Disagreements In The Tunnel Of Time

Ten thirty a.m.

Craig arrives at Wadlata Outback Centre, with Arthur and Gaius in tow. Craig asks to see the manager, a friend of his.

Pauline comes out of her office.

Craig! says Pauline. How do?

Good, Pauline, says Craig, Look I've brought a couple of friends in for a visit. Can you do a special price?

No, says Pauline. Can't do a special price. Not since the million dollar upgrade. Unless they're seniors.

She looks at Gaius.

Or children.

She looks at Arthur.

No? That's sixteen fifty each then. But seeing it's you Craig, I'll give them each a coffee voucher for the Outback Tuckerbox.

Thanks Pauline, says Craig.

He pays the thirty three dollars and gives Arthur and Gaius their tickets and two coffee vouchers for the Outback Tuckerbox.

Okay guys, I'll leave you to enjoy, says Craig. You go in through that giant snake's head over there. That's the entrance to the Tunnel of Time. Everyone says it's awesome. You can spend all day and still you won't see everything.... you even can get a Passout to come back another time.

Arthur walks towards the giant snake's head.  It seems you go in through the open mouth between the pointy teeth.

How lame.

Don't you think it's lame, he says to Gaius.

Gaius has been thinking that it's rather clever.

So the poet and the natural historian enter the Tunnel of Time with somewhat different points of view.

.............

Ten thirty five a.m

The Ghan has now rolled out of Port Augusta Station.

David and Vello have left their seats to look for Arthur and Gaius, who they are sure must be on board.

It is a very long train after all, says David. Just because we didn't see them getting on....

Yes, yes, says Vello. They're sure to be on board.

They enter the carriage where Spinoza and Ageless are carrying on a ding-dong philosophical dispute.

Everyone in the carriage is listening to them, and some are wondering where the voice of Ageless can be coming from.

Time! splutters Spinoza. Who do you think you are, Lobster Einstein?

Just saying, says Ageless reasonably. It's very easy to say something was meant to happen when it's already happened. But what about before?

You miss the point entirely, says Spinoza. There can be no before or after. Time is eternal.

Someone sitting behind Spinoza decides to chip in.

That's rubbish surely. 'There can be no before or after'. That's rich coming from someone on a train.

An irrelevant practicality, says Spinoza.

Ageless laughs rudely.

Hello Baruch. Hello Ageless, says David. We meet again! Have you seen Gaius and Arthur?

No, says Ageless. I think they've missed the train.

Don't worry, says Spinoza. I've just been explaining .....

Not very well, says the passenger from behind. In fact I'd say this is a very good example of the uncertainty principle.......

.........

Oh dear. How long is this journey?