Random Red Tufts

The red object in the freezer stares out at Gaius and Humboldt.

No wait. It doesn't. It is just a red pot.

Wrapped in a dirty red hat.

This is Ageless's hat, if I'm not mistaken, says Gaius.

He takes it out of the freezer.

Freezer or not, it's unhygienic to have such an object in close contact with their frozen dinners.

Humboldt takes the object, and places it on the table, next to Sweezus's note.

Aha! says Humboldt. A note! Gone to deliver 1st crocs w. T.  S. Who is T.S?

Gaius examines the note while Humboldt unwraps the red pot.

It is crumbly, and bears the mark of the Claw.

There are wavy lines drawn around it. And stick figures, depicting a clam and four fingers. Tufts of red wool sprout from random positions. Which could be unintended. 

Terence's work no doubt, says Humboldt. I wonder where he is? And why he put his pot in the freezer?

Gaius puzzles over the note.

Got it! says Gaius. It's not T.S. It's T. S. which is quite different.

Humboldt puts the pot down and looks at the letters.

Gaius is right!

So T will be Terence, says Gaius. Which explains why he's not here. And S will be Sweezus.

Perhaps we should follow them, says Humboldt.

We must, says Gaius. We can't guarantee Arthur is with them. He is not mentioned.

So what? asks Humboldt.

Arthur can deal with anything, says Gaius.

(This sounds like an exaggeration to Humboldt).

And Terence is impervious, adds Gaius.

(Humboldt agrees).

But Sweezus is vulnerable, says Gaius. Come, let us go after them.

Shall we take a few more pairs of Crocs with us, as a second delivery? asks Humboldt.

Excellent idea, says Gaius.

(Humboldt is pleased).

And what about this pot? asks Humboldt.

Yes, the pot, says Gaius. Bring it. It may come in useful.

How exactly? asks Humboldt. It isn't well made.

But Gaius is looking for pairs of Crocs in different sizes, and not listening.

So, the red pot is coming.

The Scientists' Dinner

What time is it? asks the crocodile.

Not midday yet, says Arthur. Your delivery's coming.

You know that for certain? asks the crocodile. Because if it isn't, all poetry's off.

.......

This is scary.

What if Arthur gets eaten?

Let's see where the delivery has got to.

.......

Terence goes slowly past trees.

Speed up, little buddy, says Sweezus.

I'm looking for parrots, says Terence.

I'll look for them, says Gloria. I'm best placed to.

She flits up and darts through the stringbarks and red gums.

She flits down again.

Nothing doing, except for a Wompoo fruit dove, says Gloria. And it flew away.

Keep looking, says Terence.

Not too hard, says Sweezus.

Gloria winks.

Now Terence, says Gloria. I want you to think about your drawing. We'll be getting there soon. Sweezus will be meeting the crocodile. It's a moment fraught with danger, especially if it's in the afternoon.

Good! says Terence. I'll draw him running away, dropping flip flops.

Let's hope that will not happen, says Gloria. I suggest you think of other scenarios, so that you will be ready for any eventuality. Did you bring a pencil?

No, says Terence.

I've got a pen, says Sweezus. Don't know if it works though. 

Try it now, says Gloria. We don't want to be caught scribbling madly to get the ink running while dealing with an unpredictable crocodile.

Sweezus gets a pen out. It's one he once thought was funny.

For goodness sake, says Gloria. How much did you pay for that silly frog pen?

I was given it, says Sweezus.

He scribbles on the side of a shoe box. It works!

He hands it to Terence.

Terence is delighted. If you press a button the frog will throw punches. Boof! Boof!

.......

This is tense. Will they arrive after midday?

.....

And what of Gaius and Humboldt?

They were out when Terence and Gloria returned from the clay deposits.

Where were they?

They had gone to the shops.

Tired of plums and apples they had decided to splash out on two frozen dinners from Woolworths.

They have just returned to the cabin, with two Butter Chicken dinners.

Gaius places them in the freezer.

I look forward to dinner, says Humboldt.

As do I, says Gaius. Now, what's this in the freezer? It wasn't there earlier.

Let me see, says Humboldt.

The scientists regard the red object.

Praise From A Reptile

Terence catches up.

You should have waited, says Terence.

We're waiting, says Sweezus.

But before, says Terence. I had no one to walk with. Not even a parrot.

We'll look out for parrots, says Gloria.

That's why I went slow, says Terence.

Come on, says Sweezus. Arthur must be way in front now.

He knows about crocs does he? asks Gloria.

No, says Sweezus.

Got a first aid kit? asks Gloria.

Of course he hasn't.

......

Arthur has reached the banks of the Embley, and sat down on a log.

The river is deep and something in it is moving.

It moves towards Arthur.

Arthur stands up and backs into a tree, festooned with climbing swamp fern.

