Cool Sunnies

The bus pulls up next to the 24/7 in Port Wakefield.

Fifteen minutes, says Stanley.

Gaius and Denis get out.

Come on Ageless, says Terence.

I'll wait here on the bus, says Ageless.

But you're getting a hat, says Terence.

I'll be here to receive it, says Ageless.

Okay, says Terence. See you later!

He runs to the front of the bus.

Need help getting off? asks Stanley.

No, says Terence. I have perfect balance.

Half your luck, says Stanley. 

Terence jumps off, and runs into the 24/7.

Gaius and Denis are ordering coffee and buns.

What about the hat? asks Terence.

Coffee first, says Gaius. Would you like a red drink?

Yes, says Terence. Then can I look for a new hat for Ageless?

Certainly, says Gaius. 

He orders a Ribena for Terence.

Only red drinks, says Denis. Why is that? 

It's to do with him falling off a cathedral in Barcelona, says Gaius. 

That doesn't explain it, says Denis.

I suppose not, says Gaius. But he does seem to tolerate red drinks with no trouble.

Fair enough, says Denis.

He must tell Henriette. In fact he must reply soon. But he feels like a fool for not knowing about the air bubble curtain....

Terence has spotted a stand displaying beanies and sunglasses.

He goes over.

Bumhole! No red hats.

But there are cool sunglasses with red frames.

Ageless could wear them on top of his head if he wanted.

He runs back to Gaius.

Here's your drink, says Gaius. Did you see a good hat?

No, says Terence, only red sunglasses.

Sunglasses, says Gaius. I wonder.... What are your thoughts, Denis?

Denis Diderot would normally question a lobster's need for sunglasses. And furthermore, would have asked how the lobster could wear them. But Henriette would be amused at the absurdity, and perhaps forget the air bubble curtain....

Let's buy them, says Denis.

They finish their coffee and buns, and head across to the display stand.

The red-framed sunglasses are priced at sixty five dollars. 

Which is more than a hat.

Beyond Recognition

Gaius returns to his seat next to Denis.

Ageless has spoken of an air bubble curtain, says Gaius. They're installing one at Point Lowly.

Snap! says Denis. Henriette has also referred to this curtain.

You received a reply? says Gaius. That's progress.

Yes, says Denis. But I was not expecting her to know more than me about our project.

Nor was I expecting Ageless to know more than me, says Gaius.

What else did he tell you? asks Denis. 

The curtain measures 200 metres by 100 metres, says Gaius. And it will only be turned on as necessary. 

Necessary? asks Denis.

When the bloom is detected nearby, says Gaius. The bubbles prevent the algae passing through.

Very clever, says Denis. If that is what happens.

Indeed, says Gaius. I suppose we shall see. It's fortunate we have Ageless. 

Yes, he's proved useful already, says Denis.

Not only that, says Gaius. Visitors are banned from the reefs at Point Lowly, but he won't be.

So he'll be doing all the investigating, says Denis. Will he do it? He seems somewhat lazy.

With a bit of persuasion, says Gaius. It would help if we actively looked for his hat.

I've been thinking about his hat, says Denis. Was it a red knitted one?

Yes, says Gaius. Somewhat worse for wear after numerous travels.

Denis pulls the string bag out of his pocket.

Could this be it? asks Denis.

Gaius looks. Perhaps it could be. 

Full of holes, and stretched beyond recognition.

But red, without question.

I wonder, says Gaius. But surely he would have recognised it when he was in it.

Perhaps he was embarrassed, says Denis.

But he asked Terence to look for it, says Gaius.

Maybe to get rid of him, says Denis.

I'm listening, says Terence.

We were only surmising, says Gaius. 

We'll be arriving in Port Wakefield in five minutes, announces Stanley. There'll be a short break for refreshments.

We could buy Ageless a new hat, says Denis.

There's a thought, says Gaius.

Terence runs back to tell Ageless what he'll be getting....

....and does not hear Gaius adding, but we won't say anything if we don't see a good one.

Air Bubble Curtain

Terence shows Ageless the piece of paper.

It's a miki-mo-TOY, says Terence.

Ai, says Ageless. I know all about that.

It's not much different, says Terence.

You were pronouncing it wrong, says Ageless. And I'll tell you something else which may be useful.

What? asks Terence.

You won't need the egg box, says Ageless. 

How do you know? asks Terence.

I keep up to date with these things, says Ageless. As a lobster, I have a vested interest.

Okay, why? asks Terence. 

Because they're installing an air bubble curtain, says Ageless. 

Terence imagines an air bubble curtain. 

Like a magical show.

Does Gaius not know? asks Ageless. 

I'm going to ask him, says Terence.

He runs back to ask Gaius if he knows about the air bubble curtain.

Back again? says Gaius.

Ageless says I won't need the egg box! says Terence. 

And why is that? asks Gaius.

Because there's going to be an air bubble curtain, says Terence.

That sounds fanciful, says Gaius. What is it, and what does it do?

