Fish Glue Fish Glue

Terence holds the metal spoon at both ends.

He tries to bend it.

What are you doing? asks Denis.

Just seeing, says Terence.

If you can bend it? asks Denis.

Yes, says Terence.

He bends it.

Bumhole! Now it's bent.

How will you eat the icing off your donut with that spoon? asks Gaius.

I'll bend it back, says Terence.

He bends it back. 

Snap. 

It was not a great spoon.

And here comes the bakery assistant with two chunky beef pies and a fish pie.

Your spoon's broken! says the bakery assistant. I'll get you another.

Thanks, says Terence.

She places the pies on the table.

What's this pie? asks Ageless.

A fish pie, says the bakery assistant. Your friend ordered it for you.

A fish pie? says Ageless.

Very popular with the lobsters round these parts, says the bakery assistant. 

Sea captains? asks Ageless. 

Yes, sea captains, says the bakery assistant. Do you know Captain Baudin?

Sure do, says Ageless. And de Freycinet.

He's a regular, says the bakery assistant. Are you a sea captain? 

I'm the Lobster Guy, says Ageless.

Cool sunnies, says the bakery assistant. 

She goes off to get the coffees.

And comes back without Terence's new spoon.

Where's my spoon? asks Terence.

I thought you could use one of theirs, says the bakery assistant.

He can use mine, says Gaius.

Great, says the bakery assistant.

Gaius stirs the froth on the top of his coffee. 

He gives Terence the spoon.

Terence takes the spoon and digs into the red icing on his donut.

It melts on the spoon.

Melted red icing. Delicious. So much sugar.

He eats all the red icing.

Now what? asks Terence. 

Don't bend the spoon, says Denis. She'll be suspicious.

Absolutely, says Gaius. And we couldn't purloin it in any case.

True, says Denis. But we could ask if she'll give us the broken one.

What for? asks Terence.

The horse's head, says Denis. 

A broken head, says Terence.

I'm sure Gaius can mend it, says Denis. He could set it at just the right angle.

How? asks Terence.

Fish glue, says Denis.

Ageless having eaten his fish pie, was just thinking the same.

Red Icing Proper Spoon

The ride to Whyalla from Point Lowly is disappointing.

No bent sticks.

But surely there'll be some bent sticks in Whyalla.

When does our bus leave? asks Denis.

Five to two, says Gaius. 

So we've time to get lunch, says Denis.

Yes, says Gaius. Let's do that.

What about the bent stick? asks Terence.

What about it? asks Denis.

You couldn't look for it because you were cycling, says Terence.

That's true, says Denis. But now I want lunch.

Can Ageless and me look for it? asks Terence.

What about my lunch? asks Ageless.

We'll all go to a bakery, says Gaius. Then, if there's time, we'll look for the perfect bent stick.

There may be something we can use in the bakery, says Denis.

Like what? asks Terence.

A wooden spoon, for example, says Denis. 

A wooden spoon? What kind of horse's head would that make? 

You can't bend a wooden spoon, says Gaius.

The horse could be looking skywards, says Denis.

You say that now, says Gaius. But the horse could ALWAYS have been looking skywards.

Meaning? says Denis.

You didn't need a bent stick, says Gaius. But who am I to be interfering?

Exactly, says Denis. And here is a bakery. Let's go in.

They lock the bikes to a bike stand on the pavement and enter the bakery.

What can I get you? asks the bakery assistant.

A chunky beef pie, says Gaius. And a coffee.

I'll have the same, says Denis.

To have here? asks the bakery assistant.

Yes please, says Gaius.

What about me? asks Terence.

Would you like one of our special donuts? asks the bakery assistant.

Has it got red icing? asks Terence.

I think there's one with red icing, says the bakery assistant.

Can I? asks Terence.

All right, says Gaius. If you just eat the icing.

Can I have a wooden spoon? asks Terence.

I'll give you a proper spoon, says the bakery assistant.

She picks up the donut with the red icing, with tongs.

Places it on a plate.

Takes a metal spoon from the cutlery container.

And hands the plate, donut and spoon to Gaius.

I'll bring the coffee and pies out, says the bakery assistant. Where are you sitting?

Over there, near the window, says Gaius.

Ooh! says the bakery assistant. There's a lobster sitting there.

The lobster is our colleague, says Gaius. Do you do a fish pie?

We do have a fish pie, says the bakery assistant. Are you saying he'd like one?

I imagine he'd like one, says Gaius.

I'll bring it over, says the bakery assistant.

So now, they are at the table near the window.

Terence is the only one with something to eat so far.

He looks at his red donut.

He picks up his spoon.

He wonders if he could bend it.

In Search Of Bent Sticks

Have you found a bent stick? asks Terence.

Not yet, says Denis. It needs to be perfect.

I found two pebbles, says Terence.

Let me see, says Denis. Yes, these will be good as the eyes.

How will you stick them on? asks Terence.

I'll ask Gaius if he has any fish glue, says Denis.

When? asks Terence.

When I find the bent stick, says Denis. 

Right, says Gaius. We're leaving. Terence, climb into my back pack.

Can I go in the basket? asks Terence.

Ageless is going in the basket, says Gaius.

I'll go in it with him, says Terence.

All right, says Gaius.  

Can we stop if Denis sees a bent stick? asks Terence.

No doubt, says Gaius.

And can we stop if I see a bent stick? asks Terence.

Certainly, says Gaius. Just let me know if you see one.

And if Ageless sees one.... begins Terence. 

Yes, sighs Gaius.

Gaius and Denis mount their bicycles. and head for the road.

They are now on the road.

Start looking, says Terence.

What are we looking for? asks Ageless.

Bent sticks, says Terence. Like Denis.

I can't look for bent sticks while I'm cycling, says Denis.

Ageless and me are doing it, says Terence.

Great, says Denis. Make sure the stick's bent the right way.

Surely that doesn't matter, says Gaius.

Yes it does, says Denis. We don't want our model horse looking backwards.

If it appears to be looking backwards, you can always switch ends, says Gaius.

But I've already stuck the tail on, says Denis.

I think youre making a mountain out of a molehill, says Gaius. A simple twiddle of the bent stick should fix the problem

A twiddle? says Denis.

Let them argue.

Terence isn't listening. He is watching the ground speeding by.

So is Ageless.

There are fewer bent sticks on the way to Whyalla than one might have expected.

In fact, they do not see any.

The Opposite Of Nose Holes

Are we ready? asks Gaius.

Yes, says Denis. I've packed.

I suppose we should pump up our tyres, says Gaius.

Denis has already pumped up his tyres.

Gaius starts pumping his.

Let's looks for that bent stick we need, and the two pebbles, says Denis.

You look, says Terence.

Come on, Terence, says Denis. You'll be wanting some input. I'll find the bent stick. You look for the pebbles.

Denis goes off to look for a bent stick. 

The idea is the bent stick will be the model horse's head and neck all in one. 

Which will mean he won't have to use the last plaster.

Terence is looking for two pebbles.

He doesn't know why.

Ageless sees him looking.

Want to help me look for two pebbles? asks Terence.

What for? asks Ageless.

Denis wants them, says Terence. He made me a model horse with no head.

So the pebbles are going to be part of the head, says Ageless.

Probably the nose holes, says Terence.

Pebbles are the opposite of nose holes, says Ageless. Think again.

Ears, says Terence. 

Good luck finding pointy pebbles, says Ageless.

What then? asks Terence.

What's left? asks Ageless. 

Pebble teeth? says Terence.

Eyes, says Ageless. 

They won't see anything, says Terence.

Nose holes won't smell anything and ears won't hear anything, if they're pebbles, says Ageless.

So why am I looking? asks Terence.

You'll have a great model horse to look at, says Ageless.

Woop! says Terence.

And it will act as a reminder of what you REALLY want, says Ageless. A reminder to them.

So it will. 

Terence starts looking for pebbles with renewed vigour.

He finds two, almost at once.

