Two Persons Need To Be Rescued

Things happen fast.

Daniel O'Connell rises through the water.

He clambers on board Margaret's tinny.

It seems larger than he remembers. Higher, with a more pronounced curve.

Also, it doesn't feel level.

And now, he spots the reason.

Gaius has gone over the side.

Belle and Margaret are leaning over, peering into the water.

There you are, says Ageless. Just in time for the show.

He is rudely positioned below the two women's bottoms.

And Belle is wearing a dress, a lovely full-skirted red one.

And there is a breeze, which has got up now.

Daniel O'Connell is disgusted.

What happened? asks Daniel O'Connell.

Gaius lost his hat and went in after it, says Ageless. So the ladies have tipped us off kilter. Didn't you see him?

No, says Daniel O'Connell. I had other things on my mind. Terence can't get back up to the surface, and nor can Baby Pierre.

A piece of luck for them, says Ageless.

Drowning? says Daniel O'Connell.

Gaius falling in, says Ageless. He'll save them.

He won't know he has to, says Daniel O'Connell. I'll go back down and find him.

Good man, says Ageless. I'll just stay here, on guard.

So I see, says Daniel O'Connell.

He lowers himself back into the water, where he sees Gaius, peering towards him.

He points downwards, which is hard for a swimming spider to do.

But Gaius is a natural observer. He raises his eyebrows.

Daniel O'Connell lifts six of his legs, leaving two pointing downwards.

By which Gaius understands that two persons need to be rescued.

But he knows he can't do it on one gulp of air.

Therefore Gaius rises again to the side of the tinny.

The side that both Belle and Margaret are on.

As he grabs it, the two women fall into the water.

It was inevitable.

Only Ageless remains on board the tinny, waiting for what happens next.

What happens next is quite lucky.

Tullio Rossi, science communicator, is motoring towards them in the University tinny, having been alerted by the red dress in the water from some distance away.

Ahoy there! says Tullio, when he gets close enough. Need some assistance?

Yes please, say Margaret and Belle.