Rare Infant Wisdom

Everyone stares at the red pot.

My clay! wails Terence.

We thought so, says Gaius. That's why we brought it.

Why did you leave it in the freezer? asks Humbolt.

I DIDN'T! says Terence. Can I have it?

Humboldt hands it to him.

The crocodile glances at the pot. Freezes. Something has caught his attention.

Terence is examining the artwork.

Let's see, says Sweezus. That mark looks like Kobo.

SHE wouldn't do it, says Terence.

I didn't say that, says Sweezus.

Ageless was MINDING it, says Terence.

Looks like Ageless did more than mind it, says Arthur, wrapping Humboldt's handkerchief round his scraped knee.

The effect is quite pleasing. The red clay stains look bloody.

YES! says Terence. See that mark! That's the mark of the Claw!

The crocodile lunges at the red pot which bears the mark of the Claw.

He desires it.

Terence loses his balance, and the red pot drops into the Embley River.

Oop! It was already crumbling. And it was never fired. Putting it in the freezer was the last thing it needed.

The impassive waters of the Embley break it into component particles.

Rapidly.

It flimmers away.

Look what you've done! says Terence.

Apologies, says the crocodile Too much going on in my head at the moment.

Understandable, says Gloria who has been watching from a high stringy bark.

Why is that? asks Gaius.

Poor Kambel. He has been promised two pairs of Crocs. He has waited. He has not eaten Arthur. He has had his mind turned by Chinese poetry. The Crocs have arrived in wrong sizes. His attention has been diverted by a desirable punching frog pen. He has then been promised flip flops, the alternative footwear favoured by Knights of the Golden Tortoise, and now, just as he seemed about to attain them, a red pot turns up with the mark of the Claw, which means something to him, but it dissolves in the water, as he is watching.

Jumping Jupiter! says Gaius. That's a lot to come to terms with.

The mark of the CLAW! groans the crocodile. Gone forever.

Ageless will make you another one, says Terence. Stop groaning and try on your flip flops.

Wise advice from the mouth of an infant.