Human Nature In All Its Variety

The bus rumbles through the crispy dry brown landscape on the way back to Adelaide.

It's hot out there.

Gaius falls into a reverie. Wallaroo is behind him. Now what is he going to do? He has heard of a recent discovery in the Pilbara where rock microbes have been found that could be the oldest evidence for life on earth. Three and a half billion year old rock microbes. They have to be less troublesome than sepia apama.....after all, they're not going anywhere......zzzz.....Gaius is asleep.

Sweezus too is feeling sleepy, having stayed up all night. He is thinking about his pop-up food van, and how he hasn't yet acquired any food. Nor has he got a van. But on the plus side, he has an awesome recipe. What was it again? He should've written it down.

Arthur is thirsty.

Anything to drink? he says to Sweezus.

Sweezus searches in his back pack. No. Nothing.

Arthur looks across to Gaius. Gaius is sleeping.

Arthur gets up and walks to the front of the bus.

Two green eyes follow his progress from under a blue pixie cap.

Hello demon, says Arthur. Nice pixie cap.

Demon cap, says Janice.

I don't think so, says Arthur. It's pointy.

Like you would know, says Janice. And when I get to Adelaide, I'm dying my hair.

She reaches into her back pack and brings out a bottle.

Is that a drink or the hair dye? says Arthur. Because if it's a drink.......

Are you thirsty? says Janice. Then it's a drink. My mum makes it. Here have some.

She unscrews the lid. A vegetable smell pervades the front of the bus.

No eating, says the driver.

It's not food, says Janice.

It's green, says Arthur. What is it?

Guess, says Janice.

Arthur drinks it, but he still can't guess.

Want a red snake? says Janice. I brought all demon things. She pulls  a red snake from a bag

No thanks, says Arthur.

Do I smell red snakes? calls Sweezus, from the back of the bus.

No eating! says the driver.

But it's too late now.

Red snakes are Sweezus's favourite.

He makes his way to the front of the bus.