The Proposition

The business woman scratches her ankle.

It feels like an ant is down there.

She looks at the spot she's been scratching.

And sees Baby Pierre.

Where did YOU come from? asks the business woman.

Economy, says Baby Pierre.

He executes a final wheelie, and scoots back to economy.

He stops next to Gaius's foot.

Gaius is talking.

Strange, he is saying.

This is in response to Elodie's claim that she was paid a share of the money the audience threw into the tin, at Candide's Garden.

Which was a response to Gaius offering to pay for his half of the muffin with flies.

It didn't have flies, as we know, but mud sticks.

What's strange? asks Baby Pierre, who likes to be abreast of the times.

I wasn't paid any money, says Gaius.

Perhaps they gave it to Arthur, says Elodie. Thinking you'd get it.

Yes, perhaps that's what happened, and perhaps that's why Arthur disappeared shortly after.

Pick me up, please, says Baby Pierre.

Did anyone see you? asks Elodie.

A lady, says Baby Pierre.

He means the business woman with the ankle, and here she comes now.

Looking looking.

She stops next to Gaius's foot.

She has seen Baby Pierre's tiny bicycle.

Yours? she asks Gaius.

No, says Gaius. It belongs to a colleague.

You? asks the woman.

Not me, says Elodie. Baby Pierre. Our colleague.

Where is he? asks the woman. I have a proposition.

Baby Pierre had been there all along, obscured by muffin paper.

My card, says the woman. When you get to Perth, come and see me.

Unfortunately he won't be able to, says Gaius. We're heading out to Lake Jasper on a mission.

To catch spiders! squeaks Baby Pierre.

To catch spiders, he says again, lower.

Spiders? says the woman.

To identify them, says Gaius. And then release them.

How will you get there? asks the woman.

We don't know yet, says Elodie. We might hire a vehicle.

I can help you, says the woman. Do come and see me.

Okay, says Elodie.

Gaius frowns slightly.

The woman also frowns slightly. She has just spied his notes.

If he's here to catch spiders, why are his notes entitled Deadly Frog Fungus?