Darkness Too Soon

Baby Bin Penguin is excited that Terence is coming.

Surfing-with-Whales has told him Terence is stuck to a skateboard, so he won't be surprised.

Also that Terence is being pulled in a pullalong, behind Gaius.

So when Baby Bin Penguin spots Gaius in the distance, pedalling towards him....

It's them! cries Baby Bin Penguin.

Gaius sees Surfing-with-Whales standing beside Baby Bin Penguin, and stops.

We should take turns pulling Terence, says Surfing-with-Whales.

Good idea, says Gaius. 

Where are we? asks Terence.

Terence! squeaks Baby Bin Penguin. You're here!

Yes I'm here, says Terence. I just have to get lifted out of this thing with my skateboard.

Surfing-with-Whales lifts him out, along with the skateboard.

Dragons! says Baby Bin Penguin.

They're just underneath, says Terence. There's nothing on top.

Except you, says Baby Bin Penguin.

I'm stuck to it, says Terence. But Gaius is getting me unstuck with vinegar.

So I am, says Gaius. Let us sit on the grass and get started.

He takes the vinegar out of his back pack.

Shakes a few drops over Terence's hand.

Now we wait for it to soften, says Gaius.

How long? asks Terence.

That depends, says Gaius.

On how good the glue is, adds Surfing-with-Whales.

It was a cheap glue, says Gaius. Which means it may soften easily.

Wiggle it, suggests Baby Bin Penguin.

Terence tries to wiggle his hand but his palm remains stuck to the skateboard.

I'm going to grab a coffee, says Surfing-with-Whales. Want one?

Thanks, says Gaius. 

Surfing-with-Whales goes off, and Gaius lies back on the grass, relaxing.

I missed you, says Baby Bin Penguin.

Me too, says Terence.

Hwark! laughs Baby Bin Penguin. That means you missed you.

No it doesn't, says  Terence. It means I missed you too.

But there's only one of me, says Baby Bin Penguin.

I know, says Terence.

I think Baby Bin Penguin was making a joke, says Gaius. A pun was intended.

He's good at jokes, says Terence. 

Thanks, says Baby Bin Penguin.

Tell me another one, says Terence.

 A penguin joke or a bin joke? asks Baby Bin Penguin.

Any joke, says Terence.

The less there is, the more you see, what is it? asks Baby Bin Penguin.

That's not a joke, says Terence.

It's a riddle, says Gaius. And I think Terence might know the answer. 

Darkness, says Baby Bin Penguin.

That's it! says Gaius. I thought you might have got that one, Terence.

I might have, says Terence.

Every Tree Ever Invented

Nothing on top of the skateboard. Just black.

The dragons are underneath the skateboard.

When he first realised this, Terence was disappointed.

It's not like he does skateboard tricks.

If he could do tricks, people would see under the skateboard when he did one.

And they'd see the dragons.

But anyway, he could learn to do tricks.

Maybe Baby Pin Penguin knows some.

All right back there? asks Gaius. 

No, says Terence. Are we there yet?

Not far, says Gaius. How are you liking the scenery?

What scenery? asks Terence.

Look to your right, says Gaius. The ocean.

Terence looks to the right.

Woop, says Terence. The ocean.

And left, says Gaius. The Tasmanian trees.

Terence looks at the Tasmanian trees.

They look like every tree ever invented.

Penguin is ten minutes away, says Gaius. We'd be there already, if I didn't have to pull you behind me.

Surfing-with-Whales doesn't have to, says Terence. Is he there yet?

Probably, says Gaius. 

He is.

Surfing-with-Whales has reached Penguin.

It's a long time since he last passed through here.

With Gaius and Arthur and Terence and Stew and Ying.

He tries to remember the location of Baby Bin Penguin.

On the esplanade somewhere.

He slows down.

There's a penguin bin outside a café. 

He stops at the bin penguin.

Hey! says Surfing-with-Whales to the bin penguin. Remember me? 

Not really, says the bin penguin. 

Remember Terence? asks Surfing-with-Whales.

Terence! says the bin penguin. That rings a bell. Why don't you ask my wife. She's that bin over there.

Surfing-with-Whales crosses the road to the second bin penguin.

Did I hear you mention Terence? asks the second bin penguin.

Yeah, says Surfing-with-Whales. Remember him?

Yes of course. He was good friends with my son, replies the second bin penguin.

Terence is coming, says Surfing-with-Whales. And he wants to catch up. Where's your son?

Fifty metres west, in front of the playground, says the second bin penguin. Oh, he'll be so excited!

Thanks, says Surfing-with-Whales.

Got any rubbish? asks the second bin penguin.

But Surfing-with-Whales is already cycling away.

He stops beside Baby Bin Penguin.

