In the final microseconds of the missile’s journey—the occupants almost completely inverted at this point—Ukifune experienced sentiments that might be described as selfless even for her.

In the literature of communities facing certain anihilation, varied and often surprising responses are described. For once I think I’ll leave it to the reader to imagine the thoughts and actions of the four, as they ride the parabola of the missile.

Early next morning Slim crept up to the explosive carrot, slammed the door shut, programmed it to land on Joachín’s haberdashery in Polanco, and launched it with an app downloaded from the bottle-rocket enthusiasts of Hiram Knoll Middle-School, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Ukifune arrived just as Pim and Bim were concluding the Schubert Fantasia. They did indeed want to buy her cookies, and invited her in.

In fact Ukifune, for that was her name, had no parents, her family and community having perished in an avalanche one night when she was out selling cookies. Ever in search of her next sale, she descended into the valley.

Just as Slim was about to launch Pim and Bim and the WDA into oblivion there was a knock on the door. Slim discovered a little girl selling cookies to help children in developing countries.

Having siblings and their insufferable friend contained in a malign vegetable prison, Slim indulged in jagged thoughts regarding the next move.

You might have guessed that from some distance away, Slim had Pim and Bim and the WDA under surveillance. Slim was contemptuous of the sound coming through state of the art Sennheiser headphones.

Seeing that the carrot was also furnished with twin grand pianos, Pim and Bim immediately launched into a performance of Schubert’s Fantasia in F minor for four—um—hands, a particular favourite of theirs.

On examining the gigantic carrot more closely, Pim, Bim and the WDA discovered a metal door which opened onto a French Provincial drawing room, recently furnished yet unoccupied.