Successful Contraption

Rookai looks at the map Terence has made.

It will need some additions.

Gaius is still on the phone.

Wait. No he isn't.

He's ended his call.

Arthur won't be coming with us to Tasmania, says Gaius. 

Does that mean I'm senior assistant? asks Terence.

No, says Gaius, I shall ask another adult. One who can swim.

Boo, says Terence. 

How's the map going? asks Gaius.

Terence ruined it, says the tinker.

It's not finished, says Terence.

We need your phone map again, says Rookai.

Gaius calls up his phone map.

Now, says Gaius, I assume you'll go as the crow flies.

Yes, says Rookai, although I prefer not to use that expression.

As the parrot flies, says Terence.

Rookai says nothing. After all, he agreed to be Terence's parrot. 

It's about two thousand kilometres, says Gaius. What speed do you go at?

Rookai does a quick calculation. I could do it in sixteen hours, without stops and without a frog in a contraption.

Let's say a day then, says Gaius. That will be excellent. Where is the contraption?

Here, says Terence holding out the orange bag made of red netting.

Wasn't there an orange in that? asks Gaius. 

Yes, says Terence. I put in the potato box.

I'd better eat it before it goes mouldy, says Gaius.

He goes to the pantry.

Right, says Rookai. Let's plan where we'll be stopping. Choose two towns.

The tinker looks at the phone map. There are plenty of choices.

Peterborough... Broken Hill... Brewarrina... Goodooga... Dirranband... Yuleba... Woleebee... Bildera ...

She picks Goodooga and Woleebee.

Who wouldn't?

Mark them on Terence's map, says Rookai. 

The tinker picks up a pencil, and marks them on.

She folds the map until it is small and will fit in the contraption.

How do I carry this contraption? asks Rookai.

Holes, says Terence. You put your wings through.

That will stop me flying smoothly, says Rookai. Think again.

Head and tail through, says Terence.

That might do, says Rookai. Let's try it.

Rip, rip! Terence makes two holes.

Rookai pokes his head through one and his tail through the other.

Now get in, says Terence, to the tinker.

The tinker climbs in, with the map.

Rookai rises, and sucessfully flies round the kitchen.

The Red Sling

Perhaps it was a bad idea to give Terence two things to do.

He has copied the map on Gaius's phone onto the paper.

It's basically just a straight line.

Adelaide to Kroombit Tops as the crow flies.

Terence admires his straight line.

But it needs to have arrows. 

He draws an arrow point, at the Kroombit Tops end of the line.

Bumhole! 

That's not where he should have drawn the arrow. 

He decides to stop doing the map and look at Gaius's notes on the maugean skate.

Especially the pictures.

The maugean skate looks like a wide paper jet with eyes and tail ribbons.

It's pointy nose looks like the head of an arrow.

Terence has an idea.

If he turns his map into a picture of a maugean skate, the arrow will be in the right place after all.

He draws wide paper jet wings on the map route.

And eyes and tail ribbons. The arrow nose is there already.

And sharp blades which you could see if the maugean skate was see-through.

Rookai comes over.

How's it going? Is that our map?

It was, says Terence. But I made it into a maugean skate because of this arrow.

We'll get around it, says Rookai. 

The tinker comes over.

That doesn't look like a map, says the tinker.

It's a skate, says Terence. The map's inside it.

Where are the places we're stopping? asks the tinker.

You and I will mark them in, says Rookai.

I was going to do it, says Terence.

You'd be better occupied finding us some sort of sling, says Rookai. So I can comfortably carry the tinker.

Yay! This was the job Terence wanted to do in the first place.

What to use for a sling?

Gaius will have something.

But Gaius is on the phone to Arthur.

Terence goes into the pantry.

And sees an orange bag made of red plastic netting, with one orange inside.

He wonders if Gaius would like an orange.

Gaius is still talking.

Yes Arthur, but surely ....

Terence takes out the orange, and puts it in a box of potatoes.

