51 - 9/10 - Ax, Marco, Tobias get Duck

He took to the sky and circled. Spilled air from his wings and dove. Swooped over the water and landed easily on a mallard's back. The duck squawked and splashed and tried to fly away. Tobias sank his talons into its feathers. The duck relaxed. It had fallen into an acquiring trance.

<Marco. Your turn,> said Tobias.

I splashed out to the duck. Grabbed him around the middle. Pressed my hands against his feathers. Had to start acquiring him before he snapped out of it.

I shut out the squawks and squeals around me, the shouts and laughs from the shore. Concentrated on the duck.

"Ax. You ready?" I sloshed toward him, duck in hand.

Ax reached for it.

(...)

What I guess was a tranquilizer dart pierced the weeds.

I handed the duck off to Ax in a weird DNA water relay.

TSSSSSEEEEEEEEW-buh-loooooosh.