Existing On Nothing

Proust emerges from the Field Centre into the sunlight.

Where is everyone?

He spots Arthur, talking to Luminita.

Doctor Proust! Feeling better? asks Luminita.

Proust is not. Nothing has come out yet. But he can't tell her.

Fine, fine, says Proust, raising his eyebrows at Arthur, to signify the opposite.

Gaius is on a tour of the building, says Arthur.

Shall we join him? asks Luminita.

No, says Proust. I'll wait here. You go, with Arthur.

No, says Luminita. Arthur doesn't want a tour of the building. We'll stay with you.

Another Camel Ball? asks Arthur.

No thanks, says Proust.

They sit on a seat in the sunshine.

So what am I missing? asks Proust.

Luminita explains:

They'll be looking at our two underground labs, where the cave's physico-chemical conditions are reproduced, the laboratory where we do water chemistry work, the living quarters, for up to six persons, and the conference room, with thirty five seats, and then they'll take him over to the diving centre, to pick up some scuba diving equipment.

Arthur blows a leisurely Camel Ball bubble. It pops on his face.

Proust takes an aloe vera impregnated tissue out of his pocket and offers it to Arthur.

Arthur declines it, and starts picking off the bubblegum with his fingers.

Your colleague is lucky, says Luminita. But of course, he is a very famous person. He will be diving the cave with Cristian and Rich. Not many have done it.

Arthur feels sorry for Proust. It was his idea to come on this expedition. And Gaius gets to go down.

Luminita goes inside, promising to come back with drinks.

You want to go down? says Arthur.

Yes and no, says Proust. On the one hand I have a stomach condition, and don't wish to go anywhere until the bubblegum I swallowed comes out which so far it hasn't, and for that reason I need to see Gaius again and obtain something stronger, but on the other hand one only gets an opportunity like this once in a lifetime, or one WOULD do, were one not in the unfortunate position of being with a more famous identity.

I'll go down with you, says Arthur. Once Gaius has done it, you and I'll go together.

You mean unofficially? says Proust. Without safe guards?

Sure, says Arthur. That's the best way.

Proust leans back against the sun-warmed white wall of the Field Centre.

He imagines a future in which: having successfully expelled the bubblegum, thanks to something stronger (walnut leaf, he has heard that might work?), he and Arthur descend unobserved to the underground cavern, dive into the foetid waters and observe all around bizarrely formed sightless inhabitants existing on nothing.... oh, the wonder of that.....how could it be?

Luminita returns with three glasses of Ursa.

Fruit flavoured non-alcoholic beer.

Oh, the wonder of that.....how could it be?