Ti Ti La Riti Tonton

Stokes Bay.

Arthur and Louisa are in the Rockpool Café, eating hot chips with sauce.

Arthur has received a short text from Sweezus.

I'm out! Got a ladder.

He won't need a ladder, says Louisa. Imagine trying to bring a ladder and surfboard across on the ferry.

Could be awkward, says Arthur.

Text him, says Louisa.

Arthur texts Sweezus. No ladder.

Sweezus calls back at once. Hey bro, what's this about no ladder?

Louisa'll get us one, says Arthur. And you can hire a surfboard.

Cool, says Sweezus. That means no baggage.

How'd you get out? asks Arthur.

The boss and me swapped places, says Sweezus. Now I'm dressed as a window cleaner. And I've got this ladder I don't know what to do with.

Leave it in the office, says Arthur. Let David get rid of it. When are you coming?

Today! says Sweezus. See ya tonight, 

He's on his way, dressed as a window cleaner, says Arthur.

Won't he change first? asks Louisa.

Arthur hopes that if Sweezus does change first he will bring the window cleaning outfit

It may come in useful.

They finish the chips and sauce and head off to hire surfboards.

Meanwhile Gaius and Terence have been dropped off by the Perrots.

Now what? asks Terence.

We find Baby-Glossy, says Gaius. Then we can get on with the task that we're here for.

Counting, says Terence. I wonder if Baby-Glossy can count.

It all depends on how good a teacher Baudin is, says Gaius.

Let's find them! says Terence. Where did we leave them?

In the cave, says Gaius. The one we all slept in.

Yes! shouts Terence. I remember. It was that way!

It was, says Gaius. You lead, I'll follow.

Yay! says Terence.

He leads the way.

Soon they hear singing.

Petite a la ti ti la riti tonton lariton.

They follow the sounds to the mouth of the cave.

Petite a la ti ti la riti tonton lariton.

That, says Gaius is an old French sailors' song.

They enter the cave.

It's dark. But not that dark.

Captain Baudin is tapping out a rhythm with both claws.

Click-click, click-click-click etc.

A larger version of Baby-Glossy sings lustily.

Petite a la ti ti etc.

That's not English! cries Terence. You were supposed to learn English!

Bomb! says Baby Glossy.

Okay, says Terence. That IS English.

Is it? asks Gaius, looking at Captain Baudin, who has stopped clicking and is now looking sheepish.

Captain Baudin shrugs in the French fashion, as if to say: It is English as well.