The Pendulous Paintbrush

Shu sits down and helps himself to the Gouda.

I thought you were fetching the tin, says David.

So I was, says Shu, but I saw Sprocket and Arthur painting the back of the camper. Is that allowed?

Yes, says David. They are covering a rude message.

But we don't own the van, says Shu.

Too bad, says David. The message must go.

Indeed it must, says Gaius. I'll go and see how they're doing. And look for the missing page one in the van while I'm there.

I don't think we brought it, says Shu. It was too bloody.

There were other papers in Arthur's back pack, says Gaius. I remain hopeful.

He gets up and goes across to the van.

Sprocket is painting over the offensive letters with a pendulous paintbrush.

That looks more difficult than it need be, says Gaius. What are you using for a paintbrush?

Some of that stuff, says Sprocket, waving towards a wide clump of sedge.

I see, says Gaius. Sedge. And how is it going?

Slow, says Sprocket. But I've nearly finished. Arthur reckons I should leave one word showing.

Interesting, says Gaius Which word is it?

IF, says Sprocket.

Arthur is a genius, says Gaius.  IF, with gold paint surrounds. Perhaps you could also add a spider.

This paintbrush wouldn't stretch to a spider, says Sprocket.

I suppose not, says Gaius. Pity.

He goes round to the side of the van, where Arthur is taking out his back pack.

I don't suppose you've found that page one? says Gaius.

Arthur pulls out a few more sheets of paper.

These are all yours.

Gaius looks through them. One is a photograph of Daniel O'Connell, the famous transparent spider he discovered in the sulphurous underground cave in Romania.

Sprocket! says Gaius. Come here!

Sprocket comes round to the side of the van. Gaius shows him the photo.

Perhaps you can make use of this in your artwork.

No worries, says Sprocket. He takes the photo and goes back to the rear of the van to finish his painting.

Get us OUT! shouts Lavender, from the tin. We want to get started!

Of course you do, says Gaius, lifting the tin.

We've already got a team leader, says Lavender.

Two team leaders, says Baby Pierre.

All right, two team leaders, says Lavender.

I like your keen attitude, says Gaius.

So put us DOWN, says Lavender. We want to start looking.

Gaius has now reached the poncho. He puts the tin down.

He lifts out Lavender, Baby Pierre, First Dirty and Second Dirty.

Right, says Lavender. First Dirty comes with me. We'll go that way. Second Dirty goes with Baby Pierre. They can go the other way.

But says Second Dirty, there are more than two ways. What if....?

No, says Lavender. You don't know anything. We'll do two ways at a time, with two in each team, one to lead and one to run back and report if we find a maratus.

Come on, says Baby Pierre to Second Dirty.

He doesn't like this. One leader is better than two leaders. And why does SHE get First Dirty?