Rest Day: Haute Savoie - Swan

A rest day in Evian-les-Bains

Belle has prepared a picnic for Teams Philosophe and Condor.

They meet in a park beside a small cement fountain.

With a view of Lake Geneva.

Is that the lake I fell in once? asks Terence.

Yes, says Belle. 

Can I go near it? asks Terence.

No, says Belle. Stay here with us. 

Can I look at the fountain? asks Terence.

Okay, says Belle.

Terence goes across to the small cement fountain.

There's a cement swan in the middle of the fountain, with water spouting out of its beak.

That's a good trick, says Terence. How do you do it?

But the swan cannot answer, for obvious reasons.

What's to eat? asks Vello.

Try some of this Morbier cheese, says Belle.

She cut him a thick wedge of soft cheese with a line of ash in the middle.

I can taste the ash in this, says Vello.

I won't have any, says David.

Sweezus and Arthur are well into the bottle of Chignin Bergeron Rousanne that Belle has opened.

Good wine, isn't it, says Belle. But do eat some food.

Yeah sure, says Sweezus. What's that thing?

It's a farcement, says Belle. 

Looks like a bacon cake, says Sweezus. 

The bacon strips are only on the outside, says Belle. The filling is made with grated potato, bacon, prunes and raisins. 

Not prunes again! says Sweezus.

You'll love it, says Belle. It's a traditional Sunday lunch, cooked for four hours in a bain marie while the family was at church.

Four hours! says Sweezus. Who goes to church for four hours?

Maybe church was a long way from where they lived, says David.

More wine? asks Belle, opening another bottle.

They eat the farcement, which is very tasty, enhanced by the prunes, and drink the wine which has an aromatic complexity.

Terence runs back to the picnic party.

There's a swan in the fountain, says Terence. 

We can see it, says Gaius. 

Would you like a red drink? asks Belle.

Yes, says Terence. And so would the swan.

No one hears the part concerning the swan.

Terence has not said it loudly.

Belle gives Terence a Ribena and  takes something sweet from the picnic hamper.

What's that? asks Arthur.

A galette comtoise, says Belle. Smell the orange blossom?

Arthur sniffs. 

He has had so much Rousanne that he can't really smell the orange blossom.

But he always likes a choux pastry.

They all do. Even Gaius.

They relax in the sun.

They do not notice that the water spouting out of the swan's beak has turned pink.