Of course, you all realise that parrots can remember and repeat words spoken by humans.
Many of the birds have good memories and sharp ears.
I am sure they remember everything that was said during the night at the zoo, both by this wretch here and by Prospero the Gunsmith.
That's why I suggest you call as a witness one of my many magnificent parrots."
There was a murmur of approval in the hall.
The animal keeper left for the zoo and soon returned.
Perched on his finger was a big old parrot with a long red beard.
Do you remember, when Suok wandered through the zoo that night she thought one of the parrots looked suspicious?
It was watching her, and then it pretended to be asleep and smiled into its long red beard.
And there it sat now, looking just as comfortable on the old man's finger as it was on its silver perch in the cage.
Now the parrot was smirking openly, happy at the thought of betraying Suok.
The animal keeper spoke to it in German.
He carried the parrot over to the girl.
It flapped its wings and screamed:
"Suok!
Suok!"
Its voice was like the screeching of an old rusty gate being blown off its hinges in the wind.
The room was silent.
The animal keeper beamed.
Meanwhile, the parrot continued its squawking betrayal.
It repeated everything it had heard during the night.
If you want to know how Prospero the Gunsmith was freed, listen to what the parrot screeched.
Oh, it was really a very rare bird.
It could repeat anything a human being said, and, to top it all, it had a long red beard that was the envy of all the other parrots.
"Who are you?" it croaked in a man's voice.
"I'm Suok," it piped in a high little voice.
"Suok!"
"Tibul sent me.
I'm not a doll.
I'm a live girl.
I came to free you.
Didn't you see me come into the zoo?"
"No, I must have been asleep.
This is the first night I've been able to sleep."
"I was looking for you all over the zoo.
I saw a monster that spoke in a human voice.
I thought it was you.
But the monster died."
"That was Toub.
Did he die?"
"Yes.
I got very frightened, and I screamed.
Then the Guards came running, and I had to hide in a tree.
I'm so happy you're alive!
I came to free you."
"But my cage is locked."
"I have the key."
As the parrot cackled these words, everyone in the Hall became furious.
"You wretch!" the Three Fat Men roared. "Now we know what happened.
You stole the key from Tutti the Heir and let the gunsmith free.