A Stomach With Teeth In

P. kameri keeps an eye out for a forty spotted pardalote.

But remains on the ground.

He walks about a bit, looking up into the eucalypt canopy.

He could fly up there.

But then he would miss the conversation.

Captain Bruni is describing his exploration of the Australian coast in 1792.

In effect, says Captain Bruni, I was searching for the lost La Perouse expedition.

Did you find it? asks Gaius.

Sadly, no, says Captain Bruni. We explored every inlet in by canoe. We made many fine charts.

Excellent work, says Gaius. Did you have a good crew?

Yes and no, says Captain Bruni. There was some bad feeling between officers and crew, due in part to the French Revolution, which you've no doubt heard of.

Ah yes, says Gaius. The French Revolution. Very famous. I suppose you missed it, being away.

I never returned, says Captain Bruni. I came down with the scurvy.

But you recovered, says Gaius.

The story goes that I didn't, says Captain Bruni. But scurvy is cured by a good diet.

Arthur's coming! says P. krameri.

Arthur appears with a paper bag in one hand.

Chocolate, says Arthur. And nougat. Anyone want some?

Nougat! says Captain Bruni. I'll have a piece of that.

Bad for the teeth, says Gaius. But I'll try some.

It's sixty percent nuts, says Arthur. And made with organic honey.

Anyone got a knife? asks Gaius.

I'll break it off, says Arthur.

He attempts to snap the nougat.

The nougat stretches, and thins. Arthur hands the first piece to Captain Bruni.

Sure you can eat this? asks Arthur.

If you're asking whether a lobster has teeth, says Captain Bruni, the answer is yes. We have teeth in the first of our stomachs.

This is not news to Gaius, the natural historian, but it is news to Arthur, and P. krameri.

Two stomachs! squawks P. krameri. What for?

The first one is directly behind my eyes, says Captain Bruni. That's the one with the teeth in. The other is where you would expect it.

He opens his mouth and sucks in the nougat.

It disappears into his first stomach to be ground in his gastric mill, and then proceed downwards.

All that remains on the outside of Captain Bruni are two long strands if thin nougat, which look like whiskers.

He doesn't know they are there.

And no one tells him.