They are grey pebbles, each with a small black marking, like a pupil.

You found good ones, says Ageless.

Terence! calls Gaius. Come back!  I've pumped up my tyres!

Terence runs back, hoping Denis has found a bent stick.

With No Head

Gaiusand Terence make their way back to the campsite.

Squelch squelch!

Something's galloping, says Terence.

He has not given up. 

That's my feet, squelching, says Gaius. My clogs are still wet.

So how come seahorses don't gallop? asks Terence.

A clever question.

The ones we know today don't, says Gaius. But in ancient times they were larger and had an important function.

Woo! says Terence. What did they do?

They protected sailors, says Gaius. And when sailors drowned, the seahorses escorted them to the next world.

Where was it? asks Terence.

Under the sea, says Gaius. The abode of Poseidon, or as we Romans called him, Neptune.

Wait, says Terence. They weren't very good at protecting.

How so? asks Gaius.

If the sailors drowned, says Terence.

Accidents happen, says Gaius.

They have arrived at the campsite.

Denis is tapping away on his phone.

Guess what? asks Terence.

Denis stops tapping. He was stuck anyway. 

What? asks Denis.

I was sinking, says Terence.

I know, says Denis. I was just telling Henriette.

I could have drowned, says Terence. 

That would have been tragic, says Denis.

But I passed on my knowledge, says Terence.

All of it? asks Denis.

No, just about horses, says Terence.

Who did you pass it onto? asks Denis.

A cuttlefish, says Terence. And then Gaius saved me and passed on some more knowledge.

To you? asks Denis.

Yes, says Terence. Want to know what it was?

Yes, says Denis.

Seahorses are rubbish at protecting sailors, says Terence. Because sailors drown.

Lucky you don't want a seahorse for Christmas, says Denis.

This is going well.

Yes! says Terence. A REAL horse would be better.

Well, says Denis. Guess what?

This is cruel. Denis could not have got Terence a horse in the short time that Terence has been away, nearly drowning.

What? asks Terence.

Has Denis got him a horse? Or booked him a lesson? 

Denis reaches behind his backpack and brings out some sticks joined together with plasters.

A long stick with four shorter sticks sticking out from the long stick. A brown seagrass tail.

It hasn't got a head yet, says Denis. 

What is it? asks Terence. 

A model horse, says Denis. Help me find a short bent stick, and two small identical pebbles.

A model horse! With no head! 

Terence can't believe it.

Don't Gallop

Gaius swims out to his clogs, now floating metres apart.

He retrieves the first one. Then the second.

Excellent. 

Now to swim back.

Roo-kai lands on the water beside him.

Thanks for rescuing Terence, says Roo-kai. 

Thanks for informing me he needed to be rescued, says Gaius.

Sorry about your clogs, says Roo-kai.

Not at all, says Gaius. I left them too close to the water.

Shall I keep looking for the Nachoos? asks Roo-kai.

If you wouldn't mind, says Gaius.

So Roo-kai flies off to do that.

Gaius swims back to Terence, who is digging a hole with his toes.

Got them! says Gaius.

Now what? asks Terence.

We go back and finish packing, says Gaius.

What about the Nachoos? asks Terence.

Roo-kai is looking for them, says Gaius. But I don't hold much hope of success.

Where will they go? asks Terence.

Where the tides take them, says Gaius. 

Like Saint Roley's brother, says Terence.

I suppose so, says Gaius.

But he was on a piece of cardboard, says Terence.

I know, says Gaius. A sad tale. He was never seen again.

Dead or alive, says Terence.

Dead or alive, says Gaius. Of course that doesn't pertain to the Nachoos which are made of aluminium.

So that's not a sad tale, says Terence.

Sad in another way, says Gaius. They could have been recycled.

Saint Roley's brother's cardboard could have been recycled, says Terence.

It would have disintegrated, says Gaius.

Yikes! says Terence. Then Saint Roley's brother would have drowned.

Only if he hadn't the sense to start flying, says Gaius. 

Or if a horse came galloping by, says Terence.

Ha ha! laughs Gaius. As if a horse would come galloping by in the middle of the ocean.

What about a seahorse? says Terence.

Seahorses don't gallop, says Gaius. 

But at least Terence has managed to turn the conversation.

If only to seahorses, which don't gallop.

Inconveniently Taken By Water

The water is now up to Terence's waist.

The cuttlefish has swum off.

Terence wishes it hadn't.

It could have told Gaius what happened, after Terence had sunk into the sand. 

Then Gaius would know where to dig.

But now he wouldn't.

However...

At the moment the top half of Terence is still visible.

And here is Gaius now.

Hold still! says Gaius.

That's the only thing I CAN do, says Terence.

I'm coming in, says Gaius.

 He takes off his clogs.

And steps into the water.

He grabs hold of Terence and pulls.

Help! cries Terence.

I am helping, says Gaius. You need to help too. Wriggle your toes a bit.

Terence wriggles his toes in the sand and feels himself rising.

Sque-e-elchhh! He has now fallen backwards, on top of Gaius.

Curses! says Gaius. I mean no, not curses, at least you are out.

They both stand up, and the rescue is complete.

Are you all right? asks Gaius.

Yes, says Terence. But I thought I was done for.

Indeed, says Gaius. What caused you to enter the water?

Roo-kai found a Nachoo, says Terence. And it floated away. Then he found another one and asked me to hold it.

I see, says Gaius. And where is it now?

Terence looks at the surface of the water where the second Nachoo might logically be.

But it has floated away like the first one.

I suppose it can't be helped, says Gaius. 

No, says Terence. It can't be.

Pity, says Gaius.

But it wasnt my fault, says Terence.

I didn't say it was, says Gaius.

So are you sorry for me? asks Terence.

But Gaius knows a trap when he hears it.

No, says Gaius. Maybe you should be sorry for me.

Why? asks Terence.

Then he sees why.

Gaius's clogs are floating out to sea and have already reached deeper water.

I shall have to swim out and retrieve them, says Gaius.

He rolls up his shorts and dives in.

Terence is disappointed that this has happened. 

He's lost the moment to ask for a horse.

Or anything really.

A Hazy Impression

Terence keeps sinking.

Sand is now up to his knees.

Water laps round his bottom.

Gaius has not come.

I'll have to leave you, says Roo-kai.

But you're my parrot! says Terence.

That's why, says Roo-kai.

Roo-kai flies off to find Gaius.

Terence is left alone with his thoughts.

And the cuttlefish, who is still nearby, watching.

Buzz off! says Terence.

Tell me more about horses, says the cuttlefish.

No, says Terence. It's too late. Soon my head will be underwater.

It's not that bad, says the cuttlefish. MY head's underwater.

But that's normal for you, says Terence. My mouth will fill up with water, and my nose and my ears and I won't be able to do anything.

All the more reason, says the cuttlefish.

More reason for what? asks Terence.

To pass on your knowledge about horses, says the cuttlefish. 

That does make sense.

Terence thinks about his knowledge of horses.

They're brown, says Terence. And fat. And they're called Buster.

All of them, says the cuttlefish.

The one I had a ride on, says Terence.

A ride on? asks the cuttlefish.

Yes, says Terence. And you have to get on standing backwards.

I can't picture that, says the cuttlefish.

Come closer, says Terence.

The cuttlefish comes closer.

Now turn around, says Terence.

The cuttlefish turns around.

Now I put my foot in your stirrup, says Terence. And heave up, and bingo!  I'm on you and facing the front.

Terence is pleased with himself for remembering this procedure.

But the cuttlefish is left with a hazy impression of horses.

A Horse Is Not A Vehicle

Where are they? asks Terence.

Hard to say, says Roo-kai.

Find them! says Terence.

Right, says Roo-kai. Look for footprints.

Nachoos don't have footprints, says Terence.

Not their footprints, your footprints, says Roo-kai.

Why? asks Terence.

They'll lead you to where you buried the Nachoos, says Roo-kai.

Terence starts looking.

