Fantastic Metropolis

Colly clambered up to the top of the scaffolding. The loss of so many elves had put the painting way behind and he had an encouraging word to cheer the workmen on.

Strike!

What poignancy. The doll fluttered up to the roof to tease him. Bright black tadpoles with arms and legs sat dozing in a Pickle jar of October sunshine watching for crow flies. She borrowed a few words from the racked jemmy of Shepperton.

The brank of censorship is likely to default.

Juggernaut said Colly pointing to the ironclad floating by in the cloudless sky. They flew to the octagon railing to reconnoitre the ironclad’s remains.

What’s in store now? demanded Boppy. Is it possible too many bees’re protecting the honey? Tell us beggar man how you invented the characters on this very spot. Let your threadbare heart strings go beyond gurgling softly like a terrified cretin sleeping in a hollow tree. What a duffer.

26

Boppy said I’ll take the lonely path of living any day. You hear me? All right bleeding London. She knows deep down the working class will obey. Fee Fie-Fo-Fum I smell the river Thames. Well done. How different is was then. His voice grew louder. Here was something he had neglected to learn. Amor vincit omnia!

What?

Love conquers all things.

Oh that. Happiness. Don’t be borrowing trouble now. Bang—bang—bang—thoroughly disgusted Boppy shot me down. Yer honour must be off building air castles again he said kindly.

All the company laughed at great B’s wit having decided I was too heavy to carry. The majority were soon above the trees in pursuit of the ironclad.

It was no surprise to me when bull’s eye my old guide dog held up your cat. It was as if a cheerful face spoke to me Pierrot it said you must dance elsewhere.

Parched winds swept the lighter than air vessel away from granny honeycomb’s flower garden. Dull characters better look sharp or they’ll quickly find themselves lost in the unknown regions.

27

This elegant ship vanished during the siege of Paris said Boppy it was thought the pitiless mob seized it with more bravado than usual. Little wonder the dome is staved in and we cannot steer those were the days of drunkenness laziness and unselfish anarchy. My darling he added turning to Zari welcome to La Belle Blidas.

We followed Boppy into the ghost ship—leastways some of us did I didn’t see you there tallow—listening attentively to the old kelpie’s blarney when suddenly something indescribable caught his eyes. He glared at the disembodied occupants of the empty room as a chill filed up our spines. It cannot be.