Long Blue

In the cabin Ageless is fuming.

Never mind, dearest, says Kobo. So they went without you. They know what you want.

Not like I do! says Ageless.

Of course not, agrees Kobo. Why don't you get Arthur to call them? Have some input.

An excellent suggestion. Ageless climbs out of the plum box and heads towards Arthur.

It's a bit late in the evening to ask Arthur to do anything lucid.

He and Humboldt are drinking. Something green.

They have been discussing what usually happens at Christmas.

Arthur thinks he remembers.

A tree.

Stars, says Humboldt. With nutcrackers.

All of the above, says Arthur.

Arthur, says Ageless, I'm still here.

We all are, says Arthur.

Wrong, says Ageless. Not Gaius, Sweezus and Terence and the parrot. I want you to call them. I need to be part of the search for my new team member.

Why didn't you go with them? asks Humboldt.

I was saying goodbye to Kobo, says Ageless. And things got sticky.

Speaking of sticky, says Humboldt, have some absinthe. Banish all care.

Ageless has a sip of the absinthe, forgetting he is a lobster, and has different requirements for banishing all care.

Bluh! Green stripes appear on his body.

Arthur tries to call Sweezus.

Fat chance. No coverage out there.

......

In the torchlight, the Cherabin stares at the Pot.

Terence is standing ankle deep in the water.

He jiggles the torch.

That's not how you do it, says Celia, who is still on his shoulder.

Terence lifts a foot. He has a plan. If he brings his foot down on the tail of the Cherabin he will catch it.

Zoom! The Cherabin jack knifes away.

You lost it, says Celia.

Wah! says Terence. It was a fast one!

The Cherabin zooms back again.

What a Pot! This could be his Dream Home!

His long blue claws tremble.