Next evening, at the Festival Centre, outside the Banquet Room.
Gaius and Kong Fu-Zi are waiting for Margaret.
Margaret turns up, in a warm padded jacket.
Kong! says Margaret. I hardly recognised you.
Kong Fu-Zi looks pleased. That was his intention.
Oh look, says Margaret. David and Vello!
David and Vello mooch over.
Hello, Kong. Here for the lecture? asks Vello.
Yes, says Kong Fu-Zi. Terrible weather you're having.
Terrible, says David. Storms and blackouts. Had to ditch three frozen dinners.
Tch, says Kong Fu-Zi. How is your mother?
Katherine? Oh perfectly fine.
The small crowd is allowed into the Banquet Room after a mysterious hold up.
They sit down.
David, Vello, Kong Fu-Zi, Gaius and Margaret sit in the first row.
The speaker is introduced. Born in 1649.... oops, that can't be true!
Ha ha, the tension is broken. The audience laughs. Professor Teng throws his hands up in mock dismay.
Professor Teng, born in 1964, begins his lecture, 'Lost in Translation': Transnational American Rock and its Map of Misreading in China.
But something is wrong with his power point presentation.
Kong Fu-Zi looks out of the window. He sees the smoke rising from the Good Fortune Markets outside.
Margaret also sees it. She hopes that the rain will hold off, so that she and Gaius (and Kong, she supposes) can have some street food dinner....
Professor Teng is on a roll now. His technology is working, although not smoothly.
He speaks about the birth of Chinese Rock, rather late, in the eighties.
The relationship between music, society and government. He mentions Bob Dylan.
He plays a music video. Nothing to My Name, by Cui Jian.
He plays another, by Tang Dynasty. Heavy metal.
Gaius ears prick up. Margaret sees them.
She will question him later.
The lecture ends, and questions are over. Time to file out.
Going to the Good Fortune Markets? asks Vello.
Oh yes, says Margaret.
It's a bit chilly, says David, eyeing Kong, in his Hawaiian get up.
I'm up for it, says Kong.
The virtuous man thinks of dinner, says Gaius.
....
It is bitterly cold.. The riverbank is sloppy.
Flags and paper lanterns flutter spitefully.
Vello and David head straight for the barbecue. The others follow.
Soon they are sitting at a long wooden table, spooning up barbecued pork, rice, chips and soy-soaked chicken.
What did you think, Kong? asks Vello. Learn anything?
I did not know Du Fu had been exiled, says Kong.
He must have been, says Vello.
Why did your ears prick up when Professor Teng mentioned Tang Dynasty? asks Margaret.
It reminded me of a friend of mine, Shu, replies Gaius. He admired Du Fu as a poet.
Who is this Dufu? asks David.
The most famous middle Tang poet, says Gaius. He wrote, among other things, Reply to a Friend's Advice, in the difficult form of a lùshi.
I'm surprised you know that, says Margaret.
Your face has gone bright red, says Gaius.
It's the chilli, says Margaret. I was trying to avoid it.
Well, this has been nice, says Kong, but my toes are beginning to turn blue. Dòng sî le!
David peers under the table, at the blue toes in blue Havaianas.
Friday, September 30, 2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Harmonious Rumblings
Hello Gaius?
Who is this?
Kong. I'm in Adelaide. Can I come over?
Certainly. But there's not much to eat in the......hold on Kong, I hear the doorbell.
That will be me.
Sure enough it is Kong at the door, wet and bedraggled.
Come in! says Gaius. Terrible weather we're having. I say, Kong, you look different from last time I saw you.
More modern, would you say? asks Kong.
I suppose so, says Gaius. Not being a judge of modernity, although I do try, I often wear chinos and polo necks and those rubber clog things. So comfy.
Pshaw! says Kong. You mean Crocs?
That's it, says Gaius.
No one wears those any more, says Kong.
Gaius looks at Kong's feet. The Great Sage is wearing blue Havaianas.
Last time I saw you, says Gaius, you were wearing billowing robes and a high pointy hat.
I know, says Kong Fu-Zi. I ditched that look last Wednesday.
