Guilty Of Wrong Thinking

Gaius rejoins his working party, on the swamp floor.

Some of the party are missing.

Arthur's gone with the others, says Ying. But don't worry, he'll be back shortly.

I suppose he is organising bikes, or a car, and some pencils, says Gaius.

Yes..... I suppose so, says Ying.

He's going surfing, says Terence. It's not fair.  I never go ANYWHERE.

Surfing? says Gaius. How long will that take?

AGES, says Terence. And they're taking the bikes.

You realise what that means, says Marx.

It means I must go all the way back to the top again, says Gaius. And even then I may miss them.

Let's just keep working, says Ying.

She bends down and spoons another muddy sample into a bottle.

You are guilty of wrong thinking, says Marx. You misunderstand the nature of the collective.

What? says Ying. What collective? I am only interested in science.

Me too, says Terence. Only science.

Even Stew has deserted, says Gaius, looking round and not seeing Stew. He's going to lose several credits.

He's into Sustainable Tourism, says Ying scornfully, wiping the rim of her jar.

I like tourism, says Terence. I like everything now that Grandpa is here.

Marx looks embarrassed.

Tourism is exploitation, says Marx.

See, says Terence. And so is science.

Right, Terence, says Marx. Natural science is a real power of the ruling class.

Ying pretends to ignore him. She holds up her sample for Gaius.

This one has traces of burrowing crustacean, if I'm not mistaken, says Ying.

Traces? says Gaius. Is it dead? You have been using your spoon less than carefully.

Was no one listening? says Marx.

I was, says Terence. Ruling glass.

Class, says Marx.

Thank you, says Terence.

Good old Grandpa. Always says something nice.

.......

It is just as well that Gaius has not made a second trip to the top to catch the cyclists.

They are well on their way to Marrawah.

Sweezus, Arthur, Surfing-With-Whales and Stew.

How on earth do they justify such cavalier behaviour?

Let us listen, perhaps we will learn.

Sweezus: Pity it's not March.

Arthur: Why?

Sweezus: They hold the Rip Curl West Coast Classic in Marrawah in March.

Surfing-With-Whales: Awesome.

Sweezus: Not awesome. It's not March.

Stew: Tell you what's awesome.

Sweezus: What?

Stew: We can visit the Edge of  the World.

Surfing-With-Whales: Cool name.

Stew: And Arthur River.

Arthur: Arthur River?

Stew: Yep. Arthur River.

Surfing-With-Whales: Is there a pub there?

Stew: There's the Marrawah Tavern.

Sweezus: Awesome. I could murder a Boag's

This is ridiculous.

They're not feeling guilty at all.