Stage 10: Aurillac to Carmaux

Farky, who had drunk water at the picnic, was riding up near the front of the peloton. The others were feeling a little under the weather, and kept towards the back.

Sweezus: What are Belle et Bonne and Marie doing today?

The VeloDrone: They're looking for a bookshop. They want to buy a copy of The Sailor Who Fell from Grace With the Sea.

Violetta: Sheesh! I wouldn't want to read it. Farky hasn't exactly been talking it up.

Sweezus: Yeah, funny isn't it. He keeps saying 'it gets worse'.

Le Bon David: I gather he means it gets worse for Molly. Poor Molly. She should never have googled the author.

Gustave: Yes, I agree. The story is gruesome enough, but what happened to the author was worse.

Violetta: You mean, when his friend failed to cut off his head? So another friend had to do it. And then the first friend had to do seppuku too.

Gaius: What's so terrible about that? We Romans....

Gustave: Button up Gaius! No, it was worse than that.

Sweezus: Now you sound like Farky.

Gustave: Well it was. Worse for Molly.

Le Bon David: Absolutely. When she read about Yukio Mishima's childhood.....

Sweezus: Yeah.

Just then Farky appeared, dropping back to ride with them.

Farky: Burrrp! Oooh! Pardon! What was in that aligot stuff we ate yesterday?

Violetta: Just Chantal cheese, mashed potato and garlic.

Farky: Yikes! Garlic! Molly hates garlic. I'm done for!

Rest Day: Picnic and Surprise

The VeloDrone's picnic took place in a grassy meadow outside Saint-Flour. He had organised a special surprise. The bearers of the picnic baskets were Belle et Bonne, and Marie!

After the necessary introductions, they sat down and began to eat. Belle et Bonne's basket was crammed full of local sausages, Saint Nectaire cheese, aligot and baguettes. Marie opened her basket to reveal a tempting array of chouquettes, macarons, a baked tarte tatin, still warm from the oven, a bowl of wild strawberries and a pot of fresh cream.

Gustave: What is there to drink?

The VeloDrone: Don't worry about that! I've brought champagne galore!

Farky: No water?

The VeloDrone: No, of course not. I do have some Powerade somewhere, I think.

Farky: Erk! That stuff makes me break out in spots.

Belle et Bonne: Oh poor Farky! Don't worry, I have some water in this bottle.

Sweezus: Oh Belle et Bonne, Marie, it's so good to see you!

Belle et Bonne: You too, darling Sweezus.

Violetta: Ahem. I've heard so much about you two girls.

Marie: We've heard so much about you too, SPLOSH!

Violetta: Really? You've heard of me? No way! Wow!

Gustave (munching on a sausage): Violetta, you and I need to talk.....

Le Bon David: Well isn't this lovely! The meadow flowers, yellow gentians, lilies, butterflies, sunshine, cows......

Gaius: Red and black kites, eagles, buzzards....

The VeloDrone: What? Buzzards? Where?

Gaius: I can't actually see any just now.

The VeloDrone: Good.

Marie: Well, everyone, how's the race plan been going?

Le Bon David: It's been going great guns! Violetta here has something up her sleeve.

Gustave: I think it's well past being up her sleeve...

Le Bon David: ...and Farky has made friends with Cadel Evans' dog, Molly the dachshund. He tells us she's into Japanese literature.

Marie: Oh how sweet! Manga comics?

Farky: No, much darker than that.

And Farky was once again off on his favourite theme.