47 Ducks 1.9

9.

Othello looked to the two other ducks who trained with him. They were to be his opponents with his newly worn extended wings. It was awkward initially learning how to wade with it and then fly as if it was a young duckling again. Soon with training and much perseverance, it prevailed.

“The learned must be undone to learn new things.” Sansei Mouse explained. “The old must be foregone for the new.”

With those words, Othello relearned his fighting skills as if it was a student once more. It recalled during those seasons, the duck had many feathers damaged or disfigured by the action. It was made worse when the senior ducks coached them not with the intention of teaching but with intents of hurting them. His Master then, Senior Segal explained that it’s through reality one could see the true world.

“Othello, are you ready?” The quack of Iago was heard. Othello opponents were Iago and Casanova. They armed with the tips of the feathers dipped into the venom of the centipedes. If it comes into contact with the open wound, the venom will kill the other in seconds. It’s one of the deadliest form taught to the ducks.

Othello nodded.

Iago then flapped its wings out to fly up while Casanova flapped its wing but remained on the ground. The former landed on Casanova’ back and resumed its flapping. It was called the “Stacker move”. Othello responded with its own wings spread but motionless. Without any warning, Iago flew up higher with its wings flapping wildly thus distracting the opponent while Casanova rushed forth with a series of body rolls. It was the classic move of the ducks. Othello seen that attack and stepped back to avoid Casanova attack when it spread out its wings near the commander. The later did a wide sweep with the wings to hit at the commander which was the intended move. That day there was a variation.

Casanova did a jump before the commander and lashed out with its side kick while Iago swooped in a wide turn to attack from the left. Othello blocked the side kick with its right wing and had to twist its body to do a left wing upper block on Iago. It was an unprecedented move. At the same time, Othello propel itself to a tight turn to swing the right wingtips just barely missing the bill of Casanova. It landed on the far side and jumped up to kick at the back of Iago.

“Bravo!” Caesar quacked out. “I came, I saw and I am amazed. Like the waltz of the cranes.”

The Legionnaires Commander was with the Sansei Mouse, and they both applauded the new moves. The trio of ducks bowed to the Sansei for its teaching. Othello then spoke up for its ducks.

“I am glad my Guards have done well. I wonder what would had happened if they hit me. I am lucky we did not use the centipede venom for training.”

“One cannot mistake the breeze for nothing as it may be the early signs of the storm.” Sansei Mouse spoke up while it eyed the other two ducks. Then it added in. “The use of the real thing ensure careful planning and also makes one more aware of the danger. I told them to put the venom on.”

Othello was puzzled and then nodded. It thanked the Sansei for the advice. On Iago expression, it was more puzzlement for no duck was told of the venom except Casanova. It looked at the Sansei Mouse and smiled.

“You old mouse need to be watched like what the cat does.” Iago muttered to itself. Its thoughts were interrupted when Sansei Mouse asked the Legionnaires to show their new formation with the shell. Commander Caesar was happy to oblige. The Legionnaires were down to twenty ducks including the Commander.

“Form the Turtle.” Caesar commanded which the nineteen ducks rearranged themselves into a square around their commander. “You may attack now, Othello.”

The trio of ducks flapped their wings and soared to the sky before it swooped like the eagles. It saw the legionnaires there with the bills raised to the sky. It was a standard procedure for the legionnaires in the second line to leap up and pulled the opponent down into the testudo. That day there was a difference. The second line of ducks crouched forward and exposed their back with the spike short reeds. They then released the tight elastic bindings to release the reeds like projectiles towards the attacking ducks.

“Break!” Othello called out to the other two but they were already hit by the reeds. They were lucky that day for the reeds were blunted with moss. The trio of ducks fell to the ground bruised and upset.

“Caesar, you deliberately did that.” Othello confronted the other.

“Only in reality would we see the real thing.” Caesar replied. It then led the Legionnaires off on a march. Sansei Mouse comforted the later and explained that there was no harm done. Othello nodded but not for Iago. The later was furious with the humiliation and vowed revenge.