A Bad Day For Spiders.

Gaius has concluded the maratus cristatus is dead.

He sees Elodie approaching.

Perhaps she has had better luck.

Any luck? asks Gaius.

Elodie sits down beside Gaius, dropping First and Second Dirty onto the poncho.

They come to rest near the defunct maratus.

No, says Elodie. You?

Yes and no, says Gaius. Our cristatus has died in mysterious circumstances. His female friend claims she is not responsible. We shall never know the truth because she has run off in a hurry.

What a drama, says Elodie. At least you learned something.

What, exactly? asks Gaius.

He does not feel he has learned anything useful.

Cherchez la femme, says Elodie.

Females are hard to identify, says Gaius.

Yes but they are good at identification, says Elodie. Perhaps I'll concentrate on finding females.

Good idea, says Gaius.

Where's Lavender? asks First Dirty.

With Arthur or Sprocket, says Gaius.

Sprocket is staring at his phone, not far from the poncho.

Shit, says Sprocket. Left her in the car!

He goes over to the HiLux to retrieve Lavender, who is on the front passenger seat visualising the future.

Sorry, says Sprocket.

That's okay, says Lavender. I knew you would come.

Yeah, you hoped, says Sprocket. .

But I DID, says Lavender. I wasn't hoping, I KNEW.

Whatever, says Sprocket.

He carries her to the poncho, where First and Second Dirty are waiting, beside the dead spider.

Lavender looks at the dead spider.

She hopes Sprocket won't ask her if she knew this had happened.

He doesn't. He has been distracted by an accident which has happened to Felix.

Felix the natural.

Doing wheelies and stoppies on Baby Pierre's tiny bicycle.

But he is the size of a rice grain, and Baby Pierre is a medium sized pebble.

Felix's longest legs only reach the pedals half of the time.

He has swerved to avoid Sprocket.

And crashed.

He lies on the ground.

It's a bad day for spiders.