The Nice Little Girl

Where have you been? asks Baudin.

Delivering a message to Terence's duck, says Roo-kai.

Did he like it? asks Terence. Did he answer?

He asked what the dinghy was made of, says Roo-kai. And when I told him, he said he hoped you wouldn't come to his rescue.

The prickles! says Baudin.

Yes, says Roo-kai. In fact he sent Terence a message.

What is it? asks Terence.

Ditch the prickles, says Roo-kai.

Why did he care? asks Terence. 

Empathy, says Roo-kai. Something you lack.

Ho ho! laughs Captain Baudin. What type of duck is it? 

He's called Waca, says Terence. And he used to have wheels and a brother.

A wooden duck, says Roo-kai. Terence left him at Saint Kilda, half-buried in sand.

What had he done to deserve it? asks Baudin.

Nothing, says Terence. 

And he's resigned to his fate? asks Baudin.

I thought so, says Roo-kai, but it seems he has hopes that someone will find him and want him.

Who? asks Terence.

A random person, says Roo-kai. Perhaps a nice little girl.

Terence adds another prickle to his dinghy, even though he had said it was finished.

No one says anything.

But they are all thinking about the nice little girl.

At last! Here comes Gaius.

Sorry I took so long, says Gaius. It takes time to recharge a phone. What has happened in my absence?

I made a dinghy, says Terence. 

Gaius looks at the dinghy.

Are you going to get in it? asks Gaius.

No, says Terence. It's for Captain Baudin.

I see, says Gaius.

He could pursue this. Why the prickles? etcetera. But there are more pressing tasks.

He turns to Baudin. 

What was that number again, for the Friends of Melaleuca? 

Baudin gives him the number.

Gaius calls it. Someone answers.

Hello, This is Barb. How may I help you?

Hello, this is Gaius Plinius Secundus, calling to put in a good word for Captain Du Fresne.

The lobster who made off with the Needwonneee paperbark canoe? says Barb. You should have called sooner. I'm afraid you're too late.