Two On The Shore

Wittgenstein has rolled up his trousers.

Margaret has given him a fishing rod.

The waves are rolling in every few seconds, and he can see through them.

Nothing but water, no fish.

Patience, says Margaret. That's what fishing's about. Patience and solitude. And introspective thinking.

Wittgenstein notes that she hasn't mentioned catching.

Should he keep silent?

That which we cannot speak about we must pass over in silence.

He stares at the wild fishless sea.

Sand, says Margaret. I was going to explain it.

Ah yes! So she was! A life saver. Something to speak of.

You will find, says Margaret, when you begin categorising your calcium carbonate particles, that they are derived from broken up marine invertebrates such as.... would you like to hazard a guess?

Crabs? says Wittgenstein. Then he regrets it. No, I don't know. You tell me.

Molluscs, bryozoans, coralline algae, echinoids and foraminifers, says Margaret.

That's five, thinks Wittgenstein. How did I divide up my paper?

However it was, there would have been an even number of squares.

Anything else? he enquires.

NO! shouts Margaret! I don't believe it!

He is shocked. Was it such a foolish question?

But no. Margaret has hooked a mulloway.

Dinner!

........

Meanwhile Katherine and Gaius are having a civil discussion.

Katherine wants to stay at a nice B and B.

Gaius wants to camp in the actual Coorong, close to filamentous green algae, and shorebirds that have come via the East Asian Australasian Flyway.

A Bed and Breakfast will be more comfortable, says Katherine. We could come and go.

Comfort is irrelevant, says Gaius. The nights are warm. We can sleep on the sand.

What would we eat? asks Katherine.

Apples, says Gaius. And Saint Roley can eat molluscs. Terence doesn't need anything.

I need a red drink right NOW, says Terence.

You see, says Katherine.

But Gaius won't be moved.

We shall drink water, says Gaius.

So they head back to the Coorong Lagoon.

It is late afternoon. The sun beats down on the Coorong. The smell is unpleasant.

The filamentous algae is shrinking and crinkling.

A few dead crabs are doing.... not much.

A red necked stint sees another red necked stint in the distance.

Hello! That makes two of us!