At The Dark Entrance

Okay, where is it? says Terence.

Dohno, says Farky.

A man is stumbling out of the Planto.

Which way to the Big Banana? asks Terence.

The man points due north.

Come on, says Terence.

It'll be shut, says the man.

I mean, come on Farky, says Terence.

Go back inside, says the man. Leave the dog here. Find your parents.

Terence pretends he is going to.

The man disappears.

We have to be careful, says Terence.

Moreways, says Farky.

He means always, in the sense that he is now always careful due to the loss of omniscience which dogs him.

Yes, says Terence. There must be more ways. You go first.

Farky has the sense that his 'moreways' has been misinterpreted.

A glimmer of his former omniscience flashes across a tooth synapse. Bing!

.....

Farky leads the way to the Big Banana, keeping close to the tropical bushes.

It's 3.4 kilometres.

Terence is lagging.

Farky stops to pee on an aloe.

Terence catches up.

A car speeds by.

That's it, says Terence.

What? asks Farky.

I need a lift, says Terence.

Not going to happen, says Farky.

Woop! says Terence. You can talk properly.

Farky nods sagely.

It seems that he can.

.....

Eventually they reach the bend on the road where steps lead up to the Big Banana.

There are rocks, ginger plants, palms and aloes. Some grass. And the steps up.

The Big Banana sits at the top of the steps, horizontal.

In the day time you walk through the Banana to enter the Fun Park.

But not now.

Bats flit above the Big Banana.

Terence isn't scared, exactly.

Farky regards the dark entrance.

It's merely an episode, thinks Farky. Soon this will be over.

Quardle-oodle-ardle-wardle-doodle!

That's no bat! It's the brave Magpie, escaped from the shoulder of Unni, who has hooked up with a backpacker and no longer has need of his presence.