Conversation · Insulindian Phasmid

Like a junkie...

...and then he is back to staring at the dust.

"God, I shouldn't have taken a bath! The pheromone washed off!"

(Yell.) "No!"

Your voice echoes alone on the water. Not so much as a scoff from the old man.

Three-hundred metres inland, on the jetty, special consultant Trant Heidelstam cups his ear. Satellite-Officer Vicquemare nods to him: "I heard it."

"He must be really out of it, yelling like that. Well, at least he's alive...." Officer Minot in the blue uniform frowns: "Jean, maybe something happened? He's in distress..."

"No one will believe me... no one will believe this was real."

Wordless, he's staring at the ash. Not responding to your yelling.

The lieutenant had a camera. A camera, he could have taken a picture. Now they'll all think you're mad...

"What in the name of god was that?"

"What was what?" The straggler looks around. "It's just the reeds, playing tricks on you, droite..."

You know who would know -- a cryptozoologist!

A cryptozoologist? Oh god, there was one...

It's not use telling him...

Looks like you're right. He's extending his hand into the dust now, for some odd reason. Smearing his finger in it, confused like a child...

"The cryptozoologist... there was one in the bar. I bet she knew something..."

"I don't..." He's extending his hand into the dust now, for some odd reason. Smearing his finger in it, like a confused child...

"I should have helped the cryptozoologists. It's too late now..."

"Crypto-what?" Some odd connotation catches the old man's ear.

Crypto-fascist probably.

Subdue the regret. Dust yourself off, proceed. You'll get it in the next life, where you don't make mistakes. Do what you can with this one, while you're alive.

Now that you know it exists -- you can get it another day. It can't hide forever...

"Dammit. What now?" (Continue.)

"What now..." the old man behind you repeats suddenly. He withdraws his hand from the ash -- it's dirty and black.

In some kind of strange, semi-catatonic state. He's not looking so good.

Look! In the reeds, where the phasmid was hiding -- you see a little flash of white -- porcelain white. In a nest of some sort?

"I don't understand... I had the pheromone...."

"Damn it! Damn it! I didn't get it right..." [Leave in rage.]

(Whisper.) "This is the Insulindian phasmid."

"It is," the lieutenant whispers behind you. You hear the familiar ring of his jacket unzipping -- slowly. Painstakingly so...

You glance over your shoulder. The lieutenant holds a piece of milled aluminium. He begins to pull it open, extremely carefully -- it's the camera!

No! The flash will scare the creature off! Warn him NOW!

(Point to it.) "What is that?"

"My camera."

No! The sound of the flash will scare the creature off. Warn him NOW!

(Whisper) "Are you sure you won't scare it off?"

"We need a photo -- or no one will believe us." He continues to pull the lens open...

From the corner of your eye, you see a sudden cascade of motion ripple through the insect's limbs. A series of ultrasonic clicks fills your ear...

I am not palatable. Do not eat me. I am afraid.

"Okay, take the picture."

With the sound of metal sliding against metal, the lieutenant reveals the lens. The glass glints in his hand as he begins to slide in an ampoule...

You see the insect turn to him, its mandible antennae reaching out. Its motions are quick, sudden.

Something cracks in the lieutenant. He's letting his pride get in the way.

"The ampoule will produce a loud hiss." He turns to you and whispers: "You're right. It could scare it away. I need a better moment, when it's not looking."

I'll wait. I'm on standby, he thinks, his hands sweaty around the machine.

The spindly mechanism turns itself back to you, its antennae taking their measure of the air, slowly...

"Stop. Let me approach it first."

"I won't be one of those fools who didn't take a picture..." He has stopped fiddling with the camera, but does not put it down.

He's letting his pride get in the way.

You see the insect turn to him, its mandible antennae reaching out. Its motions are quick, sudden.

"Just listen to me!"

"Shh... okay." The lieutenant puts his finger to his lips and nods.

(Whisper) "Who cares what they think Kim."

He comes to, abruptly. "Understood. Of course," he says with a nod.

(Whisper) "I have the pheromone, I can approach it."

"I don't think the pheromone will do anything." His whisper turns to a sceptical hiss -- but he has stopped now.

"Kim..." (Whisper.) "The flash is loud. It won't like that."

"We need a photo -- no one will believe us." He continues to pull the lens open...

You glance over your shoulder. The lieutenant holds a piece of milled aluminium. He begins to pull it open, extremely carefully...