For He Is Not Young

Hedley looks down from the top of of the Ferris Wheel.

He can see everything.

Look! says Hedley. 

I am looking, says Hedley's mother.

She can see everything too.

She can even see Arthur standing in the queue for the Kamikaze.

He is swaying slowly.

Obviously he has been to the artists' bar, drunk too much and decided to go on the Kamikaze.

If she was down there, instead of up here, she would stop him.

Although it's none of her business.

What are you looking at? asks Hedley.

Nothing, says his mother. Just the wonderful view. 

She keeps her eye on the Kamikaze, which is stopping.

The people who were on it get off.

Arthur moves forward (and sideways).

Someone rushes up.

Takes his arm, and seems to be remonstrating.

Arthur keeps moving forward.

The other person moves forward as well.

They get onto the Kamikaze together and are strapped in. 

And that is all Hedley's mother sees of what's happening to Arthur.

We however are not on the Ferris Wheel.

We were, but we're not any more. 

Now we are on the Kamikaze, strapped in next to Arthur and Gaius.

You'll regret this, says Gaius.

I won't, says Arthur, but you might.

I'm regretting it already, says Gaius.

The Kamikaze takes off. Up, up, up, slowly..... and hold.

Swoop! It swoops down and stops suddenly.

The young people scream.

Jupiters balls! shouts Gaius.

For he is not young.

Arthur is, but he is in a different zone from the others.

A delirious mind-popping zone.

Gaius looks at him sideways.

The Kamikaze starts to swing this way and that way.

Lurch. Crunch. Lurch. Crunch.

And ascends again.

Swoop!

The blood the flowers the fire the jewels! shouts Arthur.

Gaius is relieved. 

He had thought Arthur might vomit. And then what?

But these are just words.