The Bad Teacher

The car pulls up outside the stone cottage.

Saint Arnoc and Saint Ténénan are in the front garden.

How did it go? asks Saint Arnoc. 

Not entirely successful, says Gaius, getting out, and showing Saint Arnoc the saucer.

It seems to have taken a step backwards, says Saint Arnoc.

Not voluntarily, says Gaius.

A little kid bit its body off, says Terence.

What a calamity! says Saint Ténénan.

And an otter bit my toes off, says Rusty.

And this is the otter that did it, says Terence. His name's Hideo.

But Hideo has now resumed human form.

Very funny, says Saint Arnoc. I could almost see him as an otter.

A shape shifter, says Gaius. Not a very good one. He retains some of his otter-like features

And did you show the sea slug to an Oceanopolis official? asks Saint Ténénan.

I did, says Gaius. It turns out it's an atroviridis.

Ah, the Japanese one, says Saint Ténénan.

Indeed, says Gaius. They agreed we should keep it.

And teach it Japanese, says Bertille. The otter's going to do it.

Clever otter, says Saint Arnoc. Where did it learn Japanese?

I'm from Japan originally, says Hideo.

Interesting that you should turn up in Oceanopolis, says Saint Arnoc.

They have a better otter trail, says Hideo. 

May he stay with us in the cellar? asks Gaius. It won't be for long.

Of course, says Saint Arnoc. Does he like potatoes?

Iyada! says Hideo.

What does that mean? asks Terence.

No way! says Rusty.

How do you know? asks Terence.

The way he said it, says Rusty.

Does it? asks Terence.

Iyada, says Hideo.

It means yes, says Terence.

How do you know? asks Rusty.

The way he said it, says Terence.

It can't mean both, says Gaius.

It doesn't, says Hideo. Rusty is right. It means no way. It was an instinctive reaction. But as I'm to be a guest in this cellar I decided to retract it, out of politeness. 

What does that mean? asks Terence.

It means he will be a bad teacher, says Gaius.