To Be Mortal

The parent frogs, Piffy and Pi-face, become anxious.

Their tadpoles have slowed down. Three more have sunk to the bottom.

Piffy blames it all on the pool salt.

It could be anything, says Pi-face.

No, it's the pool salt, says Piffy. Pescado used too many grains.

This could end badly, for the tadpoles, but....

Simon comes in.

Wonderful, says Simon when he sees the number of tadpoles still swimming.

Another one drops to the bottom.

This alerts Simon, who is an expert in frogs.

He sticks his finger in the tadpole-teeming water. Licks it.

Too much salt! Is there a tap in the frog room?

Yes.

He dilutes the water.

The tadpoles speed up immediately, hectically swimming.

We're saved!

Saved, except for the dead ones.

Simon goes back to the salon.

Where is everyone?

They have moved to the dining room.

Pedro Vicente Maldonado will not wait any longer for Sweezus and Arthur.

We'll save them some encebollado, says Pedro Vicente Maldonado. It's easy enough to warm up.

Is it soup? asks Lydia.

Fish stew, says Mariposa.

Does it contain molluscs? asks Saint Roley.

It's billfish, albacore or tuna, says Pescado.

So, no.

The fish stew comes in.

It is served with boiled cassava, pickles and onion rings. Banana chips and popcorn on the side. The dressing of tomato, lime juice and chilli is served separately, as Gaius requested.

This is all very nice , says Gaius.

What can I have? asks Terence.

Try a popcorn, says Mariposa.

Terence spears one with his little claw finger.

How were the frogs? asks Pedro Vicente Maldonado.

They'll be happier now, says Simon. I adjusted the salt content in the water. I was going to ask...would it be all right if we took a few tadpoles?

Ask the children, says Pedro.

Yes, says Mariposa. We're going to Hawaii. You can take all of them.

Yes, you can, says Pescado. But not Piffy and Pi-face.

Excellent, says Simon, eating a spoonful of encebollado. Aaah!  This is very good stew.

Our national dish, says Pedro Vicente Maldonado. I often request it.

Are you off to Hawaii for a holiday? asks Gaius.

Not entirely, says Pedro Vicente Maldonado. I'm making a speech at an astronomical conference.

On what subject, if you don't mind me asking? says Gaius.

The equinoctial line, says Pedro Vicente Maldonado. A pet subject of mine. Ecuador enjoys a privileged astronomical position.

Quite so, says Gaius. On the equator and close to the heavens.

Ha ha! laughs Pedro Vicente Maldonado. Well put. Mariposa, fetch the decorative bottle of Espritu del Ecuador. We shall toast our various enterprises.

Saint Roley, who is trying a lump of soggy billfish, stops trying.

He looks over at Cherry, who never eats anything, and never defecates, and has no idea what it's like to be mortal.