Ageless knows, says Terence. His vest has an interest.

Ageless does not wear a vest, says Gaius. Only a hat. Has he found it?

No, says Terence. He's relaxing.

I should talk to him, says Gaius.

He gets up from his seat and walks back to where Ageless is relaxing.

Air bubble curtain? says Gaius.

You didn't know? replies Ageless. It's the latest strategy. They've probably installed it by now.

And how do you know this? asks Gaius.

I hang out in the State Library, says Ageless. I read the online papers.

Enlighten me, says Gaius.

While Ageless enlightens Gaius about the air bubble curtain, Denis is reading a reply from Henriette.

A muffin, Denis? What were you thinking? A lobster makes a great deal more sense. But you do realise that there may be no need for an egg box? This air bubble curtain may well stop the algal bloom by creating a buffer zone between it and the eggs. But you'll already know that. In other news, I'm now in Brisbane. There's a festival on. I'm going to Gatsby At The Green Light tonight. Looking forward...

Merde! says Denis.

I know what that means, says Terence. 

No Such Thing

Ageless soon tires of looking.

He returns to his seat and relaxes.

Why did you stop looking? asks Terence.

Plenty of time, says Ageless. 

Shall I keep looking? asks Terence.

Take a break, says Ageless. Sit with me and tell me more about this mission.

Okay, says Terence. I'm the egg box guy. Want to see my egg box?

I've seen it, says Ageless. What's it for?

For cuttlefish eggs, says Terence. 

Are we planning to steal them? asks Ageless. 

No. Save them from the mikimoto, says Terence.

There's no such thing as a mikimoto, says Ageless.

Yes there is, says Terence.

Take it from me, says Ageless. There isn't.

I'm going to ask Gaius, says Terence.

He jumps down from his seat and goes up to Gaius who is busy amending his notes.

What is it, Terence? asks Gaius.

Ageless says there's no such thing as a mikimoto, says Terence. 

Mikimotoi, says Gaius. Karenia mikimotoi. He'll have heard of that surely.

Toy, says Terence. Miki-mo-toy.

Shall I write it on a piece of paper? asks Gaius.

Okay, says Terence.

Any luck finding the hat? asks Denis, looking up from his email.

Not yet, says Terence. We're taking a break. 

I'm writing to Henriette, says Denis. 

Woop, says Terence. Is she your girfriend?

Not at this stage, says Denis. 

Did you decide how to respond to her question 'On what?' asks Gaius.

How about this? asks Denis, reading the draft of his email: 

On your interest in the following. I am on a Stateliner bus, on my way to Point Lowly, with Gaius, Terence and a lobster. The lobster is replacing the muffin, whom we had planned to be taking. The muffin itself was in the process of learning to fly. I had designed paper wings for it, and attached them to the muffin with toothpicks. Unfortunately, the muffin fell from a table and had to be discarded. So we are lucky to have the lobster. Venturing underwater, he will locate and gather the cuttlefish eggs which we will keep in an egg box. Shall I continue?

No, says Gaius. I've got the gist.

The question is for her, says Denis.

I see, says Gaius. She'll no doubt be intrigued.

Good! says Denis, pressing send immediately.

Take this to Ageless, says Gaius, giving Terence a piece of paper with Karenia mikimotoi written on it.

Okay, says Terence.

He runs back to Ageless with this good piece of spelling.

Lobsters That Size

Next morning, Denis and Gaius set off for the bus station, on their bikes.

Terence is in Gaius's backpack.

Ageless lobster is in a string bag, dangling from Denis's handlebars.

They arrive at the bus station. 

The bus to Whyalla leaves in ten minutes.

I hope we can take our bikes on board without dismantling them, says Gaius.

He asks the driver.

Bikes are classed as Excess Luggage, says the driver.

Meaning? asks Gaius. 

You'll have to pay extra, says the driver.

Very well, says Gaius. How much will two bikes cost?

Thirty dollars each, assembled, says the driver. Twenty dollars each, disassembled.

Curses, says Gaius. We don't have enough time.

I see you've brought a fancy lunch, says the driver, spotting Ageless lobster in the string bag. 

Not at all, says Gaius.

O yes, says the driver. Lobsters that size cost over a hundred dollars. Tell you what, the bikes travel free if you give me a share of the lobster.

I should report you for corruption, says Gaius.

Only kidding, says the driver. Hello, Ageless! Where's your red hat?

Couldn't find it, says Ageless. Hello, Stanley.

Ahoy, matey! says Stanley. 

Very good, says Gaius. Where does that leave us?

I'll shove the bikes in free of charge, says Stanley. Ageless is an old acquaintance.

He shoves the bikes in and closes the hatches.

Denis and Gaius climb onto the bus. Terence is still in the backpack.

Are we there yet? asks the backpack.

What's in that backpack? asks Stanley.

Me, says Terence, popping up. I'm in the backpack.

Right, says Stanley. Travelling as what?

A statue of an infant, says Gaius. Of course, he's no ordinary statue.  

