Lace On A Train

Rou-kai turns sadly, and flies east.

He flies over Gouville-sur-mer.

Roo-kai sees Arthur's bike, resting against the wall of a public convenience.

He crosses La Manche, to Barfleur.

Belle will not yet have arrived at Barfleur.

He lands on the sand and starts searching for molluscs.

He gets lucky.

Pick-pick-bubble-crack!

Half an hour later he is perched on a fence post at the roadside.

Here comes Belle now, head down, pedalling. 

Terence is first to spot him.

Roo-kai! cries Terence. 

Belle stops. There you are! Did you see Arthur?

Yes, says Roo-kai. He's stopped for a comfort stop at Gouville. Eaten too many apples.

It's not like him to buy apples, says Belle.

By the look of the apples, he didn't buy them, says Roo-kai.

Oh, says Belle. Well, I hope he's on track for Flamanville.

It occurs to me, says Roo-kai, that Arthur may as well have stayed in Saint Malo.

It occurred to us too, says Belle.

But we need Arthur to be in charge of the frogs, says Terence.

Hush, says Belle. 

Because they're illegal, says Terence.

I suppose they are, says Roo-kai. Where are they?

Lying low, says Belle. In the bottom of my panier velo.

So I have to tread around them, says Terence.

Yes, says Belle. That's the other thing.

Why can't the saints take the frogs? asks Roo-kai. Where are they anyway?

The saints can be seen in the distance, pedalling slowly, their heads turning often to look at the sea.

The waves are rearing like dragons, crashing like tiny stones and spreading like lace on a train.

(a bridal train, not a locomotive)

How bracing! they say. Smell the ozone!

But of course, we cannot hear them.

At last they catch up.

Have we missed anything? asks Saint Maclou.

Arthur ate too many apples and got the runs, says Terence.

Terence! says Belle. How do you even know that?

I was listening, says Terence.

I said comfort stop, says Roo-kai.

I know what that means, says Terence.