Possums Don't Buzz

What can I have? asks Terence.

A red drink, says Gaius. 

He orders a red drink for Terence.

What kind of red drink? asks the Powelly Pub guy. 

Anything, says Gaius, as long as it's non-alcoholic.

Does it have to be red? asks the Powelly Pub guy.

He likes red, says Gaius. 

I always have red, says Terence. It's a tradition.

Red it is, says the Powelly Pub guy.

Gaius and Terence join Pierre-Louis at a table.

The Powelly Pub guy brings over a red drink, two coffees and two blueberry muffins.

Thank you, says Gaius.

Where're you headed next? asks the Powelly Pub guy.

The Ada Tree, says Gaius. Can you give us directions?

East of here, says the Powelly Pub guy. There's a trail you can follow. 

Thank you, says Gaius, taking a bite of his muffin.

No worries, says the Powelly Pub guy. 

So you know it? says Pierre-Louis.

We all know it, says the Powelly Pub guy. It's the tallest tree in the state. And maybe the oldest. There's a fence around it.

Tallest and oldest, says Pierre-Louis. Hear that, Gaius?

I did, says Gaius. That may explain it.

Explain what? asks the Powelly Pub guy.

Why it's sacred to possums, says Gaius. That is, if it is.

First I've heard of it, says the Powelly Pub guy.

You're not a possum, says Gaius.

Nor are you, says the Powelly Pub guy.

A customer comes in, with a parcel.

Excuse me, says the Powelly Pub guy. Duty calls. We're also a Post Office.

He goes off to deal with the parcel.

Terence drinks his red drink though a straw.

What if I had a blue drink? asks Terence.

There is nothing to stop you, says Gaius. It's your choice. 

Would my insides go blue? asks Terence.

Your insides are a mystery, says Gaius.

The Powelly Pub guy returns.

Are they your bikes outside? 

They are, says Pierre-Louis.

And is that your child-carriage?

It's my carriage, says Terence.

I guess you know there's a possum in it, says the Powelly Pub guy. A Leadbeater's possum. And they're protected.

There is no possum, says Gaius. There's a fruit bat from Adelaide, and a skink from Yellingbo, both of whom we intend to return on our homeward journey.

The customer told me he saw a Leadbeater's possum, says the Powelly Pub guy.

He looked in, did he? asks Pierre-Louis.

He heard a buzzing sound, says the Powelly Pub guy.

Possums don't buzz, says Gaius.

This one did, says the Powelly Pub guy. And the customer's reported it. You should probably stay here until a ranger arrives.

Certainly not, says Gaius. We are on a strict schedule. When the ranger arrives, let them know where we're heading.

He swallows the remains of his coffee and walks out, leaving half a blueberry muffin.

Pierre-Louis picks it up and shoves it into his pocket. 

Waste not want not.

Then he walks out too.

Bye, says Terence, getting up fast and knocking the remains of his red drink over.

Sorry, adds Terence.

Bitter Wasp

 It's not far to Powelltown.

Gaius and Pierre-Louis stop at the Powelly Pub.

Wait in the carriage, Terence, says Gaius. We'll go in and ask for directions.

Terence isn't listening. He is replaying the movie. 

Easter Morning trips, bang!

The best part is Easter Morning looks like he doesn't know it's going to happen.

It's good acting, says Terence,

Thanks, says Easter Morning.

(although he hadn't been acting)

Back so soon? asks the Powelly Pub guy. You must've heard we do a good breakfast.

Tempting, says Gaius. But we've come back to ask for directions.

Perhaps a coffee, says Pierre-Louis.

Why not? says Gaius.

With two freshly baked blueberry muffins? suggests the Powelly Pub guy. 

Who could resist? Gaius and Pierre-Louis decide to indulge in a quick breakfast. 

I'll go and tell Terence, says Pierre-Louis.

He goes out to the carriage.

You might want to come in after all, says Pierre-Louis. We're staying for breakfast.

Yay! says Terence, stopping the movie and jumping out.

Now only Easter Morning (awake) and Squattu (sleeping) remain in the carriage.

Scratch scratch.

Easter Morning looks out.

Banjo! What are you doing here?

I followed you, says Banjo. Where are we?

Getting directions, says Easter Morning. To the Tree.

The Ada Tree? squeaks Banjo. 

And breakfast, says Easter Morning. 

You're not getting breakfast, says Banjo.

No they are, says Easter Morning. But I could do with something. Know what I feel like? A wasp.

I've never eaten a wasp, says Banjo. Are they yummy?

Kind of bitter, says Easter Morning. 

Oh, says Banjo. I might stick with lerps.

You like sweet things? says Easter Morning. You'd like the stuff on our blanket. Jump in.

Banjo jumps in. 

Where is it? asks Banjo.

Here, says Easter Morning.

Banjo licks it. It's hard. Not like soft lerps he's used to.

I should warn you it's been through me once, says Easter Morning.

That's gross, thinks Banjo.

He contemplates trying a wasp.

 

The Science Movie

Gaius notices the drone's pink spots at once.

What's happened? asks Gaius.

We were making a movie, says Easter Morning. I was in it.

A science movie, says Terence.

I don't suppose we could see it, says Gaius. 

It's not finished, says Easter Morning. Something went wrong.

The drone hit a tree, says Terence. And got stuck. And when I tried to pull it out it broke into pieces.

It seems you attempted to mend it, says Pierre-Louis. Well done.

Where did the pink substance come from? asks Gaius.

Under Pierre-Louis, says Terence.

Pierre-Louis is puzzled. 

Until he remembers the pink stuff on the blanket.

You used that? says Gaius. 

Yes, says Terence. 

We don't really know what it is, says Pierre-Louis. 

No we don't, says Gaius, But I suspect its main ingredient is sugar.

As a glue it may not be effective, says Pierre-Louis.

It is, says Terence. Watch this.

He pulls the up-knob.

The drone rises through the branches of Banjo's tree.

Terence pulls the down-knob.

The drone returns to the forest floor.

High up in his family's hollow, Banjo is awakened by a drone sound.

When he looks out, the drone isn't there.

Far below, he sees the tiny figures of Gaius and Pierre-Louis, Terence and Easter Morning, packing up to leave the clearing.

Gaius is hooking the carriage to the back of his bike.

Terence is climbing in. 

They are going. He will never see Terence again. Or Squattu, or Easter Morning. 

Unless he acts boldly.

He scoots down the tree.

Gaius and Pierre-Louis are cycling back towards Powelltown.

We'll ask there, about the Ada Tree, says Gaius.

Yes, the Ada Tree, says Pierre-Louis. I'd like to see it.

I would not be surprised if the Ada Tree triggered your dream of a tree nymph, says Gaius.

You're probably right, says Pierre-Louis. I wonder what triggered your mackerel?

Undoubtedly Squattu's Holy Mackerel, says Gaius. Remind me to question her further when she wakes up.

Inside the carriage Terence and Easter Morning are watching the movie they made with the drone.

Easter Morning bumps into a rock The drone hits tree. Bang! 

It's short, but really good if you watch it over and over.

Bare Bones Of A Semi-Erotic Dream

Terence starts reassembling the drone.

Wasn't that bit there? asks Easter Morning.

When? asks Terence.

Before it broke, says Easter Morning.

Yes, says Terence. Hold this. Now press.

Soon the drone is back to normal except for the visible pink spots.

I suppose it doesn't matter, says Easter Morning.

Suppose what doesn't matter? asks Terence.

Gaius will notice the pink spots, and know it was broken, says Easter Morning.

But, says Terence, he'll know that it's fixed.

Yes, says Easter Morning, and he didn't have to do it.

He'll be glad, says Terence.

They carry the drone back to Gaius and Pierre-Louis, who are just waking up.

I had the strangest dream, says Gaius. 

So did I, says Pierre-Louis. Most disturbing. 

What was yours? asks Gaius. We can learn much from dreams.

I hesitate to tell you, says Pierre-Louis. It was semi-erotic.

Just the bare bones, says Gaius. 

I was visited by a tree nymph, says Pierre-Louis. She enclosed me in leafy branches and promised to show me her secret hollows.

And did she? asks Gaius. I suspect that she didn't.

You're right, says Pierre-Louis. There was a disturbance, and my tree nymph faded away. I called to her: Don't leave me! but that was the end of it.

You called out Don't leave me, says Gaius. Remarkable. Those are the very words used by my mackerel.

Mackerel what mackerel? asks Pierre-Louis. 

I dreamed I caught a mackerel, says Gaius. Unusual, as I rarely catch fish. This mackerel seemed grateful. 

May I ask how you knew it was grateful? asks Pierre-Louis.

The look in its eyes, says Gaius. I assumed it was grateful in advance. For I intended to throw it back into the ocean unharmed,

But instead it uttered the words Don't leave me, says Pierre-Louis.

In a voice remarkably like yours, says Gaius.

