Don't Walk Behind Him

All ashore who are going ashore! says Captain Bain.

Edith and Lauren disembark, followed by Reg who is looking uncomfortable.

Next down the plank are Emma and Irma.

What's this here? asks Captain Bain. A crab and a lobster?  I don't remember them coming on board.

They came on in my back pack, says Irma. They were moulting.

Well, they look jolly good now, says Captain Bain. Watch out, or someone might make a fine dinner. Ah. Mr Nietzsche! Are you coming with us?

I am, says Nietzsche. But don't expect me to remain within earshot.

I DO expect you to remain within earshot, says Captain Bain.

Come on Mr Nitcher, says Emma.

Yes, come on, Friedrich, says Lauren. Is your surf rash any better?

Yes, much better, says Nietzsche.

Poor Reg, says Lauren. He got the wrong lunch. He was enjoying his bread roll and didn't realise it was made out of wheat flour. Don't walk behind him.

Come on girls, calls Edith. Hats on!

At last the guided tour group is ready. About twenty people start the long plod through the dunes.

Captain Bain is explaining how aboriginal people once lived in the area. They caught food using nets and in dams. Yabbies, crayfish, mussels and Murray cod. Of course it wasn't called Murray cod in those days, but Goodoo.

What else did they eat? asks a tourist.

Bulrush roots, pigface berries, black swans, cormorants, pelicans and ducks, says Captain Bain.

How knowledgeable Captain Bain is.

Plod plod.

It's quite warm this afternoon. Have you brought your binoculars?

Yes. I have.

Look there's a..... oh my! A rare bird indeed. A Blue Bonnet parrot.

Lucky the Catcher's not listening.

He is getting further and further away from the party.

He is walking in a sort of an arc. He can't help it.

Nietzsche is feeling the heat. He is sweating. His eyes are fixed on the back pack that Emma is carrying.

The drumming gets louder. Can anyone else hear it?

Emma! calls Nietzsche. May I borrow the back pack?

It's Irma's says Emma. But yes, you can have it. It's annoying.

Is it? asks Nietzsche. In what way annoying?

It's rattling, says Emma. Here.

At last Nietzsche has possession of the Hello Kitty back pack.

He sits down on a dune, not caring that he is now out of Captain Bain's earshot, and looks inside.