A Discontinuity

Vello has left, to do Gaius's shopping.

Gaius goes into the back garden.

A blue tongue lizard retreats under a sage bush.

The grass needs cutting, thinks Gaius. And there are weeds. Also the apricot tree could do with netting.

There will be plenty to do while he's home quarantining.

He goes back inside.

Terence and Roo-kai have spread the spying Instructions on the kitchen table.

This goes with that, says Terence.

No it doesn't, says Roo-kai. A map should be continuous.

It is continuous, says Terence.

No it isn't, says Roo-kai. And I'll never find the submarine building facility if I'm flying along following this map and suddenly. Blerk! A discontinuity!

Let's ask Gaius, says Terence.

What is it? asks Gaius.

This map got torn in half accidentally, says Terence.

Prematurely, says Roo-kai.

I see, says Gaius. And you'd like me to stick it back together.

Not permanently, says Roo-kai. 

Nothing is permanent, says Gaius. Why just now I noticed a blue tongue lizard in the back garden. I've  not seen one in my back garden before. But show me this map.

It's on the table, in two parts.

This lines up with that, says Gaius. This is the Port River and this is Torrens Island. And this is the Techport Naval and Defence Hub in Osborne. Put simply, you fly north and turn east at the North Haven Marina. Shall I glue it?

No, says Roo-kai. It does look simple. I'll commit it to memory, and get going.

What about the boxes? asks Terence.

There are boxes? says Gaius. He lifts the two map parts under which there are two sets of pages with  multiple choice question and answer boxes.

An example: Est-ce qu' il ya un submarine ici a ce moment?

A: Oui

B: Non

Another example: Est-ce complet?

A : Oui

B: Non

A further example: Est-ce qu' il ya un bureau ouvert?

A: Oui

B: Oui, un bureau, mais ce n'est pas ouvert.

C: Non.

And so on.

These are simple questions, says Gaius. You are right Roo-kai. Best to leave the papers here and fill in in the answers on your return.

Goodbye then, says Roo-kai.

He goes into the back garden, where the blue tongue lizard eyes him beadily.

Which way is north? he asks the lizard.

The lizard indicates a southerly direction.

Roo-kai ascends, and flies south.