Chapter 4- breaking news
While Jupiter and his group approached the house, inside the house, Veggie, Dash, Ginger and Catina were keeping their kittens and puppies occupied while Travis was reading a book about a baby deer to his hybrid offspring, Eustace, Rosa and Milo. Sunset was absent. She was out somewhere. While Travis continued reading the book to the three cockatoo chicks, Danny and Collette were having a game of chess. Chess was Danny's favourite game and he was very good at it. This was demonstrated as he managed to find a way to take out Collette's queen piece.
"Oh, no, my best piece," muttered Collette playfully.
"Sorry, but it was in the right spot for my knight piece to take it out of the game," replied Danny playfully. Collette smiled and prepared to make her next move. On the sofa, Eduarda, Elsa, Broccoli and Thomas were watching TV. James was listening to some music. Like Carla and Justin, he had an Ipod and a set of headphones and liked music. Avellana was reading a book on ecology while Esperanza was playing a game of 'Attack of the Space Aliens' (a space alien shooting game like 'Space Invaders') on Susan's laptop. Dash, Ginger, Veggie and Catina were sitting and talking together while at the same time watching their kittens and puppies.
"Boy, I can't believe that our two owners had gone out into the Amazon rainforest for the first time," said Veggie, "I'm sure they'll find some interesting animals and plants."
"It's part of their graduate project," said Dash, "They're out to help Tulio and Linda find more Spix macaws."
"It's going to be a difficult task," said Catina, "Since the Spix macaw is likely to be extinct in the wild with only Blu and Venus's families being the last of the species alive."
Dash, Ginger and Veggie all nodded in agreement. Suddenly, the four heard a knock on the window. Collette and Danny looked up and saw some colourful feathered forms perched outside the window.
"Oh, Mom, Dad, Mr Dash, Mrs Ginger, Mr Jupiter's outside the window," said Collette. At this, Veggie looked up and saw that it was indeed Jupiter who was tapping the glass with his beak.
"Looks like Jupiter has come to visit us," said Dash. Veggie was about to walk towards the worktop when Travis flew in.
"I've got it," he said and with that he perched near the window and turned its handle with a talon. After he had opened it, Jupiter greeted him.
"Hi, Jupiter," said Travis with a smile, "Saturn, Ruby, Orquidea, what are you lot doing here?"
"We've come to visit," said Jupiter, "Our chicks had been insisting on it during breakfast."
Travis then stepped aside and opened the window wider to allow the macaw families to fly in. Jupiter, Ruby and their four chicks went in first, followed by Saturn and his family, and then Uranus, Neptune, Ceres, Pluto, Mercury, Mars and then Venus and her family. As soon as the nine families of macaws touched down onto the floor, Dash, Veggie, Ginger and Catina came over and gave the group a hug while the kittens, puppies and chicks also greeted each other. Eduarda, Collette, Thomas and Broccoli had dropped down from the sofa to greet their bird friends while Eustace, Rosa and Milo joined in the greetings. After Dash broke the hung with Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus, he smiled.
"Well, what brings you and your families here, then?" he asked.
"We've come to visit you," said Jupiter. Then Esmeralda saw that Sunset was nowhere to be seen.
"Hey, where's Sunset?" she asked.
"She's gone out to visit Blu, Jewel and their three chicks Carla, Bia and Tiago at Tulio and Linda's cottage," said Catina, "To see if they want to go out with Travis's family for a bit."
"That's what we were planning on doing," said Saturn, "After we've been to see you lot."
Veggie then smiled at Saturn's seven chicks.
"So, how are you doing with your massive brood, Saturn and Orquidea?" he asked.
"Oh, busy," said Orquidea, "And at times strenuous but we're doing fine."
Veggie then looked from Mimas to Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, Rhea, Titan and Iapetus closely and was fascinated at how similar they looked to their parents, especially Titan.
"You know, it's fascinating how kids could look like their parents or even their aunts and uncles," he said, "I know Charlotte looks very like Brisa despite her being Charlotte's aunt."
"Oh, it's a genetic thing," said Zephyr nearby as he stood with his wing slung around Venus, "Brisa and I look quite like our parents Tornado and Gael."