Peace! says Arthur.

Piece of what? asks the crocodile. You don't appear to have anything, other than knees.

The crocodile lunges at Arthur's knees.

Arthur steps sideways, as the crocodile snaps, merely grazing a kneecap.

I meant to do that, says the crocodile. I'm playful in the morning. My teeth are okay, if you're asking.

My knee's bleeding, says Arthur, if you're asking.

Least of your worries, says the crocodile. Wait till after midday.

What happens then? asks Arthur.

I've set a deadline, says the crocodile. I was promised a delivery. If it's not here by then, I'll .....

Lash furiously the impassive river with your water-drunk carcass, says Arthur.

You're a poet! says the crocodile.

Was. Given up, says Arthur.

Still, says the crocodile. I admire what you said there.

Thanks, says Arthur, not averse to praise from a reptile who has recently threatened his knee.

I try my hand at poetry, from time to time, says the crocodile.

Arthur waits. He is bound to continue, without further encouragement.

Sure enough:

Damarri stepped on a thorn.
His foot was bleeding.
Ganyarra the crocodile smelt blood.
He followed Damarri across the inlet.
He tried to bite off his leg
But he couldn't.
This was because
Ganyarra had no teeth.

Damarri was a hero.
He laughed.

He made Ganyarra teeth
From the white mangrove.

With his gift
Ganyarra bit off
The left leg of Damarri.

Damarri told Ganyarra
To go off and hunt other people.

See Both Ways

Yeah some people say that, says Sweezus.

It's your face, says Gloria.

Yeah well, says Sweezus. We look different in helmets. Even our faces.

But Gloria isn't put off. It's not from the Tour de France that she thinks she knows him.

It's the Mission.

And Terence, says Gloria. He looks familiar too.

He fell off the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, says Sweezus. I caught him.

Good man, says Gloria. Thousands wouldn't.

Guess not, says Sweezus. But when I say caught him, he just kind of landed.

Meant to be, says Gloria. Do you believe our fates are determined?

If they ARE fates, says Sweezus.

That's the question, says Gloria. If they are, then they are. Me, I believe in the Old Ways.

Cool, says Sweezus. What are the old ways?

Make up stories to suit the landscape, and explain events that have already happened, says Gloria. For example the crocodile stories. Why do you think they have teeth? Why do they eat some people and not others? Which mountain range are they?

Which mountain range are they? asks Sweezus.

Trick question, says Gloria. Many. But one is the Yarrabah Range behind Cairns.

You're going to be useful, says Sweezus.

Yes I am , says Gloria. For one thing I can see both ways, by revolving my head.

Sweezus does not comment. Who can't see both ways by revolving their head?

And, continues Gloria, I can see that your friend Arthur is way ahead of us, and I think I know why.

So do I, says Sweezus. He's a poet. He likes to go alone into dangerous situations. He wants to meet the crocodile first.

I was going to say that, says Gloria.

Sorry, says Sweezus. What about Terence?

He's lagging behind us, says Gloria. I believe he is cross. He thinks we should wait for him. He wishes he had a parrot.

Yeah, says Sweezus. That would be right. A parrot. Suppose we should wait.

So they stop and wait for Terence.

Gloria who is intuitive, even more so since becoming a spirit guide, now knows a bit more about Sweezus.

Mainly, that he's a man who responds well to nudging.

Mission Awkward

Is it an hour yet? asks Terence.

He knows that it isn't.

No, says Gloria. Don't interrupt us.

How did I interrupt us? asks Terence.

The grown ups are talking, says Gloria. I'm offering my services as a crocodile psychologist.

Yeah, says Sweezus. We should get this done.

Then let's go, says Gloria. Crocodiles are more friendly in the morning.

Brilliant, says Sweezus. What can we carry the Crocs in?

Don't take too many, says Gloria. We should test the waters.

Good thinking, says Sweezus.

He opens a Croc box and lifts out a pair of size sevens. Then he opens a pair of size eights.

And two pairs of flip flops, says Gloria.

Sweezus packs them all in his back pack. He's ready.

Ready Arthur?

But it seems Arthur has left already.

Am I coming? asks Terence.

Sure you are, says Sweezus.

What about my clay? says Terence.

Ageless is here somewhere, says Sweezus. Ask him to mind it.

No, says Terence. I'm bringing it.

He picks up the clay lumps wrapped in the wet tea towel and hugs them close to his body.

Sweezus writes a quick note to Gaius.

Gone to deliver 1st crocs w.T.  S.

And they set off.

In the cabin, Ageless lifts his head from the plum box.

He would have minded the clay. He would have unwrapped it to see how it was going. He would have smoothed it, if that had proved to be possible. He would have tried out some designs of his own. If they were successful he would have taken a small piece from each lump of clay and formed his own lump. He would have made a pot for Kobo, his beloved, bearing the mark of the CLAW.