There are some footprints. Big ones and small ones and some going backwards.

They lead down to the water and then disappear.

They must be here! says Terence.

Not here exactly, says Roo-kai, but under the water. I'll go in and poke around in the sand.

He steps into the sea.

The waves wash around his thin legs.

His orange beak pokes into the sand.

Swop! Swop! Ding!

I heard a ding! says Terence.

Probably a Nachoo, says Roo-kai. I'll dig it up, and the other one must be close by.

Roo-kai digs up the first Nachoo, and pokes about for the second.

A cuttlefish floats past.

Taking back the Nachoos? asks the cuttlefish.

Yes, says Roo-kai. We can't leave them here, littering.

They weren't littering, says the cuttlefish.

We would have been littering, says Roo-kai.

Swop! Ding! he locates the other.

Those Nachoos were like shipwrecks, says the cuttlefish. They were Jean and Carl's vessels. They should be left where they are.

Well, they won't be, says Roo-kai. Terence, come and take this one!

Terence plods into the sea.

A bad move for Terence. 

His feet sink into the sand.

He leans forward to grab the Nachoo that Roo-kai uncovered.

And what about the first one? It has already floated away.

Disaster! says Roo-kai. We lost one, and now you're sinking.

I know, says Terence. What I need is a horse.

Are you still going on about horses? asks Roo-kai.

What's a horse? asks the cuttlefish, who is still there, watching.

It's a vehicle, says Terence. With four legs and a tail.

It's not a vehicle, says Roo-kai. Can you move your feet?

No! says Terence. What happens if I keep sinking?

It'll serve you right, says the cuttlefish.

Wah! cries Terence.

He thinks about what might happen.

Sinking is one.

Then he won't get a horse.

Or Gaius might come looking, and save him.

Then Gaius will feel sorry for him.

And he might get a horse.

Or at least a good present.

False Starts And Finishes

Are we done now? asks Gaius.

No, says Terence. We have to march off.

Go on then, says Gaius.

Terence and Denis march off, followed by Ageless.

Gaius brings up the rear, filming the marchers.

Roo-kai flies beside him.

That went well, says Roo-kai.

Thanks to you, says Gaius.

I have an ear for poetry, says Roo-kai. 

Even Terence's, says Gaius.

Even Terence's, says Roo-kai.

Will you be coming back to Adelaide with us? asks Gaius.

When are you going? asks Roo-kai.

Today, says Gaius. 

Don't forget to dig up the Nachoos, says Roo-kai.

Yes, thanks for reminding me, says Gaius.

They have now reached the campsite.

Terence is telling Faith about what they've just done.

I'd like to see the video, says Faith.

Show her, says Terence.

It needs editing, says Gaius. There were several false starts.

Never mind, says Faith. I need to go to work soon. Just show me.

Gaius shows her.

Wow! says Faith. What a great send-off for the botomists. But surely you aren't intending to leave the Nachoos buried there?

No, says Terence. We're digging them up in half an hour.

Good plan, says Faith. Well I'm off now. Got to check on the cytobot data.

Farewell, then, says Gaius. We may be gone before you return.

Good luck with the Tour Down Under, says Faith. And you too, Denis.

I may not be in it, says Denis. I've not yet been asked.

I meant with your relationship, says Faith. 

Oh that, says Denis. 

Send her the video, says Faith. She'll see you at your best. Marching in that dignified manner.

Hmm, says Denis.

And have a good Christmas, Terence, says Faith. Are you expecting a visit from Santa?

WHAT? says Terence.

We don't really do Christmas, says Gaius.

I DO! says Terence.

Sorry, says Faith. Should have kept my mouth shut.

Never mind, says Gaius. It's just that he always asks for a horse.

I know the problem, says Faith.

She leaves without explaining how she knows.

Is it half an hour yet? asks Terence.

Not yet, says Gaius. We have time to do some packing.

Can I go and wait there? asks Terence.

I'll go with you, says Roo-kai.

He and Terence go back to the place on the beach where they buried the Nachoos.

But OH NO!

The tide has come in. Two sprigs of saltbush are afloat on the water.

Leaving nothing to mark the burial spots of the Nachoos.

Heartfelt Errors

Do cuttlefish have ears? asks Denis.

I think not, says Gaius. Why are you asking?

They were cheering, says Denis.

Were they listening? asks Terence.

Well, no, says Gaius. Not without ears.

But Denis said, says Terence.

They sense and respond to vibrations, says Gaius. So, are we done here?

No, says Terence. We haven't done Two Botomists Have Died.

My version of history, says Ageless.

You're not in it, says Terence.

Get on with it, says Denis. 

Continue! says Gaius.

TWO BOTOMISTS HAVE DIED.

( faint wailing sounds arise from the ocean )

Roo-kai: Jean-Botomist wanted to do mapping

Terence: Jean-Botomist wanted to do mapping

Ageless: Count me out

Terence: Shut up then.

Roo-kai: But mapping is hard

Terence: But mapping is hard

Roo-kai: So he did botany

Terence: Botomy

Roo-kai : No, botany

Terence: No botany

Roo-kai: But botany is hard.

Terence: But botomy is hard.

Roo-kai: So he did underwater botomy in a Nachoo

Terence: You said botomy! 

Roo-kai: But he forgot to eat, so he starved.

Terence: But he forgot to eat so he starved.

Roo-kai: Do we need to do it again? We made several errors

I think not, says Gaius. What do you think Denis?

It's better with errors, says Denis. 

More heartfelt, says Gaius. I agree.

Now we say it for Carl-Botomist, says Terence.

I hope I won't run out of battery, says Gaius.

We'll speak fast, says Roo-kai. And it's shorter now that Ageles is sulking.

I'm not sulking, says Ageless.

So, Roo-kai and Terence say the Carl-poem fast but not too fast, and with fewer errors.

At the end of which a heartfelt sobbing arises from the water. 

Now, says Terence. We bury the Nachoos.

THE BURIAL OF THE NACHOOS

Denis steps forward with a Nachoo

Terence steps forward with his.

Wait, says Terence. We didn't make holes yet.

Gaius turns his phone off, and digs two shallow holes with his hands.

It's done.

He turns his phone on again and films the burial of the Nachoos.

Soon only two sprigs of saltbush mark the spot where the Nachoos are buried.

Ageless feels he ought to contribute something

He sings: titi lariti ton ton.

A wave of faint laughter arises from the ocean and quickly subsides.

Perhaps it was heartfelt and not meant to be funny.

They Were....Oops!

Ready? says Gaius. Go!

THE MEMORIAL POEM CONTINUES

Ageless said, says Roo-kai.

Ageless said they were ....oops! says Terence. Ageless said.

I said, intones Ageless.

Roo-kai looks at him sideways.

They were dead, says Roo-kai.

They were dead, says Terence,

They were dead, says Ageless.

Hooray! says Denis.

Denis! says Gaius.

Sorry, says Denis. Continue.

But Roo-kai said, says Roo-kai.

Ageless looks at him sideways.

But Roo-kai said, says Terence.

But Roo-kai said, says Ageless.

After that, says Rookai.

After that, says Terence.

After that, says Ageless.

They went hunting, says Roo-kai.

They went hunting, says Terence.

Impossible, says Ageless.

You ruined it! says Terence.

I'll edit it out, says Gaius. Ageless are you going to say they went hunting or not?

All right, says Ageless. They went hunting.

The sounds of faint cheering arise from the sea.

What was that? asks Denis.

He steps into the water. 

Well! Who would believe it?

A row of cuttlefish appear to have been the source of the cheering.

Terence's memorial ceremony has a wider audience than anyone thought.

The Power Of Three

Where shall we start our march from? asks Denis.

Over there, says Terence. No wait! It's better up there.

Terence runs to the spot which is better

Denis follows.

Ready? calls Gaius.

Where's Ageless? shouts Terence.

He's not here, shouts Gaius

I'll find him, says Roo-kai.

