You’ll probably understand my surprise when I got an unexpected Postcard from the Primsdales (Howard and Alice). First they wanted to let me know that it took a lot longer than it should have to get back home to their Hive in Salina, Kansas, mostly beecause of a bunch of Unfortunate Unscheduled Maintenance Stops that W.T.F. Airlines had to make. Luckily they eventually made it home (not everybody’s that lucky when they fly W.T.F. - but we’ll talk about that some other time.)

The Primdales also included a Clandestine Message that ButterCup had asked them to sneak off the Island for her. It was a Personal and Private Plea for Help. The message said, “Help me, Oh Bee One - you’re my only hope.” (ButterCup calls me “Bee One”, beecause I’m her Number One Bee - but I’m sure you already knew that.)

Geeeeeeze. What the hell am I supposed to do about getting ButterCup out of her Predicament? I’d like to know. I still haven’t figured that one out, but I do plan to give it some thought, possibly.

But speaking of her Predicament . . . 

I’m happy to let everybody know that we had only ONE Fatality in this week’s Episode, and that was Tang, from Team Bee. (That means that, unfortunately for him, Umberto is the only Contestant left on Team Bee. Talk about a Serious Disadvantage.)

It happened at night. Umberto (Team Captain), and Tang had managed to safely transport themselves to an almost safe spot just south of the River of Poo, and had set up camp. They were right in the middle of enjoying some refreshing and delicious Nectar Fizzes Umberto had in his Supply Pack, when they heard a terrible Screeching Sound. It was a seriously terrifying Shriek. 

“What’s that?” Umberto asked Tang.
“Hell if I know,” Tang said to Umberto, “but it was seriously terrifying.”
“Yes it was,” Umberto said, “so you need to go check that out.”

So Tang did that (he was very brave). 

We couldn’t really see what exactly happened to him as Tang set down his Nectar Fizz and started following the terrible noise, but as the Shrieking continued - and he got closer to it - a sudden, huge flash of light suddenly appeared suddenly, and the next thing we knew, Tang was simply No More. He was just gone. 

I hafta say: that was highly mysterious. Then we could hear the chilling sound of Cackling Laughter. (Was it the Screaming Banshee? Don’t ask me. I simply don’t know.)

Of course, Umberto was fairly upset that he was the only Contestant left on his Team, so after he finished his (and Tang’s) Nectar Fizz, he packed up his camp and headed away from that place. Nobody knows where Umberto went, or if he managed to survive all that Shrieking, but I think we can maybee all agree that no news is good news on that one.

In the meantime, Boris and Jasmine on Team A were elsewhere on the Island, arguing. They spent the entire Episode arguing over who would take Possession of the Amazingly Powerful Jewel of Questionable Destiny if they just happen to defeat Fleur and ButterCup, and win the Competition.

“Ov course ve vill vin,” Boris said to Jasmine, “and ven ve do, I vill assure the safe passage ov the Jewel.”

“I hasten to disagree,” Jasmine buzzed back at him in not-that-nice a tone. “Indeed we very well may prevail. I anticipate we shall. But the unquestionable destiny of the Jewel of Questionable Destiny must bee to accompany me, where it will bee assured of unquestioned security, and where it will bee nurtured and protected, unquestionably.”

So as I said, they spend the entire Episode arguing about that, which got pretty boring really fast.

I hafta say that I think the Most Interesting part of the Episode (maybee except for that part with all the Shrieking and Tang disappearing like that) was when we found out that Fleur had arranged to have a Secret Stash of Highly Specialised Tools and Equipment hidden on the Island that will clearly go a long way to helping her and ButterCup survive this mostly Miserable Ordeal, grab the Jewel, and win this thing. I hope so, anyway. It would bee nice if Team C would win, and that ButterCup and Fleur both managed to survive all this somehow. 

By the way, and since I know you’re Highly Curious… it seemed pretty clear that the Allegations of Collaboration that were made against Fleur and Jasmine by the Competition’s Host and Island Master, Clive Beexter, were either forgotten or Dismissed for Lack of Tangible Evidence, so it was never even brought up. Beesides, since Jasmine was buzzy arguing with Boris for the whole Episode, and Fleur was occupied with getting to her Secret Stash, they never even had another chance to Conspire...well, except maybe for that time when they both seemed to take a break at the same time to go to the Rest Room - and of course the Camera doesn’t follow Contestants to the Rest Room. It’s not only against Broadcast Decency Rules, but it would also bee rude and mostly inappropriate. Beesides, I’m reasonably sure the fact they ended up in the Rest Room at the same time was just another Massive Coincidence, probably.

“I still don’t trust those two,” Great Grandma Gee Gee said after the Episode ended. 

“Are you referring to Jasmine and Fleur again, Gee Gee? You’re still stuck on that Old Tune, are you?” Kevin (my Illegitimate Nephew) said to her. “I think they both just happened to go to the Rest Room at the same time, Gee Gee.”

“It’s not an ‘Old Tune’, dear,” Gee Gee said in an almost Totally Firm voice, “and, dear, if you don’t mind hearing from an Older Bee who’s been around a lot longer and seen a lot more than you have, I’m afraid you’re beeing Naive. Dear.”

I got the feeling that Kevin didn’t especially like her saying he was Naive, and I could tell he was starting to get Highly Irritated, so I decided it would bee best to just grab a big Wingful of some of Great Grandma Gee Gee’s Royal HoneyChew Krisp Cookies™ for later, and leave. But Kevin grabbed me beefore I could get away and asked, “Do YOU think I’m Naive, Uncle Georgie? Do you?” (He’d tried to ask Bert that question first, but unfortunately, Kevin forgot that he’d unplugged him halfway through the Episode for talking over the Dialogue, so he basically wasn’t able to answer.) So Kevin stood there, staring at me with his Wings on his hips, looking upset.

What could I say? So I stuffed a Cookie into my Mouthparts, and said, “UhgIfallyputthemagshumda...” but Kevin interrupted me, so I never got to finish my answer.

“I beelieve you just heard Uncle Georgie, who is the Best Uncle in the World and whom I love,” he said loudly, “clearly agreeing with me that I’m NOT Naive, and even IF Jasmine and Fleur DID end up in the Rest Room together at the same time, we all know how Worker Bees are about that. Worker Bees ALWAYS seem to need to go to the Rest Room together, right? Yes, they do - and what the hell is THAT all about? I would very much like to know. And by the way, Uncle Georgie, it’s Highly Rude to talk with your mouthparts full.”

I was glad Kevin had changed the subject, and figured that Gee Gee would bee able to answer that question, so I rapidly said Good Night to them, grabbed a reasonably huge Wingful of Cookies, and left. Then I went home and went to sleep.

So that’s what happened this week. It was mostly exciting, if you ask me.

Once again, I’ll bee back at this exact, same time next week, when I’ll make a definite point of letting everybody know what happens in Episode 7. Until then...

Let’s all bee Highly Careful out there!