Arthur is back on the coast road.
His stomach is gurgling.
He stops cycling.
Gurgle-gurr.
It's probably nothing.
He takes another sour apple from his pocket.
And takes a bite, looking out at the sea.
A tiny object floats out there, only just visible, a bird flying above it.
The bird spots Arthur, and turns.
Roo-kai! says Arthur.
Arthur! says Roo-kai. Are you all right, you look pale.
Yes, says Arthur. Just a gurgly stomach. That's why I'm eating an apple.
It looks like a sour apple, says Roo-kai. Are you sure that's wise?
Either it is or it isn't, says Arthur. I win either way.
Poets! says Roo-kai.
Why aren't you with Terence and Belle? asks Arthur.
I come and go, says Roo-kai. At the moment I'm keeping an eye on the carrot. It's a lost cause, but I can't let it go.
What carrot? asks Arthur.
Belle's carrot, says Roo-kai. To be precise, a half carrot. But who knows what state it's in now.
Why didn't she eat it? asks Arthur.
It spoke, says Roo-kai. At first it could only say carrot. Then the saints gave it the true gift of speech. Then they took it away. But before that, it uttered its wishes.
What were its wishes? asks Arthur, looking at his sour apple, with one bite out.
To be returned to the river, says Roo-kai. It had spent time there, enjoying its independence.
But now it's in the sea, says Arthur.
Sadly yes, says Roo-kai. And entombed in a box. Not quite what it wished for.
Arthur eats the rest of his apple.
Did it too have wishes? And now it's entombed in his stomach. Or at least on its way?
Gurgle-gurr.
Better get going, says Arthur. I might need a toilet.
You're not far from Gouville-sur-mer, says Roo-kai.
Good, says Arthur.
He pedals away in a hurry, towards Gouville-sur-mer.
Roo-kai flies back out to sea.
And continues to observe the tomb of the hapless half carrot.
Is the box holding up? No it isn't.
The cardboard lid is not sitting right. The sides of the box are collapsing.
Is this what the carrot would have wanted?
Either it is or it isn't.
It will be lost either way.
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