Remembering Those Left Behind

Let's go! says Roger Frogg. You three can leave your bikes and surfboards at the Rockpool Cafe. The owners won't mind.

Shall I get out and sit in the back? asks Vello.

No, says Anita. You sit tight. Dan, you and Roger in the front. Me in the back with Sweezus and Arthur.

It's a long drive to Cape Torrens.

The conversation in the front seat is about shipwrecks.

There are over eighty of them off Kangaroo Island, says Roger Frogg. The Department of the Environment established a Shipwreck Trail.

They must be quite proud, says Jacques Cousteau. And what is the name of this one again?

The Portland Maru, says Dan Diver. She sank on the 22nd of March 1935. She was a Japanese-built steel steamship, carrying wheat from Port Lincoln to Yokohama. Hit an unknown object, began to take water. All forty crew rescued.

Jacques Cousteau is disappointed. No bones. No treasure.

The ship's generator was recovered, says Roger Frogg.

Yeah, for years it supplied the electricity for Kingscote, says Dan.

Hard to believe, says Jacques Cousteau.

The manganese bronze prop was recovered in 1967, says Roger Frogg. It's in the Kingscote Museum.

Not being quite as useful, says Jacques Cousteau.

Reckon not, says Dan Diver.

So what is left under the sea for us to look at? asks Jacques Cousteau.

Everything, says Dan. You'll love it.

Jacques Cousteau expresses a hope that he will.

In the back seat the conversation is along similar lines.

Anita: So guys, looking forward to the dive?

Sweezus: Yep. What's it called again?

Anita: Portland Maru.

Sweezus (googling on his smartphone): Got it!

Arthur: Let's see.

Sweezus. Hey, it looks awesome.

Arthur: Is that a ship's wheel covered in seaweed?

Sweezus: No, it's just seaweed. What's the music?

Anita: Jazz, I think.

Sweezus: Look, a blue fish!

Anita: That's a western blue groper.

Arthur: What's this one?

Anita: What do you think it is?

Arthur: A black and white striped fish.

Anita: Funny. It's a zebra fish.

Sweezus: Oh shit! Zebra. Terence!

Arthur: Good associative recall!

Anita: Who's Terence? A zebra?

Sweezus: No he's a kid that was with us, but he's gone to look at a zebu.

Anita: Oh, I know where that would be. Will's Rare Breeds Farm.

Sweezus: Irene 'll just have to keep him a bit longer.

Arthur: The longer the better.

Sweezus: Yeah, the longer the better.

This is not true of long car trips or unresolved conversations however.

There's only so far you can go.