X Others

At the Waves Resort Hotel, there is no sign of Terence, or Ageless.

Probably still out on the catamaran, says Gaius. I hope nothing has happened.

Why should it? asks Griff. They were with the Thomas-Humes.

I thought I spotted an upturned catamaran in the harbour, as we were descending Gun Hill, says Gaius.

There must be dozens, says Griff.

Dozens, agrees Gaius. No doubt we shall hear soon enough.

Kobo remembers the last time she saw Ageless and Terence.

Terence was walking backwards, and Ageless was cross.

Shall we treat ourselves to a coffee? asks Griff.

Meaning? says Gaius.

I'll pay, says Griff.

In that case, yes, says Gaius. I'll bring my notebook. We'll go over what we've learned so far.

They head for the Kyma Coffee Bar, in the hotel. It has a fine view of the water.

Kobo goes with them.

Gaius searches for a pencil. He can't find one.

I'll see if I can acquire one, says Griff.

Very good, says Gaius. You are shaping up to be a regular Arthur.

Griff goes off to acquire a pencil.

There's no such thing as a regular Arthur, says Kobo.

Gaius reflects. She is right.

What does a mongoose look like? asks Kobo, while they are waiting.

You don't know? says Gaius. That surprises me. You are an avid reader and there are mongooses throughout literature.

Mongooses, says Kobo. Not mongeese?

Certainly not, says Gaius. The name comes from the Marathi word munguus. It was corrupted by the English, into mongoose. But even the English were uncomfortable with mongeese. They got around the plural by referring to 'one mongoose and x others'.

Clever, says Kobo. And what do they look like?

The English? A lot better than they used to, says Gaius.

No, the mongoose and x others, says Kobo.

Ha ha, laughs Gaius. X others!

Well? says Kobo.

But just then, the Thomas-Humes arrive, with wet hair, and towels round their shoulders.

Hello, says Mrs Thomas Hume. We had a bit of a disaster. The catamaran we were sailing flipped over.

Dear me, says Gaius. What happened to Terence?

Terence? says Mrs Thomas-Hume. Isn't he with you?

No, says Gaius. He was with Ageless. They were planning to go out with you.

Lucky they didn't, says Mrs Thomas-Hume. Terence would have sunk to the bottom.

For the third time this trip, says Gaius.

Good heavens, says Mrs Thomas-Hume. He is accident prone. So where is he?

I'll ask Reception if they've seen him, says Mr Thomas-Hume.

Mr Thomas-Hume goes out to Reception. Griff is there, borrowing a pencil.

Reception is making him sign for it, so it can be added to Gaius's bill.

Griff is not as good as Arthur at obtaining a pencil.

Mr Thomas-Hume is about to ask Reception if he has seen Terence, when Ageless appears, hot and bothered and furiously angry.

A long way behind him is Terence, still walking backwards.

He doesn't yet know he is lucky.