

I was not expecting residents, says Nico. But perhaps it is just an old tissue. Would you prefer my shirt pocket?

I would, says Ouvert.

Nico transfers them.

Why is Nico cycling in shorts and a shirt?

Of course, it is not a business shirt.

It is a polo, with one small front pocket.

And the cool thing is, there's a hole in the pocket, so the pebbles can see out.

And also, no pocket fluff to speak of.

Nico gets going.

Soon he sees Belle in the distsnce.  

A young woman, on her own! Super! He speeds up.

Pies Midges And Flies

 Excuse me, says Roo-kai. I'll be back shortly. You go on.

Okay, says Belle. We can't be far out of Rouen. 

Isn't Rouen a large city? asks Roo-kai.

It is, says Belle. I hope we find Baby Pierre and Ouvert before we get there.

And the carrot, says Roo-kai.

Is that where you're off to? asks Belle. To look for the carrot?

Yes, says Roo-kai. I can't help thinking about Saint Roley's brother.

Saint Roley! says Terence. He was my second best parrot!

Roo-kai doesn't ask who is Terence's best parrot.

He believes it is him.

Okay, says Belle. But it's just a carrot. Don't forget the main object.

Of course not, says Roo-kai. I'll fly back and forth, and hope to miss nothing.

Ha ha! laughs Terence.

What's so funny, asks Roo-kai.

How can you miss nothing? says Terence.

Never mind, says Roo-kai, flying off.

Belle lifts Terence and the frogs into her bicycle basket, and sets off towards Rouen.

Where are we going? asks Terence.

Rouen, says Belle. We'll buy our lunch there.

Good, says Quiet-tartus. I hope they have flies.

Everywhere has flies, says Belle. 

I prefer midges, says Parsley.

But they are so small! says Belle.

I am not a big eater, says Parsley.

Aren't we supposed to be looking for Baby Pierre and Ouvert? asks Terence. 

Yes, says Belle. From where you're sitting, you could look into the ditches.

Okay, says Terence. 

He leans out of the basket, to look into the ditches.

Belle wobbles.

Maybe don't bother, says Belle. How about singing loudly? They could be nearby.

Okay, says Terence. He sings:

We're on the road to Rouen, the road to Rouen, if you pebbles don't show up soon, you'll miss out on lunch in Rouen, what's for lunch, losers, midges and flies, but Belle won't eat midges they're too small for Belle, she will have to eat pies.

What a song! says Belle. I wonder if they heard it?

Don't we all?

Where are those two pebbles?

They are way behind, having just reached the tree where Belle waited.

Their short legs are tired.

They see the tyre marks, from Belle's bicycle. 

It looks like she's been there and left. 

I vote we  hitch a ride with whoever comes next, says Ouvert.

Good plan, says Baby Pierre. 

They wait at the side of the road, with their little thumbs up.

The Tragic Cardboard

The three frogs hop along the road together.

Hot, isn't it, says Quiet-tartus.

Bien sur, says Parsley. Why not attend for the vélo?

Our vélo is broken, we have only deux wheels, says the knowlesi.

You 'ave your own vélo? says Parsley.

We 'ad, says the knowlesi.

We rode in the Tour de France, says Quiet-tartus. You may have heard of Team Romeo-Knowlesi.

Non, says Parsley. But I know tout about wheels. What type are yours?

Green polyurethane o-rings, says Quiet-tartus. They jamais wear out.

Bravo! says Parsley.

Maybe we should wait for Belle and Terence, says the knowlesi. It's getting so hot.

But we rested on a rock, says Quiet-tartus. They have passed us, probablement.

Allons! says Parsley. Let us hop faster!

Oui, says Quiet-tartus. 

They hop faster, three frogs hopping down the middle of the road, on a very hot day.

....

Roo-kai has returned, and dropped onto the rim of Belle's bicycle basket.

I didn't see Baby Pierre or Ouvert, says Roo-kai.

What about the frogs? asks Terence.

I saw them, says Roo-kai. There are three of them.

Can't be! says Terence.

A new warty one , says Roo-kai. With green spots.

Are they behind us? asks Belle.

Yes, says Roo-kai. And hopping really quickly.

They're trying to catch up! says Terence. Maybe they heard about the carrot!

We'll stop here, says Belle. Under this tree.

She stops under a tree.

