Eternal Rollers Of Victims

Arvo.

Roderick turns up in his van.

Ready to go? asks Roderick. Chuck your stuff in the back there.

Not this stuff, says Terence. This is Blue Claw's dream home.

And not the plum box, says Ageless, popping out.

Blue Claw follows him out of the plum box.

No room in here, says Roderick Coconut. Dream homes and plum boxes go in the back.

Bumhole! says Terence Can I go in the back?

No way, says Sweezus.

I'll go, says Arthur.

No one's going in the back, says Roderick Coconut. Only inanimate objects.

So everyone piles into the front of the van.

Gaius and Humboldt, with Terence and Celia on their laps.

Sweezus and Arthur with Ageless, Blue Claw, Kobo and Pinky on theirs.

Roderick heads for the airstrip.

You guys are lucky, says Roderick. There's a tropical cyclone coming. Should make landfall by tomorrow.

Very lucky, says Gaius. We've had good weather up to now..

Yeah, says Roderick. Good weather. And you've not been eaten by a crocodile, or stung by a deadly stinger.

And I've got a parrot, says Terence. And a Cherabin called Blue Claw.

He's not yours, says Celia.

Thank you, says Blue Claw, from Arthur's lap where he is sitting.

I caught him in my pot, mutters Terence.

How a person masters his fate is more important than what his fate is, says Humboldt.

YES! says Terence who has interpreted this wisdom to mean that he is the master.

Yeah, says Sweezus, always ready to ignore what his fate is.

My fate is sealed, says Arthur. Lighter than a cork I dance on the waves.

Shit, man, says Sweezus. You need antibiotics.

Here we are, says Roderick Coconut. And that'll be your plane.

There is a Sunstate Airlines plane on the runway.

Everyone piles out of the van.

Did we get tickets? asks Sweezus.

Curses, says Gaius. No we didn't. Arthur?

Waves, the eternal rollers of victims, says Arthur.

He lurches, grabbing Sweezus, with his worst bandaged hand.

He's usually so reliable, says Gaius.

We're screwed, says Sweezus.

It looks that way, but no!

A tiny Gypsy Moth has appeared in the distance.