Cues for the Visions: Papal Street Cottage Assortment

Stratum XVII:

  • A ‘century plant’ (alas, not agave) stands in the window overlooking the old gaol whilst constables star jump in unison. Meanwhile, a purloined phototron and CO2 canister go to work in the dirt-floor cellar.
  • The Condor makes a social call for Michelle and Sasha, fribbling whilst the Alfa Romeo idles in the drive.
  • In between classes, Benoit and Ian ‘cop a wig’ and carb-load as Jarrett’s wall-eyed gaze takes in the scene.

Stratum XIX:
  • Aural thundersteps plod as cetaceans churn. Nigel does ‘the bicycle’ as Nicky wanders southward.
  • Outgoing audio warns against Shalimar (‘You don’t ee-ven want to go there’).
  • Tai-chi warm-ups before the basilisk exhibition. At a rooftop after-event, the Peeper takes a hapless step off the eaves; folks chill on the rebound tumbler.

Stratum XXI:
  In respite between hell-raising activities, the parlour sits in silence. A baby Chelydra stares from a terrarium. Two lone VCR cassettes lay atop a rarely used television — one, a movie about an egg salad recipe search; the other, a third-generation dub of UK racing mishaps with ‘Havok’ in the title.
  A quiet breeze drifts in from the arched doorway. And behind that door: the Fluid Shrine of the Haze staining the wood and plaster.

  Chapters close; Benoit passes and the Falcon and Mr Dutch move on. Poach terraforms the koi pond and elephant ears into a crater. The cornstalk fence fails to materialise and the Citrullus vanishes before maturity. Under the catalpa tree the ill-fated rabbit hutch stands vacant. Ian decamps for Asylum Le Rixe.