Lavender Stuffs Up

Ageless and the Jellyfish Oracle continued to talk about Sand. Lavender became impatient.

Come on Baby Pierre, she said. I know where there's a better Oracle than this old Jellyfish one.

She dragged Baby Pierre back to the rock of the Seagull Oracle, opposite number 291.

Baby Pierre said nothing, but he was secretly impressed by the Seagull Oracle's address. Number 291, that was Ageless's age, as of this morning. It might be an omen.

Seagull Oracle, said Lavender, me and Baby Pierre want to know something.

Whaaaat? croaked the Seagull Oracle.

We're looking for the Immortal Jellyfish, said Lavender. Where is it?

Waaark! said the Seagull Oracle. Ask Gaius. He's a fisherman. He was on the jetty last night. He knows all about jellyfish.

No, he doesn't, said Lavender. He sent me to you.

Did you look in his bucket? said the Seagull Oracle?

No, said Lavender. Something yucky was inside that bucket.

There you are then, said the Seagull Oracle.

I knew someone called Gaius, said Baby Pierre. He rode in the Tour de France.

You don't say? said the Seagull Oracle. I wonder if it was him?

What kind of oracle are you if you don't know? said Lavender.

Oracles answer questions, said the Seagull Oracle. They don't know anything.

He rode for Team Bumptious, said Baby Pierre. He ate mints. He thought he'd get disqualified for cheating, but he didn't. His team didn't win.

That sounds like Gaius, said the Seagull Oracle.

Oh splittereens! said Lavender. Get back to the subject why don't you!

Baby Pierre and the Seagull Oracle stared.

What's up Lavender?, said Baby Pierre. And what do you mean, 'splittereens'?

It's what statues say when they're broken, said Lavender.

Opposite 293

It was early morning on the Esplanade at Henley when Lavender drew level with Number 293. She looked in amongst the rocks opposite. She saw a flat rock with a colourful jellyfish mosaic stuck to it. At the same moment, she saw Ageless and Baby Pierre.

Hello, said Lavender. You took your time.

Ha ha, said Baby Pierre. Looks like you only just got here.

I've been here all night, said Lavender, and I've found out lots of things.

Like how to get here, said Baby Pierre. You should have waited for us. Ageless knew where to come. Look Ageless. Lavender's here.

Lavender! said Ageless. I see you've found the Jellyfish Oracle all by yourself. Well done! Now Lavender. I don't suppose you know anything of the whereabouts of the statue of Rabbie Burns?

No, I don't, said Lavender. I don't know anything.

Excuse me! said a jellylike voice. But unless you have come to consult me, would you mind moving along.

Jellyfish Oracle! said Ageless. Don't you recognise me?

No, said The Jellyfish Oracle. Who are you?

Ageless Lobster, said Ageless, coming out from behind the book of sand and tin of biscuits, which he had been pushing in front of him ever since he got off the bus.

Oh, hello Ageless, said the Jellyfish Oracle. What's the book?

It's a book about Sand, said Ageless. It's very interesting. But these biscuits are just a liability.

Sand, said The Jellyfish Oracle. I should very much like to read that after you've finished with it.

Certainly , said Ageless. I shall be happy to lend it to you. It is due back at the library by the end of the month. Care for a biscuit?

No thanks, said the Jellyfish Oracle. Nice tin though.

Baby Pierre and Lavender looked at one another.

He knows him, said Baby Pierre.

That sucks, said Lavender.

Sand and Yam Biscuits

So, said Lavender. When are we going to start looking for the Mortal Jellyfish?

It's the Immortal Jellyfish, said Baby Pierre. IM-mortal. That means it doesn't die. If it was a Mortal Jellyfish it would be just like all the other jellyfish.

Alright, the Immortal Jellyfish, said Lavender. Same difference. When?

Tomorrow morning, said Ageless. We'll go to Henley. Tonight we're going back to the library. We can stay there overnight. There are some things I want to take with me and ....

You talk like an old person, said Lavender. How old are you?

Two hundred and ninety, said Ageless. It's my birthday tomorrow.

Lavender looked at Baby Pierre, who looked shocked.

We're older than you then, said Baby Pierre. How come you seem older?

Because I'm more dangerous, said Ageless.

Yes, you are dangerous, said Baby Pierre, thinking of Frog.

Let's go, said Ageless. Soon the library will close.

They hurried back to North Terrace. Lavender couldn't help thinking about what Ageless had said. She wanted to be dangerous too. But she couldn't think of anything dangerous to do.

They were soon in the reading room at the library. Ageless shuffled around gathering books and tins of biscuits, and then discarding them only to pick them up again.

Which book? he muttered. Which tin?

Baby Pierre grew impatient.

Take the book about Sand, he said, and the tin of Yam bicuits.

Alright, said Ageless. Sorted. Now let's get some sleep.

Baby Pierre wasn't used to sleeping, but he decided to give it a try.

Now Lavender, said Ageless, you can sleep....hey! where's she gone?

But it seemed that Lavender had vanished.