Only last Wednesday? says Gaius.
Yes, says Kong Fu-Zi. It was the 2567th anniversary of my birth. I was in Beijing, watching the celebrations. All these chaps in billowing robes and high pointy hats. I went straight to Beijing Friendship Store, where I bought this outfit.
The outfit is a Hawaiian shirt, and drop crotch trousers.
Would you like a cup of tea? asks Gaius. You look like a man who needs warming.
The superior man thinks of virtue, the common man thinks of comfort, says Kong.
My thoughts exactly, says Gaius. And now that I think about it, there's no tea in the cupboard.
Nil desperandum, says Kong. I have brought some. Do you like Rooibos?
I don't know it, says Gaius.
African tea, says Kong. Red tea, very earthy. My new favourite.
African? says Gaius. You surprise me.
Modernity is always surprising, says Kong.
Gaius puts on the kettle.
Kong Fu-Zi opens the red box of Rooibos tea.
Here for the Confucius Institute Lecture? asks Gaius.
Yes, says Kong. I'm not giving it, only attending.
I too am attending, with a lady, says Gaius.
Katherine? asks Kong.
Hope flickers.
Margaret, says Gaius.
Hope dies.
Moments later, the power goes off.
Fwoooz!
Drat, says Gaius. Where are the candles? Sit tight, Kong!
He stumbles around the kitchen feeling for cupboards and drawers.
Aha. A candle. Now where are the matches?
Ageless is heard, scratching his way along the window sill.
Ooh! says Kobo. Ageless! Get off!
A match fizzes. The candle flares and flickers.
Gaius and Kong Fu-Zi sit in the inadequate candlelight drinking lukewarm Rooibos.
The rain pours down. The wind rises and swoops in unexpected directions
The belly of the Great Sage rumbles harmoniously.
Who is this?
Kong. I'm in Adelaide. Can I come over?
Certainly. But there's not much to eat in the......hold on Kong, I hear the doorbell.
That will be me.
Sure enough it is Kong at the door, wet and bedraggled.
Come in! says Gaius. Terrible weather we're having. I say, Kong, you look different from last time I saw you.
More modern, would you say? asks Kong.
I suppose so, says Gaius. Not being a judge of modernity, although I do try, I often wear chinos and polo necks and those rubber clog things. So comfy.
Pshaw! says Kong. You mean Crocs?
That's it, says Gaius.
No one wears those any more, says Kong.
Gaius looks at Kong's feet. The Great Sage is wearing blue Havaianas.
Last time I saw you, says Gaius, you were wearing billowing robes and a high pointy hat.
I know, says Kong Fu-Zi. I ditched that look last Wednesday.
Only last Wednesday? says Gaius.
Yes, says Kong Fu-Zi. It was the 2567th anniversary of my birth. I was in Beijing, watching the celebrations. All these chaps in billowing robes and high pointy hats. I went straight to Beijing Friendship Store, where I bought this outfit.
The outfit is a Hawaiian shirt, and drop crotch trousers.
Would you like a cup of tea? asks Gaius. You look like a man who needs warming.
The superior man thinks of virtue, the common man thinks of comfort, says Kong.
My thoughts exactly, says Gaius. And now that I think about it, there's no tea in the cupboard.
Nil desperandum, says Kong. I have brought some. Do you like Rooibos?
I don't know it, says Gaius.
African tea, says Kong. Red tea, very earthy. My new favourite.
African? says Gaius. You surprise me.
Modernity is always surprising, says Kong.
Gaius puts on the kettle.
Kong Fu-Zi opens the red box of Rooibos tea.
Here for the Confucius Institute Lecture? asks Gaius.
Yes, says Kong. I'm not giving it, only attending.
I too am attending, with a lady, says Gaius.
Katherine? asks Kong.
Hope flickers.
Margaret, says Gaius.
Hope dies.
Moments later, the power goes off.
Fwoooz!
Drat, says Gaius. Where are the candles? Sit tight, Kong!
He stumbles around the kitchen feeling for cupboards and drawers.
Aha. A candle. Now where are the matches?
Ageless is heard, scratching his way along the window sill.
