Hunger Is a Test

Sartre goes back to his blog post. Where was he up to? 

Ah, yes.

He had been making a joke, but wasn't sure how best to put it.

The saint's pointing finger turned out to be pointless. 

Or:

The purchase of a saint with a pointing finger turned out to be pointless.

The latter version more accurate, but too wordy.

Jokes! Not worth the effort.

He deletes both versions and continues.

The sooner he finishes, the sooner he can join the others at the café.

Or...

He could join them now. 

The question of bear diseases has broken his concentration.

Carrion. Infected rodents. And small mammals.

He had thought bears ate honey.

Bowl had thought the same.

He has told Saint Elias and Toyshop what Sartre said about bear diseases.

They get roundworms from eating digusting things, says Bowl.

Serves them right, says Saint Elias.

But they might not know any better, says Toyshop.

YOU seem to know that eating those things is disgusting, says Saint Elias.

We have never been hungry, says Toyshop.

Never, says Bowl. Have you ever been hungry?

Me? asks Saint Elias. When I was in the desert I was always hungry.

So hungry you would have eaten ANYTHING? asks Bowl?

Hunger is a test! says Saint Elias.

What of? asks Bowl.

A test of faith, says Saint Elias.

In what? asks Toyshop. 

That something will turn up, says Saint Elias.

And did it? asks Bowl.

Yes, offerings, says Saint Elias. 

To you? asks Bowl.

Not exactly to me, says Saint Elias. But once I had slain the false prophets, there were pickings.

Bowl and Toyshop are impressed. 

Perhaps bears need to learn this.

But teaching bears about killing false prophets is probably beyond them.

Sartre comes over, and picks up the box.

He places the lid on.

Where are we going? asks Bowl.

But Sartre has not heard the question.