The Essence Of Science

The baked bean dinner is over.

Markus brews some bush tea.

Gaius picks up the glass jar that Ar-Lu-Lun is confined in.

Shu holds up page two.

They compare Ar-Lu-Lun with Gaius's sketch of the maratus furvus.

What is the meaning of furvus? asks Shu.

Dusky, says Gaius.

Ar-Lu-Lun is sure he is dusky.

He doesn't look dusky, says Shu.

It could be the light, says Gaius. But his eyes are dissimilar as well.

Baby Pierre has already observed this.

Or it could be your drawing, says Shu.

It could well be, says Gaius. It was a rushed job, with an inadequate pencil.

Inadequate pencil, says Shu. I don't meant to be rude but what is an inadequate pencil?

The bane of my life, mutters Gaius.

He wonders where Arthur is now.

Why has Arthur spent most of the weekend going back and forth between Lake Jasper and Pemberton?

Why does he prefer the company of Sprocket?

There is nothing wrong with Sprocket, of course, but his mission is secondary. Albeit artistic.

Arthur is artistic.

Gaius supposes that may have something to do with the reason.

What do you think? asks Markus.

He is artistic, says Gaius.

Is he? asks Markus, surprised. How can you tell?

Apologies, says Gaius. I was thinking of Arthur, who would have been able to lay hands on an adequate pencil, not that that helps us now.

Markus does not reply to this apology.

I've got a pencil, says Raoul.

He opens his Spiderman back pack, and takes out a red pencil.

I don't normally use a red pencil, says Gaius. But thank you, Raoul.

What do you want it for anyway? asks Shu. Are you thinking of altering your drawing to look more like our prize specimen?

Certainly not! says Gaius. I wish to note each point of difference.

Who could argue with that?

It's the essence of science.