Brisa, who stood next to Venus and with Justin, Charlotte, Matilda and Virgil standing around her, smiled. As Zephyr said this, Matilda went over to Broccoli as he helped himself to some vegetarian cat food and some watermelon, one of his favourite fruit, from a cupboard.
"And Ganymede certainly does look like his father," said Veggie as he compared Ganyemde's features with Jupiter's. Both the father and son were large and had a burly build. However, Ganymede had blue wing flight feathers and parts of his tail and red feathers like his mother Ruby rather than vermillion feathers and teal-turquoise wings and tail parts like Jupiter.
"The phenotype of the offspring is determined by the genotype they obtain from their parents through inheritance," said Ganymede. Veggie smiled at Ganymede's scientific speak.
"He's just like Bia and Blu," he said, "Blu ought to be fascinated with your son, Jupiter."
"I'm probably not that much of a scientific bird myself like Blu but I am interested in a variety of sciences like astronomy," said Jupiter. As he said this, Broccoli began to eat the small slice of watermelon with Matilda nibbling away at it. Broccoli looked at the Spix macaw chick with uncertainty. Nearby, Eduarda and Elsa had returned to watching the TV. Some of the chicks, among them Uranus and Esmeralda's five, followed them. Veggie then turned back to Mimas and her six siblings.
"And I sure hope we're not having any mischievous antics, are we?" he said a little firmly.
"No, Mr Veggie," said Mimas, Tethys, Dione and Rhea in unison, "Mom and Dad would probably not want us being naughty, anyway."
"Well, that's good to hear," said Orquidea. Suddenly, Zephyr's voice sounded.
"Matilda, could you come away from Broccoli while he's eating please?" he said. At this, all eyes turned and looked at Matilda and Broccoli.
"You shouldn't be eating with one of Veggie and Catina's kittens," added Zephyr. Venus and Brisa also gave Matilda a firm look. At this, Matilda looked up and backed away from Broccoli. Catina then whispered under her breath, "This isn't natural for a chick to eat with a kitten."
"I think it's best if you leave me," said Broccoli to Matilda, "Your Dad, Mom and aunt aren't so keen on you eating the watermelon with me."
Matilda did so and flew back to Zephyr and Venus's side. Veggie sighed and shook his head slightly.
"That's the umpteenth time one of your chicks has attempted to eat with one of our kittens, Zephyr and Venus," he muttered with a frown.
"I think it's about time we did something about it," said Catina in agreement. Dash and Ginger nodded in agreement.
"We don't mind our kittens and puppies playing with your chicks but certain activities like eating together are not really appropriate," said Dash.
"Yeah, especially when you've got to consider other cats and dogs, especially cats," said Ginger. Suddenly, a flapping of wings sounded at the window, followed by the appearance of a light pink form with a vivid red, yellow and pinkish white crest.
"Sunset," said Travis and with that, he went over to his Major Mitchell's cockatoo mate. The others followed. Sunset then turned to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and the others.
"Hey, Jupiter," she said, "I didn't expect you and your group to come and visit us. By the way, have any of you seen Blu, Jewel, Carla, Bia and Tiago lately? I can't find them anywhere."
"Could you find them in their birdhouse or in Tulio and Linda's cottage?" asked Jupiter.
"No," said Sunset with a shake of her head, "I've looked around the birdhouse, inside it and through every window of Tulio and Linda's cottage but could not find any sign of them. I even asked some of the birds that lived near Blu and Jewel's tree but they replied that they haven't seen them."
Jupiter, at this, looked back at the other macaws and animals.
"Strange, really," said Mercury nearby, "We were going to pay them a visit after we have left here."
"Why would Blu and Jewel leave?" asked Sapphire. Veggie then had a thought.
"Well, maybe they went for a flight out or perhaps taken their three chicks on an outing into new territory for a change of scene or to see new sights," he said.
"Yeah, perhaps to get Blu away from human things as well," said Neptune. He then frowned.
"I hope he's not influencing his two daughters and son on relying on human things," he said in a low voice, "Because you know what impact that might have on the three chicks?"
"I agree completely," said Ultramarine.
"That is why we chose to live in natural hollows to raise our chicks in a more natural environment," said Venus.
"Even though we had lived as pets in the UK," said Mars.
"Furthermore," said Zephyr, "Jewel, being a wild-born macaw like me and Brisa, wouldn't want Carla, Bia and Tiago to grow up living like humans, anyway. We birds weren't made to live like humans. We're made to live out in the natural world and in trees."
