The Meaning Of A Good Deed

Lavender has been thinking about her zircon.

Maybe it's hard of hearing, she says.

Hard of hearing? says Gaius. What makes you think that?

Well, says Lavender. It bites, right? But it's meant to stop bites. It's got the wrong idea somehow.

She goes up to the zircon, which Dr Yates has dropped back in the box.

Can you hear me? she says.

The zircon is silent.

It's deaf, says Lavender.

That doesn't prove anything, says Irma. Why did it bite Dr Yates, and dad, but not Arthur?

Do you want me to ask it? says Lavender.

No point, if it's deaf, says Irma.

Dr Yates and dad are comparing the size of their fingers.

Yours is smaller, says dad.

That's the Stingose, says mum.  When Dr Yates got bitten, I was ready.

Gaius picks up the zircon, gingerly.

He turns it over, and holds it up to the light.

Beautiful! says Gaius. The Persians called it zargun, which means golden stone.

Let me see, says Dr Yates. They make dental implants with these nowadays, I believe. They're extremely hard. I  would love to know why it doesn't bite you, by the way.

Perhaps it has learned not to bite, says Gaius. Now that would be....ouch!

Ha! says Dr Yates. It bit you, you see.

Not very badly, says Gaius.

Mum is about to offer medication to Gaius, when Arthur and Paul pull up in the Jeep.

Arthur gets out,. His knees are bleeding. Paul gets out too.

Arthur, says mum. I knew it. You don't know how to drive. Still, I suppose you thought you were doing a good deed.

She glances meaningfully at the children.

Yes, says Arthur, glancing meaningfully at Paul.

No! says Paul, eyeing Mathilde.