Guess who's coming? says Surfing-with-Whales.

Another boring old person with rubbish, says Baby Bin Penguin

No, a cool surprise, says Surfing-with-Whales. 

Should he warn Baby Bin Penguin that Terence is stuck to a skateboard and looks a bit different?

Happy Travels Except For Me

Gaius pays for two weeks hire of two vintage mountain bikes, and a pullalong, plus a deposit. 

The skateboard is free.

Damo attaches the pullalong to Gaius's bike.

Surfing-with-Whales lifts Terence and his skateboard into it.

How's that? asks Surfing-with-Whales.

I can't see, says Terence. Why does my skateboard have to be in front of my face?

Because you're stuck to it, temporarily, says Gaius. 

What if I sit on it? asks Terence.

You'd be sitting on your hand, says Damo.

I wouldn't care, says Terence.

And you'd be on an angle, says Surfing-with-Whales.

Why? asks Terence.

We'll show you, says Surfing-with-Whales.

He lifts Terence while Damo tries to slide the skateboard under Terence's bottom.

His leg's in the way, says Damo. 

That's one way to put it.

Terence hand is now between his legs, and the skate board is at an angle, due to the length of the pullalong

Continue? asks Surfing-with-Whales.

NO! cries Terence. 

Right, says Gaius. I think Terence has realised that he must sit with the skateboard upright in front of his face until we can lay our hands on some vinegar.

Cool, says Surfing-with-Whales.

He and Damo return Terence to his original position.

Okay guys, says Damo. Happy travels!

Except for me, says Terence.

Many thanks, Damo! says Gaius.

He and Surfing-with-Whales wheel their bikes and the pullalong out through the door.

They head to Coles.

Gaius leaves the others outside and goes in.

He comes out with some vinegar, and a large bag of apples.

Lunch, says Gaius. We'll have it in Penguin. And also deal with Terence's situation.

Penguin! says Terence. Is that where Baby Bin Penguin lives?

It is, says Gaius. I thought you might like to stop there.

Yippee! says Terence. I love Baby Bin Penguin!

How come? asks Surfing-with-Whales.

He knows heaps of penguin jokes, says Terence.

I know a few myself, says Surfing-with-Whales.

He gets on his vintage mountain bike and starts off towards Penguin.

Gaius follows, pulling Terence and the skateboard behind him..

Terence stares at the skateboard in front of his face.

This all started because he wanted to see what the top of it looked like.

At least now he knows.

Dragons Underneath

Surfing-with Whales squeezes the glue onto Terence's claw.

He hands it to Terence.

Terence presses the claw into the space on his hand.

Hold it in place for ten seconds, says Surfing-with-Whales.

How long is ten seconds? asks Terence.

We'll tell you, says Gaius.

Terence looks around Damo's office.

That must be Damo's skateboard, propped up next to his seat.

It's a cool skateboard with dragons on it. And that's just underneath. 

Five seconds, says Surfing-with-Whales.

Terence wonders what's on the top side of the skateboard.

If he turned it, he'd see.

He reaches out to turn the skateboard, just a little.

Terence! says Gaius. Your ten seconds isn't up yet!

Too late. Terence remembers.

He was supposed to press down on his claw till ten seconds was up.

The claw has slipped sideways out of position but, bumhole! there's worse!

The glue must have dripped into the palm of his hand.

Because his hand is now stuck to the skateboard,

Two seconds! says Surfing-with-Whales. Quick! Take your hand off!

I'm not taking my hand off, says Terence.

Off the skateboard, says Surfing-with-Whales.

Gaius foresees trouble. Terence's hand stuck to Damo's skateboard. The paintwork ruined. Damo wanting compensation. 

But Damo is laughing.

It's not funny, says Terence. I'm stuck to this skateboard.

Don't tell me you didn't do it on purpose, says Damo.

Okay, says Terence.

Did you do it on purpose? asks Gaius.

I can't tell you, says Terence. 

You can tell me, says Gaius. Damo didn't mean that you couldn't.

No, says Terence. It was an accident. Now what?

You can have it, kid, says Damo. I'm getting a new one. 

Yay! says Terence. Except not yay, because I can't even use it.

Not until we unstick you, says Gaius. What a nuisance.

What dissolves super glue? asks Surfing-with-Whales.

WD-40, says Damo. I've got some. Wait, what's the kid made of?

Cement, says Gaius.

Ooh, says Damo. Might be risky.

Wah! cries Terence.

We'll try vinegar, says Gaius. 

You got any? asks Surfing-with-Whales.

No, says Gaius. 

Me either, says Damo.

Looks like Terence will have to stay stuck for a while.

You Have Ten Seconds

Six am.

The Spirit of Tasmania docks in Devonport.