Now the red netting orange bag is free to turn into a sling.

His Smiling Mouth

Gaius unlocks his front door and goes in.

He walks down the passage to the kitchen. 

He places the Kroombit tinker on the kitchen table.

Is Ouvert here? asks Baby Pierre.

Go and see, says Gaius. And Terence, go into the back garden and signal Rookai.

Terence goes into the back garden.

What was the signal?

Rookai flies down from the apricot tree. 

I got here early, says Roo-kai. In case you'd forgotten the signal.

I hadn't, says Terence. 

They both go inside.

The tinker is sitting beside a white sheet of paper.

You must be Rookai, says the tinker.

And you must be the Kroombit tinker, says Rookai. Is that for a map?

No, says the tinker. It's for Baby Pierre's story. I promised to help him re-write it.

I thought we were leaving, says Rookai.

He's already written it, says the tinker. But Border Force confiscated it. We just have to remember.

Ah, says Rookai. So where's Baby Pierre?

Baby Pierre is on the window sill telling Ouvert that he has written a story about the two of them.

What for? asks Ouvert.

I was cycling across the Nullarbor and I met you, says Baby Pierre. You were a rock collector. 

I wasn't, says Ouvert. I've been here all the time.

It might not have been you, says Baby Pierre. And anyway it was a story. It wasn't really me either. If I had the story I'd show it to you but I lost it.

Ouvert smirks with his smiling mouth, keeping his second mouth straight.

Gaius comes out of his bedroom, with his notes on the maugean skate.

Look through these, Terence, says Gaius. Pay special attention to the pictures.

What about Rookai's map? asks Terence. 

I'm not sure he needs a map, says Gaius. 

The map is for the benefit of the tinker, says Rookai. She can follow it and anticipate the stops we'll be making.

I'd like that, says the tinker.

All right says Gaius. I'll call up a map on my phone and Terence can copy it onto this piece of paper.

Terence is pleased to have two things to do.

Sharp Blades Underneath

The bus rumbles away from the airport and heads for the city.

The tinker leaves Baby Pierre on the front seat and returns to where Gaius is sitting.

About this Rookai, says the tinker.

Yes? says Gaius.

Did you say he'd FLY me back to Kroombit Tops? asks the tinker.

It will be perfectly safe, says Gaius. He'll make frequent stops.

Will I have some input? asks the tinker.

I shall provide you with a map before you set out, says Gaius, so that you and Rookai can plan your journey.

Sounds good, says the tinker. But one other thing...

Yes, what is it? asks Gaius. 

Will he carry me in his beak? asks the tinker. 

I doubt it, says Gaius. It's a long way, and furthermore it would render him speechless.

Good, says the tinker. Because in his beak I would look like his prey.

Terence has been looking out of the window at passing vehicles, but has been listening.

Your legs would be dangling, says Terence. 

I know, says the tinker. Like I was swimming.

No one swims with their head in a beak, says Terence. 

My head wouldn't be in his beak, says the tinker. 

Of course it wouldn't, says Gaius. We'll help you rig up something.

Can I do it? asks Terence.

You can help, says Gaius. But you will be busy getting ready for Tasmania.

Busy? says Terence. Doing what?

Learning a few facts about maugean skates, says Gaius. How to identify them and so on. 

I already know, says Terence. They have wheels underneath.

They do not, says Gaius. I shall lend you my notes when we're home. There are pictures.

The bus stops in the city.

They change buses.

This bus is full.

Baby Pierre has to sit with Terence.

What do skates look like? asks Terence.

Shoes, says Baby Pierre.

I know that, says Terence, but what's underneath them?

Wheels, says Baby Pierre. Or sometimes sharp blades.

How come you're so smart? says Terence.

I ask questions, says Baby Pierre.

So do I, says Terence.

So now you know, says Baby Pierre.

Yes! Maugean skates must have sharp blades underneath them. 

Now Terence knows.

 

Stopped From Moving

Since when are we going to Tasmania? asks the tinker.

