Killer Session

Sweezus and Arthur have paddled out to the dangerous reef at the end of the bay.

The swell is up.

Huge waves, moving water. Lower down, big rips and sharks.

They paddle out further.

........

It is dark now. The Nocturnal Tour is returning.

Look up everyone, says Ella. That's our Great Southern sky!

Ahh... say the tourists. You can see every star. How beautiful.

Take care driving back, says Ella, You don't want to hit any wildlife. They're active at night.

Ooh... says the tourists. Thank you, thank you, Ella. Good bye.

Irene comes over to say goodbye to the famous ecologists.

Are you in one of the cabins? asks Irene.

Yes, says Vello. We're going back there now to meet our friends and cook an eel stew.

Ssü-K'ung Shu is holding several sprigs of lemon myrtle.

Ella comes over. Did you pick that? Do you have a permit?

A permit? No, of course he doesn't have a permit.

You need a permit to gather bush tucker, says Ella. Just a friendly warning.

He is David Su-Zu-Ki, says Irene. Just so you know.

He still needs a permit, says Ella. He can download it from the government website.

Nonsense, says Vello. These sprigs fell out of a tree. A koala was chewing them.

That wouldn't happen, says Ella.

If Jacques Cousteau says it happened, it happened, says Irene.

Thank you, madam, says Vello.

"Permit to Collect Native Plant Material". Download it, says Ella.

She heads back to the Visitor Centre to turn the lights off.

What a stickler, says Vello. What a fuss over one or two twiglets.

Lucky she didn't see these, says Ssü-K'ung Shu, pulling a handful of wild bush tomatoes from one pocket, and a handful of yellow bush peas from the other.

......

Night time. The lights are on in the cabin, where Ssü-K'ung Shu and Vello are soaking dried eels.

From a distance, Sweezus and Arthur see the lights flickering on the water. It's late.

They would have come in earlier, but for the great killer session.

Easy six to eight foot waves breaking in on the exposed reef ledge. Wild and intimidating.

Arthur is bleeding of course.

They start paddling shorewards.

Do sharks sleep at night? asks Arthur.

Yeah, they do, says Sweezus. I reckon.

You don't sound too sure, says Arthur.

Me and sharks are like brothers, says Sweezus. Remember that time I saved Farky? Talked them out of eating his busted leg.

What did you say? asks Arthur.

 Dunno, says Sweezus. Can't remember. But it worked.

There is a swishing sound behind them, underneath them and in front of them. An agitation of bubbles. Two shark fins appear next to Arthur.

Better start talking, says Arthur.