He flies back to the campsite. 

No Ageless.

He flies back to the beach and flies over the water, looking down.

He sees Ageless, heading shorewards.

Ageless looks up.

Roo-kai indicates the ceremonial party.

Ageless does a thumbs-up with his dominant claw and continues to head for the shore.

Roo-kai returns to his place.

Ageless is coming, says Roo-kai.

Go! shouts Gaius.

THE MARCH COMMENCES

Terence and Denis march down to the edge of the water.

Terence goes first with a Nachoo, containing a sprig of saltbush.

Denis follows with the same.

THE MEMORIAL POEMS ARE RECITED

Rookai recites.

At the end of each line he stops, for Terence to repeat it.

Roo-kai: Two botomists haven't died

Terence: Two botomists haven't died

Roo-kai: I thought they had died

Terence: I thought they had died

Roo-kai: Ageless said 

Terence: Ageless said they were dead

Roo-kai: You've got ahead of me.

Terence You've got ahead of me.

Roo-kai: No, you have got ahead of me.

Terence: That isn't in it!

Roo-kai: I thought you'd forgotten what was in it.

Terence: I remembered Ageless said they were dead. It's a really good rhyme.

Gaius: Should I stop filming?

Yes, says Roo-kai.

Ageless emerges from the water.

Am I too late? asks Ageless. 

No, we're starting again, says Gaius. Are you wanting to take part in this ceremony?

I'm willing to do a reading, says Ageless.

That's not how it works, says Roo-kai. I recite the poem and Terence repeats every line.

Then I shall repeat every line after him, says Ageless. How does that sound?

Excellent, said Gaius. Repetition of that nature is a powerful rhetorical device. 

Can we get STARTED? asks Terence.

Where shall we start from? asks Roo-kai

Ageless said they were dead, says Gaius.

You mean Ageless said, says Roo-kai.

As long as you agree, says Gaius.

I agree, says Terence.

And I agree, says Ageless.

Sounds good, thinks Denis.

But they haven't said what they agree to.

We Will Remember

Are we doing it now? asks Roo-kai.

I'm not ready, says Terence.

But Roo-kai remembers your poems, says Gaius. Why aren't you ready?

We have to march here, says Terence. Then do it.

But we're already here, points out Gaius.

Walk away a bit, says Roo-kai. Then march back.

AND, says Terence. I want to go and get the Nachoos.

What for? asks Gaius.

To float them away, says Terence. While I say the poems.

I'll be saying the poems, says Roo-kai.

I'll be saying them after you say them, says Terence.

Line by line? asks Roo-kai.

Yes, says Terence. Or the botomists will think they're your poems.

Fair enough says Roo-kai. We don't want them to think that. 

As for the Nachoos, says Gaius. You can't float them away. It would be littering.

Wah! says Terence. What then?

Bury them, says Roo-kai.

That's just as bad, says Gaius. They should be recycled.

Bury them and then dig them up and recycle them, suggests Roo-kai.

Are you happy with that, Terence? asks Gaius.

 How long will they stay buried? asks Terence.

It matters not, says Gaius. Let's say half an hour. 

Okay, says Terence. I'll get the Nachoos.

He runs back to the campsite.

I hope he can find them, says Roo-kai.

Denis will know where they are,  says Gaius.

Ten minutes later, Denis and Terence appear, with the Nachoos.

Sprigs of saltbush have been placed in each of the Nachoos.

A nice touch, says Gaius.

I suggested seagrass pods, says Denis. But Faith persuaded us not to.

 A waste of seagrass pods, I suppose, says Gaius. Does she know they're only being buried for half an hour?

No, says Denis. So it could have been seagrass pods.

Can we change it? asksTerence.

No, says Gaius. Saltbush will do. It was their first botanical specimen.

Yay! says Terence. The botomists will remember.

They won't see the Nachoos, says Gaius. But we will remember.

So now what? asks Denis.

You and Terence walk away a bit and march back, says Gaius. Then Terence will bury the Nachoos here by the water. And Roo-kai will recite Terence's poems slowly with gaps between the lines so that Terence has time to repeat them.

Very solemn, says Denis. 

Indeed, says Gaius. And I shall make a video of the ceremony, on my phone.

Terence is happy with how this is going. 

Everyone is helping.

Even the botomists, by not being here, for whatever reasons.

A Hapless Creature

Of course Gaius does not have a waterproof pen.

Nor does Denis.

No, says Denis. I don't have one. What's it for?

To write out Terence's poems, says Gaius. And send them out over the water.

Is that his idea? asks Denis.

I suppose so, says Gaius.

Faith might have one, says Denis.

I'll ask her, says Gaius.

He goes across to Faith's tent.

Hey! says Faith. Heard the latest?

No, says Gaius.

High levels of chlorophyll-a in the upper gulf region, says Faith.

Dear me, says Gaius. What a pity we're leaving.

You're leaving? says Faith.

I've been invited to ride in the Tour Down Under, says Gaius.

Faith looks surprised.

In the People's Challenge? asks Faith.

No the Tour Proper, says Gaius. Team Condor.

Faith looks at his thin hairy legs.

Great! says Faith. So you'll be going home to start training.

Indeed, says Gaius. But first, do you have a waterproof pen?

I work for SARDI, says Faith. Of course I have a waterproof pen.

May I borrow it for a few minutes? asks Gaius. Terence has come up with two poems for the cuttlefish botanists, who seem to have reverted to a more normal life style, or died.

So you'll write the poems out for him, with a waterproof pen? says Faith. And then what?

Cast them upon the waters, says Gaius. It's the least we can do.

May I suggest you don't cast them on the waters, says Faith. Some hapless creature might eat them.

Why did I not think of that? says Gaius. You're right of course. I'll persuade him to recite them.

That would be nice, says Faith. So you won't need my waterproof pen.

No, says Gaius. Thank you, Faith.

He goes back to his site.

Where's the waterproof pen? asks Terence.

Faith suggested it would be better to recite the poems over the water, says Gaius. And I think so too.

Okay, says Terence, but I forget how they go.

I know, says Gaius. But Roo-kai will remember. Where is he?

Looking for molluscs, says Terence. 

Gaius and Terence go down to the water to look for Roo-kai who is looking for molluscs.

There he is, cracking open a shell.

Hello Roo-kai, says Gaius. Do you remember the words of Terence's poems?

Of course I do, says Roo-kai, pronging and swallowing a hapless creature.

If Older Ones Can

Sweezus is still on the phone.

When are you guys coming back? asks Sweezus.

I don't know, says Terence.

Sounds like your job is done, says Sweezus.

No, it isn't, says Terence. 

What else is to do? asks Sweezus.

The poem giving, says Terence. 

Giving? says Sweezus.

Yes, says Terence. First, someone writes the poems on a piece of paper. Then I take them down to the water and float them away.

The Have Died poem or the Haven't Died one? asks Sweezus.

Both, says Terence. Just in case.

Good thinking, says Sweezus. Can the cuttlefish read?

Maybe not, says Terence. They're just babies.

Maybe some older ones can, says Sweezus.

Terence says nothing. He is wondering if older ones can.

I reckon they can, says Sweezus. Well, you'd better get cracking.

Okay, says Terence. Bye. See you.

Yeah, see you, says Sweezus.

Terence gives Gaius the phone.

Are you still there? asks Gaius. 

Yeah, says Sweezus. Hey. You available for the Tour Down Under?

When is it? asks Gaius.

Sixteenth of January, says Sweezus. A month off.

Yes I should be, says Gaius. Not much left for us to do here.

It's good here too, says Sweezus. No toxic froth, no more coughing, 

Excellent, says Gaius. No more dead fish?

Not so you'd notice, says Sweezus. By the way, Terence wants to send his poems out over the water. 

Does he? says Gaius.

Yep. As if cuttlefish can read, says Sweezus.

And as if Terence can write, says Gaius. Or even remember the words of his poems.

Yeah, says Sweezus. Just thought I'd give you a heads up.

