WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:07.160 Tired of the everyday grind, every dream of a life 2 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:11.400 of romantic adventure, want to get away from it all. 3 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:13.359 We offer you. 4 00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:22.839 Escape, Escape, designed to free you from the four walls 5 00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:26.760 of today for a half hour of high adventure. 6 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:43.439 You are in a farmhouse on the southern coast of England. 7 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:48.520 The autumn countryside around you desolate and bleak, and you 8 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:52.920 know that in the dusk outside, waiting patiently for you, 9 00:00:53.719 --> 00:00:58.000 silently watching for you, is an enemy from whom there 10 00:00:58.039 --> 00:01:00.320 may be no escape. 11 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:03.640 Listen now, as Escape brings you daf Nativo Yer story 12 00:01:03.880 --> 00:01:06.359 The Birds. 13 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:32.040 On Assemble the third The wind changed overnight, and it 14 00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:36.040 was winter. Until then, the autumn had been mellow soft, 15 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:39.280 the earth was rich where the plow had turned it. 16 00:01:40.120 --> 00:01:43.000 I didn't do the plowing, No, my wartime disability had 17 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:46.480 seemed that they gave me mostly the lighter repair jobs 18 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:48.040 to do in the three days a week that I 19 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:50.920 worked at the farm. A bank to build up, or 20 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:53.040 a gate to mend. At the far end of the peninsula, 21 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:55.680 where the sea surrounded the farm land on either side, 22 00:01:56.920 --> 00:01:59.000 Deborah and I had taken a cottage up here to 23 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:02.400 try again for the sake of the children, and it 24 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:03.799 seemed to be working fairly well. 25 00:02:04.959 --> 00:02:06.439 I enjoyed my work on the farm. 26 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:09.039 It was pleasant to pause at midday to eat the 27 00:02:09.120 --> 00:02:12.400 lunth the dead had prepared and brought to me. We'd 28 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:14.319 sit there on the cliff while I ate, and we'd 29 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:21.360 watch the birds, and many of them that, yes, were 30 00:02:21.360 --> 00:02:24.840 the autumns better than spring for watching them. Oh oh, well, 31 00:02:24.919 --> 00:02:28.120 in the spring they're content, they're full of purposely, know 32 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:31.159 where they're going, there's no delay. But then an autumn 33 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:34.159 it's different. The birds that don't, my grate, seem to 34 00:02:34.159 --> 00:02:38.319 follow the pattern of their own. Captain humm, great flocks 35 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:42.560 of them here on the peninsula, restless, uneasy, wheeling, circling, 36 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:46.520 coming to rest and flying again. The land birds and 37 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:49.599 the girls down there in the bay, a strange sort 38 00:02:49.639 --> 00:02:52.000 of rhythm in their movements. 39 00:02:52.039 --> 00:02:54.879 They don't really go anywhere. Doesn't seem to be any 40 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:56.639 purpose to it. 41 00:02:57.039 --> 00:03:01.680 No, well, if there is, we don't see it. They're restlessness, 42 00:03:02.039 --> 00:03:04.240 and they're more restlessness year than usual, seems to me. 43 00:03:04.800 --> 00:03:07.520 You know, this morning two girls flew so closely knocked off. 44 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:09.879 My captain said, yesterday when the school bus letter off, 45 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:11.159 there was quite a few of them overhead. 46 00:03:11.159 --> 00:03:12.159 As if they'd been followed. 47 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:14.599 Oh well, I suppose it means a hard winter. They 48 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:17.800 always seem to know. Perhaps a message comes to them 49 00:03:17.800 --> 00:03:22.199 in autumn, a warning about winter and about death. 50 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:23.159 Nat. 51 00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:26.400 Many of them will die, and I think they know it. 52 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:30.840 Perhaps they feel they have to spill their motion out 53 00:03:30.879 --> 00:03:34.439 before they die, like people who know their time is 54 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:38.439 up and run about stupidly driving themselves. 55 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:43.560 We shouldn't talk like that, Nat, That that black side 56 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:45.439 of you that stayed up the trouble between us before. 57 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:49.639 I'm sorry, Debby, but it's come over me lately as 58 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:53.039 I've watched them, the land birds mingling with the sea 59 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:59.039 birds in a sort of strange, unnatural partnership. Land and 60 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:20.920 See Life and Death. At night, it turned colder and 61 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:24.399 the wind strengthened. Around two in the morning, the sound 62 00:04:24.399 --> 00:04:27.480 of it beating against the house woke me up. I 63 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:30.720 lay there with this slow, even breathing of Debby beside me, 64 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:33.639 and I thought of Jill and Johnny in the room 65 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:40.680 across the hall. We seemed safe, secure, And then I 66 00:04:40.759 --> 00:04:43.480 heard it tapping. 