"But Blu and his family can't just leave us without letting us know," said Sunset.
"Well, maybe because I think Jewel is so impatient on getting her family out to see new sights maybe because she is concerned for her chicks," suggested Ruby, "And also because she wants Blu to start living more like a proper bird?"
"I think that's a reasonably accurate reason," said Jupiter, "I remember Jewel telling me the other day, the day before New Year's Eve that she was concerned for her kids' future and that Blu was living too much in the domestic realm…"
"I kind of agree with her," said Brisa, "I think Blu is living too much in the realm of humans. He needs to…"
Suddenly, Eduarda's voice cut her off as she shouted, "Mom, Dad, guys, Blu and Jewel are on TV!"
At this, the group was drawn towards the TV.
"Hmm, you could be right, Veggie and Ruby," said Jupiter, "Blu and Jewel and their three chicks might have flown out to see new sights…"
The group then went round to the front of the sofa and sat down as the news reporter began to open up the report from the Amazon.
"There has been an epic battle in the Amazon rainforest between the animals and the loggers today," said the reporter, a man, "But after that had subsided, Tulio and Linda have declared that that part of the Amazon, the part on which the flock of Spix macaws live…"
As the man said these words Venus's amber eyes widened in amazement.
"Looks like Blu, Jewel, Carla, Bia and Tiago have found more of our species," she said to Zephyr. The others were also amazed.
"… We shall now go to the Amazon rainforest," said the man, "What's happening, Chloe?"
At this, the screen turned to live from the Amazon as Chloe, another news reporter, began to speak. Behind her were some blue and red dots flying through the trees.
"Well, Alex, I've just had a word with Linda and Tulio and they have told me that this area is now a sanctuary," said Chloe, "It is an amazing sight to see so many other Spix macaws numbering in the hundreds…"
As she said these words, the camera zoomed in to film some of the magnificent blue birds. Venus widened her eyes and smile as she saw them on the screen. Zephyr and Brisa were also amazed. However, they were amazed for a different reason.
"That's the Spix macaw tribe," said Zephyr, "The tribe from which Brisa and I come from. Looks like they have survived that devastating fire after all."
"And those red birds must be from the red macaw tribe," said Ruby as she looked at the red forms flying alongside the blue forms. With some of the blue forms were blue and yellow feathered forms and a few large dark navy birds. Orquidea stared at the blue and yellow birds and the navy blue birds.
"Looks like my tribe and Ultramarine's clan, the Navyfeathers, have also survived the fire too," she said. Ultramarine smiled as she looked at the forms until the screen changed.
"The Spix macaw, which is an incredibly rare species of macaw so close to the brink of extinction with only two breeding pairs living under the protection of the Blu Bird Sanctuary…" said Alex and with that, the screen showed a series of pictures of Blu, Jewel, Zephyr and Venus and their chicks.
"We're famous," said Justin.
"I'm not surprised," said Brisa.
"…has now been proven that it is not entirely close to the brink of extinction after all," continued Alex, "However, this flock will need special protection, as will most of the bird flocks living around them to ensure that logging and poaching is outlawed for the protection of these birds…"
Venus continued smiling.
"I don't believe it," she whispered, "This was the dream my parents hoped would implement but Blu and his family have actually done it for them…"
"Wait, there's more," said Saturn, "Quiet everyone."
"But while Linda and Tulio are now setting the Spix macaws' home up as a protected reserve," said Alex, "We have just received an important announcement from a team of graduate bird ecologists from another part of the Amazon rainforest, not far from the Spix macaws' habitat…"
"Oh, in case you're wondering where Susan and Lucy are," whispered Dash to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Ceres, Pluto, Mercury, Venus and Mars, "They're out in the Amazon rainforest…"
The TV screen then changed to another part of the Amazon rainforest where the group of graduate bird ecologists were. The group leader, a woman, was holding up a dark navy blue feather. Behind her were some of the graduates and Saturn managed to pick out Susan among the group.
"We believe we may have encountered a wild Lear's macaw," said the woman, whose name was Amy, "The individual bird was supposedly spotted by Lucy who had managed to capture an image of it with her Ipad but by the time she called us and we turned up, it had gone but it did leave behind this feather…"
Then it was Mercury and Sapphire's turn to be filled with amazement.
