Ying And Stew Join The Party

In the car heading to Burnie, Terence is weighing up words.

What's funnier? says Terence. Staring or stirring? Not you Arthur.

Stirring, says Rosamunda.

Oh, says Terence, disappointed.

What's this nonsense? says Gaius, looking up from his notebook.

Yes, says Unni. Out of context, it's a meaningless question.

If you're a spoon, says Terence. What's funnier?

Staring, says Unni.

Terence looks at Arthur, triumphant.

Arthur stares out of the window, adopting a spoon-like persona.

He sees Burnie in the distance, upside down, as his concave side faces outwards.

......

Mooreville Road, Burnie.

Rosamunda pulls up in front of the Cradle Coast Campus.

Poppy comes out to the road.

Gaius! Welcome to Burnie, says Poppy. Is this your team?

My team? Yes, says Gaius. This is Rosamunda Secunda, my driver and associate, This is Arthur, my right hand man. This is Unni, another associate, and this is her friend Surfing-With-Whales. He is a surf.........

Business man and entrepreneur, says Surfing-With-Whales, unexpectedly.

Oh well, done, says Poppy. We need all the entrepreneurs and businessmen we can get in this current climate.

Yeah, says Surfing-With-Whales. It's freakin' cool in Tasmania.

Ha ha, laughs Poppy. I know. Well, do come in. I want you to meet a couple of students who'll be accompanying you on the GeoTrail as their holiday assignment.

Coming, Terence? says Rosamunda, sticking her head through the car window.

No, says Terence. Why don't I have a role?

What do we have here? cries Poppy, looking in over Rosamunda's shoulder. A puppy? Oh no! It's a wee Baby Jesus! How cute! Early Christmas!

This is Terence, says Rosamunda. He's coming to Dismal Swamp with us. He's looking forward to going down the slide.

Poppy looks at Terence doubtfully.

He may not meet the the height requirements, says Poppy. Or the age limit. How old is he?

Two thousand and eighty, says Terence, exaggerating slightly.

Kids! laughs Poppy. Well, come on inside.

......

This is Ying and this is Stew, says Poppy. They've just completed their first year of Natural Environment and Wilderness Studies.

Hi, says Ying, Hi, says Stew.

I must say, says Gaius, I am very pleased to have students accompany me. But our car is quite full already. Do you have bicycles?

We've got our own cars, says Ying. If your car's full, we can take some of you.

No no! says Gaius. That won't be necessary. Three cars!  I refuse to be responsible for so much pollution. Bicycles it must be! I shall ride one if necessary. As will Arthur.

Please yourself, says Poppy. But you must keep together. It's part of the requirements. Otherwise you won't get your grant money.

Certainly, says Gaius. Arthur, can you organise a couple of bicycles pronto?

Yes, says Arthur.

It's a Uni. How hard can it be?