67 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:43.720 On the window. 68 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:46.720 First I thought it was a loose shutterer, and then 69 00:04:47.279 --> 00:04:51.439 I realized it wasn't. I got out of bed into 70 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:57.879 the window opened it. Suddenly something brushed against my hand 71 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:00.879 and jamped my knuckles, and I'm gone over the roof 72 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:10.120 and behind the cottage. Hm M, yes, what's it? Uh, 73 00:05:10.160 --> 00:05:13.959 it's alright, Debby. It was a bird. I don't know 74 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:15.720 what kind burden. 75 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.399 Mm. 76 00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:19.519 Wind must have driven it against the window sill. And 77 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:26.879 my hand's wet. It's blood. M. Little beggar drew blood. 78 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:29.639 Good to sleep n H. 79 00:05:30.360 --> 00:05:32.759 Must have been frightened and stabbed at me in the dark. 80 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:37.839 If the mad. 81 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:39.639 The window seems you, it distract me. 82 00:05:40.160 --> 00:05:42.959 I've already seen you. It's some bird trying to get in. M. 83 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:45.720 Send them away. I can't sleep with that noise. 84 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:57.079 H ll ugh with you. But why little straight with 85 00:05:57.199 --> 00:06:04.079 my face out got away? Did you see that? 86 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:06.680 There were half a dozen this time they went for me, 87 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:08.600 tried to peck my eyes. 88 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:09.720 I'm not making it up there. 89 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:12.240 It's jill. Don't see what's the matter? 90 00:06:12.399 --> 00:06:17.720 Right comming jail? Keep flying? Where's Johnny? 91 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:20.360 Quick? 92 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:25.319 Get the children out of here? And get the children 93 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:31.160 out of here and shut the door quick. I pushed 94 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.199 them out of the room, and now I was alone 95 00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:33.839 with the birds. 96 00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:36.720 I seized the blanket and I used as a weapon, 97 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:39.399 sweeping it right and the left, and I. 98 00:06:39.319 --> 00:06:40.560 Could hear the thud of bodies. 99 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:43.480 But they've kept coming after the jumping my hands my head, 100 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:46.639 trying for my eyes with beats as sharp as pointed forks, 101 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:48.199 and I wrapped. 102 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:50.839 The blanket around my head, beat apout with my bare 103 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:55.319 hands blindly. I don't know how long I bought them. 104 00:06:55.560 --> 00:07:00.600 Finally, the beating of wings lessened, and then but still 105 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:06.839 I unwrapped the blanket from my face. The cold, gray 106 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:10.759 dawn had seeped into the room. The floor was littered 107 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:15.800 with the tiny corpses, the birds, robins, finches, sparrows, locks. 108 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:18.759 Some had last feathers in the fight, and the others 109 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:23.800 had blood, my blood on their beaks. Sickened, I went 110 00:07:23.839 --> 00:07:27.839 to the window, and the fierce sea broke harshly in 111 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:31.160 the day. But there was not a bird in sight. 112 00:07:32.199 --> 00:07:34.920 Not a sparrow chattered in the hedge, No early thrush 113 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:38.519 or blackbird pecked on the grass for worms. There was 114 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:41.800 no sound at all but the east wind and the sea. 115 00:07:42.279 --> 00:07:45.160 Net Ah, I'm all right, deady. 116 00:07:45.959 --> 00:07:49.199 I didn't know what look covered with flood. 117 00:07:49.800 --> 00:07:55.079 Some of it's the birds. Look on the floor. He 118 00:07:55.680 --> 00:07:57.959 fifty I counted them horrible. 119 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:00.519 Come on, Dannie, I'll clean the room later when I 120 00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:02.319 had more stomach for it. 121 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:03.800 It must have been ghastly. 122 00:08:03.480 --> 00:08:06.399 For the children, all right, Yes, I put Joe to 123 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:09.000 work making tea Johnny's narbd just no sleep. 124 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:12.360 Not why the bird? 125 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:17.639 Well, it must be the weather, the sudden change confused them. 126 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:20.839 It has to be that the. 127 00:08:20.839 --> 00:08:24.279 Tee is ready. Mummy. Oh good? Did you drive away 128 00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:24.879 the birds? 129 00:08:25.160 --> 00:08:26.639 Yes? They're all gone now, do you. 130 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:30.480 I hope they won't come again. Perhaps if we put 131 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:32.519 bread runs for them outside the window, they eat that 132 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:36.879 and fly away. I've already had breakfast. I'd better hurry. 