Secret Light Communication

Here is a bus, travelling from Narrandera to Balranald, via Griffith.

Here is the driver, Barry Wurst.

Here are the passengers, Lily, James, Faruk, Margaret, Alice, Fred, Monty, Mango and baby B-B.

Mango and baby B-B are sitting near the back.

Comfy? asks Mango.

Eth, says baby B-B.

He is very comfy, because he has a whole seat to himself.

But he can't see through the window.

Lily leans across from her seat opposite.

Would your little baby like a cushion? asks Lily.

Yes, says Mango. Then he could see out of the window. Thanks.

Lily hands Mango a cushion.

Mango lifts baby B-B onto the cushion. Now he can see out of the window of the bus.

What can he see?

Australian scenery.

Going to Griffith? asks Lily.

No, says Mango. We're going to Balranald. What about you?

Me, Faruk and James are going to Griffith, says Lily. We've all got jobs at Baiada.

Baiada? What's Baiada? asks Mango.

Lily wishes now she hadn't said it.

Chickens, says Lily, vaguely.

Kickens, says baby B-B.

Oh how cute, says Lily. He's so little! And he can already say kickens.

Don't patronise him, says Mango. That wasn't very good. It's CHickens! CHickens!

CHickens, says baby B-B. What you do to CHickens?

He fixes Lily with a beady eye.

Um, says Lily. Processing mainly.

Luckily baby B-B is linguistically unable to pursue this further.

.......

Meanwhile in the Hotel le Montmartre, Paris, gendarme Pierre has come to a decision.

My apologies to you distinguished gentlemen, says Pierre. I have been given false information. You are free to go.

Thank you, says Gaius. But it is you who are in our apartment. You are free to go.

Of course, says Pierre. It has been an honour. I cannot wait to tell my wife.

Tell her what? asks Gaius.

That I have met you, says Pierre. David Hume, Carl Linnaeus, the great Voltaire, and you, Pliny the Elder. May I ask what you are working on at present?

Oh... err.... nothing much, says Gaius. Bird language skills, but not till I get home......

Know anything about the mantis shrimp? asks Pierre. That new research from Queensland?

Should I? asks Gaius. Well, yes, of course..... why are you asking?

Just that we policemen would be very interested in their means of secret light communication, says Pierre.

Hmm....hmm. says Gaius. Yes, top secret at the moment, but no doubt, in the future......

Okay, says Pierre. Just thought I'd ask. Au revoir, gentlemen.

He goes down the stairs.

What is it? says Gaius, turning to the others. What's so funny?

The secret light communication of the mantis shrimp, says Vello. Bet you can't wait to get home.

Vello is right.

Gaius is simply itching to get home.