The Colour Of Bruises

Freddy failed, says Terence.

Not at all, says Gaius. Thanks to Freddy, we know that the water is in the opposite direction to that in which he was pointing.

Yes! says Terence. Freddy was right!

In a sense, says Gaius. Which way was he pointing?

That way, says Terence.

That's where I thought I heard trickling water, says Katherine. 

Then we have a conundrum, says Gaius. It's the same direction.

I'll go and see, says Terence.

He runs towards the place where Katherine heard the trickling.

Through some low bushes, between two blue gums, and stops.

Trickling water!

He turns and runs back again.

Yes! says Terence. The water is there!

Perhaps you should go and tell Freddy he was pointing in the right direction after all, says Katherine.

Okay, says Terence.

He runs back to his tent, to tell Freddy.

Nerida is sitting in front of her tent, which is next to Terence's, and linked by a string.

She is arranging coloured beads, from her collection.

Spelling out ARTHUR, in purple and yellow.

The colour of bruises.

Guess what! says Terence. Freddy was pointing in the right direction!

Good for him, says Nerida. He's a true water diviner.

What? asks Freddy.

You were pointing in the right direction, says Terence. Only you thought it was wrong.

That's still a failure in my book, says Freddy.

Never mind, says Nerida. We've got the whole afternoon. Let's all go and look for Beautiful Betsy.

Okay, says Terence. Who's Beautiful Betsy?

The bomber, says Nerida. The one that crashed somewhere near here. It was called Beautiful Betsy.

Terence and Freddy are both keen to find Beautiful Betsy.

A beautiful bomber, in the forest. 

Freddy imagines her as a frog-like beauty. A large mouth, a white belly.

Terence is hoping she still has her bombs.