Love Birds Page #6

from the distance of Mars

to just within the Earth's orbit.

On the 1st of February, 2019, it will hit Earth,

causing a global climatic disaster

that will threaten the future

of civilization as we know it.

Wow.

OK, that's, um...

...pretty heavy sh...

stuff there, fella.

Howzat!

Boys! Heh-heh. Good game, eh?

Yeah.

Oh, man, that kid

Taylor's pretty full-on.

Whoo.

He's got some issues there,

I reckon.

Although he's wrong about NT7.

It's gonna miss us by a country mile.

What do you mean?

Oh, I read a while back

on 'Sky and Telescope',

apparently, its course has

changed somewhat.

Still, don't wanna spoil

a kid's fantasy, eh?

Great delivery,

and what a HUGE breakthrough.

Brian, cue.

Yes, he never

looked settled at the crease

and now he's thrown his

wicket away without scoring.

Oh, what the hell's that?

I believe it's called a 'duck', Allan.

Oh, who'd bring a duck to a cricket

match? Can't be a real duck.

Actually, I think It's what

they call a 'shelduck', Allan.

Oh, it's a shelduck, Is it?

Yeah, it Is.

But they're more commonly known

as 'parries' over here.

He had a really good time.

That's OK.

He's a good kid.

He is. He is. He's good.

That's good.

Yeah.

All good.

Thanks. 'Bye.

Mum, what are you doing?

Uh...

Just... you know, just saying

goodnight to... to Doug.

So, goodnight.

And I was just saying...

goodnight and...

Goodnight, Taylor.

Oh, I almost forgot.

What are you guys doing tomorrow?

Nothing planned.

Great.

I wanna show Taylor something.

OK. Sounds very mysterious.

It's a little bit... not too mysterious.

OK.

So, can I pick you up at 10:00?

Lovely.

Alright? Cool.

Doug?

Mum, haven't you said

goodbye enough?!

'Bye.

Yep, I'm coming.

Should be in bed.

Hi, you're with Doug.

Doug. It's Susan.

Oh...

Uh... this is kind of hard for me.

But, um...

but after seeing you today,

I haven't been able

to stop thinking about you.

Uh-huh.

I was confused when I left you, Doug.

But, um... but now that I've had time

to clear my head, things are different.

And, um...

Well, I know that you've started

seeing someone else,

but we had two years together, Doug,

and that means something.

I don't think that I could forgive

myself if we just threw it all away

without, well,

at least talking about it.

Doug?

Yeah.

Suppose it can't hurt.

Great. Are you free Monday night?

Monday's good, yep.

OK. I'll see you then.

NT7, while initially thought

to be a high-level threat,

has long since been downgraded.

You see, the science

of observing the universe

is the art of looking

not just once or twice,

but many, many times.

By watching the orbit

and trajectory of NT7,

the astronomers have observed

that it will miss Earth

by several tens of millions of kilometers.

So, we're not all gonna die?

I guess not.

Not from being hit by NT7

we're not, anyway.

But I was sure...

Ah, that's the thing about

the universe, my young friend.

What is true today

is not necessarily true tomorrow.

The universe must change.

That's its nature.

Tag!

Tag! Tag!

Tag! I got you.

Tag!

Thank you.

That meant so much to Taylor.

It's good

to see him looking so happy.

That's OK.

You're a good man, Doug Gordon.

Um...

Holly...

Doug!

Pierre's gone!

What?

When did you last see him, love?

Only a few minutes ago.

He was right there.

I saw this dog.

Alright.

It's OK.

Pierre!

What if the dog ate him?

Of course

the dog didn't eat him.

Pierre!

Pierre!

Have you seen a duck?

Pierre!

Pierre!

Pierre!

Pierre!

Pierre!

Pierre!

Any sign?

He's probably fine.

Maybe he just... took off, Doug.

Well, he can't fly, Brent.

This is where he belongs, Doug.

I mean, you know, we may just

have to face the fact that he's gone.

No, I'm not.

I'm sorry.

Listen, Doug...

Ugh.

Mate, in you get.

Come on.

Pierre!

I'm sorry if I upset you.

Pierre!

Doug, something probably scared him.

Maybe that dog you saw.

Doug, he's probably in hiding, you know.

Yeah.

He may not come out

for hours, days even.

Well, look, do you expect me

just to leave him?

No.

I can't.

No, I know. I know. Doug, I don't.

I know you're not the type

who just bails on his mates.

We'll find Pierre, OK?

Look, we're all so fond of him.

I mean, especially me.

He brought us together, didn't he?

Eh?

I'm having dinner with Susan.

Oh.

I think she wants to get back together.

Oh... Oh.

Oh.

OK.

OK.

I... I tried to tell you.

Yeah.

Well, you have now.

So your conscience is clear,

isn't it?

Sh*t!

How much longer

is he gonna be out there?

Can't just leave him here.

Here he comes.

Well, there's no sign of him.

Poor Doug.

Oh, come on, snap out of it!

You got what you wanted.

Now you've got a chance

to make it up with Susan.

Don't let a stupid duck get you down.

Of course.

There's no chance for us

It's all decided for us

This world has

Only one sweet moment

Set aside for us

Who wants to live forever?

Who wants to live forever?

Pierre!

Pierre!

Pierre!

It's you.

Who dares to love forever?

It's you. You OK, little buddy?

Oh-ooh-oh!

When love must die!

Is he gonna be OK?

Yes.

I may have to reassess

my original diagnosis.

This bird is very capable of flying again.

Really?

Mm.

Far as I can tell, there's only one thing

standing in his way, and that's you.

Me?

He's bonded with you.

And you don't fly,

so he doesn't need to fly.

So, what are you saying?

In order for Pierre to fly,

I have to fly?

Ready for take-off, First Officer?

So, Doug...

...you go up in the balloon...

...Pierre sees you fly,

Pierre is inspired to fly.

Yeah, I...

I should've said this earlier.

But...

Mm?

I don't fly.

Good.

I thought I was gonna be OK, but now

that I'm here, it's just... it's got worse.

We'll have to teach you both to fly, then.

I can't. I can't fly.

You OK, buddy?

I know.

You sure about this?

Needs to get back his desire to fly.

Trust me, I'm a vet.

Oh. See, he's remembering.

He's remembering.

It's working!

That's good, Pierre.

This isn't right, Doug.

OK, that's enough!

What?!

You can stop now!

We could go higher?

No, bring him back!

Haven't seen him flap like that in ages.

I think it's cruel, actually-

you've given him a taste of something

that he's never gonna be able to have.

Honey, chillax.

No, I'm not gonna 'chillax'.

You've shown him something

and then you've just taken it away.

You can't give up, Doug.

Not if you want him to fly.

No. I'm sorry.

Been through enough.

Hey.

Going out, mate?

Yeah. Having dinner with Susan.

Look, Pierre's still a bit scratchy,

so I'm just gonna take him with me.

See ya, mate.

Mum?

Mm?

Is Doug still your friend?

Um...

I'm not sure.

Is it because of me?

No, of course not.

I'm always gonna be friends with Artie.

I know you will, sweetheart.

I miss Dad.

I know.

But I sort of like Doug too.

Is that OK?

Yeah.

Goodnight, darling.

Sleep well, yeah?

Goodnight, love.

Goodnight.

Why does it feel like

I'm cheating on someone?

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