At Least One Dangerous Place

Shu can't believe it.

Where did Arthur go? asks Shu.

Has he gone off again? asks Gaius. Perhaps he and Sprocket have driven into Pemberton for a third time.

But what for? asks Shu. We have all these smoked delicacies still, and plenty of water.

I know not, says Gaius.

He is watching the female peacock spiders who are not bunched together as much as they were.

I'll call him, says Gaius. Ask him to bring back dividers.

He calls Arthur's number.

What is it? says Arthur.

Arthur, says Gaius, are you heading into Pemberton?

Yes, says Arthur. There's a meeting Sprocket wants to go to, at the Holy Smoke Café.

A meeting? says Gaius. Why would Sprocket want to go to a country-based meeting?

It's about Saving Lake Jasper, says Arthur.

What from? asks Gaius.

His female spiders are drifting away.

He gestures to Elodie. Do something!

Elodie has two options. Catch them one by one, or lower the tin over the lot of them.

She chooses the latter.

Now the female spiders are trapped in the darkness.

This is not sustainable.

Gaius knows he must not forget to ask Arthur to purchase dividers.

But Arthur is explaining that a mining lease has been lodged over a part of the Gingilup-Jasper Wetland System, only three hundred metres from the shore of Lake Jasper.

Why didn't you tell me? asks Gaius. I should have liked to have come.

Sprocket's going to video it, says Arthur.

But without my input, says Gaius. Never mind, it can't be helped now. Make sure you let them know I'm supportive.

Sure, says Arthur. Anything else?

Yes, says Gaius. We have a troupe of female peacock spiders trapped under a tin. They won't be enjoying it. But I want to study their natural behaviour.

Let them go, says Arthur. You'll see their natural behaviour.

Not yet, says Gaius. We have lost all our males. So I need to keep these females, but not in a group situation. When you're in Pemberton, purchase some dividers. I'll reimburse you.

Dividers? says Arthur. To divide female spiders from one another? How many are there?

Gaius estimates about twenty.

Done, says Arthur, ringing off.

Lavender is creating a scene, about the female spiders.

They might be dying! says Lavender.

No they'll be fine, says Elodie. It's only till Arthur comes back.

It's dark and smelly, says Lavender. At least make an air hole.

They might escape through it, says Elodie.

We could ask them not to, says Lavender. I'll go in and ask them not to.

Okay, says Elodie. I'll quickly lift up a corner. You run in, if you want to.

She doesn't think Lavender will really want to enter a dark smelly tin filled with female spiders she has helped capture, and ask them not to escape if they are granted an air hole.

But Lavender has been in many dangerous places.

Well, at least one.

And she survived it.

Lift up the corner, says Lavender. I'm going in.