I am. You're not, says Gaius. I've made some arrangements.

Guess what they are, says Terence.

What? asks the tinker.

Rookai will be flying you back to Kroombit Tops, says Gaius. 

Who's Rookai? asks the tinker.

My parrot, says Terence.

Don't parrots eat frogs? asks the tinker.

No, says Gaius. They prefer fruit, seeds, nuts and flowers.

But Rookai eats molluscs, says Terence.

Funny sort of parrot, says the tinker.

He's an oystercatcher, says Baby Pierre. His hero is Saint Roley.

The one who lost his brother? asks the tinker.

You know about that? asks Gaius.

It was in Baby Pierre's story, says the tinker.

Just a throwaway line, says Baby Pierre.

Nevertheless, it's a point of connection, says Gaius. You should get on well with Rookai.

They are now at the airport bus stop. 

We'll catch the bus back to my house, and wait for Roo kai, says Gaius.

Not me, says Baby Pierre. I have to go back and rescue my story.

Too dangerous, says Gaius. I'm sure they'll send it on to me when they realise it's nonsense.

Nonsense? says Baby Pierre.

From their perspective, says Gaius. Aha! Here's the bus now.  

He helps the tinker get on. 

Baby Pierre is about to zoom off again.

No you don't, says Terence. He puts his foot down.

Crunch!

My bicycle! says Baby Pierre.

Sorry, says Terence. I just meant to stop you from moving.

You have stopped me from moving, says Baby Pierre.

Perhaps it's for the best, says Gaius. 

He picks up Baby Pierre and the bicycle parts, including the o-wheels.

And gets on the bus.

Baby Pierre sits on the small seat at the front.

He is sulking.

His bicycle is broken thanks to Terence.

His story is gone.

The tinker hops up beside him.

Are you sulking? asks the tinker.

No, says Baby Pierre. I'm regretting.

That's fair, says the Kroombit tinker. 

They are silent while Baby Pierre does some regretting.

That he didn't grab his story before zooming off.

That he didn't get on the bus before Terence.

I remember your story, says the tinker. If you like I'll help you rewrite it before I head off with Rookai.

A kind offer. 

Baby Pierre already feels somewhat better.

Don't Leave The Country

Gaius and Terence are waiting at International Arrivals.

Most of the passengers from Changi have already come out.

They're not coming! says Terence.

Patience! says Gaius. They're probably being held up by Border Force officials.

What will they do? asks Terence.

Deliver them to me, eventually, says Gaius. But perhaps I should make some enquiries.

He is just wondering where to go to make his enquiries when Terence shouts:

Yay! They're coming!

Baby Pierre zooms towards Terence and skids to a stop.

He is followed, seconds later, by the Kroombit tinker.

Get us out of here! says the tinker.

Is someone after you? asks Terence.

They might be, says Baby Pierre. We've escaped.

This won't do, says Gaius. There are certain procedures to be followed.

We're not going back, says Baby Pierre. 

No we're not, says the tinker. Although you did leave your story behind with the Border Force person.

My story! says Baby Pierre. 

What story? asks Terence.

I wrote a story about how I cycled across the Nullarbor says Baby Pierre. It was a good story.

Was it true? asks Terence. 

It would have been, says Baby Pierre.

Meaning yes? asks Terence.

If I'd actually done it, says Baby Pierre. 

Woop, says Terence.

I wanted to show it to Ouvert, says Baby Pierre. He's in it.

Does he say everything twice? asks Terence.

No, says Baby Pierre. It might not be him. That's part of the story. 

But that means... begins Terence

Enough! says Gaius. You two stay here with Terence while I make some enquiries.

But he doesn't need to.

Two Border Force officers are bearing down on them.

Gaius Plinius Secundus? asks one of the officers.

That is me, says Gaius. Or should I say I am he?

As long as you admit you're the person in question, says the Border Force officer.

I do, says Gaius. And I'm pleased to meet you. I assume there are papers to sign. 

