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?