And No Birds Sing

The car is a Holden Commodore. Three boys get out.

Yah! says one of them, bumping deliberately into Unni. Get a car!

They disappear inside the Visitor Centre.

I'll get a car! says Unni. Their car.

She scratches a diagrammatic fish on the passenger door paintwork.

Ha, ha, says Unni. Now everyone will think they're Christians.

Gaius, Schopenhauer, Unni and Arthur ride off in a hurry.

That was quick thinking, says Arthur.

Not really , says Unni. I used to do it all the time in Blaxland.

Where to now ? says Gaius.

Left, says Unni, down the dirt road.

I still have my sea legs, says Schopenhauer. I hope it isn't rutted.

The road is rutted.

Water spills out of Captain Louttit's jug all over Schopenhauer's trousers, due to the laws of motion.

Damn! says Schopenhauer. This isn't working.

He stops to pour some more sea water out.

Gaius stops behind him.

Schopenhauer, my good chap, says Gaius, you will leave Captain Louttit with no water. Remember we are riding through a forest.

Can't be helped, says Schopenhauer. Unless you can see a way to fit the Ass Saver mudguards on the front.....

Don't be ridiculous, says Gaius. A little water on your trousers.....

Captain Louttit sticks his head out of the jug.

Not to worry, says Captain Louttit. I'm an old sea dog. And the barnacles could do with toughening up.

Come on, says Gaius. We must catch up with Arthur and Unni. She's the only one who knows the way.

They mount their bicycles and ride along the rutted road through the forest.

The Holden Commodore comes up behind them, passes them and keeps on going.

Yeehah! cries one of the boys from the passenger window.

Dear me, says Gaius. They'll catch up with Arthur and Unni. We must ride faster.

It isn't good for Schopenhauer's sea legs.

Five minutes later they come upon an unexpected scene.

Two familiar bicycles lie in the grass beside the rutted track. A Holden Commodore, half obscured by dark trees, stands ominously still.

And no birds sing.