First You Create A Diversion

It is evening. Baby Pierre is on the Wallaroo Jetty waiting for Ageless. Two fishermen walk by.

Still bloody closed, says Snook.

Bloody Flinders Ports! says Bandy. Closin' our Jetty. That fire was an accident.

Too right, says, Snook. An accident. And there might be another.

You goin' to the meetin' tonight? says Bandy.

What meetin'? says Snook.

At the Town Hall. Some old dude talkin' about cuttlies.

Nah, says Snook. I might give it a miss.

...........

The Town Hall is crowded. They have had to bring in extra chairs.

Apart from a smattering of grey-haired University Of The Third Age students, (who will turn up for anything), there are a few special guests.

Vincent points some of them out.

Paul Thomas, the Copper Coast Mayor, Tony Bramley, The Godfather of Cuttlefish, and Dan Monceaux, maker of the soon to be released documentary "Cuttlefish Country".

Gaius is feeling quite pleased. He shuffles his notes, and looks around for Arthur and Bunny, who have not yet arrived. But wait, here they are.

Here you are at last, says Gaius. Have you eaten?

No, we haven't, says Bunny. Where were you?

Victor took me out for fish and chips, says Gaius airily. There's some left, we couldn't eat it all.

Where is it? says Arthur.

At the police station, says Gaius. But I'm about to start.....you should sit down.

Arthur and Bunny find seats on the back row, right near the exit, for reasons unknown.

Gaius's talk has begun:

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, says Gaius, thank you for coming, I wish to talk to you tonight about the plight of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish whose unique migration occurs annually in waters around here. Port Lowly Peninsula is the only place in the world where thousands of Giant Australian Cuttlefish gather to breed. Unfortunately a ninety percent reduction in the abundance of cuttlefish was recorded last year. As you know the State Government has recently announced a No Take Zone, north of the Wallaroo Jetty........

Too bloody late, whispers the Godfather of Cuttlefish, to Dan Monceaux. And anyhow, who is this blow-in?

I hear Splosh! is in town, whispers Dan. This guy's here to create a diversion.