Suck And Pop

Gaius and Humboldt, cycling towards the Embley River, listen to night sounds.

The wind in the soap trees.

The masked owl (again).

Tyres rolling over red dirt.

Terence asking questions. (Are we there yet?)

The bandy bandy thrashing about in the plum scented container.

A shrill whistlefrog.

A Nankeen night heron.

The suck and pop of the estuarine wetlands.

Water flowing seawards.

They arrive at the Embley River.

No ferry.

Perhaps we should start our search on this side, says Humboldt. After all, there is no ferry.

There's a BOAT! says Terence.

A tinny, says Gaius. So there is. What do you think, Humboldt?

Borrow it? says Humboldt. That seems wrong.

Gaius too thinks it seems wrong. So the tinny remains grounded.

Terence opens the plum scented container. Plum scent wafts out.

Followed by the bandy bandy.

I HATE you, says the bandy bandy. ALL OF YOU.

Why? asks Terence. I'm the king!

You're no KING! spits the bandy bandy. You're an infant.

Same thing, says Terence. Wait! I know! Let's go and look at the boat.

The bandy bandy postpones his hatred. He would like to look at the boat.

They squelch over to the boat together.

Correction. Terence squelches. The bandy bandy slithers.

Gaius and Humboldt are sitting on a cracked log in the moonlight discussing something of relevance.

Humboldt: La la la?

Gaius: Yes, it's what ladies say when they wish to make it clear they're not listening.

Humboldt: Well, that is alarming.

Gaius: Why so?

Humboldt: Both Kobo and Pinky Rose said it when a snake search was mentioned.

Gaius: But Kobo was the one who suggested they search by the ocean.

Humboldt: They are strange ones, don't you think so?

Gaius: Yes, but reliable.

Humboldt: You are a fine person. Do you know that?

Gaius: Thank you for saying so, I find it convenient to expect my companions to be reliable. I am rarely disappointed.

Humboldt: Excluding Terence.

Gaius: Ha ha. Yes. Why do you say that?.

Humboldt: He is currently floating away.

Gaius: Neptune's knickers! The little monkey!

Gaius and Humboldt wade out into the crocodile and deadly stinger infested Embley, to retrieve the errant Terence.