The Wind Fills It

They are both good swimmers. They catch up with their vessel, and haul themselves on board.

The double-kelp-and-two-stalk vessel wobbles alarmingly.

Baudin and Dufresne place themselves either side of the stalk.

Stable enough, says Dufresne.

Now what? says Baudin. Set sail for Te Hauturu-o-Toi? 

Where is it? asks Dufresne.

Did you see a map? asks Baudin.

No, says Dufresne. I heard someone say it was eighty kilometres north east of Auckland.

Not very precise, says Baudin.

I agree, says Dufresne. But we can deal with that later. We have a more pressing problem.

A sail, says Baudin. Don't think I hadn't thought of it.

They regard their stalk mast with the shrewd eyes of seafarers.

And? says Dufresne.

Et voila! says Baudin, whipping Katherine's silk scarf from under his carapace.

Hee hee! laughs Dufresne. She asked us to wash it.

They spend some time attaching the silk scarf to the mast.

It's done. The wind fills it.

They rocket away, in a roughly north-easterly direction.

.....

Meanwhile, back at the Ibis Budget, Katherine is drying her long johns with a hair dryer.

May I use it next? asks David. These socks are sodden.

You should have left them in the packet, says Katherine. 

If I had known about all these biosecurity requirements, I would have, says David.

Do you have a list, Katherine? asks Gaius.

Of what? asks Katherine.

These requirements says Gaius.

Katherine shows him the list on her phone.

Clean boots, says Gaius. Check. All food and gear in sealed containers. Arthur do we have plastic bags?

Not yet, says Arthur. I'll find some.

Do we have food to put in them? asks David.

I'm planning to go shopping right now, says Katherine. Put in your orders.

Baked beans, says Gaius. Apples.

I don't know about apples, says Katherine.

In sealed containers, says Gaius.

Bananas, says David.

Whatever's going, says Arthur.

Katherine gets ready to go out.

She looks about for her silk scarf which will be perfect to wear to go shopping in Auckland.