Kind Of Dangerous

None of this talk has made Terence feel better.

Baby BB is probably dead.

Maybe a skeleton. With one cement finger.

Which will be hard to find.

Cheer up, says Roo-kai. I shall leave now. I promise to return with either your claw or your actual finger.

Hurry up, says Terence.

It may take some time, says Roo-kai.

I'm going to France soon, says Terence.

I hope to be back before that, says Roo-kai 

Sweezus stops the car. Gaius rolls down the back window. 

Roo-kai flies out.

What a strange bird, says Kant. 

Parrot, says Terence.

I can't think of him as a parrot, says Kant.

He's not finding your finger, says Terence.

I suppose that's an example, says Kant.

Of not being a parrot? asks Sweezus. 

No, says Kant. That is not what I meant. Are we there yet?

I usually ask that question, says Terence.

We're not far off, says Sweezus. 

There's the city, says Arthur.

They can see it in the distance as they drive down Lonsdale Road.

A plane has taken off, and is flying out over the ocean.

Terence imagines himself in it.

A flight attendant comes up and gives him a box, saying: This is for you, it was delivered before we took off by a strange parrot. 

Terence opens the box.

Inside the box is a finger.

The flight attendant has waited to see what was in the box, in case it was dangerous.

A finger. That is kind of dangerous. 

Terence changes the scenario. Inside the box is a claw! 

The flight attendant says: Surely that isn't your parrot's claw? I didn't notice it had a claw missing.

And Terence says no, it is his.

And she says: So you're a collector. Good for you. And Terence, although he is not a collector, feels proud.

By now they are on Brighton Road.

Wanna stop at Brighton for a snack? asks Sweezus.

But time is now of the essence. They must be in Lille by the end of the week.

So no one does.