Nose Pricks Up Her Ears

Kobo was right. It was Gaius's key in the door.

He enters, to find Ageless collapsed on the floor of the kitchen.

The top half of his carapace lies askew, his large claw appears loosened.

What's this! says Gaius, dropping his back pack.

Oof! A muffled sound squoofs from the back pack.

Gaius lifts Ageless (and his parts) and drops the lot in the sink below Kobo.

He turns the tap on.

Bath would be better, says Kobo. You'll need the sink for the dishes.

True, says Gaius. Good thinking.

Ageless is removed to the bathroom and placed in the bath. The tap is turned on.

Gaius returns to the kitchen to look for some salt.

He doesn't use salt much. But yes, there is some salt in a yellow container.

He returns to the bathroom, to do some salt concentration calculations.

When he returns, the bandicoot is out of the back pack and looking for something to eat, preferably blackberries.

There's nothing to eat, says Gaius, until I go shopping.

That's fine, thinks the bandicoot. So much for promises.

Lavender has been observing.

Hello animal, are you a specimen? I like your long nose.

Who said that? The bandicoot can't see anyone.

Gaius's phone rings.

Hello?

It's David. Are you back yet? How did it go?

Terrible, says Gaius. And I've landed myself with a bandicoot.

How did that happen? asks David.

I was talking with a chap from the Environmental Institute, says Gaius. There are plans for a bandicoot superhighway. The bandicoots are finding it increasingly hard to find mates in different locations, so the plan is to build a tunnel to connect them.

But why have you got a bandicoot? asks David. Is it some sort of activist?

I don't know, says Gaius. So far it hasn't said anything.

The bandicoot smirks.

Lavender wriggles herself free of the window sill, and rolls to the floor, with a clatter, landing next to the bandicoot.

Hey, Nose, can you ride a bicycle?

The bandicoot has never been asked this question. Nor does it answer to Nose.

It thinks silently: O for just one single blackberry!

I've just been talking to Rabbie, says David. He's back from Blaxland.

Poets, says Gaius. Always feeling something.

Mother's going over, next week, says David.

Katherine! says Gaius. What for?

To look after the children while their parents are in Barbados, says David. Lucky them, eh?

Hm, says Gaius. Barbados. I know a chap who wrote a book on Barbados. A Natural History In Ten Books. Very commendable. Accurate drawings of palm trees. The first known description of grapefruit...

Some time ago then, says David.

Yes, says Gaius. Wonder where he is these days....

Well, good to know that you're back, says David. Drop into the office sometime. Vello's got a few spare Fringe tickets.

Thanks, says Gaius. Will do. But first I must do some shopping.

Of course, says David. Food for the bandicoot. What do they eat, mainly?

Insects, worms, larvae, spiders, tubers, fungi and fruits, says Gaius. The Southern Brown Bandicoot is particularly fond of blackberries.

Blackberries. Nose pricks up her ears.

Gaius goes out, on his bicycle.

The house is quiet.

Ageless moults in the bath.

Kobo dreams of Barbados.

Lavender sulks, because Nose is so rude.

Nose imagines a punnet, piled high with juicy black berries. Perhaps an ant or two. Even a spider. A delicious banquet. She will eat everything. Then she will surprise them!