The Tuneful Voyage

In Lucky Bay, Arthur has gone down to the boat ramp.

The Dempsters are launching their boat.

Nice boat, observes Arthur.

Yerp, says Ed Dempster. She's a good 'un.

The Georgette, says Arthur, persevering.

Yerp, says Andrew Dempster. Not as good as the old one.

Come on Ed, says Mary-Margaret Dempster. We don't have all day.

Yerp, says Charles Dempster. I do know that, Mary-Margaret.

Mary-Emily Dempster meanwhile is looking closely at Arthur.

Aren't you .....that poet? she asks.

No, says Arthur.

You look just like him, says Mary-Emily.

I'm from the museum, says Arthur. We're looking for ruby sea dragons. That's my boss over there, getting into his diving suit.

Ed and Andrew Dempster turn to look at Arthur's boss, who is struggling into a diving suit while Ferdy holds out the rebreather.

Is that a rebreather? asks Ed.

Yes, says Arthur. The ruby sea dragon lives at a depth of around fifty metres.

Rebreathers are good, says Mary-Margaret. No bubbles.

Not that good, Mary, says Ed. They don't work below eighteen metres.

Andrew Dempster has noticed that the boss doesn't seem to have marine transport.

Would he like a lift out? asks Andrew Dempster. We're just going.

He would, says Arthur. And his off sider too, if you wouldn't mind taking one extra.

Is it you, dear, the off sider? asks Mary-Emily, who still thinks Arthur looks like that French poet, and would love him to be the off sider.

No, says Arthur. I'm going to set up the camp site. The offsider's Baby Pierre. He'll be going down the remaining thirty metres, with an underwater camera.

Okay, says Ed. Tell 'em to get their arses over here.

Ed! says Mary Margaret.

Arthur goes back to tell Gaius the Georgette is ready to take him.

The Dempsters wait, with varying degrees of impatience.

.........

Ten minutes later.

This is most kind, says Gaius, settling down as comfortably as is possible in complicated diving equipment.

Ouch.

Careful! barks Ed Dempster (the captain).

Sorry, says Gaius. This is rather awkward.

It would be, says Mary-Emily. Why didn't you wait until the last minute?

I needed Ferdy to help me, says Gaius. It's his equipment. Have I damaged it?

No, it's fine, says Andrew Dempster. Is Ferdy your off sider?

Baby Pierre, says Mary-Margaret. Don't you listen?

Baby Pierre. Where is he? asks Andrew Dempster.

Here! squeaks Baby Pierre from under the Canon G16 digital camera and Fantasea housing which Gaius has plonked down on the decking.

Ee! says Mary-Emily. There's something wrong with the camera!

That will be Baby Pierre, says Gaius. He's strapped to it.

No one is strapped to it, says Mary-Emily.

She lifts up the underwater camera.

Hah! says Mary-Margaret. It has a wee stone in it.

She attempts to undo the strap.

Baby Pierre drops out. Followed by Brianna.

And a pretty wee shell, adds Mary-Margaret.

Gaius is annoyed to see Brianna. She will distract Baby Pierre from his purpose.

Yes there she goes already, singing:

I wake up just to sleep with you
I open my eyes so I could see with you
la la la la

That's Beyoncé! says Mary-Emily. Where's it coming from?

The wee shell! says Mary-Margaret.

(She says wee a lot, being married to a man who is Scottish).