Desire For A Dangerous Bot

It's decided.

Humboldt and Kobo will fly over the reef before flying to Weipa with Tom McDonald.

Gaius goes in to fetch Kobo.

You'll be in a Gypsy Moth, says Gaius. You'll get a tour of the reef and.... now what was the other thing Ageless asked me to tell you.......?

That he's sorry? says Kobo.

Not that, says Gaius. Something about barrels

Ageless has hung back, understandably. But he is within earshot.

He is furious. Gaius only had one thing to remember. A sand ridge and a beer barrel runway.

Okay, two things.

Gaius brings Kobo out to the termite mound where Humboldt and Tom McDonald are waiting.

Impressive little fossil! says Tom McDonald.

This is Kobo, says Gaius. She has a deep nature.

Ageless tells me you like rolling down sand hills, says Tom McDonald.

Ageless knows nothing about me, says Kobo.

So it seems, says Tom McDonald. He mentioned certain items of clothing.

Flying skirts, no doubt, says Kobo. I never wear them.

Gaius hastens back to the terminal.

Tom McDonald heads for his Gypsy Moth.

Humboldt and Kobo follow.

......

Putt putt putt.

(Or whatever a Gypsy Moth sounds like)

They are up in the air, over the water, looking down on the reef.

Yeah, says Tom McDonald. It used to look better.

What happened? asks Humboldt.

Rising temperatures, crown of thorns starfish, says Tom McDonald.

What can be done? asks Humboldt.

Tom swoops down almost touching the water.

Sweersh!

Look there, says Tom McDonald. See that! It's a RangerBot.

Lift me, says Kobo. I have long desired to see a RangerBot.

Have you? asks Tom McDonald, surprised. These RangerBots are a new technology.

I know, says Kobo. Something may be desired before it comes into existence.

What is a RangerBot? asks Humboldt.

An underwater drone that detects crown of thorns starfish and injects them with poison, says Tom McDonald.

What is the poison? asks Humboldt.

Vinegar or bile salts, says Kobo.

Both men are impressed with her knowledge.

Kobo cares not. She gazes down at the RangerBot.

So dangerous and handsome.

Tom swoops upwards.

What's your interest in Weipa? asks Tom McDonald.

The bandy bandy, says Humboldt. We're trying to identify the new species before the bauxite mining ruins their habitat.

Good luck with that, says Tom McDonald.

That's not my interest, says Kobo. I wish to run along the sand unrestricted.

With the lobster?

No, not with the lobster. With Pinky.

And Pinky would be.....?

A female friend of mine.

With five pink fingers? asks Tom McDonald.

Woop! Don't let him mention the willies!

Fortunately at this moment the Gypsy Moth sputters.

Sput sput sput.

(Or whatever a dodgy old Gypsy Moth engine sounds like).