With Birdlike Qualities

Gaius padlocks his bike to a post, and lifts Terence out of the pullalong.

Where are we going? asks Terence.

The Heritage Centre, says Gaius. 

What about me? asks Little Mystic.

You too, says Gaius. If they'll let you in.

We want to look for parrots, says Terence. 

Afterwards, says Gaius. 

What if someone steals my skateboard? asks Terence.

Tch! says Gaius. I know. We'll take it inside and find somewhere safe to leave it.

What if... begins Terence.

What if nothing, says Gaius. We're going in.

He enters the Heritage Centre with Terence, Little Mystic, and the skateboard.

Enquires about the price of a ticket.

Twenty five dollars for an adult, thirty for an adult with up to five children, says the ticket guy. No birds and definitely no skateboards.

One adult then, says Gaius. And one child. I assume that will be twenty six dollars.

Thirty dollars, says the ticket guy. 

So four extra children can get in for nothing, says Gaius.

Theoretically yes, says the ticket guy. But you don't have four extra children.

No, says Gaius. Only a baby masked lapwing. Which I shall carry.

Or he could go on the skateboard, says Terence. 

How would that work? asks Gaius.

Not happening, says the ticket guy. Okay, you can take the bird in, if you carry him, I'll mind the skateboard. 

Gaius pays the thirty dollars and enters the first room of exhibits.

Which are: hundreds of rocks in glass cases.

Boring, says Terence.

Zeehan was a mining town, says Gaius. Hence the focus. Why don't you look at them all and then choose your favourite.

Because they're all rocks! says Terence.

I'll choose my favourite, says Little Mystic. 

That's a good attitude, says Gaius. How do you like this one?

This one is crocoite, but it looks like grated carrot.

Or a parrot, with no head or legs but lots of spiky orange feathers, rolling itself into a ball.

That one! says Little Mystic. It looks like a parrot.

A parrot covered in grated carrot, says Terence.

Yes, says Little Mystic. It's my favourite.

Mine too, says Terence. Can we go now?

Not yet, says Gaius. There are many more rocks to examine.

He peers at a sample of peacock ore, or bornite.

Irridescent, like the feathers of a peacock. 

He is going to point this out to Terence. Another rock with birdlike qualities

He turns to do so.

But Terence is not in the room.