So I was the mackerel, says Pierre-Louis. How amusing. Our dreams meshed.

Not entirely, says Gaius. I didn't meet your tree nymph. Was she an ash?

She was, says Pierre-Louis.

Who knows where their conversation would have gone next? Different types of tree nymphs, perhaps. 

But Terence and Easter Morning have arrived, with the pink spotted drone.

Will Gaius notice they've had to fix it?

And if he does notice, will he be glad?

We Can't Do Science

Can we start again? asks Easter Morning.

Okay, says Terence. Ready?

Yes, says Easter Morning. 

Wait till I get the drone up, says Terence.

He pulls the up-knob. Nothing happens. Try the backwards-knob, says Easter Morning.

There is no backwards-knob, says Terence.

There must be, says Easter Morning.

Easter Morning runs back to look at the control panel.

Before Terence can stop him he starts randomly pulling and pushing the knobs.

The drone whirrs, but does not move away from the tree.

It must be stuck! says Terence.

He runs forward to free the drone from the tree.

Yes, it is stuck. he pulls. Nothing.

He kicks it.

Bad idea.

The drone disassembles.

Wah! cries Terence. Now what?

Leave it there, says Easter Morning. We can go exploring without it.

But we can't do science, says Terence. Or make a movie.

Is it our fault? asks Easter Morning.

Terence thinks back. It's nobody's fault.

Gaius will fix it with fish glue, says Easter Morning. 

Yes, says Terence glumly.

Or, says Easter Morning, maybe we could fix it ourselves.

What with? asks Terence.

Think, says Easter Morning. Why did the blanket go stiff?

The pink stuff, says Terence. So what?

We get some off the blanket, and soften it, says Easter Mornuing.

Soften it. Yes. This sounds like a good plan.

Terence and Easter Morning creep back to where Gaius and Pierre-Louis are asleep on the blanket.

Pierre-Louis is asleep on the stiff side.

He's on top of it! whispers Terence.

Get a stick, says Easter Morning.

You get a stick, says Terence. Anyway, what for?

Scraping, says Easter Morning. Okay I'll get one.

He goes off to find the right stick for scraping stiff pink stuff from a blanket.

Terence stares at Pierre-Louis.

Pierre-Louis is mumbling, in his sleep: O, how lovely are your branches....ahh....ahhh....

Easter Morning comes back with a stick.

We're lucky, says Terence. He's dreaming about branches. Give me that stick.

He takes the stick and gently nudges Pierre-Louis.

Pierre-Louis rolls over. 

Don't leave me! cries Pierre-Louis.

Wha..hah! groans Gaius. A talking mackerel. I must.....

But fortunately neither Pierre-Louis nor Gaius wakes up.

Terence scrapes a piece of the pink stuff from the blanket.

It's gone soft! whispers Terence.

Because he was lying on it, whispers Easter Morning. Hurry. before it goes hard again.

The conspirators quickly run off.

Tree Nymphs And Mackerel

What now? asks Pierre-Louis.

We take a short nap, says Gaius. There's not much more to do here.

I agree, says Pierre-Louis. We've learned all we can from these possums.

These particular possums, says Gaius. We're sure to meet more on the way.

Why, where are we going? asks Pierre-Louis.

To find the Ada Tree, says Gaius. 

Yay! says Terence. We're going to worship the Ada Tree! 

We are not, says Gaius. We are going to try and determine why possums worship the Ada Tree.

Perhaps they don't all worship the Ada Tree, says Pierre-Louis.

Perhaps Almighty Ada was just an expression, says Squattu. Like Holy Mackerel.

That also can be determined, says Gaius.

Holy Mackerel? says Pierre-Louis. Where did that come from?

We bats say it, says Squattu. But we don't worship the mackerel.

Remind me to question you more on that later, says Gaius. Right now I'm going to turn in.

He spreads Marx's blanket.

I'll take the stiff side, says Pierre-Louis. 

Kind of you, says Gaius. Terence, wake us up in an hour. 

They lie down on the blanket, and fall asleep immediately.

Pierre-Louis dreams of tree nymphs, while Gaius dreams of mackerel.

One hour! says Terence. Let's go exploring.

Not me, says Squattu. I need a nap too. Take Easter Morning.

Squattu crawls into the carriage and nods off.

Easter Morning is excited, to be exploring with Terence.

Let's take the drone. We can make our own  movie, says Easter Morning.

Okay, says Terence. You go, and I'll make the drone fly above you. 

Now? asks Easter Morning.

Yes now, says Terence.

He pulls the up-knob, the stop-knob, the continue-horizontally-knob, and, when Easter Morning turns left, the turn-left-knob.

Is it still above me?  asks Easter Morning, over his shoulder.

Yes, says Terence. I'm getting really good at this.

But Easter Morning has been looking over his shoulder, and not seen a rock.

The drone has kept going left, and hit a tree trunk.

It may not be a very good movie.

Spiritual Lives Of Possums

How did that go? asks Gaius.

I learned a few things, says Squattu.

Wait till I get out my notebook, says Gaius.

Don't forget both your pencils are broken, says Pierre-Louis.

Drat, says Gaius. Look for a sharpener will you.

All right, says Pierre-Louis.

Gaius gets out his notebook.

Shall I begin? asks Squattu.

Yes, says Gaius. A short version. What did they say?

They were knackered, says Squattu.

Did they say that was normal? asks Gaius.

Not directly, says Squattu, but I guessed it wasn't normal.

For what reason? asks Gaius.

They are not used to fighting with pencils beforehand, says Squattu.

I should have known, says Gaius. 

How could you have known? says Squattu. 

True, says Gaius. Anything else of interest?

Lots, says Squattu. They met up with Aunty and Uncle Possum. They found lerps and shared them.

Fascinating, says Gaius. 

He turns to Pierre-Louis, who is rummaging about in his back pack.

Any luck finding a sharpener?

No, says Pierre-Louis. Just an old apple core.

At worst I suppose I could write notes with that, says Gaius. Has it turned brown?

Yes, says Pierre-Louis, handing it over.

Go on, says Gaius, to Squattu.

The most interesting thing is who they worship, says Squattu.

Worship? says Gaius. There's a bombshell. Who?

A tree called Almighty Ada, says Squattu.

Ada, says Gaius. Why does that name ring a bell?

He uses the apple core to write in his notebook: ADA

At least he'll have some sort of record.

Why are you writing with an apple? asks Terence.

Needs must, says Gaius. Can you read it?

Terence looks at the word.

Is it .... APA? 

That is an A and that is an A, says Gaius, but that is not a P in the middle.

It looks like one, says Terence.

That is a smear, says Gaius. It is meant to be a D and the word is ADA. And according to Squattu, Ada is a tree worshipped by possums.

Not grandpa? says Terence.

No, says Gaius. Not everyone worships your grandpa.

Are you speaking of Marx? asks Pierre-Louis. Plenty of people admire him. I myself was very grateful when he gave us the blanket.

It wasn't his blanket to give, says Gaius. And in any case, this has nothing to do with the spiritual lives of possums.

Pierre-Louis is obliged to agree.

The Fun Life Of Others

Time for me to go up yet? asks Squattu.

Gaius looks at his watch.

Yes, it's almost dawn. Banjo's parents will be back soon.

Is the drone working properly? asks Squattu.

This will be the test, says Pierre-Louis.

Ready? says Terence.

Yes, says Squattu. Wait, what am I supposed to ask them?

Just get them talking, says Gaius. And don't lead them off on a tangent. 

I won't, says Squattu.

Terence pulls the drone's up-knob.

The drone shudders, makes a whirring sound, stirs up leaves, and eventually rises.

Squattu follows it up to the entrance to the hollow.

Terence can see her on the screen.

She waves a batwing. 

I'd better go home, says new Banjo. If your parents are coming home, mine will be too. Bye, Banjo!

Bye, says Banjo.

New Banjo runs back to his tree and scampers up it.

Just in time.

Hello Baby, says Aunty Possum.

New Banjo sighs.

Did you have a good time? asks Uncle Possum.

Yes! says new Banjo. Do we have any nails?

No, of course not, says Aunty Possum, but we brought you some lerps.

Banjo eats his lerps and reflects on the fun life of others.

Meanwhile Ma and Dad Possum have returned to their hollow.

Welcome home, says Squattu.

What are you doing here? asks Dad Possum.   

Recording your return, says Squattu. How was your evening?

Not bad, says Ma Possum.

Care to elaborate? asks Squattu.

We're quite knackered, says Dad Possum. 

We're not used to fighting with pencils before going out hunting, says Ma Possum.

Did you catch anything? asks Squattu.

A number of invertebrates, says Dad Possum. And we found a good patch of lerps.

We met up with Aunty and Uncle Possum, says Ma Possum. They took some lerps home for Baby.

We met Baby, says Squattu. 

Nice little chap, says Dad Possum.

He calls himself Banjo now, says Squattu.

Well I never! says Ma Possum. 

