No Cat In

We'll go and look for the box after lunch, says Gaius. 

The tide will be coming in, says Saint Arnoc.

Hurry! cries Terence.

He slurps his red soup.

Bertille takes a large bite of her sandwich.

You ate the sea slug! says Terence.

No I didn't, says Bertille. I took it off first.

She has placed the sea slug on the table, near a candle.

It is, understandably, moving.

There's its head, says Gaius. See the two short thick cylindrical tentacles with eyes on the tips.

When will it drop off? asks Terence.

It probably won't , says Gaius. This sea slug is related to the nudibranch. It is not an elysia.

That is a good thing, says Saint Ténénan.

Why? asks Terence.

Its head won't drop off, says Saint Ténénan. I should have thought that was sufficient reason.

Terence wants its head to drop off, says Bertille. 

The sea slug is listening.

And being a quick learner, has already learned basic English.

Noody-brunch, says the sea slug.

Okay, not basic English.

It talks, says Terence. Maybe it can still take my message.

Whirr? says the sea slug.

A miracle! says Saint Arnoc. Ask it for a prediction! 

Later, says Gaius. Firstly, we should solve the box mystery. Coming Terence? 

Look after our sea slug! calls Terence, as he disappears up the stone steps behind Gaius.

Don't worry, says Bertille.

Saint Arnoc starts clearing the dishes.

At the top of the cliff path, Gaius can see it's already too late to retrieve the potato box.

The tide has come in and is covering the bottom three steps.

Was the box there when they went up the steps earlier?

Or had it disappeared already?

Rather like Schrodinger's box, (with no cat in).