I Miss My Habitat

Helen might trip over a particularly stringy patch of calystegio sepium. But she doesn't.

She walks away, with the pregnant educated surf barnacle in her pocket.

She walks along the river path and meets up with Angela, another disjunct naturalist..

It is nearly lunch time. They sit down to eat some snacks.

Helen pulls her snack pack out of her pocket, with the pregnant educated surf barnacle attached.

Look at this, says Helen.

Angela looks.

A surf barnacle! says Angela. What a turn up for the books. Where exactly did you find it?

Right beside that patch of calystegio sepium near the boardwalk, says Helen. I'll go back later when those people have gone. There may be more of them.

There are more! squeaks the pregnant educated surf barnacle.

This time Helen hears her.

How many more? asks Helen.

Two, says the pregnant educated surf barnacle. I'm the smart one.

You must miss your friends says Angela, a sentimentalist.

I miss my HABITAT! cries the pregnant educated surf barnacle. I like heavy wave action! I am normally found on rocky sea ledges just above the tube worm zone.

Well, we all know that, says Helen. What are you doing here then?

I was brought here against my will in a sangria jug on the orders of Captain Louttit, says the pregnant educated surf barnacle, unwittingly getting it wrong and sealing her fate at the same time.

Helen looks at Angela. Angela smiles sweetly and looks sympathetic.

Bad luck, Helen. It's not a strictly a disjunct population.

Helen shrugs, and chucks the pregnant educated surf barnacle into the Tamar.

Calamity!

But it may not be all bad though. The Tamar is saline and tidal.

It will be a tame life for her 2000-odd surf barnacle larvae, but not impossible.

..........

Come on, says Unni. Lunch in Launceston!

Good, says Gaius. We're moving on. Arthur, have you got that barnacle?

Yes, says Arthur, although he hasn't.

He suspects that Helen has made off with it.

In the grass he spots two barnacles, half hidden.

He picks them up and drops them in the jug.