Possums Don't Buzz

What can I have? asks Terence.

A red drink, says Gaius. 

He orders a red drink for Terence.

What kind of red drink? asks the Powelly Pub guy. 

Anything, says Gaius, as long as it's non-alcoholic.

Does it have to be red? asks the Powelly Pub guy.

He likes red, says Gaius. 

I always have red, says Terence. It's a tradition.

Red it is, says the Powelly Pub guy.

Gaius and Terence join Pierre-Louis at a table.

The Powelly Pub guy brings over a red drink, two coffees and two blueberry muffins.

Thank you, says Gaius.

Where're you headed next? asks the Powelly Pub guy.

The Ada Tree, says Gaius. Can you give us directions?

East of here, says the Powelly Pub guy. There's a trail you can follow. 

Thank you, says Gaius, taking a bite of his muffin.

No worries, says the Powelly Pub guy. 

So you know it? says Pierre-Louis.

We all know it, says the Powelly Pub guy. It's the tallest tree in the state. And maybe the oldest. There's a fence around it.

Tallest and oldest, says Pierre-Louis. Hear that, Gaius?

I did, says Gaius. That may explain it.

Explain what? asks the Powelly Pub guy.

Why it's sacred to possums, says Gaius. That is, if it is.

First I've heard of it, says the Powelly Pub guy.

You're not a possum, says Gaius.

Nor are you, says the Powelly Pub guy.

A customer comes in, with a parcel.

Excuse me, says the Powelly Pub guy. Duty calls. We're also a Post Office.

He goes off to deal with the parcel.

Terence drinks his red drink though a straw.

What if I had a blue drink? asks Terence.

There is nothing to stop you, says Gaius. It's your choice. 

Would my insides go blue? asks Terence.

Your insides are a mystery, says Gaius.

The Powelly Pub guy returns.

Are they your bikes outside? 

They are, says Pierre-Louis.

And is that your child-carriage?

It's my carriage, says Terence.

I guess you know there's a possum in it, says the Powelly Pub guy. A Leadbeater's possum. And they're protected.

There is no possum, says Gaius. There's a fruit bat from Adelaide, and a skink from Yellingbo, both of whom we intend to return on our homeward journey.

The customer told me he saw a Leadbeater's possum, says the Powelly Pub guy.

He looked in, did he? asks Pierre-Louis.

He heard a buzzing sound, says the Powelly Pub guy.

Possums don't buzz, says Gaius.

This one did, says the Powelly Pub guy. And the customer's reported it. You should probably stay here until a ranger arrives.

Certainly not, says Gaius. We are on a strict schedule. When the ranger arrives, let them know where we're heading.

He swallows the remains of his coffee and walks out, leaving half a blueberry muffin.

Pierre-Louis picks it up and shoves it into his pocket. 

Waste not want not.

Then he walks out too.

Bye, says Terence, getting up fast and knocking the remains of his red drink over.

Sorry, adds Terence.