Successful Contraption

Rookai looks at the map Terence has made.

It will need some additions.

Gaius is still on the phone.

Wait. No he isn't.

He's ended his call.

Arthur won't be coming with us to Tasmania, says Gaius. 

Does that mean I'm senior assistant? asks Terence.

No, says Gaius, I shall ask another adult. One who can swim.

Boo, says Terence. 

How's the map going? asks Gaius.

Terence ruined it, says the tinker.

It's not finished, says Terence.

We need your phone map again, says Rookai.

Gaius calls up his phone map.

Now, says Gaius, I assume you'll go as the crow flies.

Yes, says Rookai, although I prefer not to use that expression.

As the parrot flies, says Terence.

Rookai says nothing. After all, he agreed to be Terence's parrot. 

It's about two thousand kilometres, says Gaius. What speed do you go at?

Rookai does a quick calculation. I could do it in sixteen hours, without stops and without a frog in a contraption.

Let's say a day then, says Gaius. That will be excellent. Where is the contraption?

Here, says Terence holding out the orange bag made of red netting.

Wasn't there an orange in that? asks Gaius. 

Yes, says Terence. I put it in the potato box.

I'd better eat it before it goes mouldy, says Gaius.

He goes to the pantry.

Right, says Rookai. Let's plan where we'll be stopping. Choose two towns.

The tinker looks at the phone map. There are plenty of choices.

Peterborough... Broken Hill... Brewarrina... Goodooga... Dirranband... Yuleba... Woleebee... Bildera ...

She picks Goodooga and Woleebee.

Who wouldn't?

Mark them on Terence's map, says Rookai. 

The tinker picks up a pencil, and marks them on.

She folds the map until it is small and will fit in the contraption.

How do I carry this contraption? asks Rookai.

Holes, says Terence. You put your wings through.

That will stop me flying smoothly, says Rookai. Think again.

Head and tail through, says Terence.

That might do, says Rookai. Let's try it.

Rip, rip! Terence makes two holes.

Rookai pokes his head through one and his tail through the other.

Now get in, says Terence, to the tinker.

The tinker climbs in, with the map.

Rookai rises, and sucessfully flies round the kitchen.