Lavender Stuffs Up

Ageless and the Jellyfish Oracle continued to talk about Sand. Lavender became impatient.

Come on Baby Pierre, she said. I know where there's a better Oracle than this old Jellyfish one.

She dragged Baby Pierre back to the rock of the Seagull Oracle, opposite number 291.

Baby Pierre said nothing, but he was secretly impressed by the Seagull Oracle's address. Number 291, that was Ageless's age, as of this morning. It might be an omen.

Seagull Oracle, said Lavender, me and Baby Pierre want to know something.

Whaaaat? croaked the Seagull Oracle.

We're looking for the Immortal Jellyfish, said Lavender. Where is it?

Waaark! said the Seagull Oracle. Ask Gaius. He's a fisherman. He was on the jetty last night. He knows all about jellyfish.

No, he doesn't, said Lavender. He sent me to you.

Did you look in his bucket? said the Seagull Oracle?

No, said Lavender. Something yucky was inside that bucket.

There you are then, said the Seagull Oracle.

I knew someone called Gaius, said Baby Pierre. He rode in the Tour de France.

You don't say? said the Seagull Oracle. I wonder if it was him?

What kind of oracle are you if you don't know? said Lavender.

Oracles answer questions, said the Seagull Oracle. They don't know anything.

He rode for Team Bumptious, said Baby Pierre. He ate mints. He thought he'd get disqualified for cheating, but he didn't. His team didn't win.

That sounds like Gaius, said the Seagull Oracle.

Oh splittereens! said Lavender. Get back to the subject why don't you!

Baby Pierre and the Seagull Oracle stared.

What's up Lavender?, said Baby Pierre. And what do you mean, 'splittereens'?

It's what statues say when they're broken, said Lavender.