Three Options

What is he doing here?

How to answer the coast guard?

Sweezus thinks fast. He has several options.

1. Toe cramps.

2. Arthur being missing.

3. Recovering a parrot.

One of the coast guards has waded ashore.

Err... lost a parrot, says Sweezus.

Quoi! says the coast guard. There are no parrots here.

That will be me, says Saint Roley. I sometimes go by that title.

Yeah, that's him, says Sweezus.

That is an oystercatcher, says the coast guard. And therefore you have no right to remove him from this bird sanctuary.

Sweezus is taken aback. He tries the second option.

Okay... umm...did you happen to see another guy swimming in this direction. Or drowning?

Certainly not, says the coast guard. We would have stopped immediately. Is someone missing?

Hey! says Saint Roley. Does this mean I can't leave?

What? says the coast guard. You're a bird. Of course you can leave.

Under your own steam, whispers Osie. You can't be REMOVED. None of us can. It's all good.

Is someone missing? repeats the coast guard. You must make a report. Was this person also swimming to the bird sanctuary?

Yeah... no, says Sweezus. Probably not. Actually...

He seizes on option one.

....I had a toe cramp.

Ah, says the coast guard. You have my great sympathy. Toe cramps are painful. Did you try flexing?

Yeah, kind of, says Sweezus.

The problem is, says Saint Roley, I can't fly.

Can't fly! shrieks Osette. And here you are coming here telling us all what to do!

He can't fly, says Sweezus. So, could you give us a lift back?

At last, Sweezus is thinking clearly.

D'accord, says the coast guard. But for the purposes of my report, this bird is a parrot.

Suits me, says Sweezus. Will you.... pick him up?

He's your parrot, says the coast guard.

Not my parrot, says Sweezus. A kid in my team.

Terence, says Saint Roley. Did he miss me?

He's got a blood-spitting beetle, says Sweezus.

The coast guard picks up Saint Roley and wades out to the patrol boat. Sweezus follows.

Bye! calls Ostelle.

The others ignore Saint Roley's departure. He can't even fly. What a swizzle.

We shall go slowly, says the coast guard, in order to look for your friend.

Cool, says Sweezus, already scanning the ocean.

He's done his best for everyone.

It's a good feeling.