Nell: I don’t want to discuss this.
Me: Well, you’re going to have to because Sally is here for a reason.
Nell: Yes, she’s supporting David in his campaign to be re-elected as Mayor of Kingsbridge.
Me: I know there was a big meeting and she called you to one side.
Nell: We haven’t seen each other in a while. We needed to catch up.
Me: It was about Lionel King, wasn’t it?
Nell: Yes. But if you say ‘I told you so’ I’m leaving.
Me: I won’t. Even if I did.
Nell: It seems that word has reached Sally that Lionel might be in league with the Beefies.
Me: I told you.
Nell: What did you say?
Me: Nothing.
Nell: The Beefies are planning to force The Great Barberino to vote for Stephen Seagull.
Me: He doesn’t have a vote. He’s just visiting from Canada.
Nell: Everyone has a vote.
Me: Are you sure?
Nell: Anyway, the upshot is that David and I will not be sailing over to the island with Lionel.
Me: Good.
Nell: But The Great Barberino has bravely agreed to.
Me: To what?
Nell: To sail with Lionel.
Me: He can’t do that. The Beefies are going to steal his vote.
Nell: Never fear. Sally’s team will be running the ship.
Me: I know that, but what about The Great Barberino?
Nell: I mean the real ship. Sally’s team are going to disguise themselves as the crew.
Me: He’s going to notice Harriet.
Nell: Not Harriet. She will be with us. Henry and Horst.
Me: I don’t want to be negative but Henry and Horst are woodlice. What are they going to do?
Nell: I beg your pardon? We are talking about Henry and Horst here. There is nothing they can’t do.
Me: Yes. Sorry.
