Time And Light

I'll look for quartz crystals, says Sweezus. You look at the sculptures.

He heads off towards a quartz outcrop.

Arthur heads for a rock.

It's a rock on a rock.

Perhaps it's a sculpture.

Perhaps it's a rock on a rock.

Great, aren't they, says a woman, in a blue bucket hat.

Great, says Arthur.

And to see them out here, says the woman. Amazing. Each one tells a story.

Is this one of them? asks Arthur.

Yes, says the woman. It's all about balance. My favourite's the one over there.

She points to an upended sandstone, carved into chunky angles.

Angles of the Sun and the Moon, says the woman.

That's what it looks like, says Arthur.

It measures time and light, says the woman. Have you lost someone?

No, says Arthur. 

You keep looking behind you, says the woman. 

That's my friend over there, says Arthur, indicating Sweezus at the outcrop. He's looking for crystals. I should go and help him.

He won't find any good ones, says the woman. 

But I might, says Arthur.

He wants to get away from the woman.

But she follows.

Are you French? asks the woman.

Yes, says Arthur. 

There's a French guy in Broken Hill who's looking for a parrot, says the woman.

Is there? says Arthur.

Yes, says the woman. Just thought I'd tell you.

Thanks, says Arthur. What does he look like?

Thinning on top, moustache, skinny, says the woman.

Where was he? asks Arthur.

In the supermarket, says the woman. Buying a fish

That sounds like him, mutters Arthur.

He heads over to the quartz outcrop.

Look! says Sweezus. What do you reckon?

He holds up a dirty rock crystal with uneven terminations. 

Needs some work, says Arthur. What about this one?

He has seen something glinting nearby. He kicks it.

Ouch. 

Sweezus prises it out.