"Right colours are only as good as they're grown, you say?"said Dictionary, scratching his head deep in thought.
"That was it." The Gunner rested his shoulders against the edge of the plinth.
Since leaving George, Edie and Nick at Hyde Park corner, the Gunner had first gone to St Dunstan's to find the Clocker and told him about everything he had missed out on. Together they had gone towards Aldwych to find Dictionary. The Clocker sat in the corner of the square, stroking Hodge on his lap who was purring at his touch.
"...too darn intellectual for my understanding I'm 'fraid though. Word play, an' all that," the Gunner shook his head and pondered.
"Well I'd say, something that could be grown, hmmm, an animal of some sort. A human. Or what of plants or food? What about an emotion?" Dictionary began to pace the ground. The thrill of solving the puzzle excited him.
The Gunner and the Clocker shared a small smile to each other knowing they were right on the money coming to see Dictionary.
"And colours..." the Gunner joined in. "Well it could be anythin' couldn't it? I mean, you've got your reds and your blues, yellow, green, purple, orange, black, white and bloody indigo!" He paused for a second, "light green, dark blue, speckled brown-"
"Orange you say?" said Dictionary intrigued.
"Hey wait a second. You can grow oranges can't ya?"
"Indeed."
"Well is that it?" sparked the Clocker, "Orange could mean anything."
Dictionary started pacing again, screwing his eyes shut with his fingers pointing hard on his temples. The Clocker watched him intently. Just like a clock, he could practically hear Dictionary's cogs ticking in his mind.
"The sound is the place a Cityborne's home, this is one I've been thinking over a lot. A cityborne? What exactly does that entail? Someone who's born in the city?" Dictionary continued.
"What, a cockney?" At the very mention something seemed to fit together in the Gunner's head.
"You know something?" asked Dictionary, noticing his expression change.
"Well, it was always said that a true cockney is one born within earshot of the Bow Bells."
"Why Gunner, that is quite brilliant."
"Is it?" he asked, a smirk creeping on his face while he straightened his helmet with pride.
"Why St Mary-le-Bow. Oh of course. I do not know, says the great bell of Bow," Dictionary chuckled to himself.
"I recognise that," the Gunner said startled, repeating the words in his head into some sort of rhythm.
"From the great song Oranges and Lemons, we get those lyrics epitomised by St Mary-le-Bow church. That's the clue, Gunner. That's where you have to go and once you're there, you can pursue that gem light- whatever that means."
"Ha!" the Clocker laughed, "That was easy. Of sorts. Too easy I fear."
The Gunner was too chuffed with himself to notice the Clocker's intrepidation. He straightened up and held out a hand which Dictionary shook firmly.
"We got there in the end, eh?" the Gunner laughed.
"I never doubted it," Dictionary replied. "I would have stuck to it until the solution was laid bare infront of us. I would give anthing to help George and Edie."
"We know. You showed your hand against those dragons very honourably during the battle. What happened to you was a stark shame and I regret then- as I do now- that our long broil with the taints had to come to such calamity. I owe you a lot for the safeguarding of George's life."
"Commendable," the Clocker nodded in agreement. "A more than noble sacrifise."
"Pshftt. Your words are bounteous yet embellished," snirked Dictionary. "It was mere puppy bravery. Sacrifise is vastly more than a lean feet of protection. It is to renounce everything that your heart holds dear and whether cause or consequence of such actions be right or wrong, our own reckonning of reason is pure by nature. My actions were propelled by the security and unfounded sense of invulnerability by the turn of day renewal, and was nothing more than right custodianship- something any decent spit would do for a Master Maker- just as yourself, Gunner, have done a number of times. A few facial scars carried through by a cantankerous taint should not be approved by such a high gesture, regardless of the gratification I feel from your accolades."
"You talk with such accredited modesty my friend. A trait I hold much respect for, for you know as well as I that during the reign of the Ice Murk us spits didn't know if turn o'day would ever pass again. Gave us all a reality check."
"Doubtlessly," said the Clocker, remembering of how his curse had been put on hold during that time, and how for a short while he'd become normal again.
There was a moment when all three of them reminisced and felt like nobody should say anything. After a little while, the Gunner thought it was time to move on again. The Clocker stood up quickly, forgetting about Hodge on his lap who fell to the floor uneasily and hissed.
"Gunner. Reckon you should find kids. Me, I'll stay. Go over remainder clues with Dictionary."
"Sure. Yes. I'll find them. Thanks again," the Gunner replied turning to shake Dictionary's hand once more.
"Always a pleasure, Gunner," said Dictionary.
The Gunner thought that if he hurried, he might be able to do whatever they needed before sundown. With a final farewell he set off round the corner in a jog, humming the tune in his head once more.
