Old News

Terence is standing on the deck of the HMAS Whyalla, looking out to sea.

It's not very convincing, the sea.

Because there are trees, roads and buildings floating on it.

Not floating properly.

A bird is flying towards him.

He waves to the bird. The bird lands at his feet.

It's Roo-kai.

Roo-kai! says Terence. Guess what this is?

A Maritime Museum, says Roo-kai.

A ship, says Terence. But it's not in the sea. We had to climb up a ladder. And guess what else?

What? asks Roo-kai.

There's a model railway, says Terence.

In the ship? says Roo-kai.

Yes, says Terence. It's got five kinds of trains.

I didn't know there were five kinds of trains, says Roo-kai. How are they different?

I don't remember, says Terence. But one carries irons.

Iron ore? asks Rookai.

Or... something else, says Terence. 

I see, says Roo-kai. Where are Gaius and Denis?

Down inside the ship, says Terence. Reading some Flinters.

I have a message for them, says Roo-kai.

Let's go and give them the message, says Terence.

He heads down a few steps to a room that has tables, benches and hammocks.

Those are hammocks, says Terence. Want to try one?

No thanks, says Roo-kai. 

You might fall out, says Terence.

I wouldn't, says Roo-kai.

They continue through the ship until they reach the room where Gaius and Denis are perusing Flinders' Journals.

Are you still reading the Flinters? asks Terence.

Flinders, says Gaius. Matthew Flinders. His journals. Oh, hello Roo-kai.

Flinders' Journals, says Roo-kai. Let me see.

He looks at the date. 1814.

Old news.

I have a message from Ageless, says Roo-kai. He's waiting for you at Point Lowly.

Jumping Jupiter! says Gaius. How did he get there?

In a dingy rowed by Louis-Claude de Freycinet, says Roo-kai.

I might have known, says Gaius. 

He's already made contact with a giant cuttlefish who showed him where her eggs are, says Roo-kai.

Ah! says Gaius. Did you hear that, Denis?

Yes, says Denis. Do we expect Ageless to betray her? That doesn't seem ethical.

Indeed, we must think it through, says Gaius. After all our intentions are honourable, but this is a complication.

What are you talking about? asks Terence.

Whether it's right to take something from someone you know, as opposed to someone you don't know, says Denis.

Put that way, the answer seems clear.