It's not long before the three hoppers catch up.

Huh huh huh, puff the frogs. 

You poor creatures, says Belle. Take a minute to recover. Then tell us who the new frog is. 

Je suis Parsley, says Parsley.

Parsley, says Belle. That's apt. Are you a female?

Oui, says Parsley. I have left a string of 1500 eggs behind in the river.

Won't they need you? asks Belle.

Non, says Parsley. I have joined these boys for the trip to Le Havre. But the day is trés chaud. Peut-etre you 'ave room in your panier vélo?

Sure I do, says Belle. The only other occupant is Terence. 

Because we threw out the carrot, says Terence.

I dropped it in the river, says Belle. Accidentally.

Quiet-tartus and the knowlesi have stopped puffing. 

Parsley saw it, floating, says Quiet-tartus.

That's good news, says Roo-kai. It must have broken free of the reeds.

It's a race! says Terence.

No it isn't says Belle. If it reaches Le Havre at all, we'll probably miss it, and it'll end up in the sea.

The carrot, ending up in the sea!

This brings back memories of the unresolved end of Saint Roley's brother (who floated towards the horizon on a torn piece of cardboard, off the coast of Saint Malo, and was not seen or heard of thereafter) . 

Saint Roley, Roo-kai's hero.

Roo-kai determines to do the right thing by the carrot.

Green Spotted French Companion

This is great! says the knowlesi. We can do what we like.

What do we like? asks Quiet-tartus.

Freedom! says the knowlesi. To do what we like.

Yes! cries Quiet-tartus.

They hop very fast. Then they hop slowly. They try to hop backwards. But this is too hard

They hop down to the riverbank. And sit on a rock.

Rurp rurp! The sound comes from underneath them.

There's a frog hiding under us, says the knowlesi.

Probably a French frog, says Quiet-tartus.

Woo! says the knowlesi. I hope it's a female.

He hops off the rock and checks out the space underneath it.

An olive green frog with green spots on its body and warts on its back, long digits, webbed at the base, and a round nose, stares at the knowlesi with prominent eyes.

Bonjooor, Spotty, says the knowlesi.

Je ne suis pas Spottee, says the green spotted frog.

Luckily the knowlesi has picked up some French on his travels.

Qui donc? asks the knowlesi.

Je m'appelle Parsley, says the green spotted frog. Et vous?

Knowlesi, says the knowlesi. I'm from Australia. I mean je suis de...

Australie! says Parsley. Parlez vous englais en Australie?

Yes, says the knowlesi. Come out and meet mon ami Quiet-tartus. He's up là, on the rock.

Super! says Parsley.

It turns out that Parsley is usually nocturnal, but not at the moment. She has just laid 1500 eggs in a string and spent the morning attaching the string to an aquatic plant in the river.

Et alors!  says Parsley. J'ai vu un carrotte, en flottante!

We connais that carrotte, says Quiet-tartus. That carrotte is the reason we're here and not in un panier vélo.

Dans un panier vélo! says Parsley. Pourquoi?

We were travelling in un panier vélo, to Le Havre, says the knowlesi. But our cycliste, Belle, was given a carrot, I mean un carrotte, and it was dirty, so we decided to leg it.

Leg it? says Parsley.

Voyager seul, says the knowlesi. 

C'est tres loin a Le Havre, says Parsley. Et maintenant, le carrotte est libre.

But we have pendant discovered we aussi aime la liberté, says  Quiet-tartus.

Comme moi, says Parsley. Et mes oeufs sont securées. Je veux venir avec vous a Le Havre.

'Allo? A green spotted French female companion? 

Quelle chance!

Ohey! Ohey!

How sad, says Belle. I guess that's the end of the carrot.

Just in case, says Roo-kai, I will speak a few words. If the carrot is nearby, it may be encouraged.

What a good idea, says Belle. Tell it...

I know what to tell it, says Roo-kai.

Roo-kai clears his throat, and speaks to the reeds and the water.

Carrot, we are going to Le Havre, says Roo-kai. Should you break loose from your moorings, that is where you'll be carried. We shall look for you there. Do not fear that, should we be reunited, you will be eaten. Belle wants you to know it was just an expression.

That was nice, says Belle. Now for the next task. To find Baby Pierre.

What if he's passed us? asks Terence.

Then we'll soon catch up, says Belle. The problem will be if he's behind us.