I can see that, says Stanley. Okay, time to depart. First stop, Port Wakefield for refreshments.

How long to Port Wakefield? asks Denis.

An hour and a half, says Stanley.

Time enough for me to write that email, says Denis.

And me to refresh my cuttlefish notes, says Gaius.

And me to do what? asks Terence.

Help me look for my hat, says Ageless.

It won't be on the bus, says Terence. We just got here.

Any hat, says Ageless.

It's something to do.

They start looking.

Red Hat Volunteer

So Terence got his claw back, says Kobo.

Yes, good as new, says Ageless lobster.

What's that smell? asks Kobo.

Denis has burnt the potatoes, says Ageless.

Why is he here? asks Kobo.

He's going to Point Lowly with Gaius, says Ageless.

When? asks Kobo.

Tomorrow morning, says Ageless.

You should go with them, says Kobo.

Trying to get rid of me, beloved? asks Ageless.

That would be a bonus, says Kobo. But you could be a help.

What do you mean by that, dearest? asks Ageless.

You can venture underwater, says Kobo. You can provide on-the-spot intelligence. Like a journalist in a war zone.

Ageless imagines himself in that role. Posting despatches.

You have convinced me, beloved, says Ageless. I'll volunteer for the role.

Don't forget your red hat, says Kobo.

Gaius comes in from hanging out the washing.

What's that smell? asks Gaius. 

I burned the potatoes, says Denis. 

Already? says Gaius. 

Didn't use enough water, says Denis.

Can they be saved? asks Gaius.

I suppose so, says Denis. I'll scrape them out of the pan, and cut off the worst bits. 

I'll look for some butter, says Gaius. 

He is now near the fridge. Ageless calls out to him.

I will be coming!

What? asks Gaius. 

With you to Point Lowly, says Ageless. In the role of intelligence officer.

Excellent, says Gaius. Are you happy to travel in my back pack? 

I prefer a string bag, says Ageless. 

A string bag? hisses Kobo. People will think you're his lunch!

Why would they? asks Ageless. 

I foresee it happening, says Kobo.

I do have a string bag somewhere, says Gaius. I'll go and look for it. 

You'd better look for your hat, says Kobo.

Good thinking, says Ageless. With a red knitted hat on, no one will mistake me for Gaius's lunch.

Where's this butter? shouts Denis.

Fridge! shouts Gaius.

He comes back with a string bag, just as Denis is opening the fridge and not finding the butter.

Never mind, says Gaius. I must have used it all up before going to Paris. There's some cooking oil in the pantry, we could fry them.

So Denis fries the parboiled and half burnt potatoes.

They turn out quite nice.

Comfort Of Sorts

This was a bad idea.

But you can't blame the muffin, whose seedy eyes had become misaligned.

The muffin falls off the table.

And crumbles.

Now it's really ruined, says Terence.

I should have stopped it, says Denis. Sorry.

Terence picks up the pieces of muffin.

The crumbs, the paper wings, the toothpicks and the passionfuit seed eyes.

This was his beak, says Terence.

So it was, says Gaius. What shall we do with it?

Bin it, says Denis. Where is your bin?

I don't want it to go in the bin! says Terence.

The compost bin, says Gaius. With the compostables, where it will break down and become one with the peelings.

One what? asks Terence.

One with the earth, eventually, says Gaius. A passionfruit vine may spring from its eyes in good time.

There's a fine thought, says Denis.

And trees will grow out of the toothpicks, says Terence.

Less likely, says Gaius.

And butterflies from the wings, says Terence.

Impossible, says Gaius.

Keep the wings, says Roo-kai. They'll remind you of the muffin.

Okay, says Terence. He pulls the toothpicks out of the wings.

At least I've got you, my real parrot, says Terence.

Yes, says Roo-kai. But you tried hard with the muffin.

I might keep the toothpicks as well, says Terence.

So only the crumbs and the passionfruit seeds end up in the compost bin in Gaius's kitchen.

There they lie.

All alone. 

Because Gaius hasn't peeled anything since he got back from Paris.

Now, says Gaius, we must plan our itinerary. 

Do we fly to Whyalla? asks Denis.

No, says Gaius. We'll catch a Stateliner to Whyalla, and we'll take our bikes, so we can cycle to Point Lowly.

He takes out his phone, and starts checking the Stateliner timetable.

Tomorrow morning at 8.25, says Gaius. I'll make an online booking.

He taps for a while.

Done, says Gaius. Who's for an apple?

Me, says Denis. I'm famished,

Gaius looks into his pantry.

No apples, just a box of potatoes, some of which have sprouted.

Better go shopping, says Gaius. 

I'd be happy with potatoes, says Denis. Boiled and mashed with butter. I'll start them. Where's your peeler?

Drawer, says Gaius. While you do that, I'll hang out the washing.

So Denis starts peeling.

Soon the crumbs and eyes of the muffin are joined by peelings and sprouts of potato. 

A comfort of sorts.