A Darker Fear

The plane lands in Sydney.

Griff appears to be sleeping.

Gaius reaches past Terence to poke him.

Let me poke him, says Terence.

Go for it, says Gaius.

Terence pokes Griff hard, in the ribs.

Griff looks startled, as anyone would do, in the circumstances.

For two hours he has been praying for guidance.

A voice has come and gone in his head.

He has only partly heard what it is saying.

But the last words were clear. GO FOR IT!

Gaius unbuckles Terence's seat belt and picks up the basket.

Nose is lying inside.

Next to Nose is a pink fuzzy monkey.

Hey, says a little girl, leaning over the back of the seat in front of Terence.

That's my Monkey.

Dear me, says Gaius. I don't know how that could have happened.

Anika! says the little girl's mother. Did you put Monkey in the gentleman's basket?

Yes, says Anika. Now Monkey wants to come back.

No, he doesn't, says Terence.

Yes he does, says Gaius, attempting to pick up the Monkey.

It seems to be stuck.

He pulls at the Monkey.

Ouch! says Nose. That Monkey was sticky.

Some of Monkey's pink fuzz has come off on Nose. Monkey has a bald patch.

Too bad, Anika, says Anika's mum. Hurry up. We have to get off the plane now.

We all do, says Gaius. Hurry up, Terence.

But Terence is staring at Nose.

Look, says Terence. Feathers.

My first feathers, says Nose. Monkey fuzz feathers. I told you the monkey was sticky.

It must have been you that was sticky, says Gaius.

Griff wonders if he is still dreaming. Or if his prayer has been answered in a mysterious way.

......

They head for the International departure lounge, to wait for their LA connection.

Ageless and Kobo are already there.

Ageless! says Terence. Look at my parrot.

Ageless looks at Nose, without really looking.

He has a dilemma.

Kobo is unhappy in the yellow plastic carry bag.

Gaius, says Ageless. Can you see anything wrong with this carry bag?

No, says Gaius. It's perfectly good. I acquired it from Rebel Sports, when I bought a new head warmer.

Ha ha, laughs Griff. You bought a new head warmer.

It was on special, says Gaius.

Kobo is anxious about travelling to LA inside it, says Ageless. But she doesn't know why.

I know, says Terence. It's yellow.

No, a darker fear, says Kobo.

The black writing? says Terence.

REBEL, says Gaius. It's perfectly fine.

The second E is back to front, observes Griff. That means something.

The E of the devil, I suppose, says Gaius.

Is it? says Kobo. Why did nobody tell me?

It was a joke, says Gaius. But if you're anxious, travel in the basket, with Nose.

Ditch the bag, says Kobo.

No, says Gaius. It may come in useful.