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.