Impressive Exactitude

 Excuse me, says the first orange-bellied parrot, whose name is now Tzeet.

What is it? asks Roo-kai.

How far is Melbourne? asks Tzeet.

Seven hundred and forty seven kilometres, says Roo-kai.

How long till we get there? asks the second orange-bellied parrot, whose name is also now Tzeet.

That depends on how fast you can fly, says Roo-kai.

We don't know, say the Tzeets. 

Then we can't do the maths, says Roo-kai.

How fast can YOU fly? ask the Tzeets.

This fast, says Roo-kai. Possibly faster.

He speeds up. He flies like a butterfly, wings flapping.

The Tzeets try to catch up.

Yes! If they try, they can go that fast too!

So now what? ask the Tzeets. What are the numbers?

My top speed is eighty, says Roo-kai. Divide seven hundred and forty seven by that.

But the Tzeets weren't taught maths in the zoo breeding program.

You do it, says the first Tzeet.

It's a tricky one, says Roo-kai. There'll be remainders.

What are remainders? asks the second Tzeet.

Leftovers, says Roo-kai.

The Tzeets know about leftovers. But how is that helpful?

I'll do an approximation, says Roo-kai. Let's call it seven hundred and fifty.

Can you do that? asks the first Tzeet.

Of course, says Roo-kai.

Then let's call it seven hundred, says the second Tzeet.

Or five hundred, says the first.

It doesn't work like that, says Roo-kai. It has to be closer.

It WOULD be closer, says the first Tzeet.

Just shut up and let me do the maths, says Roo-kai.

Oo-er! Sorry sir! says a Tzeet.

Hee-hee! sniggers the other one.

Apologies, says Roo-kai. But maths requires full concentration.

Silent flying and flapping ensues.

Carry three, mutters Roo-kai, eventually. Followed by :

NINE POINT THREE SEVEN FIVE HOURS!

Tzeet!

The Tzeets are impressed with the exactitude of Roo-kai's approximation.