Two Tzeets

The orange-bellied parrots are fast fliers.

And it's not long since lunch.

They won't need to touch down for ages.

Perhaps not until they reach Melbourne, and board the ferry.

Are you excited? one asks the other.

I am, says the other. There are sure to be nutritious seeds on the ferry.

Big ones, they agree.

They wing on......

Roo-kai is also a fast flier.

But he has not had lunch.

Except for that one little pipi.

He assumes he is going in the right direction.

Terence did point this way.....

Five minutes later:

Wait for me! calls Roo-kai.

He has seen the two orange-bellied parrots in the distance.

And they have heard him.

One looks back.

Slow down! It's Roo-kai!

They circle.

What fun.

Roo-kai catches up.

You're going the wrong way! says Roo-kai.

But...the sand map! say the parrots.

It's unreliable, says Roo-kai. Let me stop and eat something. Then I'll show you the way.

They land. Roo-kai pokes about in the sand for bivalve molluscs.

He finds a few. Cracks them. Slurp. Ahh! That's better. 

Now, says Roo-kai, Melbourne is that way. Follow me.

The orange-bellied parrots fly directly behind him.

So our mother's map was wrong, says the first one.

He wasn't your mother, says Roo-kai. 

I guess that's a good thing, says the second one.

You don't need a mother, says Roo-kai.

Yes, says the first one. We have you now. 

I'm just a guide, says Roo-kai. By the way, what do I call you?

Tzeet! says the second one. 

Tzeet, says Roo-kai That's a nice name.

Tzeet is our alarm call, says the first one. We don't have our own names.

It's still a good name, says Roo-kai. You should have it.

Tzeet!  Their guide thinks it's a good name.

Okay, they will have it.

At least until Melbourne