Ooh! says Kobo. Ageless! Get off!
A match fizzes. The candle flares and flickers.
Gaius and Kong Fu-Zi sit in the inadequate candlelight drinking lukewarm Rooibos.
The rain pours down. The wind rises and swoops in unexpected directions
The belly of the Great Sage rumbles harmoniously.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Confucius Is Coming
Later that day.
Belle returns to the Velosophy office, with Terence in tow.
Hello, Belle, says Vello, without looking up. How was the ocean?
Belle is about to say, wet.
Vello looks up. Something is different.
I know, says Belle. This wasn't a good thing to wear.
She fell in the water, says Terence. And I fell in the water. I was the first one.
Silk, says Belle. It shrinks so easily.
Indeed, says Vello. It does.
David comes in.
Hello Terence. Hello Belle. Dressed for summer?
Belle goes to the cupboard and takes out a jacket she keeps there.
How was it? asks David. Did Gaius get on with Margaret?
Yes, says Belle. He was in a good mood. He agreed to go out with her.
Where to? asks Vello. OzAsia?
Yes, says Belle. The Confucius Institute Lecture.
I might have known, says Vello. I wonder if Kong will be there?
.......
Kong will be.
He does not like to miss the Confucius Institute Lecture.
This year's subject is: Lost In Translation.
He is in Adelaide already, staring out of his city hotel window, at the storm which is gathering.
Just my luck, thinks Kong Fu-Zi. This means they will probably close the Good Fortune Markets.
He decides to get in touch with Gaius.
Perhaps he'll invite him to tea.
.......
Kobo is in the kitchen looking inwards. Outside she hears high winds and rain.
She is thinking of Baby Pierre, the young scallywag. Where is he?
But Ageless is thinking of her. And here he is, standing before her, licking his lips.
Click..click! My dearest beloved!
What now?
Would you do me the honour.....rrr?
It depends, says Kobo. Which honour is it?
The honour of accompaniment, says Ageless. But no....
No?
Not in the sense of a culinary accompaniment, says Ageless. Don't jump to nasty conclusions, my cream puff.
So you've replaced the tickets, says Kobo. Why not just say so?
Only one caveat, says Ageless. We must go with Margaret.
I like Margaret, says Kobo. She is a geologist.
And she has a handbag, says Ageless.
What has that got to do with it? asks Kobo.
The phone rings. Gaius enters the kitchen and answers.
Hello?
Belle returns to the Velosophy office, with Terence in tow.
Hello, Belle, says Vello, without looking up. How was the ocean?
Belle is about to say, wet.
Vello looks up. Something is different.
I know, says Belle. This wasn't a good thing to wear.
She fell in the water, says Terence. And I fell in the water. I was the first one.
Silk, says Belle. It shrinks so easily.
Indeed, says Vello. It does.
David comes in.
Hello Terence. Hello Belle. Dressed for summer?
Belle goes to the cupboard and takes out a jacket she keeps there.
How was it? asks David. Did Gaius get on with Margaret?
Yes, says Belle. He was in a good mood. He agreed to go out with her.
Where to? asks Vello. OzAsia?
Yes, says Belle. The Confucius Institute Lecture.
I might have known, says Vello. I wonder if Kong will be there?
.......
Kong will be.
He does not like to miss the Confucius Institute Lecture.
This year's subject is: Lost In Translation.
He is in Adelaide already, staring out of his city hotel window, at the storm which is gathering.
Just my luck, thinks Kong Fu-Zi. This means they will probably close the Good Fortune Markets.
He decides to get in touch with Gaius.
Perhaps he'll invite him to tea.
.......
Kobo is in the kitchen looking inwards. Outside she hears high winds and rain.
She is thinking of Baby Pierre, the young scallywag. Where is he?
But Ageless is thinking of her. And here he is, standing before her, licking his lips.
Click..click! My dearest beloved!
What now?
Would you do me the honour.....rrr?
It depends, says Kobo. Which honour is it?
The honour of accompaniment, says Ageless. But no....
No?
Not in the sense of a culinary accompaniment, says Ageless. Don't jump to nasty conclusions, my cream puff.
