Pi makes a shield from a hawksbill shell. He begins Stage 2 of the RP Training Program: stamping on the edge of the tarpaulin until RP smacks the turtle shell out of his hands.
Pi learns to read RP's signals.
Pi can now back down from RP and, if RP gets too close, Pi rocks the boat and blows on his whistle.
This is effective. The training program is working.