Luck Of The Tide

Saint Arnoc and Terence are back, with a dozen new potatoes.

Saint Arnoc, Saint Ténénan and Gaius start peeling.

Terence is given the old stinky box of potatoes.

He carries it up the stone stairs from the cellar to the back garden.

He tips out the stinky potatoes.

'Plant them out'. What does that mean?

Some are already sprouting.

He picks off the sprouts.

A girl comes round the corner.

Pooh! says the girl. What's that smell?

These, says Terence. I only want the box, really.

Were they in the box? asks the girl.

Yes, says Terence. Now I'm planting them out.

Maybe you shouldn't have picked the sprouts off, says the girl.

Maybe I should have, says Terence.

I guess it doesn't matter, says the girl. What do you want the box for?

To see if it floats, says Terence.

Now you're talking, says the girl. Let's take it down to the sea. My name's Bertille. What's yours?

Terence, says Terence.

Are you made of cement? asks Bertille.

Mostly, says Terence.

Better not get in the box, says Bertille. It won't float with you in it.

I wasn't going to be in it, says Terence. I have a much better plan.

What is it? asks Bertille.

Find a sea slug, says Terence. And see if it's one of the ones that can grow a new body. And give it a message. And float it away with the message.

Sounds like the dumbest plan ever, says Bertille.

Do you want to help or don't you? asks Terence.

I'll help you find a sea slug, says Bertille. 

They leave the potatoes to rot in the sun, the sprouts shrivelling beside them, and carry the potato box down a set of old steps to the sea.

Let's leave it on the bottom step, says Bertille.

They start looking for sea slugs, on exposed rocks, in crevices, and on the sandy shore.

The tide is going out, luckily.

Not for the tide, for the searchers.

Tide needs no luck.

Or if it does, the reasons are beyond the comprehension of humans.