Me: You three gave me an awful shock when I woke up this morning.
Nell: We were keeping a close eye on you.
Me: Why?
Nell: One of Henry and Horst’s intelligence officers reported that you were speaking Swedish in your sleep.
Me: Well, I wasn’t. I can speak German but I can’t speak Swedish.
Nell: Exactly.
Me: And what do you mean one of their intelligence officers. How many are there?
Nell: They have quite an extensive network. Insects can go anywhere and spiders are especially good at hiding.
Me: Spiders?
Nell: When the news came in from one of the owls about Sven Gully we thought we’d better check on you ourselves.
Me: What news?
Nell: Sven Gully was spotted by Tawny Tim eating a strawberry ice cream down at the Quay.
Me: Was it his ice cream?
Nell: No. Stolen from a visiting Dogue de Bordeaux.
Me: The cheek of it.
Nell: Yes. And there’s more.
Me: Surely not.
Nell: He was talking to a penguin.
Me: In a hat?
Nell: Yes.
Me: Carrying a film camera?
Nell: Correct.
Me: So the penguins are working with Sven Gully?
Nell: Well, Tawny Tim said the penguin looked rather dazed.
Me: I’ve never seen a dazed penguin.
Nell: That’s not the point. Tawny Tim thinks Gully was hypnotising the penguin.
Me: Oh, I see.
Nell: Anyway, at Morning Thoughts we decided we may all have to start wearing sunglasses again because Gully could be anywhere.
Me: True.
Nell: And we might have to call on The Great Mutliano.
Me: He’s defeated Sven Gully before.
Nell: Although Joyce doesn’t want Mutley involved. She says it’s too risky at his age.
Me: Well, Joyce can mind her own beeswax.
Nell: It is her business, and you know it.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
