The Disappearing Cyclist

The plane lands in Adelaide.

Dries and Terence go up to the front to collect baby B-B.

The flight attendant looks at them strangely.

What was that look? whispers Terence.

Nothing, squeaks baby B-B.

They get off the plane, and wait at the end of the walkway for Gaius.

A Border Force officer appears out of nowhere, and strides down the walkway.

Moments later, Gaius, escorted by the Border Force officer, is led to the Interrogation Room.

(There is one. I've seen it).

Woo! says Terence.

Wah! says baby B-B. Save him!

We can't, says Dries. We must wait here, and see what happens.

Gaius is shoved into the Interrogation Room roughly. The door closes.

He looks around.

There is a chair and a table. An electric light bulb, of the old type, swings menacingly above it.

( To be honest, I didn't see inside).

At the table sits a policeman.

Victor! says Gaius. It's you!

It is! says Victor. Now Gaius, what's all this about?

What's all what about? says Gaius. I dropped my notes, but I picked them up again.....

Don't play the innocent, Gaius. says Victor. You were overheard making death threats.

I don't think so, says Gaius.

Victor looks at his notebook.

'Everyone dies', says Victor. Are you going to deny that you said it?

Of course I said it, says Gaius. But not on the plane. I said it in an entirely different context. It is a universal truth after all.

True, agrees Victor. But you mustn't say that sort of thing on an aeroplane. You were also overheard talking about remote sensing. No wonder suspicions were aroused.

Ah yes, says Gaius. I can explain. I was discussing my latest research with Jack Bobridge.

Jack Bobridge! Pull the other one, says Victor.

I was sitting next to Jack Bobridge, says Gaius.

Impossible, says Victor. He arrived in Adelaide on the 11th of January from Melbourne after winning the Nationals in Buninyong. You flew in from Brisbane.

You'll have to ask him about that, says Gaius. My companion certainly looked like Jack Bobridge. And he can confirm my story.

I'll put out an alert on Jack Bobridge, says Victor. Meanwhile, you can go, but I'll have to tail you, for security reasons.

Nonsense! says Gaius. He gets up to go.

Victor opens the door for him.

Good luck in the Tour Down Under, old chap, says Victor. And...... no more death threats and delusions, okay?

Gaius is obliged to nod placatingly. How galling.

He rejoins the others, who are waiting.

There is no sign of Jack Bobridge.