Something In English

Darkness, and silence.

Rustle rustle.

Bonk-bonk!

Nerida shoves Freddy into her pocket and takes out her torch.

Is someone there in the shadows?

Yes! but phew! it is Gaius.

Hello, says Gaius. Where's this Kroombit tinker?

Here, says Nerida. How come you knew I had one?

Terence skipped past me, in high spirits, says Gaius. He told me.

Here it is, says Nerida. The Kroombit tinker.

Well done, says Gaius. Let me see. What a beauty!

Thank you, says the Kroombit tinker. 

A female, says Gaius. Come back to the campsite and tell us your story.

We're heading there now, says Nerida. The tinker wants to meet Katherine.

Does she now? says Gaius. That is interesting. Do we know why?

I'm hoping she's read The Inseparables, says the Kroombit tinker.

Extraordinary, says Gaius. 

Bonk-bonk!

What was that? asks Nerida.

That scarlet-sided pobblebonk I located, says Gaius. It's been following me.

Weird, says Nerida.

I fear it's becoming a hindrance, says Gaius.

Would you like me to have a word with it? asks the Kroombit tinker.

If you would, says Gaius. But let us return to camp first.

The campsite is nearby.

Terence is already there, telling Katherine about his successful adventure.

And guess what? Roy lost a stone. He said it in the letter to Granny Greedith. And we looked for it, but it wasn't there, guess why?

Could it be because he lost it before he wrote the letter? asks Katherine.

Yes, says Terence. So we stopped looking.

Very wise, says Katherine. 

Bonk-bonk. 

She hears Gaius and Nerida approaching.

That pobblebonk still following you about? asks Katherine.

Regrettably, yes, says Gaius. But good news! I suppose Terence has told you he found a Kroombit tinker.

Yes, and it wants to meet me, says Katherine. 

Here she is, says Nerida.

Katherine comes face to face with the Kroombit tinker.

The Kroombit tinker is suddenly tongue-tied.

Tink-tink is all she can manage.

What a pretty sound you make, says Katherine.

The Kroombit tinker is encouraged.

She opens her mouth to say something in English.

Bonk-bonk!

Of course, that wasn't her.