"Here is the news from Radio Denmark. The Danish Ambassador has been recalled from Stockholm as the situation around the Kattegat continues to worsen. Air investigators continue to investigate the unlawful destruction of a Swiss registered business plane by the Swedish Air Force within Danish air space. Meanwhile the Oresund link between Denmark and Sweden remains closed resulting in traffic chaos for travellers. Danish Air Force F16s are again on patrol along the east coast. In the city of Aarhus students have blockaded an Ikea® store demanding that Danish place names are removed from several ranges of budget floor coverings. In an unrelated incident, Norway has made a protest to Sweden about an infringement near the town of...."

Lucyna shook her head, her dark hair falling in elegant cascades around her shoulders. "It's all so crazy. You see Professor, tensions within Scandinavia have been suppressed for years. The whole of Skene in Sweden used to be part of Denmark. Something like this brings all these old questions back into the open. And this is all the fault of one man."

They were listening to the radio whilst sitting in the formica fitted ships lounge of the Polish container ship that they had unexpectedly been dropped onto. The captain was anxious not to get involved in the incident and had gratefully accepted a 'no questions asked' payment for their intrusion. He had even arranged for garaging in an empty container for the precious velomobile. Carbon fibre does not rust but the North Sea gale as they entered the Skagerak would have blown it clean over the side.

In many ways though, they were fortunate. The Lech Walesa Euro Pol III was on a tight schedule and rapidly heading north.

Dawes sat quietly reflecting on recent events. The Poles had been very hospitable considering the drama of a few hours ago. Polski Smak had been served, but what Dawes craved most was some decent piano music. On the train they had enjoyed a first class Schubert recital on a Bösendorfer courtesy of one of the Swiss Bike Patrol un-named officers (sadly now dead).

"Captain - I was wondering if you had any good onship entertainment - maybe some Chopin Mazurkas. He was Poland's greatest composer I would say."

The captain ignored this request with good humour. "We have two new DVDs - latest 'Johnny J Rambo' is good I think. Or if you like, 'Miss Congenital Disorder II' - very funny movie with Sandra Bullock."