A Penchant For Complications

Arthur is happy to be out of St Francis Xavier and back in the fresh air of Beaconsfield.

Where is the Tamar? It must be somewhere down the road.

He pedals along the A7 with the empty jug hooked over one of his handlebars.

Tasmania looks nice.

Chilly though. Not the weather for Brave Soul Paisley Skull Shorts.

Trees, vineyards,  apple orchards. River!

Arthur stops and looks around.

In front of him, a sandy beach and access to the River Tamar. It looks a bit too easy.

A little further down the road is Seahorse World.

Arthur rides up to the iron sheds of Seahorse World, Platypus House and the Underwater Centre. He leaves his bike in the car park and walks into the shop.

Arthur could have scooped a jug of water from the river at the sandy beach spot. What is he doing here? Does he have a penchant for complications?

It would appear so.

Arthur browses through the souvenir postcards depicting seadragons of different types, along with spider crabs and cuttlefish and sharks.

It strikes him as a good idea to send one of these cards to Sweezus. Which one?

The potbellied sea horse. Sweezus will think it's funny. Which it is. A seahorse with a pot belly. Who wouldn't laugh their head off, seeing that?

Arthur's reverie is interrupted by Rachelle Hawkins, marine biologist and part owner of the aquaculture venture.

Hello, says Rachelle. I see that you are interested in the pot bellied seahorse? Would you like to join the tour? Cave of the Seahorse. Working Seahorse Farm. It's starting in ten minutes. Only twenty dollars.

No thanks, says Arthur. I just want to buy a postcard and get some river water in my jug for Captain Louttit.

Captain Louttit? says Rachelle . Don't tell me he's here?

He's at St Francis Xavier in Beaconsfield, says Arthur. In the font.

Gracious! says Rachelle That's no environment for a seafaring lobster.

He's not being converted, says Arthur. Anyway, that's why I'm here. Getting water.

Rachelle looks severe.

You are browsing through the postcards, says Rachelle. As though you have all the time in the world. But you haven't. Where's your jug?

Outside says Arthur. On the handlebars of my bicycle.

Rachelle sucks in her breath.

You don't treat sea creatures in in such a cavalier manner. Making them wait by coming on a bicycle.

She disappears out the back to check on the availability of water with the correct salinity for Captain Louttit.

Arthur picks up several potbellied seadragon postcards, shoves them in his pocket, then  leaves without paying. His reasoning is this:

She is going to give him water from an Aquaculture Centre. It must be worth something. He is not waiting for the water. Therefore she has made a gain of water, in exchange for which, he will take the postcards.

And postcards being cheap commodities (or so thinks Arthur), he helps himself to a large blue cotton Seahorse World carry bag as well.