Death And Continuity

 Mid afternoon. Arthur and Sprocket have returned in the HiLux.

They are unloading the water, when Gaius arrives.

He is carrying a misted-up date ball packet, stiffened with a pencil.

Arthur! says Gaius. You're back. Did you get the water?

Sure did, says Arthur.

And we've done heaps of work on the doco, says Sprocket.

I must look at it sometime, says Gaius. But not right now. I've obtained a second spider

New species? asks Arthur.

Time will tell, says Gaius. It's a female.

Where is she? asks Sprocket. Can I get a photo?

In the date ball packet, says Gaius.

Bingo! says Sprocket. Continuity!

Let's hope so, says Gaius The maratus cristatus is in there as well.

I meant for the doco, says Sprocket. The date ball packet features in the opening sequence. And now it reappears with a different function. How cool is that?

Average, says Arthur.

Gaius is keen to open the packet. He sits down on the poncho.

Sprocket takes out his phone camera.

Gaius opens the packet.

Nothing comes out.

This is disturbing, says Gaius.

Shake it, says Arthur.

They may be still mating, says Gaius. But you'd think they'd have finished by now.

Something's coming out! says Sprocket.

Something is. It's the female. And she does not look best pleased.

She stops on the poncho.

He's dead, says the female.

Dear me, says Gaius. I was certain you must be the same species. You seemed so keen.

I didn't do it, says the female. He was a sweetie. I'll miss him. Goodbye.

Wait! says Gaius. What happened?

Victory dance, says the female. Slipped and cracked his opisthosoma.

Are you sure he's dead? asks Gaius, peering into the packet.

Pretty sure. She does not care either way.

She runs away quickly.

Baby Pierre arrives shortly after.

Gaius is sitting on the poncho with Arthur and Sprocket, drinking flat water.

They are observing something, inert and tiny, near the open date ball packet.

Hi all! says Baby Pierre. I've brought a new friend home. Felix.

Hi all! squeaks the maratus felinus.

Can someone get my bike out of the camper? says Baby Pierre. We want to ride it.

You didn't happen to see a female maratus as you approached? asks Gaius. We failed to detain her.

No, says Baby Pierre. But Felix might have. Did you, Felix?

Felix did, but he's not going to say so.

All he wants is a ride on the bike.