The three Lucys have not been outside two minutes when one of them calls for me.
I duly go as summoned. ‘Yes, your majesty?’ I shade my face against the bright sunlight.
‘Michel’s here and wanted to show you his impressive biceps.’
Sure enough, he’s taken up a position in a day bed beside the ladies. ‘I’ve already seen your impressive biceps and your Lycra-clad quads, remember?’
‘Lycra? This isn’t the eighties, Harper.’ He turns to the three Lucys. ‘Do you know she took unsolicited snaps of me while I was flying? Unfortunately for her the flash was on, so the jig was up. I didn’t make a big song and dance about it, but it was a bit much, don’t you think?’ He flashes his pearly whites at me.
‘That’s not exactly how it happened.’
‘You don’t have to be embarrassed, Harper. If a man did that, though, it would be a different story. Am I right?’
‘I took that one photo for insurance. For my own personal safety.’
‘Uh-huh.’ He draws out the sounds.
The three Lucys heads are on a swivel as they go back and forth between us as we argue the merits of when it’s OK to take a photo without permission.
‘Michel didn’t feel it necessary to show me any credentials and I was expecting Gus, so there you have it.’
‘Credentials! Like I work for the FBI and carry a badge around or something.’
‘You do have a pilot’s licence and your staff lanyard that you could have showed her, Michel.’
‘Where’s the fun in that?’
‘Anyway, what are you doing here?’
‘I’ve come to check on Turt.’
I’m reminded of the tortoise tattoo on his arm that I saw the day he picked me up for the fateful helicopter ride. ‘You’re part of the health care team for Turt?’
‘Why are you so shocked? Is it because I’m a man of many talents? I keep a close eye on our tortoise friend. Since Gus “left”, Turt’s been suffering separation anxiety.’
‘How do you know?’
‘From his vitals and also the sad gleam in his eyes. Look at him.’ It’s true, Turt really does look morose, like he’s pining for Gus, but I’m not an expert on tortoise emotional states, and to hear Michel confirm it is hard. We need Gus back, no question about it, even if it’s only briefly to boost Turt’s mood.
Michel takes a range of medical devices from his bag.
‘Are you trained to take his vitals?’ The guy is a pilot and a tortoise carer?
He scoffs. ‘Do you think the conservation team would leave Turt in the care of an untrained person? Turt, who is famous around these parts?’
‘Maybe.’
‘No! Turt is a living legend and I keep a close eye on him, hence my early morning jog past every day.’
‘Right.’
‘Once a month, I do a more thorough check.’
I glance over at Turt, worried now that the reptile might be quietly suffering and missing his bookseller pal. But what if it’s more serious? What if Turt’s got some serious malady and no one has informed Gus?
‘Is he going to be OK without Gus?’
‘I’m not sure, but if Gus returned that would be a better outcome for them both.’