Couldn't he think of another name? asks Dad Possum.

He was considering Rejoice, says Squattu.

Almighty Ada save us ! says Ma Possum. Rejoice?

May I ask, if it's not intruding into your privacy too much, who is Almighty Ada? asks Squattu.

Don't you know? asks Ma Possum. No, of course you don't. You're from far away.

A local possum deity? asks Squattu.

Neither a possum nor a deity, but the Ada Tree, says Dad Possum.

You should take your party of nosey parkers to see her, says Ma Possum.

That's a bit rude, Ma, says Dad Possum.

Too bad, says Ma Possum. I'm going to bed.

I'll be off, says Squattu. Thanks for the chat, and advice.

She emerges from the hollow, and looks for the drone.

Where is it?

Ah. Down there and to the left a bit.

Now who's gone off on a tangent?

Rejoice And Drop Nails

Banjo found it! cries Terence.

Is he bringing it down? asks Gaius.

He's stopping and starting, says Terence.

Let me see, says Gaius. He takes a look at the screen.

Leaves move jerkily upwards. Small possum feet.

There are too many feet for one possum, says Gaius. Our Banjo has assistance.

Banjo and new Banjo have reached the lowest branch. 

There's a big gap between it and the ground.

Hey! shouts Banjo. Shall we drop it?

Okay! shouts Terence. I'll catch it!

No! says Gaius. You can control it from here.

The control panel. Now Terence remembers.

Don't drop it! shouts Terence. I'll use the down-knob.

Too late. The Banjos have dropped it.

The drone heads for the ground, at the speed determined by gravity.

Can Terence beat it?

No, he can't.

He has just pulled the down-knob when the drone hits the ground.

Landing in a pile of forest floor detritus. Luckily.

Pierre-Louis picks it up.

The two Banjos run down the tree trunk.

Is it broken? asks Banjo.

No, it's not broken, says Pierre-Louis.

And who have we here? asks Gaius, looking at the new Banjo.

Banjo, says the new Banjo.

Ha ha, you're both called Banjo! laughs Terence. That's stupid.

Not at all, says Gaius. But it indicates something.

What? asks Pierre-Louis. Sample contamination?

That, says Gaius, and the popularity of certain names.

Are you Gaius? asks the new Banjo.

I am, says Gaius.

Who are you named after? asks Banjo. My ma wants to know.

I am not named after anyone in particular, says Gaius. Gaius is my praenomen.

It must mean something, says Pierre-Louis.

Indeed, it does, says Gaius. It means to rejoice.

What does that mean? asks new Banjo. 

His ma will want to know.

I know, says Terence. I used to live on a palace.

You rejoiced a lot, did you? asks Pierre-Louis.

NO! says Terence. The people did. We could hear them. Saint Joseph dropped nails.

You haven't told us that before, says Gaius. Did he drop them deliberately?

Yes, says Terence. But he usually missed.

New Banjo loves this story. Rejoice means you can drop nails on people. Perhaps he will change his name to rejoice.

But now Pierre-Louis is asking Gaius what his other name means. Plinius?

As for Plinius, says Gaius, it is of obscure origin. Possibly from the Gaulish root plina. Another theory is that it comes from a Northern Italic word meaning bald.

I can see why you use the name Gaius, says Pierre-Louis. 

Ha ha! laughs Terence. Because you're not bald!

Gaius could argue this isn't the reason, but concludes it is pointless.

Hard One-Eyed Spider

Banjo has reached the tree six trees down.

He scampers up it.

Shame we can't film this, says Gaius. 

He can do it again, says Terence. When we get the drone back.

Can you see anything at all? asks Pierre-Louis.

Possum faces and stars, says Terence. 

Which indicates the possums are not in their hollow, says Gaius.

Good deduction, says Pierre-Louis. 

Banjo will find them, says Terence. 

And Banjo does.

Aunty and Uncle Possum and Baby are near the top of the tree with a view of the stars.

They are looking at the drone.

Hello everyone, says Banjo. 

Hello Baby, says Baby.

I'm not called Baby, says Banjo. 

You used to be, says Baby.

But now I'm called Banjo, says Banjo.

Ridiculous, says Aunty Possum.

No, says Banjo. Did you know there are other Leadbeater's possums in Yellingbo, not quite like us?

Names, names! says Uncle Possum. 

One of them's a Baby, says Banjo. But he's called Banjo. He's named after a poet.

Woo! says Baby. Can I be called Banjo?

Anyone can, says Banjo.

Surely that's confusing, says Uncle Possum.

Never mind, says Aunty Possum. We have worse things to worry about. Like this hard one-eyed spider.

Ha ha! laughs Banjo. That's not a hard one-eyed spider. That's our drone.

Since when did your parents get a drone? asks Uncle Possum.

Not them, says Banjo. But they were in a movie. That's not an eye, that's a camera.

Who made this movie and what was it about? asks Aunty Possum.

Terence made it, says Banjo. It was about fighting with pencils.

Terence? What's he named after? asks cousin Banjo.

A Roman playwright, says Banjo. See how it works?

No, says Uncle Possum. But if this thing isn't a hard spider I guess we've wasted our time bringing it to this secret location.

Yes, says Banjo. And Gaius wants it back.

Gaius. What's he named after? asks Aunty Possum.

I don't know, says Banjo. You'll have to ask him.

Not interested, says Uncle Possum. But he can have his drone back.

Can I go with Banjo? asks cousin Banjo.

I suppose so, says Aunty Possum. As long as you get back to our hollow at dawn.

Find your own food, says Uncle Possum. We won't be bringing you any.

Yes, Dad! says cousin Banjo.

He and Banjo each grab an arm of the drone and start pulling it downwards.

Uncle and Aunty Possum shake their heads. 

Young people! 

With names! 

Whatever next?

They head off to look for real spiders

A Few Stars, A Small Face

Shall I go up the tree now? asks Squattu.

Not yet, says Terence. I have to edit the movie.

Do it later, says Squattu.

Wait, says Gaius. The possums won't be back for some time. 

Yes, says Pierre-Louis. We could take a short nap while we're waiting.

Alternatively, says Gaius, we could choose another tree and send the drone up.

Good idea, says Squattu. I'll go up with it.

Okay, says Terence. Which tree?

Can I choose? asks Banjo.

Certainly, says Gaius. Do you know of any trees nearby with suitable hollows?

Yes, says Banjo. Aunty Possum, Uncle Possum and Baby Possum live three trees down.

Ha ha! laughs Terence. Three trees down!

Down that way, says Banjo, pointing that way. Not DOWN!

We could make another movie, says Terence.

Let this one be more natural, says Gaius. In the interests of science.

Okay, says Terence. Let's go. Three trees down. 

He still thinks it is funny. 

Gaius brings the drone. Terence carries the control panel to the tree three trees down.

Easter Morning and Banjo follow.

Ready, says Squattu. Are they likely to be home or out hunting?

How do I know? says Banjo. 

Terence pulls the up-knob.

The drone shoots up through the branches of the great mountain ash.

I should go first, says Squattu. 

Too late, says Terence. Send me a signal if you want the drone to come down.

You should have been looking at the screen, says Squattu.

Just go, says Terence. Stop complaining.

Squattu flies up. The drone is nowhere in sight, even for her bat eyes.

She flits up and down through the branches.

She spies a small opening in the tree trunk. A hollow!

She goes in.

It is just like the other one, except for no possums. 

Just a warm possum smell.

She squeezes out again and flies down,

I found the hollow, but not the drone, says Squattu.

Try the down-knob, says Gaius.

Terence pulls the down-knob.

Nothing happens.

What's on the screen? asks Pierre-Louis.

Terence squints at the screen.

Blackness. A few stars. A movement. A small possum face.

Two more possum faces.

The drone's been captured by possums! cries Terence.

Curses! says Gaius. 

Let me see! says Banjo. It might be Uncle and Aunty.

And Baby, says Terence.

It is! cries Banjo. Shall I go up and tell them what's happened?

Yes, says Gaius. Assuming you can find them.

I know where they'll be, says Banjo.

He scampers away to a spot three trees down.

Every third tree, mutters Gaius. I must make a note of this.

And he would, if he could find a third pencil.

 

All Disappearing

So you see, the answer to the question ' Can you name this animal?' is 'I can', says Gaius.

So possum means 'I can', says Dad Possum.

Exactly, says Gaius. It's the first person singular form of posse in Latin.

Inspirational, says Dad Possum. But not overly funny.

It helps if you show a picture of a possum, says Gaius. Then ask the question.

What if they say 'possum?' asks Ma Possum.

Then they have answered correctly, says Gaius.

But what if they didn't know Latin? asks Ma Possum.

Then you have to explain it, says Gaius. 

Not to me, says Terence. I already knew it was funny.

You did, says Gaius. You laughed straight away.

Did you have a picture of a possum? asks Terence. 

I called one up on my phone, says Gaius. 