Ha ha, laughs Terence. That would be funny.

No, it wouldn't, says Belle.

I'll fly back a short distance and check, says Roo-kai. You can keep going.

Thanks Roo-kai, says Belle. You are truly a wonderful parrot.

Roo-kai turns pink, which no one notices, due to his feathers.

He heads off, to check the lane for Baby Pierre and Ouvert.

Belle and Terence head north towards Rouen.

What about the frogs? asks Terence. 

Ooh yes, says Belle. The frogs. Keep an eye out.

They don't know we lost the carrot, says Terence.

Good point, says Belle. 

I'll sing loudly, says Terence. About how we don't have the carrot.

You do that, says Belle.

Ohey! Ohey! sings Terence, loudly. Come back you frogs. Don't you know we lost the carrot? It floated away! Ohey! Ohey!

The frogs are not far away. They know about the carrot. They have heard Terence's song.

But they are in love with the freedom of hopping along a French country lane, close by a river.

Ohey! Ohey!

It Was Just An Expression

What will we do now? asks Terence.

We may as well keep going, says Belle.

Just us, says Terence. It'll be lonely.

It won't be lonely, says Belle. I'm sure we'll catch up with them soon.

Who first? asks Terence.

Probably the pebbles, says Belle. But Roo-kai might catch up with the carrot, and bring him back first.

I bet on the carrot, says Terence.

Okay, says Belle. I'll bet on the pebbles. Let's go.

She lifts Terence into her basket and sets off down the lane.

She scans the road for the pebbles.

Terence scans the sky.

Yay! There is Roo-kai!

Roo-kai descends in a flurry, and lands on the rim of the basket.

Where's the carrot? asks Terence. Couldn't you find it?

I found it, but it preferred to stay in the river, says Roo-kai.

How do you know? asks Terence. It can only say carrot.

There are many ways of saying carrot, says Roo-kai.

Like a scream, says Belle. Which I heard, before I dropped him.

How did it scream carrot? asks Terence.

Never mind, says Belle. Tell us how you know it prefers to stay in the river.

For some time I flew above it, says Roo-kai. Then I swooped down. It bobbed away, saying...

Carrot! says Terence.

Yes, says Roo-kai.

Did you ask it why? asks Belle. I feel it's my fault. I said it looked good enough to eat, after I washed it.

Would you like me to go back and explain that is just an expression? asks Roo-kai.

Yes, please, says Belle. 

Roo-kai flies back to the river. Where is that carrot?

There, still bobbing along. 

He flies low above it.

How will he put this?

Dear carrot, says Roo-kai. Will you consider....?

The carrot bobs faster. as it swirls past some rocks.

The water is churning. This is unpleasant.

Reeds! The carrot becomes entangled.

The carrot struggles.

Carrot! cries the carrot.

Roo-kai turns away.

.....

Belle has kept pedalling, assuming she is keeping up with the river. 

Roo-kai has made a similar assumption.

And anyway, from above, he can see her.

He drops down. 

The carrot's stuck in some reeds, says Roo-kai.

Why didn't you resue it? asks Belle.

I thought it would be nicer if you did, says Roo-kai. The carrot would see that you have good intentions towards it.

But what if it thinks I'm rescuing it because want to eat it? asks Belle.

I hadn't thought of that, says Roo-kai. Shall I go back?

No, we'll all go, says Belle.

She wheels her bike down to the reeds. 

From the riverbank, the carrot is not visible, because of the reeds.

From the water side, where Roo-kai has pinpointed the clump of reeds in which the carrot was entangled, the view is the same.

Reeds, but no carrot.  

A Bad Day, A Very Bad Day

The carrot is not used to travelling.

This is going to be fun.

Carrot! says the carrot.

We know who you are, says Baby Pierre.

You got us into trouble, says Ouvert.

Carrot, says the carrot.

It can only say carrot! says Terence.

Heh-heh! laugh the frogs.

What's going on there? asks Belle, slowing down a bit.

The carrot can only say 'carrot', says Terence.

That's not surprising, says Belle. Shall we stop by the river and wash it?

Carrot, says the carrot.

That means yes, says Terence.

The carrot is alarmed. It meant no.

Belle gets off her bike and wheels it down to the riverbank. She lifts Terence onto the grass. Then Baby Pierre and Ouvert. Then the carrot.

