Scare Them Off

Can I carry my clipboard? asks Terence.

Certainly, says Gaius. 

Can I draw on it? asks Terence.

Not yet, says Gaius. It's to record important information. Numbers only.

You can start drawing on mine, says Surfing-with-Whales.

Yay! says Terence. Little Mystic can help me.

I can't draw, says Little Mystic.

You can hold the clipboard while I draw the skull and crossbones, says Terence.

Okay, says Little Mystic. Are we starting right now?

Yes, says Terence. Who's got a pencil?

A pencil's no good, says Surfing-with-Whales. You need a waterproof marker.

You'd better go back into the IGA and buy one, says Gaius.

Surfing-with-Whales goes back in.

Forgotten something? asks Felicia.

I'm going to need a waterproof marker, says Surfing-with-Whales.

Over there, on aisle four, says Felicia.

Surfing-with-Whales goes to aisle four and picks up a waterproof marker.

He takes it back to the counter.

Six ninety five, says Felicia.

How about including it in the price of the waterproof clipboard? asks Surfing-with-Whales.

Your friend paid for that, says Felicia.

So do it for him, says Surfing-with-Whales. He's on an important mission.

What mission? asks Felicia.

Counting maugean skates, says Surfing-with-Whales. They're endangered.

I know, says Felicia. They recently released some baby ones not far from here.

Yeah? says Surfing-with-Whales. Mind showing us where?

Maybe, says Felicia. Is the mission to check up on the babies, or just to do a random check on skate numbers in Macquarie Harbour?

Dunno, says Surfing-with-Whales. I'm just the diver. 

But you need a waterproof clipboard to record the numbers, says Felicia.

No, Terence is doing that, says Surfing-with-Whales.

That little kid? says Felicia. He doesnt look like he ought to be allowed in the water.

He isn't, says Surfing-with-Whales. He's going to draw a skull and crossbones on my waterproof clipboard so that..... 

Go on, says Felicia. You'll be using my goggles, so I'm kind of interested.

Okay, to show the bottom-dwelling-crabs our intentions, says Surfing-with-Whales. The crabs are what skates feed on.

A skull and crossbones will just scare them off, says Felicia.

Surfing-with-Whales thinks about this. 

Felicia is right.