Nature Is Red

David blows his green whistle.

Baudin and Dufresne emerge from the undergrowth.

Ah, says David. I heard two piercing whistles, and guessed it was you.

It was, says Dufresne. 

Sounded a bit different from my whistle, says David.

It would, says Dufresne. We have lost our novelty whistles.

Where did you obtain new ones? asks David.

We didn't, says Baudin. We whistled through the gastric teeth in our stomachs.

And yet you accepted the novelty whistles, says David. Didn't you know you could gastric-whistle?

No, admits Captain Baudin. We didn't.

It is all very interesting, says David. I should keep a journal. By the way, you must be hungry, after your voyage.

We are happy to wait till this evening, says Dufresne.

Indeed, says Baudin. We'll be trapping the kakapo. 

I must talk to you about that, says David. 

No need, says Dufresne. We know how to do it.

Your intentions are at odds with our intentions, says David. The kakapo is endangered.

Nature is red in tooth and claw, says Dufresne. I should know, of all people.

Ha ha, laughs Baudin. You said people.

It was as a person I learned it, says Dufresne. 

I have brought you two protein balls, says David. Might that persuade you to count kakapo and not eat them?

We had no intention of eating them, says Baudin. What do you take us for? 

The word TRAP was mentioned, says David.

If you trap them you don't double-count them, says Baudin.

Apologies, says David. Here are the protein balls. 

He offers them round. 

I imagine you'll swallow them whole, says David. Will that affect your ability to whistle?

If only he had said it a split second sooner.

Too late now.