Thanks, says Gaius. Roo-kai helped him with the poems. Maybe he'll remember.

Cool, says Sweezus. Okay, see ya.  Bye.

The call ends and Gaius now has two more things to think about. 

Or three. Does he have any suitable paper? 

And four. A waterproof pen.

Don't Sweat

Terence goes across to tell Gaius and Denis his poems.

They both like them a lot.

Mind if I quote them to Henriette? asks Denis.

Yes, says Terence.

Has she replied yet? asks Gaius.

A smiley face, says Denis. 

So she wasn't offended, says Gaius.

I assume not, says Denis.

Gaius's phone rings. Riddley ring!

It's Sweezus.

Hello Sweezus, says Gaius. 

Hey, says Sweezus. How's everything going?

Very well, says Gaius. No toxic algae has been detected at Point Lowly. The cuttlefish eggs have hatched successfully. Terence established a relationship with two of the newly hatched cuttlefish. But they're gone now.

Gone? says Sweezus.

That's the best way to put it, says Gaius. Ageless reported them dead, and Roo-kai saw them alive, afterwards.

Shizz, says Sweezus. Schroedinger's cuttlies.

Ha ha, laughs Gaius. Hardly.

Yeah, they're like, dead and alive at the same time, says Sweezus.

But you learn which when you open the box, says Gaius. 

Are they in a box? asks Sweezus.

No, out in the ocean, says Gaius. So we'll never know.

Is Terence upset? asks Sweezus.

Why don't you ask him? says Gaius.

He hands Terence the phone.

It's Sweezus. He wants to say hello, says Gaius.

Terence takes the phone.

Guess what? says Terence.

What, little buddy? asks Sweezus.

I made up two poems, says Terence.

For two different scenarios, says Sweezus.

For the botomists, says Terence. 

I thought they were cuttlefish, says Sweezus.

Yes, they are, says Terence. But they might be dead now.

I heard, says Sweezus. Are you okay with it?

Me? says Terence.

Tell me the poems, says Sweezus.

Terence tries to tell him but can't remember the words exactly.

Yeah, says Sweezus. Yeah well, sounds like they might still be alive, if Roo-kai said so.

Hunting, says Terence.

Yeah, for whatever, says Sweezus. Prawns and crabs and that.

Then my other poem is useless, says Terence.

Don't sweat, says Sweezus. You can keep it for later.

When they do die, says Terence.

Yeah, says Sweezus. Feel better?

Terence would feel better, but he hadn't felt bad in the first place. 

Two Haven't Died

Terence runs back to the campsite, and sits on a log, to work on his poem.

Roo-kai flutters down.

You have to help me, says Terence.

I don't have to, says Roo-kai. But I will if I can.

Okay, says Terence. I'm doing two poems.

Two? says Roo-kai.

One called Two botomists have died, says Terence. And one called Two botomists haven't.

You can't call a poem Two botomists haven't, says Roo-kai.

But you said they hadn't, says Terence.

They haven't, says Roo-kai. But the title of the poem doesn't say what they haven't.

Easy, says Terence. Two botomists haven't died.

Much better, says Roo-kai. And is that the one you want help with?

Yes, says Terence. I've got the first line.

Don't tell me, says Roo-kai. Two botomists haven't died.

Yes, says Terence.  And now I'm stuck.

You could say why you thought they had died, says Roo-kai. And then how you found out that they hadn't. And I wouldn't mind if you mentioned me in it.

Okay, says Terence. 

He starts thinking.

Then...

How about this? says Terence:

Two botomists haven't died, 

I thought they had died

Ageless said

They were dead

But Roo-kai said

After that

They went hunting.

That's pretty good, says Roo-kai. I like my part. 

Thanks, says Terence. Did you like all the rhymes?

Died and died isn't strictly a rhyme, says Roo-kai. But it works in the context.

It's not a context, says Terence. 

Okay, says Roo-kai. What about the other one?

Two botomists have died, says Terence. This is the hard one.

Do you want help with that? asks Roo-kai.

You can't help, says Terence. You said they're alive.

I can still imagine, says Roo-kai. Or you could ask Ageless to help you.

Okay, you help me, says Terence. And if it's no good I'll ask Ageless.

What's the first line? asks Roo-kai.

Two botomists have died, says Terence. 

Add some memories, says Roo-kai.

Terence thinks hard.

Then...

Jean-Botomist wanted to do mapping 

but mapping is hard

so he did botany 

but botany is hard

so he did underwater botomy in a Nachoo

But he forgot to eat

and he starved.

That's very moving, says Roo-kai. But what about Carl-Botanist?

The second verse is about him, says Terence. 

Carl-Botomist wanted to do mapping

but mapping is hard...

Roo-kai has to listen to the whole thing again.

But he doesn't mind.

Being Dead Or Hunting

De Freycinet is heading for his dinghy.

He meets Ageless and Faith, who are on their way back to the campsite.

Sad news, says de Freycinet.

What is it? asks Faith.

About the two botanists, says de Freycinet. 

Yes, we know all about it, says Faith.

I believe Ageless made the grim dicovery, says de Freycinet. 

I did, says Ageless. 

I have volunteered to send back the coordinates of their last resting place, should I come across them, says de Freycinet.

I wouldn't bother with that, says Ageless.

They deserve a proper burial, says de Freycinet.

Best they remain in the sea, says Faith. And let nature take its course.

Nevertheless, says de Freycinet, hopping into his dinghy. I shall do it.

Want a shove? asks Ageless. 

Merci, says de Freycinet.

They give him a shove and he rows away, towards Whyalla.

De Freycinet looks over the side of his dinghy every few minutes.

The water is clear.

A few cuttlefish swim lazily below him.

One of them looks up

That's that lobster, says the cuttlefish to another.

It's a dinghy, says the other.

But he's in it, says the cuttlefish that looked up. He was looking over the side.

Maybe he lost his hat, says the other.

No, he was wearing a captain's hat, says the one who looked up.

Maybe he's looking for Jean and Carl, says the other.

They won't want him to find them, says the one who looked up.

How would he? They look just like us, says the other.

True, says the one who looked up. But he might think we're them.

Scatter! says the other.

They scatter.

But there's no need to scatter.

De Freycinet is looking for two dead ones.

Ageless and Faith return to the campsite.

Terence runs to meet them.

Ageless! Did you lie? asks Terence.

What about? asks Ageless. 

Roo-kai says he saw them after you said they were dead, says Terence.

Were they dead when he saw them? asks Ageless.

No! says Terence. They were hunting a crab.

How does he know it was after I saw them? asks Ageless.

Because he just got here, says Terence. And you got here BEFORE!

Roo-kai is mistaken, says Ageless.

Or you are, says Faith.

Or I am, says Ageless. But I'm rarely mistaken.

So what now? asks Terence.

Write them a nice poem, says Ageless. 

About being dead or hunting? asks Terence.

Why not both? suggests Faith.

Rightly Confused

Ageless returns to where Terence is waiting, with Faith.

Did you find them? asks Terence.

I found them, says Ageless. 

Were they alive? asks Terence.

No, says Ageless. 

So you found them too late, says Faith.

Too late,says Ageless. 

They hadn't learned how to hunt, says Faith. That's peculiar.

They were peculiar, says Ageless. 

He looks at Terence to see how he's taken the news.

Terence is looking at the sky.

Now Terence is turning away from the sea, and plodding back to the campsite,

He's taken it hard, says Faith. Couldn't you have pretended?

I have pretended, says Ageless. 

So they haven't died, says Faith. 

Not yet, says Ageless. But they're not coming back.

Terence has arrived at the campsite.

The botomists have died, says Terence. 

Did Ageless say so? asks Gaius.

Yes, says Terence. He found them too late.

I'm surprised, says Gaius. Did he bring back the bodies?

No, says Terence.

What's happened? asks Louis de Freycinet.

The botanists died, says Gaius. Ageless found them but didn't bring back the bodies.