So you've replaced the tickets, says Kobo. Why not just say so?
Only one caveat, says Ageless. We must go with Margaret.
I like Margaret, says Kobo. She is a geologist.
And she has a handbag, says Ageless.
What has that got to do with it? asks Kobo.
The phone rings. Gaius enters the kitchen and answers.
Hello?
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Raspberry Cordial Relations
A stiff wind is blowing.
We'd better get back, says Margaret.
She pulls the cord on her outboard motor.
Veroom....putt putt putt.....
Well, it's been lovely, says Belle. And quite successful.
Successful? says Gaius.
You met Tullio, says Belle. And did some networking. And he rescued us from the water. And you and Margaret are friends again.
Gaius looks benevolently at Belle. She is not yet dry, but even so, she can still see the bright side.
Unlike Margaret.
I don't suppose Gaius sees it that way, says Margaret. DO YOU?
Since you ask, says Gaius, I am quite willing to resume cordial relations.
No, says Terence. I'm having all of it.
He quickly glugs down the remaining raspberry cordial. Glug glug.
Ha ha! laughs Baby Pierre. You don't even know English. He said cordial RELATIONS!
Don't laugh at Terence, says Belle.
Ageless doesn't laugh. He scowls at this resumption of cordial relations.
About these tickets...... says Ageless.
Achuhh! coughs Gaius. (Drat that lobster!).
Oh yes, says Margaret. Gaius, since you are joining the human race again, would you care to come to an OzAsia event? I have tickets.
What is the event? asks Gaius.
Twelfth Night, in Hindi, says Margaret. It's Shakespeare, but not as we know it. Now before you .....
Gaius can't believe it. Of all the things that he would not care to go to....
I LOVE Shakespeare! says Baby Pierre.
Me too! says Terence.
Me too, says Ageless.
But Ageless sounds less convincing.
Perhaps you'd like to take one of these afficionadoes, says Gaius.
Oh, Gaius! says Belle. Don't you like Shakespeare? Twelfth Night is so funny.
In Hindi? says Gaius. To be honest, I prefer something more intellectual.
Well then, says Margaret. I have just the thing. The Confucius Lecture!
Gaius's eyes flicker momentarily.
He would like to attend the Confucius Lecture.
All right, says Gaius. I shall accompany you to the Confucius Lecture, Margaret.
In that case, says Ageless, you won't need your Shakespearean tickets.
I won't need ONE of the tickets, says Margaret. Perhaps, Ageless, you'd care to come with me?
She imagines herself turning up with a lobster.
She regrets the offer.
Too late. Ageless knows one ticket is better than no ticket.
Kobo his creamy....clik.clik....beloved is small enough to fit into Margaret's handbag.
Madam, I thank you, says Ageless, executing a low Shakespearean bow.
Watch out below! says Daniel O'Connell.
I didn't know you were down there, says Ageless.
Neither did I, says Daniel O'Connell. I was composing my funding application.
I don't think you should do it alone, says Belle. You should take up Tullio's offer.
I intend to, says Daniel O'Connell.
Bump. Grate.
The tinny has now reached the shore and the outing is over.
We'd better get back, says Margaret.
She pulls the cord on her outboard motor.
Veroom....putt putt putt.....
Well, it's been lovely, says Belle. And quite successful.
Successful? says Gaius.
You met Tullio, says Belle. And did some networking. And he rescued us from the water. And you and Margaret are friends again.
Gaius looks benevolently at Belle. She is not yet dry, but even so, she can still see the bright side.
Unlike Margaret.
I don't suppose Gaius sees it that way, says Margaret. DO YOU?
Since you ask, says Gaius, I am quite willing to resume cordial relations.
No, says Terence. I'm having all of it.
He quickly glugs down the remaining raspberry cordial. Glug glug.
Ha ha! laughs Baby Pierre. You don't even know English. He said cordial RELATIONS!
Don't laugh at Terence, says Belle.
Ageless doesn't laugh. He scowls at this resumption of cordial relations.
About these tickets...... says Ageless.
Achuhh! coughs Gaius. (Drat that lobster!).
