Endangered At The Edge Of A Hole

Gaius and Humboldt wheel their bicycles towards the land management and rehabilitation area.

Roderick Coconut looks up.

Welcome to country, says Roderick Coconut.

It's an honour, says Gaius. Any news of the new bandy bandy?

Ask Frances, says Roderick Coconut. She's got this map.

A map should be useful, says Gaius.

Frances comes over.

Hi. Come to help us plant nondas?

YES! cries Terence. What are nondas?

Yummy plums, says Frances. I'll give you a spade if you really want to help us. Here, have this one.

Terence now has a spade.

He edges away from Gaius and Humboldt, with his new implement.

Yeah, Roderick told me you were looking for the new bandy bandy those biologists found, says Frances.

We are, says Humboldt. We read the report, and it seems the bandy bandies may be endangered.

I'm worried about that myself, says Frances. Hey! Is that a bandy bandy?

She has spotted the finger of Pinky, protruding from the cement hand of Terence. Terence has sneaked back to drag Pinky from Gaius's basket.

Not that one, says Gaius. It's a regular vermicella annulata. We have two if them. They currently sleep inside Pinky.

Okay, says Frances. She has heard many stories, and this is a good one.

Anyway, says Frances, I got you this map. Freek Vonk and Bryan Fry left it here. See the little dot there?

Yes, says Gaius. The dot marks the spot.

Ha ha, laughs Humboldt. The dot marks the spot.

You a poet? says Frances.

Ahem, no, says Humboldt. Let me see. Where are we? What are these markings?

A new mine, opening next year, says Frances. Right where the snakes are.

May we have a look? asks Gaius.

Nothing stopping you, says Frances. The little guy can stay if he wants to.

Terence is happily digging, some distance away.

Fine, says Gaius. Humboldt and I will make a preliminary reconnaissance. Who else is coming?

Ageless and Kobo?

No thanks, says Kobo. We'll wait here.

Gaius and Humboldt cycle off, towards the dotted area.

They don't get far when Gaius remembers he doesn't have Pinky.

Gaius: We should have brought Pinky.

Humboldt: What for?

Gaius: Her contents might have been useful.

Humboldt: Not likely. Her contents are sleeping.

Gaius: Good point. They'll come in useful this evening.

They continue, without Pinky or her contents.

A pity.

Because Pinky and her contents are at the edge of a very deep hole.