Alors! says Louis de Freycinet. They deserve a good burial. I'm about to depart but if I see them floating I'll propel them shorewards.

They won't be floating, says Gaius. They'll have sunk to the bottom.

If the waters are clear, I may spot them, says de Freycinet. If so I'll send you the coordinates.

Thank you, says Gaius. 

Terence is looking up at the sky again.

And guess what? Here comes Roo-kai.

They DIED! says Terence.

Roo-kai looks at everyone. 

Gaius has not died. Nor has Denis. And de Freycinet looks like he's getting ready to leave, but not in that way.

Who died? asks Roo-Kai.

The botomists, says Terence.

They must have died in the last few minutes, because I've just seen them, says Roo-kai.

What were they doing? asks Terence.

Sneaking up on a blue swimmer, says Roo-kai.

Maybe it killed them, says Terence.

Who told you they died? asks Roo-kai.

Ageless, says Terence.

How long ago? asks Roo-kai.

Just now, says Terence. But before you got here.

Which means...? prompts Roo-kai.

What DOES it mean? 

Terence is (perhaps rightly) confused.

Deadly Rivals

Terence stares into the water.

It is clear. There are no botanists there.

Never mind, says Faith. It may be for the best. 

Not for me, says Terence.

Cuttlefish aren't cut out to be botanists, says Faith. 

They're underwater botomists, says Terence. 

But they weren't eating, says Faith. I wonder if they've figured out how to hunt yet.

What if they haven't? asks Terence.

Then they'll die, says Faith. 

Ageless appears behind them.

Seen them? asks Ageless.

No! says Terence. And now they might die.

Want me to go and make sure? asks Ageless.

Yes! says Terence. I mean no.

You mean yes, says Ageless. If they haven't died yet, I'll teach them how to do killing.

Good for you, says Faith. 

Ageless makes his way into the water.

What about your sunnies? asks Faith.

Ageless adjusts his sunglasses to be more like goggles, using the strap.

Clik. Now he can't see anything. But he looks good.

He swims away in the direction of.... anywhere.

He still can't see a thing.

He stops to adjust his sunnies. 

That's better.

Where is he?

The water looks murky.

Jean-Botanist swims by.

Ageless! says Jean-Botanist. Guess what?

You sound like Terence, says Ageless.

How is Terence? asks Jean-Botanist. 

He's waiting for you, says Ageless. 

Perhaps you could give him a message, says Jean-Botanist.

What message? asks Ageless.

We plan to live the rest of our lives as hunters, says Jean-Botanist. We're not coming back.

Not even for the Nachoos? asks Ageless.

Not even for them, says Jean-Botanist.

Carl-Botanist appears in the gloom.

Did you tell him? asks Carl-Botanist.

I told him, says Jean-Botanist.

Fine, says Ageless. Do you know how to hunt though?

Sure we do, says Carl-Botanist. We caught a leatherjacket just now.

And shared it, says Jean-Botanist.

Cuttlefish don't normally cooperate, says Ageless. Just saying.

Meaning what? asks Carl-Botanist.

Meaning you're doing it wrong, says Ageless. There'll come a time when you'll be deadly rivals. Then what?

We will never be deadly rivals, says Carl-Botanist.

Wait till a curvaceous rainbow-tinted beauty catches your eye, says Ageless.

Ha! scoff the botanists.

All right, says Ageless. I'll go and tell Terence you've died.

Why? asks Jean-Botanist. 

Then he'll forget you, says Ageless. 

He won't forget us, says Jean-Botanist.

Won't he? says Ageless.

The botanists look rattled.

Ageless readjusts his goggles and swims away from them.

Serves them right.

Her Beautiful Hands

Back at the campground, Faith is helping Denis come up with a message.

How about this? says Faith. She said she was doing nothing. So you make something up.

About what I think she was doing? asks Denis. 

Yes, says Faith. So she knows you've been thinking of her.

Which I have, says Denis.

There you go then, says Faith. What might she have been doing?

Getting her nails done? says Denis.

What made you think of that? asks Faith.

Her small hands, says Denis.

Hmm, says Faith. 

Does she wear nail polish? asks Faith.

I don't remember, says Denis.

Yet you remember her hands, says Faith. Perhaps that's a starting point.

It might be, agrees Denis.

He is just composing the first words to Henriette in his head when Terence arrives, panting.

Are they back yet? asks Terence.

I thought you were with them, says Faith.

Not them! The botomists! says Terence.

If they are, they'll be somewhere down there in the water, says Faith.

Can I go and look? asks Terence.

I'll come with you, says Faith.

She and Terence go down to the sea, to look for the botanists.

Denis stays behind, typing words into his phone.

Dear Henriette, Naturally I am not convinced you're doing nothing. Do you wear nail polish?

He deletes the last sentence. It won't do. 

Dear Henriette, I can't forget your beautiful hands which remind me of the small hands of my dear Sophie. 

No! that won't do either.

Gaius, Ageless and Louis de Freycinet loom into his field of vision.

He stops composing.

We're back, says Gaius. Where's Terence?

Gone with Faith to see if the botanists have returned, says Denis.

Writing to Henriette? asks Gaius.

Trying, says Denis.

What's the problem? asks Louis de Freycinet.

Our correspondence has faltered, says Denis.

Courage! says de Freycinet.

Good advice, says Gaius. Why not just continue in a natural way. What do you have so far?

Her beautiful hands, says Denis. But I'm not sure how to bring them into the narrative. 

I dream of your beautiful hands, madame, and I beg you to use them to our mutual satisfaction, suggests de Freycinet.

Dare I say that? asks Denis.

I wouldn't, says Gaius.

But Denis is tempted

Tame In Comparison

How far is it? asks Terence.

You know how far it is, says Gaius. 

No I don't, says Terence.

You walked to the lighthouse with me, says Gaius. Now we're walking back. It's the same distance.

But where are we in it? asks Terence.

About half way, says Gaius.

And getting longer, says Terence.

Shorter, says Gaius. 

What shall we talk about? asks Terence.

Ask Ageless, says Gaius.

Okay, says Terence. Come on, Ageless.

What? asks Ageless. 

Talk, says Terence.

I don't feel like talking, says Ageless.

What's up? asks de Freycinet.

Your Rose, says Ageless. She nursed you.

She did, says de Freycinet.

My Kobo couldn't nurse me, says Ageless. Although she's my beloved.

Why not? asks de Freycinet.

No arms, says Ageless. 

There are other ways, says de Freycinet.

Clik clik, agrees Ageless.

Boring, says Terence.

What about you Gaius, asks de Freycinet. Do you have a ladyfriend?

No, no, says Gaius.

He does, says Terence.

And who might that be? asks Gaius.

Margaret, says Terence.

I haven't seen Margaret for years, says Gaius.

Years? asks de Freycinet.

Let me see, says Gaius. The last time was when we borrowed her electric drill to help with constructing some scenery.

Did you return it? asks de Freycinet.

She would have taken it back, says Gaius. She came along, to interfere in what we were doing.

Was I there? asks Terence.

Yes you were there, says Gaius. It was that production of Candide where you and Hedley were drawn over the mountains in a basket, with ropes and pulleys.

 I remember! says Terence. And a ladder!

Fascinating, says de Freycinet. My life is tame in comparison.

Look! says Gaius. There's the campground. Terence, you may run ahead now.

Terence runs ahead, thinking about Hedley and the basket and the ladder, which was a blue ladder.

Ageless, Gaius and de Freycinet continue walking at a reasonable pace.

And no longer talking.

Only Captains Do That

Everyone looks at Ageless.

What? says Ageless.

Lobster Guy will intervene? says Baudin.

How will he intervene? asks de Freycinet.

What does intervene mean? asks Terence.

Stick his oar in, says Baudin.

Terence is none the wiser, but thinks that he is.

I'm sure there'll be no need for that, says Gaius. 

So am I, says Ageless. I simply meant that I'm willing.

