What beautiful snakes, says Unni. And one of them isn't from here.
Oh, it's Olive! says mummy. Olive, I thought you were going home with Katherine.
So did I, grumbles Olive.
Hello Olive, says Unni. How do you know Katherine Hume?
I was in the Tour Down Under, says Olive.
I was in it last year, says Unni.
Stop this chit-chat, says Charles Red-belly. It's time we got going.
How can you? says Unni. Katherine's gone. Would you like me to help you?
Yes, they would.
Come with me, says Unni. To dad's place.
They follow her down the road.
Things are different these days at dad's place. Pastor Moon is not the despot he was.
Unni opens the door with her key.
Dad! calls Unni. Come down.
Pastor Moon emerges from his bedroom.
Yes dear? says Pastor Moon.
(What has happened to change things?)
Dad, says Unni. See these two snakes here?
Yes dear, says Pastor Moon.
I want you to drive them to Adelaide, says Unni. No pressure. Tomorrow will do.
All right dear, says Pastor Moon. I'll get ready.
He goes back upstairs.
Charles Red-belly is shocked at the pastor's unquestioning compliance.
He follows the pastor upstairs.
Now they are both in the bedroom. Clothes all over the floor. Open packets of biscuits. A lurid painting of Jesus. A jar of crucifix pencils.
You look like a man in crisis, says Charles Red-belly.
Ah, the crisis is over, says Pastor Moon, waving vaguely at his disarrayed property. The Kingdom has come and the Kingdom has gone. This is what's left.
Do you want my advice? asks Charles Red-belly. Get rid of that Jesus. And those pencils. They're depressing.
That's what SHE says, glooms Pastor Moon.
Oh does she? Charles rethinks his advice.
On second thoughts, says Charles Red-belly, why don't you pack them? As a little rebellion.
Pastor Moon hesitates, is tempted, and takes the advice of the snake.
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