Long Silver Grey Ribbons

Gaius returns, in damp shorts.

I saw you talking to the peregrine falcon, says Camus. I assume he's recovered?

It was not he, says Gaius. It was another peregrine falcon. And the news was unsettling.

What news? asks Terence. 

It seems the peregrine falcon charged with delivering our message has died, says Gaius.

Before or after? asks Camus.

How can you die before or after? asks Terence.

You can't, says Camus. What a ridiculous question.

It isn't, says Terence. You die in the middle. Not before or after.

Terence has a point, says Gaius. 

But he missed the point of my question, says Camus.

Yes, says Gaius. The answer is we don't know

See! says Terence.

It's not a question of seeing, says Camus. Sometimes you annoy me.

Sorr-eee! says Terence.

What we don't know, says Camus, is whether the falcon died before he gave Roo-kai the message.

Or in the middle, says Terence

That is a third possibility, says Gaius.

What's the second? asks Terence. 

He died after, says Camus. Now do you see?

Terence doesn't. 

In which case, says Gaius, he will be taking the orange-bellied parrots to Geelong, and not wasting time flying to Melbourne.

That's what he's doing, says Terence. He's the best parrot ever.

I wish there was some way we could check, says Gaius. 

Call the ferry office, says Camus.

And give away our little stowaways? says Gaius. I don't think so.

They sit glumly on the beach, as the sun sinks.

It's a beautiful sunset.

Orange and pink, with long silver grey ribbons.

I know! says Gaius. I'll call Victor.

The policeman? asks Camus. What can he do?

He'll know someone in Geelong, says Gaius. Someone who can snoop around the ferry terminal without arousing suspicion.

Like a spy! says Terence. Do it!

So Gaius calls Victor. After all, Victor ows him a favour.

Or was it the other way round?