What about us? asks Quiet-tartus.

You can hop out, says Belle.

Quiet-tartus and the knowlesi hop out. 

Can I wash the carrot? asks Terence.

No, says Belle.

Carrot, says the carrot.

Carrot, says Belle, Terence can't wash you, but what about me?

The carrot is confused. Who's washing who?

Belle takes the carrot down to the river and dips it in the cold water.

The dirt floats away.

You look good enough to eat, says Belle, holding up the carrot.

The carrot screams. Belle drops the carrot back into the river.

It bobs along in the current.

Damn! says Belle. There goes the carrot!

Roo-kai flutters down and stands gazing at the river.

I dropped it, says Belle. It screamed.

It did, says Roo-kai. We all heard it. 

Could you get it back? asks Belle.

I'll try says Roo-kai. He flies off, to try and retrieve it.

Belle returns to her bike.

Everyone's gone, says Terence.

Everyone? says Belle. Only Roo-kai and the carrot.

Baby Pierre and Ouvert went, says Terence. They didn't like the carrot.

The carrot's gone, says Belle. I dropped it. What about the frog team?

They went too, says Terence.

Because of the carrot? asks Belle.

Yes, says Terence. 

Roo-kai's trying to find it, says Belle.

Tell him to stop trying, says Terence.

How can I? says Belle. It's not like he's got a phone.

This is a bad day, says Terence.

A very bad day, agrees Belle.

Magnificent Carrot

Baby Pierre and Ouvert remain hidden (they hope) in the grass.

The gardening woman had not noticed them when she recovered her string.

But Belle knows what to look for.

Baby Pierre! says Belle. What a lovely surprise.

Baby Pierre realises that he has been outed.

He steps forward, as does Ouvert.

Hello, Belle, says Baby Pierre. What are you doing out here?

Heading for Le Havre, says Belle. Is that where you're going?

Yes, says Baby Pierre. I was walking.

Stupid, says Terence.

Heh heh, croak the frogs.

And I met this guy, says Baby Pierre. We've established a bond.

A stealing string bond, says Terence.  We know. Roo-kai told us.

Roo-kai looks away.

His name's Ouvert, says Baby Pierre.

Hello, says Ouvert. I'm only going as far as the end of the Parc Naturel du Vexin.

That's not far, says Belle.

His name can't be Ouvert, says Terence.

Unless I am Ouvert, says Ouvert.

Okay, says Terence. Who's your girlfriend?

Okay, says Ouvert. I admit I'm a different Ouvert. I don't have a girlfriend.

Who is his girlfriend? asks Quiet-tartus.

He hasn't got one, says Terence.

You tricked me! says Ouvert.

No, not you, says Terence. Real Ouvert does have a girlfriend. But she doesn't like him.

Who is it? asks Belle.

Lavender, says Terence.

Oh, right, says Belle. Hey, would you boys like a lift? 

Baby Pierre is about to say no thanks when he sees the gardening woman approaching, with a carrot.

Yes, says Baby Pierre.

Belle picks up Baby Pierre and Ouvert, and drops them into her basket beside Terence.

Move over! says Terence. 

You can't feel me, says Baby Pierre.

That's what you think, says Terence.

The gardening woman waves the carrot.

Magnificent carrot! says Belle.

Would you like it? asks the gardening woman. For your journey?

How kind, says Belle. You are a good person.

The gardening woman smiles. She is proud of her carrot.

Belle takes the carrot, which is encrusted with dirt.

She jams it into her basket, next to Terence, says au revoir once again to the gardening woman and pedals away.

Great, says Terence, to the carrot. You're all we needed.

This sounds like good news to the carrot.

Limits Of Behaviour

How long have we got? says Ouvert.

That depends on where they are at this moment, says Baby Pierre.

They look at their string.

First job, take the flags off, says Ouvert. Start untying!

But it isn't that easy. Whoever tied the flags on knew how to attach flags to string.

How about we slide them? says Ouvert.

He tries sliding the end flag to the end of the string. A short distance.

That works, says Baby Pierre. Let's slide them all.

Start in the middle, says Ouvert. I'll slide my flags to my end, you slide your flags to yours.

We should untie the sticks first, says Baby Pierre.

No, the flags will blow everywhere, says Ouvert. 

They are sitting on the grass at the side of the road near a chestnut tree.

