Attack of the Killer Swan

The strangest event occurred yesterday. Playing Bocce in ideal conditions on a beach out on Sälto, my friends and I were enjoying the first sprouting of Spring. With my toes in the sand, and the competitive 'eye of the tiger' hidden behind shades, I was dropping precision bombs that made my opponents shudder in dismay. The game stopped in a salutary admiration of graceful beauty as a Swan floated by so near to us that she was using her strong legs to push off the shore. We stood in disbelief at the presence of something divinely delivered to us, a peep into the complex beauties of nature's diversity. I remarked at the way she was using her legs to propel herself forward, and pronounced that I had never seen a Swan walk on land before. As I said the words, the Swan came ashore and started to walk towards us. Stunned at the sudden onslaught, Ben, Nick, and I stood silently as Freek wisely got some distance. The Swan stared us straight in the face and delivered a steadfast "HIIIIISSSSSSSSS" that sent the three of us scrambling barefoot up the beach. I surmised that this was an angry mother, who had thought our nonchalant tossing of the Bocce an affront to playing with her eggs. Nick grabbed the Bocce and the set of silver balls from the course, but left the black ones. Since we were watching the scene so intently, I think the Swan took it as a challenge. Every few minutes, the Swan would begin re-approaching us. Freek was adamant that we keep our distance, insisting that a Swan could break your arm with its wing. Hurriedly, we retreated even further, but still in a place where we could watch this real-life nature documentary. There was a Swedish couple who happened to be walking past when the show started, and they were enjoying the program too. The Swan inspected the black Bocce balls, perhaps even tried to eat one, and then triumphantly departed. We waited until it left the scene before gathering up our sweaters and socks and having a nice, long chuckle about the situation. Still, I think we all developed a little more respect for Swans. Dismissing them as weak and overly elegant, I failed to see the purposefulness of their bendy necks, but now I've watched them find food on the sea floor without resorting to a plunge. I feel confident now in saying that my life will not be complete until I have a large bio-mimicked Swan to sail the seas and soar the skies. Plus, now I know it has an inherent defense mechanism to boot!