133 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:38.279 I'll be late for the school bus. 134 00:08:38.360 --> 00:08:41.840 Bush. I'll walk with you to the road. 135 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:43.840 Joe, Yeah, I think that'd be a good idea. I'll 136 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:44.919 go get my cat book. 137 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:47.120 I didn't want it to walk and down. 138 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:52.879 That they they wouldn't come back again. 139 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:57.919 I'll go over to the farm and find out if 140 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:00.679 they heard anything during the night, if all the windows 141 00:09:00.679 --> 00:09:02.440 and doors closed, they'd be just to be on the 142 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:02.919 safe side. 143 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:27.240 Hello, anyone about Hello, mister Hock, the mister around, Missus Trigg. 144 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:28.360 Summer's the ball. 145 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:30.159 But can you tell me where this call is coming 146 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:32.639 from Russia. I've never seen such a change, and it's 147 00:09:32.639 --> 00:09:35.080 going on the wireless, says, something to do with the 148 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:36.039 Arctic Circle. 149 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:39.840 We didn't turn on the wireless this morning. The fact 150 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:41.519 is we had trouble in. 151 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:42.960 The night, Oh kitties poorly. 152 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:48.120 No, no, not exactly. No, we had some trouble with birds. 153 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:52.519 Why it sounds absurd, but they flew in the window 154 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:53.320 and attacked us. 155 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:58.200 Attacked you. No, mister Hockins, I'm not making it up. 156 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:58.799 Missus Trigg. 157 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:00.879 There are a fifty dead head's on the floor of 158 00:10:00.919 --> 00:10:01.960 the children's bedroom. 159 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:03.480 Foreign birds. 160 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:07.480 No, no, the kind you see about here every day. 161 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:09.759 Really will you ought to write up and ask the 162 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:11.559 man just to guard you, and they haven't. 163 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:14.039 Answer for it. Good morning, Huckins. 164 00:10:14.919 --> 00:10:18.159 Mister Howkins has been telling a box of birds last night. 165 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:21.320 The pieces the attacked him. 166 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:26.440 Attack you? Sure? Quiet? I heard of the thing I 167 00:10:26.519 --> 00:10:33.039 did before. Hungry maybe looking for food? You put out 168 00:10:33.080 --> 00:10:37.720 some crumbs, Yes, of course, I'll be up tomorrow as usual. 169 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:45.159 Good morning, ordinary birds, he says, attacked him. 170 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:47.320 Now what did he take us for coming around with 171 00:10:47.360 --> 00:10:50.279 a story like that? Strange one? 172 00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:53.960 He is with our superior airs, You see the look 173 00:10:53.960 --> 00:10:57.320 he gave us when he didn't swallow his story attacked him. 174 00:10:57.960 --> 00:10:59.600 I think he reads too many of those. 175 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:18.000 Nat, did you find out anything at a part? 176 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:22.679 No, the trigs brilliant advice was to put out some crumbs. 177 00:11:23.360 --> 00:11:25.600 Debbie Eye looked all around this morning. There's not a 178 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:28.039 single bird in sight outdoors. 179 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:28.840 Where they've gone. 180 00:11:29.559 --> 00:11:30.200 I don't know. 181 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:31.960 The Trigs had no trouble last night. 182 00:11:32.039 --> 00:11:35.080 Not only that they clearly thought I was imagining it. Oh. 183 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:38.000 I heard Trig mutter something about my superior airs and 184 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:40.000 reading too many books as I walked away. 185 00:11:40.960 --> 00:11:43.200 Nothing's real to those clods until it hits them over 186 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:43.559 their head. 187 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:48.559 Well, they're nice enough people, ned, it's just that they're 188 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:49.759 isolated up here. 189 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:51.440 Well, that's certainly the polite word for it. 190 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:54.960 I haven't been able to face going into the children's room. 191 00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:56.360 They've birds. 192 00:11:56.360 --> 00:12:00.399 Oh guess I'll go and clean it up. The least 193 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:02.759 I can do is give the little beggars a decent burial. 194 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:12.759 I dropped the dead birds into a sack and went 195 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:15.320 down to the beach to bury them. The wind was 196 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:18.200 bitter cold. I dug a pit in the sand with 197 00:12:18.279 --> 00:12:20.000 my heel and started to empty the sack. 198 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:20.399 Into it. 199 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:23.159 But the wind caught the birds and whirled them along 200 00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:26.080 the shore, and there was something ugly in the sight 201 00:12:26.600 --> 00:12:29.960 that the tide would take them when it turned. I 202 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:35.120 looked out at the crested breakers, and then I saw them, 203 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:39.080 the gulls, out there, riding the seas. 204 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:42.799 Thousands, tens of thousands. 