After we've done this, says Ouvert, we'll find two trees, opposite one another with the road in the middle. 

How about right here? says Baby Pierre. There are chestnut trees on both sides of the road. 

It's a bit near where we nicked the string from, says Ouvert.

So what? says Baby Pierre. Just hurry.

They slide their flags down the string rapidly.

But now.... things start to go wrong one by one.

The garden owner comes into her garden to harvest a carrot, and notes the absence of one line of string.

She heads to the picturesque wooden palings and looks down the road.

A bicycle is coming.

Riding the bicycle, a young woman with an infant in her bicycle basket.

Above them floats a black and white bird. 

She waves at the young woman, who stops cycling.

Are there any traps here? asks Terence.

Don't mind him, says Belle. 

Traps? asks the gardening woman.

I don't suppose you've seen a couple of pebbles, says Belle. Or lost any string?.

Behind the chestnut tree, Baby Pierre and Ouvert are like statues, but it is windy and the flags won't keep still.

Roo-kai spots the flags waving, but says nothing.

Responsible behaviour has limits.

Yes, I have lost some string, says the gardening woman. I assumed a wild rabbit.

What would it want string for? asks Terence.  

It wouldn't, says the gardening woman. Let's say it wanted a carrot and got tangled up.

Were there flags tied to your string? asks Belle. Because if there were, it's there behind that chestnut tree.

Alors! cries the gardening woman. That is my string!

She walks round the tree. Picks up the string, with the flags at each end, held on by sticks.

A mystery, says the gardening woman. But all's well that ends well.

Yes, that's for sure, says Belle.

Au revoir, says the gardening woman.

Au revoir, says Belle.

The gardening woman goes back into her garden to harvest the carrot.

Belle wheels her bicycle to the tree.

When The Stick Jams

Roo-kai flies back to where Belle has stopped for a snack break.

Terence has just finished his second red fruit juice.

The frogs are warming their legs in the sun.

Did you see him? asks Belle.

I saw him, says Roo-kai. He has a companion.

That's nice, says Belle.

Not as nice as you might imagine, says Roo-kai.

Is it a mean guy? asks Terence.

His name is Ouvert, says Roo-kai.

We know Ouvert, says Belle. He's harmless.

This Ouvert is not that Ouvert, says Roo-kai. One minute he's all innocent and the next he is planning to trap you with string.

You? says Belle, unwrapping a chocolate.

No, you, says Roo-kai. 

Is Baby Pierre going along with it? asks Belle.

Yes, says Roo-kai. He doesn't want to be found and look like a loser.

Let's make him look like a loser, says Terence.

Yes! say the frogs. Serve him right!

I think we should see for ourselves, says Belle. How far away is he?

Just outside La Roche-Guyon, says Roo-kai. 

That's where they'll be getting the string from, says Belle. Unless they have some already.

No, says Roo-kai. They had none.

Break over, says Belle.We're heading to La Roche-Guyon. 

Be careful! says Roo-kai.

We'll be careful, says Belle.

.........

Baby Pierre and Ouvert have entered the village of La Roche-Guyon. A pretty village with a castle built into the rocks.

Okay, says Baby Pierre. Where will we get our string from?

Someone's vegetable garden, says Ouvert.

Whose? asks Baby Pierre.

Anyone's, says Ouvert. Look there's one.

They look though the picturesque wooden palings.

Sure enough, there are a few rows of string.

Baby Pierre wonders how Ouvert knows so much about gardens.

But that's a question for later. 

Now to steal string.

They sneak through a gap between two palings.

The strings are for holding up vegetables and discouraging birds. They have colourful flags tied to them.

And sticks at each end.

Now what? says Baby Pierre. We don't need the flags or the sticks. 

It'll take too long to untie them, says Ouvert. Grab one stick and I'll grab the other. Then RUN!

They reach the fence at the same time and slip through a gap with their stick.

Not the same gap.

Let go! cries Baby Pierre.

Ouvert lets go of his stick.

Whip-thrip-ding-crack! 

The stick jams horizontally across the palings.

Twist! cries Baby Pierre

Ouvert twists the stick till it slips back though the gap and out through the next gap, which Baby Pierre's stick came out of.

At last. 

They have string.

String is Everywhere

I suppose I should leave you, says Roo-kai. But this is rather pleasant.

