What's Wrong With These Birds?

Lunch service is over. Three more hours to Dubai.

Sweezus is watching an in flight movie.

Arthur composes a poem in his head.

Delirium and slow rhythms under the streaking of daylight.....

Gaius wakes up and feels peckish.

Here, have some of these, says Belle. Lunch came and went while you were sleeping.

She hands him a kids' pack of alphabet biscuits, and some Cheez Dippers.

Thank you, says Gaius. Is this what you had?

No it's Terence's, says Belle. I had the chicken in yogurt sauce with red peppers..

Gaius looks regretful, as he opens the pack of Cheez Dippers.

Complimentary drinks? asks the flight attendant. Red or white wine, beer, juice, tea or coffee?

Gaius is determined to get something for his money. He asks for a beer.

Aah, that's better. And Belle has found a packet of raisins in the kids' snack box.

He looks over at Terence and Saint Roley who are sharing a puzzle.

Enjoying the flight boys? asks Gaius.

We're doing a puzzle, says Terence.

Bird spotting, says Saint Roley.

You should be good at that, says Gaius.

I thought so, says Saint Roley. But these birds are rubbish.

What's the problem? asks Gaius. Show me.

NO! says Terence. It's not for grown ups.

It's for bird spotters, says Saint Roley.

Indeed, says Gaius. And I'm a bird spotter. Show me the puzzle.

Terence shows him the puzzle.

I see, says Gaius. This is your bird book, in the corner, with four birds illustrated. And this is the jungle, full of many different birds, four of which are the same as the ones in the bird book.

Terence looks bored. He's figured out that much.

Gaius opens the alphabet biscuits.

They're OURS, says Terence.

You didn't want them, says Belle. You only wanted tomato juice, remember?

Okay, says Terence.

There is something wrong with these birds, says Gaius, the bird spotter.

We know, says Saint Roley.

Gaius taps Sweezus on the shoulder.

Sweezus looks over his seat. What is it?

What's wrong with these birds? It's a puzzle.

Sweezus is in the middle of an engrossing movie about female relationships. His mind is elsewhere.

He grabs the puzzle and shoves it at Arthur.

What's wrong with these birds?

Arthur welcomes the interruption. His poem is finished.

The birds are depicted in profile. Beak to one side. You might expect one eye to be visible. But no, you see two.