205 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:46.960 They rose and fell in the trough of the sea, 206 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:50.879 like a mighty fleeted anchor, waiting for the turn of 207 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:52.120 the tide. 208 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:53.679 Waiting. 209 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:59.279 They stretched as far as my eye could reach. They 210 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:03.960 covered the sea. I started up the steep park home, 211 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:07.639 almost running. Someone should know that that someone should be told, 212 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:13.120 But who? And then as I opened the front door, 213 00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:14.519 I saw Deddy beside the world. 214 00:13:14.519 --> 00:13:17.159 It's listening and even attacking individuals. 215 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:20.480 It is thought that the Arctic airstream is causing the 216 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:23.919 birds to migrate south in immense numbers, and that intense 217 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:27.759 hunger may drive them to attack human beings. Householders are 218 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:31.519 warned to see to their windows, doors and chimneys, and 219 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.399 to take all precautions. 220 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:34.039 For the safety of their children. 221 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:35.919 Further bulletins will. 222 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.440 Be issued later. 223 00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:39.559 They've been repeating it every few minutes since you left. 224 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:43.240 Well, perhaps now those empty headed idiots at the farm. 225 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:47.240 Will no you s almost gad Oh, don't talk. 226 00:13:47.120 --> 00:13:49.000 Rock Deby. It's just that when people with half a 227 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:49.919 brain try to tell me. 228 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.960 That you forget that superior attitude of yours even. 229 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:54.799 Now, don't choose that word superior to me. I'm sick 230 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:56.440 of it, so are you. 231 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:03.679 I'm sorry these things made me a little nervy. 232 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:07.279 I guess yes, I I'm sorry too much. 233 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:11.240 One of the bulletins said, the birds seemed to be 234 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:13.799 waiting for what. 235 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:15.399 I don't know. 236 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:23.399 They said, the birds are hungry. What you doing the hammer? 237 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:25.480 I'm gonna get some boards and see to the doors 238 00:14:25.519 --> 00:14:26.559 and windows as they tell you to. 239 00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:28.720 You think they could break in with the windows shut, 240 00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:31.799 the sparrows and robins and such, How could they? 241 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:36.519 I wasn't thinking about the smaller birds. I was thinking 242 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:37.639 about the gulls. 243 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:40.440 The gulls, Debby. 244 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:44.600 Have you ever been close enough to get a good 245 00:14:44.720 --> 00:14:49.360 look at a gull's beak? There must be one hundred 246 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:53.000 thousand of them out there riding the sea. 247 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:54.679 Waiting. 248 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:09.440 The rest of the morning, I worked upstairs boarding the 249 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:13.120 bedroom windows, and I wondered whether they'd take these precautions 250 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:16.919 up at the farm. I doubted it. It'd probably a 251 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:19.879 big joke to the Triggs. But according to the wire 252 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:22.480 as it was no joke. At first, some of the 253 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:25.080 bulletins had been light in Tourne, But as the morning 254 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:27.840 wore on, the concern in the announcer's voice. 255 00:15:27.639 --> 00:15:31.919 Became more and more apparent. Well after I finished upstairs, 256 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.759 I took the rest. 257 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:35.879 Of the lumber down, boarded up the lower floor windows. 258 00:15:36.480 --> 00:15:38.200 What they ought to do is call the army out 259 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.679 and shoot the birds that would soon scare them off. 260 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:44.919 Debbie, Uh, how are we off for food now? 261 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:45.279 Net? 262 00:15:45.320 --> 00:15:45.679 Whatever? 263 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:46.039 Next? 264 00:15:46.120 --> 00:15:47.960 No? Never mind? What have you got in the larder? 265 00:15:48.120 --> 00:15:50.720 Shutting me tomorrow? You know that I don't keep uncooked 266 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:53.600 food hanging about. It goes off. But I can put 267 00:15:53.639 --> 00:15:54.519 some things in tomorrow. 268 00:15:55.240 --> 00:16:03.960 Tomorrow. It's only three in the afternoon and it's almost dark. 269 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:12.879 What I yes, the sky looked so heavy, Net, what's 270 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:14.200 the matter? You've gone quite quite? 