Lobsters Are Good at Puzzles

Terence has gone down the path as instructed.

He is looking for Ageless.

In the distance, something is moving towards him.

With two black dots on top.

Sunglasses! 

It has to be Ageless.

He runs towards Ageless and stops.

Guess what? says Terence. 

You went to the lighthouse without telling me, says Ageless. Is this how to treat a colleague?

Yes, says Terence. And we met Captain Bo Dan.

Captain Baudin, says Ageless.

That's him, says Terence. He made Gaius and Denis hot toddies. And me one without whiskers. But it didn't make me cough.

Ageless wisely ignores this.

Let's go, says Terence. You might get one.

Ageless resumes his journey to the lighthouse.

Did Roo-kai find you? asks Terence. 

He found me, says Ageless. I was at the marina, waiting for you.

Did he tell you where we were? asks Terence.

Yes, that's why I'm heading there now, says Ageless. It would have helped if we'd made an arrangement.

We did, says Terence. 

Without me, says Ageless.

You weren't there, says Terence.

Ageless considers the truth of this. 

But you are now, says Terence.

Yes, says Ageless. 

They are nearing the lighthouse.

They hear laughing voices.

Ha ha! Skydiving in the Canaries!

Ho! that's cheating!

Cheating why?

It's skydiving in a... not skydiving in the...

He's right. How about... skydiving in a tornado?

Hah-ha-ha, there's a challenge. Oh, here's Ageless!

Greetings all, says Ageless What's so funny?

Denis has received an email from Henriette, says Gaius. She has set us a puzzle.

Not US, says Denis. I should never have told you.

Hot toddy? asks Captain Baudin.

Thanks, I will, says Ageless, adjusting his sunglasses.

Captain Baudin goes inside.

What's the puzzle? asks Ageless.

Are you good at puzzles? asks Denis.

We lobsters are all good at puzzles, says Ageless.

Imagine you're Henriette, says Gaius. 

He can't, says Terence.

O yes I can, says Ageless. I'm Henriette. I'm in Brisbane sending emails to Denis to taunt him.

Very perspicacious of you, says Gaius.

Is that it? asks Ageless.

No, says Gaius. There's more. You're taunting Denis with a fantasy you have about skydiving, which you won't tell him.

I know exactly what it will be, says Ageless. 

Enlighten us, says Denis.

Best not, says Ageless. We girls have our secrets.

Ha ha! laughs Terence.

Ageless thinks he's a girl!

Skydiving In A....

Heard from Henriette? asks Gaius.

Not yet, says Denis. I've just sent her an email.

Your lady love? asks Captain Baudin.

A correspondent, says Denis.

A female, says Gaius, finishing his hot toddy.

Have another? asks Captain Baudin.

I will, thank you, says Gaius. 

And I'll have another, says Denis.

Captain Baudin goes inside and returns with three hot toddies, includimg one for himself.

What about me? asks Terence.

Why don't you go down the path and see if Ageless is coming, says Captain Baudin.

Okay, says Terence.

Denis takes a sip of his toddy before checking his emails.

Bien alors! He has received a reply.

So Denis, you've been thinking of me. I landed feet first, and kept running. I may go up again. I have this fantasy. I'm skydiving in a.... no, I won't tell you. You have your own fantasies. A lobster in a sea captain's hat, handing out hot toddies. How many have you had?

Humph! says Denis.

Did she go skydiving? asks Gaius.

She did, replies Denis.

A skydiving woman, says Captain Baudin, looking skywards.

She's in Brisbane, says Denis.

I was not looking for her, says Captain Baudin. I was using my imagination. How are her legs?

What do you mean how are her legs? asks Denis.

Legs are what you see first, says  Captain Baudin. 

Depends where you're standing, says Gaius.

As a matter of interest, says Denis, imagine you're her.

Both Captain Baudin and Gaius try to do it.

Now, says Denis. Complete this sentence: I'm skydiving in a....

Is that it? asks Gaius.

That's it, says Denis.

I'm skydiving in a clear blue sky says Gaius. 

Try something more fantastic, says Denis.

A clear blue sky full of chickens, says Gaius. How's that? What is the point of this exercise?

Perhaps Denis wants something more erotic, says Captain Baudin. 

Not necessarily, says Denis. 

I'm skydiving in a voluminous blue skirt, says Captain Baudin. As I float downwards it blows up like a balloon around me. I cannot see. My legs paddle wildly. How will I excecute a safe landing?

Very good! applauds Gaius. I see it all clearly.

Denis sees it all clearly as well.