Glaring Down

It takes well over an hour to get from La Izquierda to Parque Loro by taxi.

Here they are now. Ying pays for the taxi then pays for their entry to Parque Loro.

Thirty three euros. That's EACH.

They head straight for the parrots.

Let's split up, says Sweezus. Should be easy to spot Terence. Meet back here at the palm tree.

Ten minutes later they meet back at the palm tree.

No Terence.

I know, says Ying. We'll ask the Head of Parrots.

They go to the office of the Head of Parrots. The door is open. They go straight in.

May I help you? asks the Head of Parrots.

Are you missing a parrot? asks Ying.

Not that I know of, says the Head of Parrots. Why? Have you found one?

No, says Sweezus. We just ...er..wondered.

Nobody just wonders, says the Head of Parrots. Something is up.

He picks up his phone. Calls a parrot attendant. Any parrots gone missing?

Dios! The young Pesquet's parrot is missing. His favourite parrot. The one that speaks pidgin and behaves like an adult.

What does it look like? asks Ying.

But the Head of Parrots has already rushed out of the office.

Arthur walks round to the other side of the desk. Maybe there'll be a picture.

In a photo frame (silver) is a picture of the Head of Parrots with three black and red parrots under a palm tree. The Head of Parrots is smiling, and patting the head of the young one.

This will be it, says Arthur.

You reckon? says Sweezus.

Yes, says Arthur. But we've made a series of errors.

What? says Ying.

Coming in here, says Arthur. Telling the Head of Parrots a parrot was missing. Meanwhile Terence has skipped the scene. Who'll get the blame? We will.

Let's go, says Ying.

But we paid thirty three euro each to get in, says Sweezus.

Ying looks out of the window. The Head of Parrots is running back to the office, but wait! he is being stopped by a tourist who wants to ask him a question.

The Head of Parrots waits for the question.

Where are the cranes?

The Head of Parrots gestures vaguely.

What a question to ask the Head of Parrots. Cranes! And there's a sign post right there!

He continues running back to his office. He wishes to question the two young men and the woman who seemed to know something.

But by the time he has entered the office, the culprits have gone.

The Head of Parrots is cross with himself.

To make matters worse he is followed into the office by Mother and Father Pesquet, who have now been alerted.

The kidnappers have escaped, says the Head of Parrots.

Kidnappers! That's a bit rich!

The adult parrots sit on his desk. Mother Pesquet looks at the photo of happier times, and weeps.

Pull yourself together, Mother, says Father Pesquet. It's time for action.

What's this? says the Head of Parrots. Action? Do you have a plan?

If you give us a leave pass, says Father Pesquet, we'll scour the park, find the kidnappers and bring them to justice.

And recover dear Pesky, says Mother Pesquet.

Do you still call him that? asks the Head of Parrots.

He's my baby, says Mother Pesquet. May we go?

You may, says the Head of Parrots. And good luck, dear vulturine family, you have always been my favourites.

Thank you, Enrico, say the Pesquets. And leave.

Meanwhile Sweezus, Ying and Arthur are heading for the exit.

We don't know where Terence is heading, says Ying.

Yeah, we don't, says Sweezus. We tried, that's the main thing.

And he's got a new parrot, says Ying. That's clear.

And one sensible sister, says Arthur. And one that isn't.

Why don't we go over to Gran Canaria on the ferry, says Ying. Take our mind off it.

Cool, says Sweezus. It's another island yeah? Should be good there.

Arthur resigns himself. Okay. Maybe it is time we hooked up with Gaius.

They look for a bus stop.

At the bus stop, a palm tree.

In the palm tree, two red and black figures, glaring down.........