What It Once Looked Like

The police car passes the cyclists and stops at the side of the road.

Victor gets out.

Stop! says Victor, holding one hand up.

Gaius and Kant stop. 

Have they been speeding?

I have something for you, says Victor.

What might that be? asks Gaius.

Your lost property, says Victor.

That was fast, says Gaius. 

I received Mr Surfing-with-Whales's statement just over an hour ago, says Victor. All was in order. So I contacted my colleagues in Adelaide, who swiftly released your lost item.

Wonderful, says Gaius. But how did it get here so soon?

Special courier, says Victor. 

Did you hear that Terence? says Gaius. A special courier delivered your Gloopy.

I think they were glad to get rid of it, says Victor.

Where is Gloopy? asks Terence.

In the police car, says Victor. Wait here.

He walks back to the passenger side of the police car and opens the door.

A slight gust of wind tells the story.

Victor hands the paper bag over to Gaius, who hands it to Terence, who opens the bag, expecting to see Gloopy at least in one piece.

Ai-ee!

What is it? asks Kant. 

He's in lots of pieces! says Terence.  

So he is, says Kant, sniffing. And the pieces are in a bad way..

That is not normal, says Gaius.

What's not normal? asks Victor.

The pieces, says Gaius. 

That'll be forensics, says Victor.

Surely unnecessary, says Gaius.

Can't be helped now, says Victor. You've got it back. All that's required is a signature.

Who cut Gloopy up? asks Terence.

Someone whose job it was, says Gaius.

What a rubbish adventure, says Terence.

Sign here please, says Victor.

I have to sign it, says Terence.

Very well, says Victor. But your guardian must co-sign.

He hands Terence a pen.

Terence draws a rude picture of a bumhole.

Two ovals close together with a hole in the middle.

I assume that's a picture of what it once looked like, says Victor. 

Gaius co-signs the document under the bumhole.

Thank you, says Victor. Enjoy the rest of your day.

He gets into his police car, rolls down the windows, does a u-turn and heads back towards Victor Harbor.

Now we must decide what to do with Gloopy, says Gaius. I suggest we bury him at Goolwa.

He wonders how Terence will receive this.

Yes! says Terence.

Good. Terence is receiving it well.