Of Least Concern

Katherine and the Kroombit tinker are getting on well.

It seems Katherine has read The Inseparables.

Will you tell me the ending? asks the Kroombit tinker.

Are you sure you want to know? says Katherine. It's sad.

Not as sad as not knowing, says the Kroombit tinker.

You shall be the judge of that, says Katherine.You may need a tissue. Andrée dies.

O no! says the Kroombit tinker. Poor Andrée What does she die of ?

Stifling convention and religion, says Katherine.

How does it happen? asks the Kroombit tinker.

She simply dies, says Katherine. She cannot reconcile her desires with societal expectations.

I thought she was going to get married, says the Kroombit tinker.

Eventually, says Katherine. But she was advised by her family to put it off. Her fiancé agreed. He wanted to finish his studies.

How sad, says the Kroombit tinker. What happened to her friend who was telling the story?

She became Simone de Beauvoir, says Katherine. No one told HER what to do.

So the story is true, says the Kroombit tinker.

It's a fictionialised version of their friendship, says Katherine. 

I'd like to write something like that, says the Kroombit tinker.

Do you have a close friend? asks Katherine.

No, says the Kroombit tinker. 

Perhaps you should make one, says Katherine.

I'm supposed to be having a talk with the pobblebonk, says the Kroombit tinker.

I meant a female friend, says Katherine. How about Greedy?

Greedy is nice, says the Kroombit tinker. Do you think she has problems with stifling expectations? 

You should ask her, says Katherine.

It is at this point that Terence runs up, looking for Gaius.

Where's Gaius?

In his tent, says Katherine.

Gaius is in his tent, perusing his notes by torchlight.

He looks up.

Has Katherine finished speaking to the Kroombit tinker? asks Gaius. I didn't want to interrupt them.

Yes! says Terence. I mean, I don't know. Guess what? I'm saving the pobblebonk!

It doesn't need saving, says Gaius. Its status is 'of least concern'.

It's in my tent, at the feet end, says Terence.

It will bonk-bonk all night, says Gaius. 

It promised not to, says Terence.

We'll see, says Gaius.

(bonk-bonk)

A faint bonk-bonk is heard, coming from two tents down, at the feet end.