Alarming Possibilities

Gaius gets back on his bike and starts pedalling.

He has left the wet blanket behind, at the side of the road.

He has left a note with it.

"Feel free to make use of this blanket".

Problem solved.

He hopes Surfing-with-Whales won't mind, after all, it was his blanket.

Surfing-with-Whales should have had his breakfast by now. He should have done the shopping, and be catching up shortly. Perhaps he'll spot the blanket. If he wants to pick it up, then he can....

Are we there yet? asks Terence.

Of course not, says Gaius. We're just passing through Zeehan. 

Are we stopping? asks Terence.

No, we'll keep going, says Gaius. We'll stop when Surfing-with-Whales catches up, hopefully by lunchtime.

Want me to fly back and see where he is? asks Roo-kai.

I could do it, says Little Mystic.

No, don't you do it, says Gaius.

Why can't he do it? asks Terence.

Because when we get to Waratah we'll be saying goodbye to Little Mystic, says Gaius.

Why? asks Terence.

Because Waratah is where Litle Mystic is from, says Gaius.

But Little Mystic's my parrot, says Terence.

A temporary parrot, says Gaius. We can't take him back to Adelaide on the ferry.

He could fly, says Terence.

Little Mystic looks alarmed by these possiblities.

Don't worry, whispers Terence. You're coming.

I heard that, says Gaius. He's not coming.

Roo-kai flies off, to see how far away Surfing-with-Whales is.

Gaius keeps going.

Little Mystic needs to return to his natural habitat, says Gaius over his shoulder.

Silence in the pullalong.

Like the maugean skates, says Gaius. 

Silence.

Terence fiddles with the dead baby skate in his pocket.