Red Paint On The Blade

Gaius heads to the gift shop.

Terence is still there.

Look! You can buy rocks, says Terence. Can we buy one?

No, says Gaius. And you should not have run off.

I didn't run, says Terence.

I have pictures of rocks in one of my notebooks, says Gaius. 

But I want a real one, says Terence.

He was after a crocoite, says the gift shop assistant. But we don't sell those.

Very wise, says Gaius. The crystals are toxic.

I see you know rocks, says the gift shop assistant.

He knows frogs too, says Terence.  And birds.

Does he? says the gift shop assistant.

Speaking of which, says Gaius. Has a juvenile masked lapwing been through here?

No, says the gift shop assistant. I'd have noticed.

What? asks Terence.

Little Mystic is looking for you, says Gaius.

Yay! says Terence. He's learning.

And now, we shall have to find him, says Gaius.

He and Terence leave the gift shop without buying anything.

The ticket guy calls out as they pass. 

Hey! I've located your bird in the Courthouse.

Wonderful! says Gaius. Where is that?

The ticket guy points them in the direction of the Police Station and Courthouse.

They just have to follow the signs.

The family of one adult and five children are having fun in the Courthouse.

You can dress up in olden day clothes and re-enact a trial.

Little Mystic is Exhibit A: a Dead Parrot.

One of the children is accused of his murder.

A second child is providing evidence that the first child did it.( A wooden prop knife with red paint on the blade).

A third child ( the witness) is claiming that the parrot died of natural causes

The adult and the fourth and fifth child are the jury.

Gaius and Terence enter the courtroom.

Little Mystic! says Terence.

Little Mystic sits up. 

Kek kek! I found you!

The murder case is abandoned due to the resurrection of the victim.

All five children are disappointed.

Never mind, says the adult. There's a Blacksmith's Shop somewhere.....