A Boat To Nirvana

I suppose we must respect the half carrot's wishes, says Belle.

Of course, says Saint Méen. Who'll throw it in?

I will, says Terence.

Let's all go, says Belle. We'll find a good spot. Here is too busy.

The saints get up off the grass, adjusting their beanies.

Belle picks up the frogs.

Terence grabs hold of the carrot.

Roo-kai flies down.

Leaving already?

Yes, says Terence. The carrot wants me to throw it back into the river.

How do you know what it wants? asks Roo-kai.

It wrote a note, says Terence. Belle's got it.

Yes I have, says Belle. There's no doubt about it.

May I see? asks Roo-kai.

Belle shows him the half carrot's poem.

Do you think it realises it's going to end up in the sea? asks Roo-kai.

I'm sure it does, says Belle. 

It may not understand how big the sea is, says Roo-kai.

What's going on? asks Saint Méen.

The carrot needs a boat, says Terence.

How will that help? asks Roo-kai.

It might meet Saint Roley's brother, says Terence.

What a lovely thought, Terence, says Belle.

Saint Roley's brother almost certainly drowned, says Roo-kai. 

The locals all believe that he drowned, says Saint Maclou. 

ALMOST certainly, says Terence. That means he didn't.

No. That means he might not have, says Belle.

See, says Terence. And the carrot will meet him, and they'll make friends, and Saint Roley's brother will ask the carrot if he brought a compass, and the carrot will say no but I  know the way back to where  I've just been, follow me.

It won't be able to say that, says Belle. 

Okay, says Terence. It can write it.

Sorry, says Belle, but Nico's pen is not going into the river.

Even Terence can see this is fair. Nico's pen is a good one. 

How about this? says Roo-kai. The carrot writes it beforehand.

An excellent idea, says Saint Méen. 

Roo-kai addresses the half carrot.

Are you willing to write the note for Saint Roley's brother beforehand? You may never meet him, but if you do, it will save you having to explain about not having a compass.

The half carrot had not expected this turn of events. 

It had imagined its poem of farewell was self-explanatory.

Back to the river..... there to disintegrate into tiny carrot cells..... after which..... nirvana.... 

Not a boat and note to some one's brother about a compass.