It is dark now. The tinny is invisible from the shore. Where is it? Some little distance northwards from the jetty, sitting low in the water. There are six people in it.
Watch this, says Bandy. This is how we do it.
Yeah, says Snook. Watch this. This is what we do.
Bandy fixes two red squidjigs to his fishing line.
Snook hands him a glow stick, which he attaches midway between the squidjigs.
Fascinating, says Gaius. A glow stick. And is that how you attract the cuttlefish?
Too right, says Bandy. Just you wait and see.
He drops his line in. Arthur shines the torch over the other side. He sees something irridescent in the water.
He reaches down. Picks up a cuttlefish. It reminds him of the Twitcher. He lets it go.
Are you watching this? says Gaius, nudging Sweezus.. This is how to catch cuttlefish. With glow sticks.
Not just that, says Bandy. It's all in the wrist action.
He undulates his wrist in rapid motion, as if conducting music.
Well I never, says Gaius, nudging Sweezus again. The wrist action.
Sweezus isn't paying much attention. He is busy picking Jazzman's brains.
As long as you know how to analyse a balance sheet, says Jazzman, and how to negotiate a deal.........
Yeah, says Sweezus, I think I know all that stuff.
Arthur is bored. He reaches into the water again and pulls out another cuttlefish.
Put me back, says the cuttlefish This is a no take zone.
What? says Arthur. Are we on the wrong side of the jetty?
Don't play innocent, says the cuttlefish. It's the wrong side of the jetty for you but it's the right side for me.
Not really, says Arthur. After all, I've caught you.
He holds the cuttlefish up for everyone to see.
Brill! says Sweezus.
Well done, says Jazzman.
Undersize, says Bandy.
Speak for yourself, lowlife, says the cuttlefish.
Another Twitcher! says Gaius.
Twitcher! squeaks the cuttlefish. Did you say Twitcher? What do you know about the Twitcher? The Twitcher passed away.
We knew him, says Arthur. Gaius and me. We're the ones who took him on his final journey.
Do you mean to say.....? gulps the cuttlefish. Do you mean to say that you are angels?
No, says Arthur. I'm a poet and he's a natural historian.
I don't believe you, says the cuttlefish. I don't believe anything you say. But.... you do look angelic.
That's how I get away with things, says Arthur. See this torch?
Never mind that, says Gaius. I suggest you throw the undersized cuttlefish back into the water, Arthur.
You do it, says Arthur, handing Gaius the cuttlefish.
The beak of the cuttlefish snaps shut on Gaius's thumb.Gaius drops it.
The cuttlefish is slippery. It slides under Jazzman's foot.
Jazzman isn't looking. He is about to shift position because a tinny can be quite hard on the bottom.
Jazzman presses hard with all his weight upon the cuttlie.
Squelch! Ooh! Yuck. That isn't very nice.
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