Is That Why You're Going Extinct?

But what has been happening at the northern end of the island?

Has Gaius numbered his pages?

Has he used a pale ink?

Was the pale ink made of squashed larvae?

And has he forged a bond with the dull spotted bird?

Let us find out. Here is Gaius, sitting under a tree.

Arthur and Jinjing have joined him.

Gaius is showing Arthur the numbered pages.

That's a job you won't have to do, Arthur, says Gaius.

What's the pale ink? asks Arthur.

Squashed larvae, says Gaius. I should not have thought of using larvae, but a dull spotted bird, whom I befriended, offered some to me.

A dull spotted bird, says Jinjing. Was it female?

I believe so, says Gaius.

Will she be returning? asks Jinjing. It seems you owe her some food.

She will, says Gaius. But she asked me to turn off the broadcasting device. Says it's confusing.

I'll do it, says Arthur.

He starts to climb up the tree.

Let me, says Jinjing. I'll fly up.

Go for it, says Arthur.

Jinjing flies up to the broadcasting device which is tied to a high branch with string.

He looks for a switch. A switch would be helpful.

A dull spotted bird lands beside him.

At last, says she. Are you the technician?

No...yes, says Jinjing.

Typical, says the dull spotted bird.

What do you mean? asks Jinjing.

No-yes, says the dull spotted bird. A meaningless answer.

Arthur's the technician, says Jinjing. That's him down there. But he's got a sore knee at the moment. I'm his right hand parrot.

Never heard of a right hand parrot, says the dull spotted bird.

Heard of a right hand man? asks Jinjing.

No, says the dull spotted bird.

Wheet-wheet! the device goes off, annoyingly at this juncture.

Having trouble up there? calls Gaius.

I can't find a switch! says Jinjing.

There it is, says the female spotted pardalote.

If you knew where it was, why didn't you turn it off yourself? asks Jinjing.

Ever heard of a right hand forty spotted pardalote? asks the female forty spotted pardalote.

No, says Jinjing. Is that why you're going extinct?

Ach! Too late Jinjing realises he shouldn't have said it.