A Blue Patch

Surfing-with-Whales has not yet returned for his back pack.

And his phone has stopped ringing. But there has been a DING!

The back pack is half open.

Roo-kai wonders if he should look in.

But he doesn't.

Meanwhile, Gaius has almost reached Zeehan.

He passes the sign saying Welcome to Zeehan.

He must be there.

Here we are, says Gaius, stopping.

Where? asks Terence.

Zeehan, says Gaius. We're going to wait here for Surfing-with-Whales.

Can we look for parrots? asks Terence.

Nothing is stopping you looking, says Gaius. If you see a swift parrot, alert me. They're bright green, with a blue patch on the crown.

Can we get out? asks Terence.

No, says Gaius, I'm going to ride down the main street. I've heard there are several grand historic buildings.

Woop! says Terence.

What are grand historic buildings? asks Little Mystic.

Palaces, says Terence.

They may not be palaces, says Gaius. But this was once a prosperous mining town. They called it the Silver City.

Silver palaces! says Little Mystic. He looks forward to seeing them.

Terence does not. He is looking only for parrots.

Fast ones, bright green, with a blue patch.

Gaius cycles slowly past the old Gaiety Theatre, and a Heritage Centre.

Fascinating architecture, says Gaius. 

Someone is cycling towards him.

Can it be? Yes it is. Surfing-with-Whales.

Hey, says Surfing-with-Whales. Get my message?

No, says Gaius. Did you send one?

Yeah, says Surfing-with-Whales. Had to borrow someone's phone, because I left mine in my back pack.

Wisely, says Gaius. Seeing that you were in a kayak.

Yeah, says Surfing-with-Whales. But I couldn't remember your number. So I sent it to me.

We must have already left Lake Rosebery by then, says Gaius. What was the message?

Bring my stuff to Zeehan, says Surfing-with-Whales. 

Which we could easily have done, says Gaius. 

Meaning you didn't, says Surfing-with-Whales. 

Roo-kai stayed behind to look after it until you arrived, says Gaius.

So he would've read the message, says Surfing-with-Whales.

He may have, says Gaius. But he couldn't very well bring your stuff.

Fuck, says Surfing-with-Whales. So I have to go back there.

It's not that far, says Gaius. We'll wait here in Zeehan, and pass the time visiting the Heritage Museum.

And finding parrots for our parrot gang, says Terence.

Yes, in Zeehan there'll be plenty to do.