Rips, Reef And Quite Sharky

Hop in, gentlemen, says Mayor Clements, opening the door of a Ford Escape SUV.

Very kind of you, Mayor Clements, says Vello.

Anything for the cause of Kangaroo Island ecology, says Mayor Clements.

Yes, yes, says Vello. Of course these days I don't do much fieldwork. This will be a treat.

Do you wish to hire any underwater equipment, before we set off, Jacques? asks Mayor Clements.

Not I, says Vello. Do you, Suzuki?

No, says Ssü-K'ung Shu. I prefer to stay out of the water.

Yes, it can be quite chilly, says Mayor Clements.

The Ford Escape rolls out of Penneshaw, Mayor Clements driving.

......

They drive through Birchmore, and turn left on to Hanson Bay Road.

I'll take you to the Wildlife Sanctuary, says Mayor Clements. You might like to stay overnight. Very nice cabins, overlooking the bay. Nocturnal tour included. Of course you won't have to pay. Council will fix it.

Very kind, says Vello. And what's the surf like?

Not suited to beginners, says Mayor Clements. Rips, a reef and quite sharky.

Good heavens! says Vello.

Ssü-K'ung Shu imagines a shark eating Arthur. He shivers.

Those two will be heading there, says Mayor Clements, pointing at two cyclists with backpacks and surfboards.

Brave lads, says Vello.

The Ford Escape SUV passes the cyclists.

........

Did you see that? says Arthur.

See what? says Sweezus.

In that Ford. Vello and Shu. With Mayor Clements, says Arthur.

Bugger, says Sweezus. Are you sure? Where do you reckon they're going?

Hanson Bay, says Arthur. Since this is the Hanson Bay Road.

Shit, says Sweezus. Maybe it wasn't them, though.

No, it was them, says Arthur.

I haven't even brought ...... you don't have a copy? asks Sweezus.

Of what? says Arthur.

Candide, says Sweezus. I'm supposed to be learning my lines. The boss'll kill me.

He won't, says Arthur. We'll just make something up.

But he WROTE it, says Sweezus. How does it go again? We did it last year.....

Calm down, says Arthur. I remember some of the good bits.

Yeah, says Sweezus. What good bits? It was just one shit thing after another.

There were recognition scenes, says Arthur. Like when you recognise Cunegonde's brother.

Oh yeah, says Sweezus. And we cry and hug, and drink wine and eat an excellent dinner. Arthur, you're a legend!

Arthur is happy. Sweezus thinks he's a legend.

When they get to the beach they can practise the scene.

And he can play Cunegonde's brother.