New-Fangled Devices

Gaius has finished his snack and his coffee.

So has Katherine.

Terence is quiet.

Greedy is wondering what happens next.

I think, says Katherine, since Greedy is to remain dead a bit longer, we should open the pencil box and put her back in it.

Excellent idea, says Gaius. And we can determine how many pencils were damaged.

Katherine opens the pencil box.

There are three pencils inside, two are broken, one is undamaged.

Hand me the good one, says Gaius. I may as well use it.

Katherine hands him the undamaged pencil.

Gaius picks up his re-stapled notes, and starts checking through them.

Curses! says Gaius.

What's wrong? asks Katherine.

Pages three and four are out of order, says Gaius. And I've stapled them now. This is the trouble with new-fangled ideas such as staplers.

Fortunately, says Katherine, there are other new-fangled ideas such as staple removers.

Are there? says Gaius. Terence, would you mind asking Nerida if she has a new-fangled staple removing device?

Ask for a staple remover, says Katherine. She won't appreciate the term new-fangled.

Is it rude? asks Terence.

No, but somewhat curmudgeonly, says Katherine.

Okay, says Terence. He gets down from his seat and runs up the aisle to ask Nerida.

Gaius picks at the staple.

Ouch! says Gaius, sucking his finger.

You ought to have waited, says Katherine. Are you bleeding?

Yes, I am, says Gaius.

Here, says Katherine. Have one of Greedy's plasters.

She rips one off Greedy's face and gives it to Gaius.

He presses it to the wound on his bleeding finger.

It doesn't stick properly.

He curses again.

Terence returns with a staple remover.

There you see, says Katherine. She had one. 

Gaius reaches out to take the staple remover from Terence.

Which is when Terence notices the plaster.