The second Border Force officer whips out some papers.

Gaius takes them.

On the first page is a photo of the Kroombit tinker, a brief description, and a dotted line.

Sign here, says the Border Force officer.

Gaius signs. May we go now?

Unfortunately, no, says the second Border Force Officer. First we need an explanation for these coded writings.

He shows Gaius Baby Pierre's story.

That will be Baby Pierre's story, says Gaius. No doubt harmless. 

We are confiscating it, says the Border Force officer. Please sign this confiscation notice.

What a performance, says Gaius. All right.

He signs.

You're all free to go, says the Border Force Officer. But don't leave the country.

I presume that doesn't prohibit Tasmania? asks Gaius. Because that's where I'm going.

What? says the tinker.

Small Room No Windows

The plane lands in Adelaide.

The flight attendant takes the see-through container from Rosa.

Thank you for looking after the frog, says the flight attendant. You saved us a great deal of trouble.

It was fun, says Rosa. Goodbye tinker, I hope you get back to Kroombit Tops soon. Goodbye Baby Pierre. 

Do you hope anything for me? asks Baby Pierre.

Not really, says Rosa. Well, maybe... I hope Ouvert likes your story.

As if I care, says Baby Pierre.

The flight attendant closes the lid of the see-through container.

The passengers disembark one by one.

The flight attendant takes the see-through container down the ramp to International Arrivals.

Is this it? asks a Border Force officer, who has been waiting.

It's the frog for Mr G P Secundus, says the flight attendant. And there's a pebble in there as well, and a tiny bicycle, also a sheet of paper covered in very small writing. Oh, and the remains of a century egg. You might want to bin that.

Cripes! says the Border Force officer. Thanks for the heads up.

My pleasure, says the flight attendant. 

The Border Force officer takes the see-through container to a small room with no windows and takes off the lid.

Phew! says the Kroombit tinker. Fresh air at last! Where's Gaius?

She hops out.

Not so fast! says the Border Force officer. First we must ascertain your bona fides.

I'm a Kroombit tinker, says the Kroombit tinker. I don't have bona fides.

I know you're a Kroombit tinker, says the Border Force officer. But are you THE Kroombit tinker?

Who else would I be? asks the tinker.

I can vouch for her, says Baby Pierre.

And you are? asks the Border Force officer.

Baby Pierre, says Baby Pierre. Free thinker, elite cyclist, and author.

He wrote this, says the tinker, indicating the paper covered with very small writing.

The Border Force officer starts reading.

What's this? asks the Border Force officer after reading a few lines. The Nullarbor? A village in France? This document needs to go straight to ASIO to be vetted!.

Things are not going well.

Until....

Knock knock.

There's a knock on the door. 

Could it be, against all the odds, Gaius?

No it couldn't.

It's another Border Force officer.

But hey! The door is now open. 

The tinker looks at Baby Pierre.

Baby Pierre grabs his tiny bicycle.

They hop and zoom through the door.

You'll Always Wonder

It's a  good story so far, says the tinker. When is it ending?

When we get there, says Baby Pierre. 

Across the Nullarbor, or all the way to Adelaide? asks the tinker.

When Ouvert and I reach the end of the Nullarbor, says Baby Pierre. 

What happens then? asks the tinker.

Nothing. That's the end, says Baby Pierre.

An anouncement comes through, from the captain. 

We will shortly be arriving in Adelaide where the temperature is a fine twenty six degrees and the time will be....crackle crackle.

Already! says the tinker. That was a short journey.

Six hours, forty five minutes, says Rosa. Not that short. Has Baby Pierre finished his story?

No I haven't, says Baby Pierre. But I will. Where was I?

On a smelly black road, says the tinker. You did a good description. 

But you gave up on the mystery about Ouvert being your cousin, says Rosa. 

I didn't give up, says Baby Pierre. I resolved it.

By saying you didn't care, says Rosa.

And he didn't care, says Baby Pierre. 

