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ἀμμά, ἀμμά! Kant τᾷδε

<Khlaudia virtually tears Kandy’s nest apart trying to get out.>

‘Dharling, dharling, dharling’

‘Gerrofff mum’

‘But DHarling, I khave been bereft without you, my life was over, my heart was broken, my world was grey. Now you are back I am so khappy!!!!’

‘Muuum, stop!’

< Kant disappears once more into a bundle of kite feathers as Potassia and Klimt descend on him in delight>

‘Mr Khaspar, Mr Kholin and Mr Khjell, thank you, thank you thank, I chan’t thank you too many times, I don’t know what to say, I am so khappy!’

Brain Cleaning

‘Kjell says we can stop at the next Services’

‘ mmmrchgh’
‘Kaspar, are you really holding him up with your beak?’

‘mmmpjrh’

‘Gosh, that must be hurting him rather’

‘MMMMFJAJEOFAMGGGHHHHH’

‘Ah, and it’s hurting your beak?

‘MMMMMMMFFFFFFFFKJJJKDFKH!’

‘Well, we’re nearly there now. I must say I didn’t expect him to struggle so much, it was lucky we found all that stripy plastic to wrap him up in’

‘MMPH’

‘Kjell says down there’

‘MMPGH’

<the sounds of a very, very undignified landing>

< Kjell takes off again, and comes back with a bucket full of rather dirty water. He upends it over the heap of feathers and police accident tape that sits between Kaspar and Kolin. There is a lot of noise>

‘Kjell says that should clean his brain out again, they have washed his sense away, and now he has washed their nonsense away’

<The three kites wait while the noise subsides, Kjell then gingerly pecks at the blue and white tape. Eventually Kant, bedraggled and miserable sits in a heap of tape. He cheeps feebly, though it must have been a long time since he was a chick. Kolin affectionately butts beaks with him. Kant cheeps a bit louder, croaks a bit, and then takes a big breath and starts swearing.

Bundle!

A complex tussle of feathers and talons ensues. At some point the Stick of Straightening becomes involved in the bundle, and is then ejected violently. Eventually, a mass of kite rises jerkily up and heads with erratic but gathering speed towards the north.

Brother Kone watches from a nearby bridge. Once the others are out of sight, he flaps slowly down to retrieve the Stick of Straightening. He then returns sadly to his perch on the bridge

Swept Away!

‘There he is Kaspar!’

‘What on earth is he doing with that stick, Kolin?’

'Han rikta in kottar'

‘Kjell says he is putting the cones in straight lines’

‘Oh,..ah’

'Vi maste alla flyga mot honom i en V-formation. Kaspar maste ta hans narmast vagkanten vingen, och du hans offside, och jag kommer att lyfta underifran.'

‘Kjell says you need to grab his wing’

‘Oh, ah. Ok then’

'Gå!!'

<The sound of three kites swooping, one in a precisely controlled, and perfectly judged manoeuvre, two falling over each other after him>

Which strand of pasta?

The three kites reach Spaghetti Junction, and settle near a traffic camera. Kaspar assumes the position. As soon as he is occupied Kolin and Kjell gently preen each other.

'Kafka?'

The camera moves up very slowly, Kaspar hangs on.

'Which bit? where are we going?'

Penances

'Now young disciple, you can start with the First Penance- Alignment of the Cones. The Cone Father is pleased if all his Cones are perfectly aligned. One of the Penitent's duties is to straighten the cones so that they are all in line. I would like you to start with this contraflow'

'But..'

'You have the Stick of Straightening, child. Place the end of the Stick of Straightening into the Oracle Hole at the Skywards end of the Cone. You can then maneuver the Cone until it is in the right position. It takes a little practice' 

Cone Father II

'wshp n venrt th cn fther'

'A little clearer, young disciple, SING your veneration!'

'wosp n vert th con fathr'

'We can't take the shackles off and give you a new apron until we know you belieeeeve'

Sounds of muffled swearing.

'I Worship And Venerate The Cone Father
I Worship And Venerate The Cone Father
I Worship And Venerate The Cone Father
I Worship And Venerate The Cone Father'

'Ok young disciple, onto the Penances now!'

Sounds of further muffled swearing.

We return to Penrith

The kites turn to the display board, it reads:

SPAGHETTI JUNCTION

Kaspar looks at Kolin, who looks at Kjell. Kjell shrugs, and takes off heading south. The others follow.

Near Penrith on the M6

'Yes I know I am asking again Kafka, but Kolin and Kjell say I have to'

Once again, Kaspar is hanging uncomfortably from his talons, upside down on a traffic camera.

'Well, anyway, he is a big kchick, er chick and they think he was taken by one of the cults, do you know where he could be?

Inevitably, the camera moves up and down, Kaspar falls off.

Catching up

'Så hur hittade du oss?'

Kolin translates :'Er, how did you find us then Kaspar?'

'Oh Kafka tracked you down'


'Oh ah, Kafka, mm.. the cameras, I hadn't thought of that'


Kolin translates for Kjell: 'Hans fru far är en galen kontroll freak som använder kameror för att titta på hela motorvägsnätet'

Kjell stares into the distance, thoughtfully.

'So..er', Kolin starts,'how is Kandy?'


Kaspar looks vaguely puzzled.


'And the chicks?'


Kaspar jumps.


'Oh Kandy! Kara told Klaudia to move in with her after Khant was khidnapped, sorry kidnapped'


'What?!'


'Oh Kafka said he was taken by the Cone Father cult'


'He WHAT?!'


'But Kolin, Kara's got a kiddie!'


'NO!'


Kolin rapidly translates for Kjell.


Kjell looks mildly surprised. As the viewpoint retreats it can be seen that Kolin and Kjell have matching kiddies, on very new, smart leather strings.

Khant

'I believe in the cone father'
'yerwhat?'
'I believe in the Cone Father'
'the..?'
"I believe in and venerate the Cone Father'
'You don't mean the cones...'
(in a laboured fashion) I Believe in and Venerate the Cone Father'
'Noooo, waaaaaay'
(with a sigh) I BELIEVE IN AND VENERATE THE CONE FATHER'
(subdued whisper) 'way   innit'
And after me 'I..
'disbelieve and..'
(sound of a beak snapping)
(Sigh) I BELIEVE IN AND VENERATE THE CONE FATHER'
' I blieve n vnrate the confthr'
'Just a bit more distinctly please young Kant'
' I blieve n vnrate the confthr'
' With a bit more clarity?'
'I blieve n vnrate the confthr'
' Ok that will do for today, back to the crate for now'