Misinterpretations Of Nature

We need to find that cafe, says Vello. There's no food in our cabin.

You got a cabin? says Sweezus.

Mayor Clements arranged it, says Vello. For the famous ecologists

Coolissimo! says Sweezus.

Arthur was right.

We've got snacks and beer, says Sweezus, opening his back pack.

Then you must join us for supper, says Vello. Come up after the nocturnal tour that Shu and I are going on.

Must we? asks Ssü-K'ung Shu.

It's included, says Vello. What snacks have you got boys?

Sweezus rifles through several packets.

Barbecue Shapes, Kettle Chips, Corn Chips, Chilli Popcorn  and.... whatever these are.

Dried eels, says Arthur.

Why'd you get these? asks Sweezus.

Because I thought they wouldn't go off, says Arthur.

Everyone peers at the clear packet of pinkish grey Sea Fortune dried eels.

Wonderful, says Shu. I shall make us eel broth for supper. All I need is hot water. Secondly, an eel is very useful for diverting a snake, and thirdly eels are generally lucky.

And make good bait, if all else fails, says Vello. Well done, Arthur.

Arthur had not anticipated such serendipity, when he made the eel acquisition.

........

Meanwhile on the northern side of the island, the two paleontologists, and Gaius, Louisa and Terence have reached the fossil dig site.

Dr Yu Liu and Dr Diego Garcia-Bellido are bending over a hole.

Yes, says Dr Diego Garcia-Bellido. Consistent with anomalocaradids being closely related to arthropods.

As had been expected, says Dr Yu Liu.

As I understand it, says Gaius, coming up behind them, some scientists believe animal life didn't take off until the Cambrian explosion, but you have different views?

Look here, says Dr Diego Garcia-Bellido, pointing at an unearthed Redlichiidan trilobite.

Gaius looks. Yes, he would very much like to draw that. Where is his cake tin of half-pencils?

Louisa? says Gaius. Did Arthur give you a tin before he hived off to go surfing?

No, says Louisa. But if you need a pencil  I have one, and a new notebook.

How lucky, says Gaius. May I borrow them?

Sure, says Louisa, but it's not lucky. It's because school's started.

And SHE didn't go, says Terence. She'll get in trouble.

No one takes any notice of Terence.

He wanders off into the grass, and lies down a few metres away. He searches the sky, for a parrot.

Dr Diego Garcia-Bellido is comparing dragonflies' eyes to those of a trilobite.

Dr Yu Liu is saying something about grasshopper brains, and patterns of gliogenesis.

Louisa is giving Gaius a pencil.

Gaius thinks she's the bee's knees.

How is THAT fair?

There is a rustling in the grass above Terence, and a vibration underneath him.

Yikes! A Cambrian explosion?

Terence rolls over on his tummy and looks behind him.

Fierce black eyes, a sharp beak, blue crowned head, blue neck and long green and blue iridescent feathers. A radio collar.

Hurrah! IT'S A PARROT!