The Head Trap

At last! The plane lands in Adelaide.

Gaius, Humboldt, Terence and Saint Roley get off.

Terence wears the flow ring like a necklace, in spite of all warnings.

Gaius has the deflated Pinky jammed into his pocket.

This is my first time in Australia, says Humboldt. I look forward to it.

It's a fine country, says Gaius.

Politically stable, I imagine, says Humboldt.

Of recent times, says Gaius. But you never know what might happen.

I know, says Terence, tapping the flow ring.

Boing! It springs up to form a wire cage entrapping his head.

Humboldt taps the top of the flow ring. It collapses.

Some things are knowable, says Humboldt.

I was going to do that, says Terence.

Your arm isn't long enough, says Humboldt.

Will Pinky be able to talk? asks Terence.

That is not knowable, says Gaius. You say he speaks out of his hole. But the hole will be patched up with fish glue. The possibility of communication remains to be seen.

He has to, says Terence.

Time will tell, says Humboldt. Time resolves all finite things.

There's wisdom, says Gaius.

By now they are at the baggage carousel waiting for their bicycle flat packs.

They spot them. They seize them. They open them up.

No need for a bus, says Gaius.

They assemble their bicycles.

Will Schopenhauer want his bike back? asks Humboldt.

Not likely, says Gaius.

Excellent, says Humboldt.

I'll follow you, says Saint Roley.

I'll take Terence, says Gaius.

They cycle to Gaius's house. It takes a long time because of the road works.

They arrive and go through to the kitchen.

Ageless lobster is waiting.

From Ageless they learn that Australia has a new prime minister.

Again? says Gaius. Who is it this time?

ScoMo, says Ageless.

Is that a person? asks Humboldt.

Yes, a person, says Ageless. And that is the problem. No wisdom. This country will founder. I'm thinking of running.

You should, says Gaius. We aren't staying. We're heading to Weipa.

FISH GLUE! says Terence. He jumps up and down.

The flow ring entraps his head again.

What a marvel! says Ageless.

Gaius gets out a rubber patch and his fish glue. He mends Pinky.

Pinky is blown up for a fifth time.

His head is full of thoughts, but they can't come out anywhere.

There's a parcel for Terence, says Ageless.

GET ME OUT OF THIS HEAD TRAP! yells Terence. It'll be my new snake shorts!

Get ME out of MY head trap! thinks Pinky.