271 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:22.840 Look the tides turned, the gulls they've risen, circling over 272 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:27.720 the sea. Not a sun from them. Net. I'm going 273 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:29.759 for Jill. I'll wait for it the bus stop. You 274 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:31.840 keep Johnny inside and keep the door shut. 275 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:44.759 Outside. I looked at a weapon and a hole was 276 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:46.759 all I could find, and I went to the top 277 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:50.039 of the hill and waited. The surf was booming below, 278 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:53.440 and a smudge rose behind the clay hills in the distance. 279 00:16:54.200 --> 00:17:02.080 It widened, divided and spread north east south west. It 280 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:06.400 was a vast cloud of birds and passed close by, 281 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.960 heading inland up country. 282 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.480 They had no business with the people here on the peninsula. 283 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:16.519 Rooks, crows, jack doors, magpies, birds that usually preyed upon 284 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:19.920 the smaller species, But this afternoon they were bound on 285 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:24.920 some other mission. They've been given the towns. I thought, 286 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:29.119 they know what they have to do. We don't matter 287 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:31.480 so much here. The gulls will serve where us the 288 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:33.680 others go to the towns. 289 00:17:35.079 --> 00:17:37.799 And finally the buss came. When Jill got off, I 290 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:38.640 took it by the hand. 291 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:43.319 What's the horse do I daddy? 292 00:17:43.440 --> 00:17:45.519 Oh? I just bought it along. Come along now, darling, 293 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:47.480 let's go home. It's cold. No hanging about them. 294 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:49.200 I want to try it in to day, not to night. 295 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:52.559 Now, come on, no, dordling, daddy. 296 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:55.960 Look over there, Look at the girls they die in 297 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:56.559 from the sea. 298 00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:01.880 They're so quiet, Yes, sir, do hurry, darling. Where is 299 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:04.880 it trying to oh, up the country, I dare say, well, 300 00:18:05.039 --> 00:18:05.720 where it's warmer. 301 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.240 Don't go so fast. 302 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:07.960 I can't keep up. 303 00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:10.359 Horry, it goes. 304 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:11.680 It is sing. 305 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:19.759 You looksychy waiting sumty signal order. Nothing, Come on, you're faster. 306 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.319 I can't go faster. 307 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:29.039 Wait. Wait, there's Trigg in his two seater. Looks as 308 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:31.559 though we're in for some fun hocking. Have you heard 309 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:35.960 the news? Everyone's gone bird crazy, talking of nothing else. 310 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.960 I'm going to take a crack at them with my gun. 311 00:18:39.319 --> 00:18:42.400 Could you run Jill home first? Ayes, of course, not 312 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:44.480 room for you too, I'm afraid that's all. I just 313 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:47.039 get Jill home, Get in, Julia. Are you like to 314 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:50.759 come shooting with me? No thanks? Have you boarded your windows? 315 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.079 No? 316 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:54.559 A lot of nonsense. They like to scare you on 317 00:18:54.680 --> 00:18:57.359 the wireless. I'd bought them if I were. You gone, 318 00:18:57.480 --> 00:19:00.839 you're winded. We'll see you in the morning. Give you 319 00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:01.920 a gull rings. 320 00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:10.799 I watched Trigg drive Joe toward the cottage, and then 321 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:21.599 I followed on foot. The sound made me look up. 322 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:25.480 The gulls were approaching. The order had been given and 323 00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:28.640 the farm was their targets. The black backed gulls were 324 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:33.119 leading and they were bigger birds gannets turns, and suddenly 325 00:19:33.160 --> 00:19:35.759 one of them flow up, missed, rose it drive again, 326 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:39.319 and then came the other six, seven, a dozen. I 327 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:41.000 dropped the whole, covered my head with my arms and 328 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:43.400 ran towards the cottage. They kept coming at it from 329 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:46.119 the air with beating wings. Each stab of a swooping 330 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:47.119 big torn a fresh. 331 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:49.920 I had to keep them from my eyes. With each 332 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:52.519 diver it came over, and they had no thought for themselves. 333 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:54.759 When they missed, they crashed, bruised and broken. 