Can we go back to the campground and see if they're back yet? asks Terence.

Yes, says Gaius. Will you walk with us, Louis?

I will, says de Freycinet.

Can we walk fast? asks Terence.

At a reasonable pace, says Gaius.

They thank Baudin for the sardines and say farewell.

Come again anytime, says Baudin.

Gaius, Ageless and de Freycinet walk along the trail together.

Terence runs ahead for a while, then stops, for them to catch up.

Why are you doing that, Terence? asks Gaius.

To make you go faster, says Terence.

It's not working, says Ageless.

Stay with us, says Gaius. I know you like talking.

I already talked, says Terence.

Then listen, says Gaius. Louis has been telling us of his adventures.

Okay, says Terence. What adventures?

It was really my wife Rose's adventure, says de Freycinet.

Indeed, says Gaius. She must have been brave.

She loved me, says de Freycinet.

Did she save you from tigers? asks Terence.

No, says de Freycinet. She dressed as a man and came with me on the Uranie.

Woop, says Terence.

It was illegal for women to join naval expeditions, says de Freycinet.

Did she get into trouble? asks Terence. 

Not from me, says de Freycinet. I was the captain. And once we had sailed it was too late for the navy to do anything about it. What times we had. There was even a shipwreck.

A romantic tale, says Gaius. 

Yes, sighs de Freycinet. My dear Rose. And later, she nursed me when I was dying of cholera.

That's devotion, says Gaius.

Did she die of cholera? asks Ageless.

I don't know, says de Freycinet. I had already turned into a lobster.

Did she turn into a lobster? asks Terence.

No, says de Freycinet. Only sea captains do that.

Intervention

 De Freycinet has landed the dinghy, with the aid of his friends.

Come in and rest your old claws, says Baudin.

Thank you, I will, says de Freycinet.

Baudin, de Freycinet and Ageless climb up the rocks to the lighthouse.

Baudin opens a can of sardines. 

Meanwhile Gaius and Terence are walking along the trail to the lighthouse.

And, says Terence, there were millions and millions of of parrots.

On the palace? asks Gaius.

Yes, says Terence. 

Hundreds, surely, says Gaius. 

Maybe not THAT many, says Terence.

Did you make friends with them? asks Gaius.

No, says Terence. They were friends with Saint Joseph. They sat on his things.

Annoying, says Gaius. 

That's not what he said, says Terence.

They have now arrived at the front door of the lighthouse.

Gaius knocks on the door.

Baudin opens.

Come in! says Baudin. De Freycinet's here. He's brought back my dinghy.

We know, says Gaius. We thought we'd walk back with him.

Very kind, says Baudin. I had offered to row him.

Stupid, whispers Terence.

I heard that, says Baudin. It's not stupid. It's good manners.

Do I smell sardines? asks Gaius.

Yes, says Baudin. I've just opened a can. Are you hungry?

I would welcome a sardine or two, says Gaius.

They all go inside.

Any news of the botanists? asks Baudin.

They've gone hunting for their dinner, says Gaius. They hadn't eaten a thing since they hatched.

Without their Nachoos, says Terence. And they might never come back.

They'll come back for their Nachoos, says Baudin.

Terence looks hopeful. 

Then less hopeful. 

How does he know?

Good sailors don't abandon their vessels, says Baudin.

Ha ha! laughs de Freycinet. Sometimes they do.

Terence looks at Ageless, who is eating the final sardine.

What? asks Ageless. 

Do you think they'll come back? asks Terence.

They'll be weighing up their options, says Ageless.

True, says Gaius. Was that the last sardine?

I'll open another can, says Baudin.

What does that mean? asks Terence.

I'll need to do some more shopping, says Baudin.

I meant weighing up their options, says Terence.

Choosing the best course of action, says Ageless. 

What if...? begins Terence.

Lobster Guy will intervene, says Ageless.

Never Nothing

Jean-Botanist and Carl-Botanist divide and share the stunned leatherjacket.

Chomp chomp. This is good!

They know how to survive now.

We don't have to do botany, says Jean-Botanist. We could live like this forever.

As hunters, says Carl-Botanist.

They think about it, for a while.

....

So what's everyone else doing?

Louis de Freycinet is approaching the lighthouse in Baudin's dinghy.

Baudin is watching through an upper window.

Ageless is downstairs, having a nap.

Baudin sees Louis and runs downstairs to tell Ageless that Louis is coming.

Ageless has been dreaming of Kobo. 

Pulling her along a dark beach in a plum box. 

De Freycinet's here with my dinghy! says Captain Baudin. Help me guide him in past the rocks.

Ageless is awake in an instant.

They head down to the rocks.

......

Can we go now? asks Terence.

I suppose so, says Gaius. But we must tell Denis first.

They walk back to Faith's tent where Denis is eating the last of the blueberries.

And discussing what Denis should do.

Her last reply was definitive, says Denis. Nothing.

Not necessarily, says Faith. She may have genuinely been doing nothing.

It gives me nothing to go on, says Denis. Our correspondence is based on exchange of information.

What was she doing before she was doing nothing? asks Faith.

Getting a tattoo, says Denis. Before that, skydiving.

She sounds like an interesting person, says Faith. 

Guess what! says Terence, arriving.

What? asks Faith. Did you let the cuttlefish go?

Yes, says Terence, and we saw Louis de Face-net, and he stopped and swapped dinghies, and now...

...we're thinkng of walking to the lighthouse to accompany him on his way back, says Gaius.

But surely Baudin will row him back here to pick up his dinghy? says Denis.

If he's stupid, says Terence.

If he does the right thing, says Denis.

It's a short walk, says Gaius. If they're planning on rowing, Terence and I will walk back on our own.

Yes! says Terence. Then everyone will have someone to talk to.

Right, says Gaius. Let's go, Terence.

He and Terence start walking towards Lighthouse Drive.

They walk along Lighthouse Drive for a while.

I used to live on a palace, says Terence.

I know that, says Gaius. I was there when you fell.

This is nice. It's not hard to find something to talk about.

Zchoom!

Shall I tell you? asks Louis de Freycinet.

No, says Terence. I'll wait and see what happens.

Eh bien! says Louis de Freycinet.

He climbs out of his dinghy and drags it onto the sand.

Then he clambers into Captain Baudin's dinghy.

Give me a push, says Louis de Freycinet.

Terence gives him a push.

Nothing happens.

I'll go and get Gaius, says Roo-kai.

He flies off and comes back with Gaius.

Gaius and Terence both push the dinghy.

It slides into the sea.

Louis de Freycinet waves back at them, and starts rowing.

I suppose he plans to walk back, says Gaius.

Yes! says Terence. And he'll have no one to talk to.

We could go and meet him, says Gaius. 

Okay, says Terence. Can we go now?

Not yet, says Gaius. It will be some time before he arrives at the lighthouse.

What if Baudin rows him back? says Roo-kai.

Why would he do that? asks Terence.

He might think it's the right thing to do, says Roo-kai.

It would be stupid, says Terence. He'd have to row back again. 

These old sea captains are fond of the sea, says Gaius. 

Terence still thinks it's stupid.

I wonder if the botanists have found anything to eat yet? says Gaius.

Yes I wonder, says Roo-kai. 

I sometimes forget they're just babies, says Gaius.

They grow up fast, says Roo-kai. We may not see them again.

Wah! cries Terence. They have to come back for their Nachoos!

And I'm hoping to follow their progress as cuttlefish botanists, says Gaius.

You should have made an arrangement, says Roo-kai.

Too late for that now, says Gaius. 

.....

Far out at sea, Carl-Botanist and Jean-Botanist are trying out their high-speed tentacles.

Zchoom! Zchoom! 

These are great! says Carl-Botanist.

Look over there, says Jean-Botanist.

Half a dozen leatherjackets are darting this way and that, in an unpredictable manner.

How do we sneak up behind them? asks Carl-Botanist.

We work together, says Jean-Botanist. I'll attract their attention while you do the sneaking. And we share what you catch.

