The Benefits Of Audience Profiling

The Town Hall event is over. All the nibbles are gone, and people are leaving.

Gaius feels a bit flat. He needs feedback. Where have his friends disappeared to?

He is heading for the door when he sees Lavender all alone on a seat in the back row.

What are you doing here? says Gaius. Where are Arthur and Bunny?

They went to the police station, says Lavender. Bunny left me behind. I HATE Bunny.

Never mind, says Gaius. What did you think of my talk?

Well..... says Lavender slowly. It started off one thing and ended up another.

I know, says Gaius. But that wasn't my fault.

It was, says Lavender. You should have profiled your audience better.

You've a smart little head, says Gaius. How would you like to be my right hand ..er... fossil? Come on, let's go and find Arthur.

He picks up Lavender and goes into the street where a crowd of people stand marvelling at the surrounding buildings.

Every wall is painted with pairs of giant cuttlefish mating. A slight breeze moves the leaves on the trees creating dark shadows in which cuttlefish undulate. The street lights illuminate their flashing iridescent silver purple and green chromatophores.

 It is awesome.

..........

Meanwhile Baby Pierre is waiting patiently at the Jetty.

Not much has happened for hours.

Bandy and Snook came by earlier and climbed over the barrier, with backpacks full of gear.

That was all.

Time passes. Baby Pierre, not for the first time, is glad he's a stone. A special stone, too. With the mark of the Lobster Claw on him. A Lobster Claw, a real one, not a tulip.

Who is this coming? Is it Ageless at last?

Baby Pierre strains to see. No! It's Arthur and that horrible feminist Bunny.

He hides behind a bollard.

Arthur and Bunny are carrying a box between them. They put it down close to the bollard.

They open the box and out floats a terrible smell.

Look! says Bunny. Look Arthur! This one's not dead! It's twitching!

She picks up the twitcher, and hands it to Arthur. Arthur takes it and waves it about.

Two figures loom out of the dark. Victor and the Copper Coast Mayor!

What are they doing here?