"We might not be the only Lear's macaws in this part of Brazil," whispered Mercury. The screen then turned to show Lucy hold her Ipad with the picture of the bird up close to the camera.
"Lucy's the first one to spot that bird and even take a picture of it?" said Travis with a smile, "She should be honoured."
"We apologise for this picture not being very clear," said Amy, "But this is definitely not a hyacinth macaw. This feather is too short to be from a hyacinth but based on Lucy's experience with the male Lear's macaw named Mercury, the one she and her sister Susan kept as a pet before releasing him into the wild with the female Lear's macaw where they had three chicks, she could tell it's definitely a Lear's macaw feather…"
The picture of the bird on Lucy's Ipad was blurry but Mercury could make out the shape of the form's outline. It was dark navy blue like him and Sapphire and there was a blurry streak around where the creature's eye would be. Mars was doubtful.
"It looks more like Neptune than Mercury or Sapphire," he said, "It's not very clear at all…"
"We hope this is first evidence of a flock of Lear's macaws living in the Amazon," said Amy, "And hopefully, we'll find more evidence to prove it. If indeed there is a flock of Lear's macaws, their home will be added to the sanctuary area set up by Linda and Tulio so that these birds will also be protected."
"We'll have to go out there and help Lucy and her graduate group find those macaws," said Mercury excitedly, "That was the same determination my parents had in finding more of our species."
"That could be my tribe," said Sapphire. Then Amy on TV continued, "And this is not the only announcement I have to make. I have just received a call from my colleague Jeremy who is on an expedition in another part of this jungle area and he has sent me a picture via text if I could bring it up..."
Then after some fiddling on her Iphone, she finally found the message and opened the picture.
"Here it is," she said and held the Iphone screen up close to the camera and continued, "Jeremy and his team believes that they had just encountered what appears to be a glaucous macaw. Again this picture is not very clear but it has a grey head and a soft turquoise body…"
Then Pluto and Lapis Lazuli's eyes widened in awe.
"We might not be the only family of glaucous macaws after all," said Lapis Lazuli.
"That is amazing news," said Alex, "The glaucous macaw is another critically endangered species of macaw that ornithologists assumed that, like the Spix macaw, is entirely extinct in the wild with only one family of six individuals living on the Blu Bird Sanctuary…"
Then a picture of Pluto, Lapis Lazuli and their four chicks appeared on the screen.
"We're famous as well," said Blueberry.
"Jeremy has told me that he and his team hope to find those glaucous macaws, perhaps a flock of them, in that part of the Amazon," said Amy, "But if we do, those birds will be included in the Sanctuary too. We'll keep you informed if we make any more important discoveries."
"Alright, thanks, Amy," said Alex and then the screen turned back to the studio as Alex began to move on to the next report. Lapis Lazuli stood there gazing into space dreamily.
"I don't believe it," she crooned, "We might not be the only glaucous macaws in the world after all."
"It was an amazing find," said Veggie.
"Yeah, definitely," said Travis, "I'd strongly advise you to go out there and find them."
"That's what Venus and I would like to do," said Mercury excitedly, "This is what our parents had dreamed of and hoped would do when we were chicks: find more of our species in the Amazon rainforest."
His face fell as he said, "Too bad that had been cut short when those smugglers intruded into our home and my siblings and parents were killed and I had been smuggled to London…"
"Same here," said Venus. Zephyr then smiled.
"Well, here's your chance," he said, "Why don't you follow that dream for your parents?"
"Yeah, absolutely," said Jupiter, "I would like to go out into the Amazon as well and meet those scarlet and green-winged macaws."
"So would I," said Mars. Chiquitita and Ruby, however, gave the two a look. Zephyr and Brisa also looked at the two macaws.
"Um, I'm not sure about that, Jupiter," said Ruby.
"Why?" asked Jupiter quizzically.
"I'm not sure whether my and Brisa's tribe and Ruby and Chiquitita's are still in conflict with each other or not," said Zephyr, "Because if the Spix tribe and the red tribe still are, you're going to have problems."
"Same with the green tribe and the Lear's tribe if the green tribe's still alive," said Esmeralda as she looked at Mercury, Sapphire, Phoebe, Jasmine and Annette, "For they've been in conflict as well and still might be in conflict now."