Oh yes, says Margaret. Gaius, since you are joining the human race again, would you care to come to an OzAsia event? I have tickets.
What is the event? asks Gaius.
Twelfth Night, in Hindi, says Margaret. It's Shakespeare, but not as we know it. Now before you .....
Gaius can't believe it. Of all the things that he would not care to go to....
I LOVE Shakespeare! says Baby Pierre.
Me too! says Terence.
Me too, says Ageless.
But Ageless sounds less convincing.
Perhaps you'd like to take one of these afficionadoes, says Gaius.
Oh, Gaius! says Belle. Don't you like Shakespeare? Twelfth Night is so funny.
In Hindi? says Gaius. To be honest, I prefer something more intellectual.
Well then, says Margaret. I have just the thing. The Confucius Lecture!
Gaius's eyes flicker momentarily.
He would like to attend the Confucius Lecture.
All right, says Gaius. I shall accompany you to the Confucius Lecture, Margaret.
In that case, says Ageless, you won't need your Shakespearean tickets.
I won't need ONE of the tickets, says Margaret. Perhaps, Ageless, you'd care to come with me?
She imagines herself turning up with a lobster.
She regrets the offer.
Too late. Ageless knows one ticket is better than no ticket.
Kobo his creamy....clik.clik....beloved is small enough to fit into Margaret's handbag.
Madam, I thank you, says Ageless, executing a low Shakespearean bow.
Watch out below! says Daniel O'Connell.
I didn't know you were down there, says Ageless.
Neither did I, says Daniel O'Connell. I was composing my funding application.
I don't think you should do it alone, says Belle. You should take up Tullio's offer.
I intend to, says Daniel O'Connell.
Bump. Grate.
The tinny has now reached the shore and the outing is over.
No Credit For Sensitivity
The two tinnies are side by side, and conversation is possible.
Gaius is explaining his project to Tullio.
I had great difficulty obtaining cheap equipment, says Gaius. Frankly, the Environment Institute was of little assistance.
Sorry to hear that, says Tullio. We do have a tinny.
I know, says Gaius. And you are in it.
It came in useful, as it happens, says Tullio, eyeing the two dripping ladies.
True, says Gaius. Anyway, Ageless here volunteered to assist me, being sensitive to fish noise, and having, as he does, an excellent memory.
I know Ageless, says Tullio. We cross paths in the library. He usually ignores me.
Preoccupied, probably, says Gaius. He has fossilised clam trouble. But to continue, young Terence has now skewed the results.
Tullio looks properly at Terence, for the first time.
Tullio: I think I've seen you before.
Terence: I used to live in a palace.
Tullio: In it, or on it?
Terence: No. Yes.
So Tullio is put off that line of questioning.
Have you thought of applying for funding? asks Tullio.
Never, says Gaius. I am wary of being beholden.
Understandable, and funding is probably unnecessary for a man of your stature, says Tullio. But the rest of us...... what do you think, Daniel O'Connell?
Me? says Daniel O'Connell. What would I want funding for?
To visit the Canaries, says Tullio. Check out if you're truly related to Black Jumping Spiders.
How do I get it? asks Daniel O'Connell.
See me, says Tullio. I can help you to write an application. I've been successful before.
Meanwhile the wet women are munching on Monkey Bread, and trying to get warm.
What can I have ? asks Terence. I don't want that. It's brown.
Here, says Belle. I brought some raspberry cordial, just for you.
Red cordial is bad for children, says Margaret.
What do you know? says Terence.
What does anyone know? says Baby Pierre.
You think you're smart, says Terence. That's what I know.
Ageless has been sulking, under the cross thwart.
No credit at all, for his sensitivity. No one even asked him. And no tickets.
But he too is interested in funding.
Are they not friends? Do they not see one another in the State Library. Did he not once help Tullio draw snapping shrimps for a graphic video he was producing?
He emerges from under the cross thwart.
Too late. Tullio has pushed off in his tinny.
Hey ho.
He turns his attention once again to obtaining the tickets. Tickets. Yes dear delicious Kobo. I will come to meet you with tickets. So what if I ruined the other ones. These ones are better... these are....
