Acting Stiffly

The flight attendant returns, with a better box than the bento box.

This box is more substantial, says the flight attendant. I'll just put it up here in the overhead locker.

She does that, and goes off to interfere somewhere else.

Get them down! says Terence.

Arthur stands up and gets the substantial box down.

He opens it.

O no!

The pobblebonks and the Kroombit tinker look like frogs who have died.

They've died! cries Terence. I knew it!

We haven't died, says the Kroombit tinker, opening her eyes.

Spider-bonk, Insect-bonk and Worm-bonk sit up warily.

That was a close one, says Spider-bonk. We had to pretend that we'd died.

She took us out of the bento box, one by one, says Insect-bonk.

And we had to act stiffly, says Worm-bonk.

Well done, says Nerida. You must have all fooled her.

The pobblebonks and the Kroombit tinker look pleased.

Now we need some exercise, says Spider-bonk.

And before Arthur can stop them they jump out of the substantial box and disappear under the seats.

Yikes! says Nerida. Now what?

I'll close the box and put it back in the overhead locker, says Arthur.

What sort of plan is that? asks Nerida.

I'll find them! says Terence.

He jumps down from his seat and makes his way, commando-style, under the seat in front of him.

Terence is so cute, says Nerida. I'm going to miss him.

He'll be back, says Arthur.

I meant when we get back to Adelaide, says Nerida. And you all go to Florence.

You can watch the Tour de France on tv, says Arthur. You might see him.

As if! says Nerida. 

Terence crawls back.

Gaius caught them, says Terence. He's keeping them in the mesh pocket in front of his seat.

Won't the flight attendant see them? asks Nerida.

They're inside the sick bag, says Terence.

Even the tinker? asks Terence.

Yes, says Terence. And guess what?

What? asks Nerida.

We're nearly in Brisbane! And then.... guess what?

What? asks Nerida.

THEN we have to fly back to Adelaide, says Terence, and that's even longer.

We knew that, says Arthur. The substantial box will come in useful.

They don't like it, says Terence.

We'll find them some nice food in the Brisbane airport, says Nerida.

Spiders, insects or worms? says Arthur.

Whichever, says Nerida.

Terence has a bad feeling that they might be joking.