He Flew Superfast

Iris has emailed her report to Victor.

Victor has read it.

It seems satisfactory.

He forwards it to Gaius.

Then he remembers that Gaius doesn't always check his emails.

So he sends him a text.

Favour done. Check your emails

Ding! Gaius receives the text message. 

It's from Victor.

He opens the email. 

In it, Iris has reconstructed the conversation she heard in the queue.

Hum, says Gaius. Aha! Yes. 

What is it? asks Camus.

A large white bird with a stern aspect, says Gaius. What might it be?

A swan? suggests Camus.

Or an albatross, says Gaius.

For I have shot the albatross, says Camus. 

Why do you say that? asks Gaius. It was a peregrine falcon you poisoned.

I was quoting, says Camus. From The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

I don't know it, says Gaius. 

Water water everyhere, and not a drop to drink, says Camus.

That rings a bell, says Gaius. 

Thy long grey beard and glittering eye, says Camus.

Have you finished? says Gaius. I have received confirmation from Victor that Roo-kai reached Geelong with the orange-bellied parrots.

Yay! says Terence.

And it would seem that he has asked an albatross to assist them, says Gaius.

Or a swan, says Camus. 

Most unlikely, says Gaius. But it would also seem that the orange-bellied parrots have boarded the ferry on their own, and foolishly chosen to perch in the uppermost regions.

They'll be tossed and buffeted up there, says Camus.

Indeed, says Gaius. Let us hope they realise, and go inside before the ferry starts moving.

Roo-kai would have told them, says Terence.

I'm sure he would, says Gaius.  But let's spare a thought for the peregrine falcon, who delivered the message with its last breath.

It was a hero, says Terence. 

In a sense, says Gaius. We have to remember its motive.

Chocolate, says Camus. An ignoble motive.

You gave it that motive, says Gaius. 

I feel sad for the peregrine falcon, says Terence. I'm going to make it a poem. 

He thinks for a few seconds.

 A peregrine falcon has died/ he was hero/ he flew superfast to deliver a message/ and he did it/ because he tried.

Very nice Terence, says Gaius. The peregrine falcon would have liked that.

You don't mention the chocolate, says Camus.

It's not finished, says Terence.