It occurs to him that he doesn't know what show the tickets are for.
Nor has he been offered them. Yet.
Gaius is explaining his project to Tullio.
I had great difficulty obtaining cheap equipment, says Gaius. Frankly, the Environment Institute was of little assistance.
Sorry to hear that, says Tullio. We do have a tinny.
I know, says Gaius. And you are in it.
It came in useful, as it happens, says Tullio, eyeing the two dripping ladies.
True, says Gaius. Anyway, Ageless here volunteered to assist me, being sensitive to fish noise, and having, as he does, an excellent memory.
I know Ageless, says Tullio. We cross paths in the library. He usually ignores me.
Preoccupied, probably, says Gaius. He has fossilised clam trouble. But to continue, young Terence has now skewed the results.
Tullio looks properly at Terence, for the first time.
Tullio: I think I've seen you before.
Terence: I used to live in a palace.
Tullio: In it, or on it?
Terence: No. Yes.
So Tullio is put off that line of questioning.
Have you thought of applying for funding? asks Tullio.
Never, says Gaius. I am wary of being beholden.
Understandable, and funding is probably unnecessary for a man of your stature, says Tullio. But the rest of us...... what do you think, Daniel O'Connell?
Me? says Daniel O'Connell. What would I want funding for?
To visit the Canaries, says Tullio. Check out if you're truly related to Black Jumping Spiders.
How do I get it? asks Daniel O'Connell.
See me, says Tullio. I can help you to write an application. I've been successful before.
Meanwhile the wet women are munching on Monkey Bread, and trying to get warm.
What can I have ? asks Terence. I don't want that. It's brown.
Here, says Belle. I brought some raspberry cordial, just for you.
Red cordial is bad for children, says Margaret.
What do you know? says Terence.
What does anyone know? says Baby Pierre.
You think you're smart, says Terence. That's what I know.
Ageless has been sulking, under the cross thwart.
No credit at all, for his sensitivity. No one even asked him. And no tickets.
But he too is interested in funding.
Are they not friends? Do they not see one another in the State Library. Did he not once help Tullio draw snapping shrimps for a graphic video he was producing?
He emerges from under the cross thwart.
Too late. Tullio has pushed off in his tinny.
Hey ho.
He turns his attention once again to obtaining the tickets. Tickets. Yes dear delicious Kobo. I will come to meet you with tickets. So what if I ruined the other ones. These ones are better... these are....
It occurs to him that he doesn't know what show the tickets are for.
Nor has he been offered them. Yet.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
So Much For Blood Ties
Tullio brings the University tinny up against Margaret's.
Tullio! says Ageless. What are you doing here?
I might ask you the same thing, says Tullio. But first, let me rescue these ladies.
Thank you, says Margaret. Please do.
Tullio helps Margaret first, because she is older.
Heave ho. Margaret is back in the tinny.
Then he helps Belle.
Belle is shivering. Her red skirt sticks to her legs.
Tullio hands her a towel.
By the way, says Margaret. Gaius is still down there.
No I am not, says Gaius, from the water at the side of the tinny. I am just taking a breather.
Have you seen Baby Pierre? asks Ageless. Is he rescuing Terence?
Of course not, snaps Gaius. He is too puny. Margaret, do you have a rope?
Margaret looks about her ill-equipped tinny.
No, says Margaret. No rope.
First rule of the sea, says Tullio. Bring a rope.
Is it? says Belle. Does that mean you have one?
I do, says Tullio. Sit tight, and I'll hand it over.
He locates the rope stowed in the university tinny, and throws it to Gaius, who disappears under the surface, leaving a fine trail of bubbles.
Not only bubbles.
A hat.
And on the hat, is Daniel O'Connell, breathing quickly.
Margaret reaches over the side of the tinny, and lifts up the hat, along with Daniel O'Connell.
A translucent spider! says Tullio. How remarkable. He looks like the sort of spider one might find in an underground cave. Perhaps breathing methane. But of course that's impossible. Come here, little spider.
Daniel remains on the hat. Little spider!
That's Daniel O'Connell, says Belle. He has a proud history.
