And the skewer. Where is it?
Arthur picked it up, while Ferdy was packing the Perth Scuba van.
He shoved it into his shorts pocket, with the pointy end down.
Now, on the way back to Esperance, he feels it sticking into his leg.
He draws the skewer out of his pocket.
What the hell? says Ferdy. What are those red bits?
Bits of head, says Arthur. An eye and a snout end, and red tatters of sinew.
Get rid of it, says Ferdy. What if I had to stop in a hurry?
I'll fix it, says Arthur.
He rips the beady black eye from the end of a string of veinous material, and pops it onto the skewer. Then he prises the snout end from its fleshy attachments. Squee-erk!
He pushes the hollow snout end over the skewer.
Now all it needs is a ribbon and feathers, to look like a prayer stick.
........
Sweezus meets the Dempsters at the boat ramp.
Welcome aboard, says Andrew Dempster. Beautiful day!
Yeah, awesome, says Sweezus. Thanks for asking me. Is it okay to bring Baby Pierre?
How is he, after his accident? asks Mary Emily.
Good as new, says Sweezus. But disillusioned.
I'm not surprised, says Mary-Emily. No father should behave like that.
Baby Pierre wonders where Mary-Emily got that idea from.
.......
Gaius has finally caught up with Ageless, who has been skulking.
Ah, Ageless, says Gaius, I thought you may have gone back to Perth with the vanguard.
Vanguard? says Ageless.
Arthur and Ferdy, says Gaius. They're taking the sea dragon head to the museum as a matter of urgency. They left early this morning.
Did you see it? says Ageless. The head?
No I didn't see it, says Gaius. I was off looking for you. When I returned to the campsite, there was Sweezus, reading a note left by Arthur.
Let us hope, says Ageless piously, that Arthur takes care of the specimen. You know what he's like.
Yes, I have every faith in young Arthur, says Gaius.
.......
The Georgette drops anchor somewhere off Woody Island.
Would anyone like to go for a swim? says Ed Dempster.
Not me, says Baby Pierre. Not after yesterday. I'll just look up at the sea birds.
And it is true, there are sea birds to look up at.
Oh look, says Mary-Margaret. A Cape Barren Goose. You might like to put that in your notebook.
And there! says Andrew Demptser. A white breasted sea eagle!
Fuck! says Sweezus.
Pardon? says Mary Emily.
What luck, says Sweezus. But I think I'll go in for a swim now.
He dives into the water without waiting for further advice from the captain.
What brought that on? says Mary-Emily. He was in a hurry.
Baby Pierre knows.
Sweezus hates birds.
........
Under the water, free of sea birds, Sweezus is swimming.
He opens his eyes.
He stops swimming, extends his arms, floats redundant.
What can he see there in the dark swaying sea grasses? Something red. Something ribbony.
If he can just hold his breath long enough, he might make it down there.
He kicks his legs and heads for the bottom.
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