Death, Natural Science And Fudge

You sent them to London? says Unni. Did they die?

Antennae and eyes on long stalks break the surface of the water. The mountain shrimps wait for an answer.

They arrived safely alive, says C.H.Cook. I had a letter to confirm it, from G.E. Nicholls.

The mountain shrimps look at one another, as if to say:

Mountain Shrimp: Brothers, as a species we rock.

Mountain Shrimp: Survival of the fittest. We went to London!

Mountain Shrimp: Yar! Where is London?

Mountain Shrimp: Who cares. We didn't die!

(From this short exchange you may gather that mountain shrimps are so primitive, they don't have individual names).

Gaius squats to look into the water. He thinks he has seen a small movement.

But no. It is nothing. Just black and yellow leaves slowly disintegrating into skeletal fans.

Gaius may be mistaken.

The mountain shrimps are black and yellow. Their tails are like fans.

Have you spotted any lately? asks Gaius. I have come out of my way in the hope of a sighting.

No, says C.H.Cook. But I can tell you that they are Syncarids, an ancient group of crustaceans. The young hatch in June or July. They grow up to five centimetres in length, and live for three or four years.

Luckily the mountain shrimps have stopped listening, having sunk to the bottom in the happy belief that they are immortal.

Captain Louttit however, is listening. Three or four years! That is pathetically short. No doubt it is due to the lack of salt in the water.

Anyone like to share my lunch? says Schopenhauer, opening his pre-made sandwich of tomato and cheese.

Yes, says Unni. I'll share my sandwich as well. Arthur, have you got anything?

A couple of apples, says Arthur. He brings out the apples.

He reaches down further into his pocket. What's this? Something sticky and brown......

Mmm. It's the last of the choc-coated Vegemite Fudge from Cottage Box Chocolates, in Murray Bridge.

Anyone want to try this? says Arthur. It's a bit sticky, but it should be alright.

That's disgusting, says Unni. Throw it away.

No wait! says Captain Louttit, sticking his head up from the Seahorse World bag. Is it salty?

Of course it's salty, says Unni. It's Vegemite.

I'll have it, says Captain Louttit. It may save my life.

Arthur hands the half-melted choc-coated Vegemite Fudge to Captain Louttit, who bites into it eagerly.

He swallows some, but Unni is right, it is disgusting.

He throws the rest into shallows of Lake St Clair, showing a misguided sense of ecological responsibility.