Dismal Swamp. It's only twenty five minutes from Smithton.
Rosamunda: We're here. Now what?
Gaius: We enter.
Unni: It's half past three. They close at five.
Ying: And Arthur isn't here yet.
Stew: And the other one. The surfer.
Unni: Surfing-With-Whales.
Terence: I'm not going in without Arthur.
Rosamunda: Of course not. We'll wait for them here.
...........
It's four o'clock. They're still waiting.
It's getting cooler. The wind blows through the Celery-tops.
Blackwoods and Huon pines stir.
Call them, says Unni. See where they are.
There's limited coverage out here, says Stew.
Sure enough. There is limited coverage.
.......
Five o'clock. Dismal Swamp is closing.
People stream out.
That was awesome, says a child. Can we come back again mummy?
Yes, says mummy. Next time we come to Tasmania.
Terence looks at the child.
What kind of child is it? A short one.
His hopes rise.
And can I go on the slide next time mummy?
Yes dear, you'll be taller by then.
........
Arthur and Surfing-With-Whales have not been in a hurry to get here.
There they are, says Unni. The slackers. Oi! Over here!
You've held us up, boys, says Gaius. And now Dismal Swamp is closing.
Sorry, says Surfing-With-Whales. Took us a while to get rid of the King George whiting. You can't hurry a reintroduction to habitat.
No, no, agrees Gaius. Well, let's find a campsite.
We might have to go back to Smithton, says Ying.
No way! says Surfing-With-Whales.
What do you suggest then? says Gaius. It's getting chilly.
Stew and I have one man tents in our back packs, says Ying.
.......
Night time in the cool rainforest, not far from the entrance to Dismal Swamp.
Probably not supposed to be camping.......
However.
This is shit, says a voice from a one man tent, in the darkness.
Doesn't have to be, says a voice from the other.
It's Arthur.
Yeah? says Surfing-With-Whales. What would make it less shit?
The Giant Slide at night, says Arthur. Want to come with me?
Fuck yeah! says Surfing-With-Whales.
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