Dead Specimens Don't Laugh

On the short flight from Gladstone to Brisbane, Gaius sits next to Katherine.

Notice anything? asks Gaius.

Only how sympathetic the flight crew seem, says Katherine. You'd think someone had died.

It's happened before, says Gaius. You don't suppose Arthur has anything to do with it?

I wouldn't put it past him, says Katherine.

Arthur is sitting with Nerida and Terence.

I wish I was going to Florence with you guys, says Nerida.

It's not that good, says Arthur. We fly in, stay in a hotel, race and fly out again.

Yes but the beauty, says Nerida. The lovely old buildings.

Yes, says Terence. There'll be a palace. I'll probably meet one of my cousins.

He means a cathedral, says Arthur,

Who are his cousins? asks Nerida.

The baby Jesuses, says Arthur. 

Like Baldy and Curly, says Terence. But we're not actually babies. 

Wow! says Nerida. How cool is that? Do you know if you have a cousin in Florence?

No, says Terence.

Bonk-bonk! A noise emanates from the bento box, on the floor.

Shut up! says Terence.

He slips out of his seat and opens the bento box.

Remember what Arthur said? says Terence.

Sorry, we couldn't help laughing, says Spider-bonk.

Do you really have a cousin called Baldy? asks Insect-bonk.

Ha ha! laughs Worm-bonk.

Yes, says Terence. And one called Fatty.

The pobblebonks laugh even louder.

The Kroombit tinker glares at them.

They stop laughing.

We're traveling as specimens, says the Kroombit tinker. Dead ones. Dead specimens don't laugh.

That's right, says Terence.

A flight attendant comes by.

Everything all right sir?

Yes, says Arthur. The specimen box got kicked open.

Would you like me to put it in the overhead locker? asks the flight attendant.

That would be helpful, says Arthur. I'll close it.

He closes the bento box, and hands it to the flight attendant.

I think we can do better than a bento box, says the flight attendant. 

She whisks the bento box away, to the front of the plane.