Will you be showing the story to Ouvert? asks the tinker.

Maybe one day, says Baby Pierre.

He might not like it, says the tinker.

You should think about that, says Rosa. 

It's my story, says Baby Pierre. 

But you put a real person in it, says Rosa.

It might not be him, says Baby Pierre.

He'll always wonder, says the tinker. I would.

Would you, says Baby Pierre. If what?

If I was in your story, says the tinker.

Why is everyone so annoying ? says Baby Pierre. Shut up and let me write the ending.

He starts to write (very small): We were now approaching the end of the Nullarbor. We had crossed it and not died. This alone was a great achievement. Ouvert thanked me for keeping him motivated, by talking of our shared memories some of which had not even happened. That's all right I said and look who is waiting for us at the end of the Nullarbor, it's a girl frog, or is it? When we drew closer, it was. 

Is that frog supposed to be me? asks the tinker.

You'll always wonder, says Baby Pierre.

Black Cheese-Smelling Road

I told you it would stink, says Baby Pierre.

It's only smells a little bit, says the tinker.

It's probably supposed to, says Rosa. 

They all gaze at the century egg. 

The century egg lies there, black and gelatinous.

I'm going to take a bite, says the tinker. An airline lunch wouldn't be poisonous.

It might be to frogs, says Baby Pierre. 

Do you want me to eat it or not? asks the tinker.

I want you to eat it, sats Baby Pierre. But no burping, after.

I never burp, says the tinker.

Me either, says Rosa. 

Do you want some? asks the tinker.

No thanks, says Rosa. I'm still full from the fried carrot cake and prawn.

This reminds Baby Pierre of his description of the Nullarbor, which he was proud of. 'Like a fried carrot cake'. Perhaps he should incorporate the century egg into his story. 

He starts to write ( very small): Ouvert and I continued to cycle across the Nullarbor The road was hot, black and gelatinous, like a century egg. Strong fumes arose to our nostrils. I asked Ouvert what it reminded him of, he said cheese, I said what sort, not cheddar, he said no, ripe blue cheese. This gave me an idea....

Rosa is reading what he is writing.

I bet I know what it is, says Rosa.

You don't, because I haven't thought of it yet, says Baby Pierre.

Sorry, says Rosa.

She turns to the tinker.

How does it taste?

Kind of like cheese, says the tinker.

What sort? asks Rosa. Not cheddar?

No, says the tinker. Ripe blue cheese.

Wow! says Rosa. That's exactly what Baby Pierre wrote that Ouvert said it smelled like.

Weird, says the tinker, because I don't think it smells like it tastes.

What then? asks Rosa. To me it smells kind of like toilet cleaner.

I wish you hadn't said that, says the tinker.

So do I, says Rosa. It's pretty faint, and there's another smell with it.

Sulphur, says the tinker.

You know a lot about smells, says Rosa. 

I was brought up in a lab, says the tinker. 

Got it! says Baby Pierre.

He writes fast (very small): I asked Ouvert if he remembered the time we went to Wallaroo with Gaius and Arthur. Ouvert said yes why. I said because if you do that proves you're my cousin, and he said okay then I don't. Turns out he didn't care if he wasn't my cousin, and neither did I. We kept on pedalling along the cheese-smelling black egg-like road.

The Space Inside

The flight arttendant has come back with the century egg.

Enjoy, says the flight attendant.

Before you go, says the tinker, may I ask where it's been?

Hong Kong, says the flight attendant. I think that's where we obtain them.

It looks kind of black, says Rosa.

Wait till you cut it open, says the flight attendant. Inside, it's green.

Yuck, says Rosa. No wonder you had some left over.

People don't realise how nice they are, says the flight attendant. They taste salty and creamy.

Are they really a hundred years old? asks Rosa.

Just a few months, says the flight attendant. They preserve them in clay, salt, wood ash and quicklime.

It stinks, says Baby Pierre. Either eat it or ditch it.

