Died Out No Doubt

Are you all right in the back there? asks Katherine.

Yes! says Terence. 

You, Gaius? asks Katherine. 

I am, says Gaius. But I've realised my notes are in my backpack in the boot. When will we be stopping?

I can stop right now if you like, says Katherine.

No, don't do that, says Gaius. It will be good for me to simply relax and make light conversation.

Yes says Terence. And we can play Cannot But Be.

Not yet, says Gaius.

Okay, says Terence.

They are now at the Tollgate.

So it's frogs, Gaius, says Katherine.

The green and golden bell frog, says Gaius. 

In Canberra? says Katherine.

Yes, says Margaret. They disappeared from Canberra in the 1980s.

Where did they go? asks Terence.

Died out, no doubt, says Margaret.

Died out no doubt, repeats Terence. 

He likes it. It sounds like a poem.

They are being reintroduced, with certain protections, says Gaius.

How fascinating, says Katherine. 

Small salty ponds and warm hotspots, says Margaret.

Gaius is surprised that she knows.

Warm hotspots, says Terence.

You are being very attentive, Terence, says Katherine.

I know, says Terence. It's because I can't sit down.

You'll be happy soon, says Margaret. When we get beyond Mount Barker you'll have a great view of the geological features.

Yay! says Terence. What are they?

Rocky granite outcrops, says Margaret. 

I do love a rocky outcrop, says Katherine. Especially amongst rolling hills. When the grasses are dying.

I didn't know you were a romantic, says Margaret.

My Scottish background, says Katherine.

They pass through Mount Barker.

What about you, Gaius? says Margaret. Are you a romantic?

Gaius has a feeling that Margaret has steered the conversation this way on purpose. Geology, rocky outcrops etcetera. And Katherine has colluded with rolling hills, dying grasses.

What will he reply?

Errm.... begins Gaius.

What's a roomantic? asks Terence.

Ha ha! laughs Katherine A roomantic is an antic one might get up to in a room.

Very funny Katherine! says Margaret.

What's an antic? asks Terence.

A comical action, says Gaius. Such as your florin dance.

You danced in that florin costume? asks Katherine.

Yes, like this, says Terence. He jigs up and down.

But it's hard to reproduce the antic in a limited space, next to a stiff older person.