You could have showed them our movie, says Terence.

Is it finished? asks Banjo. Can we see?

Yes, says Terence. It stopped when they both broke their pencils. Which wasn't meant to happen.

Perhaps you can redo the ending, says Gaius. 

We haven't time, says Ma Possum. We're behind in our schedule already.

Ma! says Banjo. At least can we see it?

If it's quick, says Ma Possum.

Terence plays back the movie.

Squattu, coming backwards out of the hollow.

Banjo, Ma snd Dad Possum emerging.

All disappearing.

A long view of the entrance to the hollow, for about sixty seconds.

Zip! The sound of someone opening a back pack, the rattle of pencils.

The voice of Terence, saying 'Start!'.

Dad Possum's head and the tip of a pencil. 

Ma Possum's head and the tip of a second pencil.

Clash clash.

More clashing, two snaps.

The end.

Terence is disappointed.

The drone should have been lower, to capture the action, says Pierre-Louis.

I know! says Terence. Stupid drone.

Never mind, says Gaius. At least you have footage of the possums coming out of the hollow. As for the so-called action, it's a-typical.

It was meant to be funny, says Dad Possum. Like your joke.

Point taken, says Gaius. I don't suppose you'd allow us to follow you on your nightly forage? I mean with the drone.

No, says Ma Possum. It would alert the invertebrates.

Or get stuck in a tree, says Dad Possum.

That's my job, says Squattu. To make sure it doesn't.

A bat can't come hunting with possums, says Dad Possum.

Can she wait at the entrance and film your return? asks Pierre-Louis.

We'll be ages, says Ma Possum. But she can if she wants to.

Squatty wants to, says Terence.

Can I stay? asks Banjo.

Possum, says Dad Possum.

That means I can! says Banjo.

No, says Gaius. What your dad said was 'I can', not 'you can'.

What's 'you can'? asks Dad Possum.

Potes, says Gaius. It's irregular.

I'll stick with possum, says Dad Possum.

Their Own Tree!

Gaius and Pierre-Louis are on their way back to the clearing.

Gaius is in a good mood.

Not only were the flatty tails delicious, but his possum joke in Latin went down well.

Not to mention the lagers.

And the lemon meringue, which he would not ordinarily have ordered.

Your possum joke went well, says Pierre-Louis.

I made it up on the spur of the moment, says Gaius. It just came to me: POSSUM.

Very funny, says Pierre-Louis. Everyone  got it.

Eventually, says Gaius. 

You should write it down, says Pierre-Louis.

I shall when I get back to the clearing, says Gaius. 

They keep walking, every now and then tripping on a tree root.

Clash clash! 

They hear the sound of sticks clashing.

That's not a sound I would have expected to hear in the forest, says Gaius.

Nor me, says Pierre-Louis. And we are nearing the clearing. I hope nothing has happened to Terence.

Perhaps the drone has become stuck again, says Gaius. 

And Terence is hitting the tree with a stick, says Pierre-Louis.

Why hasn't he sent Squattu to release it? asks Gaius.

They speed up and arrive in the clearing to an unexpected scenario.

Ma and Dad Possum have raided Gaius's pencils (or someone has).

They are staging a fight.

Dad is trying to cut down the tree (their own tree!) with a pencil.

Ma is trying to stop him, with another pencil.

Banjo is jumping up and down.

It's unclear whose side Banjo is on.

Terence is trying to keep the drone at the right level to capture the action.

Easter Morning is laughing.

Squattu is nibbling on an apple.

What's going on here? cries Gaius.

We're making a movie, says Terence. A funny one.

It certainly looks funny, says Pierre-Louis. 

It'll be funnier when you edit me out, says Squattu. Otherwise it will look like we staged it.

But I don't know how to edit, says Terence.

Stop, delete, start, says Pierre-Louis. Just guessing.

Don't do it yet! warns Gaius. I want to watch the whole thing.

Are you still filming? asks Ma Possum. This pencil has broken.

My pencil! says Gaius.

So has mine says Dad.

Two pencils broken! says Gaius. Did we bring a sharpener?

 I think so, says Pierre-Louis.

You'll laugh and laugh when you see this movie, says Terence.

We've had a evening of laughs, says Pierre-Louis. Gaius told a possum joke at the pub.

What was it? asks Terence.

You won't understand it, says Gaius. It was 'Potesne hoc animal nominare?' and the answer is 'Possum'.

Ha ha! laughs Terence. 

The possum family, Squattu and Easter Morning will need a translation of the question (and the answer) before they will think it is funny.

But Terence just needs the answer.

I'd Go To That Movie

Okay, says Terence. Banjo, you run up the tree and ask your parents. I'll turn on the drone.

Now? asks Banjo.

Go for it, says Terence. 

Banjo scoots up the tree.

Are you going to send the drone up and follow them down? asks Squattu.

I'm aleady doing it, says Terence.

He pulls the up-knob.

The drone zooms up. Terence watches the screen.

Are they coming out? asks Squattu.

Not yet, says Terence. 

I'll find out what's holding them up, says Squattu. 

She flies up to the entrance of the hollow, and lurks outside.

She listens for a few moments then flies down to Terence.

The parents don't want to come, and Banjo is crying, says Squattu.

Go back, says Terence. Tell them they have to.

I'm not telling them they have to, says Squattu.

What then? asks Terence. 

A tearful Banjo appears on the screen, looking out of the hollow.

I'll think of something, says Squattu.

Up she goes again.

Don't get in front of the camera, shouts Terence.

But it's hard to avoid.

They won't come down, sniffles Banjo.

Let me talk to them, says Squattu.

She squeezes past Banjo.

You again, says Ma Possum. We're just going out to find food.

Did Banjo tell you about the camera? asks Squattu.

No, says Ma Possum. 

And the drone? asks Squattu.

No, says Dad Possum.

Terence is making a movie, says Squattu. And you know what that means?

No, says Ma Possum. What does it mean?

Opportunity, says Squattu. Your whole family will be in it. And you know what's the best thing?

What? asks Dad Possum. 

It's an action movie, says Squattu.

Dad Possum looks at Ma Possum.

An action movie. What the dickens is that?

Come on! says Banjo. Please, please!

Perhaps we'll just see, says Ma Possum. Before we go looking for honeydew and invertebrates.

Hoorah! cries Banjo. They're coming!

Okay, says Squattu. The drone's hovering outside. Don't look self-conscious.

Squattu goes first. She must remind Terence to edit her out, if he knows how to.

Banjo comes next, followed by Ma and Dad Possum.

The drone remains up there.

Hello, says Terence. I'm the one who's in charge of the drone.

Bring it down then, says Squattu. 

Terence pulls the down-knob.

Now, says Terence. Let's have some action.

They don't know about movies or action, says Squattu. You'll have to direct them.

Okay, says Terence. Let me think. How about swords?

I know! says Banjo. How about axes!

Axes! says Dad Possum. What do you know about axes?

Terence knows how to cut down a tree with one. He could show you, says Banjo.

Bad idea! says Squattu. How would that look? A Leadbeater's possum pretending to cut down a tree.

Funny, laughs Easter Morning. I'd go to that movie.

Easter Morning has been listening, all this time, and has pretty much digested the grasshoppers. He is feeling light-hearted.

Ma and Dad Possum take note of his opinion.

Capture The Action

Shane Corr appears.

He leans his bicycle against a dark tree.

Sorry about this, says Shane Corr. Those rangers. Always interfering.

No harm done, says Gaius. A ranger brought Terence back.

He followed me, says Terence. Stupid ranger. I knew the way.

Typical, says Shane Corr. Then the ranger gets all the glory.

He didn't ask for glory, says Gaius. He said you'd been showing Terence how to cut down a tree.

Would I do that? asks Shane Corr.

Terence has already admitted it, says Pierre-Louis.

It was only pretend, says Terence.

Terence does acting, says Banjo. He told me.

Indeed, he does do acting, says Gaius. And now, if he gets the right part, he can cut down a tree.

With a real axe, says Terence.

Probably not, says Gaius. 

All's well that ends well, says Shane Corr. I'm here to return your skink and invite you to dinner. 

Easter Morning! cries Terence.

He ate too many grasshoppers, says Shane Corr.

Easter Morning is clinging to Shane Corr's cross bar. His belly is like a balloon.

Terence runs over to Easter Morning.

Guess what? We're going to dinner.

I'll stay here if no one minds, says Easter Morning. I need to do some digesting.

Terence places Easter Morning on the newly dried blanket, away from the stiff part, and close to the drone.

We'll go to the Powelly Pub, says Shane Corr. They do burgers and parmas and flatty tails.

We really shouldn't, says Gaius. We were planning to send the drone up.

Me and Squatty can do it, says Terence.

I don't think so, says Gaius,

Let them, says Pierre-Louis. 

No, says Gaius. Terence is coming with us.

If Terence stays, says Banjo, I'll get my parents to come down and make sure we're all right.