Terence clomps back in, and plonks the wet clay down on the table.

Sweezus refused to carry it, and Gloria couldn't.

I'll mind it, says Ageless. Don't worry.

Terence stomps back outside.

Sweezus is way up the road now. Gloria floats by his side.

I was brought up at the Weipa Mission, says Gloria.

No way, says Sweezus.

Yet I feel like I know you, says Gloria.

Uh. This could be awkward.

Wait Till It Happens

Now what? asks Terence.

Wet it, says Gloria. No not like that. Wrap it in a wet tea towel.

I haven't got a tea towel, says Terence.

Every cabin has a tea towel, says Gloria. A dish cloth and a tea towel.

Where? asks Terence.

Probably in the cupboard under the sink, says Gloria. Don't tell me you people haven't washed any dishes?

We only just got here, says Sweezus. Gaius might have.

Arthur looks in the cupboard. Yes, one pristine tea towel!

Good, now wet it, says Gloria, and wrap it round the clay.

Terence likes wetting the tea towel. He likes wrapping the clay.

But he doesn't like the next part.

Now we wait, says Gloria.

What for? asks Terence.

For the clay to soften up, says Gloria. Then you can work it.

How long will that take? asks Terence.

An hour or so, says Gloria. Meanwhile, you can work on your designs.

I've already done it, says Terence.

For one, says Gloria. You were going to make three pots.

Ambitious, says Sweezus. Who are they for?

One's for you, says Terence. Do you want a parrot?

No way, says Sweezus. I'm allergic to birds.

A crocodile, says Terence.

Yeah, okay, a crocodile, says Sweezus. A crocodile wearing flip flops.

It has to be a STORY, says Terence. Tell me the story.

Go on, says Arthur. Tell him the story.

It starts off with a promise, says Sweezus. A little dude can't get back across a river. A croc comes along. The croc's been admiring the Crocs on the feet of a traveller. He mentions to the little dude that he likes them. The little dude grants two pairs of Crocs to the croc. It's only a promise, but the croc helps the little dude get home.

Yay! That's one side! says Terence. Then what?

Later the croc's wish comes true. In abundance. A couple of guys rock up from San Sebastian with two hundred pairs of Crocs, for the crocodile and his buddies.  Only trouble is, half of them are Croc flip flops. So.... yeah....

They'll come off in the water, says Arthur

Ooh! says Gloria. Is this a true story? If it is, you need someone who knows croc psychology to go with you when you deliver them. Crocs can be tricky.

No kidding, says Sweezus.

How do I draw THAT? asks Terence.

Maybe wait till it happens, says Sweezus.

Birds Came After

This basket is rubbish, says Terence.

Let me see, says Gloria.

I have to hold it out like a saucer, says Terence.

Pa'u's first attempt, says Gloria. He forgot to make handles.

Terence keeps walking.

The grass ends tickle his nose.

It would be annoying if it wasn't a cement one.

They move on in silence until......

Where are you from? asks Gloria.

A palace, says Terence. We had parrots. The parrots brought messages.

That's nice, says Gloria. Did you have many messages?

No, says Terence. I didn't have any.

You're still an infant, says Gloria.

I'm probably not the original, says Terence.

That's an interesting thought, says Gloria. I suppose I'm not the original either.

You had hands and a body, says Terence. Pa'u told me.

How are you different now? asks Gloria.

There's no Saint Joseph to spy on me, says Terence.

That's a negative, says Gloria.

What does that mean? asks Terence.

A thing you don't have. Was he a statue?

No. A whacker, says  Terence.

Bad luck, says Gloria. But you're with better people these days. Think positive.

Are we there yet? asks Terence.

No, says Gloria.

But eventually they get to the door of the cabin.

Sweezus opens the door.

Hey little dude, awesome pots, says Sweezus, not looking at them properly.

They're not pots, says Gloria. Just hardened clay. Terence will need some water.

Where's Gaius? asks Terence. I have a question.

Out, says Sweezus. Ask me.

You won't know, says Terence.

Try me, says Sweezus. And if I don't know, you can ask Arthur.

Okay, says Terence. It's about a crocodile.

Cool, says Sweezus. I've been researching crocodiles.

Pa'u says the very first crocodile didn't have any teeth, says Terence. Is that true?

Sweezus's research doesn't go back that far.

Dunno, says Sweezus. It's possible, but no...yeah...before it was a...... Who's Pa'u?

A lizard, says Terence.

Yeah, before they were lizards, says Sweezus, I guess they were birds.

No, says Arthur. Birds came after.

Were they parrots? asks Terence.

Yeah, says Sweezus. Some of them would be.

So Terence is satisfied. Some of them would be. He won't need to ask Gaius.

All he needs now is some water.