The Disabled Taxi

Ageless trails Doctor Moussalli to the airport taxi rank.

Doctor Moussalli disappears into a taxi and the taxi drives off, leaving Ageless behind.

But wait. Here is a taxi with its back hatch open, and a ramp!

Ageless skitters up the ramp. Where is he going? He doesn't know yet.

A wheelchair buzzes up the ramp, with an occupant.

The taxi starts up.

The occupant of the wheelchair hears a strange scraping sound.

Jeeeezus! says he. A fuckin' lobster. Hey! Hey!

What is it sir? says the driver. Are you uncomfortable back there?

There's a lobster on the floor in the corner! says the man in the wheelchair.

Allow me to introduce myself, says Ageless. My name is Ageless Lobster. I trust you don't mind sharing a taxi. I am somewhat disabled as well, and needed the ramp.

Oh yeah? says the man. Disabled? Pull the other one. Either one. It won't make any difference. Ha ha.

Ha ha, grates Ageless, not getting the joke, if it was one.

Where d'you wanna go? asks the man. Can I drop you?

He laughs again. Was that funny too? Ageless decides to plough on.

Please drop me at the Dubai Aquarium, says Ageless.

Driver! says the man in the wheelchair. Do we go past the Aquarium?

Oh yes sir, says the driver. We do.

They drive for ages. The driver doesn't mind going the long way to his passenger's hotel.

They stop, at last. Nothing happens.

Ramp! says Ageless.

The ramp is let down.

Ageless scrambles down the ramp to the pavement.

What's this? A huge shopping mall!

Oi! shouts Ageless, back into the taxi. I said AQUARIUM? This is a MALL!

The world's largest, says the driver.You will find the Aquarium inside. If you are lucky.

The ramp rumbles up automatically, and the taxi drives off.

Ageless enters the Mall. It is indeed a big one. Twelve million square feet.

He sniffs the air, but he cannot smell water.