There's an offer, says Pierre-Louis. 

But who will make notes? asks Gaius.

There's a camera in the drone, says Pierre-Louis.

Gaius is tempted. It will only be for an hour.

It will encourage Terence's independence

And his stomach is rumbling at the thought of burgers and parmas and flatty tails.

All right, Terence, says Gaius. Do your best to capture the action. And try to get the parents to open up about their current lifestyle, and their dwindling habitat, and their hopes for the future.

Yay! says Terence, who stopped listening after 'capture the action'.

 

Scratching Not Pointing

That was a rubbish surprise, says Terence.

Banjo was here, says Gaius. 

Scared off by the park ranger, says Pierre-Louis.

Or a rubbish trick, says Terence. 

It wasn't a trick, says Gaius. It was a Leadbeater's possum who called himself Banjo.

My friend Banjo? says Terence. From Yelly-bo? How did he get here?

He didn't. It's not him, says Gaius.

You said it was, says Terence.

He has the same name, says Gaius. And it's not the coincidence it seems.

Are they cousins? asks Terence.

Not even cousins, says Gaius. Squattu mentioned Banjo to the family of possums who live at the top of this tree.

Possums with no names, says Pierre-Louis. 

Except Banjo, says Terence. 

The young one adopted the name, says Gaius. Now if we're quiet, Banjo may come down again. He wants to meet you.

Woop! says Terence. A fake Banjo.

Banjo had been creeping down the trunk of the tree, getting closer. 

So this is Terence. Claw, gecko shorts, no side curls. And rude.

Hello, I'm Banjo, says Banjo.

Not the real one, says Terence.

How did you get your name? asks Banjo.

Terence doesn't remember.

You're named after Terence, the Roman playwright, says Gaius. And now you can see Banjo's point.

He doesn't have a point, says Terence.

Terence and Terence. Banjo and Banjo, says Banjo.

Okay, says Terence. But that's more like a square.

You're smart, says Banjo. And I like your claw. How did you get it?

From my blood brother, says Terence. He was a bristlebird. I got this, and he got my finger.

Is it useful? asks Banjo.

For scratching, says Terence. But not for pointing.

Ha ha! laughs Banjo possum. You're funny! And I like your hairstyle.

It's new, says Terence.

It's cool, says Banjo. You look like a grown up.

I know how to cut down a tree, says Terence. I was just learning.

I live in a tree, says Banjo. 

I only learned, says Terence. I didn't do it. 

Would you ever do it? asks Banjo.

Only if it was acting, says Terence.

The tree? says Banjo.

No, if I was acting, says Terence. I've been in lots of plays.

Always the same one, says Gaius. 

What's a play? asks Banjo.

When you pretend to be something, says Terence. And you pretend something's happening but it really isn't. And people pay you to watch.

What did you pretend to be? asks Banjo.

A red sheep, says Terence.

A red sheep.

Banjo can't imagine anything more glamorous.

Slow Motion Axe Wielding

Evening. The forest grows dark.

Terence and Shane Corr should be back by now, says Pierre-Louis.

They should, says Gaius. I wonder what's holding them up? 

Should we form a search party? asks Pierre-Louis. 

Not yet, says Gaius. Shane Corr said he knew where to find us.

I'll go and look for them, says Squattu. 

She flits off through the trees.

How's our blanket? asks Pierre-Louis.

Dry, says Gaius. But stiff down one side.

We should have cleaned it before drying it, says Pierre-Louis.

Then it might not have dried before evening, says Gaius.

We won't need it at night, says Pierre-Louis. We'll be working

True, says Gaius. We'll rinse it tomorrow.

After our morning nap, says Pierre-Louis.

So that's settled.

They both eat an apple.

A soft scraping sound is heard.

Scrape scrape (only softer).

Hear that? says Gaius.

A scraping sound, says Pierre-Louis. Could it be the possums?

Quiet, whispers Gaius. I think one has come down the tree.

Funny how they don't have names, whispers Pierre-Louis.

I do! says Banjo, from a low branch. My name is Banjo.

Pleased to meet you, says Gaius. Where is the rest of your family?

Up there, says Banjo. They're not coming down. Where's the bat gone?

She's looking for Terence, says Gaius. 

What does Terence look like? asks Banjo.

Small, says Gaius.

Can't you do better than that? says Pierre-Louis.

Small, hard, wearing gecko shorts, says Gaius.

One of his fingers has been replaced by a claw, says Pierre-Louis.  He did have a full head of curls, but a riding accident resulted in the loss of the side ones. And he has perfect balance.

So how did he have a riding accident? asks Banjo.

Um... says Pierre-Louis. Oh yes. His helmet was far too tight.

Have you understood all this information? asks Gaius.

No, says Banjo. But I would like to meet Terence.

You will, says Gaius. And soon, because I hear a loud trampling. 

Terence runs into the clearing. 

Guess what! 

No need to guess what. A park ranger is right behind him.

Are these your parents? asks the park ranger.

No! cries Terence.

I am his guardian of sorts, says Gaius. What has happened?

We found him with Shane Corr, says the park ranger.

And is that a problem? asks Gaius.

Shane Corr was showing him how to cut down a tree with an axe, says the park ranger,

He wasn't! says Terence. 

He was wielding the axe, close to a tree, says the park ranger.

In slow motion, says Terence. 

Why would he do that? asks Gaius.

For safety, says Terence.

Axes are forbidden, says the park ranger. Well, now you're reunited, I'll be off. Have a nice night.

The ranger melts into the forest.

Woop! says Terence. We weren't doing anything.

I'm sure you weren't, says Gaius. And now we have a surprise for you.

A horse? cries Terence.

No, meet Banjo, says Gaus, indicating the tree.

But Banjo has scuttled back up it.

Is That a Threat?

Squattu is about to exit the hollow.

See you later! says the newly named Banjo Possum.

We'll see about that, says Ma Possum.

We'll be waiting, says Squattu. If you don't turn up, I'll return with the drone.

Is that a threat? asks Dad Possum.

Of course not, says Squattu.

She flies down to where Gaius is checking the DJ1 Mini 2 for damage.

You took your time, says Pierre-Louis.

I fell asleep up there, says Squattu. It was cosy.

Cosy? says Gaius. Don't tell me you entered a hollow!

Yes, says Squattu. I entered a hollow which belonged to a family of Leadbeater's possums.

Were they home at the time? asks Gaius.

Yes, they were sleeping, says Squattu. I fell asleep myself, until the baby woke up. That woke the parents. And I discovered some interesting facts.

Indeed? says Gaius. What are they?

For one thing, they don't know they're endangered, says Squattu.

That is not uncommon, says Gaius. Go on.

They know nothing about their Yellingbo relatives, says Squattu.

Unsurprising, says Gaius. They are a different subspecies. Anything else?

They have roles, but not names, says Squattu.

Now that is interesting, says Gaius. How did you learn this?

I mentioned young Banjo, says Squattu. Perhaps I should not have.

How did they react? asks Gaius. 

Blankly, says Squattu. But the baby was inspired by the name.

It's a good name, says Gaius.

Yes it is, says Pierre-Louis.

And.... says Squattu.

Yes? says Gaius. 

He appropriated it, says Squattu. He now calls himself Banjo.

Hum, says Gaius.

I'm sorry if I've inadvertently contaminated the sample, says Squattu.

Pierre-Louis frowns.

Gaius is pleased with Squattu's understanding of the scientific method, but not sorry she failed to respect it.

These things happen, says Gaius. It could be seen as a natural intervention. After all, you are a visiting fruit bat. Are we meeting them later?

I tried to arrange it, says Squattu. But only Banjo was keen. I said if they didn't come down we'd send the drone up. 

That was a bit heavy handed, says Gaius.

I only meant.....says Squattu.

I predict they will come, says Gaius. 

Let us hope so.

A Second Banjo

Squattu sleeps, among the Leadbeater's possums.

The one closest, a baby, wakes up.

A bat! In our hollow!

Ma! cries the baby possum.

Go back to sleep, Baby, says Ma Possum.

But there's a BAT sleeping next to me! cries Baby.

It's just a bad dream, says Ma Possum.

Baby pokes the bad dream.

The bad dream wakes up.

Squoo! says the bad dream. I'm so sorry.

Ma Possum wakes her partner, Dad Possum.

Is it night time already? grumbles Dad Possum.

No, says Squattu, this is all my fault. Let me explain what has happened. Then I'll leave you.

Never mind the story, says Dad Possum. Just leave us.

No! says Baby Possum. I want the story.

So do I, says Ma Possum.

Well, says Squattu, I suppose you know you're critically endangered?

That's enough! says Ma Possum.

What's critically endangered? asks Baby Possum.

It means you'll die out, says Squattu.

Baby Possum looks frightened.

Not you specifically, says Squattu.

This isn't going too well. She tries another angle.

