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Thursday, August 01, 2013

3. The Wabbits in the Deserted City

"You’re on the flower bed," said Lapinette. "Am I?" said the Wabbit. "There’s nobody here to tell me off," he remarked and his ears swayed gently. "Get off anyway," said Lapinette. "OK," said the Wabbit and he looked all around. "It’s deserted just like the Marie Celeste." "We’re not a ship in the Atlantic Ocean," said Lapinette. The Wabbit shook his head. "Look over there at that caffè," he said. "I can see an espresso machine steaming gently - just as if everyone vanished into thin air." "That never really happened on the Marie Celeste," said Lapinette. "Didn’t it?" queried the Wabbit in a disappointed voice. "What happened to the crew?" "Oh, the crew vanished all right," said Lapinette. "What’s your theory then?" asked the Wabbit. "Pirates," said Lapinette. The Wabbit laughed. "And they never took the cargo of alcohol destined for Genoa to fortify wine?" Lapinette was forced to nod in agreement and she looked around some more. "Better radio in," she decided. "There’s no-one there," said the Wabbit. "Not even static. Silent as the day is long. Completely dead." "I get the drift," said Lapinette. "I can only think of one thing to do," said the Wabbit. "Let’s have an aperitivo." "Self service?" said Lapinette. "The only way to go," grinned the Wabbit.