I'm going to eat it, says the tinker. And you should get on with your story.

Yes, do, says Rosa. I can't wait to find out if Ouvert is really your cousin.

He is, says Baby Pierre. But the one I met in the Nullarbor might only look like my cousin.

Well I can't wait to find out how you find out, says Rosa.

You won't have to wait long, says Baby Pierre. 

He starts to write (very small):

I thought maybe he'd forgotten, so I said Lavender you remember her, she's a girl and still he didn't so I said she's not really a girl she's an auger, and he said can she tell the future and I said not that kind of auger you're thinking of an augur but she sometimes pretends that she can. He said so what is an auger I said it's a shell, but she's not the shell she's the space inside it, O! says Ouvert THAT Lavender. That's how I knew he was really my cousin. 

And was he? asks Rosa.

I just said he was, says Baby Pierre.

He might only have been saying he remembered, says Rosa. You did give him some clues.

Baby Pierre reads what he has written.

You need to make him say something he remembers her doing, says Rosa.

Okay, says Baby Pierre.

He writes a bit more (very small): Ouvert told me he remembered being lost in a French village with Lavender. It was raining and the bus did not come. They sat on a wet step and pretended to share a picnic. He recalled that the pretend picnic was beans.

That still doesn't prove it, says Rosa. Unless you were there too.

I wasn't, says Baby Pierre. They would never have got lost with me there.

You'll have to think of something he remembers that you remember, says Rosa. That would prove it.

Rosa is becoming annoying.

And it doesn't help that the century egg is producing foul fumes.

Century Egg

Right. Back to the Nullarbor, says Baby Pierre. So where was I?

More than half way across, says the tinker.

With a bag full of rock samples, says Rosa.

Which Ouvert was carrying, says the tinker.

I remember, says Baby Pierre. 

The light is good in the see-through container, on Rosa's lap. 

He reads what he's written so far

Perfect. And he has not once used the rubber.

The flight attendant comes by.

How's the frog doing? asks the flight attendant.

Good, says Rosa. She ate some of my prawn.

Would she like something else? asks the flight attendant.

I'll ask her, says Rosa. 

She asks the tinker: Would you like another prawn?

Not a prawn, says the flight attendant. None left. I can offer a century egg. Do you think frogs eat those?

I'll ask her, says Rosa. She asks.

That depends, says the tinker. Is it a left-over?

Well yes, says the flight attendant, but only from lunch.

Okay, says the tinker. 

Good, says the flight attendant. I'll be back in a minute.

She walks away.

I'm having a century egg, says the tinker.

Woo-hoo! says Baby Pierre. A hundred year old egg! That'll be even more stinky than the prawn was.

Not necessarily, says the tinker. It's not really a hundred. It's only left over from lunch.

But before that, where was it? asks Baby Pierre.

I suppose I should ask, says the tinker.

Yes, but shut up for now, says Baby Pierre. I'm writing the next part.

He writes (very small): By this time, Ouvert and I were three quarters of the way across the Nullarbor, each thinking our own thoughts, mine were about Ouvert, was he really my cousin? the Ouvert who remembered the carrot wasn't my real cousin he just looked like him, same weird expression, two mouths, one open one always smiling, but he did not do that thing where he said everything twice. I decided to test him. Remember Lavender? I asked, and guess what, he couldn't remember.

Baby Pierre is pleased with what he has written. A mystery. Hey-ah! He breathes in.

And smells something bad.

Rambling Nature

Why did you say apparently? asks Rosa.

Because I wasn't there then, says Baby Pierre. Ouvert and I had our own problems.

Where were you? asks the tinker.

I was working as a stand-in doorman, says Baby Pierre. The real doorman was a friend of Ageless lobster, and he gave me the job. 

Was he also a lobster? asks the tinker.

Yes, says Baby Pierre.

So how do you know what happened to the carrot? asks Rosa.

How do you even know it wrote a note? asks the tinker.

