The Spirit Of Tasmania

Five o'clock on Station Pier. There is a queue to board the Spirit of Tasmania. In the queue are Gaius, Schopenhauer, Unni, Arthur, and their bicycles. Gaius holds the jug containing Captain Louttit.

They show their tickets to a friendly crew member.

Welcome aboard, says the friendly crew member. Bicycles that way, please. Good to see you, Captain Louttit.

Well I never, says Gaius, wheeling his bicycle in the direction indicated by the friendly crew member. How does he know Captain Louttit?

The bicycles are safely stowed. Now to find their designated Ocean Recliners.

........

Arthur and Unni have gone for a walk around the Spirit Of Tasmania to see what's on offer.

Gaius and Schopenhauer are testing out their seats.

Gaius fiddles with his mechanism. Crack! His seat drops back into the fully reclining position

Well done! says Schopenhauer. Show me what you did.

See here, says Gaius. You just turn this knob. That's it.

Crack! Now Schopenhauer's seat is fully reclined as well.

This will be most satisfactory, says Gaius. We shall sleep very well tonight. Uhh-herrrr, just breathe that bracing sea air.

Sniiiiff! Schopenhauer can't smell it. There is something fishy emanating from his trouser pocket.

........

Toot toot! The Spirit of Tasmania is on the move. Rurm-rurm. Chuurrr. Clang clang.

Dinner time already.

Gaius and Schopenhauer make their way out to the restaurant, The Captain's Table.

Captain Louttit not dining with you this evening? asks a friendly crew member.

No, says Gaius. He's ....what's all this nonsense about Captain Louttit?

He's quite well known in these parts, says the friendly crew member. I suppose you've read the Book of Louttit?

No, says Gaius. I must ask him to supply me with a copy.

He and Schopenhauer find themselves a table.

What's that smell? says Gaius, sniffing. Barnacles?

Himmel! says Schopenhauer. I forgot them! I shall go and throw them overboard.

Wait till after dinner, says Gaius.

The Captain of the Spirit of Tasmania comes over in his uniform which is how you know he is the Captain.

Good evening gentlemen, says the Captain. I hear you're travelling with Captain Louttit. Where is he?

We left him resting on an Ocean Recliner, says Gaius. We didn't realise he was shipping royalty.

Obviously, says the Captain. Or you would have booked a cabin.  A word of advice about those recliners....

Yes? says Gaius.

But suddenly an incidental shipping noise calls the Captain to the bridge....

Burrrrrrrrr! Burrrrrrrr!

It will probably turn out to be nothing.