The Nature Of Glory

 Ageless climbs up the rocks to the track.

Where are they? asks Ageless.

Here, says Terence, holding up the croissant packet.

They don't look too well, says Ageless.

They've been spinning, says Terence.

Deliberately? asks Ageless. 

No, says Terence.

I thought not, says Ageless. Give them here.

Terence hands Ageless the croissant packet with the cuttlefish botanists inside.

Ageless keeps the packet shut with his dominant claw.

He peers into the packet.

The botanists stop making their horrible faces.

Did you like my idea? asks Ageless.

What is it? asks Jean-Botanist.

You switch to underwater botany, says Ageless.

First we've heard of it, says Jean-Botanist.

It is even a thing? asks Carl-Botanist.

Of course it's a thing, says Ageless. 

How is it done? asks Carl-Botanist.

You collect specimens underwater, says Ageless. It's your natural element. It means no more fast botany.

We liked fast botany, says Carl-Botanist.

But you relied on an emu to help you, says Ageless. This way you'd get all the glory.

What is glory? asks Carl-Botanist.

Glory is what you get when you make a new discovery, says Ageless. 

Yes but what is it? asks Carl-Botanist. 

When you achieve it, you'll see, says Ageless.

This is not really an answer, but Gaius has now pumped his tyre up.

It's time to get going.

Ah, Ageless, says Gaius. I'll take the croissant packet. Unless you'd like to hang onto it. I see you're an expert at keeping it shut.

He could swim with it down to the campground, says Denis.

Hold your horses! says Ageless. I'm not doing that.

All right, give it to me then, says Gaius.

No no, says Ageless. I'll get them there, but I'll do it my way.

Excellent, says Gaius. We'll see you at the campground.

Bye, says Terence.

Gaius lifts Terence into his backpack. 

He and Denis set off on their bikes, down the track.

Ageless sets off in the opposite direction.

If Jean-Botanist and Carl-Botanist were not busy speculating on the nature of glory, they might wonder where they are going.