Sprayed Not Feathered

Back at Saint Kilda, Gaius is sipping spring water.

Camus has returned with several bottles.

And, without being asked, a small punnet of cherry tomatoes.

You can eat those yourself, says Gaius.

You don't like tomatoes? says Camus. I wouldn't have guessed it.

I'll eat them, says Terence.

I wouldn't recommend it, says Gaius.

What if I squeeze them? asks Terence.

NO! says Gaius. Juice will go everywhere!

So what? says Terence, squeezing a tomato.

Pop! Squirt!

The juice goes everywhere, including Gaius's shorts.

Sorry, says Terence.

Never mind, says Gaius. I'll go for a paddle.

He goes down to the shallows, and splashes sea water onto his shorts.

The tomato seeds wash off easily. The juice leaves a red stain.

Why doesn't Gaius like tomatoes? asks Camus,

Because he's no fun, says Terence, popping another tomato.

Camus quickly leans to one side.

The juice and seeds land on Waca.

Hey! says Waca. Did you do that on purpose?

No, says Terence. But you should let them dry on you.

Will I looks like a parrot? asks Waca.

More like a parrot, says Terence. Not as much as Roo-kai.

Roo-kai doesn't look like a parrot, says Camus. 

Can you see him? asks Terence.

Of course not, says Camus. He's flying to Geelong. At least we hope so. We haven't had news.

When do we get it? asks Terence.

When the peregrine falcon returns, says Camus.

But when? asks Terence.

Ask Gaius, says Camus. He's the one who claims it's the fastest bird on the planet.

So it should be back already, says Terence.

Unless there's been a tragic event, says Camus. 

Terence scans the skies.

A few silver gulls. And ........could it be?....the peregrine falcon!

The peregrine falcon lands on the sand beside Gaius.

Greetings, says Gaius. Did you get over the chocolate?

Hek-ek! says the peregrine falcon. I never eat chocolate.

So you aren't the peregrine falcon that ate the chocolate, says Gaius. What a shame. I was hoping for news.

A shame, is it? says the peregrine falcon. 

I didn't mean that, says Gaius. Some things just slip out. It's wonderful that you never eat chocolate.

Thank you, says the peregrine falcon. Interestingly, I have heard of one of my species that did.

Really, says Gaius. Was this recent?

This afternoon, says the peregrine falcon.. Just outside Horsham.

That is bad news, says Gaius. Particularly so, as we sent him on there on a mission.

Too bad, says the peregrine falcon. 

It flies off.

Will it spot Waca? Will history repeat itself?

No. This peregrine falcon can tell a wooden duck sprayed with tomato seeds from a genuine parrot.