Allowing Certain Things In And Out

Roo-kai returns to the camper.

Any luck? asks Gaius.

One or two, says Roo-kai. 

One or two what? asks Terence. 

Two oysters says Roo-kai. That's all I could find. 

We have oysters, says Gaius. Haruki was kind enough to bring them.

Yes, please have one, says Haruki.

Have mine, says Terence. I don't want it.

Roo-kai seizes the oyster which lies in front of Terence. 

Uh! Looks like it's been opened, and closed again. 

Never mind. Roo-kai is hungry.

Creak. He re-opens the oyster and is about to spear the soft oyster flesh with his beak.

But it isn't an oyster! A walnut is nestling inside.

Where's the oyster? asks Roo-kai.

Here, says Terence, and here.

He shows Roo-kai two walnut shell halves, each containing half an oyster.

How did you do that? asks Roo-kai.

With a knife, says Terence.

You're not allowed a knife, says Roo-kai.

What's this? asks Gaius.

Nothing, says Terence. Keep talking.

Roo-kai has eaten both halves of the oyster. No evidence remains of Terence using the knife.

Gaius returns to the conversation, which has moved on from hinges to valves.

Yes, says Haruki, another example of the parallels between cars and oysters.

I see it, says Gaius. An oyster is a bivalve. The two halves of the shell are called valves. Their function is to allow certain things in and out.

Like a walnut, says Roo-kai.

No, not like a walnut, says Gaius.

Then how do you explain this? asks Wittgenstein, indicating Terence's walnut in its oyster shell.

Terence must have done it, says Gaius. Nothing to do with the valve's true function.

And the valves in a car? asks Wittgenstein. What is their function?

Intake and exhaust, says Haruki. The intake valve allows the fuel-air mixture into the combustion chamber. The exhaust valve releases the burnt mixture into the exhaust pipe.

Impressive, says Wittgenstein. Shall I start frying the fish now?

Go for it, says Haruki. I'll crack open a few beers.

Wittgenstein looks for the knife, to cut the barramundi into manageable pieces. There it is. With bits of oyster flesh on it.

But this is not remarkable.

He wipes the knife on a tea towel, and starts cutting the fish.