I've just been in Yellingbo, says Squattu. I met some of your relatives.

All our relatives live here, says Ma Possum.

How interesting, says Squattu. So you don't know you have relatives in Yellingbo.

Because we don't, says Dad Possum. Is that the end of your story? Now you can go.

Squattu tries one more angle.

She turns to the baby.

One of the relatives looked exactly like you, says Squattu.

Like me? says Baby Possum. 

His name was Banjo, says Squattu. What's yours?

Baby Possum looks blank. He is just called Baby Possum.

Banjo? says Ma Possum. What the dickens does that mean?

He's named after a poet, says Squattu.

Now Ma Possum looks blank.

So does Dad Possum.

Names, says Squattu. Don't you guys have them?

You mean other names? says Ma Possum. 

Well, yes, says Squattu. Besides mum, dad and baby.

We don't need other names, says Dad Possum. We're a close knit community.

How fascinating, says Squattu. I must tell Gaius.

What's a Gaius? asks Baby Possum.

A man, says Squattu. He keeps notes about things he's discovered. He's camping at the base of your tree.

He hasn't discovered anything about us, says Ma Possum.

Not yet, says Squattu. Would you like to meet him, and his colleague Pierre-Louis? Terence and Easter Morning will be back soon as well.

No, thank you, says Ma Possum.

I would, says Baby Possum.

No, Baby Possum, says Dad Possum.

Call me Banjo, says Baby Possum.

That will ruin our research, says Squattu.

Too bad! says Baby Possum.

Sleep Overcomes Her

Better wake Squattu, says Pierre-Louis.

I see no alternative, says Gaius.

The drone has become wedged in a tall mountain ash.

Squattu! says Gaius, peering into the carriage.

Squoo! says Squattu.

Apologies for disturbing you in the daytime, says Gaius. 

....but the drone is stuck in a tree, says Squattu.

How do you know? says Gaius.

I heard you cursing, says Squattu. Have you tried the right knob?

Which is the right knob? asks Gaius.

The knob on the right, says Squattu. The forward-backward.

Aha! says Gaius. Yes, I did try both knobs, but nothing doing.

Okay, says Squattu. By the way this blanket's still damp, and there's sticky stuff all down one side.

Dear me, says Gaius. You come out, and I'll air it.

So Squattu comes out. Gaius shakes out the blanket, and drapes it over a low bush.

The blanket starts drying, as does the sticky stuff.

Squattu looks up 

Which tree? asks Squattu.

That one, says Gaius. Call down if you need me to perform a knob action.

Squattu flies up. It's a very tall tree.

The DJ1 Mini 2 is partly jammed into a hollow.

This will be one of those hollows we're supposed to be looking for, says Squattu. I wonder if it's filled with sleeping Leadbeater's possums?

Should she edge past the drone and go in?

Why not, since she is up there.

Far below, Gaius is watching the screen.

What can Squattu be doing? 

She is nowhere in sight, but the drone's camera is shuddering alarmingly. 

Wooosh! The drone is in flight again. Curses! Which knob! 

Left knob down! cries Pierre-Louis. 

The drone glides down, landing gracefully.

Squattu meanwhile is inside the hollow.

It's dark, due to the very small entrance, but roomy inside.

It smells of sleeping possums.

Squattu likes it. It's homey.

She looks around for a spot to curl up in, for just a few minutes.

Finds one, next to a baby possum, or perhaps it's an adult, they're all tiny, how nice it is here, better not stay too long, they'll freak out if ......not to mention ....aah...zzz

Sleep overcomes her.

A Natural Balance

Dowey Spur.

Gaius and Pierre-Louis look for a suitable campsite.

A clearing amongst the tall trees.

This will do, says Gaius. These look like the right sort of trees.

Mountain ash? asks Pierre-Louis.

I believe so, says Gaius. 

Now what? asks Pierre-Louis.

We wait, says Gaius. Or we do some reconnaissance.

Send the drone up? asks Pierre-Louis. Without Terence?

Straight up and down again, says Gaius. Not much can go wrong in this clearing.

I suppose not, says Pierre-Louis.

Gaius goes to the carriage and takes out the drone box.

Lifts out the drone and the control panel. 

What did Terence say about these knobs? asks Gaius.

Left knob is the up and down knob, says Pierre-Louis. 

Right, says Gaius, placing the drone on the ground. 

No, left, says Pierre-Louis.

Gaius gives him a thumbs up.

The drone rises quickly.

Stop! says Gaius.

Knob! shouts Pierre-Louis.

Gaius drags the knob down.

The drone returns to the ground.

That seems easy enough, says Gaius. I'll send it higher next time.

......

Shane Corr gets off his bike and wheels it along a boardwalk through swampy vegetation.

Are we there yet? asks Terence, balancing well on the cross bar.

See any grasshoppers? asks Easter Morning, balancing equally well.

No, says Terence. That's your job.

Easter Morning jumps down.

We're stopping here anyway, says Shane Corr. There's the first remnant.

He points to the remnants of an old tramway bridge.

That's a rubbish remnant, says Terence.

There's not much of it left, says Shane Corr. It just goes to show....

Goes to show what? asks Terence.

Nothing lasts, says Shane Corr.

Wah! says Terence. What about my palace?

Even a palace, says Shane Corr. 

I used to live on one, says Terence.

Rich little lad were you? says Shane Corr.

No, says Terence. I had a bad life.

Is that why you left? asks Shane Corr.

No I fell off, says Terence.

And had to make your own way, says Shane Corr.

Terence did not have to make his own way when he fell off the palace, but it sounds better than what really happened.

Yes, says Terence. And now I do science.

Shane Corr is impressed with this plucky young person. 

How would you like a go with my axe? asks Shane Corr.

I'm not allowed to, says Terence.

I would allow you, says Shane Corr. I would show how to chop down a tree safely.

Wthout hurting the tree, says Terence.

We don't consider that, says Shane Corr.

No thanks, says Terence. Let's see another remnant. A better one.

What if I show you the aerial cable? says Shane Corr.

Okay, says Terence. Wait! Where's Easter Morning?

Here I am! says Easter Morning, his mouth full of grasshopper.

So, one tree is saved.

And one grasshopper isn't.

Perils Of Intellectual Curiosity

Powelltown.

That's the way to the Spur, says Shane Corr.

Thank you, says Gaius. We'll head out there. 

You camping? asks Shane Corr.

Yes, says Gaius. The Leadbeater's possum is nocturnal.

Gets bloomin' cold at night, this time of year, says Shane Corr.

Fortunately the Leadbeater's possum has the ability to withstand freezing temperatures, says Gaius.

I think he means it'll be cold for us, says Pierre-Louis.

Yeah, I do, says Shane Corr.

We have a blanket, says Gaius. 

And two plastic bags, says Pierre-Louis.

Hats off to you then, says Shane Corr. Sure you don't want me to give your kid a tour of the remnants?

Perhaps tomorrow, says Gaius.

What about that skink then? asks Shane Corr.

He seems very keen to show someone the remnants.

Gaius pokes his head into the carriage.

What? says Terence.

We're here, says Gaius. Where's Easter Morning?

Here, says Easter Morning coming out from under the blanket.

How would you like a quick tour of the remnants? says Gaius. We've just met an old timer, who seems keen to show someone around.

Why can't he show me! says Terence.

Because we need you, says Gaius.

Not right now! says Terence. I want a tour of the remnants!

You don't even know what they are, says Gaius.

That's why! says Terence.

It's a good answer, showing intellectual curiosity. Gaius rethinks his decision.

All right, as long as Shane Corr gets you back to our camp before evening. 

Yay! says Terence.

Yum! says Easter Morning.

What does that mean? asks Terence.

I can look for grasshoppers, says Easter Morning.

Shane Corr wheels his bike up to the carriage.

Hello lad, you're coming with me.

So is Easter Morning, says Terence.

Anyone else? says Shane Corr.

Squatty is sleeping, says Terence. So she isn't.

Fine, says Shane Corr. One lad and one skink will do me.

Terence and Easter Morning jump out of the carriage. 

Shane Corr indicates that Terence should sit on his bicycle cross bar.

Is that safe? asks Gaius.

Yes! I have perfect balance, says Terence.

I always forget you have perfect balance, says Gaius. Enjoy your tour of the remnants. See you this evening, on Dowey Spur. By the way, Shane, how will you find us?

Don't you worry about that, says Shane Corr. I'll find you.

He cycles away.

What's that sticking out of his back pack? asks Pierre-Louis.

Looks like a handle, says Gaius.

Not an axe surely? says Pierre-Louis.

They agree that it must be a spade.

Remnants Of Nothing

Gaius, Pierre-Louis and Shane Corr cycle towards Powelltown.

Shane Corr talks of the old days.

Just my trusty axe and a team of bullocks, says Shane Corr.

Different times, says Gaius. 

Good times, says Shane Corr.

Not for the possums, says Gaius. 

