Various Ruses

Arthur returns with a 20-pack of brightly coloured plastic whistles with lanyards.

Twenty? says Gaius. At what cost?

Eleven dollars, total, says Arthur.

In fact, they had not cost that much, but that was the price on the sticker.

Let me see, says Katherine. These are novelty whistles!

They're functioning whistles, says Arthur. And it means we'll have spares.

Do we have whistles? asks David, coming out of the bathroom.

Yes. Choose your whistle, says Arthur.

David chooses a green one.

Do we get a whistle? asks Baudin.

Can you blow? asks Arthur.

Let him try, says Gaius.

Baudin chooses a red whistle. He grasps it in his dominant claw. He raises it to his mouth hole.

Phoo!

Of course he can whistle.

Dufresne grabs a whistle. A yellow one.

Crack!

There goes one whistle, says Gaius. Perhaps Arthur should have shelled out a bit more and bought metal ones.

Perhaps he shouldn't have a whistle, says Arthur.

I was going to say, says Katherine, having read the rules and regulations about what's allowed on Te Hauturu-o-Toi.....

Yes? says Gaius. Surely the authorities can't object to a whistle.

No, says Katherine. That's not it. But we do have a problem.

Could it be the lobsters? asks David. 

Invertebrates, says Katherine, are specifically mentioned as being forbidden. Along with firearms and cucumbers.

Merde! cries Captain Baudin. Discrimination!

Yes, bad luck, says Katherine. It seems you and Dufresne can't come.

Can I keep the whistle? asks Baudin.

And may I have a replacement? asks Dufresne. 

And do you still expect us to wash your long johns? asks Baudin.

And the scarf? says Dufresne.

Now then, says Gaius. This is no way to deal with the problem. Perhaps Arthur will find a way to get round it.

I can try, says Arthur.

Don't try too hard, says Katherine. Remember I'm the Permit Holder. 

Everyone is silent, thinking of various ruses.