The Nature Of Non-Coincidence

Schopenhauer trails his hand in the cold waters of Wayatinah Lagoon.

Will we continue to Hobart? he asks.

Certainly, says Gaius. We'll go to the CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research Centre, and ask to see Lisa's research.

Good luck with that, says Schopenhauer, turning at the sound of a plop.

Plop! (It's a trout plop).

I find doors generally open to me, says Gaius.

Well of course, so do I, says Schopenhauer quickly. Did you hear that plop?

No, says Gaius. Was it behind you?

Yes, says Schopenhauer. But whatever it was, it's gone.

Not much doing, is there, says Gaius.

Not much, says Schopenhauer. But it's pleasant all the same.

If  the plop had occurred two minutes earlier, and Schopenhauer had turned round at that time, he would have seen the blue Seahorse World bag, drifting, with Captain Louttit inside.

Such is the nature of non-coincidence. Happens all the time.

.......

Unni is back from her Tall Tree Walk. It has not been as nice as she thought.

She walks down to the edge of the lagoon, sits on the grass, and phones Sweezus.

Yep? says Sweezus. What's up?

It's Unni, says Unni.

I know, says Sweezus. How's it going?

We're chasing the wrong jellyfish, says Unni.

Uh? says Sweezus.

There's a new one, says Unni. We're nearly in Hobart, but there's this new cool species of jellyfish washed up in Coolum. Fluoro purple! And Lisa Gershwin's gone up there to look.

Yeah, I know, says Sweezus. I've been following it on the ABC website. Turns out someone took a photo of one pretty much like it in Saudi Arabia in 2005.

No kidding! says Unni. So, it's not new then.

Yeah, it probably is though, says Sweezus. The Red Sea one had pointed ends to its oral arms. The Coolum one has round ends.

 Is it a Thysanostoma? asks Unni.

Lisa doesn't know yet, says Sweezus. But get this. The only  information about Thysanostoma is written in German. And Lisa's not real good at German. She's trying to figure it out.

Oh wow, says Unni. Schopenhauer speaks German.

That's kind of spooky, says Sweezus. Hey, that reminds me...

Oh yeah, says Unni. He wants you to ghost his Velosophy article. He's having too good a time to be bothered. He'll pay though.

Awesome, says Sweezus. Any clues on what I should write? Something personal?

Poodles, says Unni. He likes them. And also, he's totally changed his philosophy.

Too easy, says Sweezus. Okay then. Good luck with the jellyfish thing.