Vezelay – 2016A thaumic episode from the ‘Bayko Baron’

• Today is market day

• Outside St Etienne’s the stalls are already busy

• At Genevieve’s they’re already falling over the furniture

• At the ‘Touraine Toasted Turkey Palace’ Sergeant Sanders is considering a change of rank and emigration to New France

• But the real entertainment for both Huguenot and Catholic is a witch trial – today it is Gytha Ogg’s turn, if she burns, she’s innocent, if not – hot justice! Ah, the good old days!

• Into this joyful day rides the Duke of Buckingham, shouting ‘Ou est Jean Marie Rebac, Le Chef au Huguenot?’ - subtle! Naturally he’s been spotted.

• Sure enough, here comes D’Hussac and the Cardinal’s goons

• Naturally Queen Anne has also sent Alais D’Artagnan and his chums to rescue the buffoon

• Of course, with all this unexpected street theatre in the offing, Nanny Ogg has been put on the back burner for the moment

• Meanwhile the Duke has discovered that Jean-Marie is of the female persuasion – damn cunning these

Frenchies

D’Hussac meanwhile, finding the High Street a stock-pen, must proceed on foot

While the musketeers are stopped cold by a wall of Huguenot courtesy

• Which gives Jean Marie time enough to tell the Duke that no one is going to start a civil war in France to suit the English

• So that, when D’Hussac finally reaches the square….

• …. the buffoon is already heading for home. If he can remember where it is.

Which was almost a big disappointment for everyone, until both Musketeers and Huguenots remembered that D’Hussac must still be delayed

• And so we say adieu to…. What? What do you mean, ‘What about Nanny Ogg/’

• Well. It seems that ‘Nanny’ got tired of waiting.

• Left to her own, Nanny simply stepped out of her ropes, produced a hat from nowhere and

waved her hand

• So let’s hope that Nanny Ogg, Esme Weatherwax, Agnes Nitt, Magrat Garlick and Tiffany Aching are still flying high!