Cyclists Avoid Being Eaten

Perhaps the term numerous sharks was alarmist.

In fact there are three.

Sweezus and Arthur have almost reached the outer bar.

Three Great White Sharks swim beneath them.

One, the teacher, is looking upwards as an example to the other two, who are under instruction.

The Great White Teacher: Humans are not the preferred prey of our species.

First pupil: But look, there is blood on the knee of that human.

Great White Teacher: Look again.

Second pupil: It's a scab! It's only a scab!

Great White Teacher: Good spotting. Now look at the legs of the other one.

First pupil: No scabs.

Great White Teacher: Good. He has no scabs. Let us....wait, those legs look familiar. Stay down here for a minute. I shall go up.

He zooms up.

Fuck! says Sweezus. A shark!

I knew it was you, says the Great White Teacher. Do you recall our previous meeting?

No, says Sweezus. You guys all look the same.

I'm sorry you think that, says the Great White Teacher. It shows a great lack of observation.

Arthur looks down at his knees.

Don't worry, says the Great White Teacher. Scabs don't attract us.

Pity, says Arthur. Fear gets me going.

Us? says Sweezus. Are there more of you down there?

Two more, says the Great White Teacher. They are my pupils, as I once was when you saved your dog Farky from being eaten. How is Farky?

Sweezus has recovered his cool. He answers the question.

He's into predicting the future, says Sweezus. He's good, too.

Not that good, says Arthur. He predicted Terence would get an old parrot.

Yeah, he didn't get that right, says Sweezus. He didn't get any parrot.

The pupils are sick of waiting under the water watching legs paddle and hearing snatches of reminiscence.

They surface.

Can we go now?

Yes, says the Great White Teacher. We can go now. A wave is approaching. I predict our two surfers will catch it.

Sweezus turns. The teacher is right. A wave is approaching.

He and Arthur both catch it.

Second pupil: Neither of them had hairs on their legs, I noticed.

Great White Teacher: They are cyclists. Not that it's relevant. Still, good spotting.

First pupil: A dolphin! I see a dolphin.

Great White Teacher: That's more like it. Go! Go! Go!