Two elderly women are strolling down the slope, getting close to the flowers that may or may not be roses. He glances at the women, looks at the ground and counts to ten quickly before looking up again. They're still there, but about to turn off down the other path, the one that leads to the fountain.

'What are you doing, crappy cap-man? Praying?'

'Where do you train?'

'Not telling.'

The slightly plump blonde is staring angrily at her friend. Maria is speaking for both of them again. And she doesn't agree. There's no need to be rotten.

'We train in the Skarpholm Centre. You know. It's over there, kind of.'

The blonde points in the direction of the hill they have just come walking down.

The cat. The dead cat. Bugger that. Bugger all animals.

'Is it any good?'

'No.'

'It's yuckier than you.'

Not even the brunette could keep her mouth shut for long. Both are biting on the bait now.

He's still standing in front of them, but lowers his arms. One of his hands slips across his black moustache, pats it a little.

'I know where they got a new leisure centre, a brand- new one. Not far from here. Look over there, near the big block of flats, there's a white house next to it. See it? I know the guy who owns it. I hang out there a lot myself. Would you prefer training there? All of your mates, the whole gym club, I mean.'

He's pointing eagerly, they look in the direction of his arm, the slightly plump blonde curiously, the dark whore with that attitude of hers.

'There's no leisure centre in that house. You're a crappy cap-man. It's not true.'

'Have you been there?'

'No.'

'So what do you know? It's there, brand new, that's for sure. It's not nasty at all.'

'That's what you say. You're fibbing.'

'Fibbing?'

'You're telling fibs.'

Maria just talks. Talks and talks, all the time. She shouldn't do that. Not for her. And she shouldn't be so beastly. She's just cross because she didn't get his cap. He gave Ida his red and green cap and she trusts him. He knows the man who owns that new gym. She doesn't like the Skarpholm Centre, not one bit, it's smelly and old, the mats smell like vomit.