The Right To Make Rules

Sweetheart flies to a low branch near the spotted-tailed quoll.

Ooh! says the quoll. A parrot!

Just a quick question, says Sweetheart.

Fire away, says the spotted-tailed quoll.

That lobster who just passed you, says Sweetheart.

Without saying a word, says the quoll.

That's the one, says Sweetheart. He's supposed to be forming a search party. 

Searching for what? asks the quoll.

For whom, not what, says Sweetheart. My partner's missing brother.

What does he look like? asks the quoll.

A bit like me, says Sweetheart, but brighter green, with yellow underparts and an orange patch on his belly. 

Should be easy, says the quoll. Is there a reward?

Um... yes, says Sweetheart. 

What is it? asks the quoll.

The lobster will tell you, says Sweetheart.

I'll catch up with him, says the quoll.

It hurries off after Du Fresne.

Du Fresne has reached the lagoon. Ha! Yes ! There is the paperbark canoe. Someone has replaced it.

He is about to climb in when the spotted-tailed quoll calls out: Hey!

Yes? says Du Fresne.

Is there a reward? asks the quoll.

For? asks Du Fresne.

For finding the missing brother, says the quoll.

Err... yes, says Du Fresne. A ride in this paperbark canoe.

The quoll is disappointed.

Does that mean you've already found him? asks the quoll.

Not yet, says Du Fresne. 

Great, says the quoll. I'm joining the search party.

Good for you, says Du Fresne.

Should we stick together? asks the quoll.

No, says Du Fresne. You go that way, and I'll wait here in the canoe.

No way! says the quoll. No canoe ride until we've found him.

Du Fresne is annoyed. Who is this quoll and what gives it the right to make rules?

It might not be easy, says the quoll.

I know, says Du Fresne.

Unless it's dead, says the quoll.

Mm-hm, says Du Fresne.

But if it's alive it could be anywhere, says the quoll.

I know, says Du Fresne.

It would be good if we had a bird in our search party, says the quoll.

So it would, says Du Fresne. Why don't you go and recruit one?

The quoll looks up into a nearby peppermint gum.

Perhaps Sweetheart has followed?

She hasn't.