I learned of it later, says Baby Pierre. From  an oyster-catcher by the name of Roo-kai.

How did the oystercatcher know? asks Rosa.

He was there, says Baby Pierre. Now shut up, I want to keep writing this story.

He continues to write (very small):

Who could deny the half carrot its last wishes? Ouvert and I found a box. It was decorated with birds and flowers, and smelled of soap. We placed the carrot in the box and dropped it into the river, where it floated out to sea.  An oystercatcher we knew offered to watch over it. He had his own reasons. His hero Saint Roley had once lost a brother at sea.

Did the oystercatcher see the carrot write the note? asks the tinker.

Must have, says Baby Pierre.

Where did you find the box? asks Rosa.

In the house where I was working as a stand-in doorman, says Baby Pierre.

So far, he has come up an answer for everything. 

But it's getting harder.

What happened to the brother? asks Rosa, who likes the rambling nature of Baby Pierre's story.

No one knows, says Baby Pierre. But it was so long ago, it's safe to say that he drowned.

Was he in a boat? asks Rosa.

He was on a disintegrating piece of cardboard, says Baby Pierre. 

Did he have a compass? asks the tinker.

There was a THIS WAY UP  finger on the cardboard, says Baby Pierre. You can imagine how reliable it was.

How dreadful, says Rosa. What made him even think a THIS WAY UP finger would be useful?

He was young, says Baby Pierre. And had been brought up by saints. He thought the pointing finger was telling him something.

Now I'm going to tell you something, says the tinker.

What? asks Baby Pierre.

Time to get back to the Nullarbor, says the tinker.  

Oh yes, says Rosa. You and your cousin were crossing the Nullarbor. I'd forgotten.

Baby Pierre realises he has strayed too far from the main narrative.

He should go back to the Nullarbor.

And avoid further diversions.

Whirring Up The Past

Baby Pierre is pleased that Rosa and the tinker like his story. 

It seems they respond well to pathos.

He tries to remember more sad facts regarding the carrot.

Yes, he and Ouvert were on their way to Le Havre, but why? And why with a carrot?

What's wrong? asks the tinker.

Nothing, says Baby Pierre. I'm just trying to remember more stuff about the carrot. But it eludes me.

Try self-hypnosis, says the tinker.

Good idea, says Baby Pierre. Ommmm.

Why is he saying Ommmm? asks Rosa.

Shh, says the tinker.

Baby Pierre's eyes roll back in his head. He falls into a trance, remembering Le Havre.

The carrot was only half a carrot, by the time they got there. The bottom half had been eaten by the knowlesi, and Quiet tartus, the two madcap frogs. And Terence and Belle had been with them.  And they had met up with Saints Meen and Maclou...... 

And then what?

Baby Pierre had been offered a job in the Shipowner's House in Le Havre. 

So it was only later that he learned the rest of the story.

Wake up, Baby Pierre! says the tinker. Did it work?

Yes, says Baby Pierre. I now remember what really happened.

Cool! says Rosa. Write some more of the story.

Baby Pierre writes (very small): Ouvert said he didn't remember a bird ate the carrot, and that made me wonder. What were my memories of that carrot? Soon the whirring of my o-wheels began to stir up the past. Ommmm...

That's a good touch, says the tinker. O-wheels and ommmm

I know, says Baby Pierre. He continues to write (very small):

I remembered the poor carrot had been half-eaten by two friends of ours, who were frogs. When it reached Le Havre we fished it out of the water and took it to Saint Meen and Saint Maclou. They gave it the power to communicate and it wrote, TAK ME BAC TO THE RIV AND TRUE ME IN. 

It wrote a note? asks Rosa.

Apparently, says Baby Pierre. The saints must have lent it a pen.

All Prawny

 Rosa has finished her fried carrot cake and prawn. 

The flight attendant has taken the eco-friendly cardboard box and food scraps away.

But Rosa has retained the prawn tail.

She tips up her tray, and lifts the see-through container from under the seat in front of her.

