One by one the yellow ducks found their way ashore, coughing and gasping. Inland the survivors discovered some potable water. The night skies were temperate and clear. They collected coconut palm fronds with which to build nests and later – homes – and later – municipal chambers – and later again – flood mitigation strategies. If the island sank into the waves, where would they go? Your place? Mine? A faction among the ducks consisting of the strongest swimmers wanted to catch a current in the shipping lanes and make for some more sophisticated civilisation. Australia, perhaps…
