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.