Squid Balls Crab Sticks and Cuttlefish Rings

The Copper Coast Mayor is a diplomat. He stands up.

Well, that brings us to the end of the formal proceedings, he says. Please join me in thanking Gaius Plinius Secundus for an excellent and informative, not to mention humorous, talk. I'm sure he will be pleased to answer questions informally while we all enjoy drinks and nibbles courtesy of the District Council.....

There is a halt to the rush for the door. Drinks and nibbles are on?

Gaius looks around for Victor, but Victor has vanished.

So has the Mayor.

A group of Third Agers surround Gaius, balancing their nibbles and drinks.

I'm interested to know, says a woman brandishing a squid ball, what would happen if they WERE Africans?

Pardon? says Gaius. Oh I see. Well you would need to ask Anaxilaus.  Is that a crab stick?

No it's a squid ball, says the woman. I'm surprised you aren't serving cuttlefish rings.

Ha ha, laughs Gaius, taking this as a joke, which it isn't. Do excuse me, I must circulate.....

He moves off, and bumps into Dan Monceaux.

That was a bit close to the bone, says Dan Monceaux. What you said about tooth powder.

Ha ha, laughs Gaius again. Very good. I was about to add that the ashes of cuttlefish are very useful for removing sharp objects from flesh wounds.

Really, says Dan. You did well to keep that to yourself.

Gaius moves on. Where on earth are Arthur and Bunny?

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

 Arthur has opened the box labelled CONFISCATED GOODS. An evil smell rushes out.

He holds his nose and peers in. Bunny looks over his shoulder.

Eeuuw! says Bunny. These are dead cuttlefish. We should throw them away.

Yes, agrees Arthur. We'll take them down to the jetty and ditch them, after we've eaten the chips.

They finish the leftover chips, and then climb out of the police station window with the foul smelling box.

They head for the jetty.

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

It is eight forty. Time for the evening bus to arrive. It arrives. Ageless lobster gets off.

He looks around. It's dark. Where is everybody?

He sniffs. The air smells of paint.