Fantastic Like Rhubarb

Darling! says Kobo. You're as red as a plum!

Pinky droops in the torchlight.

Speak to me! says Kobo. Remember our plans!

Pinky remembers. But how to convey it?

She's exhausted, says Kobo. And she's empty. Where are those bandy bandies?

Here! says Terence. What do you want them for?

To enter Pinky and give her a boost, says Kobo. Will they do it?

No, says Terence. They won't do it.

Brad has dropped Pinky on the ground and started replanting the sapling.

The bandy bandies shoot forward.

They're doing it! cries Terence.

The bandy bandies stop at Pinky's ripped finger.

A tiny blind snake peers out.

Chomp. Chomp. They eat it.

What are they EATING? asks Terence.

A ramphotyphlops by the look of it, says Gaius. Also known as a blind snake.

Terence stomps up to the culprits.

I'm going to teach you a lesson! shouts Terence.

The bandy bandies stare at him rudely.

What lesson? asks Gaius. They were simply eating their prey.

It's not fair, says Terence. What if I did it to them?

What exactly? asks Gaius.

Eat them when they're not looking, says Terence.

Wrong on several levels, says Gaius. You would not eat a snake. And blindness is no disability in a ramphotyphlops.

Nor should one interfere with the food chain, says Humboldt.

Terence doesn't get it. Except for the first thing. He would not eat a snake.

Pinky appears to be weeping. Something wet's coming out.

I'm at my wits end, says Kobo. The bandy bandies won't help her. Nor should they.

What's up? asks Brad. Isn't this the right Pinky?

Of course it's the right Pinky, says Kobo. But look at her.

Brad is a practical guy.

He takes a length of wonga vine from his pocket. And some snippers. Blows into Pinky's ripped finger. Pinches the end. Ties the wonga vine round it and snips.

You wrecked her! says Terence.

Let's see, says Pinky. Anyone got a mirror?

Never mind dear, says Kobo. You look fantastic. Like a small bunch of rhubarb.

Rhubarb! says Ageless. She looks like a cock!