I do, says Daniel O'Connell. 'Tis true I was born in a cave, and breathed methane, but since then I have adapted to life on the surface, and I might add, I had no trouble at all in the water.
Tullio is astonished. Go on.
I call myself Daniel O'Connell, after the Liberator. You'll have heard of him.
No, says Tullio. I haven't.
Oh, says Daniel O'Connell. Well never mind that. In my short time on the surface I have been apprenticed as a parrot, but I soon found that the role did not suit me. Now I am looking to make my own way to the Canaries, where I have relatives.
Don't tell me, says Tullio. Are they the Black Jumping Spiders? I may be able.....
Swooosh! Splash!
Gaius is back, spraying a fountain of droplets.
He lifts Terence over the side of Margaret's tinny. Belle grabs him.
Yay! says Terence. I'm saved.
So am I, says Baby Pierre. Thanks, Ageless.
Why thank me? asks Ageless I did nothing.
Exactly, says Baby Pierre. So much for blood ties.
There you have me, says Ageless.
Is this a relative? asks Tullio. Is this Baby Pierre?
Yes, says Ageless. It is he. As a matter of fact he was assisting me down there in the sea grasses, where I was measuring fish noise.
What a coincidence! says Tullio. I have recently been involved in a study measuring fish noise.
It is no coincidence, says Gaius, lifting himself into the tinny. Well, it is and it isn't.
Tullio! says Ageless. What are you doing here?
I might ask you the same thing, says Tullio. But first, let me rescue these ladies.
Thank you, says Margaret. Please do.
Tullio helps Margaret first, because she is older.
Heave ho. Margaret is back in the tinny.
Then he helps Belle.
Belle is shivering. Her red skirt sticks to her legs.
Tullio hands her a towel.
By the way, says Margaret. Gaius is still down there.
No I am not, says Gaius, from the water at the side of the tinny. I am just taking a breather.
Have you seen Baby Pierre? asks Ageless. Is he rescuing Terence?
Of course not, snaps Gaius. He is too puny. Margaret, do you have a rope?
Margaret looks about her ill-equipped tinny.
No, says Margaret. No rope.
First rule of the sea, says Tullio. Bring a rope.
Is it? says Belle. Does that mean you have one?
I do, says Tullio. Sit tight, and I'll hand it over.
He locates the rope stowed in the university tinny, and throws it to Gaius, who disappears under the surface, leaving a fine trail of bubbles.
Not only bubbles.
A hat.
And on the hat, is Daniel O'Connell, breathing quickly.
Margaret reaches over the side of the tinny, and lifts up the hat, along with Daniel O'Connell.
A translucent spider! says Tullio. How remarkable. He looks like the sort of spider one might find in an underground cave. Perhaps breathing methane. But of course that's impossible. Come here, little spider.
Daniel remains on the hat. Little spider!
That's Daniel O'Connell, says Belle. He has a proud history.
I do, says Daniel O'Connell. 'Tis true I was born in a cave, and breathed methane, but since then I have adapted to life on the surface, and I might add, I had no trouble at all in the water.
Tullio is astonished. Go on.
I call myself Daniel O'Connell, after the Liberator. You'll have heard of him.
No, says Tullio. I haven't.
Oh, says Daniel O'Connell. Well never mind that. In my short time on the surface I have been apprenticed as a parrot, but I soon found that the role did not suit me. Now I am looking to make my own way to the Canaries, where I have relatives.
Don't tell me, says Tullio. Are they the Black Jumping Spiders? I may be able.....
Swooosh! Splash!
Gaius is back, spraying a fountain of droplets.
He lifts Terence over the side of Margaret's tinny. Belle grabs him.
Yay! says Terence. I'm saved.
So am I, says Baby Pierre. Thanks, Ageless.
Why thank me? asks Ageless I did nothing.
Exactly, says Baby Pierre. So much for blood ties.
There you have me, says Ageless.
Is this a relative? asks Tullio. Is this Baby Pierre?
Yes, says Ageless. It is he. As a matter of fact he was assisting me down there in the sea grasses, where I was measuring fish noise.
