Incriminating Sentences

There are more people on the beach now.

Walking their dogs.

Looking out for policemen.

Belle has gone back to Lauren's shop.

Gaius has come down to check on the crabs, who are being responsibly looked after by Arthur.

But there is only Terence, sitting next to the crabs.

Correction. Not only Terence.

A policeman is standing beside him, looking down.

They're EXPERIMENT CRABS, Terence is saying. Don't you know SCIENCE?

Hello officer, says Gaius. Oh it's you, Victor. You do get around.

This is one of the hot spots, says Victor. Bruny is closed. They sent me here because I know most of the locals, of which you're not one.

I can explain, says Gaius.

You do that, says Victor.

Gaius explains that he is only there because Kierkegaard, who is his right hand man when Arthur is unavailable, which Arthur is, because Arthur is here at Middleton surfing with Sweezus and Belle and Marie and has been for some time, wished to join them, having been issued an invitation by Belle, and therefore he thought .....

Cut it out, interrupts Victor. If you think you can bamboozle me with a long sentence, I should warn you that I have done a training course in long sentences and have learned to detect incriminating statements however well concealed they may be, and you have incriminated not only yourself but your companions, several times over, and furthermore I must ask you to declare the origin of these crabs.

What a bad mood Victor seems to be in.

Gaius hopes to mollify his old acquaintance. But he must tell the truth.

Henley, says Gaius.

Aha! says Victor. These crabs are REMOVED CRABS. I shall have to take them into custody.

Terence has been listening in silence. He doesn't like Victor.

What's going on? whispers Alexander-Red-Hook.

Victor wants to make you into custard! says Terence.

Let us go, says Alexander-Red-Hook. We promise to come back.

Terence tips the bowls over, and Alexander-Red-Hook, Alexander-Groovy and Alexander-Curly head for the sea.

Be free, says Terence.

The crabs swim out a short distance and then bury themselves in the sand, just in time to avoid being grazed by the surfboard of Kierkegaard who is gliding to shore before gracefully dismounting.