Hard Knees

Pierre-Louis has not found the apples.

Some creature must have made off with them while we were sleeping, says Gaius.

There was a shop back in Yellingbo, says Pierre-Louis.

Good thinking, says Gaius. We'll go there.

He folds up the damp blanket, and drops it into the carriage.

Squattu wakes up, pushes the blanket to one side and falls asleep again.

Hey! says Terence. Do I have to sit on that? It's all scrunched up.

It will soon settle, with your weight on it, says Gaius. Jump in.

Terence jumps in.

Squelch. 

Where's Easter Morning? says Terence. He wants to come with me.

Does he? asks Gaius. I don't think he does. 

Ask him, says Terence.

Do you want to come with us to the Yellingbo store? asks Gaius. Don't feel obliged.

The eastern mourning skink weighs up his options. Go or don't go.

And the pros and cons of the options.

Go: Find out what a store is.

Don't go: And perhaps never know

Yes, says the eastern mourning skink. As long as I can ride in the carriage with Terence.

Yay! says Terence. Jump in!

The eastern mourning skink jumps in.

Squelch.

This is nice, says the eastern mourning skink, detecting a lump or two under the blanket.

He wriggles, until the lumps are no longer a problem.

Want to see our drone? asks Terence.

Yes, says the eastern mourning skink. Is it under the blanket?

Better not be, says Terence. 

He looks around the carriage. 

No, there is the drone box, behind Squatty. It looks dry.

It's in that box, says Terence. Want me to open it?

Yes, says the eastern mourning skink.

To get to it, Terence must crawl over Squatty.

He tries to be careful.

But his knees are quite hard.

Squattu wakes up at once. 

Squip! What do you think you're doing? says Squattu. And where are we going?

To the store, says Terence. Pierre-Louis and Gaius can't find the apples.

I brought the apples in here for safe keeping, says Squattu. But it's probably best they don't know.

Why? asks Terence.

I took several large bites out of both of them, says Squattu.

Are they the lumps under the blanket? asks the eastern morning skink.

Yes. Who are you? says Squattu.

Easter Morning, says Terence. 

What a beautiful name, says Squattu.