334 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:57.119 On the ground. And as I ran, I stump kicking 335 00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:59.960 herself hardies in front of me. Neither aimed at better, 336 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:03.079 closer to my eyes, closer, And then I wished the 337 00:20:03.119 --> 00:20:07.880 door of the cottage, and then above me I saw 338 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:10.359 the gannet poised against the sky for his dye. 339 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:13.519 The girls drew back only the huge gannet. 340 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:16.640 The wings folded suddenly to its body, and it looped 341 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.599 like a stone at me. 342 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:24.559 The door opened and I flung myself in a canet. 343 00:20:25.400 --> 00:20:43.440 He just put my skull. Yes, thanks quite the woundresser. 344 00:20:44.519 --> 00:20:45.880 Are the children from the other room. 345 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:48.359 I didn't want them to see you that way? Your 346 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.359 hands are the worst. 347 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:52.519 I'll be all right, we'd better all sleep here in 348 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:53.200 the kitchen tonight. 349 00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:56.079 Now bring down the mattresses, all fix something tasty for 350 00:20:56.160 --> 00:21:01.799 supper and sound What is it? 351 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:05.319 The birds crowding against the outside of the house trying 352 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:08.960 to find a way in net don't they can't get in? 353 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:11.359 I tell you they cannot get in. Those boards will hold? 354 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:12.000 How long? 355 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:13.240 How long? 356 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:18.680 Yeah? I turn on the waas I've bound them out. 357 00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:26.319 Yeah, yes, better, yes, anything so I can't hear that's poverty. 358 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:29.680 It's only the food that weires. Mid Debbie. 359 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:33.319 Now, I've noticed that the birds come in with the tide. 360 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:35.559 But the tide will go out about nine to night, 361 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:38.000 and we should have a lull of about six hours. 362 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:39.960 I could slip out during that time and go to 363 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:42.079 the farm see if they can give us something. 364 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.039 Here is lucky. 365 00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:47.680 A national emergency was proclaimed that four o'cocks this afternoon. Yes, 366 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:50.559 the measures are being taken to safeguard the lives and 367 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:53.839 property of the population, but it must be understood that 368 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:57.599 these are not easy to affect immediately. You the unforeseen 369 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:01.640 and unharve nature of the present crisis. It is absolutely 370 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:06.160 impetitive that everyone remain indoors until further noticed. Birds in 371 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:10.079 vase numbers are attacking everything in sight. The population is 372 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:13.960 asked to remain calm and not to panic. There would 373 00:22:13.960 --> 00:22:17.480 be no further transmission from any broadcasting station until seven 374 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.880 am tomorrow. 375 00:22:19.799 --> 00:22:20.279 Which. 376 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.279 Like this all over then. 377 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:31.160 All over there by super Let's let's forget it. 378 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:33.559 Let's all just try to get some sleep. 379 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:54.960 Wake up? 380 00:22:58.599 --> 00:22:59.480 What time is it? 381 00:23:00.160 --> 00:23:00.519 The three? 382 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.319 The tires coming again. 383 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:05.680 There's been a queer smell the last two minutes. Dropperl 384 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.920 burned feathers. 385 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:11.279 Burn feathers the chimney. I got to be the fire 386 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:13.680 up and coming down the chimney. Where's the oil on 387 00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:16.240 the shelf? Got the other just squeezing through the chimneys. 388 00:23:16.440 --> 00:23:20.279 Stand back and before the oil on the coals. Never 389 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:25.119 get them, yeah, just get me taper, would anything it 390 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:30.759 will burn? Hurry Their charred bodies get dropping down the chimney. 391 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:34.000 I raped them to one side, but more came. I 392 00:23:34.079 --> 00:23:36.599 threw on the rest of the oil. You out, paper's 393 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:40.960 on it, kindling anything. The flames roared higher, more bodies. 394 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:45.319 The stench was unbearable, and I kept at it. Finally 395 00:23:45.400 --> 00:23:48.440 they gave up and I went over to the basin. 396 00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:49.240 I was sick. 397 00:24:03.079 --> 00:24:07.440 Around nine in the morning, the rustling ceased. I opened 398 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:11.640 the door a crack. Crushed birds were deep about the house, 399 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:13.720 but there was not a living bird in sight. 400 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:18.200 The tide had gone out. Now was my chance to 401 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:19.160