"Yeah, you've seen it between me and Esmeralda before we became friends," said Sapphire, "And also between Jewel, Zephyr and Brisa, and Ruby and Chiquitita."
And with that she nodded to four of the five macaws present with the group. Mercury looked up at her and Esmeralda and said, "Well, I'd still like to venture out into the Amazon and find those Lear's macaws, Sapphire and Esmeralda. It had what Mom and Dad had wanted to do when I and my two brothers and sister were old enough, so I would like to do it."
"If we do," said Sapphire still with uncertainty, "We could run into have problems."
Uranus looked at Esmeralda and Sapphire in agreement with Mercury
"I'm sure your tribes would have made peace at some point," he said, "And I would love to go out and meet more great green macaws…"
"The green tribe consists of great green and military macaws, Uranus," said Esmeralda.
"Is it?" asked Uranus, "And if that what Mercury wants, I'd be more than happy to go along."
"It would do our kids good as well, especially those of Venus, Zephyr, Mercury and Venus," said Mars and with that he looked at Justin, Charlotte, Matilda and Virgil and then at Phoebe, Jasmine and Annette, "Since their species is so rare. They could do with other chicks like them around them."
"I agree," said Chiquitita. Then Cobalto and Ceres smiled.
"Well, if those macaw tribes and clans have survived," Cobalto said, "I hope my clan and the Bluewing hyacinth macaw clan have survived the fire as well. I would love to take Ceres and our sons to meet more blue-throated macaws."
Azul, Wilbur and Aurelio smiled at this idea. Neptune also put on a determined face and said, "I would like to go out into the Amazon as well and meet more hyacinth macaws."
"As will I and my family," said Saturn, "To meet more blue-and-gold macaws and I think our seven chicks could do with meeting other chicks like them in the wild as well."
He then turned to Pluto and Lapis Lazuli and said, "And I would like those glaucous macaws and their chicks to come with us as well. If there is a flock of glaucous macaws out in the Amazon, then it would do them good to go out and find them."
"That's what I was thinking, Neptune," said Lapis Lazuli, "It would do Blueberry, Charon, Quincy and Flor good as well. Much like Jewel, I've been concerned for our kids' future as well like, how are they going to find mates and have chicks if they decide to do that?"
At this, Blueberry, Charon, Quincy and Flor looked up at their mother. Pluto, however, had other ideas.
"But aren't we safe here?" he asked, "I mean, the Amazon is a daunting place. There could be giant snakes, dangerous birds…"
At this, Lapis Lazuli looked at him with a frown.
"Look, Pluto, I would like you to come with us as well," she said sternly, "It would do you good to venture out into the Amazon rainforest and meet other birds like yourself. And I'm sure your parents and siblings, if you had any, would have the same dream Mercury and Venus's parents would have had, right?"
Pluto looked at her with a blank face.
"I… er… don't remember having any parents or siblings having that hope of finding other glaucous macaws," he murmured. Lapis Lazuli looked back at him and said nothing at first.
"Well, whether you like it or not," she said, "We would like to go out into the Amazon. One of the reasons is I don't want our four kids putting themselves in danger of any domestic city animal again."
And with that, Lapis Lazuli eyed Charon and said, "Especially after what happened to Charon when he was almost killed by those two Doberman dogs on New Year's Eve."
Charon, at this, sighed. Pluto then began to sulk.
"It's as if you don't like me living near Rio," he moaned.
"I didn't say that," said Lapis Lazuli, "All I'm saying is I'm getting concerned for our kids' future and I'm sure Mercury, Venus, Zephyr and Sapphire are as well."
She looked at the four macaws for backup. To Pluto's surprise, Zephyr, Brisa and Sapphire nodded while Mercury and Venus wore agreeing expressions. Pluto sighed and bowed his head. Then Jupiter said, "Let us talk to Pluto."
Veggie and Dash also nodded. Lapis Lazuli smiled at the burly scarlet macaw and then at Veggie and Dash and said, "Good idea."
And with that, Pluto left with Jupiter, Veggie and Dash while Lapis Lazuli turned to talk to the other macaws, Sunset and Travis.
"She seems to berate me for liking to live near a human city," moaned Pluto as Veggie and Dash sat down. Jupiter came up to him.