Gaius, Surfing with-Whales and Terence wait at the ramp to get off.

The queue starts to move.

...

Now to look for a hardware store, says Gaius. Then a bicycle hire shop.

You guys get the glue, says Surfing-with-Whales. I'll find a bike shop.

That will save time, says Gaius. Send me the address, and we'll meet there. Don't sign anything until I arrive.

As if, says Surfing-with-Whales, getting his phone out. 

He searches for  'bike hire in Devonport'.

Gaius and Terence head off to find glue.

Ah! says Gaius. A Coles Supermarket. They'll have it.

They enter the Coles, and look for the glue section

Here we are says Gaius. Supa Glue, Fix n' Go. Only three dollars.

Yay! says Terence. 

They go to the checkout where Gaius pays for the glue.

Can we do it now? asks Terence.

I suppose so, says Gaius. Where is your claw?

Wah! says Terence. It's in Surfing-with-Whales's pocket!

Never mind, says Gaius. We'll be meeting him soon.

He checks his phone. Surfing-with-Whales has sent him an address.

It's not far away.

Here he is! says Surfing-with-Whales. This is Gaius.

Hi Gaius, says the bike hire guy. I'm Damo. 

He's got these cool vintage mountain bikes for hire, says Surfing-with-Whales.

Let's see them, says Gaius. Yes, very nice. What's the weekly hire rate"

Seventy eight dollars a week, says Damo. What about the little guy?

I'm having a scooter, says Terence.

Damo laughs.

Thought you were going to Macquarie Harbour, says Damo.

We are, says Gaius. He's not having a scooter.

I could give you a basket to fix to the front, says Damo. Or one of those pull-alongs. Slow you down though.

I'm not going in a basket, says Terence. And what about my claw?

Yeah, says Surfing-with-Whales. Did you guys get the glue?

We did, says Gaius. Only three dollars!

What's happening? asks Damo.

We need to stick his claw back on, says Surfing-with-Whales, taking it out of his pocker.

To his credit, Damo does not ask any questions.

Wanna sit in my office and do it? asks Damo.

Thanks, mate, says Surfing-with-Whales.

They follow Damo into the office and sit Terence down on a chair.

Surfing-with-Whales twists the lid off the glue.

Hold the claw, Terence, says Surfing-with-Whales. When I squeeze glue on the end, you position it. If you get it wrong you have ten seconds to change it before it dries hard.

Ten seconds. Sounds good.

Plenty of time to make everything perfect.

Farky Dream

At five thirty, Gaius wakes up.

Something or someone has poked him.

What time is it? asks Gaius.

Time to wake up, says Terence.

Five thirty, says Surfing-with-Whales.

Why am I facing your feet? Have you...... no, it's me, says Gaius. I recall now.

Yeah, says Surfing-with-Whales. You didn't look all that comfy.

Maybe not, says Gaius, but at least I'm rested. 

We stayed awake, says Terence. We were talking.

Hmm, says Gaius. Not, by any chance, about Farky?

It was about Farky, says Surfing-with-Whales. 

Farky, says Gaius. That explains it!

What? asks Terence.

I had a dream about Farky, says Gaius. 

Where was he? asks Surfing-with-Whales.

Swimming, says Gaius. Next to some sharks.

Did he escape? asks Terence.

I don't know, says Gaius. I was woken before anything happened.

Can you go back to sleep again? asks Terence.

It doesn't work that way, says Gaius. I'm awake now, and we'll be docking in Devonport shortly. 

He heads off to join the queue for the rest rooms.

Maybe Farky got eaten by sharks, says Terence.

Nah, says Surfing-with-Whales. Farky had those omniscient teeth. He wouldn't've gone swimming.

You don't know, says Terence.

I know that much, says Surfing-with-Whales.

Gaius returns. 

Now what? asks Terence.

Check we have everything, says Gaius. 

My claw! says Terence.

Check, says Surfing-with-Whales.

My back pack, says Gaius. Check.

And my backpack, says Surfing-with-Whales. Check.

My red snake, says Terence. Check.

Have you still got that? asks Gaius. I suggest you get rid of it.

Can't, says Terence. It's stuck inside my pocket.

We'll prise it out later, says Gaius. Let us proceed to the exit ramp and be among the first off.

Cool, says Surfing-with-Whales. It's good when you don't have a vehicle.

It is indeed, says Gaius. But the first thing we must do in Devonport is... 

Buy glue, says Terence.

Yes, says Gaius, buy glue, of course. And the second thing is hire two sturdy bicycles.

Don't I get one? asks Terence.

No, says Gaius. For a very good reason. 

What about a scooter? asks Terence.

How would that work? asks Gaius.

How? Terence is surprised he doesn't know.