Animal Urges

I wonder if I could press you to speak English? says Gaius.

What did I say? asks the Kroombit tinker.

Tink tink, says Gaius.

Apologies, says the Kroombit tinker. Could you repeat the question?

How long have you been here? asks Gaius.

Several months now, says the Kroombit tinker.

And how do you find it? asks Gaius.

Dull as ditchwater, says the Kroombit tinker. There was always something going on at Currumbin. Beeps, hisses, thermometers, pokings. That sort of thing. And we used to have singalongs. And then there was the library, I went there a lot. 

Did you have survival lessons? asks Gaius.

What do you think? asks the Kroombit tinker. Short answer: no. I think they thought survival would come naturally.

Or not, as the case might be, says Gaius.

Or not, says the Kroombit tinker.

Have you and your cohort succeeded in producing live progeny? asks Gaius.

Tink tink, says the Kroombit tinker.

Is this a sore point? asks Gaius.

It's an existential question, says the Kroombit tinker. We've had many inconclusive debates as to whether reproducing our species is a wise option.

Jumping Jupiter! says Gaius. Surely you believe that it is!

Not necessarily, sys the Kroombit tinker. Most of us have become fatalistic, since being dropped here.

Yes, but surely you have animal urges, says Gaius. 

We still enjoy singalongs, says the tinker.

Fascinating, says Gaius. May I ask, what is it you sing?

The Long and Winding Road is our favourite, says the Kroombit tinker.

I don't believe I know it, says Gaius. What a pity Arthur isn't here. He would know it.

Is he the one who nearly ate Freddy? asks the Kroombit tinker.

Why yes! says Gaius. That is he.

He? says the Kroomit tinker. Why not him?

Strictly speaking 'he' is the more correct English, says Gaius.

I must remember that, says the Kroombit tinker. That is he.

Gaius presses the red button to pause the video at this point.

The interview is veering off track.