Not God Just A Genius

Surfing-With-Whales presses send.

......

Unni reads the email, on her smart phone.

Who's it from? asks Louis-Claude.

No one, says Unni.

She taps out a reply.

On the bus to Melbourne. Meet us at the ferry terminal tomorrow. I'll pay.

.....

Fuck, says Surfing-With-Whales. How do I get to Melbourne? And who's us?

.....

Belle et Bonne comes back with fresh macarons, and takeaway coffees.

Arthur takes two macarons.

Sweezus takes three. There were six in the box, that leaves one.

Macaron? asks Sweezus indicating the leftover to Marx.

Thank you, says Marx. Good to see you believe in a classless society.

Steps are heard on the staircase.

Gaius comes in, followed by Rosamunda, and Terence.

Ah! Not too late! says Gaius. Well met, Arthur.

Well met, Arthur, echoes Rosamunda, though it sounds rather different when she says it.

Arthur is cornered. But so what. He swallows the first macaron, and bites down on the other.

Terence! says Sweezus.

Grandpa! cries Terence.

What? says Sweezus.

But Terence is looking at Marx.

It's the beard, says Marx. I'm not your grandpa.

Yes, says Terence. You are.

Who is this little fellow? asks Marx.

Who do I look like? asks Terence.

You look like a young savage, says Marx. In those feathers.

Yeah, says Sweezus. Feathers. Where'd they come from? You know I hate birds.

Rosamunda, says Terence.

Rosamunda bows in a theatrical fashion.

I don't like them as much as I used to, says Terence. Owls especially.

Marx looks puzzled.

Long story, says Sweezus. He's a version.... a younger representation...... he shouldn't actually be here ... it's ontologically impossible.

That is obvious, says Marx. So you have the same grandpa?

GOD! cries Terence. You ought to know! Can I kiss you? On the kneebone?

No! cries Marx. I am not GOD. Just a genius.

Clever and mean, mutters Terence.

While this is happening, Gaius is talking to Arthur.

Tasmania, says Gaius. Just a short trip. I assume you'll be happy to come?

We've been there already, says Arthur.

Not to this part, says Gaius.

Arthur looks at Rosamunda, who shrugs. Tasmania is Tasmania.

It's Dismal Swamp! says Gaius, as though this is a draw card.

It is, to Arthur.

But this is the first Rosamunda has heard of it.

Dismal Swamp! It sounds like the PITS!