Hard Cheese

Later that day.

Katherine is having afternoon tea with Margaret.

Earl Grey, rock cakes, and scones.

Trust Gaius to wriggle out of it, says Margaret.

Lucky I checked, says Katherine. I nearly booked four recliners. Who knows if I would have got a refund?

So we'll be sleeping on recliners, says Margaret. Good-o!

Nothing wrong with recliners, says Katherine.

Did I indicate otherwise? says Margaret.

Just your tone, says Katherine. Have you heard bad things about the recliners?

Two Trip Adviser reviewers mentioned bed bugs, says Margaret.

Now you tell me, says Katherine.

We can always spray them, says Margaret.

Yes, we can, says Katherine. And there could just as easily be bed bugs in the cabins.

Of course, says Margaret, biting into a rock cake.

Gaius wants us to take Terence, says Katherine. Apparently he's excited about the ferry. I've agreed.

Then he can go with you on the cheese tour, says Margaret. There's no way I'm taking him to a rocky coastline, and giving him a geology hammer.

You should have said that before, says Katherine. The geology hammer is what he's most excited about.

Katherine! says Margaret. A geologist has to concentrate on her findings, not stop infants drowning or breaking off bits of themselves with a hammer.

Don't fret dear, says Katherine. He can bring a geology hammer on the cheese tour.

And hammer away to his heart's content at the cheese, says Margaret.

The two ladies laugh.

At least we'll have a car, says Margaret. They will have to hire bikes.

Yes, says Katherine. But they won't have to drive all the way to Melbourne.

Can't be helped, says Margaret. I suppose that means we'll have Terence as a passenger.

Never mind, says Katherine. We'll give him some puzzles.

Does he currently have a parrot? asks Margaret.

He has two, says Katherine.

Could be a problem, says Margaret.

Whatever the problem we can solve it, says Katherine.

Of course they can.

Margaret pours more Earl Grey tea.