The Heart Has Its Reasons

It's not really a shipwreck. It's the small upturned seaweed craft, with its ragged sail dragging.

And under it, are Captain Louttit and Louis-Claude de Freycinet, holding on grimly.

In a minute they will be washed ashore.

Arthur and Unni will recognise Captain Louttit, who will be feeling embarrassed.

Unni will jump down off the rock and pick up Captain Louttit.

She will ask who his friend is.

Captain Louttit will introduce Louis-Claude de Freycinet to Unni and Arthur.

Louis-Claude de Freycinet will bow low.

A handsome lobster, is Louis-Claude de Freycinet.

Can't you just see him?

.....

Now it is time to leave Bay of Fires.

Gaius has several scrapings of orange lichen for Arthur to deal with.

Arthur shoves them into his pocket.

Schopenhauer, more selectively, has collected some scrapings of yellow. He folds them up in a hanky.

They are heading for Scottsdale, and hoping to get there by nightfall.

........

They turn inland. The cold wind makes them ride faster.

Schopenhauer is going the slowest, for a credible reason..

He now has two lobsters in tow.

His face shows the strain of the effort.

Oi! says Captain Louttit. You look terrible.

Thank you, says Schopenhauer. You on the other hand look comfortable, and so does your friend.

They do look comfortable. They are wedged snugly inside the plastic lined pale blue felt cloche hat, in Schopenhauer's basket.

When do I get my first lesson? asks Captain Louttit.

Schopenhauer loses his temper.

Pah!

He speeds up to draw level with Gaius.

Gaius, says Schopenhauer. I heartily regret having this basket. It means I carry an unfair burden ........

I was thinking the same, says Gaius.

Then you'll take one? says Schopenhauer.

Arthur will take one, says Gaius. Catch up to him and tell him I said so.

Schopenhauer is determined to get rid of at least one of the lobsters. He speeds up again.

He passes potatoes, dairy cows, pine forests and poppy fields without even noticing.

Ah! Thank goodness. Arthur and Unni have stopped under a pine tree.

Unni is on the phone.

Yes, she is saying. Yes, yes. We are coming. Five days!  No worries. Bye!

That was Sweezus, says Unni. He's getting a team up for the tour and he wants us to be in it.

Good, says Arthur. I'm sick of it here. What's the team called?

It's heaps political, says Unni. Team Get-Up.

Arthur shrugs. He doesn't care what it's called. He'll soon be riding with Sweezus, his best friend in the world.

Schopenhauer pants up.

Arthur, says Schopenhauer. Will you take one of these lobsters?

Louis-Claude de Freycinet sticks his head out of the pale blue cloche hat.

Take me! says Louis-Claude de Freycinet.

Louis-Claude has his reasons. He wants to be closer to Unni, who reminds him (sentimentally) of Rose.