Come Out Of The Water

Gaius has at last found the number.

He calls Barb.

Friends of Melaleuca, says Barb. Barb speaking.

It's me, says Gaius. Secundus.

Oh yes, the lobster chap, says Barb. I was going to call you.

You have news of Captain Du Fresne? asks Gaius.

Yes, says Barb, and not good news. He made a second attempt to commandeer the paperbark canoe. The aunties tell me they found it mid-lagoon with no one in it.

Then how do they know Du Fresne was the culprit? asks Gaius.

They don't, says Barb. But they suspect him. He had formed a search party.

It could well be Du Fresne. says Gaius. My colleague Baudin received a garbled message from him a short time ago.

What was the message? asks Barb.

Something about a monsoon, says Gaius. But it may have been a lagoon. And blueshine, so we believe he may be underwater.

Well, he is a lobster, says Barb.

I wonder if I could prevail upon you to make a trip to the lagoon and see if you can find him, says Gaius. 

May I ask why? says Barb.

Certainly, says Gaius. Du Fresne is our only means of finding out whether the second Tzeet, who is currently missing, has been found. 

Tzeet? says Barb,

Orange-bellied parrot, says Gaius. Apologies. That's our pet name for them.

How sweet, says Barb. It sounds like their alarm cry.

It is based on their alarm cry, says Gaius. 

We Friends of Melaleuca love our little community of orange-bellied parrots, says Barb. We monitor them all though the summer. Dear little creatures. Did you know they were endangered?

Of course! says Gaius. Hence my concern.

Very well, says Barb. I'll go to the lagoon and look for your lobster. Is there a message?

Yes, says Gaius. Come out of the water, and get in touch. Your last message was garbled.

Simple enough, says Barb. Of course he may be out there in the middle. And I'm not entitled to use the paperbark canoe.

Pity, says Gaius.

I'll figure out something, says Barb. We Friends of Melaleuca are resourceful.

Gaius is relieved.

He imagines Barb borrowing an inflatable canoe from someone. Paddling out to the middle. Looking down into the tea-coloured water, seeing Du Fresne.......

Du Fresne surfacing, and clambering into the inflatable canoe. Barb making sure Du Fresne doesn't rip it....and so on.