"Well, she's just like Jewel, Pluto," said Jupiter with a wing around Pluto's shoulders, "She's concerned for the kids' future and would like them to meet more of their species."
Pluto looked at Lapis Lazuli as she talked with Ceres and Cobalto. The blue-throated couple nodded and smiled.
"And I agree with Lapis Lazuli about our chicks as well," said Jupiter, "I would like to meet the red macaw tribe as well, though Ruby is uncertain about their relationship with the Spix macaws."
"Boy Lapis Lazuli's apparent change of attitude about us living near Rio has hit me hard," murmured Pluto, a wing on his chin and a sad look on his face, "I've always liked it here. It's been my preferred spot over London…"
"Well sometimes you have to move on, Pluto," said Dash, "You can't always stay in the same spot."
"Yeah, and I agree with Lapis Lazuli, Pluto," said Veggie, "I think you should go out there and help that group of ornithologists to find the glaucous macaws and prove their existence."
He then turned serious and said, "And I feel I must tell you this, Pluto."
Pluto, at this, looked up at the tabby cat.
"What?" he asked.
"Well, while I agree with your mate about you going out into the Amazon," said Veggie, "to meet other birds like yourself and for the sake of your kids, I have another reason to add. You need to get your chicks away from the city cats and dogs, especially cats."
Pluto gave Veggie a look.
"But I thought we were friends," he said.
"That is true," said Veggie, "But having said that however, Catina and I have noticed that some of the chicks, in particular Zephyr and Venus's youngest daughter Matilda had been attempting to eat with our kittens, particularly Broccoli, and that's not natural and it's also not good for your chicks."
Veggie then stood up and paced around Pluto and said, "Because you see, if they continue to eat with our kittens, they might assume that all cats are harmless, and that is absolutely not true. While it's true that some cats are fine with birds, those sorts of cats are few and far between."
Sitting back down again, Veggie added, "And with that false belief that all cats are harmless to birds, your chicks might attempt to hang out with other cats and that is very bad news."
"They could make themselves an easy target for those cats to catch and eat," said Jupiter. Pluto looked at him.
"Exactly," said Veggie, "So despite the fact that I'm friends with you birds and our kittens and Dash's puppies are part of your extended family, Catina, I and our kittens are, after all, your natural enemies."
"But didn't cats and birds get along without cats attempting to eat birds?" asked Pluto.
"They did before Adam sinned against God when death and predation didn't exist after God created the Earth and everything in it," said Veggie, "But now that we live in a world after Adam's sin, the relationship between certain types of animals has changed. Some became prey for others, and sadly, most birds are one of those animals to become prey for cats."
"There are also some vicious dogs around as well," said Dash, "And they might not hesitate to turn you birds into a chew toy as well like how those two Doberman dogs nearly did with your son Charon."
Veggie nodded in agreement. He then stood up again and said, "So I would like you to go out there and find other glaucous macaws, and also live as wild birds."
"Lapis Lazuli will need you, anyway," said Jupiter, "She cannot raise those four chicks alone. Raising chicks, especially large broods like Venus and Saturn's, is a two parent job."
Pluto listened to Jupiter's words and at first said nothing. He then finally looked up after a few seconds of silence.
"Okay, I'll do it," he said. Jupiter, Veggie and Dash smiled.
"That's the spirit," said Veggie. Then the quartet stood up and walked back to the others.
"So when are we going to set off?" asked Pluto.
"I think we'll do so tomorrow," said Jupiter, "But we'll need plans of preparation first."
Then the male glaucous macaw, male scarlet macaw, tabby cat and greyhound returned to the others. Though Pluto was timid at the thought of going out into the Amazon, he actually wanted to find more glaucous macaws like himself. He was not going to let his timidity get the better of him. After all, it was important for his and Lapis Lazuli's chicks and the other macaws also wanted to venture out into the Amazon, especially Venus and Mercury for it had been their parents' dream to find other macaw like themselves. And even though Blu and his family, together with Rafael, Nico and Pedro had already found the Spix macaw flock, Venus and her family were soon to follow their flight path while Mercury and his family will have to pursue Mercury's parents' dream of finding other Lear's macaws like themselves on their own but with Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Ceres and Pluto and their families accompanying them.