Time's Sucked Out Insides

While Ageless feigns sleep on the Indian Pacific, Baby Pierre is closely examining Brianna's drill hole.

It's wider on the outside than on the inside, says Baby Pierre.

Like I don't know THAT, says Brianna.

So how did you get it? asks Baby Pierre.

Someone was trying to get in, says Brianna.

Who? asks Baby Pierre.

The Predator, says Brianna.

Then what happened? asks Baby Pierre.

It drilled a big hole with its radula, says Brianna. Ye-ouch!

Were you crying? asks Baby Pierre.

I wasn't crying, says Brianna.

Then what? asks Baby Pierre.

It sucked out my insides, says Brianna.

Baby Pierre's eyes grow wider and wider.

He tries to imagine Brianna's insides.

What were they like, your insides? asks Baby Pierre.

Grey, quivering, succulent..... says Brianna.

Woo, shivers Baby Pierre.

Ageless decides to intervene before this goes any further.

Did I hear someone mention food? says Ageless. Shall we go to the dining car?

You go, says Baby Pierre. We're not hungry.

No, we're not hungry, says Brianna.

Mind my hat then, says Ageless. I'll be back VERY shortly.

Annoyed, he scrapes his way down the carriage, with several sharp backward glances at Baby Pierre and his dangerous companion.

.........

Arthur has entered the Western Australian Museum, on a mission to find someone called Nerida.

He goes up to the information counter.

Can I help you? asks the museum attendant.

I'm looking for Nerida, says Arthur. It's about sea dragons.

She'll be at lunch, says the attendant. Would you like to wait? Perhaps you could visit our current exhibition. It's finishing soon.

What is it? asks Arthur.

Spaced 2: future recall, says the attendant.

That sounds a bit lame to Arthur.

........

Outside the Museum, Gaius and Sweezus have tired of waiting and gone looking for the Old Swan Barracks Backpackers. It's just two streets away, in Northbridge.

Awesome! says Sweezus. Free WiFi and breakfast, a bar and a pool table!

Gaius goes to check in. It's twenty eight dollars per person for a bed in a twelve person dorm.

Three dorm beds, please,says Gaius, forgetting all about Kobo.

Sweezus has gone into the bar, with its illuminated whisky barrel tables.

Arthur'll like this, thinks Sweezus.

He orders a beer and tries not to think about Terence.

Terence with a policeman. Terence, who has learned from the treacherous Ray the grim truth about Easter.

Which is now only a week off.

It's hard not to think of the future.