Stay with us, says Baby Pierre.

I should report back to Terence, says Roo-kai.

Phooey to Terence! says Baby Pierre.

Ouvert sniggers.

But what about Belle? asks Roo-kai. She's the one doing the pedalling.

Who is Belle? asks Ouvert.

A kind-hearted person, says Roo-kai. She had no sooner finished the Tour de France Femmes race when she agreed to come on this mission.

Did she win? asks Ouvert.

I believe she came somewhere in the middle, says Roo-kai. A good result, seeing she was  a ring-in.

Maybe we should let her find us, says Ouvert.

And look like losers? says Baby Pierre. What does Terence want with me anyway?

To be honest, says Roo-kai, it was me who wanted to find you. 

So he doesn't want to find me, says Baby Pierre.

I guess not, says Roo-kai. 

This puts a new spin on it.

Okay, says Baby Pierre, but he's got my two sets of wheels, did you say?

Yes, in his pocket, with the frog team, says Roo-kai.

I have an idea, says Ouvert.

What is it? asks Baby Pierre.

How about we set a trap for them? says Ouvert.

You can't do that, says Roo-kai. I would know about it.

Whose side are you on? asks Ouvert.

The side of responsible behaviour, says Roo-kai.

Didn't you get a medal for spying? asks Baby Pierre.

Yes, says Roo-kai. But if you're setting a trap for Belle and Terence, I feel I should warn them.

Go on then, says Baby Pierre.

Not yet, says Roo-kai.

He wants to know what the trap is, says Ouvert.

So do I, says Baby Pierre.

String, says Ouvert. 

Right! I've heard enough. I'm going, says Roo-kai.

He executes a vertical take-off.

String, says Baby Pierre. Where will we get it?

String is everywhere, says Ouvert. We'll stop in the next village.

I like you, says Baby Pierre.

Got it!

Roo-kai, Baby Pierre and Not-Cousin-Ouvert walk down the country lane together.

They are trying to come up with a name for Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

How about Fauvert? says Baby Pierre.

Hmm, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert. How did you get that?

It popped out, says Baby Pierre.

I don't like it, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert. It sounds too much like a combination of Faux and Ouvert.

Baby Pierre wisely does not admit that was where it came from.

Where did your name come from? asks Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

My mother, Pierre, says Baby Pierre. She was not imaginative. Well, not in the naming department.

But in other ways? asks Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

Yes in other ways, says Baby Pierre. She became entangled with the Great Om. After that she ignored me. So I set off to make my fortune.

What about your name  Roo-kai? asks Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

It was given to me by Terence, says Roo-kai. I am his parrot.

But you are not a parrot, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

No, says Roo-kai. Good spotting.

Does Roo-kai mean parrot? asks Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

No, says Roo-kai. It doesn't mean anything. It's Terence's version of ryoukai, meaning Roger! or Got it!

Now you've learned something, says Baby Pierre.

What? says Not-Cousin-Ouvert. 

Don't ask Terence, says Baby Pierre. You must have your own name before he catches up with us.

Good thinking, says Roo-kai.

Choose, says Baby Pierre.

Not-Cousin-Ouvert looks about for inspiration.

Trees, a ditch, a country lane, his companions, the sky.

He feels he is no longer who he once was. 

He is at the beginning of a new adventure. Ouvert is a good name for that.

Ouvert! says Not-Cousin-Ouvert. I choose the name of your cousin.

This is not what Baby Pierre or Roo-kai had expected.

But he chose it.

They walk on.

You Have His Face

 Baby Pierre and Not-Cousin-Ouvert continue down the country lane, avoiding the ditches.

You remind me of my cousin Ouvert, says Baby Pierre.

In what way? asks Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

You have his face, says Baby Pierre. 

This is my face, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert. But I suppose you mean our faces are similar. When did you last see him?

Ages ago, says Baby Pierre. But I can easily picture him.

Picture him, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

Baby Pierre likes his new companion. He's good at conversation.

My cousin Ouvert is pale grey and bean-shaped, says Baby Pierre. Like you, but a little more at the bottom. He has two mouths, one always open, for talking, the other one closed, for smirking. And several notches

Does the open mouth go right through to the back? asks Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

I never asked him, says Baby Pierre.

You would surely have noticed, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert. Mine does.

He turns slowly, revealing the hole in his back, aligned with his mouth.

