Dark Clouds Cross The Moon

 It's dark now.

Gaius cycles behind Arthur and Louisa, who are sharing the chocolate.

Terence is in Gaius's back pack, with Baby-Glossy.

Terence worries something bad will happen.

Squoo! agrees Baby-Glossy.

The good ear perks up.

What bad thing might happen?

Did you hear that? asks Terence.

Squoo! says Baby-Glossy.

You need to learn to talk, says Terence.

Squoo, says Baby-Glossy. 

(He thinks so too. Then he could tell Terence that the orange peel ear wants to know what bad thing might happen. He makes an effort)

Squat? asks Baby-Glossy.

Talk, says Terence.

Squalk, says Baby-Glossy.

That's good, says Terence. Now answer this question. Did you hear that?

Squat bad-squing? says Baby-Glossy.

The orange peel ear is tired of waiting for Baby-Glossy to interpret his feelings.

Next time the bike jerks, he will try something radical.

Jerk!

(This didn't happen at once, but some minutes later. The road is not bad.)

The orange peel ear's tiny hole of a mouth splits open wider.

WHAT BAD THING MIGHT HAPPEN?

It's loud. Gaius hears it.

Nothing bad will happen, says Gaius. The ranger gave us permission. Arthur arranged it. 

It wasn't me, says Terence.

I know that, says Gaius.

They are now passing the site of the Snake Lagoon campsite, which was burnt in the fires.

See that, says Louisa. 

They all see it. 

The native sedges, ghanias, yakkas, hakeas and mallees have re-sprouted.

Unlike the amenities.

It wasn't me that TALKED, says Terence.

But no one is listening.

Arthur's phone rings.

It's Sweezus. 

Hi, says Sweezus. Tour's over.

I know, says Arthur. Pogacar won.

Man! says Sweezus, I felt sorry for Roglic. His face at the end. Freakin' tragic.

I bet, says Arthur. But Richie did okay.

Yeah, says Sweezus. And he's on his way home already. So are we. 

That's good, says Arthur. When'll we see you?

Gotta quarantine for two weeks, says Sweezus. Bummer.

We're still on KI, says Arthur. We're heading for the Ravine des Casoars. It's dark and we're eating chocolate, and strange voices are coming out of Gaius's back pack.

Is it Terence? asks Sweezus.

Sounds more like orange peel, says Arthur. 

That'd be right, says Sweezus.

.....

The call ends.

They cycle onwards.

Dark clouds cross the moon.