A clever plan, thinks Carl-Botanist.

Jean-Botanist undulates into a space not too far from the leatherjackets.

He starts spinning and making horrible faces.

Skills he learned earlier.

The leatherjackets stop darting in an unpredictable manner and watch him.

That cuttlefish is going nuts, says a leatherjacket.

Maybe it ate something nasty, says another.

Zchoom! 

A leatherjacket is impaled on toothed suckers.

The other five dart away.

Teacups and Sinks

Terence lets the botanists go.

They swim away, looking for molluscs, crabs, prawns, but not lobsters.

Terence stands on the shore, not far from Captain Baudin's dinghy.

Roo-kai drops down and lands on the dinghy.

How will Captain Baudin get his dinghy back? asks Terence.

He'll think of something, says Roo-kai.

Like what? asks Terence.

It's not too far to the lighthouse.. says Roo-kai. Maybe he'll walk here.

With Ageless, says Terence. 

Yes, they could walk here together, says Roo-kai. Telling tales to each other, as a way of passing the time.

What if they get run over? asks Terence.

They won't get run over, says Roo-kai. They are both far too canny.

What tales will they tell? asks Terence.

You know Ageless better than I do, says Roo-kai.

He loves Kobo, says Terence. Once he climbed up the outside wall to her window.

How did he get though the window? asks Roo-kai.

Gaius opened it, says Terence, and Ageless fell into the sink.

He probably won't tell Baudin that story, says Roo-kai. I wonder if Baudin had a girlfriend?

Maybe the lady who got his teacups, says Terence.

Terence and Roo-kai continue to stare at the sea, thinking  of teacups and sinks.

 A dinghy hoves into view, if that's the expression.

Hey! says Terence. Who's that coming?

The dinghy gets closer.

Now they can see who is in it.

Bonjour, mecs! says Louis de Freycinet.

Boo-jor! says Terence. 

Don't tell me Baudin sent you to pick up his dinghy! says Roo-kai.

He requested, says Louis de Freycinet. It wasn't an order.

But you can't row two dinghies, says Roo-kai.

I'll leave mine here, and row Baudin's dinghy to the lighthouse, says Louis de Freycinet.

How will you get back? asks Terence.

Think about it, says Louis de Freycinet.

Terence thinks about it.

Louis de Freycinet will be at the lighthouse with one dinghy, the one he brought back.

Louis de Freycinet and Roo-kai wait for Terence to work out how Louis might get back to the campground to pick up his dinghy.

They have to wait quite some time.

Wisely

We were right! says Jean-Botanist.

You were, says Gaius. You both have noses for botany.

Noses? says Carl-Botanist.

Just an expression, says Gaius.

They thought I'd stopped breathing, says Terence.

We can't be right about everything, says Jean-Botanist.

Are you planning to continue as underwater botanists? asks Denis.

Yes they are, says Terence. They're going to find the Kremmy-cristarter and kill it.

No they aren't, says Faith. That's not how we do things.

That may be how cuttlefish do things.

But Jean-Botanist and Carl-Botanist cannot say.

Have a blueberry, says Terence.

No thanks, says Jean-Botanist. We don't eat them.

What do you eat? asks Terence.

The botanists look at each another.

They don't really know.

They haven't eaten since they hatched recently.

You must be very hungry, says Faith. Go back into the sea and find something you fancy.

Like a sardine, says Terence.

Or a mollusc, crab, prawn or lobster, says Faith.

Lobster! says Terence. Not Ageless!

Of course not , says Carl-Botanist. 

How do we catch them? asks Jean-Botanist.

That should be instinctive, says Gaius.

Sneak up behind them, says Faith. Then shoot out your high-speed tentacles and grab them.

Okay, says Jean-Botanist. But we can't sneak in our Nachoos.

Leave the Nachoos with us, says Gaius.

I'll take you back to the water, says Terence.

Off he goes, with the botanists.

I didn't like to mention that cuttlefish also eat other cuttlefish, says Faith.

Wisely, says Gaius.

Pure Speculation

The botanists float towards Terence.

Terence spots them.

Hey! shouts Terence. Come here!

They draw even closer.

Terence sploshes into the sea.

You're not meant to come into the water! warns Jean-Botanist.

I launched you! says Terence.

He did launch us, says Carl-Botanist.

It's not even deep here, says Terence.

He picks up the botanists in their Nachoos, and plods back to shore.

Why is your mouth blue? asks Jean-Botanist.

It isn't, says Terence.

It is, says Carl-Botanist. We thought you might have stopped breathing.

I wouldn't turn blue if I stopped breathing, says Terence.

What colour would you turn? asks Jean-Botanist.

I would stay the same, says Terence. Like always.

You should look at yourself, says Jean-Botanist. Your mouth's blue.

It's blueberries! says Terence.

He has eaten a few.

We thought you were only allowed red drinks, says Carl-Botanist.

Blueberries are like red drinks, says Terence.

Except they're blue, says Carl-Botanist. Did you swallow the solids?

I spat them out, says Terence. I'm okay. How about you?

We've made progress, says Jean-Botanist, but we've come back to ask Gaius a question.

Let's go! says Terence.

He caries the Nachoos and botanists up to the campsite.

Gaius and Denis are still at Faith's tent, eating blueberries.

Back already? says Gaius.

They have a question, says Terence.

What is it? asks Gaius.

What does Karenia cristata look like? asks Jean-Botanist.

Faith swallows a blueberry.

Have you been looking for it? asks Faith. 

Yes, says Carl-Botanist. We know it's round and small and ....

Possibly green, says Jean-Botanist.

But that's pure speculation, says Carl-Botanist.

Based on what, as a matter of interest? asks Gaius.

Lettuce, says Jean-Botanist. Call it a hunch.

You may be correct, says Faith. 

She takes out her phone.

Yes, says Faith. Here is an image of Karenia cristata, greatly magnified.

She shows the two botanists the image.

It looks like a small leprous pea. Green with touches of yellow and purple.

Okay, a pea, not a lettuce. 

But predominantly green!

Possibly Not Green

Jean-Botanist and Carl-Botanist drift around underwater in separate locations.

Who else can they ask?

Jean-Botanist encounters a loose piece of seagrass.

Hello, says Jean-Botanist. 

Lee-loo, says the seagrass.

At least it said something.

I'm looking for Karenia cristata, says Jean-Botanist.

Lee-loo, says the seagrass.

Useless.

But no.

The seagrass twists itself into a loop. What can that mean?

Karenia cristata is round?

Jean-Botanist is excited.

He must tell Carl-Botanist.

He turns the Nachoo and heads to where he last saw Carl-Botanist.

Luckily Carl-Botanist is waiting there, having come back.

Learn anything? asks Carl-Botanist.

Karenia cristata is round, says Jean-Botanist.

You found one? asks Carl-Botanist.

Not exactly, says Jean-Botanist. I learned it from a seagrass.

Did it actually say it? asks Carl-Botanist. 

All it said was Lee-loo, says Jean-Botanist. But it made a shape that was round.

Before or after you'd asked it, asks Carl-Botanist. 

After, says Jean-Botanist.  

That's promising, says Carl-Botanist. I met a lettuce. 

So did I, says Jean-Botanist. It knew nothing.

Mine too, says Carl-Botanist.

At least we know not to ask them anything, says Jean-Botanist.

And we know one more thing about what we're looking for, says Carl-Botanist.

Round and small, possibly green, says Jean-Botanist.

Who said possibly green? asks Carl-Botanist.

And possibly not green, says Jean-Botanist.

We should go and ask Gaius, says Carl-Botanist. It might be in his notes.

Okay, says Jean-Botanist. They're probably wondering where we are anyway.

They direct their Nachoos up to the surface.

Great. They are not far from the beach at the Campground. 

And Terence is standing at the edge of the water, looking.

They draw closer.

Oh no! 

What's wrong with Terence?

His mouth has turned blue.