Malevolent Eyes

Later that afternoon.

They are back at Louisa's.

Sweezus is cutting up seaweed. Louisa is boiling the water. 

Arthur is examining his toe.

Dump it in? asks Sweezus.

Dump it in, says Louisa.

The water bubbles over. Bright red gloopy bubbles.

There is a knock on the door.

It's Gaius with Terence and Baby-Glossy.

Ah! says Gaius. You're back. We popped by, on the off chance.

Terence runs towards Sweezus. Guess what!

What? asks Sweezus. 

Baby-Glossy knows FRENCH, says Terence.

Wee, says Baby Glossy. Qu'est-ce que c'est?

Awesome says Sweezus. 

Non, says Baby-Glossy. That was un question.

He means A QUESTION, says Terence.

What's the question? asks Sweezus.

What is it? says Gaius. Even my French extends that far. What is that smell and what is that bubbling substance?

It's seaweed, says Louisa. Sweezus and Arthur are going to make sushi.

Let me see, says Gaius. Show me a strand. Ah! Asparagopsis armata. I know it. It isn't the type generally used for making sushi. The Japanese use pyropia, or nori, a red algae genus.

At least it's red, says Sweezus.  

That may be the only similarity, says Gaius. 

Will you stay for dinner? asks Louisa. We're ordering pizza.

Thank you, says Gaius. And then I imagine you men will be off to the lighthouse with the ladder.

If there is a ladder, says Arthur.

There's one out the back, says Louisa.  

Yay! says Terence. Can we come to the lighthouse?

No, says Arthur. It'll be hard enough for us cycling back to the other end of the island in the dark, with a ladder.

Frig! says Sweezus. How'll we do it? And what about the seaweed?

I'll look after it, says Louisa.

It will be a challenge, says Gaius looking into the pot.

The red pulpy substance stares back with malevolent eyes.