Don't Let Me Go

Arthur is waiting at the airport.

Arthur! says Gaius. You came to meet us! How kind!

It is kind. What's up with Arthur?

How was your trip? asks Arthur.

Not bad, says Gaius. We missed all the chaos in Hong Kong by a whisker.

What chaos? asks Arthur, who does not watch the news.

Everyone got sprayed BLUE by the police! says Terence. Even Mouldy!

So Mouldy didn't miss it, says Arthur.  Where is he?

Not here, says Gaius We left him behind in Hong Kong.

I swapped him, says Terence.

He swapped himself, says Gaius. He's his own pebble, remember.

What did you swap him for? asks Arthur.

Jinjing, says Terence.

Hello! says P. krameri. I'm here as well!

Hello, says Arthur. Missing the Jardin des Plantes?

No. But thanks for asking, says P. krameri.

Jinjing can TALK, says Terence. You press this button.

He presses the button.

Missing the Jardin des Plantes? says Jinjing, in a parrot voice.

That's good, says Arthur. It repeats what you say.

Not always, says Gaius. We have noted it's rather more complex. It transposes pronouns, for example, and occasionally comes up with something completely new.

Let's see, says Arthur.

Terence gives Arthur Jinjing.

Jinjing looks into the blue eyes of Arthur.

Don't let me go, says Jinjing.

That's exactly the sort of thing I meant, says Gaius. No one has said don't let me go, and yet Jinjing comes out with it.

Arthur gives Jinging back to Terence.

Jinjing looks dejected. He determines to get back to Arthur as soon as he can.

Right, says P. krameri. Where are we going?

I've got Katherine's car, says Arthur. I'll drive you all back to Gaius's.

The royal treatment! says Gaius. I must say, it's good to be home.

Half an hour later, they pull up in the driveway of Gaius's house in the suburbs.

They all go inside.

Katherine is waiting in the kitchen. She puts on the kettle.

Katherine, says Gaius This is a surprise!

Arthur told me you're going to Tasmania, says Katherine.

A few things to do first, says Gaius.

Of course, says Katherine. But Margaret and I are also planning a trip to Tasmania, and wondered....

Gaius's heart sinks.

Then rises slightly.

Arthur will get him out of  this pickle.