The Tree Moves No Faster

Arthur drives along the Pacific Highway, without incident.

Because of the holidays, traffic is slow.

He looks in the rear view mirror.

Farky-Magpie appears to be sleeping.

He looks through the windscreen, at the sky.

A Moreton Bay fig edges past him.

If Arthur was the sort of person to a). check out the distance from Currumbin to Moreton Bay, and b). estimate his time of arrival in current traffic conditions, and c). find out when Gaius is meeting the Mayor,

it wouldn't make any difference.

The tree moves no faster.

........

The Mayor is late.

This isn't good enough, fumes Gaius.

It's the holidays, says his personal assistant, René. The Mayor is a family man and a keen fisherman.

That is all very well, says Gaius, but if I can get here on time, so can he.

But you were already in Moreton Bay, says René. He wasn't.

The Mayor hurries in.

Allan Sutherland at your service, says the Mayor. Sorry I'm late. It's the traffic...

.......

The meeting is not going well.

My hands are tied, says the Mayor. Josh Frydenberg approved it. Jackie Trad signed off on it. Moreton Bay is number one for residential land sales approvals, and one of the most financially viable and stable councils in Queensland.

But what about the Far Eastern Curlew? says Gaius.

What about the billionaire developer? says the Mayor. Anyway, it's been put on hold again.

It needs to be stopped, says Gaius. May I bring in Saint Roley? He's hovering outside.

How will that help? asks the Mayor.

He will act as a spokes-bird, says Gaius.

All right, says the Mayor. René, will you please fetch a tea towel.

.......

Arthur arrives just as Gaius is leaving, with a disgruntled Saint Roley.

Arthur! says Gaius. Just the man! But too late, I fear!

What's up? says Arthur.

Saint Roley was to be my spokes-bird, says Gaius, But he was offended by his treatment and refused to say anything. We left without making our case for the Far Eastern Curlew.

They sat me on a tea towel, says Saint Roley. And fed me half a cracker.

It was the half cracker that really upset him, says Gaius. Can't think why.

Saint Roley knows why. The Mayor obviously knows about the curlews' protection racket, and this was a warning. KEEP QUIET OR ELSE.

He can hardly tell Gaius.