Yeah anyway, says Shane Corr. Nowadays there's no timber mill, no nothing.

Hum, says Gaius.

Except for old remnants, says Shane Corr. Where you headed?

Dowey Spur, says Gaius.

Go up Dowey Spur, cross Dowey Spur Road, and follow the track down the High Lead Incline, says Shane Corr.

For what reason? asks Pierre-Louis.

You can see how they got the logs down, says Shane Corr. With an aerial cable. After my time though.

You just had the bullocks, says Gaius.

Yeah, says Shane Corr. 

Are we there yet? shouts Terence, from the carriage.

You got a kid in there? asks Shane Corr.

A young associate, says Gaius.

And a fruit bat, says Pierre-Louis. And an indisposed skink.

The skink is feeling better, says Gaius. 

The kid might like to see the remnants, says Shane Corr.

He might, says Gaius. But he'll be busy. He'll be working the drone.

You got a drone? says Shane Corr.

We have, says Gaius. And yes, we know the drone may get caught in the trees, which is why we're employing the fruit bat.

Animal intelligence, linked to technology, says Pierre-Louis.

What model of drone? asks Shane Corr.

 A DJ1 Mini 2, says Pierre-Louis.

Not that I know much about drones, says Shane Corr.

They cycle on in silence, for a while.

And what does the skink do? asks Shane Corr.

Nothing, says Gaius. After this, we'll return him to Yellingbo.

Maybe he'd like to see the remnants, says Shane Corr.

An excellent idea, says Gaius. We should ask him.

Unsullied

Gaius and Pierre-Louis leave the Warburton Highway at the Powelltown turn-off.

Not far now, says Gaius. Shall we stop for an apple?

Yes, let's do that, says Pierre-Louis. And we can check on the skink.

Indeed, says Gaius. 

They stop cycling.

Gaius looks into the carriage.

Guess what? says Terence. The pink thing came out.

I can smell it, says Gaius. But it is a good outcome.

Not that good, says Terence. It came out all sticky and gloopy.

What on? asks Gaius. Not the blanket?

Yes, says Terence. And on the apples.

Aren't they in a bag? asks Gaius.

Doesn't anyone care about me? asks Easter Morning.

Of course we do, says Gaius. How are you feeling?

Normal, says Easter Morning. 

Good, says Gaius. Now what about those apples?

Terence hands him the bag with the apples. 

It is sticky with gloop.

Look at this, Pierre-Louis, says Gaius. The apple bag has protected our apples from Easter Morning's bad-smelling excretion.

There is something to be said for plastic, says Pierre-Louis. Shall I wash it off?

Do you have enough water? asks Gaius.

Plenty, says Pierre-Louis.

He opens his water bottle and sluices the plastic bag down.

Then he takes out two apples.

Unsullied, says Gaius. Well done.

They are eating the unsullied apples when a cyclist comes by.

Going to Powelltown? asks the rider.

Yes, says Gaius. Just having an apple break. Would you care for one?

Yeah, thanks, says the rider, taking an apple.

Shane Corr, he adds. Famous axeman.

What about him? says Gaius. 

That's me, says Shane Corr.

Pleased to meet you, says Gaius. I'm Gaius Secundus. And this is Pierre-Louis Maupertuis.

'Ay, says Shane Corr. You hiking the trails?

In a way, says Gaius. We'll be looking for Leadbeater's possums. As for you, surely you're no longer an axeman.

Sadly, no, says Shane Corr. That was many years ago.

Aha!

Maybe that's why Shane Corr looks old-fashioned.

Predicting The Foochoo

Squattu is still sleeping.

Easter Mornng is moving his legs in a rhythmical way.

His belly is heaving. 

Ffttt! A rotten strawberry smell fills the carriage.

That's good, says Terence. You farted.

Wooz moo poo-em? moans Easter Morning.

I'm working on it, says Terence. I've already got the first line.

Soot, says Easter Morning.

A moth has died, says Terence.

Why is it not about him? asks Squattu.

I thought you were sleeping, says Terence.

It smells bad in this carriage, says Squattu. I woke up.

Poo-em, says Easter Morning.

Why does he call it a poo-em? asks Squattu.

He says everything oo-ey, says Terence. Because he's got the pink thing inside him.

Hasn't it come out yet? asks Squattu.

She looks quickly at Easter Morning's cloacal aperture.

Squee! Greyish pink goop's oozing out. 

She points it out to Terence.

Gross! says Terence. 

Easter Morning looks pained.

Relax, says Squattu. It'll all be out soon.

A mooth has dooed, says Easter Morning.

He likes it, says Terence. Okay, this is the next part.

a moth has died

don't be sad

it's not bad

 it wasn't your fault

 it was dad.

Those are good rhymes, says Squattu. 

Thanks, says Terence.

I suppose the second verse will cheer him up about the future, says Squattu.

Foochoo, says Easter Morning. 

What future? says Terence.

What's to come, says Squattu. 

Terence thinks about what's to come, and a rhyme for it.

Yes!

soon the pink thing will come

out of your bum.......begins Terence.

And, as if Terence had the power of predicting the future, out it does come!

Ffttt! Blurt! Dribble-dribble..... followed by the bad strawberry aroma.

Hoo Nooz

Finished your coffee? asks Gaius.

I have, says Pierre-Louis. We should get going.

Is Easter Morning coming with us? asks Terence.

Yes, says Gaius. You can look after him in the carriage. Call out, if there's a problem.

Okay, says Terence.

They leave the old wooden building and head for the bikes.

Apples! says Pierre-Louis. Did you get any?

No! says Gaius. Thanks for reminding me.

He goes into the store, and comes out with a bag of red apples.

They were expensive! But they should keep us going, says Gaius.

Terence climbs into  the carriage, waking Squattu.

Is it night time? asks Squattu.

No, says Terence. But guess what?

What? asks Squattu.

Easter Morning swallowed the pink thing from the top of my milkshake, says Terence.

Squattu looks at Easter Morning.

He doesn't look well.

 His body is stiff, and his legs stick out at right angles.

He can lie next to me, says Squattu.

Terence slips Easter Morning under the blanket, next to Squattu.

Now what? says Terence.

I'll talk to him, says Squattu. 

Okay, says Terence. And I'll make him a poem.

Gaius shoves the bag of red apples into the carriage.

Look after these, says Gaius. How's that blanket?

Good, says Terence.

Gaius is pleased. He gets on his bike. 

Our blanket's dry, says Gaius.

That's good news, says Pierre-Louis.

Gaius and Pierre-Louis start cycling towards the Warburton Highway.

In the carriage, Squattu asks Easter Morning:

What was the pink thing you you swallowed?

Hoo nooz, says Easter Morning.

Open your mouth, says Squattu. I'll look into it.

Easter Morning opens his mouth.

Squattu sees only darkness.

Look at his bumhole, says Terence. That's where it's going to come out.

No thanks, says Squattu. 

The moth did, says Terence.

Squattu is starting to find this whole thing distasteful.

She goes back to sleep.

Poo-em, says Easter Morning.

Terence understands. Easter Morning is asking for the poem he promised.

Terence is good at making up poems when someone has died.

For example: A dog has died. Or a frog. Or a crab. Or a spider.

But Easter Morning has not died. 

This will be harder.

Frothless But Moth Free

It was THEIR moth! says the kid.

I wasn't to know that, says dad. Tell them I'm sorry.

Is it dead? asks the kid. What if we massage its belly?

The moth's body is smeared over the table. 

The kid runs back

Dad killed it. He's sorry.

Gaius looks over at dad.

Dad makes a sorry gesture.

Gaius stands up and goes across to dad's table.

No need to apologise, says Gaius. It wasn't strictly our moth.

Not strictly? says dad. 

Not strictly, says Gaius. That is to say, the moth was swallowed by our Eastern Mourning skink, who thought it was dead.

So why was it flying across to our table? asks dad.

It seems that the moth wasn't dead after all, says Gaius. These things happen.

Yes, says dad, but why wasn't it being digested?

A stroke of luck, says Gaius. It was pushed out by one of those pink things they put on top of the strawberry milkshakes.

How could that happen? asks dad.

The skink swallowed that too, says Gaius. 

And will it be a problem? asks dad.

Not in the long run, says Gaius. The pink thing consists principally of sugar. The only problem is that we're about to leave Yellingbo for Powelltown in the central highlands, and the skink will now have to come with us. 

I see, says dad. A very different habitat.

Exactly, says Gaius. And as the eastern mourning skink is endangered, a move to the highlands may not do him much good.

You could just leave him here, says dad.

No, I feel responsible, says Gaius. We allowed him to come with us. He'd never been to a store or a café.

How will you keep him warm in the highlands? asks dad. Skinks are cold blooded. 

I know that, says Gaius. We do have a blanket. Although at the moment it's damp.

Dad has had enough of enquiring into Gaius's problems.

His coffee is cooling, and there are bits of moth wing floating in it. And a thin leg.

