Gaius and Victor were at Basham's Beach near Middleton, spotting whales. They had just seen two Southern Right Whales two hundred metres out from the shore.
Look at them, said Victor. They're loafing.
Loafing? said Gaius. How do you know?
That's what we call it, said Victor, when whales don't do anything.
I see you know a lot about whales, said Gaius.
I'm sure you do too, being a famous natural historian, said Victor.
Indeed, said Gaius. They can grow up to three hundred acres in size, and they take great delight in breeding.
Do they now? said Victor. I didn't know that.
Just then The VeloDrone, Le Bon David, Sweezus and Belle et Bonne rode up behind them and stopped.
Hi there! said The VeloDrone. We've arrived at last!
Hello Vello! said Gaius. Hello David, Sweezus, Belle et Bonne. This is Victor the policeman and well known whale spotter.
Oh I wouldn't say that, said Victor modestly. But look out there. We've just spotted two whales.
Oh look Sweezie! said Belle et Bonne. Whales! Aren't they gorgeous!
Yeah, said Sweezus. Whales are cool.
We're all very glad to hear that, said Le Bon David.
We are? said The VeloDrone. Why?
Remembering what he thinks about BIRDS, said Le Bon David. And penguins in particular, he added meaningfully.
Sweezus began to whistle tunelessly, and gazed out to sea.
What's this about Sweezus and penguins? asked Gaius.
Nothing, said Belle et Bonne.
Le Bon David frowned at her.
I think we should tell him, he said.
Showing posts with label penguins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label penguins. Show all posts
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Gaius Holds Forth
Francine, Gaius and Sweezus met Camus and the children at the bottom of the steps.
Why have you all come back down? asked Camus.
Albert! said Francine. It's a disaster! We humans have driven the penguins away.
I thought Gaius said they'd gone fishing, said Camus.
But there are very few left, said Francine. There are only one hundred and fifty. Most of them have moved to that island over there!
Let's go there! cried the twins.
We don't have a boat, said Francine. And besides, it wouldn't be right to harass them. Let's go to the kiosk and have something to eat.
Yay! said Catherine.
Yay! said Jean.
Yay, muttered Gaius, under his breath.
Gaius can tell us more about penguins, said Francine. He knows so much about them.
They ordered coffee, juices and snacks, and sat at a table in the sun, sheltered from the wind.
Adult penguins, said Gaius, have about ten thousand feathers, a density three to four times greater than that found in most other birds. They have hooked beaks with sharp edges and stiff backward pointing spines on their tongues to aid them in swallowing their prey. They have an extra set of eyelids to protect their eyes from water while swimming and to act as a windscreen wiper to get rid of sand....
He stopped talking, and looked around expecting a sea of interested faces.
Bur Francine had gone off with the children to look at the interpretive centre. Sweezus and Camus were talking about Camus' underground wartime experiences.
His coffee was cold, and the children had snaffled his snacks.
Why have you all come back down? asked Camus.
Albert! said Francine. It's a disaster! We humans have driven the penguins away.
I thought Gaius said they'd gone fishing, said Camus.
But there are very few left, said Francine. There are only one hundred and fifty. Most of them have moved to that island over there!
Let's go there! cried the twins.
We don't have a boat, said Francine. And besides, it wouldn't be right to harass them. Let's go to the kiosk and have something to eat.
Yay! said Catherine.
Yay! said Jean.
Yay, muttered Gaius, under his breath.
Gaius can tell us more about penguins, said Francine. He knows so much about them.
They ordered coffee, juices and snacks, and sat at a table in the sun, sheltered from the wind.
Adult penguins, said Gaius, have about ten thousand feathers, a density three to four times greater than that found in most other birds. They have hooked beaks with sharp edges and stiff backward pointing spines on their tongues to aid them in swallowing their prey. They have an extra set of eyelids to protect their eyes from water while swimming and to act as a windscreen wiper to get rid of sand....
He stopped talking, and looked around expecting a sea of interested faces.
Bur Francine had gone off with the children to look at the interpretive centre. Sweezus and Camus were talking about Camus' underground wartime experiences.
His coffee was cold, and the children had snaffled his snacks.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Postbox of the Sea, continued
Mountains to right of you, mountains to left of you; penguins everywhere, and stormy petrels. A fearful place! Mille saints mille singes! What a battering you get there! continued Captain Gertrais.
In other words, it is a devilish coast. Such jagged rocks and reefs ! And then you come to Port Famine, which is the worst of all, with the heaviest breakers you've seen in all your life. And there you see these two words written in red: POST OFFICE .
On a rock a hundred feet high is a tall post with a barrel hanging from it. The barrel is the post box of the sea. Every vessel that passes sends a boat to the barrel with their mail. Ships coming from the Atlantic post their letters for Europe, and ships coming from the Pacific post their letters for America. The barrel is made fast to the post with a chain. It has a good hinged lid, but no lock or padlock. And it rains! And it snows! And it hails! And what a dirty sea.....
So, you get the picture. Victor Hugo's postbox of the sea was certainly a dangerous letterbox. But Captain Clubin had further reason to believe it dangerous, for earlier that morning he had committed a crime, and planned to commit another the following day......
In other words, it is a devilish coast. Such jagged rocks and reefs ! And then you come to Port Famine, which is the worst of all, with the heaviest breakers you've seen in all your life. And there you see these two words written in red: POST OFFICE .
On a rock a hundred feet high is a tall post with a barrel hanging from it. The barrel is the post box of the sea. Every vessel that passes sends a boat to the barrel with their mail. Ships coming from the Atlantic post their letters for Europe, and ships coming from the Pacific post their letters for America. The barrel is made fast to the post with a chain. It has a good hinged lid, but no lock or padlock. And it rains! And it snows! And it hails! And what a dirty sea.....
So, you get the picture. Victor Hugo's postbox of the sea was certainly a dangerous letterbox. But Captain Clubin had further reason to believe it dangerous, for earlier that morning he had committed a crime, and planned to commit another the following day......
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