She opens the lid and drops the prawn tail inside.

Thanks, Rosa! says the Kroombit tinker.

Yuck! It stinks! says Baby Pierre. Hurry up and eat it.

The tinker tries, but the soft part is wedged inside the prawn tail.

I can't get it out, says the tinker. Give me the pencil.

No way! says Baby Pierre.

You have to! says the tinker. If I can't get it out I can't eat it.

Okay then, says Baby Pierre.

The tinker takes the pencil and pokes it around in the prawn tail. 

She winkles the soft part out and eats it.

Thanks, you can have the pencil back now, says the tinker.

It's all prawny! says Baby Pierre

Rosa opens the lid again.

How was the prawn tail?

Yum, says the tinker, but could you clean Baby Pierre's pencil? 

Sure, says Rosa. How's his story going?

He's introducing a carrot, says the tinker.

To the Nullarbor? asks Rosa.

I know, says the tinker. But he's getting around it.

Give me the pencil, says Baby Pierre. 

Rosa wipes it on her leggings and gives him the pencil.

Baby Pierre writes (very small):

Ouvert and I continued our journey, the desert was hot and orange, it's like a fried carrot cake I said except it goes on and on. Ouvert was impressed with my evocative analogy. He said do you remember the time we were going to Le Havre, with that old wrinkled carrot? yes I said it was floating downstream while we tried to control it with string.......did we make it? asked Ouvert, yes we made it I said, but the carrot didn't, I think a bird ate it.

I LOVE this story says Rosa.

Me too, but I'm sad for the carrot, says the tinker.

I Once Knew A Carrot

Baby Pierre realises the tinker has asked a trick question.

He needs time to think of an answer.

Luckily it's time for an in-flight meal to be served.

My food's coming, says Rosa. My parents want me to put you under the seat again.

Go ahead, says Baby Pierre. 

You won't be able to write anything, says Rosa.

What a pity, says Baby Pierre.

Rosa closes the lid of the see-through container and shoves it under the seat in front of her. Then she pulls down her tray.

Her food arrives, packed in eco-friendly cardboard.

Fried carrot cake with prawn.

She wonders if the tinker would like to share it. Poor tinker. She only has those dead flies.

Rosa slides down under her tray and opens the lid of the see-through container.

That was quick, says the tinker. 

I haven't started, says Rosa. I was wondering if you'd like me to save you some fried carrot cake with prawn.

Um... says the tinker. Maybe a small piece of prawn.

Okay, says Rosa, replacing the lid and sliding back up to her seat.

What was that about? asks her mother.

I asked the tinker if she wants me to save her some prawn, says Rosa. 

That was kind of you, says her mother.

Rosa eats her fried carrot cake and prawn, leaving the prawn tail.

It is dark in the see-through container.

The tinker is eating a fly.

They taste better if you can't see them, says the tinker.

At least you have something to do, says Baby Pierre. This is boring.

You should be thinking of an answer to my question, says the tinker.

I've moved on, says Baby Pierre. 

So you admit that echy sounds exactly like echi, says the tinker.

It depends how you say it, says Baby Pierre.

It does NOT, says the tinker.

Shut up and eat your dead fly, says Baby Pierre.

Okay, says the tinker. 

How come you didn't want any fried carrot cake? asks Baby Pierre.

I don't like fried carrot, says the tinker.

I once knew a carrot, says Baby Pierre. It was floating down a river in France, all wrinkled.

Had it been fried? asks the tinker.

No, but I might put it in my story, says Baby Pierre.

That would be crazy, says the tinker. What would a carrot be doing in the Nullarbor?

It wouldn't have to BE in the Nullarbor, says Baby Pierre. Me and Ouvert could remember it.

I suppose so, says the tinker. It might be more intriguing than a talking echinoid.

See what you did there? asks Baby Pierre.

What did I do? asks the tinker.

You said echinoid, with an i, says Baby Pierre. And I could tell.

The tinker sighs, and swallows her fly.