Non-Essential Parts Of An Acquaintance

These cakes are stale, says Schopenhauer.

Are they? says Gaius, who has been eating without paying much attention.

Yes, they are, says Unni. How long have you had them, Arthur?

A day or two, says Arthur vaguely, looking at his reflection in the glass doors of the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Centre.

He watches himself eating.  Chomp chomp chomp.

The stale crumbs drop from his mouth towards the pavement, past his knees.

And look, his knees are bleeding......

Thus occupied, Arthur doesn't hear Unni say: Tomorrow we can buy more cakes at the Salamanca Markets, because it's Saturday.

Arthur is still looking at his own reflection. Why does his face not look like his own face?

Because it is the face of Lisa Gershwin.

She has spotted the blood dripping from Arthur's knees.

She opens the door of the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Centre.

Were you injured in the melée? asks Lisa Gershwin.

Yes, says Arthur, not exactly lying.

Come in, says Lisa. I'll get you cleaned up and give you a bandage. I feel a bit responsible. We shouldn't have encouraged that crazy crowd.

Arthur, Unni, Gaius and Schopenhauer are now inside the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Centre. How fortuitous.

Gaius looks around. No jellyfish . But then, they are standing in the foyer.

My name is Lisa Gershwin, says Lisa. I'm the resident jellyfish expert.

By Jupiter! says Gaius. Just the very person we have travelled here to see!

Goodness, says Lisa Gershwin. Don't tell me you've found a new species of jellyfish. They seem to be washing up everywhere. It's so exciting.

Don't get too excited, says Schopenhauer. We just came to see the ....what was it, Gaius?

The giant lion's mane jellyfish, says Gaius. One and a half metres wide.

Oh, that one, says Lisa Gershwin. I'm afraid you won't be able to see it. Dead jellyfish don't last all that long.

How disappointing, says Gaius. Perhaps you might give us some indication of where you found it. We might go and have a nose around, and perhaps find another one.

It was found in Howden, says Lisa. Not far away. And by the way, I didn't find it, it was found by a young man called Xavier Lim. But you must excuse me. I'll go and get the first aid kit.

She hurries off to the first aid room.

Arthur looks around to see if there is anything interesting on the floor.

His blue eyes come to rest on a wet blue object, that has been kicked into a corner. It looks familiar.

Unni, says Arthur, could you get that blue thing and bring it over here?

You lazy slacker, says Unni. There's nothing wrong with you. I saw you picking at your scabs earlier....

But now, she has seen the wet blue object and recognised it.

The blue Seahorse World bag. She drags it from the corner to the space in front of them, and looks inside.

Three seahorse postcards, one semi-folded into an unfinished captain's hat.

And several non-essential parts of Captain Louttit.