Don't You Not Know?

Jinjing is only too happy for Vincent to make a hard copy.

He recites his poem again. Vincent records it.

These are all evidence, says Vincent, marking out certain lines.

Evidence of what? asks Katherine?

Of what sort of bird he really is, says Victor. See here? Feathers. And yet, he does not display feathers.

He doesn't claim to have feathers, says Katherine. He is asked where his feathers are, by the children.

A reasonable question, says Margaret. Well, I suppose we should be leaving.

So soon? asks Victor. I was hoping to buy you ladies lunch at the Makers Workshop café.

Very kind, says Margaret, but fossils wait for no one.

Debatable, says Victor.

If you want to save time, Margaret, why don't you drive back to Penguin and pick up Terence, says Katherine. I'll have lunch with Victor, and we'll see you back here in forty minutes.

Excellent idea, says Margaret.

Do let me buy you a cheese first, says Vincent. Which one do you fancy?

Oh..er... the Endeavour, says Margaret. Thank you, Victor.

She heads off to the car park. Jinjing follows her.

Tch! says Victor. Lost him again.

You really don't need to pursue him, says Katherine. I'll help you complete your report.

They stroll across to the café, and sit at a table.

They order Eggs Benedict, and a Nourish Bowl, and two cups of coffee.

......

Twenty minutes later, Margaret and Jinjing arrive in Penguin.

Margaret pulls up beside Baby Bin Penguin.

Where's Terence?

Drat the boy, says Margaret. Jinjing, go and look for him while I make a phone call.

Okay, says Jinjing.

He flies out of the passenger window, and lands on Baby.

You're back, says Baby Bin Penguin. We thought you didn't like us.

I didn't like your POEMS, says Jinjing. I don't not like YOU.

Don't you not? says Baby Bin Penguin.

That means I do, says Jinjing. A double negative.

Don't you not know everything? asks Baby Bin Penguin.

No, says Jinjing. Where's Terence?

He following a hat, says Baby Bin Penguin.

Which way did the hat go? asks Jinjing (to his credit).

He could have asked any number of time wasting questions.

That way, says Baby Bin Penguin.

You realise that way means nothing, if you don't point, says Jinjing. Left or right? Or inland?

Inland, says Baby Bin Penguin.

Jinjing flies off. How many hats can there be in Penguin?

Perhaps he should have asked that.

And what did the hat look like?