Water Is Water

What happens in forty five minutes? asks Gaius.

Nothing, says Alexander-Red-Hook.

Let me rephrase that, says Gaius. What happens when the forty five minutes is up?

You don't want to know, says Alexander-Yellowsun.

I do, if it's related to the experiment, says Gaius. Is it? Yes or no?

Yes or no, says Terence. Do you know what that means?

Of course they do, says Gaius.

They might not, says Terence. They forget things.

What did we forget? asks Alexander-Red-Hook.

You wanted a photo, says Terence.

Oh yes, says Gaius. What was that for?

I remembered, says Terence. But they didn't. And they didn't answer my question.

We did, says Alexander-Red-Hook.

Not the one about seawater, says Terence.

You didn't ask, says Alexander-Red-Hook.

Will you accept an extra dash of seawater? asks Gaius.

The two sand crabs look at one another.

This might be a chance to cover their deception.

Yes. If we can stay out of the breakfast bowls while you do it, says Alexander-Red-Hook.

I don't see why not, says Gaius. I'll fetch the seawater.

Help! cries Kierkegaard, from the laundry. I'm hemmed in by cleaning devices.The door won't open.

So Gaius is diverted towards the laundry. He forces the laundry door open.

Kierkegaard is wedged into an alcove, behind a vacuum cleaner and a long cobweb sweeper. His right knee is bleeding.

Ha ha! laughs Gaius.

It's no laughing matter, snaps Kierkegaard. What an untidy and dangerous laundry!

Apologies, says Gaius. But you reminded me of Arthur. He always has a grazed knee. And you're wearing his shorts....... I'm sorry, would you like a plaster?

Kierkegaard would like a plaster. So now Gaius must go to the bathroom to look for a plaster.

This will give Alexander-Red-Hook and Alexander-Yellowsun a chance to swap breakfast bowls while Gaius isn't looking.

They hop out.

But Terence is looking.

And there's another thing. Their names on their carapaces, in distinctive fonts.

They need to swap the breakfast bowls, and they need Terence to do it.

Terence, says Alexander-Red-Hook, will it make any difference to the experiment if our bowls swap places?

Terence thinks about this. Pumpkins are not speedboats. Bowls are not crabs. But water is water.

No, says Terence. Why do you want them to?

I want dear Alex to be nearer the window, says Alexander-Red-Hook. Because she will die first.

Terence needs no more persuasion.

He swaps the breakfast bowls, before Gaius has even opened a third drawer in the bathroom and failed to find a plaster.