What a coincidence! says Tullio. I have recently been involved in a study measuring fish noise.
It is no coincidence, says Gaius, lifting himself into the tinny. Well, it is and it isn't.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Two Persons Need To Be Rescued
Things happen fast.
Daniel O'Connell rises through the water.
He clambers on board Margaret's tinny.
It seems larger than he remembers. Higher, with a more pronounced curve.
Also, it doesn't feel level.
And now, he spots the reason.
Gaius has gone over the side.
Belle and Margaret are leaning over, peering into the water.
There you are, says Ageless. Just in time for the show.
He is rudely positioned below the two women's bottoms.
And Belle is wearing a dress, a lovely full-skirted red one.
And there is a breeze, which has got up now.
Daniel O'Connell is disgusted.
What happened? asks Daniel O'Connell.
Gaius lost his hat and went in after it, says Ageless. So the ladies have tipped us off kilter. Didn't you see him?
No, says Daniel O'Connell. I had other things on my mind. Terence can't get back up to the surface, and nor can Baby Pierre.
A piece of luck for them, says Ageless.
Drowning? says Daniel O'Connell.
Gaius falling in, says Ageless. He'll save them.
He won't know he has to, says Daniel O'Connell. I'll go back down and find him.
Good man, says Ageless. I'll just stay here, on guard.
So I see, says Daniel O'Connell.
He lowers himself back into the water, where he sees Gaius, peering towards him.
He points downwards, which is hard for a swimming spider to do.
But Gaius is a natural observer. He raises his eyebrows.
Daniel O'Connell lifts six of his legs, leaving two pointing downwards.
By which Gaius understands that two persons need to be rescued.
But he knows he can't do it on one gulp of air.
Therefore Gaius rises again to the side of the tinny.
The side that both Belle and Margaret are on.
As he grabs it, the two women fall into the water.
It was inevitable.
Only Ageless remains on board the tinny, waiting for what happens next.
What happens next is quite lucky.
Tullio Rossi, science communicator, is motoring towards them in the University tinny, having been alerted by the red dress in the water from some distance away.
Ahoy there! says Tullio, when he gets close enough. Need some assistance?
Yes please, say Margaret and Belle.
Daniel O'Connell rises through the water.
He clambers on board Margaret's tinny.
It seems larger than he remembers. Higher, with a more pronounced curve.
Also, it doesn't feel level.
And now, he spots the reason.
Gaius has gone over the side.
Belle and Margaret are leaning over, peering into the water.
There you are, says Ageless. Just in time for the show.
He is rudely positioned below the two women's bottoms.
And Belle is wearing a dress, a lovely full-skirted red one.
And there is a breeze, which has got up now.
Daniel O'Connell is disgusted.
What happened? asks Daniel O'Connell.
Gaius lost his hat and went in after it, says Ageless. So the ladies have tipped us off kilter. Didn't you see him?
No, says Daniel O'Connell. I had other things on my mind. Terence can't get back up to the surface, and nor can Baby Pierre.
A piece of luck for them, says Ageless.
Drowning? says Daniel O'Connell.
Gaius falling in, says Ageless. He'll save them.
He won't know he has to, says Daniel O'Connell. I'll go back down and find him.
Good man, says Ageless. I'll just stay here, on guard.
So I see, says Daniel O'Connell.
He lowers himself back into the water, where he sees Gaius, peering towards him.
He points downwards, which is hard for a swimming spider to do.
But Gaius is a natural observer. He raises his eyebrows.
Daniel O'Connell lifts six of his legs, leaving two pointing downwards.
By which Gaius understands that two persons need to be rescued.
But he knows he can't do it on one gulp of air.
Therefore Gaius rises again to the side of the tinny.
The side that both Belle and Margaret are on.
As he grabs it, the two women fall into the water.
It was inevitable.
Only Ageless remains on board the tinny, waiting for what happens next.
What happens next is quite lucky.
Tullio Rossi, science communicator, is motoring towards them in the University tinny, having been alerted by the red dress in the water from some distance away.
Ahoy there! says Tullio, when he gets close enough. Need some assistance?
Yes please, say Margaret and Belle.
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