No.6 is probably the most active citizen in the Village. Daily he exercises with a walk around the Village. Daily he climbs the Bell Tower, the reason is unknown, it's possible he simply likes the view. He enjoys a physical workout in his private gymnasium in the woods, previously fencing and shooting in the Village gymnasium, along with bouts of Kosho. He enjoys water skiing, sitting to have his portrait painted. Playing chess with the Admiral or General, and often wins by a seven move checkmate.
But simply keeping himself fit and his mind active for any eventuallity is not quite enough for our friend No.6. He also likes to take an interest in local politics. He once ran for public Office during the local elections for the post of No.2, and was voted in with an overwhelming majority. But it was possibly the shortest appoinment in Village history, no sooner was No.6 taking up Office, than he was being carried out of the Green Dome on a stretcher!
No.6 is also something of an artist. You will recall his sculpture for the exhibition of Arts and Crafts, No.6 being described as the Village's 'Very own Epstein.'. Other activities include listening to classical music and reading. So you would think that No.6 would be fully occupied, that he would have little time for anything else, but you would be wrong, because recently No.6 has turned Pigeon fancier!
This is Walter - the Pigeon Fanciers champion, generally keeps in training by being fed ham sandwiches, not the regular corn diet! Pigeon Fanciers generally come from the north of England, Yorkshire, or Lancashire perhaps. So it was quite a surprise to citizens in the Village, that a man like No.6 took so easily to fancying Pigeons. Is there nothing No.6 cannot involve himself in, or turn his hand to? At least he's found an activity that will keep him off No.2's back!
So having discoverd Walter the Pigeon in a box outside his cottage one day, No.6 took an instant fancy to the bird, and picking up the box carried Walter, the Pigeon Fanciers champion into the wood, and finally to the edge of open countryside, via the Mangrove walk.
Here No.6 takes Walter out of the box, and checks the ring around the birds leg, and prepares to release the bird into flight.
Walter, the Pigeon Fanciers champion, is the type of bird who would fly home in record time, concidering the short distance he had to fly. And so it is as No.6 releases the bird, that with a violent flapping of his wings, Walter takes to the air, homing in on the village a short distance away. And the bird would have made it back home, had Walter not flown into the ray of the Sonic Beam, which stunned the bird, sending it plummiting to the ground!
It seems that there is a great deal of rivalry within the world of Pigeon Fanciers, of which the new Supervisor No.60 is one. Such is his rivalry, that upon observing No.6 releasing the bird, he ordered the activation of the Sonic Beam to bring the bird down, 'Hell fire' the Supervisor announced. But because of the kindly intervention of No.2, thus by ordering the Sonic Beam to minimum strength, Walter, the Pigeon Fanciers champion, would live to race again.
What amazes me is, that a team of searchers were despatched to find Walter, and the fact that he was found so quickly, as he lay there, somewhere out there in the vast countryside. Such was the value No.2 put on Walter, the pigeon fanciers champion. Sadly, I've since learned, that No.6 no longer fancies pigeons!
Be seeing you
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