The Knowledgeable Fisherman

It was starting to get dark on the jetty. The lights had not yet come on. Baby Pierre hummed his Ballad to himself, and waited for something to happen.

He heard footsteps coming up behind him.

Hello, who have we here? said a voice.

Baby Pierre looked up and saw a fisherman, in a windcheater and a black beanie.

Are you the Knowledgeable Fisherman? asked Baby Pierre.

I have been called that, among other things, said the fisherman. Some people know me as Pliny the Elder, others call me Gaius.

Gaius! said Baby Pierre. Are you the Gaius who rode in the Tour de France?

I am, said Gaius. Of course, I didn't do very well, he added modestly.

You came fifth in the team time trials, said Baby Pierre.

Yes, but there were only six of us in the team, said Gaius.

But your time was the time that was counted, said Baby Pierre..

That's how it is, said Gaius. I was proud, though it meant very little.

And you must know Sweezus! said Baby Pierre. I hoped Sweezus would win.

So did he, said Gaius. But he didn't try hard enough. A nice enough chap. Funny name, don't you think?

He got that name from me, said Baby Pierre. I'm in a blog that he reads. One day I said "Sweezus!", to my friend Frog. Sweezus liked it and decided to use it as his Twitter name.

So you're Baby Pierre! said Gaius. I'm very pleased to meet you.

Likewise, said Baby Pierre.

I see you have the famous Mark of the Lobster Claw on your head, said Gaius.

Baby Pierre was ecstatic. At last! Someone who didn't think it was a tulip.

Would you like to stay and watch me fish? asked Gaius. I could do with some company.

Would I! said Baby Pierre.

The Mark of the Lobster Claw

But you've got one, said Lavender.

Got what? said Baby Pierre.

A tattoo, that tulip on your head, said Lavender.

That's not a tulip! It's the Mark of the Lobster Claw! said Baby Pierre.

It looks like a tulip, said Lavender. It should be a tulip.

Why? asked Baby Pierre. Why should it be a tulip?

Lavender and Tulip, said Lavender, as though that explained everything.

Why are you called Lavender, anyway? said Baby Pierre. Your'e a shell. Not even a shell, he added. A shell of a shell.

It was Auntie Kobo, said Lavender. I heard her sighing one day. She was saying Lavender, Lavender, oh Lavender. And I knew she meant me.

Hah! said Baby Pierre. She was sniffing, that's all. Sniffing the lavender.

No she wasn't, said Lavender, looking upset. She wasn't, she wasn't, she wasn't.

Alright, said Baby Pierre. She wasn't.

Are we there yet? asked Lavender.

Nearly, said Baby Pierre.

Where are we going again? asked Lavender.

To the library, said Baby Pierre patiently. To see Ageless.

Your daddy, said Lavender.

No....yes, said Baby Pierre.

What do you mean, no-yes? asked Lavender.

Probably, said Baby Pierre. Look here's our stop.

They got off the bus and crossed North Terrace to the State Library.

Oh look, there's your daddy! cried Lavender. He's waiting outside! Why's he up on that plinth?