Well, all the best, says dad. Enjoy Powelltown.

Thank you says Gaius. But we're not going there for enjoyment. We'll be looking for Leadbeater's possums.

Good luck with that, says dad. But don't they live pretty high up in the canopy?

We have a drone, says Gaius. And a fruit bat.

Dad could ask what is the use of the fruit bat, but he doesn't.

He scoops the thin moth leg from the froth on the top of his coffee. Then the wing bits.

After which, there is not much froth left.

Dont Count The First Thing

He's dead! cries Terence.

Surely not, says Gaius.

He stops eating his famous cheescake and looks at the skink.

A slight muscular spasm ripples through Easter Morning. 

Not dead, decides Gaius. 

But rigid, says Pierre-Louis.

It's the pink item he swallowed, says Gaius. Best to let nature take its course.

What does that mean? asks Terence.

He will either digest or excrete it, says Gaius.

Or both, says Pierre-Louis.

Or both, agrees Gaius.

How long will that take? asks Terence.

A day or two, says Gaius. Perhaps you could massage his belly. It might speed things up.

Okay, says Terence.

He rubs Easter Morning's belly.

Brrrp! burps Easter Morning.

He's better already! cries Terence.

Nrrrp! says Easter Morning.

The kid at the next table comes over.

Hey! Is your skink okay?

No! says Terence. He swallowed a pink thing that wasn't a grasshopper.

Mrrrp! says Easter Morning. 

He is trying to say moth. But can only get out the first letter.

Will he die? asks the kid. 

No, says Terence. Not if I massage his belly.

Can I have a turn? asks the kid. 

Okay, says Terence.

The kid rubs Easter Morning's belly.

Phrrrp!

A moth emerges from Easter Morning's cloaca.

Yuck! says Terence.

It sure was! says the moth.

You're supposed to be dead, says Terence. 

I was resting, says the moth, and suddenly got swallowed. And then a long thing pushed me out. It could have been a grasshopper's insides. That's what it felt like.

It wasn't, says Terence. It was something pink they put on top of my milkshake.

I thought they only did sprinkles, says the moth.

Wrong, says Terence. Anyway you were lucky.

Yes I was, says the moth. If you only count the last thing that happened and not the first thing.

Terence thinks about this.

The moth is right.

 He was not always lucky.

The moth has recovered enough now. It tries to fly off.

But only makes it to the next table, before needing a rest break.

Bang! A fist comes down.

Dad! cries the kid, running back to the table. 

It was a moth, says his dad.

Stiff As A Stick

Is that for me? asks Easter Morning.

It's on top of my milkshake, says Terence. So it's mine.

But it looks like a grasshopper's insides, says Easter Morning.

No it doesn't, says Terence. Grasshopper's insides would be yellow.

How would you know? asks Easter Morning.

Or brown, says Terence. Or green, even.

That proves you don't know, says Easter Morning. 

Let me have a look at it, says Gaius. 

He picks it up with his fingers.

Mind if I bend it?

No, says Terence. 

Gaius bends it. 

It appears to be flexible, says Gaius.

You bent it! says Terence. Now bend it back!

Whatever it is, says Gaius, bending it back again, it's not for you, Terence.

Perhaps it's a slice of ginger? suggests Pierre-Louis. 

It's not ginger, says Gaius. Who would put ginger on a strawberry milk shake? It's more like a stiff strip of jelly.

That's what the insides of a grasshopper are like, says Easter Morning.

You can have it, says Terence.

So Easter Morning gets the mysterious pink thing to eat.

More people have entered the old wooden building, and sat at a wonky table, nearby.

Awesome place, says one of the people.

Cool car on the roof outside, says another.

Look what HE'S got! says another, a kid, pointing at Terence.

Terence slurps his strawberry milkshake.

Is that your pet lizard? asks the kid.

It's an easter morning skink, says Terence. Slurrp! Slurrp!

It's choking, says the kid.

And indeed Easter Morning is choking, having tried to swallow the pink thing, which is stuck and won't go further in.

Easter Morning had forgotten the dead moth he ate earlier.

Now what? 

Easter Morning is stiff as a stick.

Best In Universe

Gaius and Pierre-Louis cycle back towards Yellingbo, along the Koo Wee Rup road.

They stop outside the Yellingbo Central Store.

Coffee, read Pierre-Louis. Pies and cakes. Sandwiches. 

I do hope they sell apples, says Gaius, 

It's a general store, says Pierre-Louis. No doubt they will.

Coming Terence? says Gaius.

Terence jumps out of the carriage.

Easter Morning jumps out as well.

So this is the Yellingbo store. Overwhelming!

I might stay out here, says Easter Morning.

Okay, says Terence. Do you want me to choose you a snack?

Okay, says Easter Morning.

What do you like? asks Terence.

Anything, says Easter Morning, But I love grasshoppers especially.

They won't have any grasshoppers, says Gaius, overhearing.

How do you know? asks Terence.

I just know, says Gaius. 

Gaius, Pierre-Louis and Terence, enter the store.  Easter Morning goes for a wander.

Next door is an old wooden building with its door open.

Above the door is the front half of an old Holden.

Dare he go in? What if the old Holden falls down?

Courage, Easter Morning!

He goes in.

Inside the Yellingbo store, Gaius is looking for apples, but smelling tempting coffee.

I'll order two coffees, says Pierre-Louis. 

Hi guys! says a smiling person behind the counter. You're in luck today. Our famous cheesecakes are back.

Can I have a famous cheesecake? asks Terence.

No, says Gaius. Do you have red drinks, by any chance?

Do we! says the smiling person. We have the best strawberry milkshakes in Victoria. In the universe actually.

Hum, says Gaius. All right. We'll have one.

He goes over to a box of apples he has just noticed.

Pierre-Louis orders two coffees, two famous cheesecakes and a strawberry milkshake.

To have here? asks the smiling person. 

Yes thanks, says Pierre-Louis.

If you like you can sit in the old wooden building next door, says the smiling person. There are chairs and tables.

Great! says Pierre-Louis.

He and Terence go next door.

Gaius decides that the apples can wait. He follows the others.

Easter Morning is waiting just inside the door.

I'm getting a strawberry milk shake, says Terence.

I found a dead moth, says Easter Morning.

Lucky, says Terence.

They sit down at a wonky old table on wonky old chairs. 

It is old fashioned and evocative of places that once looked like that.

A different smiling person brings coffee and two famous cheesecakes. 

She goes back to the store. Returns with a fantastic milkshake.

Pink milk in a glass jar with a glass handle. 

Bright red strawberry topping on top, and drizzled down the sides.

Multicoloured sprinkles, sprinkled on top of the strawberry topping.

A black straw.

A long pink thing lying across the top of the topping.

What is it? everyone wonders.

Easter Morning thinks it looks like a grasshopper's insides.

Hard Knees

Pierre-Louis has not found the apples.

Some creature must have made off with them while we were sleeping, says Gaius.

There was a shop back in Yellingbo, says Pierre-Louis.

Good thinking, says Gaius. We'll go there.

He folds up the damp blanket, and drops it into the carriage.

Squattu wakes up, pushes the blanket to one side and falls asleep again.

Hey! says Terence. Do I have to sit on that? It's all scrunched up.

It will soon settle, with your weight on it, says Gaius. Jump in.

Terence jumps in.

Squelch. 

Where's Easter Morning? says Terence. He wants to come with me.

Does he? asks Gaius. I don't think he does. 

Ask him, says Terence.

Do you want to come with us to the Yellingbo store? asks Gaius. Don't feel obliged.

The eastern mourning skink weighs up his options. Go or don't go.

And the pros and cons of the options.

Go: Find out what a store is.

Don't go: And perhaps never know

Yes, says the eastern mourning skink. As long as I can ride in the carriage with Terence.

Yay! says Terence. Jump in!

The eastern mourning skink jumps in.

Squelch.

This is nice, says the eastern mourning skink, detecting a lump or two under the blanket.

He wriggles, until the lumps are no longer a problem.

Want to see our drone? asks Terence.

Yes, says the eastern mourning skink. Is it under the blanket?

Better not be, says Terence. 

He looks around the carriage. 

No, there is the drone box, behind Squatty. It looks dry.

It's in that box, says Terence. Want me to open it?

Yes, says the eastern mourning skink.

To get to it, Terence must crawl over Squatty.

He tries to be careful.

But his knees are quite hard.

Squattu wakes up at once. 

Squip! What do you think you're doing? says Squattu. And where are we going?

To the store, says Terence. Pierre-Louis and Gaius can't find the apples.

I brought the apples in here for safe keeping, says Squattu. But it's probably best they don't know.

Why? asks Terence.

I took several large bites out of both of them, says Squattu.

Are they the lumps under the blanket? asks the eastern morning skink.

Yes. Who are you? says Squattu.

Easter Morning, says Terence. 

What a beautiful name, says Squattu.