My Python Lives In A Red Box

The torch flicks from xanthorrhea to hakea, and a dense stand of tea trees (L.laevigatum).

No one in there.

Unni keeps going, towards the cold showers.

There's a queue for the showers, and Doris's kids are next in line to go in.

Hi kids, says Unni. Your mum was worried. I'll go back and tell her you're okay.

The kids look at Unni like: duuh, whatever.

Well if they don't care, thinks Unni, I'll keep looking for Sweezus.

She turns down the track to Cave Beach.

The moon shines on the water. The water shines back at the moon.

The sand is silky, until ach! she steps on a lizard.

It's a dead one, so that is okay.

She picks it up and heads back to the camp site.

Sweezus must have hooked up with someone. She walks past groups of campers, stealing looks at their faces.

Unni! says Sweezus loudly from where he is sitting outside Daz and Woppa's blue tent, scoffing a big lamb chop, with Daz and Woppa, who are scoffing big lamb chops too.

She goes over.

So you didn't get eaten by a shark then, says Unni.

You know me, says Sweezus.

I do, says Unni, but I don't know these guys.

This is Daz and Woppa, says Sweezus. Me, Daz and Woppa go way back. We used to catch tadpoles together.

Yeah, back in the day, says Daz, nodding. And Woppa's a snake man.

Woppa makes a slightly lewd gesture.

Not a good move by Woppa.

No kidding, says Unni. I'm a snake person myself, coincidentally.

Woppa looks taken aback. So does Daz. This is not usually how 'snake man' unfolds with the women.

Yeah, says Unni. You guys want to come over and see my python? I keep it in a red box, But I'll open it if you're really interested.

Sweezus is trying to hold a big laugh in, by pressing his neck muscles.

Which never works.

And explains why Sweezus is laughing.

Look at this, says Unni. I stepped on it earlier.

She whips out the dead lizard. It has a big yellow mouth and a well defined crest down its spine.

That's a Jacky lizard, says Woppa.

Nice try, says Daz.

No, it is, says Woppa.

Woppa's right. It is a Jacky.

Come on, says Unni. The kids'll have finished their showers.

Kids! squeaks Daz. Is she your woman?

What kids? says Sweezus.

Ha ha, laughs Woppa. He's forgotten his kids!

Up! Python! Now! says Unni.

The three lamb chop scoffers get up and follow Unni back to where Doris is scolding her kids for taking so long in the showers.