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.