Making The Most Of What You Have While It's There

Gaius too is experiencing a magical night. He is sitting on Beverley's balcony overlooking the marina, drinking hot cocoa and eating homemade ginger snaps.

Beverley's daughter has joined them, having heard them come in.

This is my daughter Janice, says Beverley. She should be in bed.

She gives Janice an equivocal look.

Janice flops into a hammock and rocks back and forth like a sailor.

Who's he? says Janice. Was he at the meeting?

Gaius Plinius Secundus, says Beverley. He's the one.

The one, says Janice. Oh, that one!

Janice drops out of the hammock and onto the deck.

What happened to the Twitcher? says Janice. Tell me the absolute truth.

There is no such thing.... begins Gaius.

You lost him! says Janice. I knew it!

Now Janice, says Beverley. There are two versions of the story. One is that the Twitcher went to Kas and was reunited with his beloved and they had many children, all red and gold, and quite big.

Yes but... says Gaius.

I like it, says Janice, coming right up to where Gaius is sitting, her face very close to his biscuit. What's the other?

The Twitcher is still in Dubai, says Beverley quickly. So you see...

Dubai! says Janice. My friend Fadi went there.

She snaps off a large chunk of Gaius's biscuit, and tosses it over the railing onto the wet rocks below. Then she returns to her bedroom.

Gaius eats what remains of his biscuit, and thinks about taking another.

...........

Meanwhile, at Magazine Point, all is quiet except for the fizzing and hissing of stars.

Sweezus, Arthur and Jazzman are thinking similar thoughts.

How cool would it be if there was an explosion.

All at once beams flash into the sky and light the powder magazine eerily.

Who's there? says Jazzman.

All right, where's this snake? says someone, coming closer, blinding them with his torch.

Snake? says Jazzman. There's no snake.

Hairy nosed wombat? says the person.

Pete? says Jazzman. Pete Turner?

The same, says Pete Turner. I got this call, see, so I came. Who're these guys?

Sweezus and Arthur, says Jazzman. They're with me. And we're not doing anything.

What might we be doing? says Arthur.

Hooning, says Pete Turner. Trashing the coast. Trail bikes and quad bikes. Vandalism, graffiti and that. But you're with Jazzman.

Jazzman looks suspicious.

Was it mum that called you? says Jazzman.

Yeah, says Pete Turner.

Sit down, says Jazzman. Guys, this is Pete Turner, snake catcher.

Are there snakes? says Arthur

Course there are, says Pete Turner. I should know.

And hairy nosed wombats? says Sweezus.

You bet, says Pete Turner. If you don't have a torch you should be careful walking about here at night.

This adds a new dimension to the landscape.

Arthur gets up and walks off into the blackness, not being careful.

Will he fall down a hole? asks Sweezus.

Yeah, says Peter Turner. He sure will.