Gift Of Terrible Curses

Saint Méen and Saint Maclou! says Belle. How lovely to see you!

Hush, says Saint Méen, pointing to his beanie. We're travelling incognito.

Sorry, says Belle. But thank you for giving the pebbles a lift.

Not at all, says Saint Méen. Happy to be of service. We were cycling back from Rouen, when Roo-kai appeared out of nowhere.

Hardly nowhere, says Roo-kai.

The heavens, then, says Saint Méen.

Everything happens for a reason, says Saint Maclou.

Or seems to have, says Belle. 

There's an interesting thought! says Saint Méen. 

And he asked us to give a lift to the pebbles, says Saint Maclou. 

So here we are, says Baby Pierre. Have you been to the Shipowners' House?

Yes, says Belle. We met the doorman.

He was a lobster, says Terence. He wanted to give us a tour.

A self-guided tour, says Belle. And he knew Ageless.

Great, says Baby Pierre. Let's go there right now.

Wait for the frogs to come back, says Belle. They're off catching flies.

We'll wait here for your frogs, says Saint Maclou. We could do with a breather.

Thank you, says Belle. We'll be back in less than an hour. Coming Terence?

Can I stay here? asks Terence.

If that's okay, says Belle.

Of course it is, says Saint Méen. We have a soft spot for Terence. Remember that beetle?

The Scarabee! says Terence. It's legs fell off. 

Not all of them, says Saint Maclou.

See you later, then, says Belle, picking up Baby Pierre and Ouvert.

I say, says Saint Maclou. Does she know what's attached to her backpack?

My old shorts, says Terence. I've got new ones.

Very nice, says Saint Maclou. Birds of prey, aren't they? But I was referring to the half carrot.

Yes, says Terence. That's our carrot. It can only say 'carrot'.

I'm not surprised, says Saint Méen.

Would it benefit from the  gift of speech? asks Saint Maclou. It's within our power.

I know, says Terence. You gave it to the beetle.

Hmm, that didn't go well, says Saint Méen.

Those terrible curses! says Saint Maclou

But the carrot is friendly, says Terence.  

We'll think about it, says Saint Méen. When Belle brings it back.

The saints lie back on the grass, looking up at clouds that remind them of feathers.

Their beanies ease up their foreheads. 

The buzzing gets louder.

Terence can see the front edge of their haloes, flashing.

He is going to say something, but but forgets to. The frogs have come back,