Fake Or Not-Yet

Belle wheels her bike out of the airport.

Something might be wrong with Roo-kai, says Sweezus.

He'll come good, says Belle. He was trying to keep us all out of trouble.

Like how? asks Sweezus.

Pretending to be a toy bird, says Belle. At least that's what I ..... Why? What's the matter?

Terence reckons Roo-kai's lost his smartness, says Sweezus.

Worse! says Terence. This parrot's not him!

Sure looks like him, says Sweezus.

Ask him some questions, says Arthur.

Good thinking, bro, says Sweezus. Terence, you ask him.

What? asks Terence.

Something Roo-kai will know, but if he isn't Roo-kai, he won't know, says Sweezus. 

That's a really good question, says Terence.

That isn't a question, says Sweezus. That's a suggestion.

Okay, says Terence. Roo-kai, what is it you know if you're you, but if you're not you, you don't know?

 I don't know, says Roo-kai.

That means he isn't Roo-kai! says Terence.

It might mean he hasn't recovered from his ordeal, says Belle. 

Yeah, says Sweezus. Whatever his ordeal was.

Okay, says Belle ? I'm heading home for a nap. Can you guys take Terence and Roo-kai?

You mean Terence and his fake parrot, says Terence.

I've gotta get back to work, says Sweezus. Arthur'll take them.

Sure, says Arthur. I'll take them to Gaius. He'll have a look at Roo-kai.

Yay! says Terence. Gaius will know that I'm right and it isn't Roo-kai.

Gaius? Who's Gaius? wonders fake (or not-yet-recovered) Roo-kai.

Arthur tucks Terence under one arm and balances the skateboard on his bike seat.

What about me? asks fake (or not-yet-recovered) Roo-kai.

You can fly, says Arthur.

Can I? asks fake (or not-yet) Roo-kai.

All right, says Arthur. Change of travel arrangements.

He tucks the skateboard under his arm and sets Terence on his bike seat.

Don't fall off, says Arthur. I can't save you.

I've got the gift of balance, says Terence. It's new.

Good for you, says Arthur. Roo-kai, you can sit on the end of the skateboard.

What's that? asks fake (or not-yet) Roo-kai.

This is the skateboard, says Arthur, indicating the skateboard.

He doesn't know ANYTHING! says Terence

No, what's that? says fake (or not-yet) Roo-kai, indicating the toucan.

A toucan, says Arthur.

Belle and Sweezus have already headed off towards the city.

Arthur sets off with his difficult companions.