An Elusive Prediction

Is Cherry a real parrot? asks Sweezus.

Ha ha, no, says Terence. She's electric.

Electronic, says Pescado. And she's not as good at maths as we thought. She mixed pi up.

So you tell me, says Cherry. Pie sounds like pie to me.

There's round pies and cut up pies, says Terence. The cut up ones are triangles. See?

He points to the geometry puzzle and knocks over his colada morada.

A deep purple stain appears on the table, growing larger.....

A cut piece of pie's not a triangle, says Mariposa. It's a sector.

What's this about pies? asks Buzz, who has until now remained silent.

Good question young man, says Pedro Vicente Maldonado. There are more pressing problems. Number one: Who has the Sea Salt?

Me, says Arthur. Do you want some?

I would like to see a demonstration of its power, says Pedro Vicente Maldonado. If it works I shall buy some, and astonish the Hawaiians.

Yes! says Mariposa. Let's try it!

Arthur pulls a handful of Sea Salt from his shorts pocket.

Why is it brown? asks Pescado.

Blood, says Arthur. Or dirt from the Devil's Nose Mountain.

Wow, says Pescado. What happens next?

It sometimes prognosticates, says Arthur. But don't get your hopes up.

I was led to believe it was infallible, says Pedro. Mother said so.

Arthur flicks some Sea Salt onto the purple stain on the table.

It arranges itself in what would be a triangular formation, but for a hole in the top.

It seems to mean something.

A volcano? says Gaius. But who is it for?

Possibly me, and the children, says Pedro Vicente Maldonado. A volcano is currently erupting in Hawaii.

Is it? says Mariposa, alarmed.

Not in Honolulu, says her father. Don't worry, Mariposa.

Possibly me, says Gaius. I once had a bad experience with a volcano.

It's not the past, it's the future, says Arthur. Isn't there a massive volcano near here?

Chimborazo, says Pedro Vicente Maldonado. Six thousand two hundred and sixty three metres. You young people should climb it. Although, this is not the best season....

Yeah? says Sweezus. Looks like maybe we're going to.

Wait a minute says Gaius. We don't have time for that. We're here to help Simon translocate some marsupial tree frogs.

Simon looks hard at the Sea Salt formation.

What if it's not a volcano, but a curtailment?

That's it, says Buzz, it's a curtailment?

What's a curtailment? asks Terence.

I hope it's not what I think it is, says Cherry.

No it isn't, says Gaius, if what you think it is, is what I think you think it is.

Curtailment. Terence thinks hard.

Cutting her tail off! shouts Terence. Run, Cherry!

Cherry zips off to the window. Flies out through it and lands near the fountain where Saint Roley is helping the guinea pig compose an uplifting poem.