Baby Pierre realises that, by squinting, he can see right through it.

You'd be good on a bicycle, says Baby Pierre. Aero-dynamic.

But I have very short legs, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

That can be overcome by the design of the bicycle, says Baby Pierre. If you like I could help you.

Perhaps when we get to the Parc Naturel, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert. We can rest there, and work on the features.

Sure, says Baby Pierre. 

A shadow flies overhead, circles and lands.

It's Roo-kai.

I've found you, says Roo-kai. You look in good shape.

I am in good shape, says Baby Pierre. And I wasn't lost, thank you.

That is a problem, says Roo-kai.

A problem? says Baby Pierre.

Belle and Terence and the frogs are searching for you, says Roo-kai. Terence is keen to find you. He has your two sets of wheels.

Has he? says Baby Pierre. I don't suppose you could ask them to give you the wheels?

How unfair that would be! says Roo-kai. Terence would be disappointed.

Baby Pierre cares not a hoot if Terence would be disappointed.

Walk with us a while, says Baby Pierre. By the way, this is my companion, who reminds me of my cousin Ouvert.

What is his name? asks Roo-kai.

I haven't asked him, says  Baby Pierre. I think of him as Not-Cousin-Ouvert.

I don't have a name, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert. But Not-Cousin-Ouvert strikes me as kind of insulting.

Then you must choose your own name, says Roo-kai.

Cherry Red Finger Prints

This is good of you, Belle, says Katherine.

Not at all, says Belle. It will be lovely to spend time with Terence.

When are we leaving? asks Terence.

As soon as Roo-kai confirms the direction, says Belle. 

Goodbye then, says Katherine. Let me know when you locate Baby Pierre.

We will, says Belle. I'm sure he'll be fine though.

If he's alive, says Terence.

He'll be alive, says Belle.

Katherine goes back to her hotel. Time to pack.

Belle and Terence wait on a corner.

Roo-kai flutters down.

Have you seen him? asks Belle.

No, says Roo-kai. But I've met various pebbles on various roads out of Paris, and some have seen him.

So which way are we going? asks Belle.

Towards Rouen, says Roo-kai. 

Did they say how he seemed? asks Belle. Wobbly, disorientated?

Insouciant, says Roo-kai. 

What's that? asks Terence.

Carefree, says Roo-kai.

Perhaps he doesn't want to be found, says Belle.

He DOES, says Terence. And he wants his wheels back.

Terence reaches into his shorts pocket and pulls out a tiny green wheel.

Only one? says Belle.

No, says Terence, reaching in for another.

The knowlesi hops out.

Stop poking about!, says the knowlesi. We're napping.

Are you bringing the frogs? asks Belle. I didn't know that.

We're coming, says the knowlesi. We're not being brought.

Shut up! shouts Quiet-tartus, who has woken up in Terence's pocket and heard this. We ARE being brought!

It doesn't matter, says Belle. You are both welcome. It's nice that you want to help us find Baby Pierre.

Are we ready? asks Roo-kai. Follow me.

Belle lifts Terence into a basket attached to her bike. It's at the front, so Terence can see where they're going.

In the basket is a six-pack of black current juices.

Yay! 

Belle pedals down the road to Rouen, following Roo-kai, who is flying.

........

Baby Pierre and Not-Cousin-Ouvert are still walking and talking. 

They rarely get tired.

Tell me your story, says Baby Pierre, now that I've told you mine.

O, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert, I'm sure that's not all of it.

Well no, admits Baby Piere. That was just the last bit, But it's your turn.

The last bit of my story, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert. Before I met you..... let me remember. O yes, for a long time I was lying on the roadside, before that, I lay in a ditch.

How did you get out of the ditch and onto the roadside? asks Baby Pierre.

A human hand, says Not-Cousin-Ouvert. Stained with cherry juice. I may still have the marks. Although it has rained a bit lately.

Turn around, says Baby Pierre. Yes, I see faint cherry red finger prints. Why didn't they keep you?

I didn't want to be kept. I did my best to disguise the features that attracted the hand's owner to pick me up in the first place.

Your two mouths! says Baby Pierre. How did you do that?

Not-Cousin-Ouvert closes one mouth so tightly that Baby Pierre can no longer see it.

Cousin Ouvert could do that. It was his party trick.

It's uncanny.