Breathing In Boots

Katherine has packed up and left, with Terence and Roo-kai.

We should pack too, says Gaius.

I've already done it, says Wittgenstein.

Very kind, says Gaius. Thank you. Did you find my pencil?

I haven't packed your things says Wittgenstein. Just mine. 

Oh, says Gaius. Then I'd better do it. By the way, do you know N F S Grundtvig? 

If it's the same person, says Wittgenstein, he is the founder of Grundtvigianism.

Which is? asks Gaius.

He is looking about for his pencil.

Some Danish ism, says Wittgenstein. To do with religious freedom.

Not the kind of rider I'd expect Vello to choose for Team Philosophe, says Gaius, opening a cupboard.

No pencil, but Monty falls out.

Tch! says Gaius. I've found Monty. How did he get there?

We may never know, says Wittgenstein. He's unlikely to tell us.

Gaius drops Monty into his back pack. 

Monty comes to rest between underpants and socks.

.......

Katherine is not far out of Brisbane.

All right back there? asks Katherine. You've been very quiet.

We're being mindful, says Roo-kai.

I'm not, says Terence. I'm thinking about the last time.

Which last time? asks Katherine.

In this car, says Terence. My frog team was in it.

They had a nest, says Roo-kai. And I had something waterproof to sit on

Now they're in the Mazda, says Katherine. 

And they won't have a nest, says Terence. There's not even a back seat for them to lie on. And now there's three of them.

They were found in the boot, says Katherine. Maybe they stayed there.

It's a long way to Adelaide, says Roo-kai.

What if they can't breathe? says Terence. And their muscles are going all saggy. 

Or spongy, says Katherine. But I'm sure they can breathe. One only has to watch crime shows to know that.

Is that so? asks Roo-kai. Why are people breathing in car boots in crime shows?

Oh, you know, says Katherine. They get knocked on the head, tied up and bundled into a car boot, with tape over their mouth so they can't alert anyone.

Then what? asks Roo-kai.

A police officer chases the car and stops it and opens the boot and the person is there with their mouth taped up and their eyes open, says Katherine.

Always? asks Roo-kai.

No, not always, says Katherine. Sometimes they have died. But only if the car's been abandoned...

Wah! cries Terence.

Luckily they have now arrived at the car rental agency, and the subject of breathing in car boots is closed.