Police Water

Camus enjoys driving the police car at night.

Where are we going? asks Terence.

To the end, says Camus. 

End of what? asks Terence.

The International Bird Sanctuary, says Camus. 

Winit-yinit, says Terence.

Something like that, says Camus. But not that. It was longer, ending in iyti.

Are we there yet? asks Terence.

Not yet, says Camus. It covers sixty kilometres of coastline.

We might see Roo-kai! says Terence.

Through the roof of the police car? says Camus.

Outside, says Terence. In the sky, flying above us.

I doubt it, says Camus, but keep your eyes open. If you see him, I'll turn on the siren.

Yay! The siren!

Terence opens the window and scans the dawn sky.

He spots a silver gull, flying low.

Hey! calls Terence.

Fark! squawks the silver gull. 

I see him! cries Terence.

Camus turns on the siren. Weee-ooo!

The silver gull changes direction.

Too bad, says Terence. It wasn't him. 

Camus turns off the siren.

Terence keeps looking.

If he's not in the sky he might be on the mudflats.

Stop, says Terence. I've got a feeling.

Camus stops the police car. Why not? A dawn sky is worth watching. 

They get out of the car, and gaze across the mudflats.

No Roo-kai.

But then:

Terence spots an elegant parrot, in the saltbush, pecking at seeds.

He squelches towards it.

Squelch squelch!

Ha ha! laughs the elegant parrot. You're sinking!

No, I'm not! says Terence. 

What is it? asks Camus, squelching closer.

The elegant parrot is alarmed by the police hat Camus is wearing.

Tinkle! tinkles the elegant parrot.

It flies off.

Was that an orange-bellied parrot? asks Camus. It looked like one.

They don't tinkle, says Terence. Let's keep going

They squelch back to the police car.

At this point Camus realises that they should clean their feet before getting back into the police car.

He reaches into the car for the bottle of regulation police water wedged between the front seats.

It will do nicely.

Camus sprinkles his shoes, and wipes them down with a handful of roadside vegetation.

Then he hands the bottle to Terence.

Terence pours the rest of the water onto the road, hoping to make a puddle.

But he's not quick enough. 

The water drains away.